28/04/2013 Sunday Politics Wales

tackling from team captain Andrew RT Davies as the Welsh Conservatives

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 2299 seconds

met for their Spring conference at Wales, we'll hear conservative

Assembly leader Andrew RT Davies and the prime minister as we discuss the

economy and where next on powers for the Assembly. And I've been to

Beaumaris on Anglesey to speak to some of the candidates ahead of the

council elections on Thursday. Joining me are to MPs - for the

Conservatives, Glyn Davies, and Plaid Cymru's Jonathan Edwards. Just

looking at this story in the Telegraph - Iain Duncan Smith

talking about wealthy pensioners handing back some of their

provisions, like free bus passes. What is your thinking on that? I

don't think I agree with that. I think there is a big debate to be

had about benefits for the better off and I think that'll feature a

lot in the manifestoes at the next general election. If people feel

they want to give away the money they have, because they don't need

need it. Maybe some of them will be giving it back when actually they

should be taking it. I don't think it's a particularly well thought out

intervention. Is he proposing that when the pensioner use the bus, they

send a cheque to the Department of work and pensions? I'm a supporter

of universal benefits. If you are going to means test, you have to

means test to start you can't just leave it to people to decide for

themselves? It's not the first time we've had this debate. A lot of

people are receiving benefits who clearly don't need them because of

university of benefit principle. There are different ways of doing

that. I just don't think the idea of going back to the government, apart

from the distinct difficulties, is a good one. I think it's far better to

go to local charities who are under pressure. We'll be talking about

that much more in the future. In the meantime, the Welsh Conservatives

have gathered for their conference yesterday in Swansea's Liberty

Stadium. Over the past few weeks, we've heard from the Assembly

leaders of the other main parties are for our final conference

interview it's the turn of Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservative

leader in the Assembly. He taught about a clause four moment for the

Conservatives when it came to accepting devolution. Afterwards,

our political editor asked what he meant by that. It's more than the

Welsh Conservatives. It's the centre-right in politics that want

to turn the clock back to 1987. That can't happen. The Welsh people are

talking positively about devolution. They don't necessarily like the

politicians involved in the process but they do like decisions being

made taken here in Wales. Do you really need still to tell people in

your party that you don't go back to 1997 to fight devolution? I think

it's wider than the Conservative Party. Party has been successful in

adopting devolution but there are plenty in the centre-right who still

want to continue that discussion. But if you look at the landscape we

operate in now, it's the Labour Party who we have to focus our fire

on and show them there is a real alternative. Show them you can

improve education attainment levels and offer teachers hope in the

classroom and, above all, you can get an economy moving to offer

chances for communities to regenerate themselves and create

prosperity. He said we need to look at what the Conservatives can do

with devolution. The Labour government say they know what they

are doing with things in government ASH, cutting, slashing, devastating

damaging. Well, all the Labour government is doing in Cardiff Bay

is sitting on their big, fat, lazy answers. We got to make sure the

public understand that Carwyn Jones is driving down standards in

education. Is that kind of language appropriate? Carwyn Jones's talk

when he took the mantle of First Minister in 2011 was about a change

of attitude, delivering for the people of Wales. What have they

delivered? All they have delivered as a continuation of sitting behind

their desks, assuming the mantle of a right to rule in Wales.

chatting up and using that sort of language isn't convincing people.

disagree. We don't just shout at them. We talk about putting money

into small businesses, the Housing strategy. We talk of what we would

like to do with taxation if the powers arrived in Cardiff Bay. We

are offering an alternative. I accepted is up to us to campaign

hard and that's what we're doing. David Cameron was asked earlier

whether we can now call you a Welsh party be the - do we still have to

call you Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh

Assembly? Is that it? Is not as good as it is not as good as going to

get? David Cameron told you straight that I was leader of the world

Conservatives... The people of Wales no clearly where their priorities

lie. It's not discussing the political internal organisation of

parties. They want alternatives for health, solutions for education, and

they want money in their economy so the villages, towns and cities of

this great country of ours can compete with the rest of the UK,

Europe and the world. And as was Conservative leader, I will be

making sure that message is positive, strong and features all

parts of Wales. -- Welsh Conservative. I play on the rugby

pitch very often for the veterans team in the Assembly and we beat the

House of Commons often. Football may be a bit too far for me! As we

heard, the Prime Minister was also at the Liberty Stadium. David

Cameron was asked about comments made by Danny Alexander who said

Wales should have major powers overborrowing and income tax to

vault. Let's look at the evidence, listen to what the people of Wales

while stopped let's see what's right for people of Wales. I think what

people can see there is proper respect. That's as it should be but

for further changes, let's set a bit of a tester - what's going to create

more jobs in Wales, more wealth in Wales? Glynn, we heard from Andrew

RT Davies that he was going to have a go pitch side and he also had a go

at Labour with some colourful language will stop those that

useful? I was a bit shocked to see that Sun repeating what he said. I

certainly wouldn't have used one of the words that he used. -- Betsan. I

think not having that free Assembly days of the important issue. It was

good to see him looking pretty confident, pretty natural and, I

thought, showing a bit of leadership. That's an -- Betsan was

repeating quite a few things. Were you surprised by the language, in

from the conference? I don't think there's anything wrong with calling

them lazy but I think the second part of the statement was over the

mark. The UK government's policies are something that we strongly

criticise but if you're not happy with what the UK government are

doing, surely you should make the case for assuming responsibility.

