Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth June Meeting with Prime Minister Starmer Cancelled
A scheduled June meeting between Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been cancelled, prompting disappointment from the Welsh Government.
Following the recent Senedd election, Downing Street had indicated the Prime Minister would meet with the leaders of the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland this month. However, a source within Plaid Cymru stated that attempts to arrange the meeting were unsuccessful, with no date finalised. A spokesperson for the First Minister attributed the cancellation to "instability in Westminster."
Downing Street maintained that "The prime minister remains committed to meeting with the first ministers as soon as possible."
Mr ap Iorwerth and Sir Keir previously spoke in May, after the Senedd election saw Plaid Cymru emerge as the largest party, ending two decades of Labour rule in Cardiff Bay. Accounts of that call differed, with the Welsh Government suggesting Sir Keir was "open to a conversation" regarding increased Senedd powers. Downing Street’s statement from the time noted discussions on "working together constructively in the national interest" and an invitation for an in-person meeting in June.
The First Minister's spokesperson expressed disappointment, adding, "The current instability in Westminster must not be allowed to hamper our ability to pursue the issues which matter to the people of Wales." The Welsh Government intends to continue pressing for fair funding and the devolution of policing, justice, welfare, the Crown Estate, and rail powers.
Separately, the Labour UK Government’s Welsh Secretary, Jo Stevens, criticised the Welsh Government in the Commons for not explicitly confirming support for the UK's full membership of NATO. The Welsh Government countered, stating that "Defence and foreign affairs are non-devolved matters reserved for the UK government," and any suggestion of undermining NATO membership is "incorrect and misleading."
