Welcome back to the all new Senedd Bulletin Podcast. This week we are joined by Russell George MS, Natasha Asghar MS and Tom Giffard MS. We discussed the need for a Welsh Covid inquiry, transport infrastructure and the early voting pilot.

Senedd Bulletin Podcast - Season 2 - Episode 1

Ministers Reflect interviews show us what governing looks like from the inside. They offer a range of perspectives on what being a minister actually involves on a day-to-day basis, the different aspects of the job, and how ministers develop their approach to the role over time.

To explore ministerial life and what the archive reveals about it, we were joined by Leighton Andrews, Professor of Practice in Public Service Leadership at Cardiff University, and a former Minister for Education and Minister for Public Services in the Welsh government. Leighton not only uses Ministers Reflect interviews in his teaching about government and policy making, but is also drawing on the archive in a forthcoming book about ministerial leadership.

Tim Durrant, Programme Director at the Institute for Government

This event was part of the IfG's Ministers Reflect one-day conference.

Welcome and What is the reality of being a minister?

After the report of Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales restated the case for devolution of justice and policing to Wales, as in Scotland and Northern Ireland (indeed, arguably England, too), it has since become part of the discourse in the Welsh Labour leadership contest. 

It has also revealed tensions between the UK and Welsh Labour parties as both the Shadow Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens and even the Deputy Leader of Welsh Labour Carolyn Harris have publicly expressed opposition to further devolution of justice and policing, while both Welsh Labour leadership candidates Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles have restated their commitment to the full devolution of justice and policing, if elected and leading the future Welsh Government.

Why have proponents been persuaded so convincingly to pursue the creation of a Welsh justice system and legal jurisdiction and why are opponents so unwilling to contemplate it? Why did former Prime Minister Gordon Brown recommend piecemeal devolution of youth justice and probation only? We go deep into the arguments with our guests:

Professor Emyr Lewis - https://twitter.com/EmyrLewis4
Head of the Department of Law and Criminology, Aberystwyth University

Dr Kathy Hampson - https://twitter.com/DrKathyHampson
Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Aberystwyth University

The Thomas Commission Report, 'Justice for Wales, for the People of Wales': https://www.gov.wales/commission-justice-wales-report?_ga=2.14919669.274951169.1708250131-1462820122.1708250131
Emyr's blog about the Rwanda Bill: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/thinking-wales/location-of-aberystwyth-on-the-moon-bill/
Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales: https://www.useyourvoice.wales/final-report
Gordon Brown's Report for UK Labour: https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Commission-on-the-UKs-Future.pdf

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Justice and Youth Justice for Wales

The home of modern Welsh politics - Cartref gwleidyddiaeth cyfoes Cymru

Justice and Youth Justice for Wales

Hiraeth - Welsh Politics

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