We must reform the UK's dysfunctional constitution to avoid a populist break-up

'What about the Welsh financial deficit? Current arrangements may not be satisfactory but there is still a £13 billion deficit to account for'. When an ordinary bloke on the street refers to the £13 billion deficit quoted by the likes of the Daily Mail I can, to an extent, understand him believing the figures. If it's quoted in the press it must be right mustn't it ! But when AM's, people with access to ALL the data not just two numbers for God's sake, quote the same thing it really astounds me. I had a face to face conversation with Rebecca Evans on the subject earlier this year. We had a very good chat and afterwards she furnished me with links to the Chief Economist for Wales’ report plus one or two other sources of info. But, without going into detail, I couldn't because i'm not an economist, the basics are this. When the Daily Mail publishes the facts that Welsh Expenditure is £38 billion and Welsh Revenue is £25 billion they are actually speaking the truth. That's the truth according to how the figures are measured. They don't refer to the billions of 'Welsh Expenditure' that happens in England and they don't refer to the billions of 'Welsh Revenue' that is not recorded as Welsh Revenue because it is registered in England. All those large companies whose HQ's are in, almost always, London and the South East register their VAT and Corp Tax at those HQ's. So Tesco and the like register all their Welsh VAT and CT as English Tax. If you are going to work out the REAL Welsh fiscal deficit ALL that tax needs to be added to the £25 billion. And all the billions of Welsh Expenditure going on all those projects in England need to be removed from the Welsh Expenditure figure. 'Do we really want to leave the UK and the system of wealth redistribution that exists?' This one left me gobsmacked. Wealth redistribution ! What wealth redistribution ? Wales is the poorest country in NW Europe and South West Wales, where I live, is the poorest region in NW Europe. This situation has been allowed to occur not just while the Conservatives have been in power but Mr Antoniw's Labour also. And while this has happened money attributed in the government accounts as Welsh Expenditure is being spent to improve public transport in London, a place already with world class public transport. Meanwhile infrastructure in Wales is a complete shambles. And once again, in gearing up for the upcoming General Election all the parties are talking about spreading the wealth around the UK. Which on all past measures is a lie because no party ever does it. When AM's and MP's write articles in Nation Cymru I often wonder if they return to the article to see the responses. I rarely see anything from the original writer. I wonder if Mr Antoniw will come back and read this and any other responses.

Populist = popular = voice of the majority. Isn't it odd how the political class across the entire spectrum uses the term "populist" in a scathing derogatory manner? Associating common sentiments and concerns with "right-wing extremism" is a desperate measure and smacks of extremism in it own right. The truth is that modern technology has rendered political parties obsolete. The era of direct democracy is beckoning us. Expect a big fight and FUD from political party dinosaurs before they give way to an emerging Gweriniaeth - a nation run by the people, for the people.

“ historic labour traditions of self-determination, decentralisation of power, and the empowerment of people and communities“ I dont think huge swathes of Labour have actually believed or acted on that in Britain. They are happy with a highly centralised state in London. Growing up , the Welsh around me only were against self rule for unfounded economic worries not for any love or loyalty to the establishment

Completely agree that the UK needs a Constitutional Convention. But so does Wales - a separate one. I wonder if Mick Antoniw would accept that Wales should have Dominion Status ie large amount of self-rule but in a federal system in the UK? But for this to happen Welsh voters need to want self-rule, and say so in a Wales Constitutional Convention. After all, at the UK Convention they'll have to deal with England and Scotland and N.Ireland, all very messy.A strong and clear Wales input would make it all much easier. Yes, Constitutional Conventions all over the UK. Its what happened in the USA. Wasn't just Philadelphia, there were Conventions in all the 13 Colonies as well. Worked fine.

