Role of Welsh Secretary Affirmed by First Minister
There remains "a role" for the secretary of state for Wales, the first minister has stated, following calls from a former Welsh government minister to abolish the position.
Eluned Morgan emphasized that the role should serve as "the voice of Wales at the cabinet table" rather than acting as "the UK government's voice in Wales".
Context of the Debate
Morgan's remarks come amid renewed tensions regarding the UK government's engagement with Welsh politics, triggered by the emergence of a memo sent by the prime minister to his cabinet colleagues on Tuesday.
She disclosed that she had discussed the note with her Labour counterpart Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday.
The memo, dated December, followed complaints from several Labour Senedd backbenchers who accused the prime minister of "rolling back" devolution.
These backbenchers alleged that the prime minister was circumventing Welsh ministers by making funding decisions in areas typically managed by the Welsh government, specifically by allocating funds directly to local authorities for town centre improvements.
The prime minister's note was leaked to Plaid Cymru and was subsequently raised by the party's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth during Tuesday's First Minister's Questions.
Criticism from Former Welsh Government Legal Advisor
On Wednesday, Mick Antoniw, the Welsh government's former chief legal advisor and cabinet member, described the memo as "underhand".
In an interview with BBC Radio Wales Breakfast, Antoniw also characterized the Wales Office—the department of the secretary of state for Wales in Westminster—as a "pre-devolution setup" and argued that the Welsh secretary position was no longer necessary.
First Minister's Response to Criticism
Responding to Antoniw's comments during a Senedd committee session on Friday, Morgan stated,
"I think there's a role for the Wales Office."
She further explained that in areas where responsibility remains with Westminster, there is a "strong case" for "having the voice of Wales at the cabinet table making the case for what the impact might be on Wales".
However, Morgan cautioned,
"What I don't want to see is the Wales Office being used as the voice of the UK government in Wales. That is not how I see this role."
Cardiff East MP Jo Stevens has held the position of Welsh secretary since Labour's general election victory in July 2024.
The post was originally established by Harold Wilson's Labour government in 1964.
Morgan also informed Senedd members on Friday that Welsh government ministers maintain direct relationships with their UK government counterparts and do not "go via the Wales Office".
Clarifications on the Prime Minister's Memo
Regarding the memo itself, Morgan said she had spoken with the prime minister on Wednesday "to get clarification of what he meant".
She added that Sir Keir Starmer "made it clear to me" that the prime minister was referring to direct investment in the devolved nations only in areas where the UK government retains responsibility.
