Devolution not a disaster says Welsh Tory leader amid row over PM
Devolution #Devolution
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]]> Continuous Labour-run governments have “been a disaster” for Wales but not devolution itself, according to the Conservative leader of in the Senedd.
Paul Davies’ comments follow reports Boris Johnson told Tory MPs that devolution was
]]> ex-Labour prime minister Tony Blair’s “biggest mistake”.
Mr Davies said Welsh ministers have “been obsessed with arguing about more powers” rather than public services.
Welsh Labour said it would “always stand up for Wales and for devolution”.
On Twitter, it said “you can’t trust the Tories”, adding: “Labour created devolution to rebalance power across the UK, away from Whitehall and closer to communities in Wales.”
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Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said that calling the devolved governments “a disaster in the middle of this pandemic is a bit like Donald Trump accusing Joe Biden of being a danger to democracy.”
He added: “Our “biggest mistake” is not leaving the Union sooner so we’re saddled with you as PM – for now, but not for long.”
The prime minister was in a Zoom meeting on Monday night with Conservative MPs representing dozens of seats in northern England when he is said to have made the remarks.
The Sun website reported Mr Johnson had told the MPs “devolution has been a disaster” in Scotland.
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image captionPaul Davies: “The people of Wales deserve better”
In response, a Downing Street source said: “The PM has always supported devolution, but Tony Blair failed to foresee the rise of separatists in Scotland.
“Devolution is great – but not when it’s used by separatists and nationalists to break up the UK.”
Following a narrow victory in a referendum in 1997, the then prime minister Tony Blair’s Labour government introduced devolution for Wales in 1999.
The assembly increased its powers considerably over the years and is now known as Senedd Cymru or Welsh Parliament.
Mr Davies, leader of the Conservatives in Cardiff Bay, said: “Devolution hasn’t been a disaster.
“Twenty-plus years of Welsh Labour-led Governments have been a disaster for devolution in Wales. The people of Wales deserve better.”
“Instead of doing their job in ensuring our economy and health and education services are the best they can be, the Welsh Government has been obsessed with arguing about more powers,” he added.
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