Questions Without Notice from the Party Leaders

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:53 pm on 2 July 2024.

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Photo of Vaughan Gething Vaughan Gething Labour 1:53, 2 July 2024

I believe we will have a transformed relationship across the UK if there is a UK Labour Government, with clear commitments to ensure that the Prime Minister doesn’t ignore First Ministers across the country, and a council of nations and regions. And not just that; there's the statement you’ll hear from the economy Secretary Jeremy Miles later today on the extraordinary seriousness of what took place last week, the very real anxiety in steel-making communities, not just in Port Talbot. Previously, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, would not pick up the phone to speak to Mark Drakeford. Within a matter of hours, Jeremy Miles, Jo Stevens and I had a conversation with Keir Starmer and Jonathan Reynolds about what we would do to try to move all of us into a better position. That’s real partnership, and it happened. And we believe it’s part of making a difference, of trying to see a different level of ambition for the country and a different partnership. That’s what we could have on 4 July if people vote the right way. I believe that’s what we will have. That’s what I’m working for.

It will also see a manifesto to take devolution forward: fairness on Barnett, properly reviewing and updating the fiscal framework, seeing devolution taken forward with the return of our powers and money from former EU funds, and the devolution of employment support funding. And, I believe, we will make progress on the devolution of youth justice and probation. All of those things are on the ballot paper on 4 July, and I look forward to seeing what the people of Wales vote for. If they do vote for a UK Labour Government on the manifesto we have put forward, we will take that forward, and I believe we can go back to the people and be clear sighted about the promises we have made and that we have kept, in direct contrast to the last 14 years of Tory chaos. It is not inevitable that we will win on Thursday. If people want change, they need to vote for it.