WALES AND THE NEW UNION

It is Interesting to note that Labour in Westminster initially said that they were going big on devolution in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 but are remained fairly tight lipped if not literally silent on any further devolution for Wales e.g. The Crown Estates, Police and Criminal Justice, railways. etc 

Interestingly enough where this may get even more interesting is they one of the bills mooted in the Kings Speech - aims to bring the railways into state ownership. Now railways in Scotland are already effectively state owned - the state in question being Scotland.  And in Wales, as you would expect, only part of railways in Wales are devolved, and the rest of them run by three or four franchises.

I wonder if Labour in Westminster will simply ask for the devolved bit back? And if they do, I would suspect, based on Labour Wales’s timid behaviour towards the various former Conservative Westminster governments, simply expect the Labour in Wales branch office to quite happily hand the fairly limited control of railways in Wales back to Westminster. 

While policing is already devolved in some parts of England, and may well be devoted to new devoted regions in England there appears to be no chance of it being devolved in Wales by the current Labour in Westminster government - and it won’t even be asked for. While the creation of a council of the regions and nations is a welcome step up for the English regions, it’s clearly a step down for Cymru / Scotland and NI.  

Clearly Labour in Wales under its new leader has absolutely no intention of asking for even a portion of the revenue ( current and potential ) to be devolved to the Welsh Government in Cardiff. This may simply confirm that Labour in Wales has completed the transition from ideological to administrative and exits simply to administer rather than to innovate or even campaign beyond periodic rhetoric at election time. 

So much for making devolution work and kick starting our economy? Perhaps Labour in Wales’s lack of vision will lead to a new slogan different from the positively Orwellian “Stability is change” we may yet end up with “Shush! This is as good as it gets!”. It certainly does not have to be this way… Labour in Wales has run its course, bereft of any ideas or vision. Roll on 2026…

FIGHTING FUEL POVERTY

Plaid Cymru urged  the UK Government to include the introduction of an Energy Social Tariff in the King’s Speech on 7th November, as millions face fuel poverty this winter.  

The party’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, said that the current system of only giving those on means-tested benefits “misses thousands of people living in fuel poverty.”  

The proposed social tariff aims to address the pressing issue of rising energy prices and the growing number of individuals struggling to pay their energy bills.  

Energy prices are around £700 higher than in October 2021, when the energy crisis began, and are expected to remain at elevated levels in the long term. Meanwhile, record numbers of people are seeking energy debt support in Wales.   

Plaid Cymru says that a social tariff could offer price protection by lowering unit rates, standing charges, or providing bill rebates, calculated by using a formula that accounts for their energy consumption and household income. Other countries such as Belgium already have energy social tariffs which offer lower prices for households struggling with energy bills.

Mr Lake also suggests that a social tariff could help to reduce inflation by bringing down the cost of energy bills, and the money saved by households would likely find its way into local economies.  

Ben Lake MP said:  

“As winter starts to bite, the UK Government needs to be innovative in finding ways of protecting the most vulnerable from the harsh burden of unaffordable energy costs. 

The King’s Speech must include a fairer system for targeted energy bill support in the form of a social tariff.  

“In a time when rising energy costs are worsened by the impact of high inflation, many households find their disposable income having dwindled. Even if energy prices see a temporary dip, many households still grapple with significant energy debts.  

“The current system of energy bills support, doesn't match the scale of the problem. 

Government support which only focuses on those receiving means tested benefits does not cover all of the 6.3 million UK households who are in fuel poverty, which has increased from 4.5 million over the past two years. An energy social tariff, on the other hand, would offer price protection to all households facing energy bill difficulties. By lowering unit rates, standing charges, or providing bill rebates, a social tariff could offer long-term security and much-needed relief to those facing bills which are over 50% higher than pre-crisis levels.  

“The Government has long promised a consultation on a social tariff. Plaid Cymru urges the Prime Minister to include proposals for a social tariff in the King's Speech, so that people can have some confidence that they can stay warm this winter."