Wales - Statement by the First Minister

 Yesterday the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, made a statement to the Plenary of the Senedd about his new Cabinet and the Welsh Government's priorities. It can be viewed below.

He said - (I've highlighted what was said in the Welsh Language - the English translation follows immediately afterwards.)

Llywydd, diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. It's almost two weeks now since our fellow citizens in Wales were making their choice of the people who will represent them here in the Senedd over the coming five years. I know that in this Senedd term every Member elected will regard it as a privilege to sit in this Chamber, and to be First Minister of our nation is, of course, a very singular honour indeed. Yet, when I first became First Minister two and a half years ago, I emphasised my preference for collective and collaborative leadership, drawing on a wide pool of talent and commitment. I did so because I’ve always thought that collective leadership is therefore the most effective form of putting people to work for our nation's benefit. And I also believe that it goes with the grain of the way we do things here in Wales. We produce more choirs than soloists; we do better at rugby than at pole-vaulting, Now, that approach has held us in very good stead, I believe, during the last 15 months as we have responded to the global coronavirus pandemic, a response that has needed a whole-Government effort to help keep Wales safe.

The new Cabinet formed last week is a team of talent, ambition and experience, a team to ensure that we make the most of the opportunities that the next five years will bring, and to help us face the challenges that will inevitably come our way. I want to pay tribute today to Ken Skates, who has taken the decision to step back from Government to work from the backbenches. Ken has been a strong voice for north Wales inside the Government, and I know that he will continue to be a strong voice for north Wales from the backbenches. We will miss his passion and his energy around the Cabinet table.

Llywydd, nid yw argyfwng coronavirus ar ben. Yn yr wythnos ers i ni ddod at ein gilydd yn y Cyfarfod Llawn, bydd pob un o'r Aelodau wedi clywed am yr amrywiolyn o India a'i effaith bosibl. Byddaf yn rhoi datganiad ar gyd-destun iechyd y cyhoedd yn nes ymlaen y prynhawn yma, ond bydd y Cabinet yn parhau i wneud penderfyniadau yn unol â'n cylch adolygu tair wythnos, ac yn rhannu cyfrifoldeb am y penderfyniadau hyn

Cabinet a fydd yn cyflawni adferiad yw'r Cabinet newydd, a hynny ar gyfer y Gymru y tu hwnt i'r pandemig—y Gymru gryfach, wyrddach a thecach y mae fy mhlaid wedi ymrwymo i'w chyflawni: Cymru lle bydd pawb yn chwarae ei ran, Cymru lle na fydd neb yn cael ei ddal yn ôl a lle na fydd neb yn cael ei adael ar ôl.

Dyma Gabinet a grëwyd i gwrdd â heriau mawr ein hoes—colli bioamrywiaeth a'r newid yn yr hinsawdd. Nid yw'r argyfwng newid hinsawdd wedi diflannu tra ydym wedi bod yn delio â'r pandemig.

Llywydd, the coronavirus crisis is not over. In the week since we last met in Plenary, all of the Members will have heard of the Indian variant and its potential impact. I will make a statement on the public health context later this afternoon, but the Cabinet will continue to make decisions in line with our three-weekly review cycle and to be collectively responsible for these decisions. 

This new Cabinet is a Cabinet for recovery, and recovery for the Wales that lies beyond the pandemic—that stronger, greener and fairer Wales to which my party is committed. It's a Wales in which everyone has a part to play, and a Wales in which no-one is held back and no-one is left behind either.

This is a Cabinet created to meet those other great challenges of our time—biodiversity loss and climate change. The climate change emergency has not gone away while we have been dealing with the pandemic.

And it's for that reason, of course, Llywydd, that this new Government puts the environment, biodiversity loss and climate change at the heart of our decision making, brought together in a single ministry that will bring together all the major drivers that contribute to climate change. A Minister and a Deputy Minister—Julie James and Lee Waters—will together have responsibility for housing, transport, planning, energy and the environment, dealing with the dangers of climate change, but also harnessing our immense natural assets and creating the jobs of Wales's future.14

Llywydd, we have already begun the work to develop a new programme for government, which will be laid before the Senedd in the coming weeks. It will set out our plans to help our public services recover after COVID. That will include an urgent NHS recovery plan and the biggest catch-up plan for young people in the history of devolution. It will set out the work to develop a new young person’s guarantee, giving everyone under the age of 25 the offer of work, education or training.15

It will outline steps towards a fair deal for care, including paying the real living wage for all those working in the care sector. It will set out the action we will take to make Wales a greener country—abolishing more polluting single-use plastics and creating a national forest and a new national park for Wales. It will include plans for safer communities, increasing the number of police community support officers on our streets. And it will outline where we will create new jobs for Wales through a low-carbon house building revolution, building 20,000 new low-carbon social homes for rent.16

But where we can go further and faster, this Government will always be open to new ideas. Llywydd, last week I said that no party has a monopoly on good ways of taking Wales forward, and I offered to work across party lines where there are common and shared interests. I have written to the leaders of the Welsh Conservatives and Plaid Cymru to confirm that offer. And I know that, across the Senedd, there will be new and returning Members who come here looking to make that positive contribution to the future of our nation, the challenges of today and of tomorrow.17

As I've said, none is more pressing and none more urgent than the climate and nature crisis we face. That is why there is a new ministry at the heart of this Government. And all parties represented here, during the election, quite rightly signalled the need for bold steps to tackle the crisis we face. Now will be the time to translate that commitment into practical action. Out of the election, and out of the pandemic, can come that stronger, greener and fairer Wales. The job now is to set Wales on the path to recovery, and the Cabinet that I have set out this afternoon is ready to go to work to do just that. Llywydd, diolch yn fawr. Thank you very much.

