Main Welsh national party Plaid Cymru argues all the powers to be devolved to Scotland should also be transferred to Wales. Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards said this after Scotland's five-party Smith Commission announced an agreement to increase Scottish self-government.

"Wales is as much of a nation as Scotland," Edwards said, "and powers made available to Scotland should also be made available to Wales." As announced yesterday, those powers include income tax and a part of the VAT, increased reponsibility over welfare, and autonomy to organize Scottish and local elections.

Wales has been since 2012 going through its own process towards increased self-government. Wales' Silk Commission, similarly to the Smith Commission, proposed in two separate reports in November 2012 and March 2014 that powers over taxation, justice and policing be devolved to Wales. Income tax is one of those fiscal powers that could be transferred to Wales, but it depends on the outcome of an ad hoc referendum that should be called by the Welsh government.

Bill "superseded by events in Scotland"

But Plaid Cymru believes that the Silk Commission devolution package has been "superseded by events in Scotland." The Welsh party now wonders if UK parties could argue why powers that are good for Scotland are not for Wales.

Wales is not the only area where voices rise in demand of deeper devolution. In Cornwall, Mebyon Kernow party says the current redefinition of the UK state should include the creation of a Cornish autonomous assembly. The same goes for cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool, with devolution demands arising from there. In England's north, some parties are also calling for a Yorkshire regional assembly to be created.

[[FitxaGales]]