Was there any specific question about Labour's attitude to devolution in lat night Labour leadership Debate in Cardiff last night?
Owen Smith did mention Ukip winning seven seats in the Welsh Assembly elections but he appears to have tried to blame Mr Corbyn for this rather than the Liassez Faire attitude of colleagues in the Assembly.
If there was any mention of strengthening the Devolution package then I would expect the Wasting Mule to report it ,
But there seems to have been little mention of Wales from both sides.
In a separate article Wales Online a issue that does not seem to have been discussed was highlighted
"However, Mr Smith can expect questions about whether a non-English MP can be Prime Minister at a time when health and education are devolved.
Huw Lewis, an expert in Welsh politics at Aberystwyth University, said: “
"At the moment, particularly London coverage hasn’t really picked up on the fact that he is a Welsh MP representing a Welsh constituency... It will be interesting to see if it comes up as an issue during the debate over the summer...When Stephen Crabb made his futile attempt to lead the Conservatives amd replace Davis Cameron in number 10
“One would expect if he does win that it would be something that would become a contentious issue.”
Tom Newton Dunn, political editor of the Sun said a “senior Tory source” had pointed out a “constitutional problem” with the leadership bid: “As a Welsh MP, he can’t vote for English-only laws”.
I imagine that the devolution question will be raised with both contenders in Scotland and it will be interesting to see what they have to offer Wales .
It could well be that we may see both offering concessions to Scotland and England whilst Wales is ignored.
Neither Mr Corbyn or Owen Smith seem to have come up with any new policy facing the future of the devolved powers and the English Question"?
I suggest that those in Wales and Scotland who have flocked to Mr Corbyn Banner ask him where he stands.
We already know where Own Smith stands he clearly would oppose any attempt for Wales to have parity with Scotland.
At least it saves him from the dilemma of being the leader of a Party and even Prime Minister and finding that he has to sit on the government benches when his English MPs vote extended further when Welsh MPs are excluded under even more EVEL.
1 comment:
Corbyn’s welsh lines had to be read from notes and Owen ‘ill say anything to elected’ Smith trotted out the tired old, I’m the heir of Bevan trope, that’s what Wales means to both of them and its times like this when I think us welsh get what we deserve, at least the Scots tried voting for another party and its worked out pretty well for them.
Will Wales ever get there?
Post a Comment