By Dylan Lewis-Rowlands

“Not to leave to tomorrow, what we can do today.” So rang the line through the hearts and minds of those who watched as Mark Drakeford addressed Welsh Labour Conference on 11/12th March. While most attention has focused on the incredible, passionate, and heartfelt speech, many other things happened at Welsh Labour Conference that deserve to be mentioned.

Welsh Labour Grassroots (WLG), the left-wing organisation of members in Wales, was proud and prominent throughout Conference this year. Though many see Welsh Conference as inferior, or less deserving of attention than the UK Conference, we know how false that is. Welsh Conference is our chance to hold the party of government in Wales to account – to celebrate successes, and to analyse losses. This article will do likewise – it will celebrate some of the successes of this Conference, and analyse a failure or two along the way.

Let us begin, as we must, with the leader’s speech. While many focus on the emotional, but steadfast, call to action towards the end, there is a lot to like throughout. Drakeford’s description of a “solidarity union” – though debate will rage on the feasibility – was truly radical. It is an image of a society that strives to end inequality, to tackle injustice, and to act through solidarity, not competition. It is a society that truly embeds and enacts the formulation that is often quoted – on this occasion, by Drakeford himself – “from each according to his ability, to each according to their need”.

To many, Drakeford’s speech was a call to action, directed not just at the membership, but to his colleagues in UK Labour who were also in the room listening: an outline of a vision that can unite the nations and regions, and work for a better democracy, and a better society. Sadly, it seems, the message fell on deaf ears in some quarters.

The promise of more devolution from Starmer was a welcome one, to be sure – the principle of equal devolution across all the nations is to be applauded – but we must ensure that it is delivered. So too, will the other commitments made be welcomed, but we must again ensure that they are delivered.

The outcome of the priorities ballot demonstrated the power – and prescience – of WLG and the left in Wales. The two areas we specifically backed – Housing and Further Devolution of Welsh Rules – tied for the highest place among the CLPs’ preferences and other areas we have long campaigned on were also prioritised.

We will leave the opening reports and business aside – it was your standard stuff. The only thing of note was requests to refer back the Standing Orders Committee report – mostly due to panel discussions being given equal time for debate, when many members felt that the debates were too short, and more topics could have been covered. Darren Williams, WEC Member and founder of WLG, attempted to get the motion from Cardiff West back on the agenda – a rule amendment to fulfil one of the proposals that had secured support in the Welsh Democracy Review: to impose a term limit on the deputy leader. This was, sadly, rejected by the Chair.

The first debate of Conference was on the Climate Emergency and saw a motion on environmental protections passed easily. The motion on Housing, calling for action to help private renters, including rent controls and a mandatory inspection regime, was the only one on the agenda the WEC opposed. Their technocratic ramblings about “pre-empting policy” and others worked, and sadly, the motion was rejected. We commend Cardiff North CLP for bringing it to conference, and thank all the delegates who fought for it.

The second debate, on Economy, Education, and Skills, brought up important issues from our comrades in the Socialist Education Association, Musicians Union, Unite, and USDAW; we are glad that these motions passed. The third debate, focused around Health and Social Care, featured many other important issues, including the topic of NHS Funding brought forward by Delyn CLP and moved very well by junior doctor Megan Lloyd Hughes. Motions on the Socialist Health Association and UNISON focused on the future of the NHS in Wales and the proposed National Care Service, respectively, and were unanimously endorsed by Conference.

Devolution in the 21^st Century was the subject of the fourth debate on Sunday morning. While no doubt many were nursing hangovers or regretting staying up so late the night before, we had an extremely important debate, prompted by two motions supporting the devolution of justice, both of which passed unanimously, clearly reaffirming the position of the Welsh Labour Party, and its expectations of an incoming UK Labour government.

This was followed by a composite of near-identical motions from four CLPs supporting Further Devolution of Welsh Rules. Following a lively debate, and many speeches in favour, we are proud to say that this WLG-backed proposition, seeking consultation within the Welsh party and discussions with the UK party, passed with minimal opposition. While progress has been slow, we now fully expect the WEC to begin the task of deepening and strengthening internal party devolution.

The final topic was also very pertinent: Workers’ Rights. Motions moved by ASLEF, Cynon Valley CLP, and the GMB condemned the Tories’ latest anti-strike legislation, declaring Welsh Labour’s solidarity with trade unions and calling on the Welsh Government and the Senedd to do everything in their power to challenge the Tory laws.

The debate on the Conference floor was supplemented by equally lively political discussion at some of the many fringes, not least that held by WLG on the Saturday night, which heard from Mark Drakeford (speaking for half an hour without notes); his fellow Senedd Members, Mick Antoniw, Mike Hedges and Jenny Rathbone; Cynon Valley MP Beth Winter; Conwy Council Deputy Leader Emily Owen; and Unite Wales Secretary Peter Hughes.

Dylan Lewis-Rowlands represented Unite at Welsh Labour Conference and is joint Vice-Chair of Welsh Labour Grassroots

Image: Mark Drakeford. Source: Flickr: Mark Drakeford. Author: National Assembly for Wales, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.