Senedd/Election Watch - April 2016

• A Wales Governance Centre report estimated the difference between taxes raised and spent in Wales with £23.3billion raised in taxes and £38billion in total government expenditure, meaning a fiscal deficit of £14.7billion (24% of GDP) – a fall of £1.2billion since 2010.
• The National Assembly was recalled on April 4^th for an emergency plenary session to discuss Tata's sale of its UK steel-making business. The First Minister said Wales "stood shoulder-to-shoulder” with steel-making communities, calling for the UK Government to take public ownership of the business if a buyer can't be found.
• Opposition leaders demanded assurances on cross-government co-operation, contingency plans in case of a full closure and the steelworkers pension fund. The Assembly's Business & Enterprise Committee met in an extraordinary session and Business & Economy Minister, Edwina Hart, said the Tata sale announcement "came out of the blue”.
• Following a “productive” meeting between the First Minister and UK Prime Minister on April 5^th, the First Minister demanded “substantial support” for the UK steel industry. UK Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, called for Tata to be a responsible seller and ensure the process wasn't rushed.
• Tata formally launched the sales process of its UK business on April 11^th, reportedly setting May 28^th as the sale deadline – which is longer than the 6 weeks expected by both governments. Sajid Javid said the UK Government would consider co-investing as an equity investment or loan.
• On April 20^th, managers at Tata's steelworks in Port Talbot unveiled a buy out plan - named Excalibur Steel UK - for Tata's UK business, reportedly backed by private investors. On April 21^st the UK Government confirmed they were willing to take a 25% stake in any rescue bid, with money offered on commercial terms, not as a part-nationalisation.
• On April 27^th, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons that the UK Government “can't guarantee” that efforts to save Tata's business would work. On April 28^th, Sajid Javid told the UK Parliament's Business Select Committee that pension liabilities were putting off buyers, with the steelworkers pension fund estimated to have a £485million deficit.
• The Welsh Government announced it wouldn't underwrite the Circuit of Wales project in Blaenau Gwent following legal advice and questions over the project's viability. Aviva pledged £357million as long as the Welsh Government guaranteed the project. The news means the project is postponed indefinitely, though the company behind the scheme said a new deal would be developed over the next eight weeks.
• Opposition parties criticised the Welsh Government's handling as the announcement was made post-dissolution. The Conservatives said it was “disappointing but predicable”, while Plaid Cymru accused Labour of “bungling” and demanded ministerial advice be published.
• The British Medical Association (BMA) criticised waiting times for mental health patients in Wales, after a BBC Wales investigation revealed some patients were waiting years for specialist treatment; the longest waits were up to 50 months. The Welsh Government said mental health budgets rose by £3million last year.
• The Greens gained their first local authority councillor in Wales in former Labour cabinet member for Cardiff Council, Ralph Cook. He resigned from Labour in 2015 after criticism of how the party were running the capital.
• The owner-operators of Newport docks, Associated British Ports, lodged a formal objection ahead of compulsory purchase orders for the M4 Newport bypass “Black Route”. They believe a proposed bridge that cuts across the docks would hinder large vessels using the port.

• The Welsh Lib Dems launched their campaign promising to “get the basics right”, unveiling key policies such as smaller school class sizes, cutting the basic rate of income tax to 19% and building 20,000 affordable homes over five years. They launched their manifesto on April 14^th.
• Controversial UKIP South Wales Central candidate, Gareth Bennett, remained a candidate following a meeting of the party's executive committee on April 4th. Two other candidates – Alexandra Phillips and Llyr Powell – withdrew. It was later suggested the candidate “wasn't outrageous enough” to be deselected after linking eastern European immigrants to littering.
• Plaid Cymru launched its manifesto on April 5^th. They outlined key policies and said they would “redirect” £1billion from existing budgets to fund their policies, including £300million in efficiency savings within the Welsh NHS. Leanne Wood said Plaid had "ideas and drive to build our nation".
• Labour announced they would create an £80million fund for new treatments, which would cover all diseases not just cancer. Carwyn Jones said the proposed fund, "means that people across Wales will have access to new approved drugs as quickly as possible, regardless of where they live.”
