With the aftermath of Carl Sargeant’s tragic death continuing to cast a long shadow over Welsh politics and Carwyn Jones’ leadership in particular, the First Minister once again found himself under unwelcome scrutiny thanks to an unseemly spat with Plaid AM Adam Price in the Assembly chamber on Tuesday.
Jones had aggressively accused Mr Price of ignoring attempts by Hywel Dda Health Board in West Wales to set up a meeting – drawing on, it seemed, private correspondence between the Health Board and Mr Price’s Office. The Senedd chamber descended into uproar as an enraged Mr Price accused the First Minister of breaching data protection law and using civil servants to dig up ‘dirt’ on him. The Health Board subsequently issued an apology for releasing inaccurate information, noting that Mr Price had, in fact, attempted to engage with them. Mr Jones will now make a statement to the Assembly next week to correct some facts. With the row over alleged bullying, and its role in Carl Sargeant’s death, continuing to rumble on - the First Minister’s absence from the campaign trail in Alyn and Deeside alongside Jeremy Corbyn this week was noted - this latest embarrassing episode will be the last thing he needs.
Also in the Welsh headlines this week has been Brexit and the ongoing tensions between the Welsh and UK Governments. In the wake of a new paper on trade policy, Carwyn Jones renewed his call for Wales to retain full access to the single market. The Finance Minister, Mark Drakeford, raised concerns, once again, of a Westminster ‘power grab’ in respect of the EU Withdrawal Bill. At Wales Office Questions this week, however, UK Government Ministers gave a lukewarm response to the proposal for a Continuity Bill put forward in the Assembly. Alun Cairns and David Lidington met Carwyn Jones on Thursday to discuss the thorny issue of Clause 11, claiming some progress, but a full resolution to the problem is yet to be reached.
Meanwhile, the picture for major Welsh investment projects continues to look mixed. At Questions in the Commons, Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns hailed the success of last week’s Severn Growth summit which called for the creation of a new “Western Powerhouse”, bringing together some of the biggest businesses on the M4 corridor, from Airbus to Cardiff Airport. There was also a positive step forward for the M4 relief road, with Newport Docks announcing that it had abandoned its objection to the plans.
However, we are still no closer to discovering the fate of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. Despite the Welsh Government offering to throw the Lagoon a lifeline understood to be worth £100 million or more, decision-making Ministers in Westminster remain silent on the fate of this totemic project. Could Philip Hammond’s Spring Statement on 15th February prove to be the deciding moment? Many in Cardiff Bay would hope so – but given the delays so far, few will be holding their breath.