‘Given Plaid’s long opposition to the Lords it’s unsurprising people aren’t that keen to go there’

Jan 1 2008 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

AN UNPRECEDENTED election for seats in Parliament where candidates seem embarrassed to put their names forward will get under way tomorrow.

As yet, no members of Plaid Cymru have announced that they will stand in an internal election for nomination to the House of Lords.

But, while it is widely assumed that the party’s former president Dafydd Wigley will be persuaded to let his name go forward, Plaid could find it difficult to find a suitably qualified woman for the role.

The party decided in November to overturn its longstanding objection to sending people to the Lords. Members were persuaded that many decades of opposition to the undemocratic nature of the upper chamber should be set aside because of the recent constitutional changes affecting Wales.

Under the new Government of Wales Act, both the Commons and the Lords are able to veto requests from the National Assembly for the right to make Welsh laws in specific policy areas. In these circumstances, most members of Plaid’s national council accepted the argument that Plaid needed a voice in the Lords.

The national council decided to organise an election, which will take place after hustings in Pontrhydfendigaid, Ceredigion, on January 26. At least three names – including at least one woman – will then be submitted for nomination as peers.

Getting individuals to put their names forward has not, however, been met with great enthusiasm. Mr Wigley, who has turned down a peerage on at least three previous occasions, said he would only be prepared to accept nomination if there was a specific job to be done. He told the Western Mail in November that he would prefer there to be a team of new Labour and Plaid peers working closely with the Assembly Government to help smooth the passage of new legislation for Wales.

Yesterday we found one Plaid woman who confirmed she was being “heavily canvassed” to put her name forward.

Pauline Jarman was AM for South Wales Central during the Assembly’s first term. She led Rhondda Cynon Taf Council – the second biggest local authority in Wales – for five years until 2004, and currently leads the Plaid opposition group on the council.

Mrs Jarman said, “I am thinking about it very carefully. Before I make a decision, I need to know exactly what it would entail.

“Like most members of Plaid, I have never liked the House of Lords. I particularly dislike the hereditary element and would prefer the second chamber to be entirely elected. But I accept the argument that the current constitutional settlement means we need to have voices there.

“When I started out in politics 30 years ago I was as rare as a golden eagle in Valleys politics – I was a woman and a member of Plaid Cymru. Now I’m being heavily canvassed to stand for a seat in the Lords. I’d only be interested if I felt I could do something for Wales.

“During my time as an AM I enjoyed serving on the legislation committee. I have always believed that in politics, the devil is in the detail, so I think I could do a job there But I need to know a lot more about the practicalities before committing myself.”

Another possible female contender is Janet Davies, the former leader of Taff Ely Council who served as an AM for South Wales West for eight years until her retirement last May.

Plaid president Dafydd Iwan, who has already ruled himself out as a potential candidate for the Lords, said he fully supported the decision to change party policy on pragmatic grounds. “Given Plaid’s longstanding opposition to the Lords, it’s not a surprise that people aren’t wholly enthusiastic about going there.”