I don’t think there will be a problem as you suggest above, and you make a big assumption about Labour only being in power in Wales after the next election.

There are some major issues just over the immediate horizon which require serious leadership, namely the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh and the Copenhagen conference on a new climate change deal.

At the G20 it is essential for the UK, and so for Wales, that the stimulus packages to pull the world out of the recession are not stopped prematurely. This is why Gordon Brown is right to warn of the dangers of choking off the recovery.

This, of course, is exactly why the course of action advocated by Cameron and Osborne, with their ideologically committed adherence to a significantly smaller state, is wrong and why the next election is still wide open.

With regard to the environment we can see that nurturing a low carbon economy, where innovations in renewable technologies can contribute to a lower carbon footprint, will also drive forward a demand for more knowledge and skills in green technology.

From where I am sitting, governments in both Westminster and Cardiff are strongly committed to facilitating this exciting new growth area. This is an industry where Wales can play a major role and so create the many jobs needed going forward.

Such an approach is eminently progressive and again I think you create a false dichotomy when you try to suggest that people in Welsh Labour have been apologising for what you refer to as the “uber Blairites”.

Labour is also a progressive party in Wales and as such will continue to provide the answers to the many challenges we face tomorrow by embracing an innovative, creative, inclusive and bold approach.

In a world growing ever more interconnected in terms of knowledge and capital transfers, we need to look outwards and think globally when seeking sustainable solutions which strengthen Wales socially and economically.

Adam H raised a fair point about federalising the Labour party, particularly given the direction of travel with devolution. It will be very interesting to see how this develops under the next leaders watch, particularly given Wales will be the only country with Labour in power.

The other issue is one of who wins the next UK Leadership – of course Jon Cruddas is a nice fit with many in Welsh Labour, but what if an uber blairite gets in? There a good many people in Welsh Labour who have spent 12 years apologising for the Blairites, particularly in their heartlands.

David, you are quite right to feel aggrieved by the ‘Brit Nat’ comment. It is unsubstantiated, and please accept our apologies for allowing it to be posted in the first place.

We will soon be publishing guidelines for comments. WalesHome.org is a forum where ideas can be published and discussed – in a civilised fashion. If allegations can’t be proven, they won’t be published – simple as that. And if an argument can’t be made without resorting to unproven claims, it isn’t much of an argument.

Apart from the trouble such allegations have caused on other sites, inaccuracy is simply not the standard we are striving to set here. As a consequence, we will no longer tolerate it. We reserve the right to edit any post as we see fit, although this will usually only be done for the reasons I’ve outlined here.

If you want to discuss this with me privately, my personal email is duncan@black-briar.com.

The issues are not and will not be language and constitutional policy, by which I mean largely the matter of the referendum, but as I have said above, it is how we equip the UK to steer a course of recovery after the global economic crisis.

This requires an approach which addresses both stability and sustainability in the public finances as well as strengthening our human and social capital base so that we can create quality jobs, while also meeting the challenges of the future low carbon economy.

The science, engineering and technology base in the UK is an ongoing challenge for us and we really don’t want to be diverted by minor policy matters which cannot help Wales face the fierce winds of global competition.

And so I don’t want to enter the pointless debate with you, Efrogwr, about the issues you devoted so much column space to above, as this is not where Wales will succeed in a new global era. We look out to the world, not inward. We are stronger when we see what we share in common with the world, and not by accentuating how we are different, for its own sake.

It’s sufficient to say that Wales will be successful in the new global order as part of a reinvigorated and stable UK economy, in a society which places a high premium on knowledge acquisition, continuous skills training, creativity and innovation in design.

We can be UK and globally focused while also encouraging empowerment of people in our local communities. The future is internationalist and outward looking, reaching out and building bridges with others in a global “commonwealth”.

Somehow, Plaid Cymru and, now, the Welsh language have been dragged into it. However, I suppose that Plaid could indeed end up having a bearing on the redevelopment of the Labour party through its coalition in the Assembly – go and debate that!

In the meantime, can I use this opportunity to drag the debate back to the feature? Many thanks.

It is correct that I see co-operative solutions as playing a key role in addressing the several and varied challenges we face not just in Wales but right across the UK.

