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A busy week in Cardiff Bay began with the surprise announcement from long time Labour MP for Ogmore, Huw Irranca-Davies, that he wants to make the switch to the Assembly next year in the place of current Labour Whip Janice Gregory AM (for readers who might not be familiar with Janice Gregory, she’s the disembodied voice who shouts ‘object’ two or three times a week in Plenary). Such a surprise move quickly resulted in ‘Bay Watchers’ like me inventing a whole range of conspiracy theories around what this move means for the future of Welsh Labour and the security of Carwyn Jones’ premiership. Is this UK Labour’s response to the damage done to their election chances by the Conservatives’ use of Welsh NHS and education statistics? Is it someone trying to distance themselves from Corbyn’s shift to Labour of old? Or is it simply the logical move by a pro-devolution MP who feels more able to serve his constituents in Cardiff Bay than Westminster Hall?
Regardless of which of the myriad of possible reasons behind the move is accurate, the announcement has given many a new frontrunner to become the next First Minister should the current one call it a day, or something like a disappointing Assembly Election should occur. Which of these is more likely to come first is something readers can decide for themselves. Nevertheless, such things do little to dispel the murmurings in the Bay that future plans are being formulated.
This story was quickly pushed from the front pages on Tuesday when the First Minister acted swiftly to sack backbench Labour AM for Cardiff Central, Jenny Rathbone, from her role as Chair of the All Wales European Programme Monitoring Committee. Responding to the sacking Jenny Rathbone stated that following her “intervention on the issue of the M4 Relief Road in the media last week, the First Minister has dismissed me from the role.” She went on to claim that “the events of the last 24 hours have confirmed in [her] mind there is an unhealthy culture at the top of the Welsh Government which does not allow for rigorous debate and reflection on the best use of public funds. Independent thought is not tolerated by AMs and if someone does step out of line, they are ruthlessly dealt with. This is not a good way to make difficult decisions.”
As you would imagine these comments were quickly jumped upon by all sides with some Labour members being quick to refute accusations that debate and independent thought wasn’t tolerated in the Labour group. For instance Jeff Cuthbert AM stated that “I don’t recognise this as the view of the majority of Labour backbenchers. I have spoken to employers in my region who are behind the Welsh Government’s position on this.” Independently Joyce Watson AM also stated that “I don’t recognise this as the view of the majority of backbenchers. I have had numerous conversations with employers in my region and they support the Welsh Governments position on this matter.”
However, some support could be found on the margins with Alun Davies AM (himself sacked from a ministerial role in 2014 for asking Civil Servants to provide him with financial information on several opposition Assembly Members) taking to Twitter to assert that “Labour AMs should be free to debate these matters.” Further afield Cllr. Bernie Attridge called on the First Minister to resign.
As you’d expect the Bay’s opposition parties were quick to have their say. The Welsh Conservatives compared Carwyn Jones to Kim Jong Un and said that serious questions about the “culture at the heart of Welsh Government.” Then Plaid Cymru responded by claiming it was more evidence of “a government that hides from scrutiny and debate.” We can only wonder at how Lord Elis-Thomas AM and Nick Ramsay AM felt about the criticisms?