Sunday, June 15, 2008
The power and the glory
This may well be last week's news but Matt Withers poses a very pertinent question in this morning's Wales on Sunday about Wednesday's debate on my bid to give the Assembly the power to determine how local Councils are elected:
The long-term aim of Peter Black, the Liberal Democrat AM who put forward the proposal, was for the Assembly to get power to change the voting system for council elections – and then bring in the party’s beloved proportional representation (PR), giving them a better chance of success.
But Labour members, long suspicious of PR, voted it down, with a couple of notable exceptions (the First Minister among them). Fair enough, you might say, they don’t agree with the system.
But this wasn’t a vote on changing the system. It was a vote on giving the Assembly the power to change the system. Labour AMs’ action is no different than the Tories’ attempts to block some housing powers being devolved to the Assembly because they’re scared of them being used to put a block on the right to buy council houses.
In both cases, the argument is the same: we don’t think we in Wales can be trusted with such powers. Best to leave it with the MPs in Westminster.
And some people in Cardiff Bay still hold out hope of a full parliament for Wales.
It is worth pointing out that the Welsh Liberal Democrats did so well in last months Welsh Council elections that PR would actually have disadvantaged us. But we should not let Matt's snide aside distract us from the main point, which is that Labour have once again shown their lack of commitment to the devolution process.
The long-term aim of Peter Black, the Liberal Democrat AM who put forward the proposal, was for the Assembly to get power to change the voting system for council elections – and then bring in the party’s beloved proportional representation (PR), giving them a better chance of success.
But Labour members, long suspicious of PR, voted it down, with a couple of notable exceptions (the First Minister among them). Fair enough, you might say, they don’t agree with the system.
But this wasn’t a vote on changing the system. It was a vote on giving the Assembly the power to change the system. Labour AMs’ action is no different than the Tories’ attempts to block some housing powers being devolved to the Assembly because they’re scared of them being used to put a block on the right to buy council houses.
In both cases, the argument is the same: we don’t think we in Wales can be trusted with such powers. Best to leave it with the MPs in Westminster.
And some people in Cardiff Bay still hold out hope of a full parliament for Wales.
It is worth pointing out that the Welsh Liberal Democrats did so well in last months Welsh Council elections that PR would actually have disadvantaged us. But we should not let Matt's snide aside distract us from the main point, which is that Labour have once again shown their lack of commitment to the devolution process.
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".....But we should not let Matt's snide aside distract us from the main point, which is that Labour have once again shown their lack of commitment to the devolution process."
So, why is Plaid supporting Labour?
So, why is Plaid supporting Labour?
# posted by 
: 5:59 PM
: 5:59 PM
Woould it thus be fair tro assume that your next LCO will be to devolve the death penalty to the Assembly?
No because that would not be appropriate. The power to decide how local councillors are elected would be appropriate however. It is within the scope of the 2006 Government of Wales Act and it would also fit in with the ultimate ambition of those in favour of devolution of having a Scottish style Parliament for Wales. That is an ambition Labour appear to have abandoned.
Labour AMs’ action is no different than the Tories’ attempts
I disagree; it's not the same, it's far worse. The Tories are predominantly trying to block LCOs at Westminster - that amounts to turning down a request from the Assembly for additional powers. Labour blocked this in the Assembly itself - refusing to even ask for the power in the first place.
I disagree; it's not the same, it's far worse. The Tories are predominantly trying to block LCOs at Westminster - that amounts to turning down a request from the Assembly for additional powers. Labour blocked this in the Assembly itself - refusing to even ask for the power in the first place.
# posted by : 8:36 AM
: 8:36 AM
Let's look at what one of the cheerleaders of One Wales (as a better devolution prospect) v All Wales Accord (evel Tories anti-devolution), said about the Tory positions on the right to buy.
“This is not an argument about affordable housing or the right to buy. Its about devolution. The time to argue about whether or not to suspend the right to buy should take place if and when the assembly government wants to change the law. At the moment, we are asking Westminster for the powers or the ability to change the law.
The Tories in Wales have made great efforts to shed their anti-Welsh devolution image. By opposing this LCO, they have failed their first practical test. Their words have been shown up as completely hollow, they clearly don't care about Welsh devolution.”
http://www.leannewoodamac.blogspot.com 17th April 2008
“Opposing Wales having the powers, just because you don’t agree with a policy change that might come about as a result of those powers, is illogical. It would set a bad precedent and could stifle the development of devolution.” Western Mail, 5th May
As yet, no comment from Ms Wood on her government colleagues doing exactly the same on your LCO Peter. Simple fact, simple question: How can Plaid be in government with a party that votes against devolution (and it's not even "further devolution", just lawmaking powers in a devolved area? Any answers from the usual suspects?
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“This is not an argument about affordable housing or the right to buy. Its about devolution. The time to argue about whether or not to suspend the right to buy should take place if and when the assembly government wants to change the law. At the moment, we are asking Westminster for the powers or the ability to change the law.
The Tories in Wales have made great efforts to shed their anti-Welsh devolution image. By opposing this LCO, they have failed their first practical test. Their words have been shown up as completely hollow, they clearly don't care about Welsh devolution.”
http://www.leannewoodamac.blogspot.com 17th April 2008
“Opposing Wales having the powers, just because you don’t agree with a policy change that might come about as a result of those powers, is illogical. It would set a bad precedent and could stifle the development of devolution.” Western Mail, 5th May
As yet, no comment from Ms Wood on her government colleagues doing exactly the same on your LCO Peter. Simple fact, simple question: How can Plaid be in government with a party that votes against devolution (and it's not even "further devolution", just lawmaking powers in a devolved area? Any answers from the usual suspects?
# posted by : 1:34 PM
: 1:34 PM<< Home
