First minister demands 'new deal' for Wales before Plaid Cymru conference

The first minister and leader of Plaid Cymru has written to the prime minister requesting "a new deal for Wales" ahead of his first party conference speech since taking office.

In his letter to Andy Burnham, sent on Thursday and seen by BBC Wales, Rhun ap Iorwerth calls for more powers to be transferred to Cardiff.

Burnham previously said he would "give a fair hearing" to anything put to him by the Welsh first minister.

Ap Iorwerth will address party members in Llandudno on Friday, five months on from Plaid's historic success at May's Senedd election.

The result saw the party win power for the first time, ending Labour's 27 years in government since devolution began in 1999.

However, without a majority of the seats in Cardiff Bay, ap Iorwerth leads a minority administration which has to work with opposition Members of the Senedd to pass new laws and budgets.

The government lost a key vote on its spending plans in July.

In his speech, ap Iorwerth will say the election "delivered a clear mandate from the people of Wales for positive change that makes a tangible difference to their lives".

"This mandate includes extending devolution to enable the Senedd and the Welsh government to have the necessary tools - powers, funding and financial flexibilities - to drive the maximum improvement in outcomes for the people of Wales by integrating and improving public services and growing the economy.

"As an underpinning principle to support these reforms, Wales should be able to benefit from the same constitutional and fiscal tools already available in Scotland."

Ap Iorwerth's comments come after he hosted the nationalist first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland in Cardiff last month and jointly declared that "Westminster's time is coming to an end".

In his 2,000-word letter to Burnham, ap Iorwerth makes a detailed case for the transfer of powers over policing and justice, rail infrastructure, and the Crown Estate to Wales.

He also calls for "funding arrangements that are fair, needs-based and reflect Wales' demographic and economic realities".

He adds that "Wales' constitutional settlement should continue to evolve to improve democratic accountability, boost growth, strengthen public services and deliver better outcomes for our communities".

Ap Iorwerth is expected to meet the prime minister, along with the first ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland, at the end of the month.

Andy Burnham has previously said he is "open" to the idea of giving the Welsh government control over policing.

He has also said: "I have to respect the governments in the nations of the UK, and I will, and give a fair hearing to anything that is put to me."