10/07/2013 CF99

Good evening, and welcome to CF99, from the National Assembly.

Tonight: What will be the next chapter in the colourful

political history of Anglesey?

And a long wait for the British Government's plans

on devolving taxes.

I think political games are being played here.

I am worried about the fact that we haven't been able to grow up.

Let's welcome four of the most faithful contributors

to the programme over the last political year.

Aled Roberts from the Lib Dems, Simon Thomas from Plaid Cymru,

and Keith Davies from Labour and joining us

from Westminster is the Tory MP, Glyn Davies.

This is our final programme until the Autumn,

and when we come back, the Assembly will have a new member.

The Anglesey electorates go to the polls on 1 August

to vote for Ieuan Wyn Jones' successor.

Over the next few weeks,

a lot of the main political names in Wales will flock to the island.

This is a seat that changes colour only when a member retires.

The Liberal Democrat Megan Lloyd George is the only candidate

who has lost the seat

to Cledwyn Hughes in 1951.

The Labour candidate had a great career on the front benches

keeping his seat without any difficulty.

In 1979, the Conservative Keith Best won the seat.

If he had stuck to his name, he would still be in his seat now.

But he had to resign with the BT shares scandal.

It was the turn of the Plaid Cymru candidate Ieuan Wyn Jones next.

First in Westminster and then in the Assembly.

But then Albert Owen gained the seat.

He is still there.

Will another party get the same chance as Ieuan Wyn Jones

retires for the second time?

If Labour won this seat, they would have a majority in the Assembly.

But this won't be an easy task.

Keith, I said there that winning Anglesey

would give you a majority there.

-Are you throwing everything on this?

-Yes, because it will change things.

We can work closely with the other parties now, but if we won it,

we could go our own way.

But we have seen these kind of seats are a problem for Labour.

Not in Westminster elections but Assembly elections.

They are the Western constitute.

-Winning this by-election is going to be hard work.

-Yes.

But if we got our supporters out to campaign,

if we could get them out, I think we can win it.

How important is it for Plaid Cymru to keep this seat?

Losing Anglesey would be a huge blow to you.

Yes, it would be a huge blow for the party. It is our seat to keep.

We have an exceptional candidate in Rhun ap Iorwerth.

Hopefully we have the momentum to keep the seat

but we don't take anything for granted.

I think it is very exciting.

It's important to show that we are still relevant to Anglesey.

-These rural constituencies can throw up some unexpected results.

-Yes.

We did well in the local elections. We worked very hard there.

We have strong foundations on Anglesey.

But if the people feel any party takes them for granted,

their complaints aren't listening to you or anything, they could lose.

They like to be independent with a small i.

You would expect the Plaid Cymru candidate

to show some kind of independent thinking.

The Conservatives were second on Anglesey

in the last Assembly elections.

People expect you to do badly there this time.

Have you got any hope there?

We have to have hope. Nobody knows what will happen on Anglesey.

Only the Lord knows what's going to happen on Anglesey.

Are you talking about Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas?

If we look back, the Conservatives have done well on the island.

I am sure the Conservatives will do well again this time.

Things do look a bit difficult for us, but we will see.

I think Neil Fairlamb will work very hard.

Nobody knows what will happen on Anglesey.

Nobody could tell in the past, nobody can tell in the future.

How important is it for you to beat UKIP?

We will hear from their representative later.

-They beat you in the local elections.

-They have been doing well.

I expect them to do well now

until the European elections.

They have gone down in the opinion polls over the last few weeks

and after the referendum on Britain's future within the EU.

I think they have slipped down the polls.

I expect UKIP to slide.

Aled Roberts, can you explain to me,

if you look on Anglesey as a constituency,

it does look like Ceredigion, in terms of language and land

but it has been a difficult place for you.

Why have you failed there?

You've had one or two councillors on the island,

but you haven't had a foothold on Anglesey.

There was nothing there for 40 years.

It's only in the last eight years we've had councillors there.

We have a very strong candidate in Steve Churchman.

We need to go on the doorsteps and ask the public

to vote for the Liberal Democrats again.

