[A-List] UK state: Peter Hain and Welsh assembly campaign

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Hain praises the Welsh way

Minister keeps his distance from Downing Street

Anne Perkins, political correspondent
Thursday February 27, 2003
The Guardian

Peter Hain, the secretary of state for Wales, will distance himself today
from Downing Street when he launches Labour's campaign for the Welsh
assembly elections at the party's conference in Swansea.

Mr Hain is a one-man constitutional bridge between Westminster - where Welsh
MPs are anxious to hold on to the powers they still have - and Cardiff,
where assembly members are demanding more power and clear red water between
England and Wales.

Mr Hain will rally activists by praising "made in Wales" decisions such as
the rejection of foundation hospitals and specialist schools and the
introduction of student maintenance grants which have taken Wales on a
separate path.

The party's polling shows that Wales's first minster, Rhodri Morgan - who
pioneered the idea of clear red water - has huge support across the
principality with a 75% satisfaction rating across the electorate. Other
polls suggest the assembly is becoming widely accepted.

"The assembly is bringing real benefits to people across Wales," Mr Hain
will say. "Grants, benefiting thousands of Welsh students on low incomes by
£1,500 a year. Scrapping of prescription charges for under-25s. Free nursing
care for nursing home residents. Free dental checks for the over-60s and
under-25s. Free bus travel for 600,000 pensioners ... Labour is delivering
real change."

But he will not mention the outstanding point of difference between Cardiff
and Westminster - whether it is possible for Wales to avoid tuition fees
when they are introduced in England in three years' time. It is understood
that the education secretary, Charles Clarke, and Mr Hain have agreed a deal
in principle, but it involves devising a complex formula to accommodate the
transfer of students in and out of the principality.

Much more difficult, though, will be assuaging fears of Welsh MPs who are
anxious that any further devolution of power undermines their role.

There is already strong pressure from Labour's main opponents in Wales,
Plaid Cymru, for further powers to be devolved. At the moment the assembly
cannot pass its own laws so Labour MPs at Westminster have been required to
vote for legislation which conflicts with official policy.

The assembly has almost complete control over health and education, but not
Home Office affairs such as policing, nor culture, media and sport.

Mr Morgan has conceded an inquiry into the assembly's power, but it will not
start work until after the May elections. If the nationalists improve on
their showing in 1999, when they won 17 seats to Labour's 28, Labour will
struggle to fight off demands for greater powers.

Mr Hain will call for an end to the Liberal Democrat coalition which has
supported Mr Morgan for the past three years. "We believe in putting Wales
above party interest. But, let's be clear. True stability would come from a
majority Labour government. So we are fighting to win. And win outright.
That is best for Labour. But, most importantly, it is best for Wales."

A Welsh Channel 4 documentary last night claimed some senior Labour
politicians had colluded with Plaid Cymru to unseat Downing Street's chosen
first minister, Alun Michael, in favour of Mr Morgan because they feared Mr
Michael's appointment was damaging the fledgling assembly. Mr Michael
resigned immediately before he faced defeat in a no confidence motion three
years ago.