National Audit Office (NAO)

The National Audit plays an important role in advising decision makers in Britain about concerns in the Government's decision making process. It is politically impartial and well respected. It can also inform citizens about its findings. I'm a big fan of its work.

Of course it will always upset some people. Governments can feel that it is always critical - which may not be a fair comment - but the role of the NAO is point out where things have gone wrong, or where the decision making process isn't as good as it could be. But that is the NAO's job - it provides information which MPs (and others) can use to hold decision makers to account.

Oppositions might also feel that the NAO could be more critical of Government. Again, this would be unfair - The NAO does the research - it the politicians whose job it is to draw conclusions about whether the Government is failing.

This week the NAO produced a paper called "Initial learning from the government's response to the COVID-19 Pandemic". It is informative - and gives links to specific NAO inquiries.

The Report is available here

Owain Glyndŵr

Over recent months I've read much, and learnt a lot about Owain Glyndŵr - part of an ongoing project to learn more about the fascinating history of Wales (From Neanderthal man [Pontnewydd & the Elwy Valley Caves] to the ongoing development of the Senedd). I've read a number of books - and watched some documentaries (and the toe-curling S4C film from the early 1980s). We even have a link to Glyndŵr's story close to my current home. The "baddie" of the story - Lord Grey of Ruthin - also held the Lordship of the Manor of Bletchley (which, along with the Lordship of Water Eaton, was the home of his ancestors).

We recently enjoyed a short holiday in Wales. I took the opportunity to visit (the first involving a detour from the direct route) both Sycharth and Glyndyfrdwy,

Sycharth is where Glyndŵr had his main residence (Llys - sometimes translated 'Palace' or 'castle'). it has been described by a contemporary poet (Iolo Goch) who visited it while Glyndŵr was in residence). It's grid reference is SJ 20674 25529. There is a car park by the site - the postcode for the carpark is SY10 9JZ.

There are a number of archaeological reports (which I had consulted before leaving home. See here)

On our way home from Barmouth, we stopped the car in Glyndyfrdwy, which is on the A5 (which of course links directly to Milton Keynes) Grid Reference - SJ 12526 43136 Postcode - LL21 9BG. This is the home he had in the Dee Vally, which is where his surname comes from. He was the Lord of Glyndyfrdwy. On this site, surrounded by friends and supporters, he claimed the title of Prince of Wales and began the rebellion again Henry IV.

Also during our stay we visited Harlech Castle - where Glyndŵr was based. from 104 until it was recaptured in 1409. He held the second Welsh Parliament there. ( I didn't go to the Owain Glyndŵr Centre in Machynlleth, as it was still closed - but it's on my 'to do list')

This is me, in front of the fireplace in the Great Hall - where the 2nd Parliament probably met.

There are a number of books about Glyndŵr and his history. R R Davies' book is the most detailed - but there are a number of other excellent books available.

Why I’m staying away

A Personal Note

I am a parish councillor in my local area within Milton Keynes. During the lockdown I was able to participate in meetings and represent my constituents, as we used « Teams » for online meetings. Members of the public could see us in action - and as we do in physical meetings, there was a part of the meeting at which residents could speak.

Although the pandemic is not over - the Government has moved to force councils to drop on-line meetings, and REQUIRE physical meetings. Any member of a council who doesn’t attend in person cannot participate in proceedings or represent their constituents. That would be fine (if not ideal) in ordinary times but in the middle of a pandemic that is appalling. Of course there are plenty of councillors who are themselves healthy, and who have no vulnerable family members, but there are some who do. The  Government has refused to listen to them, or the many councils across England who opposed this move. A court case was brought, but it ruled that the Government was entitled to do this, if it so wished.

I won’t be going to Council meetings for a while. I, and my constituents have been disenfranchised. My « bubble » is small - but includes close members of my family who are at greater risk because of existing conditions. I’d happily join an online meeting (well that’s not true - I don’t like Microsoft Teams - Zoom is easier & more comfortable to use - but I WILL attend), but that choice has been withdrawn. I’m not alone - and despite many pleas from councils and our colleagues - the Government has refused to wait until we are sure that this virus had been beaten.

Today sees a further easing of restrictions - and I’m pleased about this, but as we’ve seen over the last few days, a new variant threatens to derail progress - we may be back in lockdown soon. (Oh, and more people will die - less than previously, thanks to vaccination - but some, those who are most vulnerable, will die). However, parish, district & county councils can only meet physically now.

I finish with these words I read a few minutes ago in one of today’s newspapers -

« People should ignore Monday’s easing of lockdown in parts of the UK and avoid socialising indoors in pubs and restaurants to prevent the new Covid-19 variant first detected in India sparking a third wave of the disease, health experts say. »

But the Government won’t move on its decision to exclude some duly elected councillors from their council meetings. 

The Legislative Process at Westminster

 I am giving a brief outline of the legislative process on this week's PPS programme on "Spectrum on Air". There are a number of detailed guides available.

The Cabinet Office's "Guide to Making Legislation" is designed for civil servants who are likely to be involved in ensuring that their Department's bills can successfully navigate the path from ideas into Law.

It can be accessed here. 

Erskine May - the bible of procedure at Westminster - is available here