UK Parliament / Open data

Government of Wales Bill

Proceeding contribution from Nick Ainger (Labour) in the House of Commons on Monday, 9 January 2006. It occurred during Debate on bills on Government of Wales Bill.
No. I have told the hon. Gentleman that I will not give way. The Arbuthnott inquiry in Scotland is also highlighting problems relating to dual candidacy. The point eloquently made by my hon. Friend the Member for Caerphilly (Mr. David) is that people do not see how losers becoming winners can be justified. That is the issue that we are attempting to address. Opposition Members claim that our proposals are partisan. In fact, because there will be no parachute or life raft, the people who are likely to lose out are not Opposition AMs, but Labour AMs. They are the ones who face losing their seats. It is incredible to claim that the measure is partisan. Finally on that point, let me tell the hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy that New Brunswick is still considering whether to ban dual candidacy. My right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen discussed the voting system and the number of Assembly Members. I am aware of no demand for the number of AMs to be increased. He and my hon. Friends the Members for Ynys Môn (Albert Owen) and for Wrexham (Ian Lucas) also talked about the system of proportional representation. If we are being accused of gerrymandering through our provisions on dual candidacy, I hate think what the reaction would be if we proposed an end to the additional member system. If we created a wholly proportional system, the Labour party would be in power permanently in the Assembly. Labour is the party of devolution. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State pointed out, it was Labour that first created the Cabinet post of Secretary of State for Wales, Labour that extended the responsibilities of the Welsh Office and Labour that gave the people of Wales the chance to control their own affairs. I urge the House to reject the Conservative reasoned amendment and I commend the Bill to the House. Question put, That the amendment be made:— The House divided: Ayes 161, Noes 341.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
441 c122-3 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Back to top