Friday 23 November 2018

Forget new "Welsh" Labour leader, we need a new Welsh Government.

One of the things (to me at any rate ) at any rate on the Welsh Leadership hustings that whilst Plaid may have a smaller pool of AM's compared to Labour all three of the former Party candidates were preferable to the hapless hopefuls who appeared for Labour the other night.
So bad were they  that the BBC  only seem to have managed to report ( In a hustings they broadcasted) that there was a clash over Brexit   with Vaughan Gething saying perceived favourite  Welsh Labour leadership candidate Mark Drakeford's tone on Brexit is awful.
The health secretary said Mr Drakeford was "wrong" to talk about working to prepare for Brexit.
In a heated exchange, Mr Drakeford said that was nonsense and told Mr Gething he was doing the same kind of work in his own department.
The pair clashed in a BBC Wales Live Labour leadership hustings broadcast on Wednesday night.
Mr Drakeford, who is the Welsh Government's finance secretary, told the programme that the next first minister "has to do the serious business of preparing for whatever happens under Brexit".
"Now I'm clear that Wales' position would be better off inside the European Union, but I work every day to make sure that if we do leave, we leave on terms that protect Welsh jobs and the Welsh economy," he said.
But Mr Gething responded by saying the party should not "enable" a "Tory Brexit"
So why did he join the other candidates  in backing backed scrapping a Welsh Brexit law that was passed to protect the assembly's powers.?
Of course all three joined with their fellow Unionist in Labour, Tories and Ukip  against Plaid Cymru in doing so, therefore handing Wales over to a Tory Brexit.
"The tone is awful," he said, criticising Mr Drakeford. "It's wrong when you talk about getting the work done if we leave, that's the only thing we hear."
"We actually need some leadership on our future," he added.
"Nonsense", said Mr Drakeford.
Interjecting, Ms Morgan said: "I wish the boys would stop this. What we've really got to focus on is what is best for the people of Wales."
I wonder what her reaction if a Male AM had referred to Female  members as  "The Girls"?
Mr Gething, who said he wanted to "stop Brexit", said Labour "must fight" for a People's Vote on the final deal.
Again: So  why did he not vote for a  recent Plaid motion in calling for a Peoples vote .
Mr Gething seems to be like the aggressive  man in a Bar fight calling for his friends to "Hold me Back" whilst praying that's that we do exactly  that.
Mr Drakeford reiterated his call for a general election if the prime minister cannot get a Brexit deal through Parliament but, failing that, he said "we should go back to the people" through a further referendum.
The finance secretary said leaving the EU will leave Wales "permanently poorer", adding: "You have to both find a way of negotiating a different outcome if we can, but prepare for what will happen if we do leave the European Union".
A new poll was the favoured option of Ms Morgan.
"I would want the people of Wales to determine whether they want Brexit or not," she said.
"I would support a people's vote but I would make it clear that it's my position to lead the campaign for us to stay and remain in the European Union. That's the best option for Wales."
Again she failed to back the Plaid Motion joining the Assembly Unionist Bloc in voting down a Peoples Vote.
M Drakeford is seen as a Corbyn supporters and it seems his opponents a trying to push the Welsh leadership contest as a referendum on the UK leader.
But aside from the People's vote it seems clear to me that none of the candidates have any real plans for taking Devolution forward.
But let's face what Wales needs is not a new Labour Leader and First Minister , but a new Government to emulate that of the SNP in Scotland and there's only one Party capable of this and it's not a Unionist one.


No comments: