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<\/a>Andy Burnham won the Makerfield by-election just over a week ago and is already tipped to be the next PM. Credit: PA Images<\/p>\nThe Plaid Cymru First Minister has wasted no time in criticising this apparent u-turn. Rhun ap Iorwerth posted on social media<\/a> saying: \u201cIt is disappointing that Andy Burnham has ruled out reviewing Wales\u2019s funding formula, despite previously supporting it.<\/p>\n \u201cI have always been clear that the respect agenda must work both ways. This Welsh Government will never let the UK Government take Wales for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n As for Andy Burnham\u2019s response, a spokesperson said: \u201cAndy has spent his whole political career fighting for the nations and regions of the United Kingdom \u2013 he will put Wales at the centre of any government he runs, radically pushing power down and out of Westminster and Whitehall.\u201d<\/p>\n One Welsh Labour MP told me that they\u2019re \u201chopeful\u201d for what Andy Burnham will mean for Wales, that \u201che gets devolution and the benefits of all our nations and regions\u201d.<\/p>\n Another said that while they thought that most people in Wales were \u201cglad\u201d that Keir Starmer has set out his departure plans, they also \u201cwant to know how Andy will promote policies that benefit us in Wales. We look forward to clarification very soon\u201d.<\/p>\n That clarification could come on Monday when Mr Burnham is due to deliver a speech setting out his plans for devolution, his first major speech since winning the Makerfield by-election and becoming the front-runner to take over from Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s reported that his speech will include a proposal to move some of the work of Prime Minister from Downing Street to Manchester. What moves could he announce that would constitute \u201cradical devolution\u201d that would win over sceptics here in Wales?<\/p>\n Apart from funding reform, Plaid Cymru\u2019s shopping list includes power to set income tax rates as well as the power it currently has to vary rates; the reclassification of HS2 as \u2018England-only\u2019 in order to trigger extra spending in Wales; devolution of the Crown Estate; devolution of criminal justice, social security and the benefits system.<\/p>\n Income tax powers could be an easy win for Mr Burnham, meeting a key demand of his opponents while also setting up a political battle for the future if Plaid Cymru were to follow through on its pledge to emulate Scotland\u2019s income tax regime.<\/p>\n Other calls in that list have been met with a resounding \u2018no\u2019 from Keir Starmer\u2019s UK Government, even though some are also Welsh Labour aspirations.<\/p>\n Welsh Labour continues to argue that a Labour UK Government has been good for Wales. Interim leader Ken Skates this week highlighted the fact that Wales \u201creceived a record devolution settlement and generational plans for \u00a314bn for rail in Wales\u201d.<\/p>\n There\u2019s another view too. Reform UK Wales, now the opposition in the Senedd, is highly critical of what it says is Plaid Cymru \u201cwasting time and taxpayers\u2019 money\u201d on constitutional issues.<\/p>\n In the chamber this week the party\u2019s leader in Wales, Dan Thomas, said: \u201cInstead of focusing on fixing the problems within his control, the First Minister is once again calling for more powers. The people of Wales are concerned about the cost of living, access to healthcare, and opportunities for their families, not constitutional rearrangements.\u201d<\/p>\n The political parties are thinking about the next UK General Election, which is due in 2028 but could come sooner, and the next Senedd Election in 2030. These dates may seem distant but the dividing lines for them are being drawn up right now.<\/p>\n A 14-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with murder after a female body was found in a park in Blaina, near Ebbw Vale.<\/p>\n The teenager from the Blaenau Gwent area, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Newport Magistrates Court on Friday. He spoke only to confirm his name, address, date of birth and that he could hear proceedings.<\/p>\n He will appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday next week. <\/p>\n Gwent Police said he was arrested after the body of a female was found in the Duffryn Park area at around 10pm on Monday, 22 June.<\/p>\n The body has not yet been formally identified but the family of a missing 14-year-old girl named Lilly Jones has been informed.<\/p>\n I feel like a broken record every time I talk about another day of record-breaking temperatures – but this week saw a June heatwave in Wales like no other. <\/p>\n 50 years to the week since Wales baked in the infamous summer of 1976, the record June temperature set in that week five decades ago was smashed in Cardiff as temperatures soared to 35.9C on Thursday in the capital\u2019s Bute Park.<\/p>\n I\u2019m Hannah Thomas, ITV Cymru Wales Rural Affairs and Climate Correspondent, and I began the week with the prospect of sweltering heat firmly on my mind. <\/p>\n I decided to head to Cilfynydd in Rhondda Cynon Taf on Monday as the heatwave began – the place that saw seven consecutive days of temperatures above 30C in the summer of 1976. <\/p>\n 50 years on, I was met with traffic light repair man Paul Fothergill who was fixing lights at a pedestrian crossing under a big white umbrella.