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Wales Bill: AMs back further devolution powers for Wales | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
AMs have backed the UK Government's Wales Bill in a Senedd vote - meaning the next stage of devolution can become law. | |
The bill promises new powers for Wales, but there have been claims it would reduce AMs law-making powers. | |
First Minister Carwyn Jones recommended AMs vote for the bill, saying it could be improved but "takes Wales forward". | |
But Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood suggested Wales had been "backed into a corner" over the legislation. | |
The vote was 38-17 in favour of the bill. | |
The Wales Bill offers to extend the transfer of powers over tax, energy, transport and the assembly's own affairs. | |
Labour - the largest group with 29 of the 60 assembly seats - agreed on Monday to back the legislation despite reservations. | |
It was joined in supporting the bill by the Conservatives, ensuring the motion to give consent to the bill passed. | |
UKIP and Plaid Cymru opposed the law - UKIP voted against because it devolved income tax without a referendum and Plaid because of the claimed "roll-back" in assembly powers. | |
The Wales Bill introduces a system of powers that are reserved to Westminster - such as defence and foreign affairs - with everything else assumed to be devolved. | |
But some have claimed that the new devolution model is unclear and have criticised the large list of reservations. | |
In a debate on the bill in the Senedd, the first minister said: "On balance, I believe it is in the best interests of Wales as we look at dealing with the issue of Brexit that we take what is on offer today." | |
Mr Jones said the bill should be seen as "another step on what is a long journey of devolution". | |
However he said there was "a need for improvement" in some areas, such as the lack of devolution of air passenger duty. | |
He added it was "not possible to conclude that the reserved powers model, welcome though it is in theory, is fit for purpose in the long term". | |
"There is no other country that I know of where two legislatures exist in the same jurisdiction", he said. | "There is no other country that I know of where two legislatures exist in the same jurisdiction", he said. |
"It's possible in the future that somebody might be arrested in Cardiff for something that is not an offence in Wales." | "It's possible in the future that somebody might be arrested in Cardiff for something that is not an offence in Wales." |
Plaid Cymru decided at a group meeting on Tuesday to oppose the bill. Sian Gwenllian, Simon Thomas and Elin Jones voted in favour, with the rest of the group against. | |
Ms Wood told the debate Plaid was voting against the Wales Bill "with a heavy heart". | |
"We never want to see Wales backed into a corner again," she said. | "We never want to see Wales backed into a corner again," she said. |
Her party supported the fiscal framework on Wales' funding negotiated between the UK and Welsh governments, she said. | Her party supported the fiscal framework on Wales' funding negotiated between the UK and Welsh governments, she said. |
But she added: "The UK Government did not have to tie the fiscal framework to a bill that would restrict our ability to make laws. | But she added: "The UK Government did not have to tie the fiscal framework to a bill that would restrict our ability to make laws. |
"The public finances of Wales should not be conditional on accepting a worsened legislative framework." | "The public finances of Wales should not be conditional on accepting a worsened legislative framework." |
Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "Is any bill perfect? No it's not. | |
"But this bill offers a huge opportunity to take responsibility over energy, over transport, over electoral arrangements, over income tax - the list goes on." | |
He said it was a "sad day when Plaid Cymru in this chamber choose to vote against... [an] opportunity for a huge transfer of responsibility and sovereignty". | He said it was a "sad day when Plaid Cymru in this chamber choose to vote against... [an] opportunity for a huge transfer of responsibility and sovereignty". |
UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton told the Senedd he supported the broad principles of the Wales Bill. | UKIP group leader Neil Hamilton told the Senedd he supported the broad principles of the Wales Bill. |
But he said the removal of the need for a referendum before income tax powers were devolved was a "constitutional deficiency we ought not to ignore". | |
He said it was an "important principle that politicians should keep their promises and should be held to their word". | |
Mark Reckless, UKIP AM for South Wales East, added: "They know if they did have a referendum they would lose." | Mark Reckless, UKIP AM for South Wales East, added: "They know if they did have a referendum they would lose." |
Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Davies said the Welsh devolution settlement would need a rethink because of Brexit. | |
It is the fourth Wales Bill since the devolution process began in 1998 with the act which created the assembly. | It is the fourth Wales Bill since the devolution process began in 1998 with the act which created the assembly. |
Mr Davies said powers returned to the UK by the European Union after Brexit would require more legislation "to realign those responsibilities". | Mr Davies said powers returned to the UK by the European Union after Brexit would require more legislation "to realign those responsibilities". |
"This will not be the last Wales Bill, but it will be the last Wales Bill in this parliamentary session", he added. | "This will not be the last Wales Bill, but it will be the last Wales Bill in this parliamentary session", he added. |
Mr Davies also regretted the UK government's decision not to devolve powers over air passenger duty. | Mr Davies also regretted the UK government's decision not to devolve powers over air passenger duty. |
He said he thought it would be devolved eventually as there was "no coherent argument to hold it back". | He said he thought it would be devolved eventually as there was "no coherent argument to hold it back". |
What is in the Wales Bill? | What is in the Wales Bill? |
Under a political convention between the assembly and Westminster, the Wales Bill needed a legislative consent motion passed in the Senedd before it can be become law. | |
That is because the Wales Bill relates to devolved matters. | That is because the Wales Bill relates to devolved matters. |
The convention does not have legal force but Wales Office minister Lord Bourne has said the bill would not become law if the assembly did not approve it. | |
The vote means the bill will now return to Parliament for the final stages of the legislative process. |