0:00:02 > 0:00:08Cameron's new Cabinet and marking 50 days before Newport welcomes the world's global leaders.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Welcome to Y Sgwrs.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23Good evening, and welcome.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26Joining Vaughan and me tonight we have three chatty guests -
0:00:26 > 0:00:29Professor Richard Wyn Jones from the Wales Governance Centre, broadcaster
0:00:29 > 0:00:34Branwen Gwyn and Iestyn Davies from the Federation of Small Businesses.
0:00:35 > 0:00:39We got a full house tonight. Welcome. We've got plenty to discuss.
0:00:39 > 0:00:41It's the last programme of the political term,
0:00:41 > 0:00:44so we get to look both forwards and backwards.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47We also consider the NATO summit in Newport -
0:00:47 > 0:00:52with all its complicated planning and strict security detail, is it more trouble than it is worth?
0:00:52 > 0:00:56Schools are going to close for the day.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59It's going to be difficult to travel around the city.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03You know, it's going to have a big impact on people
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and local businesses are going to lose out financially.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11First tonight, forget the drama of Rio and the World Cup.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Downing Street hosted the big battle between the Veterans
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and the Youth Team.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20David Cameron has a new team that is younger and more female
0:01:20 > 0:01:24and he says he's ready to fight the next general election.
0:01:24 > 0:01:30Bethan Lewis reminds us who plays in what position on the back bench.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34He's a big fan of Liverpool Football Club but like his team,
0:01:34 > 0:01:38it's been a disappointing end of season for David Jones.
0:01:38 > 0:01:42The Welsh Secretary's invitation to visit Number 10 didn't bode well.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46On Tuesday it was confirmed that the MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49Stephen Crabb, had been promoted to the Cabinet first team.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52He is now the Welsh Secretary.
0:01:52 > 0:01:53Congratulations, Minister,
0:01:53 > 0:01:57will you fix the relationship with the Welsh Government?
0:02:00 > 0:02:04Thank you very much. I'm looking forward to getting on with the job.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08He's said to have a better relationship than his predecessor
0:02:08 > 0:02:11with the Welsh government and his fellow Tory colleagues.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15It is hoped that will lead to more cooperation in future.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Alun Cairns, the MP for the Vale of Glamorgan,
0:02:18 > 0:02:22is going to flank Stephen Crabb's and replace him in the Welsh Office.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28A former Welsh Secretary himself, before the days of devolution,
0:02:28 > 0:02:31William Hague is going to leave the Foreign Office.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33That news came as a shock to many.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36The Prime Minister wants to put his skills to use in another position.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39He will now be the Leader of the House of Commons
0:02:39 > 0:02:42until next May's general election, when he steps down as an MP.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Philip Hammond moves from his former position of Defence Secretary
0:02:49 > 0:02:52to replace him as Foreign Secretary.
0:02:53 > 0:02:58In another shock move, Michael Gove was stripped of his Education Secretary shirt.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01Radical and determined, he was unpopular with teachers
0:03:01 > 0:03:04and much of the electorate.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07He and Welsh ministers have shared a few heavy tackles.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09He is now Chief Whip.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12It is an important role, but a very different one.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Nicky Morgan will succeed him as Education Secretary.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23She is an unfamiliar face, one of the new additions to government.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25David Cameron has his eyes on the prize
0:03:25 > 0:03:29and hopes that with his team he can win the next general election.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42That was Bethan Lewis.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46Vaughan Roderick, how much difference will Stephen Crabb make?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52I think personalities are important when it comes to the relationship
0:03:52 > 0:03:56between the Welsh Government and the Westminster Government.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59I think had different personalities been in the Welsh Office in the past,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03there would have been fewer public arguments.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06I think there would have been fewer legal challenges mounted
0:04:06 > 0:04:09for further powers for the Welsh government, for example.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The row over electrification of the railways perhaps wouldn't have been as public as it was.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19Having said that, of course, there are good political reasons for the
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Westminster Government to attack the Labour Government in Wales.
