Welsh Conservative Business Manager and Chief Whip – Paul Davies – has criticised opposition parties for proposing changes to committee membership, without accepting a rebalancing of committee chairs.
Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Davies described the move as a “sad day” for the National Assembly for Wales.
Today’s motion in the Senedd proposed changes to committee membership – including adding newly independent AM, Neil McEvoy to Petitions Committee; a move the Welsh Conservatives support.
However, with the balance of the Assembly having changed once again it is now even clearer that the Welsh Conservatives now make up by far the largest opposition grouping. As such, the party is demanding a change to committee chairs – a call supported by the Presiding Officer, Elin Jones.
Mr Davies said:
“The political balance of the Assembly has changed once again, reinforcing the Welsh Conservative position as the largest opposition group.
“Sadly, that balance of power is not reflected in the allocation of committee chairs, and opposition parties have clubbed together to protect narrow self-interest at the expense of democracy.
“It’s yet another sad day for the National Assembly and its operations – and a sad day for our constitution.
“In the year of the twentieth anniversary of devolution, is this really the message that the Assembly wants to send to the people of Wales?
“If this situation is allowed to continue, then it has become clear that the majority of this Assembly no longer supports a balanced Assembly that reflects the political balance of its Members.”
The Presiding Officer – Elin Jones – has concluded that Business Managers must have regard to the need to ensure that the allocation of Committee chairs is politically balanced.
As the Business Committee’s report notes, “Whilst the Llywydd is satisfied that Business Managers have been aware of that requirement during their discussions, she does not agree with the majority view on the Committee that the current allocation is acceptable in fulfilling that requirement.”