In this morning’s Wales on Sunday, columnist David James writes about First Minister, Rhodri Morgan’s intervention in the row over a new Welsh medium school in his constituency and claims by a Cardiff Labour Councillor that the proposals amount to ‘ethnic cleansing’:
Rhodri has found himself lambasted for addressing a racially-sensitive point about a school in his constituency.
That is dodgy ground. But if the leader of the Assembly Government cannot make a point about his administration’s policy towards the closure of schools that would result in ethnic divisions among children there would be a problem.
There is dispute as to whether the alleged ethnic polarisation really will result as a consequence of this school reorganisation proposal but the point I want to make here is about a wider misunderstanding in David James’ piece.
Rhodri Morgan was speaking in the chamber as First Minister not as a constituency Assembly Member. He was not making some general point about policy but commenting on a specific proposal that is subject to statutory consultation processes. That process is quasi-judicial, that is it can be challenged in the courts if it is not followed correctly and impartially.
If there are objections then Cardiff Council have to automatically refer it to the Welsh Assembly Government for adjudication. Rhodri Morgan heads that government and the allegation is that in publicly passing judgement on the proposal in advance he might have compromised the process.
In the case of the First Minister this is not a free speech issue or even one of public policy, this is about good governance and the responsibilities one takes on when one becomes a Minister of the crown.
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