Wales Must Not Suffer From Hain's Divided Loyalty

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 9th May 2005

Divided loyalties from the minister in charge of giving the Assembly greater powers risk another botched job, according to Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German.

His comments came in response to the news that Peter Hain is to be Secretary of State for both Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr German said: "While Peter Hain has done two jobs before, he has not had the territorial conflicts he may face now. For example, he has been luke-warm on gaining Objective One funding for Wales, but in Northern Ireland, they are equally keen to get further European aid. And where will his loyalties lie when it comes to inward investment? Will he be encouraging investors to come to Wales or Northern Ireland?

"Equally important is the question of how much time Northern Ireland will take up? The change in political balance as a result of the election would seem to make the job of re-establishing devolution harder than ever. If he is, as he has told interviewers, giving that his full attention, then it seems unlikely he will be able to steer through development of a proper parliament in Wales.

"As far as I can work out, Labour seems set on a white paper, a bill and a referendum on the future powers of the Assembly. If we are to avoid the botched job that Ron Davies steered through Westminster and create a proper parliament, as they have in Scotland, then this needs to be handled with care and attention. It cannot be done as a part-time matter when there's some down time in Northern Ireland.

"This is vital legislation for Wales, and in the absence of any leadership on this issue from the First Minister, I hope the Secretary of State will not be too distracted."