The article by Rachel Banner of True Wales over on Wales Home underlines both how that organisation misunderstands the nature of representative democracy but also what an uphill struggle it will be to win the referendum on law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly when it comes.
I am going to start this post with the assumption that True Wales’ supposed agenda to secure real devolved power for Welsh people is a disingenuous distraction tactic. In truth that organisation specialises in such diversions. That can be seen in claims by various spokespeople that a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum would be one more step towards independence. In fact I have even seen interviews where it has been claimed that the two outcomes are the same. Nothing could be further from the truth.
As I have pointed out before, what we will be asked to vote for when the time comes is very far from independence or even the Scottish-style Parliament many of us would like to see. What we would be getting is the ability to make laws in a limited number of areas hemmed in by some pretty bizarre exceptions. Betsan Powys has a list of some of the things the Assembly will still not be able to do after a ‘yes’ vote here.
The Welsh Assembly already has the power to pass laws as they are properly understood. What the referendum is actually about is whether we need to continue asking MPs’ permission via an expensive, bureaucratic and time-wasting route before we can get down to the business of implementing laws contained in a democratically approved manifesto? Can we have the ability to get on with the job of delivering our mandate as voted for by the Welsh people without getting down on one knee to Westminster first? Somehow I dont think the Electoral Commission will allow us to put that question on a ballot paper.
When Rachel Banner argues that the ‘current debate about the powers for the National Assembly has nothing to do with pushing power down to the people, and everything to do with concentrating more power into the hands of a political elite in Cardiff Bay’ she is very much mistaken. In fact as one commenter on the Wales Home site points out the debate is actually about taking power from one elite in Westminster and giving it to Cardiff Bay. The difference being that in Cardiff Bay we have a distinct mandate, are able to give a Welsh dimension to legislation and are far more accessible, transparent and accountable.
Ms. Banner also dredges up the 1997 referendum result and costs. Frankly, she needs to move on. Decisions are made by those who take part but also we are not asking to take these powers without having another vote so the idea that they will come to us by stealth is nonsense. In fact the less democratic route is not to have a vote, simply because under the status quo we will continue to slowly accrue powers even if Wales votes ‘No’.
As for cost, well yes democracy costs money but the alternative has other costs and the many benefits of devolution will be lost. The one thing that the All Wales Convention did do is to show that having full law-making powers within the confines of the 2006 Government of Wales Act will not cost anymore. It would be cost-neutral. Not having them could be very expensive indeed.
In that one sentence Ms. Banner reveals the real agenda of True Wales, to abolish the Assembly altogether. Would it not be more honest to say so. As for her claim that the ‘elite refuse to disclose the destination of this journey’ well that is a matter for the Welsh people, not the politicians. All that is being voted on is a short journey to limited law-making powers. For the vast majority of us that will do for now. Independence is not the objective.
Talking of red-herrings Ms. Banner then throws in the Richard Commission recommendation that we may need another 20 AMs. Well that might be a possibility in the future but that is not on the ballot paper either and nobody is proposing it. In fact if it happened you can be sure that it would be voted on in a referendum and we would have less MPs so as to secure some balance. But then that is what many of the opponents of devolution are afraid of.
And then we turn to the proposed ‘real’ devolution within Wales. Rachel Banner puts forward a number of proposals that she believes will open up the system and better empower people. However, we should not pretend that these ‘reforms’ will make any real difference to people’s lives. If we were to adopt them they would need to go hand-in-hand with full legislative powers not take their place.
Voters’ juries and regular documented town hall meetings are fine but they do not give any real power to people. What about giving local councils more powers and encouraging them to set up area committees with budgets linked into these town hall meetings, so that people are able to direct spending in their own communities?
In truth most councils already have citizen panels to gauge public opinion. Directly elected mayors are a gimmick that concentrates power into the hands of a singe individual, hardly a devolutionary measure. Whilst the Assembly already has an effective and authorative petition system that has led directly to real change such as the tax on plastic bags and the possibility of presumed consent for organ donation. This is a major contrast to the tokenistic petition system on the number 10 Downing Street website.
Even in proposing devolving power within Wales, this organisation is conservative and cautious. They do not want to embrace real reform that will properly empower local people. A fair voting system for local goverment, the Assembly and Parliament would be a start. Legislative competence for the Assembly and wider powers for local government together with a needs based funding system are all essential if we are to fulfill that agenda.
Instead, True Wales sits as a roadblock to proper reform at all levels. They talk the language but their depth of understanding of what a real democracy needs is sadly lacking and that is reflected in their agenda. We should not allow them to stand in the way of the effective and accountable governance of Wales.
And that is the problem. The case for moving from Part Three to Part Four of the Government of Wales Act has still not been made to the country at large. There is still no proper ‘yes’ campaign to counter these arguments and if you talk to people they remain confused, disinterested or just indifferent to the need for extra powers. Real Wales may be talking nonsense but they are playing to people’s uncertaintly and that is why the referendum campaign is by no means won, despite opinion polls that may say differently.
Those of us who want a proper Welsh Senedd need to start organising and communicating now or come the autumn the drama of 1997 may well seem to have been a walk in the park.
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