Wales Demands Fair Share of HS2 Funding: Constitutional Entitlement or Political Bargaining?

In a recent debate at the Senedd, Wales’ former legal advisor, Mick Antoniw, criticized the UK government’s refusal to provide consequential funding for HS2 high-speed rail, arguing that Wales has a constitutional entitlement to these funds. During discussions prompted by Plaid Cymru, Antoniw described the lack of funding as “unacceptable” and highlighted growing frustration over how the Labour Welsh government is seen as too aligned with their UK counterparts. Despite a previous cross-party vote in May 2024 supporting Wales’ claim to a fair share of funding, the recent decision not to pursue additional funds sparked accusations from Plaid Cymru’s transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths, who stated that the Welsh government is prioritizing UK political interests over those of Wales. Antoniw firmly rejected the UK government’s justifications for withholding funding, calling them inaccurate and flawed, and underscored the importance of securing the Barnett funding consequential to support Wales’ rail infrastructure needs.