Blwyddyn Newydd Dda !

1085m of vulcanic attitude



This is when I make predictions again and this time, I will try to guess what I believe will happen rather than what I want-well almost!

Wales will vote 'yes' in the referendum for clearer powers and we will have a Parliament for the first time in 606 years, or so.

The British AV referendum will vote no, but the Brit coalition will survive the experience and plunder/blunder on.

The Assembly election will give no party an overall majority, leading to a new coalition agreement (I'm bottling any other comments on this).

Ed Miliband will still be Labour leader, but the membership will realise what a huge mistake they have made (I'm sorry, but there's slow burn and then there's no burn).

There will be a new Tory leader in the Assembly.

There will be an ever more obvious gap between the right wing agenda in England and the more progressive agenda in the devolved nations.

The banks will get away with paying big bonuses once more, creating an ever larger wealth gap and perception of a wealth gap, across the UK.

New Zealand will win the Rugby World Cup.

Initial census figures will show a huge fall in Welsh speakers in the north and west, due to immigration from England and a significant rise in the South, due to demand. An overall increase will once again give the language hope and ideas around increasing usage will now be a priority.

The conclusion of the Assembly election will start a new round of policies trying to solve the economic, social and health challenges in the Southern Valley communities. We must get it right this time.

S4C will still not regain its independence and the campaign to support it will become increasingly high profile, both within Wales and beyond.

There will be a vote passed in London for fewer Welsh MPs, supported by the UK nationalists and in doing so, feeding the campaign for greater devolution by fault rather than by design-bless 'em.

Peter Black will say something really twp on his blog (a dead cert, this one).

Curiously, Labour will become a lot less Welsh once more, on May 7th. Now, why is that?

Oscar will fail to get re-elected, and will fade to obscurity - if they'll have him.

Leanne Wood AM will be told off by the British press for calling the Queen, Mrs Windsor - again and miss out on an invitation to the big wedding.

Gwynfor will smile from down on high, when Carmarthen goes all green on May 7th - cementing a political foundation for a career of enormous promise.

Enjoy 2010, Because in 2011....

There are less than 36 hours to go until start of another year, and I fully intend to milk them for all they've got. For 2011 is going to be a very busy, stressful and lively affair.

On the first day back to work for many, there will be the official launch of the referendum 'yes' campaign and a rise in VAT to celebrate it! Then within weeks, there will be a rush of announcements across Wales and from London, spelling out to all the ramifications of the cuts. During the coming weeks, the communities of Wales will face an Assembly campaign, two referendums and two Royal weddings. What I find particularly frustrating is that I cannot escape all the nauseating publicity around Bill & Katy's bash, as it is just a few days before our election.

There will also be a spirited effort by the union barons to take on the LibCon Govt over the cuts. However, I am not at all convinced that the members are up for it yet and what part will Red Ed and his Labour cronies play in London, now that he has used the unions to get elected? Will at long last, union members start asking what they get for funding Labour?

It will be a big year for Wales, as it is imperative that whoever is in charge after May's elections, starts standing up to the more anti-Welsh overtones coming from Westminster. I am assuming a yes vote for the referendum here, as any other vote would be so damaging for the interests of all in Wales that I don't even want to contemplate it.

2010 Predictions Assessed

12 months ago, I had a stab at what may happen in 2010 on this blog and below are my predictions with the actual outcome below. Needless to say, I hope to do better next year.


We will get some snow this Winter, which many children have never really experienced. They have missed out!
It's good to get the first prediction correct. Of course, this was not based on any long range forecast or on any denial of global warming. It was purely a selfish urge for a snowball fight with my boys.
HIT

We will have many new faces as MPs by the Summer and let's face it, some new blood will not do any harm.
This was an easy score, but it's a shame that the new Welsh Tory MPs have had so little influence in many decisions affecting Wales-unless of course having no rail electrification was their idea.
HIT

I know a mother whose previous two babies arrived on Grand Slam seasons and she is due again in June!
Two out of three isn't that bad!
MISS

We should have a real Parliament by the end of the year.
Let's just say that this one is 'pending'
MISS

I should be speaking Welsh fluently (ish) by this time next year-lord help the language.
What's pending in Welsh?
MISS

There should be a commitment by London to commence renewables in the Severn Estuary.
I cannot believe that the Brits bottled this one. What a wasted opportunity for Wales and the environment.
MISS

Wales will still be a BNP free-zone (of elected reps at least).
A pleasure to get this one right.
HIT