What is more important for you, making sure Labour don't win

so that you are stronger in the Assembly

because Labour won't have a majority, or making sure that you do well?

Are you going to rest on your laurels a bit in order to help Plaid Cymru?

This is an election for the people of Anglesey.

They need to look at what has been happening in Anglesey

over the last decades.

There hasn't been a strong economic development strategy there,

and jobs are badly needed there.

We'd better name the Labour candidate as well, he is Tal Michael.

There is a danger for you that the opposition supporters will see

that a win for Labour would give you a majority and will vote tactically?

I'd say the other way. Plaid Cymru disagrees with itself

on whether there should be something instead of Wylfa.

I think the Conservatives and UKIP will argue with each other.

If we get our supporters out, I think we will be successful.

Give Carwyn the majority. I want you to campaign for that.

How much other problem is the nuclear power stations there?

I think that the people of Anglesey accept our views.

That everyone on the main land disagree and agree on Anglesey.

It isn't a decision we can make here in the Assembly.

It is a decision that can only be made by the British government.

They will make the decision on its future.

Whoever is elected,

they will have to face the problem that is another nuclear power

station is built, they will have to secure the best deal for local jobs.

If the decision was made here,

it would be your decision not to have the station where.

We don't support nuclear power,

but we would be in a situation where we could use more renewable energy.

Anglesey is an island of energy. You could do a lot there.

But this election is who will be the next spokesman for the island.

Glyn Davies, what message will win supporters for you?

Any by-election is important for the Conservatives.

It does have an effect.

Anglesey is Anglesey, and I think that people will think,

who will do the best for them?

That is what I expect more than anything.

I hope they will support Neil Fairlamb, and that he will do well.

If you look at anywhere in Wales,

that won't look at the situation across Britain,

that would be Anglesey.

Thank you very much.

We've heard how the four major parties intend to entice

the electorate in the by-elections, but there are two other parties

looking for votes, the Socialist Labour Party and UKIP.

On the one hand, we have the Eurocrats in Europe,

in Cardiff we've got the Taffocrats,

in the middle we've got Dave and Ed in the government.

We have to have some common sense.

Should we thank them for losing the police in rural villages,

losing the Post Offices in Anglesey,

some schools in small villages have also been closed?

For a full list of candidates, please go to the website.

Those who regularly watch CF99 will be familiar with

hearing about the Silk Commission.

He published his first report on devolving acquisition powers

to Wales back in November.

The British government was supposed to respond by the spring,

but politicians on either side of the M4 are still waiting.

We are asking, why the wait?

Far from treating the recommendations with contempt,

we are treating them with seriousness,

I accept that is taking longer than he might want.

Even in that answer by Nick Clegg, there was no suggestion

when the British government would officially respond

to the Silk Commission.

It has been eight months since the man on the left, Paul Silk,

published 33 recommendations to the Welsh Secretary.

But is he delaying intentionally?

I don't have a relationship with him any more.

When I was in the Assembly, we dealt with him.

There is no question his performance is the worst I've ever seen.

After collecting evidence in public meetings across Wales,

the Silk Commission concluded that some taxation laws

should be devolved to Wales.

To those who have published these in the past,

David Jones is going through it with a fine tooth comb.

I think this Welsh Secretary is much more suspicious

than the Treasury, for example.

He thinks he has two look through every measure, every tax,

even more than the Treasury.

The political menu has been important for politicians lately.

Will cold water be poured on the Silk Commission recommendations?

They favour the set menu

and they want to pick every course available.

But the British government favours the la carte menu,

just choosing a few of the recommendations.

Because both sides of the M4 need different things,

that goes to explain why this has been so slow in coming.

That delay has left a sour taste in some people's mouth.

If I was in the situation of chairing a committee

and didn't have an answer from the government

after about seven weeks or more, I would ask why?

I think political games are being played here.

I am worried about the fact we have failed to grow up, constitutionally.

I am worried about what is happening in Westminster and Whitehall.

Silk offered another course.

Devolving part of income tax to the Assembly.

I am doubtful about the Assembly's borrowing powers.

Especially on things that don't affect everyday life.

I would want to see these developing hand-in-hand

with financial laws in Wales.

