A House of Lords select committee report has followed up last week’s Hotham Report by agreeing that the 30-year-old Barnett formula is “arbitrary and unfair” and should be scrapped.
The Secretary of State for Wales however, appears to still be in denial. He is quoted as saying that the present funding formula is “more or less fair” but added “we’ve got to make sure that Wales get a fair deal in the future.”
On Radio Wales this morning Peter Hain asserted that currently the Barnett formula is fair as it applies to Wales and suggested that Holtham supports that verdict. Despite that verdict he has agreed that both reports need to be looked at though he will not commit to a review or a timetable.
Veteran Hain-watchers will recognise this activity as a long-grass kicking exercise. Will the Welsh Government have the influence and the balls to get a more positive response from Westminister?
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