A significant rift has opened within the Labour Party, as senior figures in Wales have launched a stinging rebuke of Sir Keir Starmer's government. Members of the Welsh Parliament, the Senedd, have accused the UK Labour leadership of actively rolling back the principles of devolution and centralising power in Westminster.
A Coordinated Critique from Cardiff Bay
The criticism, detailed in a letter seen by The Guardian, was coordinated by Labour members of the Senedd. It expresses profound concern that decisions affecting Wales are being made without proper consultation from the devolved government in Cardiff. The letter is a clear signal that the post-election harmony within the party is fracturing over fundamental constitutional issues.
Key figures behind the move include Vaughan Gething, the First Minister of Wales, and other senior Welsh Labour ministers. Their central argument is that the UK government's current approach risks undermining the devolution settlement that has been in place since 1999. They fear a return to a model where Wales is treated as an afterthought in Whitehall's decision-making processes.
Specific Grievances and the "Power Grab" Allegation
The Welsh politicians have pointed to several areas where they believe their authority is being bypassed or disrespected. A major point of contention is the shared prosperity fund, which replaced EU structural funds. The Senedd members argue that Westminster has taken direct control of this funding, sidelining the Welsh government on matters that were previously within its remit.
Furthermore, they highlight concerns over the UK government's approach to major infrastructure projects and economic interventions that have a direct impact on Wales. The letter suggests that rather than collaborating as partners, the Starmer administration is dictating terms, effectively conducting a "power grab" from the devolved nations. This creates a paradoxical situation where a Labour government in London is accused of behaving in a manner its members would have condemned when the Conservatives were in power.
Constitutional Tensions and Future Relations
This public airing of grievances poses a serious challenge for Sir Keir Starmer. It threatens to damage the party's unity and its standing in Wales, a traditional heartland. The dispute goes to the core of the UK's future constitutional shape and tests Labour's own commitment to decentralising power away from the capital.
The response from Downing Street will be closely watched. A failure to address these concerns could embolden pro-independence voices in Wales and strain the Union further. It also puts Vaughan Gething in a difficult position, caught between loyalty to his UK party leader and his duty to defend the powers of the Senedd he leads. This internal Labour conflict underscores the enduring complexity of governing a multinational state, even under a single-party banner.
The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether this is a temporary disagreement or the start of a more profound and destabilising constitutional clash within the party of government.
