Prime Minister Andy Burnham will tell Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth that he wants to put power back in the hands of the Welsh people as the pair meet at the National Economic Council in Glasgow.
Writing about the meeting, Burnham recalled a visit to the Port Talbot steelworks shortly after becoming Prime Minister, where he heard workers and apprentices speak about their pride in their work and their Welsh heritage, but also their uncertainty about their future and the future of the steelworks.
Offer to devolve employment support
Burnham said he would extend an offer to devolve more employment support, on the condition that it reaches down into Wales' regions and communities. He also said the two leaders would explore how to improve city-region deals to encourage growth and build infrastructure.
The Prime Minister said Number 10 North, set up to be the nerve centre of devolving power, would be at the First Minister's disposal to tear down any barriers he faces.
Devolution beyond Cardiff Bay
Burnham said the offer comes with a challenge, adding that devolution cannot stop at Cardiff Bay. He said pushing power out does not just mean passing it between different politicians, but putting it in the hands of people and communities, such as the workers and apprentices at Port Talbot.
He said the UK Government will not tell the Welsh Government how to do it, but is asking that decisions on things like housing, transport and infrastructure empower and benefit regions.
Budget measures for Wales
Burnham said his focus will remain on providing breathing room today and bringing back hope for the future for the people of Wales and across the UK. He pointed to Budget announcements this week on additional support for energy bills and reducing the cost of food.
He said thousands of low-income pensioners in Wales will pay less tax, or none at all, on their income, and that increasing the National Living Wage will benefit workers across Wales. He also said plans to back growth and investment in defence, energy and transport will support thousands of jobs and put Wales at the heart of national security, the energy transition and reindustrialisation, with an extra £450 million funding public services such as the NHS.
Burnham concluded by saying he wanted to do politics differently, with place first, not party first, and called for pushing power out of Westminster and Cardiff Bay and into the hands of the Welsh people.
