A positive and progressive agenda for Wales in Europe
Derek Vaughan – MEP
July 2009
Labour Llafur
Contents
Introduction and Purpose
Chapter 1
Roots and Values
Chapter 2
Traditional values in modern times
Chapter 3
Concerns for democrats
Chapter 4
A positive and progressive agenda
Chapter 5
The rise of the far-right
Chapter 6
A case for rapid change
Chapter 7
Conclusion
Introduction
On Thursday June 4th 2009 I was elected as Welsh Labour’s new Member of
the European Parliament. I take great pride in the relationship that Wales has
with the European Union. The EU is a significant force for good in improving
the everyday life of people and businesses in Wales. It is therefore a privilege
for me to now represent Wales and Welsh Labour in the European Parliament.
I will make the positive case for Europe, especially as Wales now has
two other MEPs whose Parties are anti-EU (UKIP) or are leaving the
mainstream of the European Union (Conservatives). There is also a nationalist
MEP whose Party is more concerned in promoting steps to secure the
separation of Wales from the UK. The Labour Party must be bolder in
exposing these ideological and policy differences even if it means upsetting
our coalition partners in Cardiff Bay.
Making the positive case for Europe is therefore important. I will rise to
that challenge. The European election was held at the time of the 65th
anniversary of D-Day and so I will argue for all the good reasons why
European integration is a positive influence for Wales, Britain and Europe. It
will provide our children with opportunities that would not seem real to the
war generations of the previous century.
Of course I follow in the footsteps of great Welsh Labour MEPs in
Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan and I thank them both for all their hard
work in Wales, the UK and Europe over recent years.
But I now bring my experiences and perspectives to my work as a Labour
MEP for Wales. I of course live and am based in Wales. I was born in Aberfan
and know the values which hold a community together in the face of
adversity. I share the values of many people in Wales and my hope is that
this pamphlet will provide the reader with some idea of the ideas and
priorities that will shape my work as an MEP from, and working for, Wales.
Purpose
In this introductory pamphlet I want to set out some thoughts and
insights on what I, Derek Vaughan, see as the important challenges
for Wales, Britain, the European Union and Welsh Labour in the
coming years. I hope it will be the first in what might perhaps be
both an annual review, and useful preview, of the issues that are a
focus of attention for your Welsh Labour MEP. I hope to supplement
this pamphlet with occasional publications on topics that I feel are
of interest to the people of Wales.
Chapter 1: Roots and Values
As a new MEP it might be useful to the reader if I reflect on the roots
and values which have shaped my political career. What events shaped Derek
Vaughan the person elected as an MEP on June 4th 2009?
Born and bred in the mining village of Aberfan it is perhaps not
surprising I took an interest in politics at an early age. I can remember even
as a child being concerned about poverty and social justice. For example, I
was angered because my grandmother, a hardworking woman, did not have
an indoor bathroom. I therefore, joined a Trade Union at sixteen and the
Labour Party shortly after, at the start of the Thatcher era.
It was during these years I became active in the Trade Union
movement going on to work full time for the PCS Civil Service Union. My
negotiation skills being honed on issues such as office closures.
On moving to Neath I became more active in the Labour Party holding
most positions at Branch and Constituency level. I also joined Neath Town
Council and then Neath Port Talbot Council. I became Leader of that Council
in 2004.
Two of my greatest joys were leading Neath Port Talbot to be the best
Council in Wales and becoming Leader of the WLGA which gave me a national
profile as the most senior councillor in Wales.
In all my local government roles I have seen the importance of helping
communities to look after themselves. I have always tried to ensure all levels
of government help communities but also that communities can help
themselves.
These are the experiences and the influences which have shaped my
political thinking. I believe they are influences which provide me with a solid
foundation, which respects the roots of the Labour movement, but is also
based in the reality of modern life in Wales. This is a theme I now wish to
explore in the next section of this pamphlet.
Chapter 2: Traditional Values in modern times
It was John Prescott, when Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in the
mid 90’s, who coined a phrase - ‘traditional values in a modern setting’. While
this is no time for looking back, for me, that term has a resonance in 2009. In
the challenges now faced by Welsh Labour we have to set our strong and
deep rooted traditions, and the values which we carry, in the context of the
challenges of the modern Wales in which we live. We must consider Wales as
it will be in ten or twenty years time and not the Wales of ten or fifteen years
ago. I am aware that many of my own influences are traditional in nature.
Not least my work in local government, in my local community as well as the
values of trade union solidarity. But I am conscious that those values have,
and will need, to keep evolving to reflect the modern and diverse society in
which we live.