Wales will have a long hot Summer (eternal optimist on this one).
Well, it started ok.
MISS

Simon Cowell will retire/resign/discover god and become a monk vowed to silence (we live in hope).
Rumours have it that he's getting knighted-how wrong could I get it?
MISS

Toshack's babes will finally start delivering on their promise.
urhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
MISS

Wales will see a huge increase in its waste recycling figures.
Almost all Councils are now over 40%-fantastic but more to do.
HIT

There will be a Welsh football club in the Premiership.
Pending.
MISS

Gwent will have a fantastic year, with both the Eisteddfod and Ryder Cup.
I only experienced the former and it was a fabulous week. It's a shame that so few came down from the North to experience the real Gwent. The golf was a great success, but talk of a lasting legacy is already starting to look a bit thin.
HIT

Oscar will defect to the Lib Dems (he's been everywhere else, after all).
I want to claim at least half a point here, as they have joined up in London and let's face it-they could do with some new members.
MISS

Many small businesses will launch, grow, export and be the future of a more sustainable economy.
Pending.
MISS

The A470 will have a few less hair-pin bends - bliss!
The Builth bends are soon to be a thing of the past; removing one of the most consistent vomit inducing road sections that our family frequents. Diolch IWJ.
HIT

Gwynfor 1 - Thatcher 0 CONFIRMED

So, the British Govt. has confirmed by releasing Cabinet papers that Gwynfor Evans did indeed play poker with Thatcher and win. Papers published this week confirm that his threat to fast to death unless the Tories kept their promise to establish S4C, did heavily influence the double -u-turn.

How sickening then, that another new Tory British Govt 30 years later has slashed S4C's funding, removed its independence and did so without even bothering to consult anyone from Wales beforehand. The current Tory British Minister in charge (Jeremy Hunt-Welsh Hater General) is  a real Thatcherite for the 21st Century, and I am sure that he would consider such a comment as a compliment. It will be interesting to see what the British parties have to say on S4C, as we go into the Assembly election campaign. With all of them in power either here or across the border, they may well have to act on what they pledge-apart form the Libs that is. As Nick Clegg said, they offer a different kind of politics.

A Winter of Just Contempt

There is much talk of industrial strife over the Winter, with strong words from the leaders of Unite, the RMT and others. However, don't hold your breath waiting for a wave of strikes, because they are not coming.

Any pretence that 'Red' Ed Miliband was going to lead a socialist revival has been swiftly quashed, by a Labour party long gone from its radical roots. Now that he has secured the union votes to get him elected, has he been to a single protest? For that matter, has he ever been to a trade union protest? Of course, there may well be a different attitude in the Spring, when the ramifications of the cuts hit home but as I have said before, there is no current mood for strikes and all the British parties know this. The exception to action was the student protests, and that was a surprise to everyone.

What I believe will occur next year, is a general disillusionment both towards politicians and trade unions in London; neither of whom appearing capable of standing up for the poorest in society. The current Labour leader has I'm afraid not impressed me and even when he has an open goal like the current Cable clanger, he still only mildly side-foots the ball in the back of the net (no more football cliches-honest).

There will of course be a different political agenda in Wales next year, both with the referendum and National elections, but how much will the Welsh electorate realise this when so few bother with Welsh media? Maybe, Labour's best bet in Wales next year will be to distance themselves from their London bosses and give the impression of being independent, at least until May 7th anyway-but will one of their flock let the temporary 'nashie' veil slip before May 6th? We'll have to wait and see.

Lib Dems Jesture Politics

Gaff Guru Estimates Remaining Lib Dem MPs in 2015

What has become absolutely clear about the furore this week resulting from the Telegraph 'honey traps', is that the Lib Dems in the British Government have not only little influence, but are not even aware of some of the policies being devised. The Telegraph have resorted to some very cheap tabloid politics and in doing so, have laid the path for one of their media enemies to take full control of BSkyB. However, what does a Cabinet Minister like Vince Cable have to do, in order to get sacked?

I am not remotely surprised about Cable's views and would expect him to express them to close colleagues and trusted friends but to a fake constituent who he has never met? How twp can you get?

What is particularly disturbing about this whole bizarre affair is the open admission by other Lib Dem Ministers about their inability to affect policy, or to even know about it before it is announced. It really shows how ineffectual they are in the British coalition, when even the right wing of the Tories stay relatively silent after such clangers being dropped, in the full knowledge that they have Clegg and co over a barrel; it proving a priceless diversionary tactic from the implications of the public sector cuts.

