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Ditch 'Blu Tack and cardboard' funding system, says Jones | |
(35 minutes later) | |
First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for a new funding system that meets the needs of public services in Wales. | First Minister Carwyn Jones has called for a new funding system that meets the needs of public services in Wales. |
It sets him against Downing Street and his own party's leadership, which has said it will keep the existing system. | It sets him against Downing Street and his own party's leadership, which has said it will keep the existing system. |
The UK government uses the Barnett formula to decide the size of its funding to the Welsh government. | The UK government uses the Barnett formula to decide the size of its funding to the Welsh government. |
Mr Jones said the formula, devised in the 1970s, was "the constitutional equivalent of fixing a hole in the roof with Blu Tack and cardboard". | |
Labour has said it would make adjustments to help Wales, but Mr Jones again called for a new formula based on the UK nations' and regions' needs. | Labour has said it would make adjustments to help Wales, but Mr Jones again called for a new formula based on the UK nations' and regions' needs. |
'Drop of a hat' | |
In a speech in London on Wednesday, Mr Jones said: "Scotland gets promises made to it at the drop of a hat. In Wales we have to wait more than a year." | |
The Welsh government has said it is short changed by around £300m a year under the current arrangement. | The Welsh government has said it is short changed by around £300m a year under the current arrangement. |
Prime Minister David Cameron recently told BBC Wales: "There aren't plans for some huge change in the formula distribution." | Prime Minister David Cameron recently told BBC Wales: "There aren't plans for some huge change in the formula distribution." |
Meanwhile, Labour has said it would meet the Welsh government's call for "fair funding", but has ruled out scrapping the Barnett formula. | Meanwhile, Labour has said it would meet the Welsh government's call for "fair funding", but has ruled out scrapping the Barnett formula. |
Together with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, Labour committed to retain the formula as part of the Scottish independence referendum campaign. | Together with the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, Labour committed to retain the formula as part of the Scottish independence referendum campaign. |
Analysis by political correspondent Daniel Davies | |
Carwyn Jones is trying to come up with an argument that gets him taken seriously in Westminster. But what leverage does he have? | |
Alex Salmond represents a very real threat to Westminster. On Tuesday, he said Scots felt betrayed and warned Labour and the Tories would pay the price at the ballot box. | |
The Welsh Labour leader doesn't have that option. Instead, he has to keep prodding Downing Street and the upper echelons of his own party. His record so far - on funding, for example - is mixed. | |
Tuesday's cross-party statement in the assembly called for talks on topping up Welsh funding. But now the first minister is making it clear he thinks that's only a first step. | |
The Welsh government has been calling for this since 2009, and yet the three big Westminster parties have ruled out the change Mr Jones wants: a new needs-based formula to replace Barnett. | |
Will his appeal for a 'new mindset' bring about a change of heart? | |
But Mr Jones said a more fundamental overhaul for the whole of the UK was required. | But Mr Jones said a more fundamental overhaul for the whole of the UK was required. |
He said it was not a case of "special pleading or saying to Scotland 'give us your money'". | He said it was not a case of "special pleading or saying to Scotland 'give us your money'". |
He added: "It's very difficult to make a logical case for the retention of Barnett as it is. | He added: "It's very difficult to make a logical case for the retention of Barnett as it is. |
"In the meantime I would say - selfishly - fine, as long as we've got the money in Wales then we're fine... (but) at some point in time there's going to have to be an examination of Barnett." | "In the meantime I would say - selfishly - fine, as long as we've got the money in Wales then we're fine... (but) at some point in time there's going to have to be an examination of Barnett." |
It was a "fundamental principle of the Union that money is distributed to where it's needed at that time", he said. | It was a "fundamental principle of the Union that money is distributed to where it's needed at that time", he said. |
His speech called for a "new Union mindset" and "more federal thinking in the UK". | His speech called for a "new Union mindset" and "more federal thinking in the UK". |
Mr Jones attacked moves towards English votes for English laws in the Westminster Parliament, and said further devolution promised to Scotland during the referendum campaign had to be honoured. | Mr Jones attacked moves towards English votes for English laws in the Westminster Parliament, and said further devolution promised to Scotland during the referendum campaign had to be honoured. |
Also on Wednesday, his predecessor Rhodri Morgan delivered a speech in Cardiff calling for a new funding system and an elected House of Lords. | |
He said the principle of the funding formula should form part of a new written constitution for the UK. |