Fourth Assembly Review : End of Term Awards

The stage is (not) set, the red carpet is (not) laid out....
(Pic : modified via Shutterstock)

After focusing on what they've collectively done or haven't done, it's worth turning attentions to AMs themselves and being "nice to them".

In what's perhaps the worst awards ceremony ever, they don't win a prize other than a few footnotes - which will last for however long this blog is hosted - and my grudging respect (except for the last few "awards").

Best Leadership

• Winner : Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor)

Kirsty might be on the brink of a serious bruising, but you can't doubt she's a very effective head of a disproportionately effective party group. In addition to holding the distinction of being the longest-serving party leader in the Assembly, Kirsty's one of the more formidable speakers in the chamber and certainly has something approaching "charisma". The Lib Dem group have endured some very tough times but have never taken their eye off the ball or descended into bickering. When you consider that they've actually delivered some of their policies despite not being in government, that's really quite exceptional.

Best Ministerial Performance

• Winner : Jane Hutt (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan), Finance Minister (2011-2016)
• Runner-up : Ken Skates (Lab, Clwyd South), Deputy Minister for Technology & Skills (2013-2014)

"Best performance" might be a mislabelling; it's better to say "most consistent" performance. Trying to balance a budget during a period of cuts to the Welsh block grant is never easy, but Jane Hutt has managed to "share the pain". Local government and higher education have been disproportionately impacted, while the Welsh NHS has been a winner. However, when you add to this sensible proposals for the future management of devolved Welsh taxes, and some aspects of the capital programme, it's probably the stand-out ministerial performance of the term amidst some pretty average ones overall.

Best Newcomer

• Winner : Suzy Davies (Con, South Wales West)
• Runner-up : Eluned Parrott (Lib Dem, South Wales Central)

Suzy's set an example to follow for anyone considering running for office and has been a real breath of fresh air (in fairness both have and I was tempted to make this a joint-award). She's brought intelligence and wit to proceedings. Her contributions in the Senedd chamber have been consistently excellent and she always asks probing questions in committee sessions – a tough task in the snore-fest that is the Constitutional & Legislative Affairs Committee.

I don't know whether the following is a compliment or not but Suzy's a politician I would vote for if it weren't for her party, and if she were standing in the Bridgend constituency I would seriously consider making a pact with the devil – that's how well I think she's done in her first term and how much esteem I hold her in. Definitely deserves a more prestigious front bench role.

Community Champion

• Winner : Alun Davies (Lab, Blaenau Gwent)
• Runner-up : Julie Morgan (Lab, Cardiff North)

Alun's essentially sacrificed any chance of holding a senior ministerial position again to back a major project in one of the most economically depressed parts of Wales. In its own way you have to respect the intent, if not the methods by which he went about it.

He can be a bit of a windbag sometimes, but he's one of the best speakers in the Assembly and isn't afraid to criticise his own government in the chamber (though when it comes to actions he's been found wanting). As a result of his cabinet sacking, he improved Labour's backbench rhetoric immediately with well-considered, sometimes impassioned, contributions. Alun has to accept the Assembly's better off with him sitting there, not at the front.

Best Progress

• Winner : Bethan Jenkins (Plaid, South Wales West)
• Runner-up : Andrew RT Davies (Con, South Wales Central)

Politicians deserve to be chewed out occasionally - my own patience has limits - but as members of the public we're often quick to pass judgement and slow to forgive.

Although Bethan's antics make her a ready source of bad headlines on occasion, there appears to be a expectation from certain quarters for her alone to be perfect which isn't just unfair, but cruel too. Dealing with, at times, some deeply personal issues was a test of courage and character that Bethan passed with flying colours. A weaker-willed person would've walked away and I suspect what's disappointed her critics is that she didn't buckle and has ultimately emerged stronger.

Her heart's in the right place, so she remains the most enthusiastic campaigning AM (particularly important subjects others – including myself - often ignore, like eating disorders). She's also shown enough nous to taken on more responsibility, culminating in competently overseeing the drafting of her own Bill. The toughest marathon she's finished wasn't in London, it was her re-selection, which she earned off her own back and on her own merits. I'd like to think she already knows that and I'm proud to count her amongst my AMs.

Best Committee Chair

• Winner : Christine Chapman (Lab, Cynon Valley), Communities & Local Government Committee 2013-2016.
• Runner-up : Nick Ramsay (Con, Monmouth) , Enterprise & Business Committee 2011-2014

Nick Ramsay might well have - in terms of quality of the material produced - overseen the "golden age" of his committee, but Christine Chapman seemed to be amongst the most organised and diligent chairs. Even the cross party groups Christine chaired are notable in having very clear mission statements and carefully curated schedule despite covering some very wide-ranging and difficult topics. Although she's previously been a deputy minister, as one of the better backbench Labour AMs – who wasn't afraid to stick to her principles – she deserved a shot at a ministerial position.

