The Welsh government seems to getting used to living in a cleft stick over building a new nuclear power station in Wales.
The issue of the restricted powers available to the Assembly came up yesterday, with environment minister Jane Davidson fielding questions at the weekly cabinet briefing.
She wanted to talk only about possible development of the Severn Barrage, but got dragged into the nuclear issue as a by-product.
It became clear during press questioning that the old-time ban on new nuclear developments has been quietly ditched. Although both coalition partners, Labour and Plaid, have possessed a nuclear-free Wales policy, a slight problem exists in Anglesey.
An AM, Plaid’s Ieuan Wyn Jones, wants to keep his seat – which demands a pro-nuclear policy to enable the building of a replacement for Wylfa power station to provide cheap electricity for Anglesey Aluminium.
As there is no active issue currently before the Assembly demanding an urgent decision, the session didn’t get beyond a spot of gentle baiting of Ms Davidson – who answered with some gentle dodging.
Was the Assembly quietly happy that the power to give permission for large power developments (whether nuclear or tidal power) remains with London ? No, the minister quietly replied; we have continued to press London for devolution, but the centre has equally consistently refused.
Later, she said the government had not seen the need for development of nuclear, because Cardiff’s focus is on renewables. And the Welsh concern was about dealing with nuclear waste, rather than with the development itself.
Presumably it would be OK to dump the waster in England ? No, she didn’t say or imply that !
But one still gets the impression that Ms Davidson is quietly happy with the present constitutional situation. After all, if Cardiff had to give formal permission for a Wylfa II, how many of the dinosaurs on Plaid’s backbenches would be happy to vote No, even if it meant wrecking the coalition ?
I can think of more than a couple who would be glad to have inscribed on their political gravestones, “Died 2010 for the same of nuclear-free Wales”.
Ms Davidson let slip one secret. When Cardiff a couple of years ago thought it was being offered the extra political powers over electricity generation, the offer came only from the London ministry. When Cardiff then made further inquiries, the Welsh found out that the offer did NOT emanate from the Government in London.
Why a change in the goalposts ? Perhaps someone in the imperial capital had in the interim realised that Wales was No-No land. A civil servant was then instructed to find a spade and quickly shift the goalposts….
Comments
Ieuan Wyn Jones has ducked and dived over Wylfa for years. It is simply not good enough that the local AM and Economic Development Minister sits on the fence over such a crucial issue for Anglesey but also for the energy security of the UK.
While the local MP Albert own shows leadership in this matter, realising the huge implications for people’s livelihood, Mr Jones sits in the corner waiting for the hand of his civil servants to lead him in the “right” direction”
You call that leadership?
what are you talking about: “Died 2010 for the same of nuclear-free Wales” ?
I auggest you read the previous comment from David Phillips. There is a small group within Plaid who would happily sacrifice themselves, their votes and their membership of the Assembly by standing rigidly in favour of politicies which were adopted before Plaid entered government; in favour of policies which will resound around the Left-thinking world, but which will prove a disaster vote-wise.
I would not fancy, for instance, being a Plaid candidate at the moment in the Vale of Glamorgan when flat-earthers in the party condemn, with the aim of scrapping, the military “academy” (ie how to square-bash in tune with the band) at St Athan.
Re nuclear issues, the Lib Dems are as bad. But with Plaid we are talking of the main opposition party. If Plaid acts stupidly, 2011 will see the party booted to the sidelines, and Tories in government.