Welsh first minister confirms he raised independence with Starmer

Wales' first minister has confirmed he raised Welsh independence from the United Kingdom with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in a call last week.

In his first appearance in the Senedd since he was sworn in to lead the Welsh government, Rhun ap Iorwerth said he wants to lead a "national conversation" in the country's ability to go it alone.

He used his first statement to the Welsh Parliament as first minister to press the case for more powers and funding for Wales' institutions, and set out his priorities including cutting waiting lists and tackling child poverty.

But Reform's Welsh leader Dan Thomas accused ap Iorwerth of being "distracted by constitutional issues".

Plaid Cymru has ruled out trying to hold a referendum on independence in the first term of a government, but has said it will set up a national commission that would look at building the case for Wales as a separate nation state.

Ap Iorwerth spoke to Sir Keir days after his victory in the Senedd election, where the once-dominant Welsh Labour party were decimated from holding half of the seats to less than 10%.

After the call, the Welsh government claimed the prime minister had been "open to a conversation" about giving the Senedd more powers.

But others familiar with the conversation had expressed surprise that ap Iorwerth had brought up Wales leaving the UK.

Questioned about the matter by Reform's Thomas, ap Iorwerth told the Senedd: "Yes, I mentioned independence."

"I have a level of ambition for my nation, where I said that I want to lead a national conversation creating that confidence in our ability, undoubtedly, to be an independent nation like so many countries like ours," he said.

He said his message to the prime minister was: "We deal with the issues that we deal with now, and we set a journey that the people of Wales will ultimately have to decide on the trajectory and the pace of."

Ap Iorwerth made the comments after delivering a statement on his priorities for the first ever Plaid Cymru Welsh government, saying he expected Wales to be "treated as an equal partner" in discussions with Sir Keir.

The first minister said he wanted to make "early progress" on the devolution of justice and policing, the crown estate, funding from High Speed 2 rail, and a "fair funding formula", all issues he said had "majority support in this chamber".

The Plaid leader set out a number of "core missions", including "cutting waiting lists, raising standards in our schools, creating jobs, supporting businesses, tackling child poverty, helping households with the cost-of-living crisis and standing up for Wales".

A plan will be put in place to cut waiting times in the NHS, he said, and a summit held to deliver a roadmap for a "sustainable shift" of resources towards primary care, which includes GPs.

Work had started on a literacy and numeracy plan, he said, while promising the "most generous" childcare plan in the UK, with 20 hours of funded care per week for 48 weeks a year for all children aged nine months to four years old.

There were no timescales for most of the schemes he announced, although he said children from families that receive universal credit will get free school meals by September.

"By realising these priorities, we are building the nation people deserve", ap Iorwerth said.

In response, Dan Thomas told the first minister the election showed the political landscape in Wales had changed.

"After decades of Welsh politics looking exactly the same, the people of Wales have finally said enough is enough, with almost a third of voters trusting Reform to bring about real change," he said.

Thomas argued that voters were more interested in issues like the cost-of-living and the NHS than the constitution, and said reports of independence in the first call with the prime minister was disappointing.

"Most people in Wales are asking far more basic questions: 'Can I get a GP appointment? Will my child receive a decent education? Can I afford my bills? Will my family have opportunities in Wales in four years' time?" he said.

"These are the issues that matter, and, while your statement today implies that these are your priorities, raising independence with the UK government suggests that you are distracted by constitutional issues."

He said people in Wales will ask where the progress is on funding or rail, and what the alternative is if "those requests have been rejected".

"There is little appetite among ordinary Welsh people for endless constitutional expansion while basic services struggle," he said.

Ken Skates, Welsh Labour leader, wished the first minister and his colleagues well, and said it was now ap Iorwerth's turn to answer "awkward questions" having asked them when he was in opposition.

Setting out priorities an ambitions was the "easy part of the job", Skates said.

"Real leadership, real government, and the real decisions kick in when you have to determine the how, what you won't do, what you'll cut, what you won't pay for," he said.

Plaid's childcare policy was announced seven months before, he said, "and still, the public haven't had an answer to that very basic question of how it will be funded".

Ap Iorwerth said he understood there would be a focus on the finances of his childcare scheme, "which we know will be manageable".

It is thought the scheme would cost £400m once it is fully rolled out.

Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said the Tories will support the Plaid government if it brings "forward sensible measures that will genuinely improve the lives of people here in Wales".

"When we feel that those ambitions are being undermined by decisions that your government takes, we will hold your feet to the fire," he said.

He said there could be common ground over a manifesto pledge to restrict the use of mobile phones in schools, and he reiterated his long-standing call for a Welsh inquiry into grooming gangs.

Ap Iorwerth said he will "absolutely" pursue the pledge to restrict mobile phone use.

After the Senedd session Reform UK announced its shadow cabinet, with its deputy Welsh leader Helen Jenner as shadow cabinet minister for education and the Welsh language.

Others included James Evans as shadow cabinet minister for health, prevention and sport, Jason O'Connell on the economy and transport, and Laura Anne Jones for farming.

Meanwhile Cai Parry-Jones will be shadow cabinet minister for finance.