Is the “partnership in power” between the UK and Welsh governments just a myth? Labour’s catchy phrase suggests unity, but critics argue otherwise. This term has been tossed around 49 times in Senedd sessions since January 2025. What’s it really meant to achieve?
Plaid Cymru, particularly, questions its substance. MS Cefin Campbell highlighted how new PIP benefit criteria might plunge thousands in Wales further into poverty. Llyr Gruffydd criticised the lack of consultation on agricultural funding. And when a new UK-EU deal arrived, it seemed even the First Minister wasn’t in the loop.
Opponents claim a different party might wield more influence, unshackled by party lines. The recent disconnects—like uncommunicated changes to business rates and police reform—expose gaps wider than the M4. Welsh ministers seem blindsided; while England plots changes, Wales scrambles to catch up.
For instance, the UK’s business rates cut for pubs came as a surprise. Unlike their English counterparts, Welsh pub owners remain in the dark, budgets in limbo. Similarly, the UK’s police reform plans demand Welsh governors to play catch-up, all while engaging in a fraught debate over devolving more powers.
Are these snags just the cost of governing, or does it point to deeper communication breakdowns? Once, quick to critique Boris Johnson’s pandemic communication, Labour may find itself under the same spotlight.
While Eluned Morgan insists she can ring up Keir Starmer, these issues go beyond phone calls. They touch lives across Wales, affecting livelihoods, economies, and futures. Time to rethink the effectiveness of this ‘partnership’? England and Wales might be politically linked, but the cracks in coordination suggest there’s room for improvement.
The big question remains: Is this partnership in power driven by politics, or is it failing to truly serve the people? What do you think?