Best Committee Inquiry

• Winner : Integrated Transport, Enterprise & Business Committee
• Runner-up : Public Defibrillators, Petitions Committee

The Assembly's committees might not be particularly sexy, but it's where the vast bulk of the line-by-line scrutiny of the Welsh Government takes place. Overall, the Assembly's committee work has been excellent, though I prefer inquiries that make solid recommendations backed by evidence, are easy to read without being patronising and don't try to score political or ideological points.

The Enterprise & Business Committee has become my "favourite" committee over the last five years - which has been noted by Assembly staff - and their inquiry into integrated public transport remains amongst the best reports I've read this term. It's played a major role in informing debate over the South Wales Metro and the future of the Wales & Borders rail franchise. Despites slow progress it's likely most, if not all, of the inquiry's recommendations will be taken forward in some form and will shape how all of us use public transport in the future.

Best Parliamentarian

• Winner : David Melding (Con, South Wales Central)
• Joint runners-up : Peter Black (Lib Dem, South Wales West), Rhodri Glyn Thomas (Plaid, Carms. E & Dinefwr)

This is an award for the best "all-rounder"; someone who has a firm grasp of debate, understands key issues, but who also plays a full part in Assembly life. David Melding best exemplifies that with his encyclopedic knowledge of Assembly procedure. He's also playing a vital role in developing the Assembly of the future via his personal works on the constitution as well as the work of the committee he chairs – the Constitutional & Legislative Affairs Committee. If re-elected he'll be favourite to succeed Rosemary Butler as Llywydd without question, and he's pretty much born for the role.

Lifetime Achievement Award

• Winner : Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower)
• Joint runners-up : Rosemary Butler (Lab, Newport West), Gwenda Thomas (Lab, Neath)

This one came down to Edwina Hart, Rosemary Butler - who holds the unique distinction of being the only AM I've "met" in person - and Gwenda Thomas. For the sake of consistency, only Edwina Hart could win this one.

It was, perhaps, a surprise decision to stand down in May as I thought Edwina would've liked another crack at the Labour leadership. Nevertheless, this isn't going to be flowery piece because Edwina didn't get everything right down the years – though there's no shame in that.

The inescapable reality is she's made a remarkable and understated impact on Welsh politics – for better and for worse - in particular the establishment of the current system of local health boards, the foundations for both the South Wales Metro and a possible "business bank", as well as her single-mindedness on matters like the M4 Newport bypass. I should probably have written more, but her record speaks for itself and I suspect an ermine coat awaits.

Enough toadying. It's time for the awards you're really waiting for....

And the bronzed turd goes to....
(Pic : silverdoctors.com)

Biggest Whopper

• Joint-winner : "The Welsh NHS has broken even" – Lesley Griffiths (Lab, Wrexham), 2012; Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West), 2013
• Runner-up : Labour will protect schools spending 1% above changes to the block grant (It's unclear whether they actually did or not over the entire term, with the evidence pointing towards "no").

The truth is, technically the NHS did break even in 2012....after a last minute £12.4million bail-out to several health boards. If the Welsh Government didn't agree tot that advance, they wouldn't have broken even. The following year, there was an £82million bail-out. Both claims were based on accounting Meyer Lansky would've been proud of. Hopefully, the extra flexibility afforded in the NHS Finance Act 2014 will prevent this charade happening again. What is it about politicians and giving straight answers?

Teacup Typhoon Award for Services to Brouhaha

• Winner : James Bond denied access to the Senedd chamber
• Runner-up : Carwyn Jones vs Pobol y Cwm

The Senedd building is a national icon and has balanced being both a workplace and tourist attraction quite well. Film crews have used the building as a backdrop before, and it was revealed filmmakers wanted to use the Senedd chamber as the headquarters of Spectre - an international criminal conspiracy from the James Bond universe.

Access to committee rooms and offices is one thing, but access to the chamber is something different. The prospect of AMs being forever associated with Blofeld seemed lost on them, so they rounded on the Presiding Officer for doing her best to, on their behalf, maintain their dignity. There's gratitude for you.

I'll never understand why a petition was launched, while a few AMs acted like schoolkids who've just been told they can't go outside and pet the dog running around the playground. The reaction to the Labour group shooting down a behind-the-scenes documentary on the Assembly – which is far more appropriate and useful – seemed muted in comparison. Priorities, ladies and gentlemen.

Worst Ministerial Performance

• Winner : Lesley Griffiths, Health Minister (2011-2013)
• Runner-up : Alun Davies, Natural Resources & Rural Affairs (2011-2014)

Health Minister is the live-rail of Welsh politics and can break reputations. Safe to say Lesley Griffiths' stint wasn't a highlight and it seemed at times she lost control of matters – particularly early proposals for hospital reorganisations - which eventually led to an unsuccessful no-confidence vote in July 2012.

