New chapter with Andy Burnham must be good story for Wales, says First Minister
Craig Paton, Press Association Scotland Deputy Political Editor
The “new chapter” started with the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister must be a good story for Wales, the First Minister has said.
Rhun ap Iorwerth met Mr Burnham in person for the first time on Thursday ahead of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony in Glasgow.
Speaking to the Press Association, the Plaid Cymru leader said: “I’m very pleased that we were able to organise this first face-to-face meeting so soon.
“We had a conversation on Tuesday but it was important that I had that opportunity to congratulate him and talk about the ways that we hope to be able to cooperate on the non-devolved areas.”
He added: “It’s a new chapter with a new Prime Minister.
“My job is to make sure that it’s a chapter that reads as a good story for Wales.”
Mr Iorwerth’s party won May’s election in Wales and, with an SNP win in Scotland and Sinn Féin holding the First Minister role in Northern Ireland, all of the UK’s devolved nations have independence-supporting parties in power.
But the First Minister stressed that, while he supports independence for Wales, he also wants to work with the powers the Senedd currently has.
“What I spoke to (the Prime Minister) about in our conversation on Tuesday was that he knows what my ambitions are for Wales, he knows that I want Wales to have all those powers of a normal nation as an independent nation, but also I want him to know that I’m serious about working right now with the powers that we have at our disposal now and actually increasing those powers so that we can make a positive difference to the people of Wales.
“Yes, I have my aspirations for what I know my nation can be, but we also have to deal with the situation we are in now and working for the people that we represent.”
Working cooperatively
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister met the First Minister of Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth, in Glasgow today, taking the opportunity of both leaders being in the city ahead of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony to meet in person.
“The Prime Minister set out his commitment to working cooperatively with the Welsh Government, and to a relationship built on mutual respect.
“They discussed their shared ambition for growth and investment to reach every part of Wales.
“The Prime Minister said No 10 North would pay a pivotal role working with the Welsh Government, reflecting that he and the First Minister should work in tandem to deliver for people and communities.
“The Prime Minister said he wanted an open and ongoing dialogue with the First Minister on the issues that matter most across Wales.
“He looked forward to continuing that conversation in the months ahead.”
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PM Andy Burnham will be making a huge mistake if he continues in the same vein as Keir Starmer by denying Wales the powers it seeks, powers enjoyed by the nations and regions of Britain. Not only do a majority of parties in the Senedd support the devolution of policing, criminal justice, but all 22 councils in Wales are unanimous and want the devolution of our Crown Estate, and lest he forgets that Plaid Cymru was recently elected by the Welsh people on this very manifesto pledge. So it is now time to do the right thing and enable the… Read more »
Burnham showed his intentions by appointing Kinnock in Cymru and continuing with Alexander in Scotland. Both these appointees are there because they’re arch Unionists who intend to keep the status quo. Under Burnham our country has the status of a ‘post-code’. In international terms, our so called powers (devolved matters!) are a joke. There’s a sense of the Welsh inferior complex in what our First Minister says – be a good boy and work with Westminster in what they allow you to do. NO! Let’s discuss what being a ‘normal’ nation means. We need control over Justice, Policing, Crown Estate,… Read more »