Fond memories of John Humphrys
has conveyed its findings and analysis of the impact of potential withdrawal agreements, or non-agreements, to the Westminster Parliament and is particularly active in its joint scrutiny with Westminster of executive action in the field of the UK’s future international trade policy.”
Mr Fordham said the lengthy prorogation precluded any further dialogue of this kind.
Secondly, he said, major Bills that were before Parliament and to which the National Assembly had consented had by reason of prorogation now fallen away.
“These Bills covered topics of the utmost significance for Wales: trade, agriculture and fisheries. The National Assembly has not legislated in this area, and had consented to Westminster doing so, on the understanding that the Westminster Parliament would make appropriate legislative provision on these matters in good time for the UK’s withdrawal,” said Mr Fordham.
“Those Bills having fallen now places the legislative burden back on to the National Assembly, under extreme time constraints.”
The third reason, said Mr Fordham, was that, prorogation had severely curtailed proper scrutiny, by both the Westminster Parliament and devolved administrations, over Ministerial exercise of the broad ‘Henry VIII’ powers to make secondary legislation under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
“Since the announcement of prorogation in August, the UK Government has made statutory instruments relating to withdrawal under the urgent procedure provided for in the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.
“In doing so, it has bypassed the scheme of Parliamentary scrutiny that would otherwise occur before such statutory instruments were made. Some – like the Animal Health and Genetically Modified Organisms (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 – have been made without the UK Government adhering to the constitutional convention of seeking the consent of the Welsh Ministers, thereby removing the opportunity for proper scrutiny by and dialogue with the body which represents the interests of Wales and its population.
“It has done so notwithstanding it had reiterated its commitment to that constitutional convention as part of the Intergovernmental Agreement signed by the Welsh and UK Governments on April 25,
2018.”
Concluding, Mr Fordham said: “In the present circumstances, it is all the more important that the Westminster Parliament is sitting and effective in the weeks running up to October 31, so that these two legislatures can continue to communicate with one another and the Westminster Parliament can give proper consideration to the impact that any agreement, or non-agreement, might have on Wales.”
The Prime Minister advised the Queen on August 28 to prorogue Parliament for five weeks and it was suspended on September 9.
Lady Hale said the court hopes to be able to give its ruling early next week.
I NOTE that “young” John Humphrys – I was two years ahead of him in school – has left the Today programme.
He has left an indelible mark on the world of radio broadcasting. My particular memories clearly illustrate his caring side.
When I was a college student between 1960 and 1963, I supplemented my financial status between terms by working as a barman in the Claude Hotel in Albany Road, Cardiff. The Oak Room was the last men-only bar in south Wales, mainly frequented by sportsmen and businessmen. The atmosphere was more like a club and the owner, Bob Hughes, a retired miner, insisted I wear a jacket and tie
Every Thursday night John, at that time a young newspaper reporter honing his journalistic craft, brought his father and grandfather to enjoy a congenial evening. John was the host and made sure that his dad and grandfather, one of whom was blind, were able to relish a carefree evening together. These evenings were obviously appreciated by this close family.
Many years later we had established careers in broadcasting, both BBC trained; John as a highly professional BBC television broadcaster and I working for Radio Television Hong Kong. We spent a pleasant evening in the renowned Foreign Correspondents Club of Hong Kong. This resulted in a live radio interview the next morning.
I have had the opportunity to see both sides of John Humphrys, the professional broadcaster and the humane, decent man. I will miss his dulcet tones waking me up on the Today programme.