Should Wales have the power?

The likelihood of someone gleefully pointing out the dilemma facing Plaid as their leader takes a proactive stance over plans for Wylfa B in apparent defiance of his own party’s policies was as inevitable as the direction taken by Rhodri’s one-legged ducks.

But earlier this month, it was Mike German who was flagging up inconsistencies within WAG’s Energy Policy Statement – a document which seemingly endorses the ‘non-carbon’ nature of nuclear fuel as an energy source. His concerns at a lack of clarity are shared by others who are just as bemused by the willingness of One Wales Government ministers to assume the posture of honest brokers over nuclear strategy whilst adopting the fall-back position that any plant construction would ultimately need UK government approval plus the backing of its newly created planning quango.

Notwithstanding that this approach is neither credible or sustainable, those outside the bubble can be forgiven for concluding that whilst the expedencies of coalition politics can override policy considerations then it is doubtful that a Welsh Assembly would have the confidence, let alone the maturity, to actually make a decision even if it had the power to do so.