Enjoy the puppet show while it lasts
Bubble — By Royston Jones on March 5, 2010 7:00 am
Faisal I of Iraq, installed as vassal King by the British in 1921 to save them the bother of governing directly
DEVOLUTION has failed Wales. This is partly due to the fact that our Assembly Members are the most insipid and uninspiring bunch of politicians I have ever encountered. They seem (when sober) a colourless bunch, quite content to drift along apparently unconcerned that Wales becomes poorer in comparison with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Vast amounts of money are spent on prestige projects in Cardiff while areas 20 miles away sink to third world levels. The housing market clears our rural areas of their Welsh population. Tourism is seriously promoted as the economic salvation of the country. Our Assembly Members expect us to believe that they believe wind turbines are a sensible way of guaranteeing electricity supplies, while those areas that in 1997 brought the Assembly into being – and despite being on their second dose of Objective One funding – are still the poorest parts of the country, and getting poorer. Are they still being punished for voting Yes?
It is an inescapable conclusion that devolution has not merely failed to improve conditions in Wales – it has actually made things worse. But our AMs are just one part of the problem. It wouldn’t really matter if they were determined to make Wales better. The system wouldn’t allow it. How so?
The Romans used this system. So did the French and the British in their imperial heydays. The Soviets were quite good at it. Even the South African apartheid regime had a crack at it with their bantustans. In fact, through the ages countless imperialist powers have done it. What am I talking about? Well, I suppose it is a system that can best be described as disguised colonialism.
It works like this. Colonial powers, hoping to appear less colonialist (and therefore less distant, hostile or uncaring) to the peoples of their colonies will often create or endorse a local political or administrative elite to give the impression that the indigenes have control over the running of their territory.
One advantage of having such a system – for the colonial power – is that when things go wrong the benighted locals aren’t sure who to blame. A further advantage is that colonial elites that are not bought off in this manner might get up to mischief, stirring up their compatriots and demanding real power.
So we see that this ancient and proven system has obvious benefits for colonial powers, but there are also benefits for the local elite, which enjoys prestige, power (within limits), and is often allowed to fill its collective boots as long as its members aren’t too greedy or too obvious.
Despite their manifest and manifold failings, not for one minute would anyone suggest that our Assembly Members can be compared to self-serving chiefs in Bophuthatswana or communist party apparatchiks in East Germany. Nevertheless, the bulk of the Welsh population is becoming increasingly disillusioned with and distanced from this unrepresentative elite.
So that is the AMs. But, in talking of a colonial elite, our AMs are but the tip of an iceberg. There are countless and increasing thousands who either answer to, serve, or rely for funding and patronage upon, our Assembly. A vast and growing army that, basically, runs Wales within the powers devolved. Now it stands to reason that if the referendum on increased powers for the Assembly returns a Yes vote then the ranks of this army of devolution will swell.
After a Yes vote, and no longer being able to use the ‘tools to do the job’ argument, our AMs and the hosts around them will be expected to deliver (for only a minority of AMs argue for greater powers or independence). A majority of AMs has convinced itself – and will shortly seek to persuade us – that the powers on offer (or the ‘tidying up exercise’) will be enough for them to deliver us into a land of milk and honey. Don’t kid yourself.
Wales needs strong indigenous business, commercial and financial sectors if she is to prosper. The socialist majority in the Assembly, made up in the main of people who have rarely worked outside of politics, are unlikely to deliver this. Many of them are ideologically unsympathetic to business. Few AMs want the Assembly to have tax-raising powers. Thorny issues such as fair payment for Welsh water exports will be avoided even by Plaid Cymru. The rural housing crisis will remain because to tackle it will, inevitably, disadvantage many thousands of English people, and this will irk the London paymasters and, worse, stir the English tabloids.
What passes for economics comprises of AMs constantly complaining about the unfairness of the Barnett formula, or whatever financial arrangement might succeed Barnett. It says a lot for devolved Wales and the ambition of our colonial elite that revising the Barnett formula seems the only way they can think of for making Wales more prosperous.
All of which combines to give us a body, a system, a collection of people, that wants the prestige and appearance of power but without the responsibility of funding, one lacks the courage to challenge London on anything outside the Assembly’s remit, however beneficial the acquisition of such powers might be for Wales. A true colonial elite, but one perhaps living on borrowed time, especially if we have the anticipated Yes vote in the upcoming referendum.
