Prime Minister Keir Starmer scrapped a promised June meeting with the first ministers of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The UK government had committed to hosting the gathering this month, but the summit will not occur.
Starmer's decision to abandon the meeting breaks a campaign pledge to improve intergovernmental relations across the four nations. The Labour government had positioned itself as committed to strengthening coordination between Westminster and devolved administrations, a central theme during the general election.
The cancellation signals early friction in the devolved nations, particularly in Scotland where SNP First Minister John Swinney has already clashed with the new government over fiscal policy and constitutional matters. Wales, under Labour's Mark Drakeford until recently, and Northern Ireland, navigating post-election coalition talks, both expected the summit to reset working relationships after years of Conservative-led tensions with devolved governments.
No official explanation has been given for postponing the meeting, though government sources cite scheduling pressures on the newly installed administration. The timing raises questions about Starmer's commitment to healing the fractured relationships between London and Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast that characterized the previous government's approach.
This move comes as the SNP and Welsh Labour parties push for greater fiscal autonomy and constitutional discussions. Starmer's delay could intensify demands for more devolved powers and reinvigorate independence conversations in Scotland, where support for breaking from the UK remains elevated in polling. The cancellation signals that despite rhetoric about unity and consultation, the new government faces real constraints in delivering on intergovernmental cooperation early in its tenure.