Scotland and Wales’s first ministers, John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth, have told Andy Burnham that decisions on further devolution for local regions are matters for their own parliaments, not for the UK government in Westminster. The leaders made the point in talks held in Glasgow as debate continues over extending English-style regional powers across the United Kingdom.
Talks in Glasgow
Burnham met with Swinney and ap Iorwerth to discuss proposals around devolved employment policy and powers to support reindustrialisation at a local level. Downing Street said the meetings had been constructive, signalling that the UK government welcomes dialogue on how powers might be arranged, even as the devolved administrations emphasised their constitutional remit.
A matter for Holyrood and the Senedd
The first ministers stressed that any transfer of authority affecting Scotland and Wales must be decided by their respective legislatures — Holyrood in Scotland and the Senedd in Wales — reflecting the existing devolution settlements. Their intervention comes amid wider proposals in Westminster to give English regions increased control over economic and employment policy, which could raise questions about the relationship between UK-wide initiatives and devolved competence.
Implications and next steps
The exchanges underline ongoing tensions between calls for a more uniform regional framework in England and the distinct constitutional arrangements that apply to Scotland and Wales. Further discussions appear likely as ministers and devolved administrations weigh how to reconcile ambitions for localised powers with the legal and political limits of devolution, but the first ministers were clear that final decisions for Scotland and Wales rest with their own parliaments.