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Wales’ First Minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has revealed that he discussed the topic of Welsh independence with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a phone call last week. This conversation took place shortly after Plaid Cymru’s electoral success and ap Iorwerth’s swearing-in as leader of Wales’ government. Speaking in the Senedd for the first time since his appointment, ap Iorwerth expressed his intention to initiate a “national conversation” about Wales’ capability to function as an independent nation.
Although Plaid Cymru has dismissed the idea of pursuing a referendum on independence within its current term, the party plans to establish a national commission dedicated to exploring what a separate Welsh state could look like. Following his phone call with Starmer, the Welsh Government noted that the Prime Minister appeared “open to a conversation” about expanding the Senedd’s powers. Nonetheless, some sources close to the exchange expressed surprise that ap Iorwerth raised the possibility of Wales leaving the United Kingdom so early in his tenure.
During questioning from Reform UK’s Welsh leader Dan Thomas, ap Iorwerth confirmed he had indeed mentioned independence, stating: “I have a level of ambition for my nation, where I said that I want to lead a national conversation creating that confidence in our ability, undoubtedly, to be an independent nation like so many countries like ours.” He emphasized that any changes would be gradual and ultimately decided by the Welsh people, adding: “We deal with the issues that we deal with now, and we set a journey that the people of Wales will ultimately have to decide on the trajectory and the pace of.” Ap Iorwerth also highlighted his expectation that Wales should be regarded as an “equal partner” in negotiations with the UK government on a range of devolved matters.
In outlining his government’s priorities, ap Iorwerth committed to advancing the devolution of justice, policing, the Crown Estate, funding tied to the High-Speed 2 rail project, and implementing a fair funding formula—policies he claims have strong support within the Senedd. Among the administration’s key missions are reducing NHS waiting times, elevating educational standards, boosting employment, addressing child poverty, mitigating the cost-of-living crisis, and advocating for Welsh interests broadly. He also announced plans for a summit aimed at shifting resources toward primary care and introduced ambitions for a comprehensive childcare program, providing 20 hours of funded care weekly for children aged from nine months to four years. Though many initiatives lack firm timelines, ap Iorwerth confirmed that free school meals would be extended to children from families on universal credit by September.
The response from opposition politicians was mixed. Dan Thomas criticized the focus on constitutional debates, arguing that most Welsh citizens are more concerned with practical issues like healthcare, education, and affordability. He commented: “After decades of Welsh politics looking exactly the same, the people of Wales have finally said enough is enough… These are the issues that matter, and, while your statement today implies that these are your priorities, raising independence with the UK government suggests that you are distracted by constitutional issues.” Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates acknowledged the challenges ahead for the new administration, suggesting that outlining ambitions was straightforward compared to the tougher decisions that follow, particularly regarding funding. Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, pledged conditional support for Plaid Cymru, urging the government to propose “sensible measures” that benefit the people of Wales. He also expressed willingness to collaborate on reducing mobile phone use in schools—a policy ap Iorwerth vowed to pursue—as well as renewing calls for an inquiry into grooming gangs in Wales.
Meanwhile, Reform UK announced its shadow cabinet appointments, with Helen Jenner taking the role of shadow minister for education and the Welsh language. Other appointments include James Evans for health, prevention, and sport; Jason O’Connell overseeing the economy and transport; Laura Anne Jones for farming; and Cai Parry-Jones as shadow minister for finance
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