0:04:23 > 0:04:28I don't expect the criticism over the state of the NHS to stop.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I think, on a day-to-day, pragmatic level,
0:04:32 > 0:04:37this will oil the wheels between the Cardiff Bay government
0:04:37 > 0:04:39and the government in London.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42And also between the main opposition in Cardiff Bay and the Welsh Office.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Richard Wyn Jones.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48On the issue of devolution, how much difference is there
0:04:48 > 0:04:51between him and his predecessor, David Jones?
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Labour has already dug up the quotations and reminded us
0:04:55 > 0:04:59of the fact that Stephen Crabb was very sceptical about devolution.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03He has since softened his stance and is more pragmatic.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I think Vaughan's point is key.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08We have seen some very prominent, public schisms
0:05:08 > 0:05:11in the Welsh Conservative Party before,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14arguments between Andrew Davies and David Jones.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19There was a big falling out in the Conservative Party in Cardiff Bay.
0:05:19 > 0:05:21That couldn't continue.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Downing Street was very angry about what happened within the party
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and they gave David Jones a kick up the backside.
0:05:27 > 0:05:31I think Andrew Davies was also roughed up.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35The four members who were suspended
0:05:35 > 0:05:38have since been brought back into the fold.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Those things are definitely linked.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Branwen, these are the biggest political anoraks in Wales
0:05:45 > 0:05:48and are in their element.
0:05:51 > 0:05:57To what degree does reshuffling personalities make a difference?
0:05:57 > 0:06:01What strikes me is the number of women that have been included.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05I only hope that they will be judged on the work that they carry out,
0:06:05 > 0:06:07rather than the fact they're female.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09Did you read the Daily Mail this morning?
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Yes, that's what I'm talking about.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15I get a lot of my news online and through social networking.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19This business about making comments about their outfit,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22their hair and make-up, that's complete nonsense.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26So I hope they are going to be judged on the quality of that work.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31In terms of the Cabinet reshuffle, has it really been transformed?
0:06:31 > 0:06:35To some extent I think it has moved more to the right.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38The danger is... If you make a move to the left or the right
0:06:38 > 0:06:43that's up to you but if you make a big shift like that
0:06:43 > 0:06:47almost overnight, to try to respond to the party faithful,
0:06:47 > 0:06:52that will make a difference to the kind of policies that the Cabinet will produce.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55But, I don't know whether Richard agrees with me or not,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58but I feel that this reshuffle is a bit of a gamble
0:06:58 > 0:07:02and it suggests to me that the private poll statistics
0:07:02 > 0:07:04for the Conservative Party
0:07:04 > 0:07:08might be even worse than the public ones that we get to see.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11This suggests that talking non-stop about the long-term economic plan
0:07:11 > 0:07:15and demonising Ed Miliband simply isn't enough.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Is it a gamble from Cameron?
0:07:17 > 0:07:20Is he trying to change things ahead of the election?
0:07:20 > 0:07:23There is less than a year to go. They are behind in the polls.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28The electoral system doesn't favour the Conservatives as it is.
0:07:28 > 0:07:33I think Cameron currently stands to lose the next general election, so he needs to make a change.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35When you speak to people,
0:07:35 > 0:07:40they say the same for the other political leaders.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44We are looking for a prominent leader in politics.
0:07:44 > 0:07:50Branwen, to what degree have UKIP and Nigel Farage dictated this change?
0:07:50 > 0:07:55They've thought, "They're to our right. We must move to the right."
0:07:55 > 0:07:58He has moved Philip Hammond to the Foreign Office, for example.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00Do you think people will notice that?
0:08:00 > 0:08:04Time will tell, I suppose. We will have to wait and see.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Wait and see what kind of work these people carry out.
0:08:07 > 0:08:13But UKIP supporters will notice that Michael Gove has left his position,
0:08:13 > 0:08:17and I think UKIP supporters tend to like Michael Gove.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22The reshuffle is quite contradictory in that sense.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26But I think they are trying to make an impression here.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29It's not really about the names,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33because people generally don't know the names of many Cabinet members,
0:08:33 > 0:08:36apart from Clegg, Cameron, Osborne...
