stewartb
I understand that the present Welsh Government wishes to have police and justice devolved to Wales. I also understand that the two main parties in Westminster – those that take turns to rule over all of us – will NOT agree to this.
On 5 December 2022, the BBC News website had this headline: ‘Westminster to keep Welsh police and justice powers under Labour plans.’
The BBC reported on the recommendations of Gordon Brown’s ‘commission’ on reforming the UK constitution: it ‘recommended youth justice and probation be handed to ministers in Cardiff’.
The (no doubt selective) reporting in the BBC article nevertheless shows up the slipperiness of Labour that we in Scotland know so well. We learn:
1. ‘Launching the report, leader Sir Keir Starmer promised the “BIGGEST EVER TRANSFER of power from Westminster”.’ (my emphasis)
2. The report says: “new powers should be made available to the Senedd and Welsh government” but makes few specific recommendations.’
3) Then the soft soaping: ”Mr Brown’s report said there was no “constitutional reason why matters which are devolved in Scotland… could not also be devolved in Wales”.’
4) And then the carefully crafted ‘but’: ‘But the report suggested that the ability of Welsh institutions to handle new powers in Wales COULD BE A REASON NOT TO GO FURTHER. It said devolution should be “constrained only by reserving those matters which are necessary to discharge the purposes of the UK as a union, AND IN PRACTICE BY THE WISHES OF THE SENEDD ITSELF… and OF COURSE BY THE PRACTICAL CHALLENGES OF TRANSFERRING NEW POWERS AND BUILDING THE CAPABILITY TO OPERATE THEM”. (my emphasis)
A hint of the too wee, too stupid the end of point (4)?
The article also has this: ‘Plaid Cymru Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts said the report “BACKTRACKS FROM PREVIOUS LABOUR PROMISES – the 2017 Labour manifesto having promised the devolution of policing to Wales”. What a surprise!
We’re told: ‘Welsh Conservative shadow minister for the constitution Darren Millar said: “There is no great public appetite in Wales for further powers to be devolved to the Senedd.’ Again only too predictable!
It’s all too familiar: Wales’ future is in England’s hands!
What is notable here is this will be true EVEN IF Wales and England vote Labour into government in Cardiff and London respectively!
The reports of Gordon Brown’s speech at his Edinburgh event includes multiple examples of mockery and disparagement aimed at the Scottish Government and the SNP. He may be looking to build a political consensus over constitutional reform across the UK but already this excludes c. 50% of voters in Scotland and Scotland’s largest political party and party of government. Reform will be done to Scotland!
That’s OK: Scotland’s come too far to be content with yet another Brown-inspired ‘nearest thing possible to federalism’ or ‘most powerful devolved government in the universe’ type guff!
So in Scotland as in Wales: whilst in this Union, Scotland’s future will always be in England’s hands and will be so whether under a Labour or a Tory government in Westminster.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Interesting to hear Mark Drakeford’s response to devolved police and justice, if he is ever questioned on it. And while pushing for journalistic enlightenment, a proper poll of Welsh thoughts on increased devolved powers would also be interesting.
Viewed from Scotland we get the impression that Drakeford could break with Westminster, but a Welsh contact, Plaid activist, says nothing like that is possible, Drakeford is an avowed unionist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The main Unionist party in NI,the DUP,is calling for a Better Together coalition of those opposed to Irish unity.
Unionism in all the nations of the UK state is on the run,hence the centralising of power policies currently being deployed by England’s extreme right wing government.
England along with Russia,Hungary,Turkey and a few other slightly lesser right wing governments realise that democracy is their enemy and are doing all they can to suppress it.
Autocratic regimes are only interested in power and not serving anyone else except themselves.
The present British Labour party is only interested in acquiring power but doesn’t seem to have any credible policies for improving the lives of ordinary people.
Quite the opposite.
That makes them no better than the autocrats who are presently mismanaging our affairs.
I hope that some Scots waken up and realise that politics is important and can have a detrimental affect on their lives should they not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The warmongers oppose law and order. Create chaos worldwide. Westminster sycophants need sanctioned. Break International Law with impunity. Brexit another catastrophe. Ruining the economy. Westminster control freaks.
Ruining the economy and killing people.
LikeLike
I can well understand why Westminster resists granting ‘full’ powers to the devolved assemblies as it then makes direct comparisons easier which in turn from closer scrutiny then shows up the sheer ineptitude of the ‘English’ parliament. As TUS has frequently demonstrated with the NHS, Crime, Education, Environment and a host of other limited powers the Scottish Government is streets ahead in its progressive outlook. When things look even worse Westminster and their media chums they then play the ‘UK’ card to obscure the truth.
LikeLiked by 3 people