Keir Starmer warned his cabinet against an “overly deferential” approach to the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish governments, according to a leaked memo obtained by Plaid Cymru. The document, dated December, instructed ministers to be prepared to make spending decisions “even when devolved governments may oppose this”.
The memo came shortly after a third of Welsh Labour members of the Senedd wrote to the prime minister expressing “increasing concern” over what they described as Westminster’s failure to devolve further functions, including justice and policing. The letter called the government’s handling of a funding row “at best deeply insensitive, at worst a constitutional outrage”.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, SNP MP Stephen Gethins challenged Starmer over the leak, suggesting it showed fear of upcoming elections. The prime minister replied: “I’m not going to make any apologies for spending more money in Scotland or in Wales to improve people’s lives.”
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth raised the document with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, calling it Starmer’s “own version of Boris Johnson’s muscular unionism”. Morgan insisted devolution must be respected, adding she has always been clear with Starmer on that issue. Downing Street said the government is committed to upholding the devolution settlement “with mutual respect and partnership”.
The leak is seen as further evidence of internal Welsh Labour tensions as the party heads into the Senedd elections, where it is polling third or fourth. Political observers suggest Plaid Cymru could form the next Welsh government, ending Labour’s century-long dominance, while Reform UK may become the largest opposition party.
