One Wales coalition in jeopardy

Tom Griffin, 13 November 2008
Subjects:

Tom Griffin (London, OK): The BBC reports on growing tensions in the Welsh Assembly Government over Westminster legislation that would give the assembly new powers on housing:

The order has become a touchstone issue in the increasing tension between Cardiff and Westminster - the presiding officer of the assembly Lord Dafydd Elis Thomas, has accused the MPs on the committee of "anti devolutionist tendencies" over their demand for the order to be redrafted.

While they don't have the power to redraft the legislation, the Welsh secretary Paul Murphy has the power of veto - unless he approves it, it cannot go forward into parliament, become law, and see the powers in this area devolved to the assembly. 

The Western Mail reports the suspicions of some in Plaid Cymru about the crisis:

“It is looking increasingly as if those Welsh Labour MPs who always opposed the coalition with Plaid are trying to manufacture an artificial crisis that will result in the One Wales deal falling apart.

“This isn’t the first time they have tried this, but on previous occasions Rhodri Morgan has been prepared to stand up against them behind the scenes.

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