0:08:36 > 0:08:39- And Gove.- And Gove. The rest are just faces.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43I don't think they can make much of an impression in a year,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47so they are trying to portray themselves
0:08:47 > 0:08:53as a forward-thinking, purposeful government.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I think the policies will move to the right,
0:08:56 > 0:08:59I think that's inevitable.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04You're not going to see these kinds of personalities drawing up middle ground policies.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06This matters to the world of business as well,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09clarity on Britain's position within Europe.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12Do you think Philip Hammond will give us more clarity?
0:09:12 > 0:09:14He said if there was a referendum tomorrow,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16he would vote us out of Europe.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20I think that is the effect that UKIP has had on the Conservative Party.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24On one hand, the policies will change, but there isn't a strong
0:09:24 > 0:09:30political figure that can lead any of these parties at the moment.
0:09:30 > 0:09:36Thanks for now. David Cameron, Philip Hammond, Carwyn Jones, Barack Obama
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and other political figures will gather in Newport in 50 days.
0:09:39 > 0:09:44There's lots of planning that has to take place ahead of a NATO summit
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and it's bound to have an effect on the area.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52There will be strict security measures, congestion and protests.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56Some schools have already announced a day off.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00Not everybody welcomes the summit.
0:10:00 > 0:10:04The former British representative to the UN, Emyr Jones Parry,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08has told Y Sgwrs that we should take advantage of the event.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Janet Ebenezer reports.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13In 1990 Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister
0:10:13 > 0:10:18an it was the last time a NATO summit was held here in Britain.
0:10:18 > 0:10:23This is how it looked 22 years later in Chicago, two years ago.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Some say that summit gave the local economy
0:10:28 > 0:10:30a boost of a couple of million dollars.
0:10:30 > 0:10:35With the promise that Obama and his entourage are on their way to Wales,
0:10:35 > 0:10:40the country is reminded it has never hosted an official visit by an US president.
0:10:40 > 0:10:47Former president Jimmy Carter did visit Llyn Clywedog in the '80s.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49Whenever we get a chance to go to a foreign country,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52we try to find a place where there's fly fishing.
0:10:53 > 0:10:59In just 50 days, 28 global leaders will gather to debate the future of NATO,
0:10:59 > 0:11:05government spending on the armed forces and withdrawal from Afghanistan.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09There will also be questions on how NATO should react to Russia
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and the crisis in Ukraine.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16All of the decisions will be made here
0:11:16 > 0:11:18in the 5-star Celtic Manor Hotel.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25First Minister Carwyn Jones doesn't want to miss out this week,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28in a press briefing he said that the Welsh Government
0:11:28 > 0:11:33wanted to take advantage of the international event.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37A former British representative to the UN, Emyr Jones Parry,
0:11:37 > 0:11:44says that will be a challenge as leaders concentrate on summit matters.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48It's very important for Wales.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53The ministers will obviously be looking at NATO.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55So, we need to take every opportunity
0:11:55 > 0:12:00to showcase Wales and Welsh produce to the visitors.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04But, as we saw two years ago in Chicago,
0:12:04 > 0:12:09the summit brought with it protests against war in Afghanistan,
0:12:09 > 0:12:13climate change and union rights.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16We are expecting similar protests in Newport in September.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18It is hoped they will not turn violent
0:12:18 > 0:12:21but there are concerns over the impact
0:12:21 > 0:12:24such a busy summit could have on the local area.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33The schools are going to be closed.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36It will be difficult to travel around the city
0:12:36 > 0:12:39and it's going to have a big effect on people.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43Local businesses are going to lose money.
