www.iwa.org.uk Spring/Summer 2015 No. 54 | £4.95 The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Waterloo Foundation. 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Editors: The report addresses the mood of our Lee Waters and Jessica Blair Constitutional Convention - we must do better. Cultural and Literary Editor: As an independent think-tank we are not Dylan Moore bound by political cycles and our analysis is Editorial Board: intended as a corrective to low-tempo mood of Gerry Holtham, Geraint Talfan much of the economic debate in Wales. As the Davies, Marcus Longley, report puts it: Clare Critchley, Rhea Stevens, Rhys David. “Growth policies of successive Welsh governments up to now have been on a scale Political Cartoonist: Mal Humphries (Mumph) implying acceptance of only modest narrowing of the gap with the rest of the UK”. Proofreader: Rhobat Bryn Jones We set out with searing clarity the gap that Design: needs to be closed if we are to lift ourselves off [email protected] the bottom of the wealth league table. For the To advertise, tel: 02920 484 387 Welsh economy to be on par with England’s, Wales The publisher acknowledges the On the day our crowdsourced Constitutional needs a growth rate which matches that of Eastern financial support of the Welsh Convention drew to a close we launched our Europe in the post-Soviet era. True catch-up growth Books Council. new report on the economy: An Economic means the economy needs to add nearly £1½ Institute of Welsh Affairs Strategy for Wales? billion of activity, more than the turnover of an 56 James Street, Cardiff Bay, Admiral, every year. That is not going to happen Cardiff, CF10 5EZ After the Scottish referendum result we were unless there’s a marked shift in approach. Tel: 02920 484 387 anxious that Wales wasn’t left out of a debate As an independent charity we can say that. Charity number: 1078435 that was bound to be dominated by Scotland That is why the IWA is so important, because The IWA is an independent think and England. And whilst the Scottish campaign we can speak truth to power. And we need your tank and charity dedicated to had been notable for its engagement beyond support - your financial support - to continue to be promoting the economic, social, the political classes, the response of the able to do that. But we don’t just offer a critique, we environmental and cultural well- being of Wales. establishment to the result was to close down offer a constructive set of solutions too. debate and move it behind closed doors. Despite Our report sets out a range of options for To become a member and receive having little time and few resources we launched the kind of interventions that will be necessary benefits such as copies of the welsh agenda, discounts on an ambitious plan for an online Constitutional to grow the Welsh economy. These are not events, weekly newsletters and free Convention to try and ensure there was a debate intended to be definitive or exhaustive. Some publications, for just £45 a year, in Wales about the implications of all this change need more work, whilst others are fully worked please call Jess Blair on 02920 484 387. for us, and to try and move the discussion up and need to be delivered. beyond the ‘usual suspects’. The point is not the detail of each The eight-week project looked in-turn at the proposal, that is for each party to decide, Branches major themes coming out of the debate at the UK and each sponsor to make their case, but the North Wales Secretariat c/o Andrew Parry, level - powers over the economy, responsibility acknowledgement that to close the wealth Glyndwˆr University, Mold Road, for welfare provision, and the future of the UK - gap we need a step change in ambition and a Wrexham LL11 2AW especially the implications of English devolution. serious overhaul of our capacity for delivery. Cardigan Bay Secretariat Over 2,000 people engaged on the convention It is do-able. But the first step is c/o Meilyr Ceredig website, and many more through social media recognising the challenge. 4 Science Park and the Click on Wales site. The IWA believes Wales can do better with Aberystwyth We’ll be properly evaluating the project an ambitious long-term programme to grow the SY23 3AH over the coming weeks but the debate around economy sustainably and spread prosperity. Tel: 01970 636412 the economy was striking. The recurring theme Swansea Bay Secretariat was not a call for more powers but a plea for c/o Delith Thorpe better implementation and more imaginative Lee Waters, 38 Southlands Drive, Swansea, SA3 5RA use of existing policy levers. Director, IWA Tel: 01792 404315 website: iwa.org.uk twitter: @IWA_Wales the welsh agenda spring/summer 15—issue 54 | 1 12 18 contents 4 2015 General Election 10 Have we been here 18 Interview: Taking Hints 26 A crachach solution? A fork in the road before? Parallels from the Past Paul Griffiths says we Mark Drakeford says with 1974 In Conversation with shouldn’t accept the voters have an important Martin Johnes sees Huw Edwards remedies for public choice to make as similarities between ervice woes set out by the General Election 2015 and 1974. 20 A polo mint government Paul Williams. approaches. Gerry Holtham says 12 Is 40 years a short Wales needs a plan for 28 “I have a need for art” 5 The path to recovery time in politics? its economy. Trevor Fishlock profiles Andrew RT Davies says Dafydd Elis-Thomas Martin Tinney. voters have a clear choice. compares the beginning 22 The Donaldson Review: of his time as a Member A watershed or a 30 The wisdom 6 A shambles or of Parliament in 1974 with wash-out? of the crowd a new beginning? the forthcoming general Louise Harris looks at Tom Bodden reviews Peter Stead says an election. the changes to come for the IWA’s Constitutional indecisive General the education system as Convention. Election could be 13 City Regions in Wales: the Donaldson Review is an opportunity to break progress, or not? published. 32 The IWA Podcast out of conventional Dr Elizabeth Haywood says The IWA’s constitutional party politics. we can’t shy away from 24 IWA Debates: convention has been the tough decisions to be Getting to grips happening on a wide 8 UKIP: Laying the made on city regions. with change range of platforms foundations for 2016 Reform and reorganisation including iwaconvention. Roger Scully says that 15 The trouble with have become co.uk, ClickonWales, UKIP will have a big bilingual education interchangeable terms in Twitter and Facebook. impact on Wales at the Mirain Rhys looks at the the debate on the future of We’ve also been gathering General Election despite issues around Welsh Welsh public services. The opinions for podcasts being unlikely to win medium education for man charged with coming on our Audioboom any seats. children where Welsh isn’t up with recommendations Channel. See some of the spoken at home. which command cross- best bits below, and visit party support, Sir Paul audioboom.com/channel/ Williams, set out his views iwa to listen. on the response to his report one year on from its completion at the latest in our IWA Debates series. #54 Spring/Summer 2015 2 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org 33 42 Help for young people 51 The most cosmopolitan Liz Andrew says the of all Welsh historians demand for young A tribute by Peter Stead to people’s Mental Health the historian John Davies. services is exceeding capacity undercut by 54 Culture: Reviews austerity. Working-class hero Andy Bevan 45 Freedom Writers Fflur Dafydd explores the Lessons from history? advent of a PEN Centre for Tony Bianchi Wales, and the possibilities for its role in a global Sex, lies and rugby community of writers at a Lewis Davies 33 The St David’s Day 38 The Supreme Court- critical time for freedom declaration - Not the A threat to devolution of expression.