MISSING IN INACTION

Once again the Labour Party has failed to stand up to protect our country’s natural resources from exploitation by Westminster. Labour Party MP’s put party interest before our national interests by abstaining on a key vote to devolve full control over Welsh water to the National Assembly – even though their own Government in Cardiff wants this to happen. The vote on Plaid Cymru's amendment followed a Commons debate on the final stages of the Water Bill - every single Labour MP from Wales was absent. Ironically the Labour in Wales Government in evidence to the Silk Commission noted that it wants to see the National Assembly gain full control over all matters relating to Welsh water. So much for joined up thinking and so much for standing up for Wales! 

Hywel Williams MP speaking after the debate said:

"This is an embarrassing episode for the First Minister and his Labour Welsh Government who, once again, have been let down by Labour MPs from Wales.

"Just as in the case of devolving energy projects up to 100 MW and devolving Air Passenger Duty to Wales, the First Minister says one thing in Cardiff while his London colleagues seem intent on undermining his every word.

"Water has been an emotive, emblematic and defining political matter in Wales. It is just one aspect of our nation's wealth of natural resources but our people are unable to benefit from its use due to the UK Government holding the power of veto over all matters relating to Welsh water.

"Had Plaid Cymru's amendment been carried, we would have seen control over Welsh water transferred from Westminster to the National Assembly, ensuring that any wealth generated from its extraction and export would benefit our nation.

"It is disappointing to see the Labour party in Wales yet again conform to the cosy Westminster consensus rather than put the interests of the Welsh economy and people first."

SLEEPING IN THE ARMCHAIR FOR WALES

To be honest, it did shock me, even though it shouldn't – just to clarify I am not talking about Newport County's away win against Gateshead (and the much needed three points). I am talking about the news that the Con Dem Government teamed up with the party formerly known as New Labour to arguing against using European funding to electrify the Great Western Line to Swansea.

The potential new funds are part of the Connecting Europe Facility which is a 50 billion Euro scheme rolled out by the European Commission (at the end of last year) which includes some 10 billion Euro's which are specifically ring-fenced funding for transport schemes in Cohesion Fund areas such as West Wales and the Valleys. To be honest this is long overdue and would actually mean if implemented properly that people would see something physical on the ground as a result of the commitment of EU funding.

The funding aims to make improvements to trans-national links between EU member states in the next European budget period from 2014 to 2020. The EU Commission report makes specific recommends in relation to transport schemes in what are termed ‘Core Corridors'. The reason why this should interest us here in Wales is that , Corridor 8 shows links between the Republic of Ireland, the UK, France and Belgium, with upgrading of the Great Western Main Line from Swansea through Cardiff and Bristol to London one of their recommendations as a pre-identified project.

Bonus you would think – something useful that will bring actual benefits to transport links within part of Wales. Apparently not, the Conservative-Liberal Democrat UK Government and the Labour opposition both argued against this European funding in a debate last Thursday and as we are aware the Con-Dem government have entirely refused to electrify the railway line beyond Cardiff.

By now it should be pretty clear by now that none of the London based parties have any concept of the Welsh national interest. Welsh and British national interests have now diverged, whatever the British national interest its not even wildly related to our national interests. Our country would get a far better deal when it comes infrastructure funding as an independent country inside the EU than we do as part of the UK.

Rather than arguing against EU funding for Wales, the UK Westminster Government should be prioritising efforts to tap into this funding to electrify the railway line to Swansea and to the West Wales coast and including Milford Haven port as a core link for trade between the Republic of Ireland, Wales and the European mainland. Clearly as far as the London based Parties are concerned there are no Welsh priorities, something that can also be said for the Labour Government in Cardiff, who appear to be busy sleeping in the armchair for Wales.