tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post1275120187934273403..comments2024-03-27T18:54:46.951+00:00Comments on Syniadau :: The Blog: The drip-feed of more powers will continueSyniadauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13876017048168055247noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-55282346780516339352016-03-08T00:36:48.021+00:002016-03-08T00:36:48.021+00:00Prompted by the argument of whether it is or isn&#...Prompted by the argument of whether it is or isn't Labour policy to devolve policing to Wales, I've just written a new post about it, <a href="http://www.syniadau.cymru/2016/03/labour-and-devolution-of-policing-to.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>, 22:10. <br /><br />Andy Burnham is mistaken. MHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09329059309196746446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-25947877261716450072016-03-08T00:15:08.867+00:002016-03-08T00:15:08.867+00:00Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham said i...Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham said in the House of Commons today that devolving policing isn’t UK Labour policy, only Welsh party policy but that he‘d give is serious consideration http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35747457Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-92161095682706577142016-03-07T22:10:41.446+00:002016-03-07T22:10:41.446+00:00I think you're right to highlight the potentia...I think you're right to highlight the potential differences between what Labour AMs want and what Labour MPs want over policing, Dai (both comments were by you, for the sake of others reading). <br /><br />In the 2015 Westminster election manifesto, the compromise you mention was that Labour committed themselves to devolve powers "to shape priorities for policing" to Wales. Which was at least a halfway provision. Alan Michael had wanted policing and the bottom, but not the top, half of justice devolved too, <a href="http://www.clickonwales.org/2013/07/why-police-and-criminal-justice-should-be-devolved/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. And even one of the MPs most sceptical about it, David Hanson, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-21505833" rel="nofollow">said in 2013</a>:<br /><br /><i>"... but there are some really complex issues around this in relation to serious organised crime, counter terrorism, the legal system, justice, probation, which need to be examined in very great detail before such a major step would even be considered to be taken. It isn't just a simple matter of devolving policing to Wales because counter terrorism, serious organised crime, cross-border issues, much of the crime in my part of Wales derives from people who live in England."<br /><br />Mr Hanson stressed that he was <b>not arguing against</b> the idea: "I'm just saying there are many challenges to this."</i> <br /><br />One thing that has changed is that Owen Smith, one of the more-anti devolution MPs, is no longer the Shadow SoS. I don't know for sure, but I suspect Nia Griffith would be rather more open to the idea. She would if she had any sense. She was very bitter in her <a href="http://niagriffith.org.uk/2015/11/tory-police-cuts-threaten-public-safety/" rel="nofollow">criticism</a> of the Tories for wanting to cut 1,100 front line police jobs in Wales (an interpolation from an Englandandwales figure, I think) and the obvious way of protecting Wales from such cuts would be for policing to be devolved. I think that Jeremy Corbyn would probably be in favour of devolving policing too.<br /><br />But yes, today's announcement is obviously a case of Carwyn Jones trying to push through his agenda, and that of his AMs. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have run it past the Welsh MPs as a group beforehand. But, clearly, this document has taken more than just a few days to put together, so he has probably run it past a few of them. MHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09329059309196746446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-40220526934235816482016-03-07T19:46:47.478+00:002016-03-07T19:46:47.478+00:00The latest announcement by the Labour government i...The latest announcement by the Labour government in the Assembly is very interesting. It certainly represents a leap forward from the Labour Party's official policy regarding Welsh devolution. It would be interesting to know who signed this off and the internal debates before it was approved.<br />The whole internal debate within the Labour party has proved a t be a sub text to Welsh devolution. With the pro devolution wing slowly gaining in power. Vaughan Roderick has mentioned this a fw times over the years. It is an interesting time in many ways as there is some what of a vacuum given the splits in Westminster and the majority of Labour MPs. I wonder if Carwyn Jones has used this to his advantage to push through his agenda. I can't imagine Owen Smith and his ilk are too happy with this latest announcement. I've not idea what the views of the present leadership are.DaiTwphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03662576122363515901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-985080357558043054.post-73716904752150240332016-03-07T14:13:59.773+00:002016-03-07T14:13:59.773+00:00As always with devolution particularly in Wales i...As always with devolution particularly in Wales it comes down to the lowest common denominator between the Westminster parties. As such the drip feed will continue as the lowest denominator inches along the devolution spectrum. The Tories (having been traditionally anti any further move along that spectrum) have proved that they are willing to concede power where there is a potential for political advantage as you point out with the devolution of income tax without even the proviso of a referendum - almost inconceivable 10 years ago.<br />I'm not sure it is Labour policy to devolve Policing? It certainly wasn't before the last General Election (although there was mention of devolving aspects of Policing, whatever that means?). Although it is the Party's wish in Cardiff certainly, I still don't think this is necessarily their "National" level policy, indeed the lack of agreement over the devolution of Policing between the First Minister and the then Shadow Welsh Secretary was highlighted as one of the reasons why it wasn't included in the St. Davids "Agreement".<br />Although as discussed if devolving Policing was decided to be advantageous to the Labour Party, I'm sure it would be adopted as party Policy in short shrift.<br />Regarding the St Davids Poll, I'd argue the question regarding Income Tax is coming to the end of its useful life (as with the law making powers before it) given the intention to devolve it without a referendum. Maybe next year it'll be replaced or another question regarding Powers of Policing and Justice and or a separate Legal jurisdiction will be added?<br />To be fair I think the pace of devolution in general has been dictated by the lowest common denominator in Scotland also. It's just that the lowest common denominator was much further along the spectrum to begin with and has carried it's trajectory along the spectrum towards independence at a much quicker velocity than in Wales.DaiTwphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03880490349468915134noreply@blogger.com