• The Welsh Conservatives pledged to freeze council tax for the entire Fifth Assembly if they won power, giving local authorities £17million a year make up for funding shortfalls. Leader, Andrew Davies, said it would, “allow people to keep more of the money they earn, helping to deliver financial security for hard-working families.”
• The Lib Dems outlined proposals to create 140,000 apprenticeships. Eluned Parrott said, “Providing high-quality skills training is vital to boosting our economy and helping people to build careers and get on in life” and criticised Jobs Growth Wales for locking young people into low-paid work.
• The Conservatives warned the public they had “four weeks to save your councils”, promising to hold referendums on local authority mergers if they came to power. Aberconwy candidate, Janet Finch-Saunders said, “Labour are totally committed to forcing through local government reorganisation and....are refusing to give local communities the final say.”
• The Lib Dems would establish a nationwide NHS whistle blowing hotline for staff to anonymously report concerns. Kirsty Williams said, “....we have seen a number of shocking reports about care within our NHS which reveals a complete failure of the systems that should be in place to protect our most vulnerable people.”
• Caroline Lucas MP launched the Wales Green Party youth manifesto, which includes policies such as free bus travel for under-21s, free education and a reduction in the voting age to 16. Cardiff Central and South Wales Central list candidate Amelia Womack said, “We aim to empower and inspire young people to engage with politics and to make a difference.”
• At their manifesto launch on April 12, Wales Green leader, Alice Hooker-Stroud, vowed to “make history”. The party pledges to build 12,000 homes a year, meet Wales' electricity needs from renewables by 2030 and cancel the M4 Newport bypass.
• Welsh Labour launched its election campaign on April 12^th, citing Carwyn Jones as being “head and shoulders” above opposition party leaders, asking voters to consider who they want to lead Wales on the world stage.
• The Welsh Lib Dems would introduce a student grant worth £2,500 a year and scrap current tuition fee subsidies. North Wales candidate, Aled Roberts, said living costs were the biggest barrier to higher education, something echoed by Conservative leader Andrew Davies.
• The Conservatives would consult on raising speed limits on the M4 and A55 to 80mph after powers to set speed limits are devolved in the future. Road safety campaigners condemned the move, while Labour said it was “ill-conceived and reckless”.
• UKIP unveiled its manifesto on April 15^th. Some of their key policy proposals include the re-introduction of grammar schools, elected local health boards and using MPs and local councillors to scrutinise Welsh legislation in the Assembly.
• The Conservative manifesto, released on April 18^th, pledged real-terms increases in health spending, direct funding for schools and a five-year council tax freeze. They also pledged to cut the basic rate of income tax by 2p to 18%.
• Welsh Labour released its election manifesto on April 19^th, pledging to create 100,000 apprentices, a Welsh development bank and cutting taxes for small businesses. Carwyn Jones said, “Today is about taking our country forward. We ask the people of Wales to join us once again on that journey.”
• The Conservative's Andrew Davies claimed there was a “crisis” over low engagement in Welsh politics. He levelled criticism at the media for focusing on tax returns (fall out from the Panama Papers scandal) and pointed towards persistent low turnouts in Assembly elections, expressing concerns there would be a record low turnout on May 5^th.
• Labour's Clwyd South candidate, Ken Skates, came out in support of compulsory voting. He said, "I think it's important to examine all possibilities to improve turnout using digital technology.” However, the Lib Dems and UKIP rejected calls for compulsory voting.
• Labour claimed UKIP's proposals to scrap the climate change budget would “end” flood defence works. UKIP said they would re-invest the money in transport. Labour also said the proposal would end home energy efficiency schemes like Nest.
• Plaid Cymru candidate for Dwyfor Meirionydd, Dafydd Elis-Thomas, publicly endorsed Labour's PCC candidate for North Wales, David Taylor, for second preference votes in order to “stop UKIP”. David said he was “honoured” by the endorsement. Plaid Cymru didn't comment further.
• A visit by UK Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, to Wales was cancelled after two senior Labour party members – Naz Shah MP and former London Mayor, Ken Livingstone - were suspended for anti-Semitic remarks. Carwyn Jones called for the latter to be expelled from the party after Livingstone told a radio programme that Adolf Hitler supported Zionism prior to The Holocaust.