In and Out
Rhodri Morgan will be leaving hospital in a few minutes' time. Good news. That means he won't, after all, be watching events in the chamber from his hospital bed, nor having to cough up the £3 per hour that costs! Nice image though, Mohammad Asghar.
Ieuan Wyn Jones is still on his feet in the chamber talking about a 'new style of engagement', about the 'pursuit of the common good'. His grandson, born during the election campaign was there, as was his mother and a host of family members in between. A whispered "Sbia ar Taid. Fo di'r un yn y dei binc" or "Look at Grandad. He's the one in the pink tie" came from the very full row behind me.
Labour seats in the chamber weren't quite as full, as the new Leader of the Opposition noted.
Lynne Neagle, Ann Jones and Karen Sinclair were absent as was Huw Lewis. Irene James walked into the chamber a few minutes before Ieuan Wyn got to his feet, only to walk out as he was called.
Ann Jones and Lynne Neagle were outside having a cup of tea and say they were 'in committee'. Yes, the committee was suspended so that members could hear the speech if they wanted to. They didn't want to. Huw Lewis was, according to his wife, on government duties in Merthyr and couldn't make it to the Senedd in time. Karen Sinclair was on the phone to the leader of Wrexham Council. No word yet from Irene James but the walk-out, I'm told, was not planned.
Other absentees? From the TEXT OF speech, the Lib Dems.
UPDATE
Irene James did walk out but it wasn't 'a walk out'. She had to attend an USDAW campaign 'Respect for Shopworkers' event. Just to be clear: she is fully committed behind the Labour led government we now have in the assembly, and totally respects the democratic decisions taken by the Labour party.
MORE
A polite but firm Huw Lewis has been in touch. He confirms he was indeed on ministerial duties in Merthyr today and no, he certainly didn't choose to stay away from the chamber.
I'm Betsan Powys, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
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All the Welsh Lib Dems were there Betsan!
we
welsh lib dems were
most certainly
in the senedd chamber
for ieuan wyn's speech!!!!!!!!
So when some of the Plaid AMs decided to find something productive to do when an unelected lady from Windsor turned up to talk about her Welsh government it's seen as showing a lack of respect. But when Labour AMs decide to find something else to do instead of listening to the elected deputy first minister of their government taking the role it's all smiles and nods...?
That is showing disrespect not to one unelected lady, but to the Welsh democracy as well as their party leadership who negotiated the coallition that gives them, as Labour AMs, a say in the government that they would otherwise have lost. I trust Rhodri felt more comfortable in his hospital bed than he would have done in the chamber. I hope that this is not a sign of things to come, but I fear it may be.
Touche, very present Lib Dems. Your absence was noted from the text of the speech ... not the chamber. But then you knew that!
I dont think that was clear at all Betsan. You talked about people being physically absent and implied we were not there for the speech as well. That was inaccurate.
I think the four women' behaviour was petty, pedantic and childish. For elected politicians they are very immature, reminiscent of the Welsh Labour Party of old. They have sidelined themselves let's hope that the CLP will sideline them from reselection...but of course they won't we must have our quota of women in the Senedd ...
Superb judgement Irene.
Superb judgement Irene.
If these individuals walked out during such an important day in Welsh history, and considering that Rhodri is not well , then this is an insutlt to all of us in Wales. Not to mention Rhodri Morgan.
Its about time that these people within the Labour party grew up, and put the interests of Wales first.
There are other parties for these unionists to join such as the Conservative & Unionist Party or the Ulster Unionists.
Any one walking out when Mrs Windsor from London, is there fine no problem, because we, the people of Wales have never voted for her to be in power.
I hope Rhodri will be well asap
I can confirm that Huw Lewis was indeed on Ministerial business in Merthyr Tydfil, speaking at a seminar organised by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
who attended or did not attend the coronation of the Deputy first ruler and why they did or didn't is frankly pretty irrelevant. The more important question is that a huge section of the Welsh electorate, perhaps even a majority, are not represented in the assembly chamber at all. in the 1979 referendum only 12% of the Welsh electorate voted in favour of an assembly. The majority in favour in the 1997 a referendum was as small as small could be at 6,712 and acheived only after a campaign in which I can recall few if any major political figures of Wales campaigning against. Since then there has been a growing acquiescence on the part of every political party, including the Conservative party, that the presence of the assembly is now a done deal. At the risk of offending you Betsan I would suggest that the Welsh media generally are party to this assumption. So the absent representatives from the assembly chamber are any representatives reflecting the views of those people within the Welsh electorate who did not vote for an assembly and do not want an assembly. I suggest if there is any sexing up of a political process in the UK in recent years it is of the devolution process and the many politicians it contains of questionable competence. Ieuan Wyn Jones was absolutely correct to say today that they need to deliver for the people of Wales. Frankly in my view by and large the only people they have delivered for so far are the well paid cardiff bay politicians and Welsh establishment who are now big fish in a little pond.
Oh dear! Lib Dem sensitivity now seems to extend to misunderstanding perfectly clear, albeit highly ironic, blog entries.
Keir Hardly talks of a huge section of the Welsh electorate that are not represented. Would this be the section that can't be bothered to vote? If someone doesn't vote then their representative is selected by proxy by those that do vote. That's called democracy. Everyone has a right to vote, if they choose not to do so they are stating that they are willing to be represented by those that other people vote for. Not something that I'd choose to do, but each to his own.