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve been advised to do this to stay out of direct sunlight,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got water in the van to stay hydrated, sunscreen on any exposed skin, and we\u2019re just trying to take it as easy as possible!\u201d<\/p>\n In the middle of filming with Paul, I got a notification from the Met Office – Wales had been issued with its first ever red weather warning for heat on Wednesday and Thursday. <\/p>\n Wales\u2019 first red heat warning, but of how many? We are told by scientists that Wales can expect hotter, drier summers with climate change. So how do we change with climate change? The Welsh Government says it recognises the need to do more.<\/p>\n \u201cWe understand and accept that there is a climate emergency\u201d, said Nerys Evans MS Deputy Minister for Public Health. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think that\u2019s well understood by all political parties in Wales, but we are working across government to make sure that all departments are tackling that in everything that we do.\u201d<\/p>\n Seeing exactly how the extremes brought about by climate change are impacting Wales can sometimes be hard to visualise. So on Wednesday I went back to the Llanthony Valley in Monmouthshire, which was under a red warning for rain last November when Storm Claudia blew in. <\/p>\n It was this storm that saw the worst flooding Monmouth had experienced from the River Monnow in 40 years. But Claudia did not only leave her mark on the town itself, but also on the wider county. <\/p>\n In the Llanthony Valley, a landslide caused by high river levels and the erosion of the riverbank left the village cut off for months. At Llanthony Priory the streams were like torrents, gauging out the land as they gushed their way down to the Wye. <\/p>\n But on Wednesday, the streams were not there. There was nothing for the sheep to drink from save the tank that farmer Bryony Gittins was filling up every hour. And for her, this is climate change.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one extreme to the other,\u201d said Bryony. \u201cWe are seeing so much water that it\u2019s completely changing the shape of the land and damaging infrastructure that we\u2019ve had in places for years. <\/p>\n \u201cAnd now it\u2019s totally dry we are looking for water sources elsewhere to help the livestock. We are in a world where we need both flood resilience and heat resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n I think it is fair to say that all of us have needed heat resilience this week. But it is only June. Buckle up, because as summer heatwaves go, we may not have seen the hottest yet.<\/p>\n A 24-year-old woman from Ceredigion said she\u2019s had to pay for private healthcare to manage her severe epilepsy.<\/p>\n Kayleigh Roach, from Bronant, claims the NHS has not provided her with enough support and during appointments she felt like she \u2018wasn\u2019t being listened to\u2019. <\/p>\n Last year, Kayleigh was having up to three seizures a week. After finding a new medication that could help ease her condition, she says the NHS team \u201cdenied\u201d her it.<\/p>\n She added: \u201cI then had to go private\u2026I feel let down by the NHS, and I don\u2019t feel like I should\u2019ve had to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Hywel Dda University Health Board said it can\u2019t comment on individual cases but wants to ensure patients are listened to.<\/p>\n It was highly anticipated that former Wales captain, Craig Bellamy, was set to leave the national mens side and make his move to manage Burnley this week. <\/p>\n Thursday was particularly turbulent for Welsh football as Bellamy\u2019s proposed move was on and off throughout the day. <\/p>\n It began to emerge that the move was in jeopardy and not long after it was announced to have fallen through entirely. Reportedly, Burnley were already moving on to other targets. <\/p>\n This leaves Bellamy in a difficult position where he faces a rather let down fanbase. He talked earlier this month about not going anywhere, so if he is to remain in post with Wales he will have to repair his relationship with fans who feel mislead. <\/p>\n However, sources within the FAW told ITV Cymru Wales that Bellamy will likely be in charge when the Nations League begins in September. Although, this should come with a warning that a lot can change within the next two or three months.<\/p>\n<\/a>Andy Burnham is unlikely to satisfy Welsh Government demands – after all, Plaid Cymru is committed to independence for Wales. Credit: PA Images<\/p>\n<\/a>The body has not yet been formally identified, but the family of a missing 14-year-old girl, named Lilly Jones, has been informed.Credit: PA Wire\/PA Images<\/p>\n<\/a>On Wednesday, more than 800 schools were closed and health boards were warning vulnerable people to stay indoors. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales<\/p>\n<\/a>Not a drop of water was flowing through this stream in the Llanthony Valley during the heatwave. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales<\/p>\n<\/a>Kayleigh has suffered with severe epilepsy since she was 13-years-old. Credit: ITV Cymru Wales<\/p>\n<\/a>The FAW were preparing for life without Bellamy as negotiations between him and Burnley were already taking place. Credit: PA Images<\/p>\n