First Ministers Tell Burnham Local Devolution Is Theirs to Decide
Andy Burnham chaired his first National Economic Council for the nations in Glasgow and urged all four nations to “move together” on handing power to regions. John Swinney and Rhun ap Iorwerth agreed to work with him. But both insisted that further devolution within Scotland and Wales was a matter for Holyrood and the Senedd alone. Northern Ireland sent only officials after a row between Sinn Féin and the DUP.
“It’s really important we all move at the same pace together, and I won’t allow anything to delay that,” Burnham said. Downing Street said it would review the issues Swinney raised but ruled out a second independence referendum. Before the summit, ap Iorwerth said the Budget showed Burnham was “not serious about Wales”. Wes Streeting added to the friction by accusing the Scottish government of hoarding powers. Burnham called Michelle O’Neill’s absence “disappointing”, and the Sinn Féin MP John Finucane called it a “disgrace”.