Welsh assembly buildingThere’s not a single doubt that Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is dog-tired, although he puts in a stout and dogged performance during the weekly ritual of First Minister’s questions. But, behind the public bravado, Ieuan is sad and disappointed. He is a gentleman – although that’s not quite the right term for the son of a Welsh nonconformist minister – who has been dastardly traduced during six months of bear-baiting by those who claim to represent what’s left of the unthinking working class.
In the meantime, First Minister Carwyn Jones is desperately keen to avoid any repeat of those troubles in past Assemblies which could so nearly cripple an administration that relies on only 30 votes (however unstable and rocky some might prove) in a house of 60 members. But after the treatment Ieuan Wyn Jones has received, it looks as if Carwyn Jones will have to whistle for the support of Kirsty Williams’s Liberal Democrats if he is ever in need of help.
In the Senedd, Plaid is a sorry sight. In a crisis, you need to show strength, and Plaid’s London press office know that, and they succeed in getting their message across. Cardiff’s staff should really go back to their mother’s apron strings as it’s a tough world out here. To some extent, the situation in Cardiff is a reflection of how Ieuan works: he’s too much the son of a minister who preaches to the saved and the faithful, and avoids the sinners. Unfortunately, there are times when it seems there are more of the latter than the former. Plaid AMs agree that Dafydd Wigley – Ieuan’s predecessor, whom he prevented from returning as leader when medical problems proved far less serious than feared – would not have put up with the treatment that is now crippling both Ieuan and his party. Instead, someone would have ended up with a metaphorical bloody nose.
Fortunately, a revival is at hand. It’s being planned for Llandudno, where Plaid’s annual conference meets in September. And, it’s being planned by our ‘lord on earth’, none other than Lord Elis-Thomas, the AM for Dwyfor-Meirionydd, and recently the pioneer, longserving and deservedly-feted Presiding Officer of the Assembly.
Elis-Thomas is 64 and is spoiling for a new challenge. Plaid needs rebuilding fast and Dafydd has the background, knowledge and overall perspective to realise that the party’s tactics must be much broader and cleverer than believing that Labour voters are the only group House of Lords worth attracting.
Two other Plaid AMs are also stern critics of Ieuan’s belief that he can chose when he departs sometime during the next two years over the next two years when he departs. The mobile phone-shy Elin Jones is justifiably annoyed that her party’s failed election tactics have ensured that the farmers she fought for as a well-regarded minister are now suffering from Labour’s shilly-shallying on badger culling. Certainly the Ceredigion AM has for a long time been quietly thinking she could do a good job as party leader, but has always refrained from coming forward for fear of the intrusiveness into an individual’s private life which fighting for and holding that position nowadays involves. Also considering his position is the Mid and West AM, policy-wonk Simon Thomas. While Elin suffers from the public view that she is too rural and Welsh-speaking, Simon is a son of Aberdare who can trade it with the most-unreconstructed in the Labour Party.

Tory leadership
Angela Burns waxed eloquent in the closing days of the contest to replace Nick Bourne as the Assembly’s Conservative Party.
“We need someone to appeal to all parties, not just to our own faithful,” opined the AM for Carmarthen East and South Pembroke in the Assembly canteen. And her man is Nick Ramsay, Monmouth AM. Thanks to his speaking and debating ability, Nick has apparently wiped the floor with his opponent Andrew Davies during the party hustings,. But Nick is 36, and most of his life has been spent in politics, which the party faithful sometimes despise. However, Andrew is 43, and boasts the outside occupation of farming, which appeals more to the faithful. Nick lost, although closely (53-47). Which means the issue is still open.

Jocelyn
Jocelyn Davies (Plaid Cymru regional list AM for South Wales East) doesn’t sport the highest profile in the Assembly, but she has several quiet victories to her name. For example, it was the coalition’s deputy housing minister who helped highlight the idiocy of the Labour-authored farce of Cardiff passing laws only after Westminster had acted as a detailed second chamber. Jocelyn doesn’t throw all the blame at  Westminster’s door for what was essentially one bill being rejected in London and another having to be submitted. The replacement Legislative Competence Order (LCO) was, indeed, a big improvement. It included a load of items not covered in the original – such as a reinstatement of the requirement that councils have to provide accommodation for gypsies and travellers.
For those with long memories, this requirement was “thatchered” when that particular lady was Prime Minister – so suiting the prejudices of the Tory shires and middle classes. Although the issue became one of the first to be investigated in detail by the Assembly in its very early days, at the time, our AMs could do little more than talk. Little wonder the gypies complained there was too much talk and nothing much (if anything) happening.
But in 2006, the Assembly was allowed to grow a bit and apply for LCOs – and for MPs to object to this new power. The gypsy provisions went into the second version of the LCO. Of course, even now that LCO has been passed, the detailed legislation has still to follow …. but at least that can now happen under the Assembly Acts that Cardiff
can implement without interference.
If necessary, the Assembly can even cock a snook at Tory right-winger David Jones, the Clwyd West MP, minister at the Wales Office, who forced Cardiff to cut back (for purely doctrinaire Tory reasons) on its attempt to restrict right to buy of council houses in regions of housing pressure (such as pretty coastal villlages where David’s friends from England tend to buy up anything for sale, pricing out the locals). But Jocelyn is one of those who doesn’t know whether she wants again to be part of a Labour coalition.

