Labour rains on Presiding Officer's legislative May parade Senior Labour figures last night dismissed suggestions from Presiding Officer Lord Elis- Thomas that the Assembly will be putting forward 18 pieces of new legislation in the first year of its new incarnation. Western Mail: 21/11/06
Conference on new Assembly powers A landmark conference to look at the National Assembly's new law-making powers is to be held in Cardiff next week. South Wales Echo: 14/11/06
Devolution backed if not understood A new survey by the Electoral Commission has found that people in Wales are warming to devolution despite many of them not understanding what the national assembly does. ePolitix: 21/9/06 'Give us your ideas for Assembly laws' The Welsh Assembly launched a plea for ideas to draw up distinctive laws utilising new powers granted by the Government of Wales Bill. Western Mail: 27/07/06 Act heralds a new dawn for devolution WELSH secretary Peter Hain and first minister Rhodri Morgan were last night celebrating Royal Assent for new powers for the Assembly. Daily Post: 26/07/06 Wales Bill is good news for labour relations The Wales TUC welcomes the Government of Wales Bill as good news for labour relations and good news for the Welsh economy Wales TUC Press Release: 26/07/06 Royal Assent to Assembly powers A flagship bill which hands more powers to the Welsh Assembly will today gain Royal Assent after the government finally won a bitter battle with opposition peers. Daily Post: 25/07/06 Government of Wales Bill a missed opportunity Welsh Conservatives have branded the Government of Wales Bill a 'missed opportunity' to build a cross-party consensus on the future of the National Assembly. Welsh Conservatives Press Release: 24/07/06
Assembly's new powers could be in jeopardy Attempts to devolve more power to Wales are "on a knife-edge", Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said today. His aides accused the Tories of jeopardising the Government of Wales Bill, which goes back to the House of Lords next week for what ministers hope will be the last time. Western Mail: 20/07/06
Hain feels the heat on Wales Bill timetable Welsh Conservatives have accused Welsh Secretary Peter Hain of 'hysterical scaremongering' over the fate of the Government of Wales Bill. Welsh Conservatives Press Release 20/07/06
Moves to squeeze Assembly powers Bill through MPs will vote on moves to strengthen the Assembly's powers today after a compromise in the lengthy showdown between the Commons and Lords on the issue. Western Mail: 18/07/06
'Horse and cart' bill attacked Liberal Democrat peers have launched a scathing attack on the Government of Wales Bill, to be debated today in the House of Lords, arguing that it does not give Wales the powers it needs. Western Mail: 27/06/06
Cat out of the bag on lawmaking Assembly Government Finance Minister Sue Essex last night apologised for wrongly suggesting there would never be a referendum on full lawmaking powers for the National Assembly. Western Mail: 13/05/06 Campaign calls for referendum timescale A campaign group chaired by the Archbishop of Wales is pressing for changes it says would improve the Government of Wales Bill currently going through Parliament. Tomorrow's Wales is promoting amendments it would like the House of Lords to pass when further debates take place later this month. Western Mail – Martin Shipton: 8/5/06
Hain misled public over Assembly poll, say Tories Welsh Tories last night claimed Peter Hain's bid to stop candidates standing in both sections of the ballot in National Assembly elections had been exposed as a sham. Western Mail - Martin Shipton: 27/04/06
Cat out of the bag on lawmaking Assembly Government Finance Minister Sue Essex last night apologised for wrongly suggesting there would never be a referendum on full lawmaking powers for the National Assembly. Western Mail: 13/05/06 Campaign calls for referendum timescale A campaign group chaired by the Archbishop of Wales is pressing for changes it says would improve the Government of Wales Bill currently going through Parliament. Tomorrow's Wales is promoting amendments it would like the House of Lords to pass when further debates take place later this month. Western Mail – Martin Shipton: 8/5/06
