Dormant for long arid periods, grass grows in deserts when conditions are fertile.
Now is the time to revive the splendid Welsh Parliamentary Party (Plaid Seneddol Gymreig). Over 122 years the WPP has spasmodically made distinguished contributions to Welsh life. It initiated many policies that have shaped the politics of Wales in the present century.
The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is in the control of and chaired by the party that hold only 9 out of 40 Welsh seats. The Welsh Grand Committee was last chaired by a Tory and meets only at the whim of the Secretary of State for Wales who did not receive one Welsh vote. Issues such as the use of tidal power, Welsh public sector jobs (including a passport office), the electrification of rail services to Wales, the loss of 10 Welsh Parliamentary seats should be debated and voted on by those who have been democratically elected by the people of Wales.
Today the following EDM was tabled:
Welsh Parliamentary Party
That this House welcomes the revival of the Welsh Parliamentary Party (WPP) Plaid Seneddol Gymreig as the only Commons body that fairly represents the authentic democratic voice of Wales; believes that its membership of all MPs representing Welsh seats will continue the distinguished role the WPP has played in the life of the nation since 1888.
Brief history
(Additional information welcomed)
It began in 1888. In 1880s it called, ‘by an overwhelming majority’, for the Disestablishment of the Church of England in Wales.
In February 1918, The Times, reported that:
‘Major David Davies will submit proposals for a reorganization of the Welsh Parliamentary Party at their next meeting. He proposes that the party should include Welsh members of all parties, and that their actions in the House of Commons on all Welsh questions should be in accordance with the decisions reached at party meetings. He suggests a programme for the party, including the devolution of Welsh legislation and administration to a local assembly, the creation of a Welsh Office, with a Secretary of State for Wales, on the Scottish model, and a distinctively Welsh policy on education, temperance, and reconstruction.’
The WPP met in the mid-1930s economic crisis, to try to gain consensus and present a united voice on the economic plight in south Wales to Whitehall and Westminster. It came up with some very interesting and unanimous suggestions. In 1944 it recommended to the War Cabinet the appointment of a Secretary of State for Wales to promote the reconstruction of post-war Wales. The Welsh Parliamentary Party was described in 1943 as the Party “which consists of MPs of all parties from Wales and Monmouthshire”.
Under the chairmanship of Megan Lloyd George in 1943 the first ‘Welsh day’ debate was granted after pressure by the WPP. It also met in the 1950s and 1960s to bring to the attention of Ministers a consensual approach to various political activities.
The WPP last met in February 1996 when the Conservatives were considering (and then implemented) changes to the Welsh Grand Committee – the WPP proposed change in Standing Orders was adopted by the House in March 1996.
The WPP is not a formal Commons body, and so its rules are not governed by Commons procedure. But, if one extrapolates from that procedure, then the right to summon a meeting would rest with the senior Member representing a Welsh seat (the senior Member being the Member with the longest continuous service in the House).
The list of chairs of the WPP illustrates the ecumenical character of the body.
1890 Stuart Rendel
1895 Rt Hon Sir GO Morgan
1902 Sir Alfred Thomas (still chairman in 1904, 1905, 1906, and 1910)
1911 Ellis Griffith
1918 Sir Herbert Roberts (reported as re-elected)
1935 DR Grenfell
1936 Sir Reginald Clarry
1938 Morgan Jones
1938-39 Captain Arthur Evans
1940 George Henry Hall
1943 Sir Henry Morris-Jones
1943 Colonel Arthur Evans
1944 Megan Lloyd George 1944-45
1945 Aneurin Bevan
1952 GO Roberts
1953 Percy Morris
1974 Emlyn Hooson
1976-87 Leo Abse
1987-2001 Allan Rogers
Comments