That no-confidence debate was, in itself, a low-point in the history of Assembly rhetoric. Opposition AMs were "brave" enough to vote for a no-confidence motion, and give a few blustering speeches on the Welsh Government's health record before a summer recess. None of them had the guts to focus on the Minister's performance and say to her face why she had to go.

It has a happy ending. There's always chance for redemption, as Lesley has since gone on to rescue her reputation with respectable performances as both Local Government and Communities & Tackling Poverty Minister.

Worst Contribution to an Assembly Debate

• Winner : Mohammad Asghar (Con, South Wales East) opposing a smacking ban (clip)
• Runner-up : Nick Ramsay (Con, Monmouth); "tired and emotional" on mental health

"If you stop mother, this divine right, saying, ‘Don’t touch your child’, God help the future of children here. We all know what’s happening with this radicalisation these days—because we are not disciplining our children in this country....

"....(Mothers) should have a complete right and it’s a divine right they’ve got because they gave birth, and they never hurt—. I mean, real, extreme violence—no, nothing. A mother never hurts like that....I’m not going to support this because we are going backwards, not forwards when we say that we have to criminalise when somebody hits a child."

Worst Scandal

• Joint-winner : RIFW and the Tawel Fan/ABMU Care Scandals

It was impossible to choose between the two.

The RIFW scandal (all here) is a toxic mix of Welsh Government incompetence and a complete breakdown of one of these "shadow government" arms-length bodies made up of councillors who would struggle to run a whelk stall. In the end it's lost Welsh taxpayers tens of millions of pounds and destroyed many promising regeneration projects, leaving one of Wales' richest men - Stan Thomas - laughing all the way to the bank.

The Tawel Fan and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg scandals undermined public trust in the NHS. They might have only impacted a small number of families, but with the number of patients with dementia and other degenerative neurological illnesses expected to increase, the scandals held up a mirror in front of the Welsh Government, NHS and the rest of us in terms of how we deal with complex care for the elderly. The reflection staring back at us was pretty ugly.

The Sustainability Award for Unsustainable Linguisitcal Abusification

• Joint-sustainability-winner : The Williams Commission & Ruth Dineen (Click on Wales article)
• Unsustainable runner-up : Planning Act 2015

These two pieces of work are perfect examples of how not to write a report and how not to commentate on it - mostly for the same reasons. Both were nearly impenetrable, choc full of business-speak and public sector buzzwords.

The Williams Commission report resembled a soul-destroying seminar on an industrial estate in Slough, not something dealing with the very serious matter of reorganising public services and local authorities. Ruth Dineen's response was certainly well-meant - and the issue of co-production is worthy of consideration - but it was put across in such an abstract and convoluted way, it's no surprise that the nitty gritty of public policy is a turn-off for a vast number of people.

It's actually much harder to explain these complex issues in layman's terms instead of resorting to academic language, but it's worth putting in at least some effort to do so.

Last, but not least....

The Irene James Non-Memorial Award

"Weariness can snore upon the flint,
when resting sloth finds the down pillow hard."

Compared to most internet back draft I think you'll agree I give AMs an easy ride and I'm too soft for my own good - in blogging terms I suppose I'm one of the "good cops" to Jac o' the North's "bad cop". I'm more interested in what they say or do professionally than sticking my nose where it's not wanted or playing detective. As I hopefully demonstrated earlier this week, what "irritates" me is when AMs take the piss with our time or money, think too highly of their position, or believe they only work for themselves and their pet causes.

There's a big difference, however, between not doing the job properly (but at least making an effort) and not being up to the job at all.

It would be wrong to say Gwyn Price (Lab, Islwyn) was a bad AM. His record's hard to judge because I can't think of any notable contribution he made, which also means he hasn't done anything wrong either....or anything at all for that matter. He's a one-person argument against first-past-the-post, the belief that a pay rise for AMs will attract quality candidates and expansion of the Assembly. His legacy will be as the poster boy for every Assembly abolitionist and critic of the quality of AMs for the foreseeable future.

The irony is Gwyn's attendance record seems impeccable. He was almost always there at FMQs, plenary sessions and relevant committee meetings and, in fairness, he tried to make an effort in the last few months – which was too late. Turning up isn't enough, and attendance shouldn't be the be all and end all when it comes to judging a politician's performance. It's what they do with that time that counts.

The moment Gwyn, a senior Labour party executive, or someone on his staff, realised he wasn't cut out for it he should've done the honourable thing and stood down – there's no shame in admitting you're out of your depth. But he just sat there for five years, taking £272,000 in salary (before tax), £65,400 in expenses as well as a gold-plated pension for his tireless efforts on behalf of Islwyn.