Increased devolution such as we are promised will not improve conditions in Wales to any marked degree. Because to do so needs not bus passes or free prescriptions, but vast amounts of hard cash and investment. Money that London will not provide and Cardiff cannot raise. Yet neither our masters in London nor our local elite in Cardiff wish to implement measures that might allow Wales to generate its own wealth. At this point, having raised expectations further yet being unable to deliver, devolution is finally exposed for the sham it always was.
We shall then be left with two options; either we return to the status quo ante devolution or we reject the lie of devolution, lay aside the puppets of our colonial elite, and move on to independence. Either way, devolution will be dead.
Tags: Assembly, constitutional reform, devolution
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19 Comments
I wouldn’t consider our AMs as ‘the elite’ (although they’re doing a good job generally!).
That being said, you’re right. Devolution is just giving us the semblance of autonomy, while still having the strings pulled from London. As long as people like Hain et al have an unhealthy influence in Wales it will continue to be the case.
Case in point: planning in Wales is “devolved”. Great, you’d think. We can forge ahead with our green economy, our windfarms and barrages… except, not really, that would be too much to ask for. London has set up a new, unaccountable quango, called the “Infrastructure Planning Commission”. This basically gives London the right to dictate, overrule, and control, things like: nuclear power stations in Wales, Windfarms in Wales, Tidal projects….
So yeah, the “Lords” giveth and the “Lords” taketh away, while we celebrate our freedom, oblivious.
(petition here if you feel like signing it, for all the good it will do:)
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/PlanningQuango/
So I agree, the Senedd is like a toddler playpen – it gives us the illusion of freedom, but within sturdily crafted bars.
However, saying that, I think it is VERY important to have it, at least for the Welsh psyche. So while it IS constrained and we are oblivious to backroom machinations, it gives us that sense, that taste, of what it is like to do things for ourselves. And as all opinion polls recently suggest, that is working. And the call for greater autonomy will only grow and grow with each generation., until independence is the natural outcome. In the meantime we have to work, all of us, to ensure Wales functions as a successful country.
yes money making racket while doing sod all.
“Wales needs strong indigenous business, commercial and financial sectors if she is to prosper.”
How very true, but which poliical party has the policies in place to bring this into effect? Having read their available literature, neither Plaid nor Labour to date.
Royston Jones,
While I share your end goal of independence, I do not agree with your assessment of devolution. The truth is, Wales has the settlement it has because the people of Wales voted the way that they did. “Our side” needs to do a better job illustrating the benefits that come with independence so that the Welsh people may vote favourably on that when the time comes. I view devolution as a step towards independence, though I may be frustrated with the piecemeal process.
In the mean time, Wales needs to be governed- and with the fractured landscape of politics, coalitions are the name of the game. Moreover, there is nothing wrong with coalitions. The Netherlands political processes encourages their formation more often then not, and the Netherlands is one of the best ran counties in Europe! However, I am sorry that the current class of politicians in the Assembly and administration does not inspire you.
I disagree; I believe that Ieuan Wynn Jones has demonstrated that he is a strategic planner in joining a coalition government. His leadership has added to the résumé of Plaid Cymru, and I believe that the Welsh electorate will reward Plaid with more votes in the forthcoming election cycles as a result.
As to the economy, until Wales can generate tax revenue on its own, I doubt that any Welsh government can formulate an economic strategy of much substance. What does taxes have to do with attracting businesses? Well, a Welsh administration could offer significant tax incentives for businesses located in Wales rather then elsewhere. Manufacturing companies would establish or maintain their businesses in Wales rather then England if tax rates were more favorable in Wales. This is in part how Denmark is able to compete with economic powerhouse Germany. The Welsh government would need to invest in infrastructure such as roads, rail, and ports, to assure that those businesses could then transport their goods into England and the continent with ease.
While bombastic rhetoric has its place motivating a certain kind of audience, I do not think the vast majority of the electorate will appreciate some of the language that comes with it.
Re: Infrastructure Planning Commission
I believe that this group’s reach should end at the border! Planning is a devolved matter and the Welsh Government should fight this breach in authority. Wales does need to set up a Wales version of the Tennessee Valley Authority, which is a semi private-public company that oversees energy generation. A WEA (Welsh Energy Agency) could invest in energy generation such as hydro electric, nuclear, barrages, ECT. Excess energy could be sold for profit to the international electric grid, which would lower the average electric bill for the Welsh consumer. Additionally, the Welsh government could use discounted electric bills to attract companies into Wales as well!
