LABOUR proposals for a Welsh Assembly have moved to the centrestage of Weish politics following an agreement among Weish Labour MPs that there will be no further discussion on the powers of an Assembly before the next election.
This has attracted intense media attention and accusations that Labour's current policy is an unworkable fudge.
These developments can be traced back to last ycar s weish Labour Party Conference, which adopted a policy document on an Assembly 'Shaping the Vision".
This proposed a body with no law making or tax raising powers, elected by the first-past-the-post system. No provision was made for the equal rep.
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Name.. Address Post Code Telephone Presentation of women This is in stark contrast to Labour's proposais for a scotisn Parameet, with legislative and taxation powers. elected by the additional member system and with 50 per cent of the seate held by women. The document led to widespread dissatisfaction within the Weish Labour Party and the formation of Weish Labour Action (WLA). WLA aimed to strengthen the powers of an Assembly in line with those of the Scottish parliament. At the same time. Ron Davies. MP for Caerffili and Shadow Welsh Secretary, let it be known that he favoured electing the Assembly using PR. Alhough never associated with the left. Ron Davies is seen by many as an antidote to the worst excesses of Blairism. However, at no time did he conduct ocialist Outlook is Britain's best-selling socialist fort. class perspective on world affairs, subscribe today! look Fund', PO Box 1109, London, N4 2UU. Please add a sum an open fight within the Party, concentrating instead on pressure from within the executive. The weakness of Davies" approach is now clear. A meeting of seven Weish Labour MPs was convened in response to his attempts threatening an all-out fight.
Most involved were opposed in principle to any kind of Assembly, while a few were roped in on the basis of oppo. sition to PR. To his discredit Liew Smith, the only Campaign Group MP in Wales, was involved. He has consistently opposed a Weish Assembly.
His current stance plumbed new lows, arguing that the debate could not be re-opened because Blair had in. structed the last Welsh Conference to unite behind current policy! He went on to explain that people could not pick and choose which parts of the policy they liked. Ron Davies' response has OCIOlIS discussion of the Assembly in May's It is now more important than ever that Welsh Labour Action maintains its stance of opposition to the current pol. icy and pusnes the ocoie to the Bood of Wales' Labour Party conference. It is also vital that we continue the task of taking the debate into the Weish labour movement and building a network of supporters.
We must also reach outward to those in Wales outside the Labour Party who are campaiening for an Assembly and to socialists in Scotland. whose debates and experiences are more developed.
While it is only the Labour Party which can deliver anAssembly for Wales, the current proposals fall far