The mindset of the assembly
Once, the Welsh Assembly’s sophisticated information systems were world class. But, it seems, less so. Indeed, the place is going seriously backwards. Many of you will have heard of wi-fi – essentially a radio system which enables computers to work without being plugged into a phone line. Well, during my day at the Assembly preparing this column, an AM asked me to confirm our proposed lunch venue.. he had found me by wandering around the buildings. He had, in fact sent me an e-mail, but I could only read that once I got home. Why? Because the Assembly office building is not provided with wi-fi. There are no means by which e-mails sent to and from AMs can link up with lap-top computers within the building. Worse, when I asked the then head of news at the Assembly why this was so, the reply came back: “What’s wi-fi ?” I fear, also, that Assembly is developing into a mindset which exists purely for the happiness of the permanent ‘village’ itself. Paper versions of agendas are no longer provided: you are supposed to use either download them onto your personal computer before you arrive, or view display screens outside committee rooms. Unfortunately, those screens may not display all the details you require – and without wi-fi, you can’t pick up them up from your own e-mail account. And when the Assembly first opened in 1999, the parties were delighted to provide lists of who was who and their contact details. But not now. Is this because someone has decided their revelation poses some spurious security risk? Have our AMs become too self-important? Or has someone stupidly decided that Google can provide for all our needs?
I have written before about the lack of physical contact between the public and AMs (we have no Westminsterstyle Lobby, for example). The situation is worsening rather than improving. Nowadays, a clear ‘them’ and ‘us’ feeling pervades the Assembly, and we are the excluded ones. Cardiff has tried to ape Westminster, often without
good reason. Hopes for Cardiff being an open institution are being steadily dashed.

 gan Clive Betts (republished from the current issue of Cambria magazine)

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This makes my point from the last article. Business in West Wales  says NO.

RESULTS OF REFERENDUM SURVEY.

The West Wales Business Initiative has carried out a survey of how businesspeople in Wales intend to vote in the Referendum on Assembly powers, due on 3 March. Over 200 companies were contacted by e-mail, phone and post.

141 replies were received.

To the first question: Do you believe that the Assembly should be given additional powers ?

75.9  % said No
24.1 % said Yes.

To the second question : Rate the Assembly’s OVERALL performance since 1999 :

Good                           0 %

Satisfactory                7.8 %

Mediocre                    48.9 %

Poor                            43.3 %

To the third question : Do you believe there is too much government (Local, Regional and National) in the UK ?

93.6  % said Yes

6.4  % said  No

And the 4th question : Do you believe that we need an Assembly and 22 Local Councils in Wales

93.6 % said  No

6.4 % said Yes

Respondents were also given the opportunity to comment. See following page.

A spokesman for the WWBI said “A number of people have stated publicly that the point about Assembly performance is separate to the Referendum question. It is clear that the business community does not perceive a difference, as in the business world you have to perform to survive. Coupled to this is the belief that the Assembly has already wasted billions of taxpayers money.”

“Giving it more powers, before they have proved they can manage resources effectively, will lead to even more waste. Others see it as another step towards a Wales, politically, socially and economically separate to Britain; the same as Ireland.”

COMMENTS FROM RESPONDENTS :

Reducing the level of Local Government would surely assist in reducing the National Deficit, and based on the appalling inefficiency and lack of service within the Local Authorities we work with, a more slim-line structure cannot be any more inefficient or costly than the current system.  The Assembly has not really delivered much at all for Wales.

As a small business employing local people we feel we have been let down badly by  government…

We do need a strong government but the problem is there are too many civil servants working within government and local councils. Pay and conditions are far too generous in the public sector , just compare the sickness frequency rates between the two sectors, sickness benefits are seen as an entitlement in the public sector rather than for the purpose intended. Final salary pensions are unaffordable and unsustainable and a huge burden on the public purse. In the case of  local councils and other public service authorities you don’t see them going into receivership if they fail to operate within their budgets, they are bailed out by central government.

