Reform Senedd motion declaring Wales should stay in UK voted down

The Senedd has narrowly rejected a Reform motion declaring Wales should remain part of the United Kingdom.

The vote was initially tied, with 45 members backing the motion and 45 opposed, requiring Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies to cast the deciding vote against the proposal in line with parliamentary convention.

A Labour amendment, which sought to add that “devolution is the settled will” of Wales offering “a better, more secure and more prosperous future” than independence, was defeated by 82 votes to eight.

Members instead passed a revised motion incorporating an amendment proposed by Plaid Cymru, stating “the people of Wales should decide Wales’ constitutional future”.

The amended motion was backed by 45 MSs, with 37 voting against and eight members abstaining, after a lively debate opened by Reform’s Clwyd MS Adrian Mason.

Mason argued that Wales benefited from a combination of devolved government and membership of the UK, citing the advantages of economic integration, shared institutions and the pooling of resources.

That meant “we can be Welsh without having to choose between being Welsh and being British”, he said, arguing that any case for independence should be tested against practical questions about currency, public spending, pensions and trade.

Conservative Senedd group leader Darren Millar said: “Wales is better off in the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom is better off with Wales.”

He accused First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth of putting constitutional politics ahead of public services.