29th June 2007
Yesterday’s Men
In this morning’s Western Mail Ron Davies, the former Labour MP for Caerffili, says Plaid has been ’shafted by Labour while his successor, Wayne David, seems to think Labour has been shafted by Plaid. The truth of the matter is that neither party has been shafted but both Labour and Plaid have agreed to cooperate for the benefit of the people of Wales. This is something that most progressives in Wales should welcome and is, after all, a symbol of the ‘new politics’ that Ron Davies once argued the Assembly should embody.
The All-Wales Convention for a Welsh Parliament - similar but much more extensive than the body headed up by the Archbishop of Wales - is a recognition that civil society has a crucial leadership role in any referendum campaign, a lesson Ron should surely have learned from 1997.
The Agreement, far from giving Labour a veto over a future referendum, effectively removes it by ensuring Labour Party support in the Assembly where a two-thirds majority is required. It is common sense that the decision as to the exact timing of a referendum should be made jointly by both parties based on the opinion poll evidence in order to ensure a ‘Yes’ vote. There may be a strong argument for holding it on the same day as the European elections or on the same day as the next Assembly elections in 2011. But a referendum will be held by 2011 unless both parties agree to defer it.
As for Ron Davies dismissing the ‘One Wales’ agreement as “pretty low-key”, I cannot see how a programme that will bring the right to a decent home within the grasp of every citizen, that will make Welsh-medium education a right at every level from the nursery to university, that will cut business taxes to boost the economy, that will hold a commission of inquiry into the Barnett Formula and corporation tax powers,with Treasury co-operation, to report before the next Election, that will create new national institutions like the science academy, the national gallery and the English-language national theatre as well as a separate Welsh criminal justice system, to mention just a few of the measures in the One-Wales programme, represent anything other than a bold and radical departure.
While Wayne David’s response may be somewhat predictable, I find it particularly strange that Ron Davies, as well as some other un-named senior politicians, who once talked of the very realignment of Welsh politics that we are now seeing are so bitterly dismissive of a new generation of politicians delivering what they failed to achieve. We might have hoped that politicians of such a stature would have applauded our efforts rather than sniping from the sidelines like yesterday’s men.
9 Responses to “Yesterday’s Men”
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alanindyfed says:
June 29th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
The stance of Ron Davies in particular is very disappointing indeed. A politician of his stature, even though his politics is of the past century, would be expected to give a hearty approbation of the One Wales Agreement which indeed is far-reaching. Could it be that his comments are compromised by his association with Welsh Labour MPs in Westminster? He would not seek to offend them. For another point of view, just posted, see my blog :
http://alanindyfed.blogspot.com
John Rhys Davies says:
June 30th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
I do not believe that the Labour party in London will ever allow the Labour party in Wales to do anything which will threaten their Westminster seats. At present the London Labour party regard Wales as a source of easily winnable seats in a general election. They will not countenance any move by the Labour party in Wales which might threaten this situation even if the Labour party in Wales wanted to which I very much doubt. The alliance with Labour would do nothing to advance Plaids core objective which I believe to be to have decisions affecting Wales taken in Cardiff. I was a member of the Labour party during the time of the Alun Michael versus Rhodri Morgan fiaso and this showed me how the Labour party operate. I want something better for Wales.
alanindyfed says:
July 1st, 2007 at 9:44 am
Yesterday’s Men
Alun Michael
Neil Kinnock
Peter Hain
Ron Davies
15 Labour MPs from Wales voted against the amendment on the “Future of EU finances” motion: Nick Ainger (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire), Chris Bryant (Rhondda), Wayne David (Caerphilly), Denzil Davies (Llanelli), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Win Griffiths (Bridgend), Peter Hain (Neath), David Hanson (Delyn), Alan Howarth (Newport East), Kim Howells (Pontypridd), Ian Lucas (Wrexham), Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth), Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside), Don Touhig (Islwyn), Betty Williams (Conwy). The remainder of the Labour MPs did not attend. All MPs from England voted against the Plaid Cymru/SNP motion.
