Not sure I should write this post. I've noticed that one or two anonymous bloggers are 'accusing' me of changing my position in respect of supporting a law making National Assembly since becoming a Parliamentary candidate. Now, this accusation is probably rather helpful to my cause. So its a pity that its a complete load of b*****t. One even implied that I was tacking to the 'Right', which is probably seriously helpful to my campaign strategy, but unfortunately its more b******t. Truth is that I've always been a man of the 'Right'.
Behind all this tosh is my opinion that I believe that both Labour and Plaid Cymru have decided (or perhaps accepted is a better word) that a referendum on law making powers is not going to be held during the current Assembly term. Now this is more than a bit tricky for Ieuan Wyn Jones, the Leader of Plaid Cymru because this was the carrot that he dangled before his activists to persuade them to agree to prop up Labour and Rhodri Morgan in office for another four years. He's going to look a right 'Wobbly Wally' when the commitment falls apart. I hope he's started practising the 'mock outrage', because he's going to have to put in a fantastic performance to convince his own supporters that they haven't been conned.
Personally I'll support a law making Assembly whenever the question is asked - but I'm not going to play silly pretend games, even if some anonymous bloggers would like me to. All I can do is try to persuade my own party to commit to a referendum when its within our power to hold one, and I've written to Lord Roberts of Conwy who is conducting a policy review on the issue for us - recommending a commitment to a referendum in the first term of a Conservative Government at Westminster - which equates to around 2012/13 ish. And it seems that 40 % of Conservative Party supporters take the same view.
6 comments:
"Moving to the 'Right', or moving to the bottom ...
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/06/03/welsh-economy-faces-major-challenges-91466-21013458/
anon - Now I'm not sure how your comment is meant, but I'm taking it as a criticism of the very poor performance of the Welsh economy since the National Assembly was created. And a fully justified comment it is.
Where I take issue with many, though not necessarily you, is that you lay the blame on the Assembly, rather on the Labour Goverment (plus coalition partners) who govern. My opinion has always been that Rhodri Morgan's entire philosphical approach is doomed to failure, and until we move away from this sclerosis producing belief that Government is about control and free provision, Wales will continue to fall behind. If I believed that Wales would never elect a centre/right Government, my own belief in devolution would collapse. For the sake of Wales, the blame for this abysmal performance of the economy should be placed where it is deserved - at the feet of the First Minister.
best course of action is to get rid of the arsembly and save us all from more of this disaster
anon - Whenever I speak about this issue, I always acknowledged that devolution being completely reversed is a rational arguement - but one I dismiss because its simply not going to happen. Similarly, I understand the arguement that the Assembly should not have law making powers (though I disagree with this in principle on 'lack of accountability grounds) - but it falls because law making powers are already being devolved under via the LCO system. As always, I try to base my opinion on where we are, rather than where I would like us to start from.
"Behind all this tosh is my opinion that I believe that both Labour and Plaid Cymru have decided (or perhaps accepted is a better word) that a referendum on law making powers is not going to be held during the current Assembly term."
Again you push this Glyn. The fact remains that Plaid-Labour are signed up to it. I fear that it is you that wish it to happen later so that you could get the Westminster elections out of the way without having to get your party to climb down from the fence they have been sitting on with relation to the devolution question
anon - don't think your comment stacks up. Nothing would have pleased me more than the Coalition Government driving their referendum commitment forwards with urgency, but they have elected not to do so. When did you last hear a Labour Assembly Minister say that a referendum will be held during 2010. All you will hear is something like "it is in the One Wales Agreement". We all know that, but it doesn't mean it will go ahead.
Your assertion that I want the issue kicked into the long grass until after the General Election is out of the way doesn't stack up either. The only feasible date left for a referendum is late 2010 - after the last possible date for a General Election. And Lord Roberts is presenting the Conservative Party position on this issue in an 'interim' report this summer - so we're not ducking it either.
I realise that there would be many people frustrated if the Coalition partners were to renege on their promise. But I think that is what they are preparing the ground to do. If Rhodri Morgan makes a strong specific statement that he will back a 2010 referendum, I might just change my opinion.
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