Populism is not necessarily right wing, and never fascist. Fascists don't like democracy, generally and try to avoid further elections and are usually led by exceptionally dominant and charismatic men, clearly in short supply these days in the UK, who believe the people cannot rule themselves well enough, and need self selected leaders and a mass movement of devoted and unquestioning followers. Populists are into improving democracy, consultation and better representation of the people and challenging corrupt and distant elites. Their politics vary but all respect "popular will" and their greatest support is amongst those who feel their voice is not represented by conventional politicians. After the current circus in Westminster this group may grow! A populist break up of the Union is well on the cards as the Scottish National Party is recognised as a populist party of the centre left. The Brexit Party is also clearly a populist party , and politically to left of the Conservatives, with policies of holding all elections using PR, reforming or abolishing the house of lords and introducing more public scrutiny and control of the civil service . Corbin's Labour Party also showed clear populist intent, but I doubt he's in control at the moment . The 2018 academic analysis of National Populism by professors Eatwell and Goodwin, "National Populism - The Revolt against Liberal Democracy" published by Penguin, a good read and explanation of why populism is rising. Neither authors are proponents of populism but their analysis shows why it has flourished and indicates that these parties both influence other types of parties over time to adopt some of their polices and may moderate their own party policies also . The answer to populism, it is suggested, is social and electoral reform and a more egalitarian society. Not a quick fix. I doubt there is any special peril in a "populist break up of the Union". The writings of former Labour MP Professor John Denham, on English Identity suggest that people who identify as English rather than British, and there are many, especially outside the prosperous English Cities of the South, are not averse to losing the other Nations of Britain and why not? The Lion's share of wealth, population, infrastructure etc would still be theirs and they do not seem to have motivation to prevent breakup. They are more likely to push for a full English Parliament in Westminster rather than English Votes for English Laws as at present. It is the self identifying "British" who cling to Imperialism, although they may think their position is liberal and egalitarian . Apparently we are being looked after very well, and they know best.

Mick is right, we need reform, and we need fair play. Wales is still short changed by the Barnett formula. The poorest region gets less than the richest (London) of total public spending . The heads of the valleys road is an embarassment. linking 1 million people of Western europes poorest industrial communities, still not finished . Not even dualled for the full length or plugged into the motorway network. Forget the Newport M4 bypass, finish this road! And give Wales all her powers back from the EU power transfer, no quibbles, all powers and funding. However the misuse of Nationalism by Mick conflates jingoism (bad) with simple local decision making (good) . Wales needs policing, prisons and law devolved but is refused it, yet London and Manchester are given more powers denied to Wales. The sectarian prorogued statelet in northern Ireland has had its own legal system for almost 100 years. Fairness and Solidarity with our underprivileged communities needs more devolution.

Duw he loves wales, but obviously hates Cymru, but hey he's a unionist. I am a socialist, I have never thought myself or called myself a nationalist, I am a patriot, I love Cymru and I do not want to see what is left of our land here (or in Kernow) swallowed up by Anglo-British career politicians, handed to Westminster and ermine chasing Labour social climbing arrogant people like Antoniw. Our ancestors were here living relatively peacefully until the Roman came and screwed it all up bringing capitalism with them and leaving residue like this holier than though piece of scymru! Human life stopped evolving here two thousand years ago! Just like the Kinnocks soooooo far up their own anus they have lost touch. Now, that which they espouse ain't socialism it's unionism and our people and country have been a stepping stone for their ambitons far too long. When labour voters and card carrying members wake up (just as I did years ago) these people will have to work for a living, trouble is no one will employ them. Plus, they'll have to join the Ermine Street Old Guard in London welsh as ex-prats because there will not be a welcome in the gutter for them, let alone the hillside. Carry on believe that you are right, it just goes to show how really sad your kind are!

