Last week a Report on the webpage “Wales Air Network” an organisation that promotes aviation in Wales via opinions, and aims to secure investment and policies that promotes aviation in Wales headlined the following “£14 billion St Athan Defence Academy Scheme Awaits the Axe”. On their webpage they quote Government sources revealing that the “PFI has been “unceremoniously junked”, further they write “the PFI is simply not justified the Labour idea of funding the scheme through PFI would have actually cost the tax payer more than £53 billion over the thirty years of the scheme – a totally unaffordable commitment”.
On 25th September the Shropshire Star headline “RAF Cosford boost as project may be axed” reported that the plans to move training to St Athan is unlikely to get the green light by the coalition because of its enormous cost according to a Government source.
This headline followed similar recent soundings from the BBC in Wales where it is reported there are “fresh doubts” about the Government plans for the college in St Athan. Some commentators believe it is all over bar the official announcement.
Clearly the above reports prove further that with no financial or economic justification for the project the question is whether the political will is still there to press ahead with a project that is all but financially doomed.
Political fall out is in progress
On the political front we need to be aware of where we are and the position of influential MP’s who are commenting on the project. Peter Hain MP for Neath regarded the St Athan project as the “jewel in the crown” and that it has cross party support. Maybe not Peter. Not all parties are fully for the project, there are dissenters within Plaid Cymru and it seems amongst the Lib Dems who hitherto have been supportive of the project. Vince Cable has gone on record (15th Sept 2010) and straight to the point in saying the project needs to be scrapped and is too costly.
Further it seems some pro St Athan MP’s are running around like headless chickens with a view to getting the proposal rubber stamped. Chris Bryant MP Rhondda, Alun Cairns MP Vale of Glamorgan and Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan all pro St Athan.
Chris Bryant has complained to Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan of cancelled meetings only for responses from the Welsh Office that Bryant had cancelled one meeting due being “too busy” campaigning in a by - election. Clearly alarm bells and splits are may be emerging in the so called pro privatisation figures in Wales.
Cons MP Alan Cairns for South Glamorgan sees too much emphasis placed on what is good for the economic benefits as opposed to what is best on military grounds. This seems slightly at odds with Chris Bryant whose constituency is miles away from the plant but seems hell bent on the economic benefit regardless of what is best for the taxpayer and defence training.
Are the above positioning themselves for someone to blame when the deal is finally scrapped? Clearly in terms of the political thinking on the project there are rifts between parties within parties and amongst individuals.
Conclusion
The project has been dogged by mismanagement; taxpayers bail outs, PR payouts and pro St Athan propaganda by some MP’s. Most vociferous has been Chris Bryant. He seems at ease with the fact that thousands of PCs members will lose their jobs if St Athan gets the go ahead and further to his shame he is embracing the philosophy of privatisation. The constituency he represents has a proud tradition of defending worker interests against privatisation, job cuts and the need for properly funded public services. I am sure many of his constituents would vomit privatisation back on to the streets where it belongs as opposed to embracing the concept.
The PCS and its membership in the MoD clearly welcome the news reports and it has further strengthened our position and provided us a boost with our campaign against PFI projects. However nothing is official and we will continue throughout the conference season and beyond applying pressure on influential figures to get the scheme written off as one of the biggest white elephants ever.
Yours sincerely,
Robin Jones
PCS Industrial Officer
