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Ditch 'Blu Tack and cardboard' funding system, says Jones | Ditch 'Blu Tack and cardboard' funding system, says Jones |
(34 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". | 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. |
Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said David Cameron had "started a process led by William Hague to look at all these issues". | Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb said David Cameron had "started a process led by William Hague to look at all these issues". |
'Drop of a hat' | '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." | 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 | Analysis by political correspondent Daniel Davies |
While there is talk at Westminster of topping up Welsh government funding, both David Cameron and Ed Miliband have said they will keep the Barnett formula. | |
So it would appear that, on the face of it, Carwyn Jones is unlikely to get a new funding formula, one that he argues should be fairer to Wales and some other parts of the United Kingdom. | |
Yet the first minister maintains that, eventually, this issue is going to have to be sorted out properly, for the good of the UK as a whole. | |
Labour is proposing a constitutional convention to tackle the thorny devolution issues, something the UK government is leaving the door open to. | |
Mr Jones has long proposed such a convention, "including a variety of opinion formers and members of the public", and perhaps that is his best chance of getting the formula he wants. | |
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". |
'Meaty decisions' | 'Meaty decisions' |
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. |
Responding, Mr Crabb said: "The prime minister has started a process led by William Hague to look at all these issues. | Responding, Mr Crabb said: "The prime minister has started a process led by William Hague to look at all these issues. |
"There are meaty decisions to make and so it's so important that we allow the Hague committee the time it needs to get it right. | "There are meaty decisions to make and so it's so important that we allow the Hague committee the time it needs to get it right. |
"That's why I've begun a process to establish the views of the Welsh parties to feed into the debate." | "That's why I've begun a process to establish the views of the Welsh parties to feed into the debate." |
Also on Wednesday, Mr Jones's predecessor Rhodri Morgan delivered a speech in Cardiff calling for a new funding system and an elected House of Lords. | Also on Wednesday, Mr Jones's 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. | He said the principle of the funding formula should form part of a new written constitution for the UK. |