The problem is the Assembly will not favour that kind of devolution.

The Welsh government will hope they won't be given just crumbs.

There's nothing worse than sitting around the table,

waiting for a long time, just to be disappointed.

-Glyn Davies, do you know what's going on?

-No, I don't.

I want to see the government saying it is ready to say yes

to part one of Silk.

I don't know if that will happen.

This morning I read that this is connected with the other

big question that is happening all over Britain.

I think it's more complicated than what I expected.

That is what I was going to ask.

The picture we are getting is that David Jones

is being slow on this, but as the government is preparing

something more significant that deals with England and powers for England?

Perhaps this is the reason for the delay.

Today, David Jones told us in the committee

that we are dealing with Silk.

I have been waiting for the government's response to this.

For some reason, that hasn't happened.

Today we have had new questions,

that is why he couldn't say anything.

I hope we will have some answers tomorrow.

Aled Roberts, I am sure your people here have been in touch

with your people over there. Do you know what is happening?

Obviously, talks take place within the government.

All I can say is that our ministers are quite secure in their opinions.

But it is very interesting.

I remember Danny Alexander coming here to the Lib Dem conference

months ago and saying, don't worry, this is going to come.

David Jones, a few weeks ago,

seemed to throw cold water on any further devolution.

Is there a separation within the Government in London?

To some extent.

There are two parties with different ideas on devolution.

But our stand as a party hasn't changed.

What we need to do now is continue to put pressure on the Government

to have a response to the situation.

We are trying to do that.

The phoneline between Cardiff and London are very busy.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall!

What do you make of this, Simon Thomas?

Is this a minor problem in the process or is it bigger than that?

I think those parties in Westminster are disagreeing.

They said something very positive about Silk today.

Is it the differences between the two parties,

or is it more to do with David Jones and the Treasury?

We need to have a federal future.

We have to think about what's happening in England only.

If you want to keep the present system, it has to be federal.

I don't think it's fair that we expect the Silk Commission

to come up with all the answers. Things change from week to week.

But it's obvious there's something happening in the London government

that's holding back on the response. I haven't seen any evidence

to suggest that the problem lies somewhere else.

I think that the anchor is in the Welsh Office

and I haven't seen any evidence that the problem lies somewhere else.

Guto Bebb had only heard about this.

Some conservatives would like to give the Labour government

responsibility to raise taxes. I support that as well.

Keith Davies, you are sitting in the group down there,

what do the ministers tell you?

I don't want you to share your secrets,

but you must have a feeling of what is going on?

I agree with Simon Thomas and Aled Roberts.

What we have heard from our Minister who is discussing things

with Danny Alexander, things are going well.

I went to the Pier Head to listen to David Jones

and the audience was full of the "No" campaigners.

He was saying that we've had enough powers

and we don't you do any more. That was a poor message.

Some people are saying we've had enough powers

and we don't need any more.

How lonely is David Jones, in his situation?

Not one conservative member here wanted to be his Private Secretary

not one Conservative member.

Is he representing the views of Welsh Tory ministers?

It is impossible for me to tell you everything.

I can't tell you what David Jones thinks.

I can only tell you what I think.

I want the government in Cardiff Bay

to have more responsibility for finance.

I want devolution to grow, that's what I want to see.

I don't think many from my party support that.

At the moment, nobody knows what's going on.

People in the studio now are guessing.

Something is moving, but I don't know everything that's happening.

When do you expect the announcement will be made?

Do you think that there's a big delay?

Or do you think that they are just tidying up?

There are 33 recommendations, and it is important

we have a full response and the best bargain for Wales.

The problem is, we don't know if all these talks

about what Simon was talking about earlier will come into it.

We don't know the situation.

I think that we should get a response to Silk.

Simon, when do you think will have a response?

I'm worried that we won't hear anything before the Summer now.

But we need an answer as soon as possible.

The Silk Commission was set up by the British government

to look into this.

-It is disrespectful to respond to the commission itself.

-Many thanks.

That's all for tonight, and this political term.

Remember "Dau o'r Bae" on Friday and the debating will continue

over the summer.

Thank you very much for watching. Goodbye.