20.2.08

MARTYN JONES MP CRITICISES HOPELESS CONSERVATIVE INDECISION ON DEVOLVED ISSUES

This week Ken Clarke indicated further Conservative indecision on the West-Lothian Question when he came out firmly in opposition to a proposal of an All-English Grand Committee in Westminster. This proposal was the presumed Conservative policy on the matter backed by Senior MP Sir Malcolm Rifkind. Mr Clarke voiced his opposition to this Conservative strategy whilst giving evidence to the House of Commons Justice Committee.

Mr Jones, MP for Clwyd South, stated:

“This is further evidence that the Conservative Party have no idea how to deal with questions of devolved governance. It’s no surprise to those of us who lived through Thatcherite oppression of Scottish and Welsh issues. Tragically this party that claims to be ready for government are still just the same old Tories. They are woefully inept at handling affairs relating to Scotland, Wales and the reciprocal questions these produce in England.

Someone in his party should ask David Cameron where he stands on progress for devolution in Wales, in Scotland and what is his answer for the English question? I guarantee he doesn’t have one.

At the moment he is wholly reliant on people like Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Ken Clarke coming up with multiple policies so that people conclude that somewhere amongst the hogde-podge lies a coherent plan. Governance doesn’t work like that.

What lies beneath the jumble of ideas is utter indifference. It’s hard to produce policies for UK regions when you are wholeheartedly concerned with the South-West of England. Any Cameron administration would have one firm policy on devolved regions – another term of neglect and electoral contempt. And Wales, Scotland and the North of England have had more than enough of that from Tory administrations of the past.