THE first minister of Wales has written to Andy Burnham to demand a new devolution deal and put his country on an "equal footing" with Scotland.
Speaking at his party's annual conference, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth told the audience the country's interests will "never be served" by the UK Government and outlined his vision for a more autonomous Wales.
He used the occasion to unveil a proposed new deal for Wales and demand new powers over areas including justice, rail infrastructure, welfare and the Crown Estate.
He said he had asked the UK prime minister for an agreement to "redress the historic unfairness" of their constitutional settlement and to put the country on an equal footing with Scotland.
He said: "A new deal - the first of its kind – whereby a Welsh first minister invites the UK Government to genuinely treat Wales not as a region of England but as a nation in its own right.
"A new deal to secure powers for a purpose. Not as an end in themselves but as a means of growing our economy and improving outcomes for everyone."
He went on: "In May, the stars aligned in Wales, Scotland and the north of Ireland.
"The UK constitution now sits within a very different constellation. Three leaders of government, three countries with different journeys, but a shared principle binding us together.
"A few weeks ago, I had the honour of welcoming to Cardiff our colleagues and friends from the SNP and Sinn Féin - John Swinney, MaryLou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill - to sign a memorandum of understanding between our parties.
"That shared principle between us is a simple one – to ensure that it is the people of our nations who decide their own future."
Ap Iorwerth went on to reaffirm his party's position on international issues, and their values of "support and solidarity".
He said: "[We are] proudly internationalist and proudly European – we believe our place is in Europe. We stand with the people of Ukraine against Putin’s bullets and bombs.
"We stand with the people of Gaza against the Israeli Government’s heinous genocide. And we stand for Wales playing its part in forging a more peaceful and tolerant world."
Over the years, Plaid Cymru and SNP representatives have spoken at one another's conferences, and on Friday, deputy first minister Jenny Gilruth made a speech.
Her visit and speech were intended to build on the progress made at the Celtic Alliance meeting in September, which brought together leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Ap Iorwetrh, said he hoped the UK prime minister would listen to Welsh concerns, saying that the "respect agenda" between the two governments "must work both ways".
"If he fails, Wales will know again that our best interests will never be served by Westminster, and that it matters little whether who lives in Number 10 Downing Street is an Evertonian or an Old Etonian," he added.
Closing his speech, the first minister told the audience: "I have a vision for Wales – but my focus is on the here and now - 2026 not 2030. Because Wales has waited too long, waited for hope, waited for a fair hearing.
"Waited for a government whose first and only loyalty is to them - the people it serves. Conference, that wait is now over. From promise to progress, from aspiration to action.
"And from a nation told not to dream, to a nation that dared to do so…and which is now starting to make it a reality.
"A new dawn has broken, and in that new light, we have a new Wales to build. Friends - let’s build it together."
