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Queen opens stronger new assembly | Queen opens stronger new assembly |
(10 minutes later) | |
The Queen has arrived in Cardiff Bay to open the third session of the Welsh assembly as it gains new powers. | The Queen has arrived in Cardiff Bay to open the third session of the Welsh assembly as it gains new powers. |
Arriving with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, she was greeted at the Senedd by Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-Thomas. | Arriving with the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall, she was greeted at the Senedd by Presiding Officer Dafydd Elis-Thomas. |
A 21-gun salute rang out on board HMS Exeter, docked in Cardiff Bay. | A 21-gun salute rang out on board HMS Exeter, docked in Cardiff Bay. |
It is her fifth visit to the assembly where extended powers mean laws can be drawn up in Wales, though they will have to be voted on in Parliament. | It is her fifth visit to the assembly where extended powers mean laws can be drawn up in Wales, though they will have to be voted on in Parliament. |
Officially opening the Senedd, she told Assembly Members: "The Government of Wales Act opens a new era for devolution." | Officially opening the Senedd, she told Assembly Members: "The Government of Wales Act opens a new era for devolution." |
It is up to the newly-elected AMs, she added, to ensure policy and legislation meets the aspirations of the people of Wales. | |
The Queen delivered an opening address to the Senedd | |
The meeting of the Queen and Mr Morgan 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 marks the new constitutional relationship in which the first minister is now officially appointed by the monarch. |
In another change to assembly procedure, the monarch will meet with the first minister - who leads a minority Labour administration in the Senedd after last month's election - similar to her weekly talks with the prime minister. | In another change to assembly procedure, the monarch will meet with the first minister - who leads a minority Labour administration in the Senedd after last month's election - similar to her weekly talks with the prime minister. |
Speaking on Radio Wales before the opening, he said he had not prepared a script for the royal meeting. | Speaking on Radio Wales before the opening, he said he had not prepared a script for the royal meeting. |
He added that he thought both he and the Queen would probably be "playing it off the cuff". | He added that he thought both he and the Queen would probably be "playing it off the cuff". |
Law-making powers | |
"I guess I will be listening to her advice and she will be listening to my advice as well," he said. | "I guess I will be listening to her advice and she will be listening to my advice as well," he said. |
Mr Morgan added that it was too early to predict the outcome of the meeting as it would be the "first of a new kind of audience". | Mr Morgan added that it was too early to predict the outcome of the meeting as it would be the "first of a new kind of audience". |
Moving onto the subject of increased powers for the assembly, Mr Morgan said it was important they were used to the utmost. | Moving onto the subject of increased powers for the assembly, Mr Morgan said it was important they were used to the utmost. |
"We have to find a way of using these new powers to the full, using good old British and Welsh common sense," he said. | "We have to find a way of using these new powers to the full, using good old British and Welsh common sense," he said. |
The new legislation 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 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. |
But any laws have to be approved by the Houses of Parliament. | But any 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. |
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. |
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 Cymru | 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 Cymru |
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. |
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, |
Click here to e-mail the programme with questions for the politicians | Click here to e-mail the programme with questions for the politicians |