Government timidity shows Labour's poverty of ideas

1.33.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 27th Mar 2006

Ahead of the Assembly's annual bid for new laws at Westminster, Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Labour of having run out of ideas for governing Wales.

Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, accused Labour of clinging to power without purpose. Later this week the Assembly will debate the requests to Westminster for Welsh legislation. The government has submitted just two bills - both of which have previously been unsuccessful. Welsh Liberal Democrats support both bills, but slammed Labour's lack of ambition.

Mr German said: "Labour's bid to their London-based paymasters show their poverty of ideas. Where are the radical ideas to make Wales a better place to live. Their two bills are welcome, but Wales got three bills last year. Only asking for two this year is timidity itself.

"Labour can hear the clock ticking on this Assembly. Time is running out on their lame duck administration. Clinging to office, but failing to provide the strong leadership Wales needs.

"If you do what you've always done, you get what you've always got. Wales needs a shake up."

Mr German highlighted three more bids the government could have made:

Devolution of Powers over Energy (>50MW)

Devolve powers over policing

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"At their conference over the weekend we have heard a lot from Labour about 'the bogeymen' and how ghastly it would be if Labour didn't run Wales. But I heard no positive reasons to look forward to perpetual Labour government in the Assembly - particularly now the Assembly will have extended powers.

"In 2007 Rhodri Morgan will be campaigning for 'two more years', but will anyone have the faintest idea what for. Labour are intent on governing without changing. They are fresh out of ideas."

Notes:

The Labour Assembly Government has published just two proposals for primary legislation for the 2005-06 session of Parliament:

Housing (Suspension of Right to Buy) (Wales) Bill

Under the proposal, areas of housing pressure (rural or urban) would be considered for designation following application to the Assembly Government by local housing authorities, which would need to provide supporting evidence. If approved, suspension would be for a period of 5 years, but could be renewed for a further period(s).

Local Government (Town and Community Councils) (Wales) Bill

The Bill would enable the Assembly Government to implement those recommendations of the Aberystwyth research study on the role and functions of community and town councils which require amendments to legislation. The policy objective would be to enable local councils in Wales to deliver a wider range of services and actions locally, and increase the effectiveness of their representational role and their ability to work in partnership with other bodies.