Rhun ap Iorwerth says he will press the new Prime Minister for powers over policing, railways and Wales’ natural resources when the two leaders meet.

FIRST MINISTER Rhun ap Iorwerth has said he believes Andy Burnham is more willing to listen to Wales’ demands for further devolution than his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer.

The Plaid Cymru leader is expected to hold an introductory meeting with the new Prime Minister on Thursday, following a telephone conversation between the pair earlier this week.

Mr ap Iorwerth said he hoped the change in leadership at Westminster would provide an opportunity to take Welsh devolution to the “next level”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday, he said: “I had a conversation with Andy Burnham yesterday, congratulated him on becoming Prime Minister, and we both made it clear to each other that we wanted to have a positive relationship, a constructive relationship.

“I know that he understands devolution for Manchester. I want to help him understand what devolution means in Wales and what tools we need to make it work better.”

The First Minister said his government had been elected with a mandate to seek greater control over policing and justice, rail services and funding, as well as Wales’ natural resources.

He said: “There is a list, if you like, of things that we need to devolve now in order to move the story of Wales, the story of devolution, on to the next level.

“It’s clear that we now have a Prime Minister who is open to listening, perhaps in a way that Keir Starmer wasn’t, and I’m eager to do everything that I can to make the case for Wales.”

A planned meeting between Mr ap Iorwerth and Sir Keir failed to take place before the former Prime Minister left office, with the First Minister previously blaming “chaos in Westminster”.

Plaid Cymru formed the Welsh Government in May after ending more than two decades of Welsh Labour rule at the Senedd election.

Mr Burnham has extensive experience of devolved government after serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he repeatedly called for greater powers and funding to be transferred away from Westminster.

However, the new Prime Minister has sought to play down the prospect of major constitutional reform.

During conversations with the leaders of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on Tuesday, Mr Burnham said his immediate focus would be on “practical measures” rather than constitutional changes or further independence referendums.

Mr ap Iorwerth supports Welsh independence but has said his government will not seek to hold an independence referendum during its first term.

Thursday’s meeting is expected to focus on the working relationship between the Welsh and UK governments, as well as funding, transport and the future balance of devolved powers.

Welsh Labour urges Plaid Cymru Government to match Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s cost-of-living measure

BUS passengers in Wales could be left paying more than people across the border after the UK Government announced a new £2 cap on single fares in England.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed on Wednesday (July 22) that eligible single bus journeys in England will be capped at £2 from January 1, 2027.

The measure, which will run throughout 2027, will reduce the existing maximum fare from £3 and is being presented as one of the new Prime Minister’s first steps to ease pressure on household finances.

However, transport policy is devolved, meaning the announcement will not automatically reduce fares in Wales.

Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates has now called on the Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government to introduce its own £2 limit, warning that passengers in Wales risk paying more than those making comparable journeys in England.

Mr Skates said: “It’s great to see the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham acting quickly to give families some breathing space with the cost of living.

“Introducing a £2 bus fare cap in Wales is of course a decision for the Welsh Government. That’s why Welsh Labour had a manifesto commitment to do just that.

“This Plaid Cymru Government should urgently look to introduce a cap in Wales. Otherwise people in Wales will be left paying more for bus travel than our neighbours across the border.”

The UK Government said its scheme would be supported by an additional £454m, including funding for the devolved governments.

That could provide additional resources for Wales, although it will be for Welsh ministers to decide whether any funding received is used to match the £2 fare cap or spent elsewhere.

The distinction is particularly important in rural and coastal communities, where passengers often travel longer distances to reach employment, hospitals, education and essential services.

In Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, limited routes and less frequent services already mean many residents have little choice over when or how they travel. Without a national fare ceiling, the price of journeys can also vary considerably between routes and operators.

Wales currently has a £1 single fare and £3 day-ticket scheme for children and young people aged between five and 21 on participating services. People aged 60 and over, along with eligible disabled passengers, can also travel free using concessionary passes.

However, most passengers aged between 22 and 59 are not covered by a national single-fare cap.

Before May’s Senedd election, Welsh Labour promised to introduce a £2 limit for adult single journeys and create 100 additional bus routes if it formed the next Welsh Government.

Plaid Cymru instead pledged to continue the £1 youth scheme and concessionary passes while expanding tap-on, tap-off ticketing and introducing daily fare caps across bus and rail services.

The new Welsh Government has not yet announced that it will introduce a universal £2 single fare.

