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Tory minister brands Labour-Plaid cooperation agreement ‘an absolute travesty’

01 Dec 2021 3 minute read
Simon Hart photo by Chris McAndrew (CC BY 3.0).

A Tory cabinet minister has branded the cooperation agreement between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru as “an absolute travesty”

Welsh Secretary Simon Hart has hit out at the deal, which includes action on free school meals for all, strengthening the Welsh media, the development of north-south railway links, the teaching of Welsh history, and on second homes.

The Conservative politician argued that it “flies right in the face of natural justice” and “democratic principles”.

This is because under the terms of the deal Plaid Cymru are in “government and opposition at the same time”, he said.

He made the comments after the First Minister Mark Drakeford and the Leader of Plaid Cymru, Adam Price officially signed the wide-ranging cooperation agreement, which covers a total of 46 areas, earlier today.

Simon Hart told ITV Wales: “This agreement is very odd insofar as Plaid Cymru now are bound by collective responsibility. They have special advisers paid for by the taxpayer, who will be part of government. And yet they’re still described as an opposition.

“That is that is an absolute travesty that flies right in the face of natural justice, democratic principles and I’m astonished they can do that with a straight face.

“I mean, forget the legalities of it, seems to me to be very curious when you can be both government and opposition at the same time in the same building, and I’m amazed. I don’t think people will tolerate that. I think people will rumble that quite quickly.”

‘Work together’ 

On signing the cooperation agreement, First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Over the next three years, the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru will work together to jointly develop and deliver the policies set out in this Co-operation Agreement.

“This is a bespoke agreement to deliver for Wales but it also captures how Welsh politics works – by finding common ground and sharing good ideas.

“I look forward to working in partnership on this ambitious programme.”

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said: “Today marks the beginning of a new way of doing politics.

“As Wales faces many challenges from Brexit, the climate emergency and the ongoing pandemic, co-operation has never played such a pivotal part in our democracy.

“The wide-ranging, radical policies included in the Co-operation Agreement – from free school meals for all primary pupils to extending free childcare to all two-year-olds – will change the lives of thousands of families in Wales for the better.

“I’m proud to sign this agreement with the First Minister and look forward to working together to make a difference to the lives of the people of Wales.”


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33 Comments
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John Brooks
John Brooks
3 years ago

Get over it Mr Hart. The Welsh people voted for progressive parties, Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Lib Dems, because toxic Toryism is an anathema to the majority of us in this country.

Last edited 3 years ago by John Brooks
Steve George
Steve George
3 years ago
Reply to  John Brooks

Lib Dems? Progressive? Is this the same bunch that were, at the least, cheer leaders for austerity and who paved the way for the current idiot in No 10? I think you mean Tory Lite!

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
3 years ago
Reply to  Steve George

aka Fib Dumbs.

Andy Mayes
Andy Mayes
3 years ago

I wonder if Mr Hart is aware how other governments work. For example, in the Netherlands, they typically have a coalition government of 4-5 parties. These parties range from the Centre-right to the left.

And guess what, they all manage to work together towards a common goal!

If only Tories would see the benefits of democracy rather than despotism…

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

Not one person in Wales voted for Simon Hart, NOT ONE!!! And he has the f’ing nerve to talk about democracy when his position in politics is completely unelected. No-one in Wales voted for Hart and no-one wants him here. It was ok for his right wing party to get into bed with the Lib Dems, but heaven forbid two left wing parties working together.

Steve George
Steve George
3 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

In the interest of accuracy, and for no other reason, it should be noted that 22,183 people in the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency did vote for Mr Hart in 2019.

Rhosddu
Rhosddu
3 years ago
Reply to  Steve George

Not in a Senedd election, though, so he needs to refrain from sticking his fork in other people’s dinner.

Gareth
Gareth
3 years ago

Well, of course the viceroy would call this partnership an “absolute travesty”, as one of the things it will do is feed children , something his party is against in England, and was forced into doing by a football player. There is also the fact that no private companies are mentioned in the delivery of the deal, so no chance of a backhander. And last of all, these parties are working for the good of Wales, so there are no benefits to his masters in London.

Andrew
Andrew
3 years ago

What a travesty, an elected government and an opposition party agreeing to do what’s best for their people.Jog on Mr Hart, you are as much use to Wales as a chocolate tea pot. But please keep making your obsurd comments so more of our people can see you for what you are, a waste of oxygen.

Erisian
Erisian
3 years ago

No Mr Hart. This is simply something you do not like.
Sneakily adding 18 pages to the Policing Bill to avoid scrutiny is a travesty.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/01/imprisoned-51-weeks-protesting-britain-police-state

Barry Pandy
Barry Pandy
3 years ago

He would say that wouldn’t he?

