Less than one week to go

We are less than one week away from the referendum on Assembly powers; just seven days away from people in Wales deciding whether or not our country should have a stronger voice.

This poll is crucial to the prospects of our country and there can be no room for complacency as we make one last push to convince voters that a ‘yes’ vote is a vote for common sense.

It is an argument that we are winning in the media, in public debates and through canvassing in the streets and over the phones. No campaigners have conducted a dirty tricks campaign based upon rubbishing the Welsh Assembly, its record and perpetuating myths about the implications of delivering a more accountable and democratic law-making system to the people of Wales. It is tantamount to saying that, here in Wales, we do not deserve the same legislative responsibility conferred to the people of Northern Ireland and Scotland because we are somehow inferior and need the approval of Westminster whenever we want to do something. This line of argument is insulting to peoples' intelligence.

Even for those who take a dim view of the Assembly’s performance, it should make sense to support moving to a system that would result in more accountablily. I am of the view that devolution has delivered many benefits, particularly for working people in Wales, but the referendum is not about these success stories. It is about process and whether the people of Wales want to stick with the expensive and convoluted status quo or move to a simpler, leaner and more efficient means of passing legislation.

In light of who has the keys to Number 10 Downing Street and who holds the purse strings at the Treasury, a strong Yes vote takes on even more importance. The stronger the Yes vote, the stronger is Wales's voice.

We have a chance to be waking up in a country with brighter prospects and a stronger voice by the end of next week. Let's hope the vote of confidence in the principle of devolution and in our country is a big one.

New Policing and Crime Bill in Mrs. Windsor's speech

I endorse Barnardo’s position on the recently announced Policing and Crime bill. They are campaigning on two key areas:

“To change sentencing thresholds so that only those 10 to 14 year old children convicted of ‘grave crimes’ or violent offences are locked up, and for greater investment in more timely support for children, young people and their families to address problems before they spiral out of control.”

“And to use these legislative opportunities to call for- a raising of the custody thresholds for under 15s; child protection to be a policing priority to further protect children from sex offenders."

A fairer and more effective justice system is needed urgently with the recession gaining momentum. We had warnings back in September of forthcoming higher crime levels as well as racial tensions, drug and alcohol problems and suicides which shows there's a real need for justice policies that help to prevent people from declining on a downward spiral, and which stop children growing up in crime-ridden environments. The UK government has missed yet another an opportunity to rise to such a challenge with this Policing and Crime Bill.

MPs trying to undermine devolution

Affordable housing has been a major problem for many years in Wales, which is why the One Wales Plaid-Labour government sees tackling the shortage as a priority. Our programme commits us to building 6,500 new affordable homes during the course of this Assembly term. In order to protect those houses in the long-term, the government is seeking the power through a Legislative Competence Order (LCO) to suspend the right of council tenants to buy their homes in areas where there is an acute shortage of housing. The aim of this policy is to keep more social housing available for people who need it, and to alleviate homelessness.

I chaired the Assembly Committee which scrutinised the proposed LCO. After our work was done, MPs in London then scrutinised it. This week we have heard the news that some Labour and Tory MPs on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee have gone against the spirit of devolution by blocking the progress of our LCO at Westminster. They are seeking to limit the LCO substantially. This exampel shows how inadequate the current situation is where all our law-making is subject to a veto at Westminster. I raised this in the Senedd yesterday with the Counsel-General, Carwyn Jones.

I said: "It is very sad that the LCO system isn’t working. This is not the way that was envisaged by the White Paper or by the guidance. It shows that it’s now time for a much more robust devolution settlement."

We need Welsh MPs to make their position clear on this. I have challenged my local MP Chris Bryant to make it clear whether he supports the Labour-Plaid administration's position in Cardiff, or the New Labour-Tory consensus on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee at Westminster. I'll let you know if I get a response.