STORY
Plaid Cymru has used the start of the new parliamentary session to press the UK Government for further devolution following its victory in the Welsh election. The Guardian reported that the party had tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for additional justice, infrastructure and welfare powers to be transferred to the Senedd.
The move follows a major shift in Welsh politics, with Plaid Cymru taking office after an election in which Labour lost power and Reform UK became the main opposition in the expanded Senedd. Rhun ap Iorwerth’s party narrowly missed an absolute majority, leaving the new administration to define its relationship with Westminster.
The amendment is unlikely to force immediate constitutional change, but it signals that the new Welsh Government intends to test Labour’s stated openness to reform. It also creates an early political challenge for Starmer at a time when his Government is already facing pressure from within Labour and from opposition parties.