http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-43951071
It is a huge mistake for the Welsh government and the Welsh Labour Party to have succumbed so meekly at the end.
It is a huge mistake for the Welsh government and the Welsh Labour Party to have succumbed so meekly at the end.
For too long and too often Welsh Labour and other politicians in Wales have been far too eager to fall into line with the
Westminster/Whitehall establishment.
The yoke of subservience and the imperial
past endures. A failure of understanding and appreciation of the implications
of what it means to be a Land and nation.
LORD ELYSTAN MORGAN
The
EU (Withdrawal) Bill’s devolution clauses are substantial. Seemingly, they
describe an interim process, but when reviewed alongside the considerable
powers given to UK ministers generally, the passages cause discomfort, if not
alarm, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A
successful Brexit settlement cannot be constructed by the UK government alone,
demanding a partnership approach in negotiations with the devolved
administrations.
The
constitutional and political consequences of not doing so would indeed be
serious and damaging for future relations. In this context, the Sewel
Convention has some part to play, particularly as the UK is not underpinned by
a written constitution assigning powers evidently to different tiers of
government. Sewel presumes that Westminster should not legislate on
devolved matters without consent,
These
aims to my mind are not capable of achievement unless a very specific mechanism
is created to serve them. At the moment the government maintains that the Joint
Ministerial Committee adequately performs this task. The fact that it meets so
seldom, produces no agenda or minutes reveal it to be the empty talking shop
that it was intended to be.
Devolution
should never be seen as an end in itself. It is true that it is a progressive
and ameliorative concept that brings about the reality of the principle of
subsidiarity. There is however a dimension beyond devolution and that is Home
Rule, namely the recognition of the constitutional and moral right of a Nation
community to self determination. Whereas in relation to devolution, its
beneficiaries can always say ‘’thank you, bless you carry on with the good
work’’ in the context of Home Rule the relevant and seminal question is ‘’what
have you withheld’’.
With
the ongoing devolution deficit and Brexit negotiations, there is an absolute
need for a UK -wide Constitutional Convention, involving all political parties
and elements of British society, to discuss the future of the Union
within a framework of mutual respect and unanimity, promoting a real
partnership of equals across the isles.
GWYNORO JONES
The
economy of Wales is decidedly reliant on membership of the EU single market,
especially the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Wales is a substantial
net beneficiary of EU funding and two-thirds of its exports and over 30% of
services sent to Europe annually. Also, the single market has been a key driver
of foreign investment for decades. There is a real risk that vital matters
concerning Wales could be neglected during the latter stages of the EU
withdrawal negotiations.
That
is why it is concerning that an agreement has apparently been reached between
the Welsh and Westminster governments over the retention by Westminster for
seven years of 24 delegated powers that are already devolved, to enable common
frameworks across the UK to be developed. Of course there are inherent dangers
in such a settlement not the least of which is the potential for the
Westminster government to extend the period beyond seven years.
That
is why the UK needs statutory intergovernmental frameworks to resolve
differences and ensure the opinions of every devolved parliament is heard in
areas of common. Such a structured statutory body would be charged with day to day
monitoring of Brexit upon the countries concerned. A homogenous approach as
advocated by the Prime Minister is a sham and a nonsense which can very well
betray the individual needs of the devolved authorities.
Indeed
as we further progress over the next few years fundamental reform is essential
in ensuring a greater formal role for the devolved administrations within UK
decision-making post-Brexit, analogous to that offered by federal or confederal
systems of governance.