DAVID CAMERON has been accused of treating Wales as a ‘second class nation.’ The Prime Minister was warned of a ‘brewing constitutional crisis’ this week, unless significant amendments are made to the Draft Wales Bill.
Questioning David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (Jan 13) Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards said the draft Wales Bill contains provisions which would reverse key parts of the 2011 settlement – which was overwhelmingly endorsed in a referendum. Unless amended, Mr Edwards told the House of Commons, the National Assembly is likely to oppose the Bill during the Legislative Consent process, sparking a constitutional crisis. The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP said he would never support a Bill that gives the UK Government a veto over Welsh matters.
Mr Edwards said: “The Bill in its current form claws back powers from Wales, undermining the 2011 settlement overwhelmingly endorsed by the people of Wales in a referendum. The Draft Bill also undermines the recommendations of the cross-party Silk Commission and singles out Wales for a second class devolution settlement. “Plaid Cymru cannot support a Bill which gives the UK government the green light to veto Welsh matters; this demeans the spirit of the 2011 referendum when Wales voted to transfer primary law making powers from Westminster to Cardiff.
“Plaid Cymru will never accept Wales being treated like a second class nation. The next Government of Wales Bill should move Wales towards the same powers being made available to Scotland and Northern Ireland and shouldn’t include provisions which allows Westminster to veto decision by Welsh Government Ministers. “These veto and consent clauses do not apply in the case of Scotland and Northern Ireland, so why is the Prime Minister allowing them to apply to Wales?
“Unless significant amendments are made, Plaid Cymru will vote down the Bill in both Westminster and in the National Assembly. The votes of Plaid Cymru Assembly Members will be crucial during the Legislative Consent process where we could secure a majority vote against the Bill, sparking a constitutional crisis.”
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