• Analysis
Devolution in Scotland and Wales Decided Only by Their Parliaments, First Ministers Tell Burnham
Scotland's John Swinney and Wales's Rhun ap Iorwerth told Andy Burnham in Glasgow that decisions on devolution in Scotland and Wales rest solely with their own parliaments, responding to the prime minister's push to extend English-style regional powers across the UK.
Parliaments alone hold the power
Scotland and Wales's first ministers told the prime minister in Glasgow that decisions on local devolution rest solely with their parliaments, pushing back on his bid to extend English-style regional empowerment across the UK. The story of the talks is not what was agreed in the room but who holds the power to decide.
Burnham met John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth to discuss localised employment and reindustrialisation powers. The Welsh first minister said he pressed his own case directly and reiterated that "further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd". Swinney said afterwards he would work constructively and collaboratively on devolving more powers to his government, and that Burnham assured him "he will not bypass the Scottish parliament in this endeavour".
"Further devolution within Wales is a matter for the Senedd and only the Senedd."
Westminster presses for a common pace
The prime minister said he hoped all four UK nations would move at the same pace on devolution, particularly on budget measures giving English mayors more powers over tax revenues. Downing Street characterised the Glasgow talks as constructive.
Burnham said the budget contained further measures on regional devolution across England and that he did not want to see Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland left behind.
Streeting's attack and the Scottish response
Before the talks, defence secretary Wes Streeting criticised Swinney's government for hoarding powers it acquired from Westminster rather than devolving them further. Streeting said the Scottish government treats devolution as a transfer from Westminster to Holyrood, while the challenge Burnham sets out is different.
A Scottish official pushed back, framing comments such as Streeting's as "lecturing us on devolution".
Why an English model may not fit Wales
The Welsh counter-argument came from within. Rhun ap Iorwerth said shortly before the summit that Burnham's first budget, which the Welsh government called a real-terms funding cut for Wales, showed the prime minister was "not serious about Wales".
Lee Waters, a former Welsh government minister who sat in the Senedd until May's elections, warned against transplanting the metro mayor model:
- •An English 'region' typically covers between 1.5 and 3 million people, while Welsh regions cover much less dense areas.
- •Wales may match Greater Manchester in population, Waters said, but the parallel ends there.
- •The role Burnham champions for metro mayors is, in many respects, already performed by the Welsh government, he argued.
"The role the new prime minister champions for metro mayors is, in many respects, already performed by the Welsh government."
Plaid Cymru, which won May's Senedd elections and put nationalists in office in all three Celtic nations for the first time, has formally asked Burnham to give Wales the same devolved powers as Scotland.
Swinney said after the summit he would work constructively on devolving more powers to his government, with Burnham's assurance that he will not bypass the Scottish parliament.
