The Green Ribbon

Devolution round-up

A couple of stories that I don't want to let pass unnoted:

Research shows that just 30% of voters intend to back Labour in the constituency vote at next year’s Scottish election, down 5% on 2003. On the second vote support is 27%, down 2% since the last election.

The poll confirms Labour’s worst fears — that the Liberal Democrats and a resurgent Scottish National party would have enough seats to form a coalition and oust Jack McConnell from office. (Sunday Times)

THE debate over whether the Scottish parliament should be given more powers has taken a step forward with the creation of a cross-party parliamentary group, writes Jason Allardyce.

Jim Mather, the SNP shadow enterprise minister, has called on parliamentary colleagues across the political spectrum to join the new body, which will examine the case for more financial autonomy for Scotland. (Sunday Times)

Kinnock's Westlothian warning

Interesting comments from Lord Kinnock in the Western Mail on Thursday:

"What continues to concern me is not decentralisation of effective administrative and executive power but the fear, and the fear still exists, of the fragmentation of the United Kingdom and the possibility of enmity growing out of it."

Lord Kinnock added, "Unless there is a general pattern of decentralisation throughout the whole of the United Kingdom, the possibility of tensions, misunderstandings, even antagonisms between the different parts of the United Kingdom, continues." (ICWales)

Hat-tip to Belfast Gonzo at Slugger O'Toole.

No top up fees for Wales

It looks like Wales is following on the path beaten by Scotland:

Students living in Wales will not have to pay top-up fees at Welsh universities under a new deal to break political deadlock.

It means students from outside Wales would pay £3,000 from 2007, while their Welsh counterparts would pay £1,200.

No law-making powers for Wales

It's been a busy week for Peter Hain. As well as dodging brickbats in Northern Ireland, he has announced new powers for the Welsh Assembly. The new legislation will still leave Wales with substantially less autonomy than Scotland.

The White Paper falls well short of recommendations made in the independent Richard Commission report to devolve full law-making powers for health and education handed over by 2011.

Instead the Assembly, from 2007, would be able to bid to Westminster to create new laws or amend existing ones.

Peter Hain: Irish Sea commuter

The Western Mail is not very happy that Peter Hain will be dividing his time as Secretary of State for both Northern Ireland and Wales.

Nor is Plaid Cymru's Helen Mary Jones:

“In the previous government, Peter Hain was part-time Secretary of State for Wales, combined with his duties as Leader of the Commons. Now we have the unlikely and unfair combination of Northern Ireland Secretary and Secretary of State for Wales.

Hain is new NI Secretary

Peter Hain is to be the new Northern Ireland Secretary, but will stay on as Secretary of State for Wales, a move which suggests Tony Blair is keen for a deal to return powers to local politicians.

The Number 10 website has the full list of the new cabinet.

Plaid Cymru election scorecard

It'll be interesting to see on Thursday night whether the Scottish and Welsh nationalists can improve on their decidedly mixed performance in 2001.

With that in mind, I've compiled a list of the key seats for each party, starting with Plaid Cymru.

Will Rhodri implement Tory policies?

Tony Blair and Michael Howard were both campaigning in Wales today.

Howard said that if the Tories were elected, they would expect the Labour administration in Cardiff to implement their council tax rebate for pensioners.

The proposed rebate of up to £500 for the over-65s would have to be approved by the Labour-run Welsh Assembly, and it would be up to first minister Rhodri Morgan to implement the policy.

Howard said: "There is every reason why the people of Wales should get the free council tax rebate we are promising.

"Rhodri Morgan will have the money. If he does not give that, he has a lot of explaining to do."

But Labour were quick to respond to Howard's speech, accusing the Tories of being "completely confused" about what they would do in Wales.

"On the one hand, they offer a vote on whether the assembly should continue; on the other, they say the Assembly will receive money to carry out Tory policies," the spokesman said.

Too early to write off the Tories?

Gareth at the CEP and Stuart at Independence are engaged in some interesting speculation on the fate of the Tories in the general election.

Stuart notes that the Tories have admitted they are losing the battle. Personally, I think they are clearly implementing Lynton Crosby's send a message strategy of trying to lull Labour voters into a false sense of security.

Plaid Cymru to take Battersea?

I missed Newsnight last night but I was intrigued to discover who topped the poll in the exercise I mentioned in an earlier post.

From ICWales:

Move over Meirionnydd - it's next stop Battersea for Plaid Cymru.

An intriguing political experiment conducted by BBC's Newsnight programme has concluded that Plaid Cymru could be the most popular party in at least one inner London district.

All the main British parties were invited to send Parliamentary candidates to a 'speed dating' pub in Battersea called the Hydro Bar. Usually, strangers are supposed to decide after a brief conversation whether they want to see more of each other.