David Cameron's u-turn on devolution has left the Tories' policy in tatters. Cameron distanced himself from his previous position on devolution and the Welsh Conservative leader’s calls for further powers for Wales.
The rebuff from Cameron to Welsh Tory leader Nick Bourne comes hot on the heels of a stinging attack from Tory MP David Davies over Nick Bourne’s ambitions for a Welsh Parliament.
Welsh Labour Alyn & Deeside AM CARL SARGEANT said:
‘’David Cameron says he now wants no great leap forward for devolution in Wales but Nick Bourne has already made the jump. The Tories say one thing in London and another in Wales.
‘’Cameron and his MPs will be asking Nick Bourne to follow them in making a u-turn over devolution policy. Last year Cameron favoured more devolution – one year on and he’s changed his mind.
‘’Cameron’s veto over Welsh Tory policy and David Davies’s attack has left Nick Bourne isolated and reveals the true extent of the splits in the Tory ranks.
‘’It’s no wonder that the Welsh public can’t trust the Tories – they opposed devolution in 1997 and they still haven’t made their minds up. They are the same old Tories. The people of Wales are moving on but the Tories are stuck in the past.’’
3/10/07
David Cameron, 3 October 2006. "In general I'm in favour of more devolution. The more you can give control to people over their lives the better.’’ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5402126.stm
David Cameron, 3 October 2007: "I think we need to examine, on a case-by-case basis, those powers that Westminster can devolve to the Assembly, rather than making some great leap forward." http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=cameron-rules-out-great-leap-forward%26method=full%26objectid=19885033%26siteid=50082-name_page.html
David Davies MP, 21 September 2007: "Some Conservatives like myself, and all my fellow MPs, feel we were correct to oppose the establishment of the Assembly and should continue to oppose further powers. Others such as Nick have changed their minds about opposition and, like the nationalists, want a full Welsh Parliament.’’ http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=welsh-tory-mp-in-assembly-row&method=full&objectid=19824319&siteid=50082-name_page.html
Nick Bourne, 18 September 2007: ‘Why Wales must be given more powers’ http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2007/09/18/why-wales-must-be-given-more-power-nick-bourne-55578-19805513/