Confidence Building Measures

The past week hasn’t been one of the best for the One Wales Government. The exceptionally ill-judged and ill-timed statements from Labour seemed to reflect a disdain for their coalition partners that up to now hasn’t been evident (especially to those of us watching Cardiff Bay from a distance).

The question remains however whether the statement was designed to try and humiliate Plaid, or rather was it a hamfisted attempt to maintain a veneer of Labour unity without any consideration or understanding of the furious reaction it would elicit from Plaid. I’m willing, for now, to be charitable and assume the latter. The challenge for the new First Minister is certainly greater than it was a week ago.

Successful coalitions, even amongst parties who are mortal enemies (just think of Northern Ireland’s chuckle brothers!) have to be based on trust and confidence. That doesn’t mean that you share everything; it certainly doesn’t mean you’re not out to fight elections very hard indeed against each other, but you have to be able to trust your partners.

A long time ago (or so it seems anyhow), the General Secretaries of the parties in Wales would discuss with each other any local difficulties that emerged with local campaigning. These were tricky issues and at times could and would have created embarrassment for each of the parties in turn. BUT, over time, trust and confidence was built up. We could and we did have honest, private discussions which never saw the light of the day. But we could only do so because there was a level of trust.

Labour have conspired over the past week to badly damage that fragile trust in the coalition – because remember it only takes one major breach of trust to undermine months of effective working together. The challenge for the First Minister is not only to rebuild trust within the coalition but to ensure an effective functioning Welsh Government for the next 18 months. To do this he must get down to work on rebuilding confidence as soon as possible and the next time Peter Hain comes up with a genius idea at least pause for thought before jumping in feet first.