Welsh Labour MSs accuse Starmer of rolling back devolution

Eleven Welsh Labour politicians have accused the Labour UK government of rolling back devolution by bypassing ministers in Cardiff Bay to make decisions in Wales.

A letter signed by most of the party's backbench in the Senedd accused Sir Keir Starmer's government of a "constitutional outrage" by announcing a scheme which will give cash to councils for town centre improvements.

The funding will cover fixing bus shelters and providing bins, but bypasses the Welsh government which normally governs and funds local government in Wales.

The UK government was asked for comment.

It is understood Starmer and Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan discussed the issue raised by the letter at the prime minister's countryside residence Chequers on Friday.

The letter sent on Wednesday, signed by senior Labour MSs and former government ministers, said there is "increasing concern" that the UK government is failing to deliver further devolution - the system which allows Cardiff politicians to make decisions for Wales.

The letter said the UK government's Pride of Place town centre improvement programme had caused "considerable unhappiness" amongst Welsh Labour Members of the Senedd (MSs).

It said it was a "UK government programme operating in a wholly devolved area that is being designed and delivered from Whitehall".

The letter criticised the use of the Boris Johnson-era UK Internal Market Act to "impose" the new programme.

The law was controversial in part because of the powers it gave the UK government to spend money in areas that are otherwise controlled by the Welsh government.

Ministers in the Welsh government attempted to have the law overturned in the courts, the letter said, because "the Internal Market Act represented an unwarranted attack on devolution".

"For our own government to then come in and use the very same powers to act in devolved areas is at best deeply insensitive, at worst a constitutional outrage," it said.

"If this was being done by a Tory government we would be calling for a judicial review. This must never happen again".

"Wales needs and deserves to be treated as an equal part of the UK and the UK government has a responsibility to act to deliver this equality."

In response, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds said: "The signatories of this letter are correct - you cannot claim to respect Wales while designing Welsh programmes from Whitehall. It shows a deep lack of understanding and a worrying disregard for the Senedd."

Plaid Cymru's Mabon ap Gwynfor said Labour in Wales were "falling apart just months before a crucial election".

"It tells you everything you need to know about a party in complete disarray, with no influence whatsoever over their London colleagues."

A Reform UK Wales spokesperson said: "Wales was told that Labour governments at each end of the M4 would deliver for our communities, but all we've seen since the last election is infighting."

Tory Shadow Secretary of State Mims Davies said: "With rows and bitter divisions clearly engulfing the Labour Party, the two fabled Labour governments, on either end of the M4, shows what a disaster they truly are.

"They have run out of ideas for the people of Wales.

One of the letter's signatories, former counsel general Mick Antoniw, has also criticised plans to scrap jury trials for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years.

Antoniw was minister for the constitution to the former first minister Mark Drakeford, and counsel general to Drakeford and his successor Vaughan Gething before he resigned in March 2024.

On Facebook, Labour Pontypridd MS Antoniw said: "Abolishing jury trials for most offences is a step too far and an attack on our fundamental rights," adding it could "become an unmitigated political disaster for the UK government.

Plaid Cymru justice spokesman Adam Price said: "The criminal justice system as it stands does not work for Wales, but getting rid of an 800 year old right is not the answer."