Tories threatening devolution, say Plaid

Mar 1 2008 by Martin Shipton, Western Mail

A PLAID Cymru politician has warned that the future of the Welsh constitution is at risk as a result of Conservative opposition to devolving housing powers to Wales.

Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood chairs the committee examining the Legislative Competence Order designed to suspend the right of council tenants to buy their homes in areas of housing pressure.

She has a received an email from Tory housing spokesman Mark Isherwood in which he states, “Further to a Welsh Conservative group meeting. . . please be aware that the Welsh Conservative group would not be able to support the LCO as originally drafted. Please further note that were this to be amended to a more general reference to affordable housing, without reference to right to buy or any other matter, we could only support this if it included a statement specifically excluding right to buy.”

All of the LCO committees have so far reached a consensus, and formal opposition to a draw- down of powers from Westminster is unprecedented in the third term of the Assembly.

Ms Wood said, “I would be disappointed if the Conservatives did not support allowing the people of Wales to decide on the future of affordable housing.

“I have long supported suspending the right to buy because the policy has been a disaster. It has decimated the social housing stock which should be available to working people.

“Of course, the devolution of these powers would allow a future government to reintroduce the right to buy if they saw fit, so the Tories’ position is illogical.

“If they support devolution, they should support this LCO. They could still oppose any measure to suspend the right to buy that comes before the Assembly. That would be a much more principled step for them to take.

“If the Conservatives want to avoid being seen as anti-Welsh and anti devolution, then they need to explain why they don’t trust the elected government of Wales to decide on these matters. Yet again, it seems they are prepared to trust the view from London over the democratic voice of Wales.

“I hope this does not set a precedent which will result in Conservative MPs and peers blocking the proposal in Westminster. Such an outcome could cause major constitutional difficulties.”

Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said, “The party at both Westminster and Cardiff Bay has been urged to oppose this proposal, which would make no difference whatever to the provision of affordable housing.

“What it would do is penalise hardworking families by depriving them of the opportunity to buy their own home. Why should they be penalised?”