DELEGATES committed Welsh Labour to renegotiate the devolution settlement and seek a better funding deal for Wales from Westminster, David Nicholson reports from the weekend’s Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno.

Unison Cymru’s Jess Turner pointed out the injustice of the current Barnett formula for funding the devolved nations.

“How can we defend the application of the Barnett formula as delivering for Wales when we saw for ourselves the recent injustice of the national insurance shortfall in Welsh public services.

“It is essential to have a funding formula based on fairness and assessment of Welsh need, as well as the relative size of our public services,” Ms Turner said.

The union’s motion on funding also covered the devolution of the Crown Estates, which every council in Wales is also calling for.

Cardiff Council leader Huw Thomas  supported the call for a better funding settlement, saying that cash-starved councils needed “fair and sustainable funding.”

Cardiff North delegate Linda Rigby said: “If devolution of the Crown Estates is good enough for Scotland, then it is good enough for Wales.”