A Progressive Labour Vision for Devolution?

As the ‘critical’ Welsh Labour conference begins, I thought I’d play the role of youthful optimist and suggest a new approach that the Party should take to devolution.

Almost ten years down the line and we continue to hear the same old constitutional arguments over the inadequacy of the Welsh devolution settlement. Many argue that the Assembly is too weak, some that it should not exist and a small minority that it ought to be sovereign. However, other than a commitment to hold a referendum on primary law making powers, the Welsh Labour party is decidedly quite on its vision for the future of our Welsh democracy.

We, the Labour party initiated devolution and of that we should be proud. But we are split over the future of devolution and because of the continuous debate over future powers for the Assembly our conflicted positions the public are perceiving us as the ‘anti-Welsh’ party. We need a debate in our party about our ideal settlement for devolution. As Ron Davies famously said, devolution is a process, not an event. We need to work hard to get the best for Wales out this and future settlements and to be advocates of further transfers of power to the Assembly when we believe that it’s within the nations’ interest.

Devolution and the birth of a distinctly Welsh way has become very popular throughout Wales. The uncertainty expressed during the 1997 referendum is now history as polls continue to declare growing support for the work done in Cardiff Bay. It’s clear that the electorate appreciate the open door policy of the National Assembly and the ease at which they can access Assembly members and ministers. They feel like the Assembly is representative of their views. This is in complete contrast to the dark and distant corridors of Westminster.

It has also heralded a new approach to governing, where the Labour party has had the opportunity to drive a socialist agenda tailor-made for the needs of Welsh communities. The institution has been praised for its high female membership, its environmental policies; it’s quick and comprehensive response to the global recession and the approach taken on clearing up AMs’ expenses.

We have always described our Labour party as progressive, but we can sometimes be regressive with respect to self-determination. The negativity that many of us attach to further devolution often turns younger people away from politics. Welsh communities have been transformed since they were ruined by Thatcherism and now young people like me aspire to greater things in life. We wish to hear a positive vision for the future of our motherland for which we are fiercely proud. What we actually hear is the rhetoric where Wales is too poor, too small or just too crap to look after her own needs.

We need a positive debate within our party to help deliver the next stages of this process. The only way we can protect our Union with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland is to strengthen devolution. We can deliver what’s best for Wales and we can do so as we proudly celebrate the beauty of our culture and our language and thrive as a modern, inclusive and internationalist nation. It is our inheritance to look forward with hope and enthusiasm and to recapture our historic place as the ‘gwir plaid Cymru’ – the true party of Wales.