THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has stood down the critical incident declared on 26 June following three days of sustained pressure linked to the extreme heat.

The service said demand has now begun to reduce, although it remains under significant pressure.

Members of the public are still being urged to call 999 only in serious or life-threatening emergencies.

For less urgent health concerns, people are being asked to use NHS 111 Wales or the online Albot service for advice and support.

The Trust thanked staff, volunteers, partner organisations and the public for their patience, professionalism and support during what it described as an exceptionally challenging period.

Former Greater Manchester mayor promises radical devolution agenda after sweeping Makerfield victory

ANDY BURNHAM has used his first major policy speech since returning to Westminster to set out a blueprint for government, promising the biggest transfer of power away from Whitehall in modern times and unveiling plans for a new “No 10 North” in Manchester.

Speaking at the People’s History Museum on Monday, Burnham presented himself as the politician capable of breaking what he described as Britain’s cycle of economic stagnation, political division and over-centralised government.

The speech is widely being seen as his opening pitch to the country ahead of his expected move into Downing Street next month.

Burnham enters the contest from a position of strength after winning the Makerfield by-election earlier this month with a landslide majority. The result marked his return to Parliament and cleared the way for his challenge to succeed Keir Starmer.

At the heart of the speech was a promise to deliver “good growth in every postcode”, with Burnham arguing that Britain can no longer rely on decisions being made almost exclusively in London.

He said the UK remained one of the most centralised countries in the developed world and claimed the current system was failing the north, the south, London and the wider regions alike.

“The whole country suffers when the regions and nations are not meeting their potential,” he said.

Burnham argued that economic growth should be driven from communities and regions rather than directed from Whitehall, promising what he called “the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”.

The headline announcement was the creation of a permanent northern operation for the Prime Minister’s Office.

Burnham said a new No 10 North would be based in Manchester, but insisted it would not simply move power from London to one city.

“The job of No 10 North will be to make power flow into the Midlands, into the South West, into the East of England and yes, into London,” he said.

Burnham used the speech to outline what he calls “Manchesterism” — an approach shaped by his years running Greater Manchester.

The model combines sound public finances, local leadership, infrastructure investment, housing, universities, business, public services and trade unions working together to drive growth.

He said his time in Greater Manchester had shown that a different style of politics was possible, based on “place first, not party first” and “problem solving, not point scoring”.

Burnham also attacked Westminster culture, saying Parliament had become increasingly fragmented and disconnected from the communities MPs represent.

He promised a more collaborative style of government and said MPs should be allowed to be “authentic representatives” rather than being controlled by fear of the whipping system.

He also said local government had been left “threadbare”, with councils struggling to meet basic responsibilities while national government had grown larger since the pandemic.

The speech was quickly attacked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who dismissed Burnham’s proposals as “more public control, more regulation, more taxes”. Reform UK figures also criticised him for not taking questions from journalists after the speech.

For Wales, the speech will be watched closely because of its focus on devolution, regional growth and shifting power away from Westminster.

His argument that decisions should be taken closer to communities is likely to resonate with ongoing debates about transport, healthcare, economic investment and local government powers in Wales.

With Labour’s leadership transition expected to conclude within weeks, Burnham’s Manchester speech offered the clearest indication yet of how he intends to govern: less power concentrated in Whitehall, more influence for regions and nations, and a long-term focus on rebuilding local economies and living standards.

RESIDENTS and businesses in Milford Haven will have the chance to learn more about a major flood defence project next month as plans for the Havens Head and Lower Priory Flood Alleviation Scheme move forward.

Pembrokeshire County Council has announced a community information event to give local people an opportunity to view the proposed works and speak directly with members of the project team before construction begins.

The scheme, which is being delivered in partnership with the Port of Milford Haven, Walters UK and WSP, is funded by the Welsh Government and aims to reduce the risk of flooding to homes, businesses and key infrastructure in the Havens Head and Lower Priory areas of Milford Haven.

According to the council, the project is designed not only to reduce flood risk but also to strengthen the community’s resilience to future flooding events.

Residents will be able to examine plans, ask questions and discuss the proposals with engineers and project representatives at a drop-in event taking place on:

Tuesday, July 7, 2026
9:00am to 5:00pm
The Atrium, Milford Haven Port Authority, Sybil House, The Docks, Milford Haven, SA73 3AA

In an invitation circulated to stakeholders, Coastal, Rivers and Drainage Team Manager Angharad Llewelyn said the event would allow members of the public to learn more about the project and speak directly with the team before works commence.

The Havens Head and Lower Priory area has experienced flooding concerns in the past, with the new scheme forming part of wider efforts to protect vulnerable parts of Milford Haven from the increasing threat posed by extreme weather and rising flood risks.

Anyone interested in the project is encouraged to attend the event at any time during the day to view the proposals and discuss the plans with those involved in delivering the scheme.