Frankly, the challenges we now face are of such magnitude that I find this tendency to debate the problems in terms of a left-right dichotomy, “old Labour central” or Plaid whatever, is muddle headed and unhelpful in the extreme.

Let’s address the need to nurture a climate in which social and business entrepreneurs can thrive and so drive the UK up the league table of creativity and innovation.

Financier hits the nail on the head with their post about Plaid’s ideas on taxes and language policy which will make entrepreneurs think twice about bending their backs into trying to to create jobs in Wales.

The most valuable asset in Wales is not water or our beaches but the people. Let’s hear from the people what their ideas are about how they want to improve the quality of their local environment, create businesses which harness resources in a sustainable way and build a more solid inter-generational compact.

Empowering the people in their communities at the same time as meeting the challenges of inter-generational public goods such as the environment is an objective which can be achieved through co-operative solutions right across Britain in the years to come.

Against a backdrop of significant challenges in adjusting the public finances back onto a more sustainable track after the global economic crisis, the solution requires a significantly greater input from civil society as it supports the state in the very difficult transition ahead.

For instance, Plaid’s policy of income tax of 50% on incomes over £50, 000 – see their web-site. This will hardly encourage entrepreneurs in Wales.

Also the sheer waste of EU and public finance, most of which is wasted on bureaucracy. For instance a 1.75m Euro INTERREG project on networking SMEs between West Wales and SE Eire, most of which will be spent on the costs of academics, many of whom have never run a business.

Also the prioriy of bilingualism and its huge costs over the crying need for economic development and good education.

Where is the vision of Welsh politicians?

I am not here defending anyone particularly – but it is hardly a revelation to support some of one persons ideas but no his others. Adam Price quotes Aneurin Bevan no end, but we all know Bevan’s views on nationalism. Your logic is weak on this issue IMHO. Raymond Williams joined Plaid later in his life (I think?). It is fair cop for someone to promote an idea from someone who might have other ideas you are against – I am sure you supported Peter Hain’s position against apartheid, Bevan’s view on the NHS – that doesn’t mean you agree with all their ideas surely?

“I don’t see any evidence whatsoever that Huw is more progressive than Carwyn. Many people are concerned that Huw Lewis is portrayed as a more tribal and territorial politician than Carwyn, and they therefore feel that Huw would not be as effective a leader in the more diverse political world we now have.”

But that is not the point you made, you originally argued that Huw Lewis was not of the left, that his credentials were not left wing. You offered no comparison to Carwyn or anyone else. You are leveling other accusations now. Measuring someone’s left wing credentials to a liking or disliking for Plaid seems silly – Tony Benn and Nye Bevan would probably not be left wing under your judgment from on high. Come on mate, think on.

I actually think you may have a point about Labour (inc. Huw) being rather unwilling to be candid about further devolution (which I think is generally seen as a given in large parts of Welsh Labour) is a good one, but your reasoning seems too afflicted by trying to smash a nut with a sledgehammer.

Perhaps you do not realise then that there is alot of confusion amongst the Welsh devolution movement about Huw Lewis’ position on further powers. Trust me! A clarification or commitment would go down very well.

I don’t see any evidence whatsoever that Huw is more progressive than Carwyn. Many people are concerned that Huw Lewis is portrayed as a more tribal and territorial politician than Carwyn, and they therefore feel that Huw would not be as effective a leader in the more diverse political world we now have.

If Huw Lewis believes he has the solutions to Wales’ problems, particularly co-operative and mutual solutions then he should make it clear that these can only be delivered in a partnership with other actors.

David Phillips highlights these- they are essentially a departure from ‘Old Labour’ centralism and a move towards the Robert Owen/Raymond Williams tradition of decentralist socialism, which is in fact Plaid Cymru’s ideology.

With this in mind, the reason I am sceptical about Huw Lewis’ left credentials are because he is virulently anti-Plaid, and Plaid is the one party that has never abandoned the co-ops and the mutuals (the housing society Tai Gwynedd for example run by Plaid members). If Huw is conjuring ghosts of Gwyn Alf and Raymond then he needs to realise that those guys also wanted independence!