Crabb not Beef

 Wheres the Beef? is  an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event, or product. and its a apt question to ask our Secretary of State  Dtephen Crabb.


The Wasting Mule reportd that

The Welsh Secretary set out his roadmap for further devolution for Wales in a major speech on Tuesday – but warned that complaints over funding shouldn’t be used as a roadblock.

Stephen Crabb used the Institute of Welsh Affairs at a law firm in Cardiff Bay to announce his timetable to get cross party agreement on the way forward for Welsh devolution by St David’s Day in a plan that he admits is “an ambitious programme of work”.
He said: “I want a new era for devolution in Wales. One which means that political debate evolves from demands for more powers, and more money, to one where the central question becomes “how do we use the powers and resources we have to deliver the best for Wales?”
The Welsh Secretary told the audience he knew people were concerned about the levels of funding for Welsh public s thanervices but claimed funding levels are now around 15 per cent higher the equivalent in England.
UK and Welsh Governments have agreed to revisit arrangements for considering relative funding in light of the powers in the Wales Bill, Mr Crabb said,

Contrast this with  The VOW to Scotland
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 OK we know that we can't trust the sugnotries to keep to this but contrast it to Crabbs 

“I want a new era for devolution in Wales. One which means that political debate evolves from demands for more powers, and more money, to one where the central question becomes “how do we use the powers and resources we have to deliver the best for Wales?”

Scotland offered more powers while we are offered little more and after 15 years we still are told we a need to make the existing powers work.

Mr Crabb said he wants to see a cross-party consensus on a “stable-long term settlement for Wales” – saying the story of Welsh devolution has long been one of “fixes, fudges and political expediency”.
Talks between the political parties have already started, he said, with Welsh Westminster leaders set to meet again next week. Talks are also planned with Assembly leaders, as well as its figurehead Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler.
Mr Crabb said he’d been told his hopes were “ambitious” but sensed “all parties are ready to seize the moment.”

Ambitious!  Its like a Third Division Manager claiming that avoiding relegation was a major a victory and that he had no desire for promotion to the bigger leagues.

Its time Plaid and maybe the Lib Dems and even , told Crabb and the Tories that there can be no consensus when all he really offers is Tax raising powers which lets face it he secretly hopes will be rejected  and a “stable-long term settlement for Wales which means that we fall even further behind Scotland

And why is Crabb talking to Welsh Westminster leaders and not to leaders in Wales ?Two of whom (Leanne Wood and Kirsty Wiliams are officially leaders here  and although  Labours hierarchy s unclear. Carwyn Jones should have been brought in from the start.

Crabb is offering Wales nothing dressing it up  in consultations and it should be rejected now ,  and treated with the contempt it should be.  

With a General Election coming up the Parties should be teeling us what they are  offering Wales in May not agreeing "by St Davids Day " on doing bugger all.