Newport joins growing list of councils backing Crown Estate devolution

Local TV

Newport has become the 20th of 22 local authorities in Wales that have publicly backed devolving crown estate powers to the Welsh Government. It’s been devolved in Scotland since 2017, and has brought millions of pounds into the Scottish Government’s budget. UK Labour argue though, that it does not make commercial sense, and Wales currently receives a cut of the Crown Estate budget.

Transcript

00:00Devolving the Crown Estate has become a big sticking point for relations between UK and Welsh Labour.

00:07In Wales it's something the party wants and is publicly backed in the Senate,

00:11but in Westminster it was voted against by the UK arm of the party.

00:15It's been arguably the most contentious and high-profile situation highlighting the disconnect inside the party,

00:21and since being voted against in the UK Parliament,

00:24more and more organisations have backed the plans saying it's something they'd like to see happen here in Wales.

00:30It's already devolved in Scotland, and they have seen millions of pounds added to their budget as a result,

00:36something that local councils in Wales are largely backing,

00:39as 20 out of 22 local authorities have publicly called for devolving the Crown Estate,

00:44with Newport becoming the most recent.

00:47Councils have little to do with the Crown Estate,

00:50and even less to do with what issues are devolved to the Welsh Government,

00:53so despite the backing, it's largely symbolic.

00:55It does, though, shine a light on the feelings over the issue across the border

00:59between England and Wales.

01:02One Newport councillor said that councils across the country, including this one,

01:06and the Welsh Government are making increasingly difficult decisions year on year,

01:10so devolving the Crown Estate would bring in necessary cash to councils.

01:15The UK Treasury Minister James Murray has previously said that Crown Estate money goes to public services in Wales,

01:21and devolving the Crown Estate does not make commercial sense,

01:25and would fragment the UK energy network.

01:28It doesn't look particularly likely given the UK Labour Party's firm stance,

01:32but with growing calls from all layers of government,

01:34from councillors to Senate members to the First Minister,

01:37it might get too loud for Keir Starmer and his government to ignore in the future.

01:41J.P. Watkins reporting for Local TV.

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