A constitutional
question to Gordon Brown…
On Wednesday
29th March 2017, the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones AM,
the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the leader of Scottish
Labour Kezia Dugdale MSP, and former Deputy Prime Minister
Lord John Prescott, came together to discuss the future of the
United Kingdom in an event held by the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff
University.
It was an occasion which I was keen to
attend for many reasons, both political and personal. In the first instance one
of my first tasks when appointed Research and Public Relations Officer for the
Labour Party in Wales in 1969 was to chair a working group charged to develop
the party’s policy towards devolution. Then together with Emrys Jones and Gwyn
Morgan prepare the party’s evidence to the Crowther/Kilbrandon Commission on
the Constitution. In fact our submission was essentially the forerunner of the
Welsh Assembly established 30 years later!
Then it is my long held view that in
order to advance the cause of further devolution in the coming years central to
that is for the Labour Party to get its act together in relation to its future
proposals for the future of the UK Union. Whatever one’s view is of the Wilson
and Blair Governments it was those administrations that moved forward considerably
the devolution process in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
However Brexit changes everything and
unless the Labour and Lib Dems in particular are alert to the changing
political climate they could easily be overtaken by events as can the
Westminster establishment.l This is why I am happy to support the movement Yes Cymru
During the meeting, I was fortunate to
have the opportunity to ask Gordon Brown about his thoughts on the UK’s
constitutional future—inevitably sharing a few thoughts of my own in the
process—a video excerpt of which I include here .
Video of the whole proceedings
The Western Mail also produced a useful
write-up of the afternoon which is worth a read … http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/gordon-brown-wants-major-change-12818547
Lord
David Owen, Gwynoro Jones, Lord Elystan Morgan and Glyndwr Cennydd Jones share thoughts on the UK Union and the need for a Constitutional
Convention before the Carwyn Jones and Gordon
Brown meeting.