Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Cameron heralds a dead end
The most interesting parts of David Cameron's speech on Parliamentary reform today were those that he left out. It seems that the change he is promising is long on rhetoric and short on specifics, and that is before we get to the glaring omission of the need to reform the electoral system so as to give voters a greater say who runs the country.
There are many other political bloggers who can deal with the PR issue with greater authority and knowledge than I, notably James Graham, who describes Cameron's proposal to send out text messages about legislation as the modern equivalent of John Major’s Cones Hotline. James demolishes the arguments deployed by Conservatives against fair voting. His post is well worth a read.
Of most interest to me is what this speech means for devolution and Wales in particular under a Conservative Government. This is a subject that Conservative blogger Professor Dylan Jones-Evans has already attempted and yet reading his contribution has left me with more questions than answers.
The good Professor considers that the proposal to push power down to neighbourhoods and communities may mean that there will be further devolution downwards to councils from bodies such as the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament. He suggests this could be an alternative approach to giving devolved Assemblies more power themselves.
Welcome as the idea of empowering councils is we should not forget that local government is a devolved matter. It would be inappropriate for any UK Government to seek to by-pass the Welsh Assembly and force it to pass on powers it did not wish to do so itself. If that is the Cameron agenda then that brings into question once more the Conservative's understanding of and commitment to devolution.
However, the elephant in the room that Dylan Jones-Evans does not address is what the Conservative leader's speech actually means for the Assembly itself and specifically the referendum provided for in the Government of Wales Act 2006 that would enable us to access primary law-making powers without the need for a Legislative Competence Order.
Thus far the Conservatives have been fairly silent as a party on what they would do if they were in Government and a request for a referendum arrived in their in-tray. They have also been quite reticient to say where they would stand as a party on a 'yes' vote. Would they have an official position? Would they campaign for one side or another? Or would they divide amongst themselves on the issue?
The obvious implication of Cameron's promise to push power down to the lowest possible level is that the Conservatives would support the Welsh Assembly assuming full law-making powers under Part Four of the Government of Wales Act. So why not say so?
Isn't it about time that the Conservatives took responsibility for their new policy position and finally said as a party that they will be supporting a 'yes' vote in the impending referendum on law-making powers? Can we have that detail filled in on Cameron's speech at least?
There are many other political bloggers who can deal with the PR issue with greater authority and knowledge than I, notably James Graham, who describes Cameron's proposal to send out text messages about legislation as the modern equivalent of John Major’s Cones Hotline. James demolishes the arguments deployed by Conservatives against fair voting. His post is well worth a read.
Of most interest to me is what this speech means for devolution and Wales in particular under a Conservative Government. This is a subject that Conservative blogger Professor Dylan Jones-Evans has already attempted and yet reading his contribution has left me with more questions than answers.
The good Professor considers that the proposal to push power down to neighbourhoods and communities may mean that there will be further devolution downwards to councils from bodies such as the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament. He suggests this could be an alternative approach to giving devolved Assemblies more power themselves.
Welcome as the idea of empowering councils is we should not forget that local government is a devolved matter. It would be inappropriate for any UK Government to seek to by-pass the Welsh Assembly and force it to pass on powers it did not wish to do so itself. If that is the Cameron agenda then that brings into question once more the Conservative's understanding of and commitment to devolution.
However, the elephant in the room that Dylan Jones-Evans does not address is what the Conservative leader's speech actually means for the Assembly itself and specifically the referendum provided for in the Government of Wales Act 2006 that would enable us to access primary law-making powers without the need for a Legislative Competence Order.
Thus far the Conservatives have been fairly silent as a party on what they would do if they were in Government and a request for a referendum arrived in their in-tray. They have also been quite reticient to say where they would stand as a party on a 'yes' vote. Would they have an official position? Would they campaign for one side or another? Or would they divide amongst themselves on the issue?
The obvious implication of Cameron's promise to push power down to the lowest possible level is that the Conservatives would support the Welsh Assembly assuming full law-making powers under Part Four of the Government of Wales Act. So why not say so?
Isn't it about time that the Conservatives took responsibility for their new policy position and finally said as a party that they will be supporting a 'yes' vote in the impending referendum on law-making powers? Can we have that detail filled in on Cameron's speech at least?