redpluralist says:
July 1st, 2007 at 11:41 am
Spot on Adam! The ‘One Nation’ programme is a radical and realistic programme for progressive government of Wales over the next four years. The fact that there is resistance from some - notably most Welsh Labour MPs and rightward-leaning members of Plaid - is confirmation, rather than the opposite, that the majority of Assembly Members in both parties have taken a bold and principled step towards forging a progressive consensus. The reaction of ‘yesterday’s men’ is disappointing but, for different reasons, predictable. But they are yesterday’s politicians and the future belongs to the bold and resolute pro-devolutionist politicians and people of Wales. The devolution toothpaste is out of the tube and can’t be pushed back in!
Brychan says:
July 1st, 2007 at 12:12 pm
adam price is so ecstatic at the possibility of a referendum on a Welsh Parliament that as usual with politicians as committed to a cause as he is they fail to give due appreciation to other points of view. it is only a few years since the assembly was established and it should be remembered that it was established on the slimest of majorities. this current shambles in the governance of wales, as it is seen by many people, clearly offers a political opportunity to plaid to further its independence aims. but to many people it just raises even more questions about the effectiveness of the governance offered by the assembly. Ieuan Wyn Jones keeps repeating the phrase “I simply want what is best for the people of Wales” as if it is a mantra. one is not sure whether he is trying to convince himself or much more likely the people of Wales that he is acting purely with their interests in mind. The truth may be far more banal that like most politicians he is acting in the interests of what he wants to see happen. Not necessarily the same thing and open to debate. In actual fact what a politician wants and what is actually the best do not always coincide. some perhaps most people see his actions as as much to do with furthering the Nationalists independence aims and objectives as anything else.
adam price describes these all wales accord policies as a bold and radical departure. a separate Welsh criminal justice system will simply increase admin costs as it has done with the NHS. something wales cannot really afford. a review of the barnett formula may actually result in a reduction in revenue for wales as english MP’s assert themselves post devolution. as for various new national institutions. well fine just like free bus passes very popular. but if we are talking about first class governance of a small country lets look at for example the NHS first. Plaid wont be able to get away with just blaming labour for all the failings in the NHS or avoid the difficulties presented by reconfiguration for much longer.
a few popularulist policies aside, the people who’ve benefited most from devolution are the political classes in all political parties who have suddenly found themselves much to their delight as big fish in a small pool. I wonder how long it will be before the people of Wales view decision-making in the assembly with as much dismay and dislike as they generally perceive decision-making and services provided by local authorities?
alanindyfed says:
July 2nd, 2007 at 7:27 am
Plaid in Rainy Carmarthen - 02/07/07
http://alanindyfed.blogspot.com
CLECKANNDRA.BLOGSPOT says:
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Adam - the “re-alignment of Welsh politics” that you are referring to may well be positive in your imagination but there is likely to be a heavy price to pay. Stand back and take a long, hard, look at where we are. The Plaid Tiger is (finally)at the Welsh Labour door. Were Plaid (or any other party) to still be a paper tiger there’d be no invitation to a cuppa and a round of sweet talk.
Coalesce or strengthen?
Have a close read of Cleckanndra.blogspot
CLECKANNDRA.BLOGSPOT says:
July 2nd, 2007 at 11:46 am
The costs to democracy and we voters; the future vigour of Plaid as a robust alternative; and to the [s0-called]‘ordinary’ members within Labour.
See Cleckanndra.blogspot
alanindyfed says:
July 4th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
The naysayers should see the writing on the wall, and be aware of the momentum which has gathered pace since the election results of May 4th. My absolute prediction is that both conferences will vote Yes to the coalition, despite the frantic and reactionary comments of the men and women of yesterday, from the Assembly seats and the Westminster benches. There is a new dynamic, as Ieuan Wyn Jones has said, and this will not be diverted. Change is in the air and Wales is moving forward towards its allotted place in history.