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Wales what's the point in voting when it's devolved

92 replies

justasking111 · 04/07/2024 14:38

What is the point? So many family and friends aren't bothering because it's irrelevant to Wales. Nobody gives a toss in Westminster.

OP posts:
Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:22

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:18

Why not change it so it is not toothless rather than abolishing?

Because no single government since I have been alive (45 years) has done anything to make it a functioning government department. It's literally THE reason why we have devolution (albeit limited in functionality).

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:22

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:20

I very much know they are... the point I was making was that I wasn't putting the boot in just because they are Tories, but because regardless of their politics they have been bad servants to Wales. Maybe I should have made that point clearer.

Ah. Fair point. I’m with you on Plaid too - I’ve hung on in there with a Labour membership etc so far but after the election I may resign and join Plaid.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:20

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:17

Their rosette colours are all blue…you can’t extrapolate about other colours from them.

I very much know they are... the point I was making was that I wasn't putting the boot in just because they are Tories, but because regardless of their politics they have been bad servants to Wales. Maybe I should have made that point clearer.

Shortfatsuit · 04/07/2024 16:18

Agree, OP, probably best that you don't vote. You sound way too ignorant to be able to make an informed choice.

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:18

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 15:50

I would abolish the role of Welsh Secretary - it does nothing, totally toothless.

Why not change it so it is not toothless rather than abolishing?

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:17

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 15:49

Yes exactly - although there are issues with all of these of course.

Stephen Crabb - the Preseli sex pest... need I say more
Simon Hart - did sod all about Mark Menzies, brought the CW role into disrepute
David TC Davies - does nothing to 'ensure the devolution settlement continues to deliver a clear, fair and strong settlement for Wales' - chocolate teapot extraordinaire

Frankly they are an embarrassment to Wales, no matter the colour of their rosette and have done nothing to progress circumstances our side of the bridge.

Their rosette colours are all blue…you can’t extrapolate about other colours from them.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:16

Silviasilvertoes · 04/07/2024 16:13

Of course it affects Wales. As PPs have said, Westminster holds the purse strings. And your local MP should be useful for local issues, so if they’re not, vote them out. Our Welsh constituency is predicted to boot out the sitting Tory MP today and I can’t wait.

I am hoping that Wales gets rid of the blue... including Carmarthen, Colwyn Bay and other strongholds.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:15

Realduchymarmalade · 04/07/2024 16:11

North Wales here, English born but with Welsh parents. I’ve lived in Wales for six years now. Can’t say I’m impressed with Plaid Cmyru. Seems people just vote for them because their Welsh, nothing more. No one was in my town centre polling station this morning when DH and I walked down, but we were only in there for a few mins so that’s not saying much. First time I voted 1997 in Cambridge, there was a huge queue and the atmosphere was incredible.

Edited

That doesn't make sense - we have Welsh Labour and Welsh Conservatives and Welsh Lib Dems - it's literally in their name... you're allowed not to be impressed by PC but you can't say that the main parties don't have Welsh offshoots... which rather upends your argument.

I first voted in 1997 too, turned 18 the February before the election. I was in Horsham (put a blue rosette on a donkey territory), I voted yellow. I was the only person in the whole place, didn't mean that it didn't turn out to be an historic day. There's a reason why polling stations are open for 14 hours...

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:14

justasking111 · 04/07/2024 15:26

I don't think that the English realise how Welsh MPs work. National policy just isn't mentioned.

To be fair. Welsh MPs don't sit in the cabinet so their influence is minimal. Don't know if Scots and Irish do either to be honest.

Welsh MPs can sit in the cabinet if they are chosen to be cabinet ministers. Why would you think they don’t? You don’t seem to know much about this.

cardibach · 04/07/2024 16:13

ThePoshUns · 04/07/2024 14:55

Not everything is devolved, policing isn't , taxation isn't.
I'd vote to get rid of the WAG if I could.

Your first sentence is correct.
Your second falls down because there’s no such thing as the WAG. You may mean the Senedd. Local democracy is a good thing.

@justasking111 it isn’t irrelevant to Wales because a) not everything is devolved and b) funding for devolved things plus decisions on what will be devolved are both decided in Westminster. We pay tax to Westminster, not the Senedd.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:13

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 16:07

The Tory candidate here doesn’t even live in Wales. Helicoptered in from London. It’s so tone deaf it’s shocking. No one knows a thing about them.

