‘The people of Wales have sent Westminster a clear message – you cannot ignore our voices any longer’ – Plaid Cymru

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Plaid Cymru to push for a new Wales Bill and call for more powers

Today (Monday 18 May) Plaid Cymru have tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a new Wales Bill. The amendment sets out calls for stronger powers, including the devolution of rail infrastructure, the Crown Estate, justice and policing, water and social security to Wales. 

Plaid Cymru have called for the Barnett Formula to be replaced with a settlement that reflects Wales’s needs and to end the UK Government’s underfunding of non-devolved areas. In addition to this, they have called for the Welsh Government’s capital borrowing capacity to be increased. 

Liz Saville Roberts MP, the party’s leader in Westminster said that the people of Wales can see that they are not getting  ‘fair treatment’ from Westminster and that her party now has a clear mandate  to fight for these powers.  

Plaid Cymru brought Labour’s 100-year domination in Wales to an end on 7 May by becoming the largest party. Last week, Rhun ap Iorwerth was elected First Minister and announced the cabinet of his Plaid Cymru Welsh Government.  

On Thursday (14 May) Rhun ap Iorwerth and Keir Starmer had their first call. The UK Prime Minster confirmed he would be open to a conversation on powers relating to devolution after the First Minister of Wales made clear he wished to negotiate on the Barnett formula, fair funding, borrowing powers, rail and further devolution.

Plaid Cymru Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts said:   

“The Senedd election result represents something far bigger than just a rejection of Labour’s failed status quo and Reform’s fear-driven division. The growth in support for Plaid Cymru in every region of Wales shows a fundamental shift in people’s hope and aspirations for our nation. This isn’t as good as it gets for Wales, and Plaid Cymru have shown that with our ambitious and credible plans for government. 

“People can also see that Wales doesn’t get the fair treatment that we deserve. From the injustice of HS2 to wealth from our natural resources being siphoned off to Westminster, to the chronic underfunding of key services. That is why they voted for Plaid Cymru, and we now have a clear mandate to fight for these powers. 

“It was disappointing that the King’s Speech failed to match the people of Wales’s appetite for major change. Plaid Cymru has tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a new Wales Bill in which we will set out why and how stronger powers and fair funding for our nation are necessary to bring about the change Wales needs. 

“If Keir Starmer is serious about being ‘open’ to discussing more powers for Wales, then his Government should listen to our demands for a new Wales Bill. The people of Wales have sent Westminster a clear message – you cannot ignore our voices any longer.”