I think that I
also understand the political differences about the content of the bill. Pro-devolutionists are seeking a clearer
definition of the reserved powers model which does not take any powers back
from Wales, and the instinctive anti-devolutionists, largely amongst the
Tories, are trying to find a way of honouring previous commitments with minimum
change. (Speaking personally, when the
proponents of the bill talk about giving the Assembly power to change its name
as one of the main changes, it simply makes me deeply sceptical about whether
the changes are worth the effort.)
What I find
much harder to understand is the political statements being made around the
bill.
For reasons
which escape me completely, the First Minister is arguing that this is rushing
things through. But if he thinks that a
two and a half year timetable for something which has been long discussed is a
rush, I hate to think what slow might look like.
The Secretary
of State’s position is no more logical.
He won’t delay it because that would merely allow Labour to make an
issue of it in the run up to next year’s Assembly elections. So publishing a draft in October, and a final
version in February with the legislation therefore under discussion one way
another for the whole period between now and next May’s Assembly elections
means that it won’t be an issue?
What should
have been an opportunity to put the clarity of a reserved powers model in place
of the often vague definitions which currently exist has become just another
front in the yah boo politics of Labour and the Tories. I suppose we should never have expected
anything else.
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3 comments:
'... and the instinctive anti-devolutionists, largely amongst the Tories ...' you mean those AM's assumedly representing the wishes of their electorate?
And similarly so with your assertion of a wasted opportunity, 'to put the clarity of a reserved powers model in place of the often vague definitions which currently exist ....' , the views of the electorate remain paramount and I'm not entirely sure you have read this one correctly.
We aren't looking to jump out of the warm pocket of England, just to make a little bit more wriggle room so that we can stretch our arms every now and then.
As ever, you seem to start from an assumption that your views and those of the electorate are as one, but that isn't well evidenced. The idea that "the views of the electorate remain paramount" is a statement which is, at a superficial level, obviously 'true', but it's hopelessly over-simplistic, given the difficulties of assessing those views on an issue by issue basis, and the complexities of an electoral process whereby people voting for a party are voting for a package, not all of which might be to their taste, but all of which has a 'mandate' of sorts.
However, that's tangential to the issue here. I can no more produce hard facts to support the notion that there is a broad consensus in favour of a reserved powers model than can you to refute it. It's a largely technical issue on which such information as to public opinion which does exist is more a case of inference from overall indications about where powers should lie.
Perhaps it's time for another referendum ...........................
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