“The Senedd has failed”: Welsh Labour criticised as Minister admits growing rift with UK Labour at Big Issue Big Debate

The future of Wales was debated by politicians, business leaders and grassroots activists in an often fiery ‘Big Debate’ run by the Big Issue in Cardiff last night (Thursday 15 May).

Represented on the panel by the Senedd’s Minister for Delivery and General Counsel Julie James MS, Welsh Government were heavily criticised by the panel and audience members alike, with leading local journalist Will Hayward condemning Welsh Labour as “defined by very good intentions but very slow delivery.”

James responded to the criticism by highlighting the pressures placed on her government by “14 years of austerity”, but also acknowledged a growing rift between Labour in Wales and the UK Government, admitting “there have definitely been decisions that we as Welsh Labour wouldn’t have made.” 

“There are some things we fundamentally disagree with because in Welsh Labour we are different – our politics are further to the left than it is in England,” James told the panel.

But her comments were met with anger by one audience member, James Mapstone, who told the debate panel that he doesn’t “believe in Labour anymore”.

“The Senedd has failed,” the Cardiff local and carer said. “They failed the people. And it’s the most vulnerable people in society. There’s some very serious issues going on in this country – and the young people, the elderly, in particular, and the disabled are being targeted like they’ve never been before.”

Appearing alongside James and Hayward on the panel was the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Derek Walker, Welsh Children’s Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes, local entrepreneur Dylan Jones-Evans and the Big Issue’s founder Lord John Bird.

The Big Debate marked the end of the Big Issue’s latest Community Roadshow, which saw the social enterprise’s teams visit the Welsh capital en-masse to both report on and actively support with issues facing people in poverty across South Wales.

In one rousing moment at the Debate, a member of the public called on the panel and the other attendees to “realise the cavalry aren’t coming” and solve the issues facing Wales “collectively” as a community.

Children’s Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes criticised the “lack of clear measurable targets [which] mean we struggle to hold the Welsh Government to account”, insisting Wales must “measure what we treasure”. The Big Issue is calling for governments to set statutory poverty reduction targets, which would legally hold politicians to account on taking long-term, preventative action on poverty.

Big Issue founder Lord Bird has this week tabled an amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing & Schools Bill – as is currently being debated by the House of Lords – to place a new duty on the government to set targets for the reduction of child poverty. The amendment is being backed by the National Children’s Bureau, one of UK’s leading children’s charities, and the public can sign a new Big Issue petition to show their support.

Speaking at the debate, Lord Bird argued passionately for creating wealth and growth to boost communities and lift people out of poverty. He said: “My plan before I leave this earth is to resocialise capitalism.”

The Big Community Roadshow is sponsored by Wales & West Housing Association. A special edition of the Big Issue, focused on several detailed investigations carried out by its reporters on the ground in South Wales this week, will be published in the coming weeks.

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