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Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has called on Sir Keir Starmer’s UK government to grant Wales additional powers as a means of preventing pro-independence parties from securing victory in the upcoming Senedd election. Morgan emphasized that if parties advocating for independence were to win in both Wales and Scotland, the risk to the unity of the United Kingdom would become a genuine concern. She highlighted a recent poll indicating that Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, both of which support Welsh independence, could collectively command around half the vote share, signaling that separatism is increasingly becoming a prominent issue in Wales.
In a speech delivered to the Institute of Government, Morgan pointed out the significance of the poll results, which showed Plaid Cymru and the Greens potentially holding a majority in the Welsh Parliament. She stressed that this development has not garnered the attention it deserves. According to Morgan, support for independence tends to surge when political circumstances feel uncertain or stagnant, but it tends to recede when devolution demonstrates tangible benefits. She argued that devolution remains the best approach to reduce tensions and build trust, and that the UK government has a vital role to play by empowering Wales with the necessary tools to enhance the lives of its citizens.
Morgan also outlined specific demands for a “new deal for devolution,” calling for increased control over resources such as natural assets, the Crown Estate, and matters of policing and justice—areas largely off-limits to Welsh governance today. She acknowledged that transferring powers cannot be achieved overnight, but stressed the urgency of making visible progress that reflects renewed respect for devolution and the Welsh government. Among her suggestions was the introduction of a Constitutional Reform Act, which would legally oblige Westminster to seek approval from the Senedd before passing legislation on devolved matters like health and education, addressing previous breaches of this convention.
The Welsh Labour leader’s stance has drawn criticism from other parties. Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan accused Labour of insincerity in claiming to champion Welsh interests, describing Morgan’s speech as a desperate attempt to maintain political relevance. Tessa Marshall of the Green Party criticized the lack of tangible progress from Welsh Labour in Westminster, suggesting their current rhetoric is merely a strategy to gain attention amid an impending loss of power. A spokesperson for Reform UK Wales declared that Labour’s influence in Wales is waning, while the Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar dismissed Morgan’s proposals as “constitutional navel gazing” and warned that Labour and Reform’s push for greater devolution risks appeasing Plaid Cymru’s gradualist approach to independence. Meanwhile, a UK government representative reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with the Welsh government, citing the record budget settlement exceeding £22 billion a year, forthcoming fiscal framework enhancements, and significant investments such as new nuclear development at Wylfa and £445 million allocated to Welsh rail improvements
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