Plaid Cymru’s Parliamentary Leader Jonathan Edwards has branded proposals for Wales in today's Queen's Speech “a toothless package” which merely “tinkered around the edges” of devolution and treated Wales as “a second class nation”.

The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP said that the Westminster government's legislative programme posed "real threats" to Welsh interests and was an assault on human rights thanks to the pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act and introduce a Snoopers' Charter.

Mr Edwards claimed the Speech, which outlined the new Government’s plans for the coming parliamentary term would see “Wales' economy and its people worse off”.

"The legislative programme unveiled in Westminster today poses real threats to Welsh interests,” he said.

"The assault on human rights in the form of a pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act and introduce a Snoopers' Charter will result in an invasion of privacy and the removal of protections that so many of us take for granted.

"The Wales Bill in its current form - compared to what’s on offer to other parts of the UK - reads like a toothless package of powers that sees the Westminster government merely tinkering around the edges rather than bring a meaningful deal to the table. We will seek to strengthen the Bill once legislation is brought forward.

"There is no reason whatsoever why Wales should not be offered the same powers as those included in the Scotland Bill. We are not a second class nation.

"With the Labour party typically quiet on demanding a stronger deal for Wales, it is left to Plaid Cymru MPs to strengthen our nation's voice in the new parliament.

"The debate surrounding the future of the EU is exposing this government's weakness with the Prime Minister being led by the nose by the Eurosceptics.

"Plaid Cymru's goal is to strengthen Wales' hand in Europe. We will seek to amend the EU referendum bill in order to defend the Welsh national interest.

"With the Conservative government set to be repeatedly held to ransom by the rabid right wing of the party over the coming years, we will be calling debates, tabling amendments and forcing votes, and urging other MPs in Wales to join us in protecting our nation from the worst aspects of this Westminster Government."