The drivers of change in our modern Europe include economic, social,
political and environmental challenges of a scale and nature that are
fundamental to our future, the structure of our society and the lifestyles we
will leave for future generations. For example consider the social changes
involved in the demographic profile of the European Union with the changes
in age structure across many developed economies. Competition for people
who are economically active, having the skills and knowledge required in the
modern global economy, will increase. There will be increasing competition
for skills within the European Union but also between the EU and other global
regions (India, Asia etc). There are also increasing needs amongst the more
dependent in our community and their health and social care needs become
more acute.
Additionally, the economies of Wales, Britain and Europe are
struggling with the “shockwave” (Rhodri Morgan AM, Welsh Labour Party
Election Broadcast May 2008) of the global economic recession. Gordon
Brown led the G20 to see the need for Europe and the world to work
together. Isolation, nationalism and protectionism are so obviously not the
answer to our problems so we must ask ourselves why the right and not the
left made progress across Europe in the recent elections. After all it has been
state intervention, of the sort championed by Gordon Brown which has held
the world banking system from even greater difficulties. In Wales it has been
intervention by the Labour-led Assembly Government which has protected
jobs in private industry.
We also know that Europe’s work on environmental issues like the quality
of drinking and bathing water has been central to many environmental
improvements across our nation. The Blue Flags that fly on our beaches being
a simple and visual image of such matters. But the challenges that lie ahead
are major. Climate change and securing a low carbon economy remain major,
and evidence suggests, increasing challenges if we are to provide our children
and grandchildren with a Europe of which they will be proud.
These are just simple illustrations of why I believe the nations of Europe need
to work together, not splinter apart, if we are to face the future with
confidence. The scale of the social, economic and environmental challenges
we face are too great for Wales alone, Britain in isolation or indeed Europe
without global partners, to resolve.
Chapter 3: Concerns for democrats
Confidence is also an important factor in the future health of our
democracy. All democrats must therefore share a concern at the low turnout
in the poll across Europe in 2009.
While the compulsory system of voting in Belgium saw 90.39% of
voters go to the polls, that stands in stark contrast to Slovakia where only
19.64% used their vote.
I read that voters in Slovakia had become tired after their election for
the President earlier in 2009. Perhaps that is an issue that faces us in Wales
with our endless rounds of elections to either Westminster, the Welsh
assembly, unitary authorities or European Parliament.
We can also see the decline in voting as the EU has expanded. When
the EU had 9 members in 1979 the turnout was 61.99% which looks very
healthy compared to the 43.24% achieved by the 27 member states in 2009.
In Wales in 2009 we saw places like Merthyr Tydfil – a community that
can gain so much from the work of the European Union – but where less than
1 in 4 voters bothered to use their vote on the 4th June.
A key role for me as the new Welsh Labour MEP is to make Europe
relevant to people so they value it and see the worth in voting at elections.
Chapter 4: A positive and progressive agenda
The new Parliament just elected by the peoples of Europe has leaned
to the centre right. Those of a socialist and social democrat outlook must
therefore come together in Europe in order to defend a progressive agenda.
This will be even more important given the rise of the far right and fascists.
The lesson from history is when the left and progressives are split the right
gain. In Germany in the early 1930’s the SPD (Socialists) and KPD
(Communists) between them polled more than Nazi’s but were too busy
fighting amongst themselves.
Sometimes in the election campaign leading up to June 4th I was asked
whether I would work with the other MEPs from Wales to look after Welsh
interests. The answer is of course yes, and indeed I was the first candidate to
say it. However, those interests must be shared interests and must reflect the
progressive values which have underpinned the European Union. I will
question the value of co-operation with fringe groups if I can get greater
influence through working with allies who share common values working in
the Socialist Group in the European Parliament.
There will be around 183 of us in that group in the new Parliament and we
will work to shape a Wales and a Europe to our common values. I feel that
this socialist grouping holds more hope for improving Wales than some of the
allies which Kay Swinburne and the Welsh Conservatives have chosen in the
new Parliament.
Of course it was that Socialist Group which used the election campaign
to talk about:
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High quality jobs across the UK and overcoming the financial crisis,
New rules to ensure stability and fairness in our banks,
Building a stronger and greener economy,
New rules to protect against age discrimination,
Stronger rights for consumers and protection at home and abroad.
I see the importance of acting together in all these things at the European
level while standing up for Wales and Britain. Despite this June 4th was an
election where our message could not get through amidst the ‘noise’ about
MPs expenses and political disunity in Labour, both set against the backdrop
of a global economic recession.
To be heard a ‘message’ requires willing listeners. In the lead up to June
people had little interest in examining policy and political direction, but
held a great feeling of injustice about the political class (of which I am part).
4th
I have no doubt however about the value of that progressive and positive
agenda. I have seen in my own community of Neath Port Talbot the positive
influence of Europe with funds to regenerate and renew our communities. As
was stressed in the European campaign we have the experience of ProAct
and ReAct, two schemes to help Wales face the challenge of the recession
and to support our workforce with skills training in difficult times.
