Tuesday briefing: After an historic shift in power, where might Plaid Cymru go next?

Good morning. While Westminster-watchers were obsessed with Labour’s leadership shenanigans, a new chapter in the relationship between Cardiff and the UK government opened. After claiming power in this month’s elections, Plaid Cymru has wasted no time in testing Keir Starmer’s “openness” to reform. In London, the party tabled an amendment to the king’s speech, calling for a number of justice, infrastructure and welfare powers to be devolved to the Senedd. First minister Rhun ap Iorwerth and his nationalist party narrowly failed to secure an absolute majority in the newly expanded Cardiff chamber, with Reform UK running into second place. Labour’s miserable result saw them ousted from government with a vote share of about 11% in a country where they have been the dominant party for a century. For today’s newsletter, I spoke to Bethan McKernan , the Guardian’s Wales correspondent, about how this historic shift of power came about, what it tells us about Welsh Labour, and how, going forward, Plaid are likely to settle into government and its relationship to London. First, the headlines. Five big stories UK news | A rescue deal for Thames Water is under threat because of a potential change in prime minister, government insiders have said. UK politics | Andy Burnham drew the battle lines for the future of the Labour party on Monday as the Greater Manchester mayor promised he would “change Labour” and win back the voters the party had lost. …