July 2007
After a decade of political stability we are entering a period of considerable change and some uncertainty. Regular readers of this column may have detected that I have a great deal of respect for Gordon Brown who became Prime Minister on 27th June. That is not to say that the outgoing Prime Minister Tony Blair does not attract my praise. I believe he has been a remarkable Prime Minster. He leaves on a high note with great success in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, my main criticism of him – the war in Iraq – remains unchanged.
Gordon Brown will inevitably be a different kind of leader. But he will continue broadly to embrace the same principles of fairness and social justice along with support for a strong enterprising economy. I hope and believe he will pursue more cautious and consensual policies focusing in particular on UN led initiatives in the Middle East and Africa.
His early remarks about needing to listen and learn are worthy objectives but always difficult to achieve. His first speech as the new leader of the Labour Party was very inspirational by emphasising affordable housing, educational opportunities for all and the National Health Service. I know from discussions I have had with young people in the Aberavon constituency that these are the big issues for them.
The same approach of listening will need to be pursued by Rhodri Morgan and the Labour Welsh Assembly Government if perhaps for slightly different reasons. At one level, the Welsh Assembly results were clear: Labour was by far the largest party and therefore had the right and the main responsibility to form a stable Government. But on another level, because it did not have an overall majority the three opposition parties could form an alternative government. The problem with that alternative is that the voters were never offered such a so-called 'rainbow coalition' in the run-up to polling day. As someone said to me, 'There's no blue in a Welsh rainbow!'
As Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee I have a new role in this new era. My committee will be scrutinising proposed new legislation coming from the Welsh Assembly. My committee is a real 'rainbow' coalition made up of all four political parties.
I will end, as usual, on a non-controversial note. I was recently invited to perform the opening of the local Filipino Summer Festival at Baglan. I was delighted to meet members of the Filipino community in Britain from as far away as Milton Keynes. It was a great day, enjoyed by all especially the four basketball teams from Llanelli, Carmarthen, Port Talbot and Bridgend.
