First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth has said there was an encouraging consensus that Wales’ fiscal and borrowing powers must be revised as a matter of urgency, following a meeting with the Prime Minister in Glasgow on Friday.
In a statement after the talks, the First Minister said he had again pressed the need for Wales and the Welsh Government to have the necessary tools to better serve communities, and had raised rail funding, the Cynnal weekly child payment pilot and relations with the EU.
He said: “I was pleased to meet with the Prime Minister in Glasgow today where I once again pressed the need for Wales and the Welsh Government to have the necessary tools to better serve our communities.”
“I also reiterated the point that further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd.”
“There was an encouraging consensus that the fiscal and borrowing powers which have for so long put Wales at a disadvantage compared with other UK nations must be revised as a matter of urgency. I welcome the Prime Minister’s comments that this is now a matter of how and when.”
“On rail funding, I was pleased to hear the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to look at the £14bn pledge, and I also raised the need for the Treasury to act with urgency to enable the Welsh Government to press ahead with our Cynnal weekly child payment pilot to support the poorest families.”
“On Europe, I offered the Prime Minister my full support in pushing for a stronger relationship with the EU, urging him to go further and pursue rejoining the single market and customs union as a priority.”