Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

I’ve just received a summary excerpt from the Tories review on Welsh Devolution, ‘Devolution in Wales: The Way Ahead ‘ by Lord Roberts of Conwy. The long and short of it is that if there is a referendum before the next General election, the Tories here in the Assembly will be ‘free to express their diverse view and vote according to their consciences’- a free vote then essentially, which flies in the face of their policy to support a referendum- no grey areas.

However, if there isn’t a referendum before the election, the report indicates that the Tories will stall the process by introducing some kind of review in to Welsh devolution across the board, and how it will effect Scotland and England. The wording of the summary goes like this, ‘ we should initiate a root and branch examination of the system of governance in Wales and its effectiveness as it has developed since 1997.’  Sounds to me like they don’t want to commit, and anyway, won’t the All Wales Convention have reported by then? Why do we need more reviews? I don’t know at the moment how long they want this review to be, but it doesn’t look promising, does it? So much for the Tories being clear in their support for a stronger National Assembly! Bourne’s London bosses are obviously tightening their reigns on the AMs.

The summary ends stating ‘if when that examination is completed it is recommended that further primary legislative powers be transferred……’it will be for the Assembly to initiate the referendum process and for the Conservative government at Westminster to consider the proposal on its merits’. Make of that what you will. 

I’m sure the Tories in Wales will argue differently and say that this review will be cross cutting and holistic etc etc, but considering that the Tories in the Assembly have been so vehement in their support for more powers for the Assembly ( do we need to mention the All Wales Accord?!) it seems odd that their urgency for action is not reflected in this report, which is already long overdue. 

Considering that Tory MPs are intent on blocking progressive laws from Wales such as housing and the right to buy, I’m not confident that they will deliver. If I’m proved wrong, then so be it.

Kirsty Williams AM today tells the Western Mail that AMs are in a bubble in Cardiff Bay. All I’ll say is that you can be in the bubble if you choose to be, or you can quite easily not be in it as well.

 I don’t think its fair to say that people’s opinions are not represented in what we say in the chamber. I try and base all of my arguments and questions on issues that constituents or groups in my area have raised with me, and stay in touch with them about progress on those issues. As elected representatives, we obviously also have some flexibility in raising matters that we are passionate about as individuals, or as members of a particular party, but that doesn’t mean to say that the Senedd is like some kind of club. We ‘hear the same people’ all the time as we have debates, committee sessions and so on which involve AMs from different parties ( and there are only 60 of us fair play!)  This is surely a healthy sign that democracy is working? Perhaps the lib dems think that they too are gimmicks?

Its true that AMs need to get out more and talk to people in their areas about what is affecting them, but there is a balancing act between sitting on LCO committees, speaking in debates at the Senedd, and getting our hands dirty in our regions or constituencies. It is far too easy for AMs to fall in to the trap of not consulting constituents effectively, or getting too laid back in their positions, but that will always happen in the world of politics unfortunately. I just hope that the public can see that most of us are working really hard, are energetic, and genuinely interested in the work that we do. I for one am privileged, and won’t take anything for granted!