I usually read WalesHome on my morning jaunt between Child-School, Work-Parking and Cwmbran-meetings, so I glance at a few sentences whilst waiting for Red lights to change.
And so it was today, until I’d got half way through this piece and had to pull into a Bus Stop to read it all.
Marvellous wonderful madness. More please.
The Infrastructure Planning Commission is just the latest nationalist bogeyman. It’s there to decide on developments of importance to the whole of the UK so of course it’s right that the UK authorities should be in the lead on it.
The nats don’t care about a lack of accountability. They’re all in favour of unaccountable Welsh quangos – just not London ones.
Interesting article, Royston. Don’t agree with much of it, but it’s a damn fine piece written out of conviction.
Is “Infrastructure Planning Committee bad” the buzz message for Plaid Cymru today? Don’t tell me you’ve only just noticed it exists…
dunno, I’m not a member of Plaid… :/
A passionate piece for sure.
Might I put forward the view, that a softening of the hardline nationalist rhetoric (at least in terms of how it is presented) and a move towards the progressive centre left has been the reason Plaid have moved from a pressure group to a leading political party in Wales? One which gets 1000 votes in every constituency?
Sorry, Al. Plaid tweeters are full of IPC today, so I just assumed.
Re: Dai R: “It’s there to decide on developments of importance to the whole of the UK so of course its right that the UK authorities should be in the lead on it.
The nats don’t care about a lack of accountability. They’re all in favour of unaccountable Welsh quangos – just not London ones.”
Of course, this was the line take by the authorities who decided to flood Capel Celyn displacing its residents to provide cheap electricity for Liverpool just a generation ago, despite universal Welsh opposition. If this is an example on how any London based organisation reaches decisions- what’s best for the UK (translation: England)- then Wales would do better without them.
Issues such as land use and the exploitation of resources within Wales should be a devolved issue. If coordination between Wales and England is warranted, it should be under the oversight and accountability of the elected Welsh Assembly.
Darren, an FYI: I’m not a memember of Plaid either
Nice to see a genuinely radical piece and a non-Plaid nationalist piece, but though i’m sympathetic to the tone there’s a few parts where I think Royston Jones’ argument falls down.
Although under devolution Wales “(has become) poorer in comparison with England, Scotland and Northern Ireland”, it’s important to remember that Welsh GVA has still been increasing under devolution, and only stopped increasing when the UK economy went into recession. It’s true that other parts of the UK have been increasing at a faster rate, and as a nationalist i’d be the first to argue that the British economy does not serve our needs, but to suggest that Wales is in some kind of decline is misleading. Judging ourselves by our own standards rather than trying to compete with one of Europe’s leading financial powerhouses would be fairer under the devolution era. As far as I can see, Wales would have to be completely fiscally independent before we could truly compete with neighbouring economies.
“Vast amounts of money are spent on prestige projects in Cardiff while areas 20 miles away sink to third world levels”
Not true, obviously, but taking it as an emotive rather than factual comment, the Assembly (not necessarily the Government) does seem to be doing a good job of gaining credibility across all of Wales. In the most recent poll the North Wales NHS Region registered the highest levels of support for devolution and indeed further devolution.
“Nevertheless, the bulk of the Welsh population is becoming increasingly disillusioned with and distanced from this unrepresentative elite.”
This is wrong. The same poll I just cited expresses increased support for this ‘distanced elite’, especially in parts of Wales distant from Cardiff. A Hansard study for Parliament also finds that Welsh people see their AMs as being more trustworthy than their MPs, and that only 18% of Welsh people trust their MPs compared to a UK average of around 30%- a fact explained by devolution, when you consider the Scottish percentages being similar.
Further, anecdotal evidence suggests that the most active and engaged parts of Welsh population increasingly do not view the Assembly Members as an elite in any form. But even sticking to the recorded evidence, we can see that the Assembly is becoming more, not less popular.
People even want more than what is an offer! They don’t want Part 4 they want a Scottish style Parliament, if opinion polls are to be believed!
“After a Yes vote, and no longer being able to use the ‘tools to do the job’ argument, our AMs and the hosts around them will be expected to deliver (for only a minority of AMs argue for greater powers or independence). A majority of AMs has convinced itself – and will shortly seek to persuade us – that the powers on offer (or the ‘tidying up exercise’) will be enough for them to deliver us into a land of milk and honey. Don’t kid yourself.”