The row is likely to increase pressure on ministers to explain whether Wales will match the English scheme before it begins in January, particularly if additional funding is provided to Cardiff as part of the UK Government’s package.

Announcing the English cap, Mr Burnham said affordable transport was essential and that nobody should be priced out of access to employment, education, healthcare or family.

The Prime Minister said: “Lower fares will help people get to where they need to, giving them breathing space to help with the cost of living.”

For passengers in Wales, the question is now whether the same breathing space will be offered on this side of the border.

Stephen Kinnock enters Cabinet promising to champion Wales as pressure grows for further devolution

FORMER Labour leader Lord Neil Kinnock has spoken of his pride after his son, Stephen Kinnock, was appointed Secretary of State for Wales.

The Aberafan Maesteg MP was promoted to the Cabinet by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday (July 20), replacing Cardiff East MP Jo Stevens.

It is Mr Kinnock’s first Cabinet position, having previously served as a health minister in the UK Government.

Lord Kinnock, who led Labour between 1983 and 1992, said his son was “thrilled to bits” when they spoke late on Monday night.

He told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: “We had our midnight conversation, not the first in our lives it has to be said, and usually that was because he came home late.

“It was a delight.”

Lord Kinnock, 84, said his son had earned the appointment through “a lifetime of action and service” and would now be able to influence UK Government decisions affecting Wales directly.

Stephen Kinnock described becoming Welsh Secretary as “the privilege of my life” and promised to provide a strong voice for Wales around the Cabinet table.

He said he would work with the Welsh Government, councils and institutions across the country to secure better outcomes for Welsh communities.

Mr Kinnock added: “Wales succeeds when we all pull in the same direction.

“As Welsh Secretary, I will ensure that the Wales Office continues to champion Wales within the UK Government and that the needs of the Welsh people are prioritised.”

He said his ambition was to help build “a strong Wales within a strong United Kingdom”, with economic growth reaching communities across the country.

The appointment comes at a politically important time for Labour following the party’s heavy defeat in the Senedd election in May.

Plaid Cymru now leads the Welsh Government under First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, while Welsh Labour is attempting to rebuild under its new leader, Ken Skates.

Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi described the Cabinet reshuffle as a “brutal 24 hours” for some Labour colleagues.

She said Mr Burnham and Mr Kinnock faced the task of winning back voters who had switched from Labour to Plaid Cymru or Reform UK.

The new Welsh Secretary is also likely to face immediate pressure over further devolution.

During his first conversation with Mr Burnham as Prime Minister, Mr ap Iorwerth called for powers over policing, justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate to be transferred to Wales.

The First Minister said the change of leadership at Westminster presented an opportunity to redefine relations between the UK and Welsh governments.

He urged Mr Burnham to turn his support for devolution into action by strengthening the Senedd rather than bypassing it.

Downing Street said the Prime Minister wanted a “collaborative, practical and pragmatic” relationship with the devolved administrations.

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts, congratulated Mr Kinnock but repeated her party’s view that the position of Welsh Secretary had become an “anachronism” following devolution.

She said Plaid would nevertheless seek a constructive working relationship with him and press the UK Government over rail funding, the Crown Estate, justice and policing.

Ms Saville Roberts said Plaid’s Senedd election victory had given it a clear mandate which Westminster should respect.

Jo Stevens held the Welsh Secretary post from July 2024 until Mr Burnham’s reshuffle.

She said serving in the role had been “a privilege and an honour” and pointed to what she described as major achievements during her time in office.

These included a record devolution-era funding settlement for Welsh public services, support for the steel industry, investment in a proposed new nuclear development at Wylfa and a £14bn commitment for Welsh railways.

Ms Stevens wished both the new Prime Minister and her successor well, saying she believed they would work with Ken Skates to deliver for Wales.

Who is Stephen Kinnock?

Stephen Kinnock was born in Tredegar in 1970 and is the son of Neil Kinnock and the late Glenys Kinnock, who served as an MEP, government minister and member of the House of Lords.

He is married to former Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, with whom he has two children.

Before entering Parliament, he worked for the British Council and held senior roles in international business and public affairs.

He was first elected as MP for Aberavon in 2015 and continued to represent the area when the constituency became Aberafan Maesteg following boundary changes.

Mr Kinnock served as a junior health minister after Labour returned to power at Westminster in 2024.

He now takes charge of the Wales Office and becomes Wales’ principal representative within the new Prime Minister’s Cabinet.