Indeed, right across Wale there are examples of European funded projects
which are helping individuals and communities.
Labour must therefore, become bolder in our support for Europe. We must
counter the negative perception of Europe put forward by the right wing in
politics and the media. Labour must consistently put forward the positive
images and messages about Europe because no-one else will. We certainly
cannot leave such work until the four weeks of a short European election
campaign.
Chapter 5: The rise of the far right
Of course I come from communities that have long united against fascism. I
am left feeling sick in the stomach when far right groups like the BNP use
patriotic images to promote their message of poison.
In Wales we talk proudly of those, in the 1930’s who joined the
International Brigades in Spain to fight against fascism. It was a great
pleasure that on June 9th 2009 the Spanish government granted Spanish
citizenship to those who travelled to Spain and to fight in the Spanish Civil
War against General Franco and the fascists. Authors like Hywel Francis MP
have captured this spirit of anti-fascism in publications like “Miners against
Fascism: Wales and the Spanish Civil War”.
But it seems some of the political thinking that made people from Wales,
and 50 other countries, realise the danger in the 1930’s has waned. It is now
clear that we must make anew the political and ideological arguments against
fascism and use the structure and influence of the European Union to protect
our peoples from the far right.
I have little doubt that socialists and democrats in Europe now need to put
fresh energy to our arguments and ensure we provide the positive reasons for
democracy, and engage the public of Europe in the arguments against the far
right. My own pleasure at joining the European Parliament as an MEP is
tempered by the thought that Nick Griffin of the BNP will take a seat at the
same time.
So the work of challenging the BNP will now require a clear focus here in
Wales. A clear focus both on those communities where the BNP have been
organising, and to objectively expose the ideology of hatred they seek to
promote. It is not a task we can leave till election time but requires ongoing
effort by democrats in all parties. It is another task where we must be bolder.
This means not sharing a platform or working with BNP or other far right
groups.
Picking up on the theme that we should work for Wales where appropriate I
will be suggesting to my MEP colleagues from Wales that we make a shared
statement of anti-fascism and a commitment as democrats from Wales to this
effect.
Chapter 6: A Case for rapid change
It was First Minister Rhodri Morgan who described Welsh Labour’s
results on June 4th as “truly awful” – I don’t think he meant my election! He
described it as “a tremendous wake up call” to Welsh Labour. As others
have pointed out there can be no dispute that election results in Wales over
a period of time (commentators use various timeframes for this debate)
show the changing preferences of Welsh voters.
‘Tribal’ allegiance to one political brand, perhaps rooted in the shared
values of a mining community, or shared across a large factory floor, are
now dissipated by a changing Wales, a diverse and fast moving 24 hour
lifestyles.
Now in Welsh Labour we must refresh ourselves with a
consistent and cohesive political message. Our positive work in
Europe must play a role in that work.
It must happen within a Labour movement that I know full well has
strong emotional ties to its roots, but……….time is short.
The real world will keep changing and so must we. After the Welsh
Assembly elections in 2007 Welsh Labour conducted a major inquiry and
accepted the case for change in structure and culture. That work must
continue and the pace of change must quicken.
In June 2009 Welsh Labour fell behind the Conservatives in the
popular vote in Wales. While there are all sorts of reason for this surely the
party is conscious of the need for change.
We must make even more rapid progress in changing ourselves,
our culture as a political organisation and ensuring voters
understand the relevance of our message.
A situation where supporters, who may feel alienated, and core voters
who adopt a ‘stay at home’ culture cannot be acceptable to Welsh labour.
I know that the process of refreshing Welsh Labour is a challenge that
has the support of the staff of Welsh Labour – a fantastic group of hard
working people but it must also be grasped with greater enthusiasm by our
leaders, members, activists and volunteers.
It is time for us all to be bolder in promoting a clear message
which is understood by our supporters, and to resource our
organisation so we can communicate our message to best effect.
Chapter 7: Conclusion
I join the European Parliament with pride. My life journey to this point
has provided roots and values that I hope will serve me well. I will make the
positive case for Europe in Wales, and for Wales in Europe. I look forward
to working with colleagues in the Socialist Group in that task.
We must remain vigilant to the rise of the far right. It will require persuasive
argument and positive ideas to show why they are wrong. That is a shared
task for all democrats and I wish to play my part.
I also wish to play my part in the change we must make to Welsh Labour if
we are to turn the bitter experiences of recent elections in to the energy
which can drive forward change and make progress in the coming years. I
will argue for us to be bold in exposing our opponents, in supporting our
vision of Europe, in establishing a clear Labour message and in having an
organisation to communicate it.
Thank you.
Derek Vaughan MEP