0:12:43 > 0:12:49This is an opportunity for children now to see leaders like Obama
0:12:49 > 0:12:51and Angela Merkel.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56This is an event that only takes place once in 40 years or so.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59People will remember that more
0:12:59 > 0:13:04than the fact that they lost two hours of school.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08The local MP has been very forthright in his criticism
0:13:08 > 0:13:13of the war in Iraq, but he welcomes the NATO summit.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17We are part of NATO in Wales.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22So, we need to give the NATO summit a Welsh welcome
0:13:22 > 0:13:25and a Newport welcome.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28It will be a wonderful occasion.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33The eyes of the world will certainly be on Newport on September 4.
0:13:33 > 0:13:38But the question is, once the politicians have left,
0:13:38 > 0:13:40will there be any long-term benefits?
0:13:40 > 0:13:43And will the world have learned that there's more to Wales
0:13:43 > 0:13:46than Tom Jones and Catherine Zeta?
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Branwen, do summits like this put Wales on the map?
0:13:50 > 0:13:54That's the aim, but is it a myth?
0:13:54 > 0:13:56I don't know if it will, to be honest.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00I don't know if people visit places or go on holiday somewhere and say,
0:14:00 > 0:14:01"We'll have to go there
0:14:01 > 0:14:04"because the NATO summit was held there one year."
0:14:04 > 0:14:07What about the Ryder Cup? Did that bring tourists in?
0:14:07 > 0:14:09I think that would be more popular.
0:14:09 > 0:14:15But I question whether the world leaders will even remember
0:14:15 > 0:14:18that they have been to Wales after the visit.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Some of them might think that they are have been to England.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24So I'm not sure.
0:14:24 > 0:14:28But I do hope that Wales and Newport will benefit from it.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31As someone who lives in Newport, Iestyn,
0:14:31 > 0:14:34have you seen any signs of the preparations for the NATO summit?
0:14:34 > 0:14:38No, not at the moment. There's a lot of talk about the roads not being closed.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39But I think that's unlikely.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41I'm sure it will have an impact,
0:14:41 > 0:14:46but I'll be in Manchester anyway, so I don't mind!
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Are You looking forward to the cavalcade, and so on?
0:14:49 > 0:14:51Richard Wyn Jones,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54perhaps you remember the European summit in Cardiff in 1998?
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Everyone was here. We had the Queen, Nelson Mandela.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00Everybody said it would put Wales on the map,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02but did that actually happen?
0:15:02 > 0:15:04I'm very sceptical about this.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07These leaders will be in Wales for a very short time.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09Less than 24 hours overall.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The security arrangements will be extremely strict.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Even before we had this obvious connection
0:15:15 > 0:15:18between ISIS in Iraq and Cardiff,
0:15:18 > 0:15:23the people in charge of security were very nervous,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26but now I think they'll be having kittens.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28The security arrangements will be tight.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Schools will be closed in Newport.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33They're talking about closing schools in the Vale of Glamorgan.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35So, you are not welcoming it?
0:15:35 > 0:15:40I think it's going to be a massive inconvenience for local people.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44And yet, this is politics on the highest level. Obama will be here.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47All these leaders will come to Newport.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50But they will be in their little bubble
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and it'll be really difficult to actually get to see them,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56because the security arrangements are going to be extremely strict.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59They'll fly in and then out again, Vaughan.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02They don't really know where they are, do they?
0:16:02 > 0:16:05It doesn't really matter, to be honest.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08The question is, whether or not the Welsh Government can take
0:16:08 > 0:16:12advantage of the fact that we will have thousands of journalists here.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15They tried to do that in 1998 in Cardiff.
0:16:15 > 0:16:17Perhaps you were there,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20because there was a big press party in Cardiff Bay.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22All the international press were invited.
0:16:22 > 0:16:26I went there and I knew everyone because they were Welsh freeloaders!
0:16:26 > 0:16:28They weren't international journalists.
0:16:28 > 0:16:33I've been talking to people in the government who deal with these things and it is a problem.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35They know there is an opportunity there,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38but how do you take advantage of that opportunity
0:16:38 > 0:16:42in a way that is not wasteful, expensive and ineffective?
