Promised June meeting between first minister and Starmer not taking place

The Welsh government has said it is disappointed that a meeting promised by the Sir Kier Starmer with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth in June is not taking place.

Shortly after the Senedd election Downing Street said the prime minister would meet the devolved leaders from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland this month.

A Plaid source said the administration had tried to make the meeting happen but no date was agreed. A spokesman for the first minister appeared to blame "instability in Westminster" for the meeting not taking place.

Downing Street said: "The prime minister remains committed to meeting with the first ministers as soon as possible."

Ap Iorwerth and Sir Keir spoke in May in the aftermath of a historic Senedd election, which unseated Labour after two decades of running the Welsh government, making Plaid Cymru the largest party in Cardiff Bay.

The two sides gave different accounts of the call at the time - with the Welsh government saying that Starmer had said he was "open to a conversation" about giving the Senedd more powers.

A statement from Downing Street said the pair "discussed working together constructively in the national interest, including on easing the cost of living and our domestic response to the Middle East crisis, and agreed on the importance of partnership to deliver for the people of Wales".

"The prime minister invited the first minister to meet in person in June, alongside the first minister of Scotland and the first minister and deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, to continue discussions on shared priorities."

No date for a meeting was ever publicly announced. It later emerged that the first minister had raised independence while speaking to the prime minister.

On Wednesday the first minister's spokesman said: "It is disappointing that the meeting initially proposed for June is now no longer taking place.

"We are still determined to establish a constructive relationship with the UK government and to press the case for fair funding, alongside the devolution of policing, justice, welfare, the Crown Estate and rail powers.

"The current instability in Westminster must not be allowed to hamper our ability to pursue the issues which matter to the people of Wales."

A UK government spokesperson said: "The prime minister remains committed to meeting with the first ministers as soon as possible, and our teams are continuing to work with theirs to agree a suitable time in everyone's diaries.

"In the meantime, there is regular and constructive engagement at all levels with devolved administrations - as the government gets on with delivering for people right across the UK."

Meanwhile, in the Commons on Wednesday, the Labour UK government's Welsh Secretary criticised the Plaid Cymru Welsh government for not confirming whether it "will support the UK's full membership of Nato".

Jo Stevens had written to the government asking for a commitment to support Valor, a scheme to help veterans access care and support.

Finance Minister Elin Jones' letter in response, dated 8 June, said: "I can assure you that the Welsh government is committed to upholding the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring fair access to healthcare, housing, employment, education, skills and training for veterans and their families."

In a statement, the Welsh government said: "Defence and foreign affairs are non-devolved matters reserved for the UK government. Wales is a member of Nato by default through the UK, and all strategic decisions – including Nato commitments – are made in Westminster.

"Any suggestion that the Welsh government has sought to undermine or withdraw support for the UK's membership of Nato is therefore incorrect and misleading."