Scottish and Welsh Leaders Reject English-Style Regional Powers Expansion
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney and Wales’ First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth have firmly rejected Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s attempts to extend English-style devolution across the United Kingdom, insisting that decisions on further local powers rest solely with their respective parliaments.
The first ministers met with Burnham in Glasgow on Friday to discuss localised employment and reindustrialisation powers, with Downing Street describing the talks as constructive. However, underlying tensions remain as Westminster pushes for greater regional autonomy mirroring England’s mayoral system.
Defence Secretary Criticises Holyrood’s Power Concentration
Before the summit, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting sparked controversy by criticising the Scottish Government for allegedly hoarding powers transferred from Westminster rather than devolving them further to local councils.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, Streeting questioned whether the SNP administration was genuinely committed to decentralising authority: “One of the critiques we have is that for the Scottish government, devolution is often about transferring power, responsibility, resources from Westminster to Holyrood. The challenge Andy Burnham is setting out is: ‘What about devolving more power also from Holyrood to local government across Scotland?'”
The comments were characterised by Scottish officials as unwelcome lectures on devolution, highlighting ongoing friction between Westminster and Holyrood.
Budget Dispute Fuels Welsh Tensions
Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth used the Glasgow meeting to press Burnham on his desire for enhanced powers, while simultaneously expressing concerns about funding levels.
“I also reiterated the point that further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd,” ap Iorwerth stated, emphasising Welsh parliamentary sovereignty over domestic constitutional arrangements.
His criticism followed Plaid Cymru’s formal request for Wales to receive equivalent devolved powers to Scotland, coming after their victory in May’s Senedd elections. Additionally, ap Iorwerth condemned Burnham’s first budget as delivering real-terms funding cuts to Wales, suggesting the Prime Minister was “not serious about Wales.”
Northern Ireland Absence Highlights Political Divisions
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill was scheduled to attend the discussions but withdrew following a political dispute between Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party. Burnham described her absence as “disappointing.”
The Prime Minister expressed his ambition for all four UK nations to progress at similar rates on devolution, particularly regarding budgetary measures announced this week that will grant English mayors increased authority over tax revenues.
“There were further measures in the budget around regional devolution across all of England, and I don’t want to see Scotland left behind. I don’t want to see Wales left behind, but also, crucially, I don’t want to see Northern Ireland left behind,” Burnham said.
Former Welsh Government minister Lee Waters cautioned against directly applying English regional models to Wales, noting fundamental differences in population density and governance structures between the two nations.
“Transposing an English mayoral worldview onto a very different political geography just doesn’t work,” Waters argued. “Wales may be a similar population size to the PM’s former mayoralty area, but that’s where the parallel ends.”
Swinney maintained a conciliatory tone after the summit, pledging to work “constructively and collaboratively” while confirming that Burnham had assured him Westminster would not bypass the Scottish Parliament in pursuing devolution objectives.
Why it Matters
This confrontation represents a critical test of inter-governmental relations within the United Kingdom, as Prime Minister Burnham attempts to harmonise constitutional reform across all four nations. The resistance from Scotland and Wales signals deep-seated concerns about Westminster’s approach to devolution, potentially undermining efforts to create a more unified UK governance framework. With Plaid Cymru now holding power in Wales and the SNP maintaining control in Scotland, the Celtic nations are increasingly asserting their distinct political identities and constitutional preferences. The outcome of these tensions will significantly shape the future structure of British democracy and determine whether devolution evolves into genuine federalism or remains constrained by Westminster’s overarching authority.