My concern is that in my opinion Wales is not able to be self sufficient, and further devolved powers will make progress towards true devolution, and I am far from convinced that we have the necessary skills, experience and revenue streams to allow this to be successful

I believe that the WAG should be given more tools (which could be construed as powers) to do its job more effectively until such a time as the UK evolves into a proper federation of nation states with a written constitution.

Had Wales been part of the Celtic Tiger, it would by now be on its knees and in far worse a state than that which the Irish economy finds itself presently in.

The assembly has demonstrated no will to encourage Welsh Businesses to grow to become meaningful players on even the UK stage. Just look at the list of 300 largest companies in Wales to see (i) how many are foreign-owned and (ii) how few major UK players are Welsh. The success of the Welsh economy depends on the success of its businesses, and on recirculating money within Wales. It’s a simple concept which WAG has not embraced. It prefers to hide itself behind the pretence that it must conform with European rules, in a way that no other country does. WAG should be abolished.

The level of bureaucracy and red tape is far too high in the welsh economy. We need less government and not more.  We need an assembly government which actively supports and encourages established welsh independent businesses.  A government which  does not squander money on frivolous causes but actively seeks to develop and grow the welsh economy.

I feel the referendum should be on whether we should abolish the Assembly. If you consider that it was born following a referendum which had a 25% turnout and that the supporting majority was only 0.25%. Hardly a clear cut decision.  The quality of individuals sitting as AMs is of a very low calibre – many of them have failed to secure nominations as parliamentary candidates. The fact that there is cross party support for additional powers indicates clearly that the individuals are anxious to protect their ‘jobs’ as AMs. Is there an AM who has been a success in a proper job?

If more powers are obtained, then I am certain that more civil servants will be required to draft and an enact legislation.  Whatever they say, this will result in more costs which can only be recovered through taxation. Whether that taxation is by the Treasury or by using some of the block grant, the money clearly cannot be spent on other things.

The scrapping of Grant Aid to business in Wales during a recession and in view of large scale job losses, was the final nail in the coffin as far as WAG were concerned from my point of view! In fact apart from the recent support for Welsh students the Assembly has had more of an adverse effect on Wales since its inception and at a disproportionate cost. Bring back the old Welsh Office and disband the Assembly rather than give these AM’s more power and ability to get it wrong!

Introducing extra layers of government and devolved power comes at an extra cost to the tax payer. I question whether the sheer cost of setting up and running the Welsh Assembly has truly benefited the lives of those living and working in Wales.

The only really positive thing that WAG does is provide a lot of jobs in the public sector and create work in the private sector through its enormous spending powers.  From a government point of view it is completely pointless – like the EU parliament: an extra layer of government that we don’t need and which costs the taxpayer a fortune.

Although a separate nation comparison of Welsh performance to other nations provides a bench mark for seeing how well or otherwise we are doing. Such comparisons highlight areas of excellence and others of failure and provide a basis for establishing cause and effect.

………………………………………………………………………….

For further information contact : 01269 592427

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Tomorrow WalesCYNOG DAFIS seeks the support of Cambria readers for the activities of Cymru Yfory-Tomorrow’s Wales and for the Declaration for Welsh Democracy.

We are entering a critical phase in the history of our nation. During the next two years we have the opportunity to transform our National Assembly into a proper legislative parliament. In June 2007, the new One Wales coalition government committed itself to seeking primary law-making powers for the Assembly and ‘to campaign for a successful outcome’ to a referendum on that subject.

By the end of November, it is anticipated that the All-Wales Convention, chaired by Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, will have reported on its finding to the Government of Wales, and it is likely to come out in favour of law-making powers. But even then there will be a number of major hurdles to cross before the finishing line is reached.

Before a referendum can be held there is a statutory process that could take as long as 160 days:

• The National Assembly has to pass by a two-thirds majority a resolution calling for a referendum

• The Secretary of State has to consult and may, or may not, then place a draft order before both houses of the UK Parliament

• If (s)he does so, that order, setting the date, the question and time allowed for campaigning, has to be approved by both houses

• The Assembly itself must then approve the order, again by a two-thirds majority

The first hurdle should present no difficulty but it is far from certain that the next two will be crossed and there might be issues of detail that could make the fourth uncertain.

If all of these hurdles are successfully crossed, there remains the task of winning the support of the people if Wales in a referendum. There is every reason to be optimistic about the outcome. Rigorous analysis of public opinion shows a steady and strong growth in support for devolution since 1999, with law-making powers on the Scottish model the most favoured option. At the same time there is widespread support in ‘civil society’ for a legislative parliament (although the business sector is perhaps more ambiguous). At the same time the current arrangements, whereby the National Assembly has to seek the power to legislate, item by item, from Westminster is widely regarded as cumbersome, inefficient and an obstacle to effective democratic government.

However referenda are by their nature unpredictable and it would be the height of folly to take success for granted.

