Friday, November 28, 2008
And then there were three
Bethan Jenkins, John Dixon and now Adam Price MP have all come out in opposition to the One Wales Government's proposal to introduce top-up fees for Welsh students in Welsh universities. Adam writes on his blog:
We agreed to a review of the policy on the grounds that it would be irresponsible not to even discuss the matter in light of the fact that the Westminster Government might raise the cap of £3000 on the level of fees. But most importantly of all, there was no agreement to respond in the way the Minister has suggested.
This position doesn’t deny that there is an issue surrounding how we should close the funding gap between Welsh and English universities. And yet, there are important principles at stake. Firstly, our own policy: why should the fee paid by a person for higher education be determined by their parents wages - even if that person isn’t dependable on them financially? There is an argument in favour of a graduate tax where a student contributes back to a university in line with what they can afford to pay personally, and not what their parents can pay. This kind of hypothecated tax might also be beneficial as it would create an incentive for universities to invest their efforts into promoting the careers of their former students for the rest of their lives. The Assembly’s Government could ask the Holtham Commission on funding to look into this an option. Certainly, Westminster hasn’t funded Wales properly, preferring rather to tie its money to expensive projects, such as the Olympics, and taking money and investment out of Wales in order to be able to do so.
The second important principle is one of democracy. The democratic nature of a party where it’s essential that leaders follow the policy decided upon by the ordinary members. And democracy in general. “Vote Plaid, Labour lied” was the chant on the lips of nationalists whilst referring to the mess made in Iraq and Labour’s u-turn on tuition fees. Plaid Cymru’s constitution - in letter and in spirit - does not allow us to make the same mistake.
I agree with him but do the Welsh Labour Party and their Ministers? Will Plaid let Labour get away with implementing these proposals and if they do then what value can we place on their election promises? The unity of the One Wales Government is under severe pressure on this issue.
We agreed to a review of the policy on the grounds that it would be irresponsible not to even discuss the matter in light of the fact that the Westminster Government might raise the cap of £3000 on the level of fees. But most importantly of all, there was no agreement to respond in the way the Minister has suggested.
This position doesn’t deny that there is an issue surrounding how we should close the funding gap between Welsh and English universities. And yet, there are important principles at stake. Firstly, our own policy: why should the fee paid by a person for higher education be determined by their parents wages - even if that person isn’t dependable on them financially? There is an argument in favour of a graduate tax where a student contributes back to a university in line with what they can afford to pay personally, and not what their parents can pay. This kind of hypothecated tax might also be beneficial as it would create an incentive for universities to invest their efforts into promoting the careers of their former students for the rest of their lives. The Assembly’s Government could ask the Holtham Commission on funding to look into this an option. Certainly, Westminster hasn’t funded Wales properly, preferring rather to tie its money to expensive projects, such as the Olympics, and taking money and investment out of Wales in order to be able to do so.
The second important principle is one of democracy. The democratic nature of a party where it’s essential that leaders follow the policy decided upon by the ordinary members. And democracy in general. “Vote Plaid, Labour lied” was the chant on the lips of nationalists whilst referring to the mess made in Iraq and Labour’s u-turn on tuition fees. Plaid Cymru’s constitution - in letter and in spirit - does not allow us to make the same mistake.
I agree with him but do the Welsh Labour Party and their Ministers? Will Plaid let Labour get away with implementing these proposals and if they do then what value can we place on their election promises? The unity of the One Wales Government is under severe pressure on this issue.
Comments:
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Agin Peter you use an outside politician to perpetuate your claims of One Wales splits. certainly this issue is one that has created differing views between Plaid but I don't think it has caused a rift in One Wales.
# posted by 
: 12:26 PM
: 12:26 PM
I think you Plaid supporters need to come into the real world (oh and by the way one of the people quoted is an AM). Your party is in coalition and your party will answer for your successes and failures. Please heed the closing paragraph of the quote I used from Adam Price:
'The democratic nature of a party where it’s essential that leaders follow the policy decided upon by the ordinary members. And democracy in general. “Vote Plaid, Labour lied” was the chant on the lips of nationalists whilst referring to the mess made in Iraq and Labour’s u-turn on tuition fees. Plaid Cymru’s constitution - in letter and in spirit - does not allow us to make the same mistake.'
'The democratic nature of a party where it’s essential that leaders follow the policy decided upon by the ordinary members. And democracy in general. “Vote Plaid, Labour lied” was the chant on the lips of nationalists whilst referring to the mess made in Iraq and Labour’s u-turn on tuition fees. Plaid Cymru’s constitution - in letter and in spirit - does not allow us to make the same mistake.'
I am not a plaid supporter but a Labour one peter.
The last paragraph you quote shows there are issues for Plaid but not One Wales
The last paragraph you quote shows there are issues for Plaid but not One Wales
# posted by : 1:45 PM
: 1:45 PM
Well adopt a pseudonymn that makes it clear that you are not a Plaid supporter (and stop writing like one) :-)
Yes, there are issues for Plaid but if they stick to their policy then there will be a clash at the centre of government on the way forward. Thus there are issues and tensions for One Wales as well.
I do not think it will kill off One Wales as both parties enjoy the trappings of power too much but it could certainly lead to a loss of cohesion.
Yes, there are issues for Plaid but if they stick to their policy then there will be a clash at the centre of government on the way forward. Thus there are issues and tensions for One Wales as well.
I do not think it will kill off One Wales as both parties enjoy the trappings of power too much but it could certainly lead to a loss of cohesion.
if the coalition is broken then maybe it should be put down. They need to decide what's best for Wales, rather than for their parties: in squabbling, getting minimal results, or breaking up, and fighting for maximum results.
(Dunno how that would work in the real world, but it seems logical)
(Dunno how that would work in the real world, but it seems logical)
I suppose three persons is enough to form a quorum for yet another Plaid Cymru meeting in a remote rural Telephone Kiosk to make major party policy pronouncements that will never come to any fruition.
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