We have similar conflicts! Our Labour candidate is a parachute... constituency party said no and were over-ridden. The irony being he is a smart, intelligent guy who might well do a good job, but they couldn't find someone better in the WHOLE of Swansea or who has actual Welsh connections? It's pitiful at best and patronising at worst. My parents (Pembrokeshire) have a Labour candidate who is from Essex but his mum has a holiday home in Tenby... so obviously he knows everything about Wales... but to be fair to him, the party voted him in there. But I find it contributes to this idea of Wales being a second class place and that we should be grateful that these civilised beings are being parachuted into our midst. Although there is no longer a legal requirement to live in the constituency in which you live, I have said to Plaid that they need to make it a party policy of their own. As well as not employing your family or your mates in your constituency office. It's not hard is it? And surely obvious!!

Silviasilvertoes · 04/07/2024 16:13

Of course it affects Wales. As PPs have said, Westminster holds the purse strings. And your local MP should be useful for local issues, so if they’re not, vote them out. Our Welsh constituency is predicted to boot out the sitting Tory MP today and I can’t wait.

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 16:12

KimberleyClark · 04/07/2024 16:09

They can vary rates of income tax but they can’t introduce new ones.

I saw a meme that explains it. George Andrew and David share a flat. They all work but all the salaries go into George's bank account and he controls its distribution.

They can raise or lower the rate of income tax by a certain percentage as I understand. So instead of being 20% over personal allowance it could be 17% or 23%

Realduchymarmalade · 04/07/2024 16:11

North Wales here, English born but with Welsh parents. I’ve lived in Wales for six years now. Can’t say I’m impressed with Plaid Cmyru. Seems people just vote for them because their Welsh, nothing more. No one was in my town centre polling station this morning when DH and I walked down, but we were only in there for a few mins so that’s not saying much. First time I voted 1997 in Cambridge, there was a huge queue and the atmosphere was incredible.

VoteOutToHelpOut · 04/07/2024 16:11

I'm in Wales. Everyone I know is voting and the two polling stations local to me were really busy this morning.

As pp said, not everything is devolved. Plus I care about what happens to people in the rest of the UK, whether those living in the other devolved administrations or in England. If I can help vote this cruel government out for their benefit as well as mine, I will.

KimberleyClark · 04/07/2024 16:09

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 16:02

https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-nic/income-tax/welsh-income-tax#:~:text=The%20Senedd%20Cymru%20%2D%20Welsh%20Parliament,on%20certain%20types%20of%20income.

The Senedd controls income tax rates in Wales. So far they’ve stuck with English rates however.

They can vary rates of income tax but they can’t introduce new ones.

I saw a meme that explains it. George Andrew and David share a flat. They all work but all the salaries go into George's bank account and he controls its distribution.

MotherFeministWoman · 04/07/2024 16:08

Because I give a shit about people in other parts of Britain.

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 16:07

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:05

Same here (Swansea) - even the language in the Tory leaflets is odd. It feels like a Tory template with some Welshisms thrown in, bet they use the same in Scotland. They literally have no clue.

The Tory candidate here doesn’t even live in Wales. Helicoptered in from London. It’s so tone deaf it’s shocking. No one knows a thing about them.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:05

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 15:57

The Tory leaflets we e received have shown how out of touch they are - they’ve only discussed devolved matters.

Labour and Plaid Cymru leaflets here have both discussed matters that are relevant to Wales being represented in Westminster.

Same here (Swansea) - even the language in the Tory leaflets is odd. It feels like a Tory template with some Welshisms thrown in, bet they use the same in Scotland. They literally have no clue.

Arlanymor · 04/07/2024 16:03

justasking111 · 04/07/2024 16:00

You beat me to this

Me too!

justasking111 · 04/07/2024 16:00

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 15:58

Pedant note - taxation is partially devolved.

You beat me to this

OP posts:
OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 15:58

ThePoshUns · 04/07/2024 14:55

Not everything is devolved, policing isn't , taxation isn't.
I'd vote to get rid of the WAG if I could.

Pedant note - taxation is partially devolved.

ThreeFeetTall · 04/07/2024 15:57

Jo Stevens (Cardiff MP) is likely to be in the next cabinet I think

OrwellianTimes · 04/07/2024 15:57

justasking111 · 04/07/2024 14:57

I've read all their bumph that's been pushed through the letterbox. They've only mentioned the NHS, education. Nowt about immigration, defence, foreign policy etc. I promise you.

The Tory leaflets we e received have shown how out of touch they are - they’ve only discussed devolved matters.

Labour and Plaid Cymru leaflets here have both discussed matters that are relevant to Wales being represented in Westminster.