The Government of Wales Act has received royal assent. The government's devolution agenda has reached a further landmark with the Senedd shifting from administrative oversight to legislative powers, within the bounds set by Westminster. If I recall, this was a direct call for the left-liberal school of constitutional change, as set out in the publications of Charter 88. Do any of them hark back to the old days and wonder if devolution was a worthwhile goal? Few supported an English Parliament, fearful of the consequences if such a body erupted in the body politic. Now, devolution is a sop to the Left, as New Labour squat in Westminster and apply unionist make-up. When do we hear the chartists wonder if they made a mistake, tuned into a regional agenda whilst New Labour stole their liberties. Perhaps they whisper...
Mr Hain said, "The Government of Wales Act provides Wales with a new constitutional settlement that will endure for a generation or more. By granting enhanced legislative powers for Wales, it will enable the Assembly to deliver tailor-made policies for the people of Wales.
"And for the first time ever, the Act puts primary powers for Wales on the statute book, ready and waiting to be activated once the people of Wales support such a change in a referendum. There won't be another Bill like it.
"This will settle the distracting constitutional debate in Wales and will enable the Assembly to focus instead on delivering the right policies for Wales."
Full parliamentary powers will only arrive after the hurdle of a referendum. The Good Hain and the Bad Hain taketh away. But then, this expansion was never about adhering to the popular demands of the Welsh. Rhodri Morgan's outburst of a few days left onlookers in no doubt that he wishes to assure Labour power beyond a possible defeat at Westminster. The First Minister values his position so much that he is willing to share it with a progressive coalition against the bogeyman of the Tories.
'The people of Wales could wake up on the Friday after the election, when it's too late to undo the votes cast, however much they may be horrified by the unintended consequence of what they've done,' he said.
'There will, I know, be many committed supporters of both the Lib-Dems and Plaid Cymru who will be absolutely horrified that their leaders down at Cardiff Bay are in such close contact with the Conservatives in Wales - colluding with them, voting with them, taking their instructions from them. But that is what has been going on.'
The Tories, Lib-Dems and Plaid Cymru have worked together to defeat Mr Morgan - who has no majority - on several occasions. Mr Morgan called any anti-Labour coalition an 'anti-democratic Blind Date'.
David Bourne must hope that such a grand coalition succeeds in an alliance since it will most certainly fail on policies. A Tory opposition in Wales could only increase in size and popularity, though this party does have the knack of seeing an opportunity and marching away. As for Morgan, his emotional rhetoric explains why he left Parliament: too red for the Thames Valley.