Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Turning a drama into a crisis
It is difficult to know what exactly is going on over the resolution due to be tabled for debate on 9th February regarding a referendum on moving the Assembly from part three to part four of the Government of Wales Act.
From what I can see, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Tories all want this motion to be the trigger vote that will schedule the plebiscite for October of this year. I suspect that this is also the position of the majority of the Labour group as well, and yet the new First Minster refuses to be drawn on his position and will not say whether he will be tabling such a resolution.
The uncertainty that has been generated has got so bad that Plaid Cymru have resorted to that age-old negotiating trick of making threats in the press. Maybe they even mean it this time.
Jonathan Edwards, Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, like many of his collegaues, places the blame for the indecision firmly at the feet of Labour MPs and teh Secretary of State for Wales in particular.
He said: “Hardly a week goes by without Labour Unionist MPs trying to undermine the authority of the First Minister. Carwyn Jones needs to stamp out this latest attempt to de-rail the referendum trigger vote and establish his authority on his own party.”
An annonymous Plaid Cymnru source added: “Peter Hain has made no secret of his opposition to an early referendum, constantly saying he believes it would be lost. That kind of defeatist talk is the last thing we need.
“We also know that many Welsh Labour MPs are not keen on the Assembly getting more powers. They should remember that their party signed up to the One Wales agreement, which carries a firm commitment both to hold a referendum and to campaign in favour of primary lawmaking powers.”
They are putting it about that there is a serious possibility that Plaid Cymru will walk out of the Assembly Government coalition. All of this makes one wonder why Carwyn Jones has created this rod for his own back so soon. He is in danger of losing both the referendum and his majority. Who would have thought that somebody so renowned for being laid back could create such a crisis without even trying?
From what I can see, the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Tories all want this motion to be the trigger vote that will schedule the plebiscite for October of this year. I suspect that this is also the position of the majority of the Labour group as well, and yet the new First Minster refuses to be drawn on his position and will not say whether he will be tabling such a resolution.
The uncertainty that has been generated has got so bad that Plaid Cymru have resorted to that age-old negotiating trick of making threats in the press. Maybe they even mean it this time.
Jonathan Edwards, Plaid’s parliamentary candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, like many of his collegaues, places the blame for the indecision firmly at the feet of Labour MPs and teh Secretary of State for Wales in particular.
He said: “Hardly a week goes by without Labour Unionist MPs trying to undermine the authority of the First Minister. Carwyn Jones needs to stamp out this latest attempt to de-rail the referendum trigger vote and establish his authority on his own party.”
An annonymous Plaid Cymnru source added: “Peter Hain has made no secret of his opposition to an early referendum, constantly saying he believes it would be lost. That kind of defeatist talk is the last thing we need.
“We also know that many Welsh Labour MPs are not keen on the Assembly getting more powers. They should remember that their party signed up to the One Wales agreement, which carries a firm commitment both to hold a referendum and to campaign in favour of primary lawmaking powers.”
They are putting it about that there is a serious possibility that Plaid Cymru will walk out of the Assembly Government coalition. All of this makes one wonder why Carwyn Jones has created this rod for his own back so soon. He is in danger of losing both the referendum and his majority. Who would have thought that somebody so renowned for being laid back could create such a crisis without even trying?
Comments:
<< Home
"The uncertainty that has been generated has got so bad that Plaid Cymru have resorted to that age-old negotiating trick of making threats in the press...."
"....there is a serious possibility that Plaid Cymru will walk out of the Assembly Government coalition."
They are just threats, nothing more nothing less, Plaid aren't going to act on them; they are like the loyal old dog, may growl at it's owners from time to time but they won't bite the hand that feeds them.
Post a Comment
"....there is a serious possibility that Plaid Cymru will walk out of the Assembly Government coalition."
They are just threats, nothing more nothing less, Plaid aren't going to act on them; they are like the loyal old dog, may growl at it's owners from time to time but they won't bite the hand that feeds them.
# posted by 
: 2:23 PM
: 2:23 PM<< Home
