Welsh First Minister – Carwyn Jones – has effectively blocked a cross-party inquiry into bullying allegations levelled at his own government.
Carwyn Jones has been accused of “an insult to Welsh democracy” after he whipped Labour AMs to block a motion debated in the National Assembly.
Welsh Conservatives had submitted a motion urging AMs to instruct the Assembly’s ‘Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister’ to look into allegations by former members and advisers to Carwyn Jones’ Welsh Labour Government.
On the day, however, Labour AMs were instructed by whips to defy those calls, in a move described by the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives as “a staggering conflict of interest”.
The First Minister had already sought to derail the bid for a cross-party group of AMs to investigate the claims by establishing a separate inquiry.
Whilst an independent inquiry would be welcomed, opposition parties had been concerned that the terms of reference and appointed panel would be influenced by the First Minister himself. There were also serious concerns that Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers would remain bound by ‘collective responsibility’ during any such investigation - concerns that the First Minister has not addressed.
And in a final “insult to Welsh democracy”, Carwyn Jones did not abstain and voted against the motion.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, said:
“For the First Minister to vote against a cross-party investigation into allegations levelled against his own office is a staggering conflict of interest.
“It’s not unreasonable to ask what the purpose of this committee is, if the First Minister effectively has a veto into what it can look at.
“We had every confidence in the impartiality of the committee and its Labour chair to look at these serious allegations with objectivity, but the First Minister’s decision to ‘whip’ his AMs to block an inquiry was an insult to Welsh democracy.
“I’m deeply disappointed that the First Minister and his cabinet unanimously voted against a reasonable request supported by every opposition party in the Assembly.
“It rather leaves you with the feeling that we are living in a one party state.”
Welsh Conservative Business Manager, Paul Davies, said:
“Carwyn Jones’ decsision to whip this vote sends a message to the people of Wales that the committee charged with scrutinising his role only does so when it suits him.
“It is absolutely vital that these allegations are properly investigated so that they can be upheld or disproved. The scope should be as wide as possible and take evidence from witnesses. And whilst this avenue has now closed, we will now fight to ensure that government ministers are free from ‘collective responsibility’ and able to co-operate fully with any future inquiry.
“This is a dark day indeed for the National Assembly for Wales."
