Kirsty Williams
The Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Kirsty Williams, has challenged the other Welsh political parties to support further devolution of powers to Wales.
In a debate on the Silk Commission’s proposals, including introducing a reserved powers model and strengthening the capacity of the National Assembly to scrutinise legislation, Kirsty Williams will challenge other political parties to follow the Silk Commission’s recommendations and include these proposals in their party manifestos for the 2015 Westminster and 2016 Assembly elections.
Kirsty Williams AM, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:
“We believe that Silk’s recommendations set out an ideal blueprint for the future of devolution in Wales. But it is up to Wales’ four parties to show their resolve. Silk urges all political parties to include these proposals in their manifestos – and today we will be calling on them to do just that.
“Nick Clegg has already said that the Silk Commission recommendations will be the blueprint for our 2015 manifesto. This shows far greater resolve than Ed Miliband’s half-baked promise to change the Welsh devolution settlement, missing out a wide range of important recommendations made by Silk.
“Now is the time for the parties in this Chamber to unite and support these proposals to ensure their implementation. We must all include these recommendations in our manifestos, and face the new Westminster and Assembly terms with a strong resolve in favour of devolution.
“Silk II must represent not only a blueprint for our manifestos but the blueprint for the future of devolution in Wales. Further devolution of powers and a strengthened Assembly will mean we are better placed to hold the Welsh Government accountable for its actions, and ensure that we can build a stronger economy and a fairer society in Wales.”
