Leaked briefing exposes "business as usual" government

11.43.09am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 24th Oct 2007

Plaid Cymru have "let the cat out of the bag" on how being in government is undermining the party's very reason for being - devolving as much power as possible to Wales.

In a secret internal briefing leaked to the Welsh Liberal Democrats, a Plaid Cymru special adviser directs Plaid AMs to vote against party policy on issues such as nuclear power and scrapping council tax as they are "Westminster issues".

The Welsh Lib Dems today lead a debate in the Senedd on fair voting for council elections, a policy previously supported by Plaid although it is not currently devolved to the Assembly.

Jenny Randerson, local government spokesperson for the Welsh Lib Dems, said: "Making sure that every vote counts in local elections is a long-standing policy for both my party and Plaid Cymru.

"This is the first time that the new Assembly gets a proper chance to vote on this issue, and help end decades of parties running our town halls with large majorities despite winning only a minority of the votes. Fair votes, through the STV system, will also ensure that the councillors elected will reflect who the electorate voted for in a more direct way.

"The challenge is there for Plaid. As it stands this is a 'Westminster issue', but my party wants to see it devolved. Plaid used to agree with us on this but the cat is out of the bag now.

"If they follow their own special adviser's directions then they will vote against party policy on issues such as this and extra police officers for Wales, axing the council tax and saying no to nuclear power because they're issues for Westminster. We're used to this kind of anti-devolution excuses from elements within Labour, yet to hear it from Plaid is astounding.

"If they are willing to vote against important policies to improve life in Wales because they are currently non-devolved then surely Plaid voters will be asking 'what are Plaid for?'. Through the new settlement, the Assembly could easily get the powers over these issues. The Welsh Liberal Democrats remain committed to getting the tools needed to do the job.

"Plaid have swallowed Labour excuses on these issues hook, line and sinker. It's a Labour-Plaid government in name, but its business as usual for timid, muddling and Labour government in Wales."

Notes/Nodiadau:

The text of the motion reads as below (voting will take place at around 17.00)

Item 7: Welsh Liberal Democrats Debate (60 mins)

NDM3701 Kirsty Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire)

The National Assembly calls on the Welsh Assembly Government to support fair voting for local government elections.