Plaid: A contempt agenda
Elfyn Llwyd, Plaid Cymru parliamentary leader, comments on the coalition government’s voting reform package:
“This decision to fix the dates, and I really do mean ‘fix’ the dates, on which elections are held clearly show the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats contempt for the people of Wales.
“By holding the Assembly elections on the same day, firstly as the Alternative Vote referendum in 2011, and secondly the same day as the Westminster elections from 2015, will inevitably mean that there will be less discussion and scrutiny of the very important issues decided upon in Cardiff.
“It is clear from this decision that the Tory – Lib Dem coalition in London are using any opportunity possible to undermine the excellent work of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff.
“The Welsh government wrote formally to the Tory – Lib Dem coalition in London to ask them not to hold the AV referendum on the same day as the next Welsh Assembly elections.
“The secretary of state has the power to vary the date of the Welsh elections if she wishes. Will she do that if requested by the Welsh government or is she content to be Westminster’s voice in Wales rather than Wales’ voice in the Cabinet?
“In setting the dates in this way, the Con-Dem government has ignored good advice from the Welsh Assembly and the recommendations of the Gould and Arbuthnott reviews that this could cause serious problems and undermine democracy.
“There is no good reason why the AV vote needs to be held next spring when there is a further four years before the next Westminster election takes place.
“We believe that Welsh issues should be the main focus of a Welsh election.
“As Mr Clegg admitted in the House of Commons, he has not even spoken or consulted with the devolved administrations about these issues.
“This is not a respect agenda that the Tories and Lib Dems have towards Wales – it is a contempt agenda.”
