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| Plaid peer change 'long overdue' | Plaid peer change 'long overdue' |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The decision to send members of Plaid Cymru to the House of Lords is "long overdue", according to the Welsh assembly's presiding officer. | The decision to send members of Plaid Cymru to the House of Lords is "long overdue", according to the Welsh assembly's presiding officer. |
| Plaid had always rejected the policy of creating its own peers because it wanted the Lords to be fully elected. | Plaid had always rejected the policy of creating its own peers because it wanted the Lords to be fully elected. |
| But Dafydd Elis-Thomas said his party's vote for policy change would ensure it is better represented at Westminster. | But Dafydd Elis-Thomas said his party's vote for policy change would ensure it is better represented at Westminster. |
| The process of nominating and selecting suitable candidates to go to the Lords will now begin. | The process of nominating and selecting suitable candidates to go to the Lords will now begin. |
| A meeting to decide the matter will be held in January. | A meeting to decide the matter will be held in January. |
| Plaid parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd had also argued that new powers for the Welsh assembly, which are ratified by Parliament, meant the party needed peers. | Plaid parliamentary leader Elfyn Llwyd had also argued that new powers for the Welsh assembly, which are ratified by Parliament, meant the party needed peers. |
| Members voted on the policy change at a meeting of its national council in Aberystwyth on Saturday. | Members voted on the policy change at a meeting of its national council in Aberystwyth on Saturday. |
| At Plaid's conference in September representatives agreed to review the policy after Mr Llwyd argued that peers were required to ensure planned legislation for Wales was not blocked at Westminster. | At Plaid's conference in September representatives agreed to review the policy after Mr Llwyd argued that peers were required to ensure planned legislation for Wales was not blocked at Westminster. |
| The members were also required to reflect the views of the people of Wales in the Upper Chamber, he said. | The members were also required to reflect the views of the people of Wales in the Upper Chamber, he said. |
| The Welsh assembly's new powers under the Government of Wales act allows it to make its own laws in devolved areas, with the permission of Parliament. | The Welsh assembly's new powers under the Government of Wales act allows it to make its own laws in devolved areas, with the permission of Parliament. |
| We have seen with the cash for honours scandal and all the problems that this has induced that the Lords is not a very democratic institution Bethan Jenkins AM | We have seen with the cash for honours scandal and all the problems that this has induced that the Lords is not a very democratic institution Bethan Jenkins AM |
| Mr Llwyd warned that many in the House of Lords might want to block such permission, known as Orders in Council. | |
| Lord Elis-Thomas, the only Plaid party member to sit as a peer, has sat as a cross bencher, not as a party appointee, since 1992. | Lord Elis-Thomas, the only Plaid party member to sit as a peer, has sat as a cross bencher, not as a party appointee, since 1992. |
| Speaking after the vote, he said: "I think it's long overdue because we have not been represented as a party and as a point of view in the politics of Wales in the second chamber of the UK, especially now when legislation, the orders that empower the assembly, are being made through Westminster." | Speaking after the vote, he said: "I think it's long overdue because we have not been represented as a party and as a point of view in the politics of Wales in the second chamber of the UK, especially now when legislation, the orders that empower the assembly, are being made through Westminster." |
| But there was some opposition within the party ranks. | But there was some opposition within the party ranks. |
| Reform | Reform |
| Bethan Jenkins AM argued the Lords needed to be completely reformed before Plaid representatives were sent there. | Bethan Jenkins AM argued the Lords needed to be completely reformed before Plaid representatives were sent there. |
| "We have seen with the cash for honours scandal and all the problems that this has induced that the Lords is not a very democratic institution," she said. | "We have seen with the cash for honours scandal and all the problems that this has induced that the Lords is not a very democratic institution," she said. |
| "We should be utilising our resources in other ways. | "We should be utilising our resources in other ways. |
| "We should be looking forward to the referendum in 2011 or before - that is where we need to put our best people." | "We should be looking forward to the referendum in 2011 or before - that is where we need to put our best people." |
| Plaid last discussed this issue in 1999 when a vote went against the motion. | Plaid last discussed this issue in 1999 when a vote went against the motion. |
| Meanwhile members of Plaid's national council also decided to note its vice president's paper which queried the party's support for a new military training academy in the Vale of Glamorgan. | Meanwhile members of Plaid's national council also decided to note its vice president's paper which queried the party's support for a new military training academy in the Vale of Glamorgan. |
| This means that the issues raised by MEP Jilll Evans, who also chairs CND Cymru, could be revisited in the future. | This means that the issues raised by MEP Jilll Evans, who also chairs CND Cymru, could be revisited in the future. |
| She believes the proposed 5,000-job centre is inconsistent with the spirit of the party's defence policy. | She believes the proposed 5,000-job centre is inconsistent with the spirit of the party's defence policy. |
| The council said more work was needed on the paper. | The council said more work was needed on the paper. |
| A party spokesman denied that they were avoiding the issue. | A party spokesman denied that they were avoiding the issue. |