³ÉÈËÂÛ̳

Calming news arrives for the Elfynometer, that gauge of grumpiness that measures the current view of the Westminster world held by Plaid Cymru's parliamentary leader.

Elfyn Llwyd, for it is he, will be delighted to learn that Westminster's main Welsh committee is to be expanded to include a Plaid Cymru representative. Hold those "snub to Wales" headlines now.

The original saw Plaid Cymru allocated seats only for committees it had specifically requested. Plaid's unspoken assumption that it would get a seat on the Welsh affairs committee went unacknowledged until Mr Llwyd began to harrumph rather loudly.

It has now been resolved and the committee will now have 12 MPs - but no government majority and with no casting vote for the new chair, David Davies. The Tories have five seats, as do Labour. Plaid and the Liberal Democrats will have one each.

The parties have been holding internal elections to decide who sits on select committees. Labour has accused newly-elected Welsh Tory MPs of a reluctance to serve on the Welsh affairs committee.

Labour's five seats will be taken by Owen Smith, Susan Elan Jones, Jessica Morden, Nia Griffith and Geraint Davies.

The committee scrutinises the Wales Office and requests from the Welsh assembly for law-making powers.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• |
• |
• - What's this?