Back to the blog
Posted on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 5:07pm
7 responses
Sorry that I’ve been away for a while. I really don’t want to blog just for the sake of it, so I haven’t. So much has happened in the news its hard to know where to start the debate- from the credit crunch, to Charles Clarke’s comments on Brown, to Sarah Palin’s nomination as a running mate for John McCain in the US elections, to David Davies MPs comments on devolution…
I haven’t read any of the blogs on Davies’ cries that more powers for Wales would mean Soviet style poverty ( so we were all nice and rich under Tory rule then were we David?!) Shock horror, the Lib dems have reacted by seemingly pushing the blame for this outburst on Plaid and Labour for not initiating a Yes campaign yet. Petty, very petty. I’ve said on this blog before that I’m more than willing to start such a campaign, so Peter and Jenny, when shall we have the first planning meeting? There’s nothing stopping you being pro-active as opposed to trying to lay the blame on the governing parties. The convention is of course at work, but I see no reason why a grassroots yes campaign cannot be formed. It won’t be a Plaid Cymru or a Labour campaign, or a Lib dem campaign, therefore I see no reason to place such responsibility on individual political parties.
Its no surprise to me that David Davies has come out all guns blazing regarding devolution. He has to get press coverage somehow, doesn’t he? But he may just be preparing the ground for when Lord Roberts’ review of Tory party opinion on the future powers of the National Assembly is released..imminently. Rumour has it that its a bit of a whitewash. Poor Nick Bourne! What will he do if he cannot carry his own party to his dream for a Welsh Parliament? Or will he be more laid back- let David Davies lead the no campaign, and hope that nobody else will follow suit?! Time will tell.
One thing is certain, we are committed to delivering a referendum as part of the One Wales government. If Labour have any intention of ruining it, then they can certainly say goodbye to any possibility of a One Wales 2.
As you know I am against further powers for the Assembly, but not from an idealogical position, I do not see the current arrangements working, the achievements of the last year have at best been mediocre, and then there are the other reasons, the most important reason for myself is …….
We do not have a second chamber to oversee the work of the Assembly, and there has not even been discussions about such an instrument of government, without such a chamber Wales needs Westminster to protect the people from the excesses of government, you might argue such a system doesn’t work in London, but they do not have an elected second chamber that I am sure you would prefer.
Moving on …….
It is true that both Labour and Plaid agreed “to proceed to a successful outcome of a referendum for full law-making powers under Part IV” and “agree in good faith to campaign for a successful outcome to such a referendum.” ….. copied from the agreement downloaded from http://www.plaidcymru.org/ …….
Now David Davis is going to apply debate to the proceedings of the “All Wales Convention”, I don’t know David Davis personally, but before he tossed his hat into the ring I didn’t think democracy was going to be applied to the deliberations.
Just for information, Mike German has approached all the party leaders about forming a ‘Yes!’ campaign but without any success. So we have taken the initiative but your party will not play ball.
Much better effort Bethan! Lol! To be honest I have actually missed u blogging!
I wasn’t trying to be negative in my last comment! I just think as an assembly member you need to take the opinion of the majority!
Well done Bethan!
Peter- there’s more to Plaid than one politician. For someone who has little time for Mike German, its quite ironic that your now ready to leave the most important issue in the hands of Mike German!
Bethan, you know nothing about my relationship with Mike German or my views of him. Mike however was writing on behalf of the party. You will also be aware that because of Electoral Commission rules you cannot just create grassroots Yes campaigns, you have to register it and there can only be one.
I wasn’t suggesting that there should be more than one Yes campaign, Peter. From reading your blog posts, I can see quite clearly what your opinions are of Mike German, or perhaps I am mistaken?
I think Bethan that if you view is reflected in this post then you are mistaken and I do not think my blog posts amount to that. Have you read the one on Liberal Democrat Voice for example?