00:00Devolving the Crown Estate has become a big sticking point for relations between UK and Welsh Labour.
00:07In Wales it's something the party wants and is publicly backed in the Senate,
00:11but in Westminster it was voted against by the UK arm of the party.
00:15It's been arguably the most contentious and high-profile situation highlighting the disconnect inside the party,
00:21and since being voted against in the UK Parliament,
00:24more and more organisations have backed the plans saying it's something they'd like to see happen here in Wales.
00:30It's already devolved in Scotland, and they have seen millions of pounds added to their budget as a result,
00:36something that local councils in Wales are largely backing,
00:39as 20 out of 22 local authorities have publicly called for devolving the Crown Estate,
00:44with Newport becoming the most recent.
00:47Councils have little to do with the Crown Estate,
00:50and even less to do with what issues are devolved to the Welsh Government,
00:53so despite the backing, it's largely symbolic.
00:55It does, though, shine a light on the feelings over the issue across the border
00:59between England and Wales.
01:02One Newport councillor said that councils across the country, including this one,
01:06and the Welsh Government are making increasingly difficult decisions year on year,
01:10so devolving the Crown Estate would bring in necessary cash to councils.
01:15The UK Treasury Minister James Murray has previously said that Crown Estate money goes to public services in Wales,
01:21and devolving the Crown Estate does not make commercial sense,
01:25and would fragment the UK energy network.
01:28It doesn't look particularly likely given the UK Labour Party's firm stance,
01:32but with growing calls from all layers of government,
01:34from councillors to Senate members to the First Minister,
01:37it might get too loud for Keir Starmer and his government to ignore in the future.
01:41J.P. Watkins reporting for Local TV.
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