Andy Burnham promises real power for Welsh communities at Labour conference
Andy Burnham has promised to decentralise authority to local communities ahead of a party gathering, though the proposal has triggered immediate internal resistance.
Andy Burnham has promised to decentralise authority to local communities ahead of a party gathering, though the proposal has triggered immediate internal resistance from senior party figures.
The first Welsh Labour conference since a recent electoral rout convened at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, drawing party members to assess a historic defeat. Labour slid from governing in Cardiff Bay to a distant third place, allowing Plaid Cymru to take office ahead of Reform UK. The resulting political earthquake unseated Baroness Eluned Morgan as first minister, prompting a leadership succession by Ken Skates.
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Evaluating the Devolution Push
Addressing delegates, Prime Minister Andy Burnham argued that governance from Westminster should not terminate at the Senedd. Instead, he advocated for pushing authority deeper into Welsh regions, towns, and postcodes according to primary reporting. Burnham stated that the initial decades of devolution centered on establishing a national voice, while the next phase must empower every locality.
Independent analysis of the electoral setback was commissioned from Public First and presented by academic Professor Anand Menon. Mr Skates acknowledged that the results were catastrophic, noting that voters felt the administration had stopped listening, let public services lag, and taken public support for granted.
| Political Figure | Role / Context | Stance on Devolution / Reform |
|---|---|---|
| Andy Burnham | Prime Minister | Wants powers pushed past the Senedd down to Welsh regions, towns, and postcodes. |
| Ken Skates | Welsh Labour Leader | Acknowledged a fundamental reset moment is needed to earn back public trust. |
| Lee Waters | Former Welsh Transport Minister | Argued that transposing an English mayoral worldview onto Welsh political geography does not work. |
| Alun Davies | Former Welsh Local Government Minister | Recalled facing internal opposition from Westminster MPs when attempting council reforms in 2018. |
Internal Friction and Geographic Reality
The Prime Minister's vision met swift pushback from former Welsh government ministers reported by the BBC. Lee Waters criticized the applicability of English regional models to Wales, pointing out that English regions typically span millions of residents, whereas Welsh areas feature much lower population density. Waters argued that Burnham's approach would fragment authority in a manner opposite to Greater Manchester.
Alun Davies echoed those concerns, recounting his own failed 2018 attempt to merge and reorganize Wales' 22 local authorities—a structure dating back to the 1990s. Davies asserted that he was blocked by Westminster colleagues at every turn. Meanwhile, Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth welcomed discussions on spending powers but maintained that further internal devolution remains strictly a matter for the Senedd, which oversees local government. Ap Iorwerth noted plans to draft a green paper addressing local authority regional cooperation, with potential legislation anticipated after the next election in 2030.
Weighing in on the debate, Welsh Secretary Stephen Kinnock told the Sunday Supplement on BBC Radio Wales that the UK administration fully respects the existing devolution settlement. Kinnock emphasized that dictating structural changes to local authorities is not the role of Westminster, insisting that progress requires cooperation between the governments and local councils.
What to Watch Next
- Implementation of recommendations from the Public First review presented by Professor Anand Menon.
- Further discussions between the UK government and devolved administrations regarding employment support devolution.
- The publication of the Welsh government green paper addressing local authority regional cooperation ahead of potential 2030 legislation.
