20 Questions for the One Wales Government

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 30th Jun 2008

Welsh Liberal Democrats today launched a study of the first year of the Labour-Plaid coalition, highlighting 20 areas where the One Wales Government has failed the people of Wales.

The document - "20 Questions for the One Wales Government" - highlights 20 areas where the Labour-Plaid government has so far failed to meet its own aspirations, failed to meet the aspirations of the people of Wales and failed to make an impact beyond Wales's border.

Mike German, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: "Twelve months ago next week, Labour and Plaid Cymru joined together with a pledge that they were 'passionate about improving the lives of people in Wales and making our nation a better place in which to live and work'.

"Sadly, we have seen all too little improvement.

"Its greatest success has been in preserving the status quo. Keeping Labour hands on the levers of power in Wales; keeping the powers of the Assembly so limited, and stifling initiatives to such a degree that no Assembly Member applied to make a law, when given the opportunity to do so in the June ballot.

"The One Wales agreement has kept two parties together, but failed to stop parts of Wales falling apart - particularly in education where there are major issues surrounding the introduction of the foundation phase, funding of FE, funding of HE, and the backlog in building repairs.

"The style of government has been disappointing too. The Labour-Plaid government enjoys a thumping majority. As a result of the Government of Wales Act 2006, it is potentially the most powerful government Wales has ever had. But the test of power is not how big your majority is, but how much change it can deliver.

"By this test, the One Wales Government has failed."