Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

FURIOUS words from the Secretary of State for Wales aimed at Yours Truly in yesterday’s Western Mail.

As some of you will know, I’ve spent the last few months knocking on the doors of the mighty, asking if one of them will meet with a delegation of Visteon pensioners, the 700-strong group of men and women from the Swansea area who, after some of them had worked for Ford for over 40 years, now face a future of fear and uncertainty as their entitlements could be cut by as much as half.

One-by-one, I’ve met with refusal, obfuscation and some serious buck passing. The last came from Peter Hain. I wrote to him before Christmas, asking if he would sit down with a small group – not unreasonable because, as the Neath MP, he represents some of the pensioners.

What came back was a three-paragraph reply that could have been reduced to one word: No. I found this frustrating and told the Western Mail so: “He (Mr Hain)’s now written to Yvette Cooper, the Pensions Secretary, and received the usual shrugged shoulders you would expect from this finished administration. He clearly thinks he’s now discharged his duties towards his constituents but they are still facing up to 50% cuts to their pensions.”

Peter was not pleased. I was accused of being “bent on sixth-form political point-scoring”. What a cheap shot!  The Welsh Secretary added:  “Yvette Cooper set out a detailed explanation of the pension protection available and I am very keen to get back to discussing the practical steps that can be taken to secure the financial future of former Visteon workers.”

Problem number one: Mr Hain tells me in his letter that he has been “contacted by numerous constituents going back over a long period now” (In fact, the letters informing the pensioners that their fund had applied to enter the Pension Protection Fund only began arriving last July, as Visteon collapsed less than a year ago, on March 31st). Surely the Secretary of State knows that it’s the maximum cap on money paid out by the PPF which is the issue for the pensioners, as it will lead to a reduction in their payments?

He will also know that the Visteon Pensions Action Group has deep concerns over the future viability of the PPF, as it is currently in the red to the tune of over £1bn. So the PPF is not the answer to this. But Peter already knows that.

Problem number two: Mr Hain says he is “very keen to get back to discussing the practical steps that can be taken to secure the financial future of former Visteon workers”. Is that so? His letter says: “I therefore see no need for you to bring a delegation to me as delegations have already and still can contact me direct.”

So keen to get to the heart of the matter, just so long as you go see him. The practical steps – what are these? Giving men and women half instead of nothing means they’re still unable to enjoy the lifestyle they worked and saved for. And has he stated publicly that he wants to speak with former Visteon workers? Where has he been at all the previous public meetings at the Railway Club in Swansea?

I can only conclude that he’d rather see them without me, for reasons I will leave to you readers.

But this matter is bigger than politics. If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t have shared a platform with members of other parties – including his – at yesterday’s demonstration.

No, it’s about getting a fair deal – what these people deserve.

I’m angry because I believe the Secretary of State for Wales can and should do more. If not, why have a Secretary of State at all?

There is still time, Peter.