on the clip
Darren Millar.
Contributions
97 contributions on record. Newest first, by sitting day. Page 3 of 3. Counted by Siambr
- on the clip
Diolch, Lywydd. Fellow Members of the Senedd, I rise today to mark an historic and significant moment in the life of this Siambr and, indeed, this nation. I want to put on record, first of all, my thanks to the outgoing Llywydd, Elin Jones, for the way in which she conducted the business of this Senedd over the past 10 years. You did a spectacular job and served our nation with dignity, as did the Deputy Presiding Officer, David Rees, who served so ably alongside you. I also want to put on record my thanks to the former First Minister for her service to our nation. We crossed swords every single week and, in fact, during the election campaign, every single day, but I have the utmost respect for her as a person and I know that she loved this country and served it to the very best of her ability. And, of course, it's incumbent upon me to offer my sincere and heartfelt congratulations to Rhun ap Iorwerth on becoming the Senedd's nominee to be the next First Minister of Wales. To lead your country is the highest honour in national and public life, and, regardless of our political differences, I wish you well personally as you assume this huge mantle and take on this mantle of responsibility. I also extend my congratulations to his party for a formidable election result, because to become the largest party in this Senedd for the first time is a huge achievement and it cannot be overlooked. I want to congratulate every single Member of this Senedd on being elected to serve our nation and the people of Wales. But, First Minister, be under no illusion: you have a monumental task before you. The honeymoon period for you and your party is going to be short. While the celebrations in the Plaid Cymru ranks may continue tonight, the cold reality is waiting for you in the morning: an NHS that isn't working as it should be, a stagnant economy that isn't growing as it should be, an education system that isn't serving our young people as it should be. They will all be waiting in your in-tray as you assume office. The people of Wales did not vote for a change of personnel; they voted for a change of outcomes. Now, from these benches, the Welsh Conservatives will approach this term, of course, with mixed emotions. We're deeply saddened to have lost hard-working and dedicated colleagues who served their constituents and this institution of the Senedd with distinction. But we're also delighted to have outperformed the pessimistic estimations and expectations of almost every pundit and every pollster in this country, because we've returned a magnificent seven Members to this Senedd. And we're here to champion the things that we Welsh Conservatives hold dear: a more prosperous Wales with lower taxes, an end to Government waste, and more efficient and effective public services that work for the people of Wales. And I promise the new First Minister that we will be a serious, robust and responsible opposition, and that responsibility begins today by calling out the glaring gap between Plaid Cymru's rhetoric and the parliamentary reality that we have seen. Throughout the recent campaign, the First Minister Elect's message was one of change. He promised a new era of breaking from the past, and yet the very first act of his party in this new Senedd has been to stitch up the post of Presiding Officer with their former partners in the Labour Party. Llywydd, it is a move that many people across Wales will find deeply unedifying. In no other western democracy would a person jump directly from being the former Deputy First Minister or Deputy Prime Minister of their nation into the speaker's chair in the very next Parliament. Frankly, it stinks. The role of the Llywydd demands absolute impartiality. It should not be treated as a consolation prize for the previous Deputy First Minister after their own political party has just been vomited from Government in such a spectacular way by the electorate. To do so, undermines and damages the reputation of this Parliament, because a Presiding Officer must command respect across the whole of the Senedd, especially amongst opposition parties and those who have a role in scrutinising the Government. So, Llywydd, while I have every respect for you, and the experience that you hold and the important office that you now hold, and I congratulate you and our new Deputy Presiding Officer on your respective elections today, I'm afraid that you will need to earn the confidence of the Welsh Conservative group in the weeks and months ahead. Because this back-room deal is a clear sign that the Labour-Plaid axis, the very same partnership that has failed Wales for years, is set to continue under a different guise, and it demonstrates very clearly that despite the glossy manifesto promises of change, the old adage remains as true now here in Wales as it has ever been: vote Plaid, get Labour; vote Labour, get Plaid. We on these benches will judge this Government not by its promises, but by its actions, and I'm afraid that today's stitch-up suggests that, unfortunately, it is very much business as usual here in Cardiff Bay. First Minister, you have your mandate, but you will also have our scrutiny and we will hold you accountable for all of the decisions that you make. [Applause.]
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Sources
The Record of Proceedings for each sitting day, quoted verbatim.