Lib Dem 2 – the latest

Assembly members will get the chance to vote on whether or not to reinstate the two disqualified Liberal Democrat AMs on June 29th. That’s the date when two motions – one relating to Aled Roberts and one to John Dixon – have been tabled to be discussed. The date is the latest possible under the [...]

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Calman-style II

Now that the Welsh election and the powers referendum are behind us, thoughts are turning to what change is next for Wales. Top of the list (for some) will be the much-anticipated ‘Calman-style process.’ Much-anticipated, that is, by  UK Government ministers ,  Conservatives and Liberal Democrat AMs but not much-anticipated by those in Labour and [...]

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Election 2011 – Where now?

The dust is beginning to settle, the politicians are rested and refreshed and this is the week in which decisions will be taken which will have long-term consequences for Welsh politics. I expect to see some movement by the end of Monday from Carwyn Jones about how he intends to deal the hand he’s been [...]

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Assembly negotiations…

Politics is all about behind-the-scenes negotiations but when I arrived at the Assembly this morning, I wondered if I’d stumbled across the secret room where these negotiations take place? Perhaps the parties are already holding talks about possible coalition formations after the May 5th Assembly election? Perhaps it’s a new room designed to be somewhere [...]

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AMs’ salaries

The Independent Remuneration Board has set out the new system of pay and allowances for Assembly members elected in May. The headlines are below. Reaction to follow. AMs’ salary to be fixed at £53,852 for four years from May (Confirms what we already knew – AMs themselves agreed to this move back in November) Top-up salaries for [...]

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Calman style

There was much talk at the Welsh Liberal Democrat conference and the Conservative Spring Forum at the weekend about the ‘Calman-style process’ that the UK coalition government promised would follow a Yes vote in the powers referendum. Now that there’s been a Yes vote, leading Westminster politicians including Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Cheryl Gillan, [...]

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Cameron’s Welsh Questions

Remember back last May when, during the General Election campaign, David Cameron promised to make himself available at least once a year to be questioned by Assembly members? After he became Prime Minister, he said the plan was part of a ‘respect agenda‘ that he wanted to develop between London and Cardiff Bay. He also [...]

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Assembly’s Christmas tree arrives

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Lords ruling could mean end to AV vote/Welsh election clash

Last night the House of Lords held a vote which could mean that next year’s referendum on voting reform for Westminster elections might not take place on the same day as the Assembly election after all. Details here, here and here. The upshot is the legislation now allows the AV vote to be held any [...]

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Talking whose language?

I gather negotiations are taking place tonight to try to head off a potential embarrassing disagreement in the Assembly chamber for Plaid Cymru tomorrow as one of the party’s longest awaited moments arrives. AMs are voting on the Welsh Language measure which would impose new obligations on public bodies, big companies, utility suppliers and train [...]

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