Starmer said ministers can go against wishes of Wales and Scotland in leaked memo
EPASir Keir Starmer told senior UK ministers they should be prepared to go against the wishes of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland's governments when taking decisions, a leaked memo has revealed.
The prime minister warned against showing too much respect to the administrations, telling his cabinet to feel confident spending money in each of the countries "even when devolved governments may oppose this".
The memo, written in December and obtained by Plaid Cymru, follows a row last year when Welsh Labour politicians criticised the UK government for funding a town centre improvement project in Wales.
BBC Wales understands Downing Street rejects Plaid's accusation the letter undermines devolution.
The memo was raised in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday, where Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the Labour party had "turned against devolution" and criticised First Minister Eluned Morgan's loyalty to Sir Keir.
Sir Keir wrote that the Welsh and Scottish elections this May "cannot be underestimated" and will have a "significant impact on how we govern at UK level in the second half of parliament".
"Each of us will maintain a professional and respectful working relationship with our counterparts in devolved governments," Sir Keir said.
But he added an "overly deferential" approach to engaging with them would "almost inevitably creates political challenges or missed positive opportunities".
"We should be confident in our ability to deliver directly in those nations, including through direct spending, even when devolved governments may oppose this," he said.
The prime minister explained guidance had been shared with officials on using powers in the UK Internal Market Act (UKIMA), which allows the UK government to spend money on policies usually controlled by the three devolved governments.
The 12 December memo was written weeks after 11 Welsh Labour politicians wrote to Sir Keir accusing his administration of rolling back devolution by using the UKIMA for a town centre improvement scheme.
The scheme gives cash to councils to cover fixing bus shelters and providing bins, but bypasses the Welsh government which normally governs and funds local government in Wales.
Labour's former counsel general Mick Antoniw, who is standing down from the Senedd in May, said the memo "shows they [UK government] still don't understand devolution" and is "unacceptable".
He said it had the fingerprints of Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir's former chief of staff who resigned in February, "all over it".
PA MediaIn the Senedd on Tuesday, Plaid's ap Iorwerth said the memo showed "Keir Starmer's own version of Boris Johnson's muscular unionism, not only dealing with devolution in bad faith, but undertaking a direct assault on the democratic views of devolved governments".
"By staying ever loyal to him, the first minister is aligning herself with efforts to undermine her own government," he said.
He said it was a "disdainful response" to the concerns of Welsh Labour Members of the Senedd (MSs).
First Minister Eluned Morgan said: "Devolution must be respected, and I've always been very clear with the prime minister on that issue.
"It is a respectful relationship, and there are times, of course, when the UK government should be working directly within Wales," she said, citing Wylfa.
She later accused the Plaid Cymru leader of focusing "on issues that actually are not the issues that are at the top of the agenda today for the people in Wales".
A Downing Street source said: "We make no apologies for being determined to deliver for people across all four nations of the UK.
"In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are clearly reserved areas of governmental responsibilities and this government is committed to upholding this devolution settlement with mutual respect and partnership."
In response to Plaid, a UK government source added: "This is a rather cynical and knee-jerk interpretation of a memo which calls for greater collaboration between UK and devolved governments."