Yes in 1997, it was a small majority of those who voted; but someone who likes Westminster rule should be very happy with a small majority getting to decide... in Westminster it's normally a minority of voters who have voted for the party of government! At least in Welsh democracy we actually have representation selected by majority votes. Ah yes, democracy; maybe it's that concept that Keir Hardly doesn't like!
Betsan, Could you give us an update regarding the job of Counsel General. It has now been three years since Winston Roddick left. Are there any rumours of appointing somebody going around the Senedd and if so who? Will Malcolm Bishop's name be mentioned again?
Any talk of what's gone on before really frustrates me and so has the last 9 weeks but today I saw why. We have finally grown up in Wales, put aside parochialism and hopefully this partnership will keep everyone on their toes and drive through change in our country. I have slowly become to admire Ieuan Wyn Jones and like the passion of Rhodri. I also think there are some very notable Plaid AMs who will make an impact in Government. Some are extremely hard working and committed to achieving a better country. Helen Mary Jones is someone I have also admired and I like people like Leanne Wood who is there for the right reasons to work hard for our country and not afraid to stand up for values.
This is an exciting time in Wales positive action has been taken and I believe that with a bigger Government with differing opinions will liven debates internally if not in the chamber and that is good for Wales. Forget the past - the Assembly is doing some good work I see it for myself and lets knuckle down and get on with the big issues in our country and make some tough decisions. I am proud two parties have come together in Wales for the greater good and look forward to the strong challenge of Tory opposition as again they have some talented and intelligent AMs as have the Lib Dems.
Work hard for the greater good, debate and lets be positive about it and lets get on with it. GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!
You'd think that with all the time they'd now got on their hands, the Liberals could at least read things properly. Betsan didn't say you weren't there - you were physically there, but as usual, neither use nor ornament. And do we have to suffer exclamation mark overload, Ms Burnham? But if anyone knows what the Liberals are for, answers on the vback of an envelope please.
Irrespective of what political party, they are in. They should be in the assembly chamber, not unless they will ill. They are well paid for their job and are only required to attend the chamber 3 days a week for just over half the year. Hardly an onerous duty!
Perhaps it tells us something when it is only Lib Dems who fail to understand what is clearly front of them.
But then it appears this blog is the only publicity they can generate on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales these days.
This new consensus is wonderful. I had resolved to post a contribution but find myself in a cue of likeminded citizens. Betsan you are an excellent communicator and very polite. I suppose you do have to work closely with the liberals regardless of their linguistic abilities.
Keir Hardly still drags up the narrow victory in the 1997 referendum to discredit the Assembly and all its works.
Having looked again and again at those 1997 results certain things become obvious. How people voted was largely determined by national identification and class.
Using the tripartite division of Wales one can say that Y Fro Gymraeg (the Welsh-speaking areas) voted Yes; Welsh Wales (the Valleys & Swansea Bay) also voted Yes; while British Wales (the south-east, north-east, border Powys & south Pembrokeshire) voted No. In the first 2 of those divisions people tend to regard themselves as Welsh first while in the third most describe themselves as British.
(The picture is further complicated by English people living in the first of the 2 areas; this group would account for most of the No votes in an area such as Gwynedd.)
Class also rears its ugly head. For example, in East Swansea, bordering Neath and Port Talbot, there was a very healthy Yes vote, but as one moved into the western suburbs and the twee villages of Gower it became a No vote.
The inescapable conclusion is that a clear majority of WELSH people voted Yes. It would therefore have been a tragedy had the wish of the indigenes been thwarted by recent arrivals and those who do not identify with the land in which they live; further, it would have been a recipe for resentment and unrest.
What the referendum result also told us was that too many of the Welsh languish in the lower reaches of all socio-economic tables. Remedying this should be a priority for the new administration. (But of course left-liberals would regard any such remedial programme as 'racist' or 'nationalist'.)
In conclusion; devolution is here, Keir Hardly, accept it and let's ALL move on.
Mark
I think we'll all have to get used to more absenteeism from the chamber (for very good reason) in future as there will be more committee meetings clashing with longer plenary sessions - a point made by the soothing Presiding Officer yesterday!
Henry
We've been asking for weeks about the Counsel General role - in case that's the 'surprise' some have been promising. I talked to Winston Roddick a fortnight ago on the 'Maniffesto' programme and he made it perfectly clear that in his view the job must be done by a fully qualified, highly respected, hot shot barrister, QC even but named no names. A lot of names have been doing the rounds here though most are stabs in the dark - from Alex Carlile to Elfyn Llwyd, Carwyn Jones to Ieuan Wyn Jones and Jocelyn Davies. Whoever the First Minister plumps for will have to be acceptable to Ieuan Wyn Jones too of course.
Royston Jones makes it sound far too simple. Having a different name doesn't make you a Brit. Living in north-east Wales doesn't make you a Brit. Being in an area with a 'no' vote in 1997 doesn't make you a Brit. There are plenty of us here who don't fit into your neat categories but who were and are wholeheartedly in favour of what was on offer - for starters. The real success of 1997 was to persuade enough people in what he calls 'British Wales' to see the light.
Well said Brian. I am of the South East, a Labour member but confident in my Welsh indentity and determined that Wales is governed in line with Welsh values not those of the South East of England. This means a Parliament and as soon as it can be pratically delivered. It also means the MP dinosaurs coming to terms with evolution and the concept of extinction......
Good that we in Wales are receiving support and sustenance from S.E. England and other areas. We can do with more of that, especially from those who have their origins in Wales. As happened in Ireland let us hope that the Welsh start returning (as American Irish are doing).