One of the biggest issues in Welsh politics is the question of natural resources and where decisions about energy are made.
The biggest demonstration outside the Senedd since devolution began took place over this very issue. All four of the major Welsh political parties (and most of the minor ones too) had in their manifestos a commitment to devolve various decision-making powers over energy to Wales.
Jonathan Edwards MP tabled a bill at Westminster last week on attaining those powers. Inevitably, this Plaid bill was voted on by hundreds MPs from throughout the British state. But it is worth noting the Welsh votes. It strikes me as absurd that some MPs still advocate all of these decisions being made in London, a stance which relegates Wales to second class status. Notably, the First Minister Carwyn Jones has yet again today expressed his support for these powers coming to Wales. But as ever, he is hamstrung by the deep divisions within the Labour party in Wales, with all of their MPs except Paul Flynn queuing up in this debate to vote to protect the interests of Tory Ministers, and against the policy of Welsh Labour Ministers.
It says it all that this two-faced stance from Labour is now seen as completely normal and isn't even a cause for controversy in the press.
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8 comments:
I have an article about this on my blog.
3 PC and 3 LD voted yes.
All tories either stayed in bed or voted no.
25 of our 26 labour mps either stayed in bed or voted no. Only Newport East were not betrayed.
4 english tories voted yes. As well as some SNP, DUP and other LD.
Shocking.
Well with the exception of his line on rural affairs (which are mostly devolved anyway) Paul Flynn is a Plaid MP. I consider him usually to be Plaid. There is no point in terms of much of his voting record in thinking of him as Labour, apart from at elections.
Even the ultra-unionist DUP sees this as beneficial for Wales!
Paul was a Plaid member at one time
Stuart - you keep referring to your blog, but don't supply a link.
I agree that Paul should be in Plaid. His seat is disappearing with the gerrymander, and he will be 70, so is unlikely to find another one. Why doesn't he cross the floor now? It would be a nice revenge for Osgar.
Flynn was rebelling. Labour MPs voted in line with Welsh Labour policy which is for the devolution of decisions for renewables up to 100MW. Edwards' bill called for ALL energy decisions, which is simply not Labour policy or Tory policy. Although its Lib Dem and Plaid policy.
Anon - that is a detail that they could have dealt with through amendments to edwards's bill, but they voted against the whole idea of devolving energy. Lying Down for Wales.
Siônnyn - I've only plugged it twice ;) And both times where it was relevant to the topic. Anyway, if you click my name it'll open up my profile and the link is there. This works for everyones name if they have a blogger account.
http://www.english.plaidcymru.org/news/2012/02/09/plaid-cymru-publishes-silk-commission-proposals-for-improving-nations-economic-performance/
Plaids proposals for the silk commission are very similar to the Edwards bill.
One thing I wondered after the bill was defeated was if this was a blatant trap that the unionists have had no option but to fall into.
They clearly don't support devolution at UK level so we'll have to wait and see how they respond to the proposals at Welsh level.
One last thing about Flynn, he's the only MP with a website that looks like he did it himself and he has his private email address on there. He also replied to an email I sent him within a few hours of sending it.
If all our MPs were more like him I think we'd be much better off.
Diolch Stuart - I agree Flynn is an outstanding MP, and if all Labaourites were like him, I might vote Labour myself. Mine is Gerain Davies who is the proverbial donkey wearing a Labour rosette. He hasn't even acknowledged my complaint about his failing to back JE's act.
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