Public opinion seeks a Scottish-style Parliament and i’d expect Plaid to continue to press for that after the next stage. What you say is true for the other parties but Plaid Cymru is certainly not arguing that the Part 4 powers will be enough for anything.
I agree with much of the colonial analysis, and economically and politically Wales does seem to resemble an aid-dependent post-colonial state, and I also agree with the need for independence. But I don’t see the Assembly as an obstacle, and I certainly don’t see how you could get independence without going through the popularly consented and democratic devolution process.
I have alot of time for this radical, far-out nationalism and the passion it commands. Plaid is sometimes, through mainstream politics, in danger of losing that radicalism and passion. But as much as the emotional brain is crucial, people should have facts to back up their arguments. That’s what separates the True Waleses from the adults.
I will say this is one of the most entertaining reads on Wales Home for some time!
“I will say this is one of the most entertaining reads on Wales Home for some time!”
based on the hit rate for the last two months and the fact that 2 out of the 6 most commented pieces ever have been published this week then I think “some time” is bit unfair
An interesting article with a few “nationalist cliches”, and one or two truths. In particular I have to agree that no-one in the assembly seems to have any idea at all about economic development and how independence / devolution (or return to old status quo) ties in with it.
I was particularly disappointed with the (stalled?) “GallCymru / WalesCan” website and campaign for independence by 2020. It appeared to be very good on “nationalist cliches” but very short on any kind of ideas.
The widely quoted £9bn annual fiscal deficit offers an ideal target for Plaid. “We want independence” they should be saying, “so during the next 10 years, we aim to develop our economy in this way and that to ensure that we have the neccesary infrastructure and basis to cope.” Who could argue with a single minded desire to see Wales prosperous however it affected other UK countries. Instead we get the occasional mention of how Thatcher and her successors (yes, I include Mr Bler in that as well) have ruined Wales, and there’s nothing we can do but start again, umm, sometime soon when we get more powers / more powers again / independence etc.
Then again, each assembly seems to improve slightly on the previous one, so maybe I will vote yes to more powers in 2025 or so, and my grandchildren might even have a stab at independence…
M Wynn Thomas once called RS Thomas “such a troubler of the Welsh conscience”. I was reminded of this when I read this piece.
I’ve dealt with Roston a number of times over the past 15 years. He once reported back every word of a telephone conversation we had in a pamphlet after calling me as news editor on the Western Mail to complain about ‘Harry Wales’ cheering for England during the Rugby World Cup. I – foolishly, with the benefit of hindsight – told him that I didn’t think it was important.
But each time I spoke with Royston, I was troubled afterwards, because there was always more than a nugget of sense – and truth – in what he said, even if it was relatively easy to dismiss him because of the forceful way he presented his arguments. And with what he says here, while you may disagree with some of the things he’s said (and I’m not saying what I disagree with), his remains an important voice and a welcome one back in the debate at this crucial time, as we move towards part four.
What are we doing this for? What does it give us? Where should we be aiming? These are all important questions he raises, and I believe – very strongly indeed – that we must not have the debate on further powers curtailed or controlled in any way.
Da iawn, Royston, and diolch. Come back and write for us again soon.
I agree with Duncan and Illtyd. I believe your voice offers an important perspective to the dialog of Wales, and in the best of radical traditions. Please take up Duncan’s invitation and further contribute articles to the WalesHome collection – it is richer for it!
Devolution has guaranteed that England will never receive more funding per capita than any other country in the UK.
Even this is not enough. England is to be replaced by regions in order for Scotland and Wales to be compared to various regions in terms of spending.
Scotland is already being compared to London.
The fact that the English do not want regions is suppressed.
The Devolution Act 1998 made provision for Scottish regions, but they are never even considered.
The best solution is for each nation to be independent.
Hi Royston,
Good to read your rant. It hurts to read the truth sometimes.
Independence for Wales would be so easy to accomplish if the Welsh would just wake up from their 600 year political slumber.
Is that asking too much? Perhaps…
Oh yes, and the Welsh Sennedd should be situated in Aberystwyth. That’s not an anti-Cardiff bias. I’m Cardiff born. But we need a government to unite Wales as a whole – not just on London’s M4 leash.
Best regards,
Simon