0:16:42 > 0:16:48There's also a question about just how prepared Wales is to work
0:16:48 > 0:16:53with the British agencies to boost the Welsh profile abroad.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Unless we fix those problems,
0:16:55 > 0:16:59whatever happens afterwards or even ahead of this big event,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02we need to make sure we've got the facilities
0:17:02 > 0:17:04and that agencies are cooperating.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07That's a good question. When David Cameron shakes Obama's hand,
0:17:07 > 0:17:10is he going to be saying, "Come and do business here in Wales."
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Or is he going to be saying, come to England?
0:17:13 > 0:17:17They will be here for a short time and they have lots of things to discuss.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20For instance, the dangerous situation between Russia and Ukraine
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and they're pulling out of Afghanistan.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25We've had the agenda tonight, haven't we?
0:17:25 > 0:17:28They want to avoid looking like they've lost.
0:17:28 > 0:17:33Selling Wales isn't going to be high on the agenda at the summit.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35That's just an additional aspect of it.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38But the menu, the treats in the hotel and things like that,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40that will sell Wales, won't it?
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Lava bread and lamb!
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I think everything will be quite traditional.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49The things you'd expect. Lava bread, Welsh cakes.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52Things that we eat every day, of course.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56That's it. Thanks for now.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Finally tonight, politicians in Westminster and Cardiff Bay
0:18:00 > 0:18:03are preparing for the long summer recess,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06in order to work hard in their constituencies, of course.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09As we say goodbye to another political year,
0:18:09 > 0:18:14Vaughan looks back now at some of the events that will stick in the memory.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18In November, David Cameron and Nick Clegg visited Cardiff Bay
0:18:18 > 0:18:23to announce new devolved powers which would enable the Assembly to borrow money and set taxes.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25But that wasn't the end of it.
0:18:25 > 0:18:29In the spring, the Silk Commission recommended that further powers should be devolved,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33including, among other things, policing and large energy projects.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35Powers for the future, maybe.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39But already devolved matters were also put under the microscope.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43The standard of the Welsh NHS was criticised by the Prime Minister.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47David Cameron said Offa's Dyke was the line between life and death.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51Carwyn Jones said it was a war on Wales.
0:18:51 > 0:18:56But the Labour MP Ann Clwyd, was also critical of the NHS in Wales.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00The standard of services was also at the root of another big announcement.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02The Williams Commission concluded
0:19:02 > 0:19:07that the number of councils had to be reduced and Carwyn Jones agreed.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10There was no shortage of sackings this year either.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14Andrew R.T. Davies sacked four members of his cabinet
0:19:14 > 0:19:18after they refused to vote with the group on devolving income tax.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21He welcomed them back today.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24Leanne Wood gave Dafydd Elis-Thomas the boot
0:19:24 > 0:19:26as chairman of the environment committee
0:19:26 > 0:19:30after he criticised her comments on UKIP.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34And Alun Davies was axed by Carwyn Jones after he asked civil servants
0:19:34 > 0:19:39for the CAP payment details of some members of the opposition parties.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43There was an axe in Westminster as well this week
0:19:43 > 0:19:47as David Jones lost his job to Stephen Crabb.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And of course, it was a year when Wales went to the polling booths.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56The big story was the success of Nigel Farage's party.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58What's to come after the summer?
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Well, with the Scottish referendum on the horizon
0:20:00 > 0:20:02and the general election shortly afterwards,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05things are sure to heat up once again.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Richard Wyn Jones, more and more powers are being devolved to Cardiff Bay.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12Too quickly, some would say.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16But in terms of borrowing powers,
0:20:16 > 0:20:21we have seen them today in practice, over the M4.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Yes, we've been talking about risk
0:20:24 > 0:20:29and the Welsh Government took a massive gamble today.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31It's using all the money it can borrow and more
0:20:31 > 0:20:36to spend on 15 miles of road in Newport.
0:20:36 > 0:20:40So it is spending all the money in just one small corner of Wales,
0:20:40 > 0:20:44which might annoy the rest of the country.
