6. Statement by the Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution: Interim Report of the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:53 pm on 31 January 2023.

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Photo of Mick Antoniw Mick Antoniw Labour 4:53, 31 January 2023

Thank you, Mike. I certainly agree with that last point that we can’t carry on like this. That’s precisely why I think we’ve been going down the road that we have, precisely why we have the commission. I think one of the most important things—whether you call it devolution, decentralisation of powers, subsidiarity or whatever—is the principles on which it’s based, what is the basis, what is the change you want to make and why do you want to make those changes. If it's about the empowerment of people and communities and better governance, then it’s a question of what changes will actually achieve that.

I don’t disagree with you in respect of justice and policing, but what I do know is that if there is not a labour Government in the next general election, we will not get the changes that we would want. We will not get any changes and we might even see a reversal of the current situation, which is why, I think, within the context, some of the proposals that are being put forward are really important constitutionally. They’re very important for the future of Wales, but they also are a framework within which a broader constitutional debate, which has to involve England and Scotland and Northern Ireland also, needs to take place. I think at some stage in the future, there will be a constitutional convention, because I think it’s the only way you can cohesively put all the different traits together. If that constitutional convention ever does take place, what we can say is that we’ve done our bit within Wales to ensure that we’ve engaged with the people of Wales, and that the input that we are making into that is a product of those conversations and discussions on behalf of the people of Wales.