I'd say what "has no clothes" is Welsh Labour thinking they're socialist. It sounds an awful lot like you are using socialism's traditional hostility towards nationalism to avoid answering - in detail- why you oppose independence for Scotland and Wales. Because, if we break it down, Welsh Labour are not - in reality- socialist. You're centre-left at this point. And it's hard not to be suspicious of people who remained part of the Labour party under Blair, when centre-left was a generous description. The idea socialism eschews nationalism has never been coherent anyway. How can we have nationally-based parties who believe that class is the primary differentiating factor between people? But instead of facing these ideological inconsistencies head-on, Welsh Labour and UK Labour simply ignore them, hoping that people won't see it. Arguably, Welsh Labour is an even greater ideological inconsistency than it's older sibling; you exist because you acknowledged and worked (and continue to work) on a nation-building project. Why else do you call yourself "Welsh" Labour? Is Wales distinctive, or not? Because your name and very existence suggest that it is, and yet apparently class - not nation- should be the primary differentiating factor here. If Labour believes in the decentralization of power rather than nation, you could do that stripped of reference to terms that describe Wales. But that doesn't make sense obviously, because as you all acknowledge, Wales is a unit that makes sense. Why does it make sense? I want Welsh Labour to explain why it acknowledges Wales' distinctiveness (because Wales isn't a class) but needs to set limits on it. THAT'S what I want to know. Don't dodge the question by saying "because I'm socialist". The evidence suggests that you're not. Explain to us why Wales should remain as part of the U.K. ,WITHOUT referencing faux socialism. Explain to us why the U.K. should be the primary unit of nation, and Wales should be a sub-unit. Free, rational and collegial debate about independence is absolutely necessary. But to be honest with you, debate about what Welsh Labour actually *is* and *wants* to be, is just as urgent.

" I said we had ten years to sort out the dysfunction of the UK constitution and the English question or the UK risked breaking up" - they didn't listen to you then are they going to listen now - unlikely. Independence has answers to give, and it's forming them at the grassroots, there is disagreement but it's a conversation that is happening. What is clear to me and many others is not only is the reform of the UK highly unlikely, its come to the point where its become a bigger lie than Brexit. Ultimately even within the EU there would be much we could do as an independent country to mitigate against the systematic neglect of our economy social and health care, political and cultural institutions has suffered from within the UK.

I must say it is quite a shock to hear a Labour politician calling for a written constitution. It's a pity Corbyn has nothing to say about this or, for party political reasons, wants to avoid doing so. Labour has consistently resisted constitutional reform under Corbyn and virtually all his predecessors. They resisted electoral reform - preferring the disastrously outdated First Past the Post system electoral system which has helped inculcate the winner takes all view of politics. They largely imposed this system on the Welsh Assembly in 1998 meaning that we have permanent Labour power in the Assembly on a 35% vote share in the last Assembly election. If there is one thing that the Brexit fiasco has surely taught us for the last three years is that the constitution is not fit for purpose. That is why we are now spending weeks going through our law courts, and why we may end up with a no-deal Brexit that will destroy the Welsh economy.

I must say it is quite a shock to hear a Labour politician calling for a written constitution. It's a pity Corbyn has nothing to say about this or, for party political reasons, wants to avoid doing so. Labour has consistently resisted constitutional reform under Corbyn and virtually all his predecessors. They resisted electoral reform - preferring the disastrously outdated First Past the Post electoral system which has helped inculcate the winner takes all view of politics. They largely imposed this system on the Welsh Assembly in 1998 meaning that we have permanent Labour power in the Assembly on a 35% vote share in the last elections. If there is one thing that the Brexit fiasco has surely taught us for the last three years is that the constitution is not fit for purpose. That is why we are now spending weeks going through our law courts, and why we may end up with a no-deal Brexit that will destroy the Welsh economy.

Rather than rushing into any decisions, we could probably do with a series of a royal commissions to do some serious research and nation-wide consultation into the many issues involved around the current state of the UK constitutionally, options for future relations between the constituent nations and regions, subsidiarity, de-centralization and co-operation, and a future constitutional settlement. If the debate is going to be restricted to the political parties, with their tribalism and short-termism, then even a constitutional convention will struggle. We have had too many poorly thought through ad-hoc bodge jobs over the past twenty plus years and look at the mess that has resulted. Information and consideration rather than just emotion and ideology, please.