The Welsh Government, would say they are not lazy. The Prime Minister

said they were lifting the income tax threshold to the level where

people start paying tax. Big economic policies to try and get

growth. It interesting to see the diverging between the Chief

Secretary and the Prime Minister. Danny Alexander is in number ten at

the Treasury so is it the two coalition parties in dispute? My

understanding is that the Treasury are quite keen to implement this

because they've just done it for from

from the secretary of state for Wales, and from the Labour

government in Cardiff. I think the Labour Party are the status quo

party. They are the most anti-devolution party. What's going

on behind the scenes? We're all hearing the rumours. Danny Alexander

said he would not allow the response to the commission that did not

include tax powers. You to did later saying MPs don't support that.

don't figure majority of MPs support that. I do. I'm unusually

supportive, perhaps, of tax-raising powers for the Assembly. I think it

will transform the Assembly if that happened. But the Prime Minister is.

There is not even to had. We're probably going to have to have a

referendum because so many people are committed to delivering on that

but I hope we get there. I would argue for that and I think it is

crucial for development of devolution. The fiscal

accountability element, in my view, is far more important than talking

about transfer of other powers. They have to be decided on, whether they

are right or not, but fiscal accountability has to be an element

and it will form the -- transform the debate. One of the things people

might be surprised by was that you had both the Welsh Secretary and the

Prime Minister talking about the Welsh Government bailing on economic

development where is all the major levers with the UK government. If

the Welsh economy is stagnating, it's not principally the fault of

the Welsh ministers, is it? There is an issue of responsibility between

Westminster and Cardiff Bay. Income tax is still with the UK government.

The impact of those would apply across Britain. But to the extent

that Wales is performing more poorly than that, you've got to give some

responsibility to the Welsh Government. It isn't avoid

responsibility -- devoid of responsibility. The economy has

collapsed down to the lowest levels in Britain. I'm keen on having the

Welsh Government and the UK government not really attacking each

other. I just take the view that what matters is Wales. There is the

accountability issue but the other reason we need the job great images

in Wales is that would incentivise the Welsh Government to develop the

Welsh economy if it wants to invest in public services. But there been

logjams by the Labour government and Parliament. They don't want the

complete package, only taxes. The timetable outlined is slipping. We

put down amendments in my name and by Parliamentary colleagues, and the

Labour Party didn't even bother to turn up for the debate. Barry

Alexander was quite clear that the income tax powers unlock powers

overborrowing - you don't get one without the other. Do you support

that? That's the key point. The greater the fiscal independence you

have at your disposal, the greater the borrowing capacity. The one

thing really holding that the Welsh economy at the moment is the savage

cut to capital budgets - about 40%. Slightly less than the Labour Party

had planned under Alistair Darling but that is a huge headwind for the

Welsh economy. We have the intergovernment negotiations where

both the governments agreed that the leaders were important. We need to

start generating some are meant. you agree you can't have one without

the other? Yes, I do. For meaningful borrowing powers, minor taxes aren't

going to deliver that. For meaningful borrowing powers for the

Welsh Government, you've got to have the income tax transferred to the

Assembly. Thank you. Voters on Anglesey go to the polls

on Thursday to elect a new council, year after the Welsh local

authorities were elected. The delay was due to the Welsh Government

sending in a team of commissioners to take over the running of the

Council amid allegations of political infighting. I've been to

Beaumaris to find out whether a new voting system and smaller number of

councillors signals a new beginning for this troubled local authority.

The picturesque scenes belie the political problems that have plagued

this island for years. It's a big area. It's a beautiful part of the

country. That beauty does belie some of the problems. We need jobs for

young people. There are tourists and local residents. There are areas of

social deprivation. How Anglesey council is elected is changing.

Individual wards have got, replaced by a 11 new multimember wards. 107

candidates are vying for the 30 seats on the council. Nine of the

candidates are fighting for three seats here. I came to Beaumaris in

the heart of the new water to speak to some of them about what they are

offering voters. Independents have always featured heavily in Anglesey

politics. My priorities are fighting for services - frontline services.

I'm also saying that I think in this month county should be investing in

what it's got. -- Ynys Mon. We got to start rebuilding the communities.

