PM says he is 'open' to devolving policing in Wales

Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is open to the idea of giving the Welsh government control of policing in Wales.

His comments were a marked change in tone from what the UK government has previously said, with the idea rejected in the past.

Burnham said that while he could not make promises, he would be "open to the conversation", and that with "wider policing reform" going on it was a "good time to look at those issues".

But he played down any prospect of a review of the way Welsh public services are funded through the Barnett Formula.

Policing in Wales is overseen by Westminster, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland where the countries' own devolved governments are responsible.

Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said Burnham's comments were a "welcome change in tone from the UK government".

Burnham also said that Wales and Scotland should both consider ways to deepen devolution by following England's model of giving more powers to cities and regions.

He said he wanted to offer the Welsh government and Wales' "various communities and regions" the "ability to have deeper devolution in the way that we're pioneering in England".

The prime minister said it could be discussed at a summit planned with the first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland planned for October .

Calls for the devolution of policing and criminal justice had been shared by Plaid Cymru and the Senedd's Welsh Labour politicians, but not the previous UK Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer.

In January, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said plans to overhaul policing services would not see the Welsh government given new powers.

Burnham, who succeeded Sir Keir in July, made the comments at the Port Talbot steelworks, on his first official visit to Wales since he entered No 10.

Labour had been unseated from the Welsh government for the first time in its history by Plaid Cymru in the Senedd election in May.

Burnham met Welsh government Deputy First Minister Sioned Williams in Port Talbot on Thursday, with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth currently on leave.