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As I wrote on Dylan's blog earlier, if decentralisation is the aim, I can only conclude the absence of the word devolution to be deliberate. This does not provide clarity to the Conservative position.
"Isn't it about time that the Conservatives took responsibility for their new policy position and finally said as a party that they will be supporting a 'yes' vote in the impending referendum on law-making powers? Can we have that detail filled in on Cameron's speech at least?"
Quite simply the Conservative Party (both Welsh and UK) cannot and will not answer this question at present. The opportunity presented itself with the Roberts review last year. The opportunity again presented itself today - even a couple of lines which might have been considered throwaway to other parts of the UK would have had anorak resonance here. I can only conclude the decision to stay silent on devolution/the Assembly is fundamentally deliberate and we will see no change on this until a UK General Election.
Despite that, though, there was much in what Cameron said on other constitutionally reforming agendas. The restoration of the independence of select committees isn't meant to have broad appeal, but is an important point. And the flirtation with fixed term Parliaments is more than welcome.
I await tomorrow and further pontifications from leading politicians on how our constitutional democracy might be strengethened.
"Isn't it about time that the Conservatives took responsibility for their new policy position and finally said as a party that they will be supporting a 'yes' vote in the impending referendum on law-making powers? Can we have that detail filled in on Cameron's speech at least?"
Quite simply the Conservative Party (both Welsh and UK) cannot and will not answer this question at present. The opportunity presented itself with the Roberts review last year. The opportunity again presented itself today - even a couple of lines which might have been considered throwaway to other parts of the UK would have had anorak resonance here. I can only conclude the decision to stay silent on devolution/the Assembly is fundamentally deliberate and we will see no change on this until a UK General Election.
Despite that, though, there was much in what Cameron said on other constitutionally reforming agendas. The restoration of the independence of select committees isn't meant to have broad appeal, but is an important point. And the flirtation with fixed term Parliaments is more than welcome.
I await tomorrow and further pontifications from leading politicians on how our constitutional democracy might be strengethened.
Older readers may remember that one of Margaret Thatcher's slogans in the 1990s was "Town hall, not Whitehall". The insincerity of this was shown up by the introduction of "capping" of local authorities when she came to power.
David Cameron may well be reflecting the views of focus groups rather than expressing his own convictions.
David Cameron may well be reflecting the views of focus groups rather than expressing his own convictions.
"The obvious implication of Cameron's promise to push power down to the lowest possible level is that the Conservatives would support the Welsh Assembly assuming full law-making powers under Part Four of the Government of Wales Act. So why not say so?"
Peter - you should know from my writing on this subject that I am fully supportive of this and suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
So let me say it again, unequivocally,
"I am fully supportive of the Welsh Assembly assuming full law-making powers under Part Four of the Government of Wales Act".
Every political party has different views on a range of subjects (even the Lib-Dems).
Indeed, I am not responsible for the views of any other member of the party but I am sure there are far more than you would imagine who would support such a view.
Perhaps it is time that one of us in the Welsh Conservatives attempted to clarify this position at a national level (as if I haven't got enough to do).
Watch this space.
Peter - you should know from my writing on this subject that I am fully supportive of this and suggest otherwise is disingenuous.
So let me say it again, unequivocally,
"I am fully supportive of the Welsh Assembly assuming full law-making powers under Part Four of the Government of Wales Act".
Every political party has different views on a range of subjects (even the Lib-Dems).
Indeed, I am not responsible for the views of any other member of the party but I am sure there are far more than you would imagine who would support such a view.
Perhaps it is time that one of us in the Welsh Conservatives attempted to clarify this position at a national level (as if I haven't got enough to do).
Watch this space.
You have missed my points Dylan which can be summed up in two questions: Why did Cameron not take his rhetoric to its logical conclusion on Wales? (I think I know the answer to this question but it is a bit disingenuous to call for a break from the past and then fail to lead on such an important issue because of splits in your own party); and why did you not ask this obvious question in your blog post yourself instead of skirting around the matter?
For the record I do know your views which is why I was surprised at your self-restraint.
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For the record I do know your views which is why I was surprised at your self-restraint.
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