But the political parties believe the organisation required for

fighting the new larger multimember wards favours them. We're not going

to beat one group one week and another group the next week. We need

discipline among the councillors. It's not going to be easy. We're

going to end up saying no to more people than we'd like but it's about

priorities and essential services. The luxuries, although very worthy,

will probably not get the help they deserve. Our main priority is the

49% of people of Anglesey and all the people, not just the minority of

people. There's no point going on the past. Now was the time for

improvements. The future is in our hands and we must grab hold of this

opportunity as an island altogether. We must really work hard so that

we're caring for our elderly people, which mean the world to us, looking

after our young people. The local Liberal Democrat and

Conservative candidates weren't available for interview themselves.

We need a clear-cut consensus as to where where going to go after the

election. It's about, together for the best interests of the island

after the election rather than infighting and party political

debates. Our aim would be to set out an overall strategy of developing

for the island. That's never been done. Nobody is looked at the island

in total and looked at what needs to be done. Once you've got that

strategy in place, other issues like employment, education and transport

can fit into that strategy. So we'll get a plan in place for the island.

That needs to be our first priority. The message across the board from

candidates seems remarkably similar - Anglesey needs a new direction.

Anglesey needs a change of that's the message that it will really

grasping because people on the island are fed up with the status

quo. Maybe we do want a new council, infused with new ideas.

These have been turbulent times in Anglesey politics. The commissioners

who been responsible for the Council believe that they have steadied the

ship. On Thursday it will be up to voters to decide the course ahead.

As they journey forward, residents will be forgiven for hoping the mist

might finally be lifting from Anglesey politics.

It's a lot warmer in the studio than it was during those pieces to

camera. You can see a full list of candidates across Anglesey on our

website, bbc.co.uk/Walesnews. Time for a quick look back at the

political stories of the week in 60 seconds.

Health Minister announced measures aimed at reducing pressure on

emergency health services. He said he was taking action to prevent

hospital beds being taken up by patients who could be care for

elsewhere. The charity Age company was concerned that older patients

would be at the pressure to leave hospital prematurely.

David Cameron said the Labour Welsh Government were cutting spending,

with waiting times up, waiting lists up and quality down. Ed Miliband

said Mr Cameron was out of touch and that hospitals in England were full

to bursting. MP Nick Smith urged David Cameron to

update the law on negligence after the collapse of operating jasmine,

the biggest care home investigation ever in the UK. He said a new

investigation into care home abuse in south-east Wales can clear a high

bar for a criminal conviction. And Colin Davies held a Commons

debate on the effect of the recent bad weather conditions on up with

cheap farmers. -- Glyn Davies. -- upland sheep farmers.

What was the main message you were trying to get across their? My aim

was to address what I see as a growing disconnect between the wider

British population and what happens in the uplands. I think people are

less and less understanding and the recent snowfalls did cause a huge

disaster. I don't think the people of Britain understood it. Very large

numbers of members of Parliament joined in that debate and we kept it

is quite a consensual debate and it actually serve the purpose - exactly

the purpose that I wanted to address what I see as a growing disconnect.

You represent a roll constituency as well. What is your take on this?

During the cold weather, I visited farmers in North Carmarthenshire and

about 50 miles to the north, the area had escaped the weather. It was

the luck of the draw. We're aware that the environment committee with

Dafydd Ellis Thomas is now looking at this issue. This could impact the

industry for nine, ten years. It'll be interesting to see what that

committee comes up with in terms of recommendations. Let's focus on the

ruble economy. In terms of small and medium enterprises, they really are

the blood of the rule communities. -- roll. How important is it to get

the strategy right for supporting small to medium enterprises? The key

thing to remember about the Welsh economy is that the private sector

is very reliant on the public sector so if you're cutting back on one

public investment, that impacts on the private sector. The rhetoric we

see from the UK government doesn't apply in terms of the Welsh

Government. SMEs are hugely important to Wales. The tourism

industry is massively important. We have to do what we can to help

them. The Welsh Government is doing a very good job. I think the UK

government is doing a very good job. I'm having a series of meetings

with banks. I think banks are changing their attitude. They've

been much more positive than they were. The Welsh economy depends on

the success of SMEs, particularly when public sector jobs are being

reduced. We do everything we can to help them. Getting the finance

structure is key. The Conservatives have come up with a policy. We come

up with a policy with a bank focus. That's the sort of policy we need to

be having - how do we create liquidity for small businesses to

allow them to expand. infrastructure is important because

there is superfast broadband, which whether you are in agriculture or a

small business, is essential. just have enquiry into this issue.

We're seeing superfast broadband developing in Cardiff and Swansea

but in many of the areas that we represent, they are broadband

blackspots. We need to be looking at those issues. If you are going to

have a future in the global economy, when the world is developing, you

have to have those key structures in place. I agree. Broadband is

absolutely crucial. We're going to see a position when even property

prices where there was an access to broadband are going to collapse will

stop people will bring children weather is no broadband because it

would damage the education opportunities. You won't be able to

claim benefits without broadband before long! We will leave it

there. You can watch more tonight with Huw Edwards on the Wales Report