0:20:44 > 0:20:49It's not clear either whether or not the members within the Labour Party itself even support this.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- Is it a mistake?- It's a big risk.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Politically, I wonder whether Edwina Hart
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and Carwyn Jones have really thought this through.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Legally, and we've heard it on tonight's programme,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06it's possible that people are going to consult lawyers to see
0:21:06 > 0:21:09whether there is the possibility of a judicial inquiry.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11And in the Assembly today, Mick Antoniw
0:21:11 > 0:21:15raised the real possibility that the Welsh Government
0:21:15 > 0:21:17has made a legal error.
0:21:17 > 0:21:22So I think this is a really big story breaking today.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Looking back at the year, is there a feeling that politics in Wales
0:21:26 > 0:21:30and the Assembly's identity is maturing?
0:21:30 > 0:21:35I think with these new powers it's quite possible.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39We'll have to wait and see what happens in Scotland,
0:21:39 > 0:21:43because that might encourage us to go in the same direction.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47In terms of what has been happening during the political term,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50what has stood out, Vaughan?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52What has been the most significant thing?
0:21:52 > 0:21:56What sticks out for me isn't perhaps the most significant thing,
0:21:56 > 0:22:00but I think the most significant thing was the High Court verdict,
0:22:00 > 0:22:07sorry, the Supreme Court decision earlier this month, which, to me,
0:22:07 > 0:22:09if I understand the verdict correctly,
0:22:09 > 0:22:13means that the Assembly is going to get a massive increase in powers
0:22:13 > 0:22:20through judicial decisions instead of through legal, parliamentary, political decisions.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24But, for me, what really sticks out as the year's top story
0:22:24 > 0:22:27is the story of Alun Davies.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Alun Davies' fall from grace and the story behind that
0:22:30 > 0:22:33has been one of the biggest events in the Assembly.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Just in terms of the story itself,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39the man himself and the nature of his fall.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Looking forward, Iestyn,
0:22:41 > 0:22:47you are responsible for your institution in Scotland as well.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Scotland will be a massive story, won't it?
0:22:51 > 0:22:56The question isn't really what the referendum decision will be,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58but what any additional powers will mean.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Even if there's a 'Yes' vote in the referendum,
0:23:01 > 0:23:04how will those policies develop over the short term.
0:23:04 > 0:23:09And we'll see for the first time the constitutional changes
0:23:09 > 0:23:16that Vaughan has mentioned starting to pull Britain in two directions.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18That's inevitable.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21It will create challenges for the BBC and agencies like ours,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24and everyone trying to operate on a UK level.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27It's really hard to predict it, isn't it, Richard?
0:23:27 > 0:23:30This could be the biggest political story of our lifetime.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34What happens on September 18 could be the biggest story in our political lives.
0:23:34 > 0:23:40Or it could be a story that will still be significant, but less important
0:23:40 > 0:23:44and we'll be looking forward to the general election as the next big event.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- And then the Assembly elections. - They're like buses!
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It's great for people like me.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Branwen, is the Scottish vote the biggest event on the horizon for you?
0:23:54 > 0:23:59Yes. I've got no idea how it's going to go
0:23:59 > 0:24:02because I change my mind every day.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Personally, I would like to see it happen.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07The Yes vote is not in the lead at the moment.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09But Alex Salmond is a great politician.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11What has he got up his sleeve?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13The question is how far behind are they?
0:24:13 > 0:24:16The opinions polls are very different.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19It depends on your polling company.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Some of them suggest it's very close, with 5% or 6% in it.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26That can be overcome quite easily.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29But others say the independence campaign is far behind.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- What's going to happen?- It will be very close.- On the fence!
0:24:32 > 0:24:37Thank you very much. That's all for tonight's programme and the series
0:24:37 > 0:24:39but Y Sgwrs will be back in the autumn,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42when we will no doubt be discussing events in Scotland again.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46Until then, from all of us here, good night.