MPs to become Welsh Government ministers?

A RECENT suggestion that MPs could serve as Welsh Government ministers was not well-received by the political establishment in Wales. The idea was put forward by the Wales Director of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Martin Warren in a BBC interview. Mr Warren claimed that this would ease the ‘growing burden’ on politicians in the Senedd as a result of increasing devolution of powers, which could lead to another 20 AMs. “As we have 40 MPs who are elected representatives to Westminster, and as their roles are diminishing, then why not utilize those MPs in the Welsh Government?” he asked.

I think the relationship between the Welsh Government and Westminster would improve, those MPs can get involved and bring greater talents and more opportunity.” Mr Warren suggested that Peers serving in the UK Government cabinet had ‘set the precedent’. However, the duties of an MP may be considered to be more arduous that those of a peer. Another idea put forward was the creation of a non-political body of professionals who could advise on and scrutinise policy. “Wales is a small country with limited resources and making best use of those resources within a democratic framework to achieve for Wales must surely be an objective that crosses all political borders,” Mr Warren added. His ideas were condemned by almost all political parties.

Lib Dem Peter Black suggested that MPs would not be able to do either job properly, while Plaid Cymru’s former presiding officer, and a man with representative experience at all levels Lord Elis Thomas said that it was a ‘completely anti-democratic idea.’ “The notion that people could come down to Cardiff, turn up and be ministers without having been elected takes us back to a pre-democratic period, and certainly before the assembly was in existence,” he said in an interview with BBC Radio Cymru. “If anyone is suggesting something like this, we’d need to have a referendum immediately.”

A Welsh government spokesman said: “Ministers are selected from the membership of the democratically elected National Assembly and we see no need to change this.” However, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies seemed to think the idea worthy of consideration: “After 17 years of the same old, tired ideas in a Labour-run Wales, our country needs a change,” he said.“May’s election is the chance to choose the Welsh Conservatives and secure new ministers, fresh ideas and a brighter future.” Whether or not this would include the active involvement of any of Wales’ 11 Conservative MPs in the Welsh Government was not clear.