Stephen Kinnock vows to champion Wales in new Cabinet role
Mark Mansfield
Stephen Kinnock has pledged to be a “strong voice” for Wales in the UK Government as he begins work as Secretary of State for Wales.
The Aberafan Maesteg MP, who was appointed by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday, said he would work with the Welsh Government, local councils and Welsh institutions to deliver economic growth across Wales.
Setting out his priorities on his first full day in the role, Mr Kinnock said:
“It is the privilege of my life to be appointed Welsh Secretary, and to serve the people of Wales as part of Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s new Cabinet.
“Wales succeeds when we all pull in the same direction, and I will work across all levels of government to deliver the best possible outcomes for our communities as a dynamic and confident country in a dynamic and strong United Kingdom.
“As Welsh Secretary I will ensure that the Wales Office will continue to champion Wales within the UK Government and that the needs of the Welsh people are prioritised.
“This is about building a strong Wales within a strong United Kingdom where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential, with good growth in every Welsh postcode and where communities are in control and supported by government at every level.
“I am truly honoured to be taking on this role at such a pivotal time for Wales and for the UK, and I am clear that there is no limit to what we can achieve by working together.”
Outdated
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts congratulated Mr Kinnock on his appointment but reiterated her party’s long-standing view that the office of Secretary of State for Wales is outdated.
She said: “Plaid Cymru has long argued that the post of Secretary of State for Wales is an anachronism that sits uneasily with the realities of devolution. Nevertheless, I congratulate Stephen Kinnock on his appointment and sincerely hope he proves us wrong by showing that the office can be more than Westminster’s voice in Wales.
“The people of Wales gave Plaid Cymru a clear mandate just over two months ago, and that must be respected. We look forward to meaningful discussions on the devolution of rail infrastructure, the Crown Estate, justice and policing, and to building a more constructive relationship with the new Secretary of State in order to deliver for Wales.”
Jo Stevens, who served as Welsh Secretary for the past two years, said on Monday that it had been “a privilege and an honour” to hold the post and wished both Mr Burnham and Mr Kinnock well in their new roles.
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Yes, but what are you actually going to do other than be a loud mouthpiece?
Political speech but no substance.
Mouthpiece for Labour in Wales or for Wales within Labour?
Are Andy and Stephen old mates?
The jury’s out on where his priorities will lie!
This sentence in his quote tells you all you need to know about how his approach will be “Wales succeeds when we all pull in the same direction”. So that basically means Wales will do as it’s told by England.
“Vows to champion Wales” That’s more than his father did…
The first principle of Burnhams’ devolution model is that money raised in an area should stay in that area. Scotland has control of its’ Crown Estate proceeds. Cymru must retain the proceeds of the same raised from the land and our three coastlines.
Everything we’ve heard so far is moving the deckchairs. The long-term game changer, if there is to be one, for the Burnham administration will be fiscal devolution. Kinnock’s role must be to urgently pushing for devomax – real fiscal powers – for Wales to show England how a decentralised economic transformation should be done. Without Wales leading by example and showing rapid undeniable GDP growth, Burnham’s devolution revolution in England will eventually falter on a “pointless layer of expensive government” grievance confected by the right that the blue teams will simply commit to reversing along with Burnham’s legacy. It’s clear… Read more »
More of the same old same old.
The Union isn’t working.
Westminster isn’t working, and I doubt whether his promises are any more valid than the rest we’ve had.