MORE WELSH DEVOLUTION
A government white paper has proposed to give more powers to the Welsh assembly and ‘streamlines’ Westminster’s role. It states that a referendum would be needed before the assembly is given full lawmaking powers (as the Scottish parliament has).
However, Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary, has said that there would need to be a bedding down period for the new system before any referendum would go ahead. Mr Hain has said that: ‘These enhanced, streamlined powers for the Assembly are adaptations of the current devolution settlement and, although they need the new Government of Wales Bill which we will introduce this winter, the (UK) Government believes that they do not require a referendum’.
Plaid Cymru has dismissed the white paper as ‘a major disappointment’, and the proposals have also been criticised by both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The Welsh Conservative leader said that: ‘The people of Wales deserve a clear way forward. A multi-option referendum would enable everyone in Wales to voice their opinion’.
Rhodri Morgan, the Welsh Labour leader, supported the white paper and said: ‘It is time to develop the devolution settlement further so that we can deliver yet more effectively for the people of Wales. This white paper shows devolution keeping pace with what is needed to do the job effectively. This is all about bringing democratic government and legislation closer to Wales and closer to the people’.
This is all very well, but what about the English? What about the effect of this further devolution on the governance of England? What is wrong about bringing democratic government closer to England?
Instead, we are apparently supposed to just sit back and continue to watch a troop of Welsh and Scottish MPs keep a minority Labour government in office in England (Labour has a majority of 66 after the recent by-election, and this includes 70 Scottish and Welsh MPs). This illegitimate Labour government has absolutely no intention of re-establishing proper democratic rule in England.
The English Rights Campaign believes that any new Government of Wales Bill be amended to include a referendum on the introduction of an English parliament, and that such a referendum be held in 2007 along with the elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments - at the very latest.
However, Peter Hain, the Welsh Secretary, has said that there would need to be a bedding down period for the new system before any referendum would go ahead. Mr Hain has said that: ‘These enhanced, streamlined powers for the Assembly are adaptations of the current devolution settlement and, although they need the new Government of Wales Bill which we will introduce this winter, the (UK) Government believes that they do not require a referendum’.
Plaid Cymru has dismissed the white paper as ‘a major disappointment’, and the proposals have also been criticised by both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. The Welsh Conservative leader said that: ‘The people of Wales deserve a clear way forward. A multi-option referendum would enable everyone in Wales to voice their opinion’.
Rhodri Morgan, the Welsh Labour leader, supported the white paper and said: ‘It is time to develop the devolution settlement further so that we can deliver yet more effectively for the people of Wales. This white paper shows devolution keeping pace with what is needed to do the job effectively. This is all about bringing democratic government and legislation closer to Wales and closer to the people’.
This is all very well, but what about the English? What about the effect of this further devolution on the governance of England? What is wrong about bringing democratic government closer to England?
Instead, we are apparently supposed to just sit back and continue to watch a troop of Welsh and Scottish MPs keep a minority Labour government in office in England (Labour has a majority of 66 after the recent by-election, and this includes 70 Scottish and Welsh MPs). This illegitimate Labour government has absolutely no intention of re-establishing proper democratic rule in England.
The English Rights Campaign believes that any new Government of Wales Bill be amended to include a referendum on the introduction of an English parliament, and that such a referendum be held in 2007 along with the elections to the Scottish and Welsh parliaments - at the very latest.
posted by erc @ 4:46 pm
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