Time was that a call to devolve powers from central government, especially a Labour one, was the acknowledged mission statement of Welsh Liberal Democrats - but clearly no more.
As has been observed elsewhere, the glove-puppets at Suck-up Central have reversed the telescope by virtually congratulating Wales Office minister David Jones for his statement that “alcohol licensing will never be devolved”.Clearly their glee is based more at a perceived slap-down for Edwina Hart, rather than any considered view by Welsh Lib Dems on whether an effective devolved health policy should include controls over liquor licensing policies. Otherwise they too might find the ministerial aside that the matter should be "properly dealt with on an England and Wales basis" just a little patronising.
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You and Welsh Ramblings agree on something. I think I may faint.
What is bizarre is how the neutral reporting of a story by an independent though Lib Dem inclined blog is taken as a sign of party policy. Official Lib Dem policy is to devolve justice powers to the Assembly along with administrative control of police and prisons. Licensing would be included in that package. We cannot do Edwina's bidding via an LCO as she well knows because licensing falls outwith the 22 areas of competence in the 2006 Act.
Is it not strange then that the “independent, collaborative website run by Welsh Liberal Democrat activists” failed to mention the “official Lib Dem policy of devolving justice powers to the Assembly” along with licensing. No wonder that most people regard Freedom Central as nothing more than Lib Dem propaganda blog sailing under a flag of convenience.
I prefer to call them “Subordinate Central” but Suck-UP Central is a pretty good name as well.
Peter Black can’t defend this by saying its neutral reporting.
There is nothing Neutral about "Suborninate Central" it is the mouthpiece of his party in Wales (even more than the official website)
Subordinate Central calimed that.
“Edwina Hart was planning to ask for the powers to be handed to the Assembly Government even though it was not mentioned in the Welsh Government’s legislative programme for the year ahead.”
But the fact that Cameron announced that” his government would look "very sympathetically" at plans by ten councils in Greater Manchester to introduce minimum pricing per unit of alcohol, changed the rules and the Lib-Dems know this.
The Lib-Dems are either in favour of devolving such powers or they are not. Having a go at Edwina Hart in such a manner is blatantly opportunist and dishonest.(but whats new?)
Or are the Lib-Dems changing policy due to their new cabinet seats at Westminster?
And have a look at their take on “Mass Graves” report in the Western Mail in which they basically copied thr Western Mail article in the hope it will show the Assembly in a bad light.
I cannot believe that Peter Black seriously tried to describe Sycophancy Central as "an independent though Lib Dem inclined blog".
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