Rhun ap Iorwerth confirmed he discussed Welsh independence with Keir Starmer, drawing criticism that he is distracted from public services.
Wales’ first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has confirmed he raised Welsh independence with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a call last week, as he used his first Senedd appearance since taking office to argue for more powers and funding for Wales.
The Plaid Cymru leader said he wanted to lead a “national conversation” about Wales’ ability to stand on its own, while also insisting that voters would decide the country’s path and pace. The issue drew immediate criticism from Reform’s Welsh leader, Dan Thomas, who accused him of being distracted by constitutional questions when public services and household finances are under pressure.
Ap Iorwerth told the Senedd: “Yes, I mentioned independence.” He said his message to the prime minister was that Wales should deal with current pressures while beginning “a journey” whose direction would ultimately be determined by the people of Wales.
The exchange came days after Plaid Cymru’s Senedd election victory and the formation of the first Plaid-led Welsh government. Welsh Labour, once dominant in Welsh politics, fell from holding half the seats to less than 10%, according to the source report.
Plaid has ruled out seeking an independence referendum in its first term, but has said it will establish a national commission to develop the case for Wales as a separate nation state. After ap Iorwerth’s call with Starmer, the Welsh government said the prime minister had been open to discussing more powers for the Senedd.
In his statement to the Welsh Parliament, ap Iorwerth said he expected Wales to be treated as “an equal partner” in talks with the UK government. He called for early progress on the devolution of justice and policing, the Crown Estate, funding linked to High Speed 2 rail, and what he described as a fairer funding formula.
He also set out domestic priorities, including cutting NHS waiting lists, improving school standards, creating jobs, supporting businesses, tackling child poverty and helping households with the cost of living. He said work had begun on a literacy and numeracy plan, and promised 20 hours of funded childcare per week for 48 weeks a year for children aged nine months to four years old.
The first minister gave few timetables for the pledges, though he said children from families receiving universal credit would get free school meals by September. The childcare plan is thought to cost £400m once fully rolled out, and ap Iorwerth said the funding would be “manageable.”
Opposition leaders signalled they would press the new government on delivery. Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates said setting out priorities was the easy part and that governing would require hard choices over what to fund. Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said his party would support sensible measures but would challenge decisions it believed undermined Welsh interests.
The next test for ap Iorwerth will be turning a broad programme on powers, public services and household support into funded policies, while managing pressure from opponents who argue the constitution should not dominate the early days of his government.
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