Labour and Plaid between them got 60% of the vote, he needs to get over it.

John
John
3 years ago

Farm school boy late to the party and out of his depth again.

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

The only travesty is Hart and his job.

CapM
CapM
3 years ago

“I mean, forget the legalities of it, ………..”
If there were any issue of legality Hart wouldn’t have been reduced to having an impotent hissy fit.

Arwyn
Arwyn
3 years ago

The UK is an absolute travesty. The Tories are an absolute travesty.

Hmm, yes those two statements are true. I’m not sure what Simon Hart is blathering on about though.

Dafydd
Dafydd
3 years ago

says the guy who is happy to see foxes ripped apart by packs of hounds….. 60% of us voted for Labour / Plaid – enough said!!

Pob lwc
Pob lwc
3 years ago

Has Simon Hart not heard of the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition, or the Tory-DUP confidence-and-supply deal? He’s got some nerve to complain.

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago
Reply to  Pob lwc

Funny old do….. Someone in the pub said that “Johnson has done a deal with the devil”.?

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago

The only travesty here is that Hart and the Tories still have anything to do with Wales. The Labour/Plaid agreement has been struck to aid Wales after centuries of neglect primary by the Tories. The Tories hate this deal as they hate helping anyone other than their benefactors and big business.

John Brooks
John Brooks
3 years ago

You have got a Welsh Labour Govt regardless of this deal.

Gareth W
Gareth W
3 years ago

Is it any surprise that our colonial governer disapproves of something that is good for Wales. It is called modern politics and is the way that most deomcracies work. Perhaps he should compare it with the deal Theresa May did with the Unionists in Northern Ireland to keep her party in power ?

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

A) Labour were already in government and B) This was the only way Plaid could have implemented their policies out of government. It’s a win win for both parties involved as this means that the policies both these parties agreed on won’t have the tories standing in the way trying to sh1t on Welsh people.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

How much did the tories pay the far right DUP to join them in Westminster again? It was 1 billion pounds and that was paid by everyone else in the UK. They gave taxpayers money to a far right anti abortion, religious fundementalist political party which all went to a stolen part of Ireland.

Richard
Richard
3 years ago

Oh Simon – just let this one go my friend…this is their business – just as your links to the Liberals under Dave Cam was yours ….😄

There are key 🔑 things you can do in your own role – please focus on these for all of our sakes.

Last edited 3 years ago by Richard
Mr Williams
Mr Williams
3 years ago

I haven’t heard Mark Drakeford or Adam Price saying they want to let bodies pile up in the thousands like Simon Hart’s boss…. People in glass houses Mr Hart!

Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
3 years ago

It does rather put the kibosh on the old “divide and rule” game …

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
3 years ago
Grayham Jones
3 years ago

Let hope now that the Labour Party start fighting for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh

Welsh_Siôn
Welsh_Siôn
3 years ago

Aw, diddums, simoney wimoney. Nobody wanna play with you? Here, as compensation, I wrote a parody – just for you. Enjoy it, like a good little boy. I am the very model of a modern Viceroy-General I am the very model of a modern Viceroy-General I only have information on matters Better Togetheral, I know nothing of Welsh kings, nor of battles historical Not Glyndŵr nor Llywelyn, in any order categorical. I’m not at all acquainted with matters mathematical, I mis-understand equations, both the simple and quadratical About binominal theorem, I really have no news, With a doleful look about… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Welsh_Siôn
Dave
Dave
3 years ago
Reply to  Welsh_Siôn

Epic Sion 😉

Tim
Tim
3 years ago

Etymologically, travesty means wearing the clothes of the opposite sex. In what way are the Plaid and Taffia Members cross-dressing? And if this Agreement constitutes *absolute* cross-dressing, what manner of parliamentary conduct would constitute *relative* travesty?

Note that I’m not holding my breath in expectation of a sensible answer. A man who complains about his own Diocesan Bishop to a Primate in another country is unlikely to be all that clear about gender-bending attire.

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
3 years ago

Thats the best way KEEP. your job MR Hart. Has Welsh Secretary dont stand up for WALES. AND YOU WILL KEEP YOUR JOB.

Argol Fawr
Argol Fawr
3 years ago

You have a very short memory Mr Hart. Your own past prim minister Theresa May did a deal 2017 with the DUP (Northern Ireland) in order to crowbar a conservative government on us. It was reported then, the tory gov handed over an extra £2b for NI to buy their Westminster votes. That was a travesty. In this instance, the travesty is having a you representing Wales within a UK Government that regards Wales as an English colony.

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