The BBC reports that the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Lord Joel Barnett has died at the age of 91.
Lord Barnett is best known in Wales for devising the Barnett formula, which determines how much money the Welsh Government has to spend. It is based on a simple population calculation so does not take into account need. In recent years Lord Barnett argued strongly that it was not fit for purpose and needed reform.
In that regard he was in the mainstream of Welsh politics even though he never represented any part of our country. The best tribute we could pay to him now would be to ditch his formula and replace it with a more equitable calculation.
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