Latest news with #MickAntoniw
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- General
- South Wales Argus
Littering and fly-tipping 'growing problem' in Wales
Mick Antoniw, Member of the Senedd for Pontypridd, has published poll findings which reveal that tackling the epidemic of littering and fly-tipping experienced in every corner of Wales should be a key priority for the Welsh Government. The results highlight public support for the increased use of existing penalties and for the introduction of new penalties such as driving licence points for people who litter from cars. Mick Antoniw MS said: "These results are crystal clear. "Littering and fly-tipping is a growing problem across Wales and people expect government to do something about it. "The public is also unconvinced that current penalties act as a credible deterrent, with 66 percent saying that penalties are too lenient. "A clear majority of people in all parts of Wales want to see current penalties used more effectively and 58 percent support the introduction of penalty points being added to the licence of anyone who throws litter from a car window. "I believe it is time for us all to get serious and get tough on this sort of anti-social behaviour, which blights so many communities.
Pembrokeshire Herald
08-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Senedd backs data bill despite constitutional concerns
THE SENEDD signed off on the UK Government's data bill despite constitutional concerns, with the proposed legislation 'completely failing' a key test set by the First Minister. Senedd Members voted 39-11 in favour of consenting to the data use and access bill, which aims to make better use of data and boost the UK economy by £10bn over the next decade. But Plaid Cymru members and Labour backbenchers voiced concerns about powers in the bill for UK ministers to make laws in some areas already devolved to Wales. Alun Davies urged Welsh ministers to withdraw the legislative consent motion or LCM, the means by which the Senedd indicates support for UK laws on devolved matters. Referring to a speech by Eluned Morgan the same day, which put distance between Labour in Westminster and Cardiff Bay, Mr Davies said the bill fails a test set by the First Minister. Labour MS Alun Davies He told the Senedd: 'The First Minister was very clear this morning in a speech that she made at the Norwegian church that where the devolved settlement is engaged, unless consent lies with Welsh ministers then consent would not be provided for UK legislation.' During the debate on May 6, the former minister – now a member of the Senedd's legislation committee – expressed concerns about the number of LCMs during this term. He said: 'What we are seeing now is an LCM that deals with devolved matters and where the Welsh Government is seceding the settlement… enabling UK ministers to amend Welsh legislation without reference to… Welsh ministers or this parliament. 'And that is unacceptable. It fails, completely, the tests that have been set by the First Minister to support UK legislation.' The Plaid Cymru-turned-Labour politician added: 'I think many Labour members who supported the First Minister this morning will feel very, very difficult about voting for this.' Mick Antoniw, who was previously counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, nodded in agreement with much of his colleague's contribution. Mike Hedges, the Labour chair of the legislation committee, recommended granting consent but he remained dissatisfied by Welsh ministers 'conceding' constitutional concerns. Labour MS Mick Antoniw 'This is unwelcome and a serious cause for concern,' he said of delegated powers exercisable solely by UK ministers in devolved areas. Mr Hedges criticised the 'suboptimal' quality and timeliness of the consent process, with the Welsh Government publishing key documents days before the debate. Delyth Jewell, who chairs the Senedd's culture and communications committee, expressed concerns about the bill's potential impact on data sharing between the UK and EU. South Wales East MS Delyth Jewell Her Plaid Cymru colleague Luke Fletcher warned of 'far-reaching' constitutional implications as well as potential for the bill to 'dilute' data protection standards. He told the Senedd: 'It's telling in this respect that the UK Government has refused to share this relevant risk assessment on this matter.' Rebecca Evans, Wales' economy secretary, pointed to amendments to strengthen the bill but she recognised the two governments were 'not aligned in the devolution analysis'. Recommending the Senedd supports the bill, which is mostly non-devolved, Ms Evans emphasised the importance of UK-wide regulations. Labour and the Conservatives supported the motion, with Plaid Cymru voting against and Welsh Lib Dem leader Jane Dodds abstaining. Under the non-binding Sewel convention, the UK Government would 'not normally' legislate in devolved areas without such consent.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wales has 'entitlement' to HS2 cash - ex-minister
The Welsh government's former top legal advisor has called Labour UK ministers' decision not to allocate consequential funding to Wales for HS2 high speed rail "unacceptable". Mick Antoniw told the Senedd that Wales had a "constitutional entitlement" to the money, during a Plaid Cymru debate on rail infrastructure on Wednesday evening. The Senedd ultimately voted against a Plaid motion calling on the Labour Welsh government to write to its UK counterparts asking for billions of pounds in funding consequentials for HS2. In a previous vote in May 2024 there was cross-party support for Wales to receive its "fair share" of funding. Why does Wales not receive money from HS2? Welsh railways underfunded, UK government admits Speaking after the debate Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson Peredur Owen Griffiths said: "The Labour Welsh government are now firmly in the pockets of their UK colleagues. "The people of Wales see through the pretence of Labour's so-called 'partnership in power', seeing that it's nothing but empty words. "They will fight to spare Keir Starmer's blushes before they fight for Wales every single time." During Wednesday's debate Antoniw, Senedd member for Pontypridd, said: "I do not accept the UK government's response to HS2 funding. "I could accept an argument that says that we can not fund all the legacy of all the disastrous economic consequences of the last 14 years of Tory government. "But I believe that we have a constitutional entitlement to the Barnett funding consequential, and the response from the UK government has been unacceptable, it's been inaccurate, it's been flawed, and I don't believe it is credible."
