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| Welsh assembly 'needs more punch' | Welsh assembly 'needs more punch' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Ten years after the first election to the Welsh assembly, its first leader says it has not "punched above its weight" on the economy and education. | Ten years after the first election to the Welsh assembly, its first leader says it has not "punched above its weight" on the economy and education. |
| But Alun Michael, who was Labour first secretary for nine months from May 1999, said there had been successes and he was optimistic for the future. | But Alun Michael, who was Labour first secretary for nine months from May 1999, said there had been successes and he was optimistic for the future. |
| Ex-Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley said the institution had "come of age". | Ex-Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley said the institution had "come of age". |
| He said people's confidence had increased as they saw decisions could be taken at an all-Wales level. | He said people's confidence had increased as they saw decisions could be taken at an all-Wales level. |
| Mr Wigley led Plaid Cymru into the 1999 poll, against Welsh Labour, led by Mr Michael, Conservatives under Rod Richards and the Liberal Democrats, who had Mike German in charge. | Mr Wigley led Plaid Cymru into the 1999 poll, against Welsh Labour, led by Mr Michael, Conservatives under Rod Richards and the Liberal Democrats, who had Mike German in charge. |
| Although Labour emerged as the largest party after the election, its vote had declined dramatically since the general election two years earlier. | Although Labour emerged as the largest party after the election, its vote had declined dramatically since the general election two years earlier. |
| Under a system of proportional representation it won just 28 of the 60 assembly seats, rather than the majority that had been expected. | Under a system of proportional representation it won just 28 of the 60 assembly seats, rather than the majority that had been expected. |
| The Welsh dimension, the national dimension in Wales, has become a reality that people accept Dafydd Wigley | The Welsh dimension, the national dimension in Wales, has become a reality that people accept Dafydd Wigley |
| Turbulent times followed, with Mr Michael eventually resigning as first secretary before a confidence vote tabled by opposition parties was voted on. | Turbulent times followed, with Mr Michael eventually resigning as first secretary before a confidence vote tabled by opposition parties was voted on. |
| He was replaced by Rhodri Morgan, who formed a coalition administration with the Liberal Democrats to bring some stability to the fledgling assembly. | He was replaced by Rhodri Morgan, who formed a coalition administration with the Liberal Democrats to bring some stability to the fledgling assembly. |
| Mr Michael described the assembly's early phase as "pretty damn hard" for both him and Rhodri Morgan. | Mr Michael described the assembly's early phase as "pretty damn hard" for both him and Rhodri Morgan. |
| Both men had been left to "pick up the pieces" after the resignation of their predecessor Ron Davies after his infamous 'moment of madness' on Clapham Common, in Mr Michael's words. | Both men had been left to "pick up the pieces" after the resignation of their predecessor Ron Davies after his infamous 'moment of madness' on Clapham Common, in Mr Michael's words. |
| He said there had been "real successes" since then, including the creation of commissioners for children and older people and work in committees. | He said there had been "real successes" since then, including the creation of commissioners for children and older people and work in committees. |
| "But we're not punching above our weight compared to the English regions on things like economic development and particularly further and higher education," Mr Michael said. | "But we're not punching above our weight compared to the English regions on things like economic development and particularly further and higher education," Mr Michael said. |
| Our criticism has been towards the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government, not the assembly itself Nick Bourne | Our criticism has been towards the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government, not the assembly itself Nick Bourne |
| "Although it is very clear that the ministers dealing with those issues now have recognised where those weaknesses are." | "Although it is very clear that the ministers dealing with those issues now have recognised where those weaknesses are." |
| "It is very important, I think, that having got to the point where the assembly is now settled and people accept and support it, that we make sure that the second decade is the decade in which the assembly really punches above its weight in terms of delivering for the people of Wales." | "It is very important, I think, that having got to the point where the assembly is now settled and people accept and support it, that we make sure that the second decade is the decade in which the assembly really punches above its weight in terms of delivering for the people of Wales." |
| Whilst nothing has quite matched the high drama of Mr Michael's departure in February 2000, few politicians would argue that the assembly's existence has not changed the Welsh nation. | Whilst nothing has quite matched the high drama of Mr Michael's departure in February 2000, few politicians would argue that the assembly's existence has not changed the Welsh nation. |
| It has made a "significant difference", according to Mr Wigley. | It has made a "significant difference", according to Mr Wigley. |
| "We have to remember that in the referendum in 1997 only 26% of the electorate in Wales voted yes," he said. | "We have to remember that in the referendum in 1997 only 26% of the electorate in Wales voted yes," he said. |
| "Therefore the assembly had an uphill struggle to win its own patch, if you like. | "Therefore the assembly had an uphill struggle to win its own patch, if you like. |
| "By now only 11% of the electorate want to disband the assembly - in other words it has come of age. | "By now only 11% of the electorate want to disband the assembly - in other words it has come of age. |
| "And the Welsh dimension, the national dimension in Wales, has become a reality that people accept," Mr Wigley added. | "And the Welsh dimension, the national dimension in Wales, has become a reality that people accept," Mr Wigley added. |
| 'Making devolution work' | 'Making devolution work' |
| Current Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne, who took over leading the party's assembly group within months of the 1999 election, said the party had spent the last decade "trying to make devolution work". | Current Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne, who took over leading the party's assembly group within months of the 1999 election, said the party had spent the last decade "trying to make devolution work". |
| He described the assembly as an "important tool in providing an accessible, democratic forum for the people of Wales". | He described the assembly as an "important tool in providing an accessible, democratic forum for the people of Wales". |
| "Our criticism in that time has been towards the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government, not the assembly itself," he said. | "Our criticism in that time has been towards the policies of the Welsh Assembly Government, not the assembly itself," he said. |
| Since 1999 Labour has always been in the assembly government cabinet, either on its own or in coalition, currently with Plaid and previously with the Lib Dems. | Since 1999 Labour has always been in the assembly government cabinet, either on its own or in coalition, currently with Plaid and previously with the Lib Dems. |
| "The argument is no longer about whether we want devolution," said Mr Bourne. | "The argument is no longer about whether we want devolution," said Mr Bourne. |
| "It is about how we make devolution work so it delivers for the people of Wales." | "It is about how we make devolution work so it delivers for the people of Wales." |
| Mike German stepped down as both leader of the Liberal Democrat assembly group and leader of the Welsh Lib Dems last December. | Mike German stepped down as both leader of the Liberal Democrat assembly group and leader of the Welsh Lib Dems last December. |
| He said politics in Wales was now an "entirely different animal" than it was before with "big differences to the political landscape". | He said politics in Wales was now an "entirely different animal" than it was before with "big differences to the political landscape". |
| "We've now got a realisation that no one party is in control. | "We've now got a realisation that no one party is in control. |
| "The voting system that we've got means that we're never going to get absolute majorities for everyone." | "The voting system that we've got means that we're never going to get absolute majorities for everyone." |
| "More often than not we've had a coalition or a minority government... and it has meant that everybody has been able to play with a lot of power on the political stage. | |
| "People will try and find solutions, less than try and find aggression. | "People will try and find solutions, less than try and find aggression. |
| "It doesn't always work like that but there is an element of people trying to find working solutions together." | "It doesn't always work like that but there is an element of people trying to find working solutions together." |