The first meeting for 14 years of the only group that fairly represents Welsh MPs passed two resolutions on Wednesday. One was critical of the failure to debate fully a measure that will have a profound effects on Wales. The second called on the Secretary of State for Wales to convene a meeting of the Welsh Grand Committee. This has now been done.
"The Welsh Parliamentary Party notes the significant constitutional consequences of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill; echoes the unanimous views of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee that the Bill ‘will have profound consequences for the UK Parliament and for Wales in particular’; regrets the limited time available for Welsh Members to debate and challenge such effects; and calls on the Secretary of State for Wales to work with all Welsh Members to improve the scrutiny of issues of importance for Wales, including the implications of the Comprehensive Spending Review, through established bodies such as the Welsh Grand Committee.”
Resolution 2:
The Welsh Parliamentary Party further resolved that the Secretary (Paul Flynn) should write on behalf of the Welsh Parliamentary Party to the Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, expressing its unanimous view that the Secretary of State should call a meeting without delay of the Welsh Grand Committee to discuss the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill and the Spending Review and their implications for Wales.
The Party is now canvassing opinions for the subjects for the second meeting. Main suggestions are the disproportionate threat to Welsh public sector jobs, neglect of marine power, electrification of railways, threat to S4C. A second meeting of the WPP will take place later this month.
The changing past
Rhodri Morgan told me last night that he was surprised on re-reading my book 'Dragons led by Poodles'. Great to hear that he is writing his own auto-biography. The Blair's book woefully neglects a sham eful stunt by New Labour in trying to impose a leader that Wales did not want.
Rhodri was Guest Speaker at Newport West Labour Party's Chartist dinner last night.
He had forgotten that I had entered the fight to stop Alun Michael's attempt to become Blair's poodle Leader. It was one of those moments when I wondered whether I was doing the cleverest or stupidest thing I had ever done. Alun Michael was having difficulty in finding a constituency to nominate him. In the belief that constituencies might not want me, none of them wanted Alun. Voting against Alun might get me into the Assembly. I announced that I would run as a candidate in any seat where Alun stood.
It was a dangerous strategy that could have meant that I would have to resign my parliamentary seat and become the AM for Lower Cwmscwt. The tactic worked. Alun did not offer himself for any constituency and went for a regional seat.
Rhodri's autobiography will be an uproarious riot of a book. It will also provide a history of an event that Tony Blair wishes to airbrush out of history.
March for Honour
The Newport part of the Afghan March for Honour left Newport at 9.00 this morning. A good hundred people turned up to wave the four marchers on. They are trying to raise £1 million for soldiers charities. The weather was uninspiring. The cause was uplifting.
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