News

Government announces St David’s Day Agreement

Published

11 years ago

March 19, 2015

THE UK GOVERNMENT this week announced what it sees as a ‘St David’s Day Agreement’, though opposition parties have suggested there was no agreement.

The UK Government stated the framework’s recommendations, as follows:

Energy projects up to 350megawatts should be decided by Welsh Ministers.
The National Assembly should have the power to lower the voting age to 16 for Assembly elections.
All powers relating to Assembly and local government elections should be devolved. This includes deciding the electoral system, the number of constituencies, their boundaries, the timing of elections and the conduct of the elections themselves.
Welsh Ministers should have the power to appoint one member of the Ofcom board to represent Welsh interests.
A review should be carried out of Air Passenger Duty which could open the door for it to be devolved to Wales.

Speaking about the framework was Welsh Secretary, Stephen Crabb, who said: “These new powers create an important opportunity for Wales, they are powers with a purpose. We believe in rebalancing the economy to enable wealth to be created more fairly and evenly across the whole country. This St David’s Day package provides a toolkit to help the rebalancing of the economy here in Wales too. As a small nation, I believe we pack a much bigger punch by working together and this will need to be the way we do things if we are now to deliver this package through legislation.”

Responding to the St David’s Day announcement, First Minister, Carwyn Jones said: “I note what has been said by the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister this morning, and there is some welcome progress on certain areas. However, Wales is still not being treated with the same respect as that being afforded to Scotland and this continuing imbalanced approach is damaging to the UK. The move towards a funding floor is an important step forward, but we cannot be confident that funding for Wales has been put on a fair and sustainable footing until the detail is agreed at the next Spending Review. This is disappointing and should also be seen in the context of an unprecedented £1.5bn cut to the Welsh budget in this term.”

Plaid Cymru Leader, Leanne Wood, said: “I thank the Secretary of State for facilitating this process and Plaid Cymru entered into it in the spirit of cooperation. For reasons that have not been satisfactorily explained, however, Westminster has insisted that the people of Wales settle for a powers package that falls far short of the normal going-rate of devolution in the United Kingdom. Whilst some inclusions, such as the devolution of powers over fracking, are to be welcomed, this command paper falls well short of the powers that can help us strengthen our communities. And it goes nowhere near getting the funding settlement that Wales is owed after decades of disadvantage.”

News

Ken Skates appointed interim Welsh Labour leader

Published

7 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

WELSH Labour has appointed Ken Skates as its interim leader following the party’s bruising Senedd election result.

The decision was made after meetings of Welsh Labour’s Executive Committee and the newly elected Welsh Labour Group.

Skates, who was first elected to the Senedd in 2011, has held a number of Welsh Government roles, including Transport Secretary and Economy and Infrastructure Secretary.

He was re-elected for Fflint Wrecsam yesterday and received unanimous support from the new Welsh Labour Group.

Speaking after his appointment, Skates said: “Today is just the beginning of a process that will help us to understand what we got wrong. Because we did get it wrong.

“There is no reading of this result that endorses every action we have taken as a party, and our task now is to take the time needed and work out what has happened.

“It is a task that will require every single one of us to take part in — every member, every councillor, every MS, MP, Lord and all roles in between. But it is not a task that is beyond us.”

He added: “Welsh Labour is at its best when we are the champions of the people of Wales. Our role is to serve, and to fight for the issues that matter most.

“We are a party with an incredible history of serving Wales and her people, and we have so much more to give.”

Paying tribute to Eluned Morgan, Skates said: “I would like to thank Eluned for everything she has done over the past two years as our First Minister, and in her 30 years of service to Wales and the Labour Party.

“She broke the glass ceiling, and her role in history as the first woman to lead our party and country is an achievement second to none.”

Skates will serve as interim leader until a timetable is set for a full leadership election in line with Welsh Labour rules.

Crime

Police standoff ends after four-hour incident in Pembroke Dock

Published

37 minutes ago

May 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

ELIZABETH COURT SCENE STOOD DOWN AFTER DOMESTIC INCIDENT

A FOUR-HOUR police standoff in Pembroke Dock has ended with a 21-year-old man arrested on suspicion of inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the incident at Elizabeth Court has now been stood down and the scene released.

The man has been taken to hospital to receive medical attention.

Chief Inspector Dominic Jones said: “I want to thank local residents for their patience while we dealt with this incident. I understand that such a large police presence in a residential street is concerning to see, and I’m grateful to everyone who co-operated with our officers at the scene.

“I’d like to offer my reassurance that our units responded to an isolated domestic incident, and there was no further threat posed to the wider community. The scene has now been released, and we will investigate the full circumstances of this morning’s incident.”

Officers were called to the address this morning (Saturday, May 9), with a large police presence remaining in the area for several hours.

Eyewitnesses told The Herald that police were asking a man upstairs to come down, with tasers drawn during the incident.

Police dogs, specialist officers and what appeared to be a negotiator were also seen at the scene.

The incident lasted from around 11:00am until about 3:10pm.

Crime

Teen denies attempted murder of Milford Haven teacher

Published

4 hours ago

May 9, 2026

Tom Sinclair

TEENAGER REMANDED AHEAD OF JULY TRIAL

A 15-YEAR-old boy has denied attempting to murder a teacher during a stabbing incident at Milford Haven School.

The teenager, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (May 8).

He pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and unlawful wounding with a knife.

The charges relate to an incident at Milford Haven School on Thursday, February 5, when emergency services were called after reports that a teacher had been assaulted by a pupil carrying a weapon.

The school was placed into lockdown and pupils were later safely evacuated.

The injured teacher was taken to hospital with stab wounds, but was discharged later the same day.

Police said at the time that specialist officers were supporting the victim and the wider school community.

The teenager was remanded in custody following Friday’s hearing.

A trial is due to begin on July 6.