Hain misled public over Assembly poll, say Tories Welsh Tories last night claimed Peter Hain's bid to stop candidates standing in both sections of the ballot in National Assembly elections had been exposed as a sham. Western Mail - Martin Shipton: 27/04/06
Cat out of the bag on lawmaking Assembly Government Finance Minister Sue Essex last night apologised for wrongly suggesting there would never be a referendum on full lawmaking powers for the National Assembly. Western Mail: 13/05/06 Campaign calls for referendum timescale A campaign group chaired by the Archbishop of Wales is pressing for changes it says would improve the Government of Wales Bill currently going through Parliament. Tomorrow's Wales is promoting amendments it would like the House of Lords to pass when further debates take place later this month. Western Mail – Martin Shipton: 8/5/06
Hain misled public over Assembly poll, say Tories Welsh Tories last night claimed Peter Hain's bid to stop candidates standing in both sections of the ballot in National Assembly elections had been exposed as a sham. Western Mail - Martin Shipton: 27/04/06
Lords' ping-ponging panned Plans to change the Assembly's voting system could be jeopardised if a dispute between the Commons and Lords drags on into the autumn, ministers warned last night. Western Mail: 21/04/06
Labour under pressure on assembly vote change Welsh Conservatives have welcomed the House of Lords' rejection of Government proposals for a ban on dual candidacy at elections to the National Assembly. Welsh Conservatives: 20/04/06
Archbishop pushes for Welsh power A pressure group fronted by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, is seeking to alter the Government's plans to strengthen the powers of the Welsh Assembly. Ekklesia: 20/04/06 Hain vows to end election 'abuse' Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has insisted the UK Government will push through a change to Welsh assembly election rules despite a defeat in the House of Lords. Peers voted by a majority of 19 on Wednesday to continue the current system where candidates can sand in both constituency and regional lists. BBC Online: 20/04/06 Labour's roadblocks to reform in Wales Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan MP has branded Gordon Brown, Peter Hain and Rhodri Morgan "Labour's three roadblocks to reform" in Wales. Welsh Conservatives: 19/04/06 Lords defeat assembly seats move The government has been defeated in the House of Lords in a vote about how Welsh assembly members are elected. Peers debating the Government of Wales Bill voted in favour of an amendment which maintains the current system of electing AMs to seats. BBC Online: 19/04/06
Archbishop pushes for more power for Wales A pressure group fronted by the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, will today seek to alter the Government's plans to strengthen the Assembly's powers. The group, Tomorrow's Wales, was set up nearly two years ago to support the recommendations of the Richard Commission, which called for a Scottish-style parliament for Wales. The group has prepared a series of amendments to the Government's proposals for the Assembly, which will be discussed by the House of Lords today. Western Mail - Tomos Livingstone: 19/04/06
Let Wales vote on full law-making powers for Assembly The Archbishop of Wales is today expected to urge the House of Lords to make dramatic changes to the government's flagship devolution Bill. Daily Post - Mark Hookham: 19/04/06
Wales Bill could damage language A missing clause from the Government of Wales Bill could leave the Welsh language "damaged and considerably weakened", a senior Labour figure has warned. Lord Prys-Davies, a former Welsh Office adviser, said he was concerned a duty to promote the language - placed on Ministers under the original devolution settlement - was missing from the new Bill. Western Mail – Tomos Livingstone: 24/03/06
Welsh peers 'modernise' pledge for bill Peers pledged today to “modernise” a Government Bill when it begins its passage through the House of Lords later this week. The call for action came from Welsh Liberal Democrat peers at a Westminster news conference icWales: 21/03/06
Tory's plea to Lords: throw out Government of Wales Bill A leading Conservative AM yesterday urged the Lords to throw out the Government of Wales Bill. Mid and west Wales AM Glyn Davies described the measure as a bid to "fiddle Britain's system of government" for Labour's electoral benefit Tom Bodden - Daily Post: 21/03/06
