Not only are the UK
Government hamstringing devolution, but there are people in and around the
Assembly doing so as well.
The reason criminal justice powers
have been taken off the table – the devolution of which would've
finally put Wales on a near equal footing with Scotland – is
because the Welsh Conservatives oppose it and must've vetoed it.
Welsh Labour probably did too, but they support devolution of policing at
least (What's all this then?) – though Ed Miliband doesn't even want to go that far, promising some bizarre role in report-writing. It doesn't help that Owen Smith is arguably the most devo-sceptic Welsh Secretary-elect since 1999. He has to justify his position somehow.
The
UK Government have also, quite literally, devolved shit to Wales. So we
need to be grateful for the existence of Nick Clegg. Without Nick,
Wales wouldn't have powers over faecal poltergeists and used tampons – but, at the same time, we're not good enough to run policing. Lib Dems should put
that on their election leaflets.
I'm sure quite a few AMs from
all parties will be underwhelmed by the St David's Day agreement, but
this is a mess partly of their own making, as they put far too much faith in the "proper process" to the point of being gullible. In short, the UK never has been, and never will be, a union of equals; while
constitutional reforms are pushed through in reaction to immediate threats to the
status quo, not political consensus and grand commissions.
The UK is a very dysfunctional
"family" indeed.The Scots have proven that if you want something you need to rattle your sabres. In political terms that means electing nationalists but, unfortunately, even then Wales would have very few sabres to rattle.
I'm not going to use the same old tired clichés about Wales "being slapped in the face" or "insulted" or "offered third-rate devolution" because this is exactly the outcome I was expecting :
The
question there is if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result
acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind
yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to
achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved
in future).
- See more at: http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/03/silk-ii-wrath-of-paul.html#sthash.TZafNehB.dpuf
The
question there is if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result
acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind
yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to
achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved
in future).
- See more at: http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/03/silk-ii-wrath-of-paul.html#sthash.TZafNehB.dpuf
The
question there is if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result
acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind
yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to
achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved
in future).
- See more at: http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/03/silk-ii-wrath-of-paul.html#sthash.TZafNehB.dpuf
04/03/2014 : "....if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved in future)."
The
question there is if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result
acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind
yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to
achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved
in future).
- See more at: http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/03/silk-ii-wrath-of-paul.html#sthash.TZafNehB.dpuf
he
question there is if Scotland votes no in September, and as a result
acquires further devolved powers or devo-max, Wales will be left behind
yet again when - based on this report - Wales is tantalisingly close to
achieving parity with Scotland (if criminal justice powers were devolved
in future).
- See more at: http://www.oggybloggyogwr.com/2014/03/silk-ii-wrath-of-paul.html#sthash.TZafNehB.dpuf
There have been several
opportunities down the years to put the devolved powers issue to bed
once and for all and ensure Wales has a settlement that would last
more than a decade. People like me can then shut up about independence and further powers, and AMs
can concentrate on running the country, safe in the knowledge that
they would be on a clearer footing within the UK's
constitution.
Nope, not going to happen. Again.
A
cross-party commission's reasonable and proportionate recommendations
have been watered down. Again.
Scotland is moving leaps and
bounds ahead of Wales. Again.
Powers which, by rights, should
be devolved (like abortion limits, medicine licensing, drink-drive limits, and Network Rail
funding....because subjects like health and transport are devolved)
have been taken off the table. Again.
The only person who has
a right to be chuffed with this is the Llywydd, Rosemary Butler (Lab,
Newport West). Her recommendations (Assembly Commission steps up to the oche) are included almost word for word.
So
don't worry. The National Assembly might, in future be called Welsh Parliament
because "National Assembly" isn't a good enough name for
Wales....but it is for France, Greece, South Korea, Hungary, Pakistan and
South Africa.
Oh, and all those 16 year olds chomping at the bit to vote may be able to (The X-Factor). Great
stuff. Meanwhile, the "Assemblement" will be able to block "fracking" but
won't be able to control any energy project that
produces more power than a BMX dynamo. The UK
Government will retain ultimate control.
I look forward
to the recommendations of the Baroness Kirsty Williams Commission on
Devolution for Wales in 2024, which will outline a lasting settlement
and put the issue of constitutional reform to bed for....
