JONATHAN Edwards has called for a new funding and taxation body to be created to settle disputes between Westminster and Wales.

The Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr was speaking following a speech during an extensive debate on the Westminster budget.

Mr Edwards said that “the wool is being pulled over the Welsh Government’s eyes” by Westminster and called on an independent body to be set up to arbitrate on budget disputes.

The MP highlighted problems with the Barnett Formula, the mechanism by which devolved governments receive funding changes based on spending in England, which has seen Wales receive proportionally less per head than the other devolved nations in recent years.

Currently there is no official mechanism in place for reconciling funding and budget disputes between the Welsh and Westminster Governments.

A new dispute has emerged on increased borrowing powers, announced in the Budget, being contingent on the Welsh Government using the money for the Westminster Government’s preferred M4 relief road route.

Following his speech in Parliament, Jonathan Edwards MP said: “It is no accident that the section on public lavatories took up more time in the Budget speech than measures relating to Wales.

“To Westminster, Wales is an afterthought.

“It is difficult not to come to the conclusion that Westminster is trying to hoodwink Wales.

“A new independent arm’s length body would be able to arbitrate between disputes and create a fairer Westminster Budget process.

“With fiscal powers now shared between Westminster and Wales these disputes will only become more commonplace and complex.

“The Treasury cannot be judge and jury on the fallout of funding issues.

“Today’s dispute on the borrowing powers for the M4 relief road demonstrates the scale of the is- sue.

“The Welsh Government shouldn’t capitulate to the demands of the Westminster’s M4 black route blackmail.

“We simply can’t let the cynical Westminster Government pull the wool over the eyes of the complacent Labour Welsh Government – it is the people of Wales who inevitably lose out.”