Unionist Labour hit out at devolution...again.

Huw Lewis AM has today questioned what the All Wales Convention can achieve, and has said that despite the fact that it is now taking place, many in his own party have questioned the need for it. Is this because you believe that we should by-pass the referendum system and have full law-making powers in Wales like they have in Scotland, Huw? Hardly... Unionists in Labour like Huw Lewis cannot stop themselves making negative statements when we are trying to ensure, through the One Wales Government, that this process is a success.

But Huw is currently putting forward legislation regarding the regulation of public transport in Wales, so this cannot put him in the devo-sceptic camp, I here you cry! However, when he states that Wales is potentially 'putting the cart before the horse" in seeking more powers, it only goes to show that the Unionist in him is alive and well.

Now remember, if it wasn't for the devo sceptics in the Labour party that they accommodated in the Government of Wales Act, we would never have had such a hotch potch, complicated, laughable system. The Richard Commisssion's recommendations could have been implemented without a second thought. But Richard isn't the reality we see before us, so we must move on as best we can from the situation we are in.

We want the powers to legislate for the people of Wales, to be made by the people of Wales, in Wales. We shouldn't have to justify why we want those powers, especially not at this stage in the devolution process. It is only natural that a country should want to govern itself, and to refrain from going cap in hand to a far removed London Government. Its high time the Unionists in Labour realised that they need devolution more than devolution needs them, and get on with the job of making it work.

Perhaps this is a Labour leadership attempt at underimining the One Wales government, but I'd rather they kept their misgivings to the internal workings of the Labour party, quite frankly. After all, there is an ongoing review of grassroots Labour party activity. I'm sure Huw Lewis and others could whip up some energy in those forums as opposed to parading their misgivings like this, and undermining the goverment that they are part of here at the National Assembly.

Politics of the North of Ireland back on track

News has just broken that there will be a power-sharing deal between Sinn Fein and the DUP in the North of Ireland. This is a momentous occasion for the North of Ireland, and a symbol of a positive future to come. It could have been stale mate again, with direct rule imposed on the North, but Paisley has declared that he is ready to govern alongside Sinn Fein. On Saturday, the DUP executive overwhelmingly endorsed a motion committing their party to support the deal. The party will participate fully in government in May of this year, and state that it will be ' a binding resolution."

The power sharing executive is set to begin on the 8th of May. The way in which the politicians have dealt with this situation is commendable, and I am sure that my family in the North are pleased that the conflict of the past will be replaced with a future of co-operation and trust.

This is an example to us here in Wales that we must take tough decisions to make devolution succeed.

Jack Straw on devolution- 'We could have done a better job.'

Jack Straw has announced that devolution in Wales in the 1990's was rushed due to a 'pent-up' feeling in Wales for more power. This announcement comes in the context of the debate to reform the House of Lords ( no more Lord Cashpoints, then Jack!) Jack Straw continues his train of thought on devolution by stating that 'if we had had more time we could have done a better job.”

This seems perplexing to me, as the Government could have 'done a better job' with the new powers that are set to be introduced after May the 3rd this year. They had plenty of time and resources to asses the possible developments for devolution, and a well researched publication by the Richard Commission to refer to, whose ideas of introducing an STV voting system and expanding the Assembly to 80 members were famously rejected by Rhodri Morgan and the Labour Party in general.

In this latest round of reform to the National Assembly, Labour blocked candidates standing both on the regional list and on a constituency level so as to seek to retain their hegemony in Wales, they introduced a new veto for the Secretary of State for Wales who can either accept or reject new Welsh measures proposed by the National Assembly, and they failed to be bold enough to embrace the need for a proper Parliament for Wales.

If Jack Straw wants to contemplate the trials and tribulations of the devolution settlement, he should do so in the knowledge that it is his party that has hindered devolution developments in Wales since 1999. After all, they have had plenty of time in Government to act, but have let us down again and again.

The shining light in all of this could be that the SNP wins a majority in May's Scottish election, leading to a subsequent referendum on Scottish Independence. This could undoubtedly set the agenda for another, and well awaited 'pent-up feeling' in Wales for more power, and the establishment of a proper Parliament for Wales.