May clings to power
200 out of 317 Conservative MPs support her to stay on as leader PM tells them she won’t stand at next general election New First Minister Drakeford calls crisis ‘madness’
MARK DRAKEFORD has become Wales’ First Minister. Mr Drakeford won a vote of Labour members to become the party’s new leader last Thursday, which was followed by a vote of all AMs.
A vote took place in the Senedd yesterday to select the new First Minister after Carwyn Jones submitted his resignation to the Queen on Tuesday after leading his final First Minister’s Questions.
Plaid Cymru’s leader Adam Price and Welsh Conservative leader Paul Davies both put their names forward for the vote.
Labour has 29 members, but both Kirsty Williams and Dafydd Elis-Thomas gave Mr Drakeford their vote. Carwyn Jones, who has taken a seat on the backbench in the chamber next to Julie Morgan and Jane Hutt, also voted for his Labour colleague.
Neither Presiding Officer Elin Jones nor Deputy Presiding Officer Ann Jones can take part in the vote.
Ukip members abstained, Mandy Jones was absent, and Independent Neil McEvoy voted for Plaid leader Adam Price.
As he received half of the votes cast, Mr Drakeford won the ballot and y Llywydd now puts his name forward to the Queen. He will also need to be sworn in by a judge.
There was enthusiastic clapping in the chamber after the announcement.
“I really am very grateful for all the messages that I have received”, Mr Drakeford said.
“Today, quite rightly, parties have put forward their nominations and we have carried out that essential democratic process, an election.”
Mr Drakeford said he wants to be a “beacon of hope in darkening skies”.
He said “the skies around us have darkened even further in the days since”.
Speaking about the no confidence vote against Prime Minister Theresa May, Mr Drakeford said: “A species of madness has descended upon the Conservative Party.”
Mr Drakeford thanked his predecessor Carwyn Jones and paid tribute to his friend and first First Minister, the late Rhodri Morgan.
Speaking about taking First Minister’s Questions, he said: “Amongst the many attractions of being First Minister that opportunity has not been the one that most immediately appeals to me. That is partly because of those long years every Tuesday of preparing the then First Minister for that ordeal.”
He repeated a remark Mr Morgan would make before he entered First Minister’s Questions: “tin hat on”.
Mr Drakeford then said: “If there are any family members of mine still wondering what I need for Christmas, you’ve
heard it this afternoon. I, suitably hatted, look forward to seeing you all on the first Tuesday we all meet again”.
Mark Drakeford now needs to select a cabinet, something he is expected to do quickly.
According to a Lib Dem statement, he has already selected Kirsty Williams to continue with the education brief, carrying on the role she has been in since a deal was drawn up after the 2016 election.
In a note titled “Agreement between the First Minister and Education Secretary”, they say: “We affirm our commitment to the 2016 progressive agreement – both the policy programme and ways of working.
“We agree to these common and education priorities, maintaining and promoting our distinct party identities and policies, whilst reflecting our range of shared values and ambitions.
“Working together in government, we commit to pushing the boundaries of our devolved powers to help people, communities and the country as a whole to fulfil our potential.
“Recognising the significant progress made since 2016, and the many real challenges facing Wales, this updated agreement demonstrates our commitment to providing our nation with a government that every day will work towards a fair and just society.”
FIRST Minister Mark Drakeford has promised that “our most radical days lay ahead of us”.
His commitment to a circular economy, one in which Wales closes the loop on resources and wealth, could not be clearer.
Three paragraphs into his leadership manifesto he states: “We have to use infrastructure and skills to raise productivity, just as we have to move away from the ‘take, make, dispose’ linear economy model towards a circular economy – and my ambitions set out for the environment show just how urgent that need has become. A circular economy minimises the share of the world’s resources we take by reducing waste and emissions. Reuse, repair, recycle.
“A circular economy is not predicated on a reduction in the living standards of today’s citizens, nor on loss of revenue or extra costs for today’s manufacturers. It does require a change in thinking and action for both, but those are all achievable.”
Circular Economy Wales wholeheartedly agrees that the dual goal of safeguarding living standards whilst transitioning to a 100% sustainable future in terms of resources, energy and food, is achievable and should be our priority, and eliminating waste is an essential first step.
We’re also excited that his agenda sets out to “redesign the way in which government invests in economic growth, so that public investment has a social purpose”.
Whilst there has been some progress made towards social clauses within procurement of contracts and services across Wales, the change has been slow: more often than not an optional extra and at worst ignored all together. Mr Drakeford has been very clear that the full and lasting benefits of government spend should be felt right at the coalface in our communities.
It’s encouraging that throughout his manifesto, his goals aren’t just slogans. In terms of social procurement, he proposes to “invest in a new pan-Wales public sector training programme for ethical procurement, making sure that skill levels of existing staff meet today’s needs and creating the professionals of the future”.
Once rolled out, we very much hope that the growing social enterprise sector in Wales will be recognised across the board for its strengths; of solving problems left unsolved by others and helping Wales move forward towards its sustainable goals.
Antur Waunfawr, Crest Cooperative, Pembrokeshire Frame and Newport Wastesavers are just a handful of successful examples amongst many in the social economy in Wales who are helping pioneer a new future for us all. Priorities and goals that support their growth is to be welcomed 100%.
There is a glue of course that allows us the luxury of exploring and adapting to a totally sustainable society and socially focused spending. Mr Drakeford has outlined his commitment to the “foundational economy”, that is, all of the basic services on which every citizen relies upon which keep us safe, sound and civilised.
His commitment to the expansion of community owned energy anchors a key part of this economy to each and every one of us. This again is a fundamental part of our journey towards a global standard circular economy.
The manifesto focus upon “wind, water and waves” providing the cornerstone for Wales’ future economy is very exciting, not least because it will help remove, once and for all, the idea that burning expensive finite resources to create energy is good value.
Tapping into the heat bi-product of the manufacturing industry is a totally different proposition however, circular thinking yet again from Mr Drakeford.
One of the only water companies in the UK to balance its books and not raise prices is our largest mutual, Welsh Water of course. A mutually run energy company for the people of Wales is long overdue. Mr Drakeford’s radical proposal is the game changer of the century. A Wales forever in control of its own energy needs.
Wales is surrounded by water, and it falls down our mountains and valleys, yet we consume imported water in plastic bottles; a phenomena that contributes to the crisis our sea life is now facing globally. Drinking fountains in all of our communities where we can fill bottles during our travel, work and leisure, is a very simple solution, yet radical in its impact. The plurality of impact is to be welcomed: enhancing communities, making money go further, pushing our Zero Waste goals even further and all based upon a natural and accessible product. Welsh water, our water.
From cover to cover, the Drakeford agenda is ram-packed with commitments that are long overdue: “halting and reversing the damage already caused to our natural environment” gets to the very root of our unsustainable extractive system, backing up circular economy commitments.
A new National Forest for Wales in the model of Attlee’s 1945 Government offering national parks to the people and a commitment to ensure that fracking doesn’t ever happen on Welsh soil are also welcome.
Creating the industry capacity to provide modular housing through to a Clean Air Act, more innovations that will have huge knock on effects for the ways in which we live, manufacture and employ.
As Mr Attlee rose to the challenge of moving beyond a Britain on its knees after the war, Mr Drakeford has risen to the challenge imposed upon Wales today, that of austerity and missed opportunities.
Circular Economy Wales welcomes the agenda set out by Mr Drakeford and looks forward to collaborating with him and his government on this exciting journey.