It is in this context that Cymru Yfory has launched its Declaration for Welsh Democracy (see panel), which has already attracted thousands of signatures, including prominent people from the worlds of sport, entertainment and the arts, the law, academia etc as well as hundreds of ordinary citizens.

Cymru Yfory was established in 2004 to press for the implementation of the recommendations of the Richard Commission on the Powers and Electoral arrangements of the National Assembly. We are a cross-sectoral, nonparty-political body and our able chairman is the Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan. Since 2004 we have been active in lobbying for a law-making parliament and have established strong links with civil organisations to encourage a well-informed debate about democracy and effective government in Wales through networking, seminars and conferences. Our Layman’s Guide to the New National Assembly for Wales, the only publication of its kind, is currently being updated. Our briefing papers on various aspects of devolved government have been widely welcomed and we have published a number of popular leaflets.

We have been able to attract funding for our activities from various sources including the Rowntree Charitable and Reform Trusts and a grant from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has enabled us this year to obtain the professional services of a Development Officer, Elin Wyn. We are in the process of establishing a formal membership system.

Cymru Yfory will not be the Yes Campaign which will no doubt be established early next year. We have a broader remit than such a campaign. However we believe we have a responsibility to prepare the ground for the debate that will occur as the Referendum approaches.

It is now vitally important that a powerful momentum be created in favour of bringing proper parliamentary government to Wales and to do so we need the support of people from all walks of life and all parts of Wales.

Cambria readers can help in a number of ways:

• By signing the Declaration for Welsh Democracy which we see as a key tool in building momentum

• By asking others to do so: family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. Imagine the effect if each of Cambria’s 60,000 plus readers got ten signatures each!

• By joining with others to establish a local group to distribute leaflets and gather support • By contributing financially

• By joining in the debate on our blog at: www.tomorrow-wales.co.uk/blog

Information on Cymru Yfory and materials, including leaflets and petition forms for the Declaration, can be obtained from Cymru Yfory at Tyˆ Meandros, 54a Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5AS or by visiting our website www.tomorrow-wales.co.uk

A DECLARATION FOR WELSH DEMOCRACY

We the undersigned believe that the creation of a system of effective democratic governance for Wales is a matter of major importance. Such a system should:

• Be efficient in its use of time and resources

• Be comprehensible and transparent

• Promote wide participation by the public and civil society

• Respect the autonomy of the National Assembly as the elected body which represents the people of Wales

• Offer constitutional stability and thus a means of concentrating on the implementation of a policy programme that can get to grips with the problems and release the potential of Wales

We believe that this would best be achieved by the granting of primary law-making powers to the National Assembly, and we call for the holding of a referendum to that end.

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The Welsh Assembly Government is allocating a sixth (~£50million) of the new expenditure budget, more than to the high profile ‘transport infrastructure’, to preparing for the consequences of a flu pandemic. This is a huge slice of money for a single project  dwarfing  funding to any other similar project. So what is the basis or information on which this has been decided? What is it that they know that they haven’t been telling us and which now requires such massive resources devoted to it?

Now I happen to agree that (bird) flu is a very real and present danger to the human race and it is good that the WAG is apparently preparing for it in an intelligent and foresighted way. Nevertheless, it is also worrying that there has been no significant communication about this. I think the public needs to know if this threat is now more real or about to strike.

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Buy the latest issue of Cambria here!

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Elin Jones is in some ways rapidly becoming the quickest-moving member of the Assembly cabinet.

Ministers have always kept themselves to themselves, with the press and others kept at bay; the theory that the Assembly would become an open institution to the public and the world never developed beyond the referendum.

Thus, when Plaid’s special adviser on the fifth (ie cabinet) floor slipped round the press room door at Crickhowell House and whispered that Elin had something to say, and would we like to chat to her, we knew that something was afoot.

Not a resignation – that’s the minimum for most other ministers to set foot along the press corridor – but a policy point. Continue reading »

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Tinplate ThatcherIt almost seems perversely appropriate to use tinplate to create the giant portrait of Margaret Thatcher revealed at the National Assembly today.

After all, the tinplate industry as it once existed in Wales is all but dead, and Maggie is the one who killed off so much of British industry.

The portrait – together with one of Aneurin Bevan, both 4m high, hanging side by side from the eaves of the Senedd building – tell us immediately that the Assembly is about more than just politics. It all gives a powerful place to art.

Now that Mrs T is hanging there, so people will no doubt wish that a different sort of hanging had been employed – one involving a noose. Continue reading »

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Cambria Books

New publication.
Important contribution to our knowledge of the Arab Spring by Denis Campbell.

Cambria Books

New publication. Entertaining guide to the US Elections by Denis Campbell.
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