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wales has 'entitlement' to HS2 cash, says ex-Labour minister
The Welsh government's former top legal advisor has called Labour UK ministers' decision not to allocate consequential funding to Wales for HS2 high speed rail "unacceptable".Mick Antoniw told the Senedd that Wales had a "constitutional entitlement" to the money, during a Plaid Cymru debate on rail infrastructure on Wednesday Senedd ultimately voted against a Plaid motion calling on the Labour Welsh government to write to its UK counterparts asking for billions of pounds in funding consequentials for a previous vote in May 2024 there was cross-party support for Wales to receive its "fair share" of funding. Speaking after the debate Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson Peredur Owen Griffiths said: "The Labour Welsh government are now firmly in the pockets of their UK colleagues."The people of Wales see through the pretence of Labour's so-called 'partnership in power', seeing that it's nothing but empty words."They will fight to spare Keir Starmer's blushes before they fight for Wales every single time."During Wednesday's debate Antoniw, Senedd member for Pontypridd, said: "I do not accept the UK government's response to HS2 funding."I could accept an argument that says that we can not fund all the legacy of all the disastrous economic consequences of the last 14 years of Tory government."But I believe that we have a constitutional entitlement to the Barnett funding consequential, and the response from the UK government has been unacceptable, it's been inaccurate, it's been flawed, and I don't believe it is credible."
Sky News
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Senedd committee warns against making lying in Welsh parliament a criminal offence
A Senedd committee has warned against making lying in the Welsh parliament a criminal offence. It comes after the Welsh government committed to introduce legislation which would ban members of the Welsh parliament from deliberately deceiving. But the Senedd 's standards committee, which the government asked to look into the matter, has concluded that members who lie on purpose should not be criminalised. "We had some significant concerns about the risks outlined to the committee in the evidence it received of introducing a criminal offence," it said in its report. The committee does, however, recommend broadening section 75 of the draft Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order, which would make it an offence for election candidates to make any deliberately deceptive statements. Former Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price put forward his party's motion in July last year, arguing that trust in politicians had "fallen to an all-time low". But before it went to a vote, the Welsh government's then counsel general, Mick Antoniw, said the government was "committed to the principle" and said it would introduce legislation ahead of the next Senedd election in 2026. Concerns had been raised by some members on the impact of such proposals on parliamentary privilege. The report comes after the committee last month suggested introducing a mechanism to unseat members of the Senedd found to have breached its code of conduct. In the report, published on Wednesday, the committee concludes it was "not convinced" that a new criminal offence would restore "trust in the system". "Our view is that the risks and the unintended consequences currently outweigh the benefits," the committee added. The committee said the perceived risks included the "considerable existing strain on the justice system", the right to freedom of expression under article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights and the "difficulties of proving that a statement is false". Instead, the committee recommends the Welsh government strengthen the existing standards procedures for members of the Senedd. This includes a clear definition of deliberate deception and changing the code of conduct to explicitly state that members "must not make deliberately misleading statements". A Welsh government spokesperson said the committee had "produced a detailed and thorough report into deliberate deception as part of its inquiry into member accountability".
