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Queen opens stronger new assembly Queen opens stronger new assembly
(about 1 hour later)
The Queen is to open the third session of the Welsh assembly at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay as it gains new powers.The Queen is to open the third session of the Welsh assembly at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay as it gains new powers.
But although the assembly will gain muscle, MPs have warned that there will only be time for Westminster to agree four or five new Welsh laws each year. For the first time, its powers have been expanded so laws can be drawn up in Wales, though they will still have to be voted on in Parliament.
Other changes will see the Queen meet the first minister, similar to her weekly talks with the prime minister.Other changes will see the Queen meet the first minister, similar to her weekly talks with the prime minister.
Rhodri Morgan is leading a minority Labour administration in the Senedd after last month's election.Rhodri Morgan is leading a minority Labour administration in the Senedd after last month's election.
The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, will also attend the ceremony.The Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall, will also attend the ceremony.
The meeting of the Queen and Mr Morgan, which may become a regular event, marks the new constitutional relationship in which the first minister is now officially appointed by the monarch.The meeting of the Queen and Mr Morgan, which may become a regular event, marks the new constitutional relationship in which the first minister is now officially appointed by the monarch.
This government will have to engage with other parties... this will call for maturity on all sides and can only lead to a more vibrant democracy Assembly Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-ThomasThis government will have to engage with other parties... this will call for maturity on all sides and can only lead to a more vibrant democracy Assembly Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-Thomas
The new legislation also allows the assembly to make its own laws and has provided for an eventual move to full law-making powers, but only after a referendum.The new legislation also allows the assembly to make its own laws and has provided for an eventual move to full law-making powers, but only after a referendum.
However, any such laws have to be approved by the Houses of Parliament.However, any such laws have to be approved by the Houses of Parliament.
A committee of MPs has told AMs that they should ask Westminster for permission to pass new laws only a handful of times a year due to the parliamentary timetable.A committee of MPs has told AMs that they should ask Westminster for permission to pass new laws only a handful of times a year due to the parliamentary timetable.
The Commons Welsh affairs committee says that four or five "orders in council" would be "manageable", as each request is expected to take between three and six months.
The MPs said they agreed with Wales Office Minister Nick Ainger, who described estimates that up to 30 orders in council could be requested as "unattainable".
The committee said each request should be considered by the House of Commons as a whole.
On Monday, the Archbishop of Wales criticised Wales's new legislating system as "tortuous and convoluted", saying it did not go far enough.On Monday, the Archbishop of Wales criticised Wales's new legislating system as "tortuous and convoluted", saying it did not go far enough.
'Under the shadow''Under the shadow'
Labour took control in the Senedd after three weeks of uncertainty following the 3 May election.Labour took control in the Senedd after three weeks of uncertainty following the 3 May election.
Labour, with 26 of the 60 seats, is the biggest party, but three rivals - Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats - may form a so-called "rainbow coalition" to force Mr Morgan out of power.Labour, with 26 of the 60 seats, is the biggest party, but three rivals - Plaid Cymru, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats - may form a so-called "rainbow coalition" to force Mr Morgan out of power.
However, Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas has told AMs that post-election events did not amount to a "crisis" and were in fact "very exciting".
As a Welsh person, I do not see how the monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation Bethan Jenkins AM, Plaid CymruAs a Welsh person, I do not see how the monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation Bethan Jenkins AM, Plaid Cymru
Lord Elis-Thomas, speaking at the Senedd on the eve of the royal opening, said that "one of our problems in Wales is that we are still under the shadow of the Westminster two-party system." Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas, speaking at the Senedd on the eve of the royal opening, said that "one of our problems in Wales is that we are still under the shadow of the Westminster two-party system".
But he said that was "not the model of Welsh politics and we should not be applying it to Wales".But he said that was "not the model of Welsh politics and we should not be applying it to Wales".
He told AMs: "We will now enter a period with a minority government, and this government will have to engage with other parties in order to get its business through the assembly.He told AMs: "We will now enter a period with a minority government, and this government will have to engage with other parties in order to get its business through the assembly.
"This will call for maturity on all sides and can only lead to a more vibrant democracy, which will increase voter engagement and strengthen devolution.""This will call for maturity on all sides and can only lead to a more vibrant democracy, which will increase voter engagement and strengthen devolution."
Two Plaid AMs, Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins, are boycotting the royal opening, and will visit a homelessness project in Swansea instead.Two Plaid AMs, Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins, are boycotting the royal opening, and will visit a homelessness project in Swansea instead.
"As a Welsh person, I do not see how the monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation," said Ms Jenkins,"As a Welsh person, I do not see how the monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation," said Ms Jenkins,
Ms Wood said she "disagreed with an unelected head of state", and she looked forward to the day when Wales was a republic.
  • Week In Week Out on BBC 1 Wales will broadcast a live debate at 2235 BST on Tuesday featuring Welsh party leaders.
  • Week In Week Out on BBC 1 Wales will broadcast a live debate at 2235 BST on Tuesday featuring Welsh party leaders.
    • Click here to e-mail the programme with questions for the politiciansClick here to e-mail the programme with questions for the politicians