Public 'want more assembly power' A majority of people believe Wales should have either a full law-making and tax-varying parliament, or be an independent nation, a poll has found. BBC Online: 01/03/06
Devolution poll “great news” A St David’s Day poll which shows that the majority of people in Wales support more devolution is “great news on the first day of a new century of Welsh democracy” according to Mike German, Assembly leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats. Welsh Liberal Democrats: 01/03/06
Tory lord: Boost Assembly powers Tory veteran Lord Roberts of Conwy last night said he was ready to back full law-making powers for the Welsh Assembly in a referendum. Daily Post – Tom Bodden: 01/03/06
Assembly back door route is closed off Opposition politicians were last night defeated in their bid to scupper a proposed ban on Assembly candidates standing both in constituencies and on party lists. Daily Post - Mark Hookham: 28/02/06
Wales' long wait for a smoking ban is bar-room politics Wales was the first part of the UK to vote in favour of a smoking ban but could be the last to implement it. Political Editor Tomos Livingstone explains why devolution has so far meant a gap between promise and delivery. Western Mail - Tomos Livingstone: 23/02/06
Wales deserves a Senedd The Welsh Liberal Democrats will today call on the Government to make major amendments to the Government of Wales Bill, including changing the name of the National Assembly to ‘Senedd’. Welsh Liberal Democrats: 23/01/06
Whitehall insists on its right of veto Demands to prevent the Welsh Secretary from torpedoing the wishes of the Assembly were last night rejected by the government. Daily Post: 20/01/06
Assembly powers vote win Labour yesterday resisted opposition in the Assembly to its proposals for further devolution. Daily Post: 18/01/06
'Triple lock' on door to more Welsh powers Wales faced a "triple lock" on the door to further devolved powers, Lib Dem Assembly leader Mike German warned yesterday. Daily Post – Tom Bodden: 17/01/06
Hain's challenge on Wales parliament Welsh Secretary Peter Hain yesterday challenged supporters of a Scottish-style parliament for Wales to go out and win the argument, telling them - "the ball is in your court". Mr Hain was speaking as MPs debated proposals to beef up the Assembly's powers, which allow for a parliament to be created after a referendum. Mr Hain believes such a poll is years away and would be lost if held too soon. Western Mail - Tomos Livingstone: 10/01/06
MPs clash over assembly's powers A possible future increase in powers for the Welsh assembly has been debated by MPs in Parliament BBC Online: 09/01/06
This time it really is for keeps Today sees the Government of Wales Bill on the future of the Assembly debated in the Commons for the first time. Here we offer two perspectives on the historic changes, one from the architect of the Bill, Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and one from our Political Editor Tomos Livingstone. Western Mail - Tomos Livingstone: 09/01/06
The Parties clash over beefing up Assembly A war of words over devolution was due to recommence today as MPs examine proposals to beef up the Welsh Assembly. Daily Post – Daniel Davies: 09/01/06
Church blessing for increased powers The Presbyterian Church has announced that it is ready to take a lead in supporting devolution because distinct communities need to make their own decisions. Flintshire Chronicle: 30/12/05
Hain bill would 'rig' Welsh elections, say Tories The Welsh secretary, Peter Hain, was today accused of acting like a "colonial governor" toward the Welsh assembly - and of proposing changes that would result in "rigged" elections to the devolved body. The Guardian: 28/12/05
Hain 'acts like a colonial governor' Peter Hain has been accused of acting like a "colonial governor" by seeking to rig future elections to the National Assembly that fix the rules in favour of Labour. In an outspoken interview Nick Bourne, the Assembly's Tory leader, said, "The electoral system is being rigged in a way that I think is absolutely outrageous. Western Mail - Martin Shipton: 28/12/05
You're rigging Assembly polls to help Labour Welsh secretary Peter Hain was accused yesterday of acting like a "colonial governor" in his relations with the Assembly. Daily Post - Andrew Woodcock: 28/12/05
