Gillan - The worst Secretary of State for Wales that we have ever had?

On a post about the organ donation controversy Welsh Ramblings makes an interesting comment about whether The Westminster government neglects Wales as a systemic characteristic, and that passive neglect or misunderstanding- rather than outright nastiness- constitutes the existence of an anti-Welsh set up. On the whole I would suggest that passive neglect of Welsh issues is the reality; but this passive neglect gives a tremendous amount of power to the person(s) responsible for Welsh policy. When Wales is passively ignored the personality of the Secretary of State for Wales is immensely important to the governance of Wales.

All Labour SoS for Wales have been members for Welsh constituencies, those who have been comfortable about their Welsh identity – Jim Griffiths, Cledwyn Hughes and Ron Davies have done well for Wales. Those who have been ambivalent about their Welsh identity – George Thomas, Paul Murphey, Alun Michael and the only non-Welsh Labour MP to have the job Peter Hain have tended to use it to promote the Labour Party in Wales rather than to benefit Wales as a country.

The Conservatives, however, have been different. The Conservatives have treated the job of Secretary of State for Wales as a bit of a bum job, a spare part that allows somebody to be in cabinet without a really important contribution to make. Nick Edwards is the only Welsh Conservative Constituency MP to be SoS Wales, since the job was created in 1964. (Prior to 1964 we had a Minister for Welsh Affairs from 1951 – all Conservative and none representing a Welsh constituency).

Peter Thomas was a true Welsh MP in exile. Nick Edwards, for all his faults, had the interests of Wales at heart. David Hunt, Peter Walker, John Redwood and William Hague couldn't give a fiddler's fart about Wales but by leaving the actual running of Wales in the hands of Sir Wyn Roberts did Wales a favour, because Wales had a passionate Welsh man at the helm.

Cheryll Gillan, however, is a different beast altogether – she has a false assumption that because she lived in Wales until she was ten years old, that because she is a member of the parliamentary choir (singing is a Welsh trait you know!) and because she went to some rather exclusive nursery schools in Cardiff that she is actually Welsh and knows what is best for Wales.

She is, of course, mistaken – she hasn't got a clue about Wales and Welsh life but rules Wales as if she is an expert on Wales, which makes her – not one who shows outright nastiness or passive neglect - just one who is completely ignorant about Wales and its needs and one who is completely out of her depth - and therefore the worst Secretary of State for Wales that we have ever had.

Pub Quiz

What do:

Peter Walker MP for Worcester
David Hunt MP for The Wirral
William Hauge MP for Richmond, Yorkshire
and
John Redwood MP for Wokingham

have in common with Cheryl Gililan MP for Chesham and Amersham?

I would like the Labour team to think very hard before answering this question - they might get it wrong.

Some members of the Labour team think that Ron Davies was the architect of devolution. Bollocks, he was just the builder. The Architect was Mrs Thatcher and her series of English Secretary's of State for Wales who couldn't give a fiddlers' fart about Wales.

The polls and the Tory choice for Welsh Secretary suggest that we are going back to the same old days. Welsh Labour could, if they were minded to, do something about it - amend the Government of Wales Act (2006) to get rid of the needles referendum clause!

Come on, Welsh Labour, be brave, do what's needed to earn a bonus point for your team!