It is not so long ago that Plaid Cymru took drastic action to remove a dissenting voice from an Assembly scrutiny committee so as to prevent criticism of the adminstration from within their own ranks.
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member, Janet Ryder was removed from the legislation committee considering the Government’s Learning and Skills Measure after supporting a number of opposition amendments to it. She was also replaced as Plaid’s Education Spokesperson.
Now I hear that Labour are to take similar action against their member for Mid and West Wales, Alun Davies, who has proved to be a real thorn in the side to the Economy and Transport Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones on the Finance Committee.
Alun understands what scrutiny is about and takes a robust approach to Ministers when they come before the Committee. In other words he knows how to do his job and he does it well. How sad therefore to see that this sort of constructive dissent is not tolerated within the Labour-Plaid Cymru Administration.
My sources say that Alun Davies is to be removed from the Finance Committee shortly and replaced with somebody who the whips consider to be more reliable. Given the valuable work that committee has done in exposing some of the failings of the Government and in highlighting issues that need to be addressed it will be a very sad day for democracy if that happens.
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