Finally, a special mention has to go to everyone's favourite ex-Lib Dem MP Lembit Opik, who came on to defend his Ministers on Radio Wales this morning (fresh from being kicked out of the jungle and being caught slagging off his leader om Wikileaks). The ever entertaining D celebrity challenged anyone to show that Vince Cable had been in any way inconsistent in what he had been caught saying about Rupert Murdoch! Well for starters, he had not given an opinion previously because as the (now former) Minister responsible-he was not supposed to! Oh and talking of inconsistencies, is this the right time to remind everyone about Vince's position on tuition fees? Just thought I'd mention it.

Who are the Taxpayers Alliance?

I read a story in the Western Mail today, based on an 'exclusive' from the Taxpayers Alliance. They used the Freedon of Information Act (F.O.I.) to discover (SCOCK HORROR) that in two years, £32k was spent by the Welsh public sector in repairing vehicles that had the wrong fuel put in them, by mistake. The Alliance spokeswoman said that,

 "it's a huge sum of money and taxpayer's money."

Now, I accept that as it relates to the public sector, it's taxpayers money and would sensitively suggest that this is bleeding obvious. However, let's look at the other claim that this is a 'huge sum'. Now, this £32k was the cost over two years which means that it was in fact £16k a year. Now the vehicle fleet responsible for this figure includes the Welsh Government, the 7 Health Bodies, the other emergency services and all 22 Local Authorities- a massive fleet of thousands of vehicles. The mistake of putting the wrong fuel in is one of the most common form of breakdown for the public; occurring about 150,000 times a year in the UK. So is this really a 'huge sum'?

In conclusion, this non-story highlights nothing, other than the efforts of the Taxpayer's Alliance to do all they can to undermine the public sector-at every opportunity. One needs to ask why the Western Mail feels the need to publish such a non-story, by such a negative and frankly pointless little organisation-unless of course you despise all things public.

Beware the Combi-Condenser !

For most small to medium sized houses with mains gas supply, the purchase of a combi-condenser boiler is a marvellous day. As far as central heating goes, they really are the bees knees, so to speak and can radically reduce your fuel bill if you previously relied on a more gas guzzling model (as we did).

However, there is a catch!

They have one design flaw which many reading this blog may already have become aware of-they don't like freezing weather. They rely on a small overflow pipe from the condensing element of the boiler to rid the system on small quantities of water when operating; this pipe going outside and connecting to the nearest down pipe. The water itself is not warm and so in freezing weather can freeze up. This blocks the pipe and automatically cuts off the boiler; denying a house of hot water and central heating at the coldest time of the year. There is no easy way around this problem and it has caused a swathe of boiler breakdowns across the UK, every time we lunge into a cold spell. Plumbers initially have been rubbing their hands together at the prospect but even they are getting sick of re-visiting the same properties, for the same problem.

As a family with young children, our new combi-condenser has already packed up 3 times this Winter and with a baby it can be awkward. However, what about the elderly who may have been advised to invest in one of these boilers, only to lose all their heating when they most need it; with plumbers snowed in and not available? This problem was known about last Winter but little or no action has been taken. That means that there are many elderly in danger of losing their only heat source, because boiler manufacturers have not taken action in time to minimise the problem.

It is an absolute scandal that a higher Winter death toll of our elderly is the only likely scenario, that will highlight this boiler design flaw.

Surviving Black Friday

A night off for Santa's little helpers-in Swansea

I had the dubious honour last Friday of negotiating Cardiff and Swansea on the dreaded black Friday: the last Friday for works Christmas parties before Christmas. Being in my 40's with 3 small boys, I would not exactly describe myself as a party animal but committed myself to spending the afternoon in Cardiff, negotiating deep snow to the railway station and arriving in Swansea for the evening festivities.

So what was the difference between the two cities? Well for starters, there was a lot more snow in the capital and consequently, I turned up somewhat overdressed  in my home city. Having said that, whatever the weather in Swansea, Wind Street on a Friday night has never been accused of being a place for the obsessively over-dressed. The really shocking thing for me was to see the difference in relative prosperity between the two cities. As I walked from the station to my licenced destination, many of the pubs I used to occasionally frequent in my youth were boarded up, including some famous old establishments. What particularly concerns me about the difference is that the public sector cuts will hit Swansea far harder, as the city is far more reliant than Cardiff on public sector funded posts. In consequence, the gap in prosperity is only going to increase.

In terms of the night out, as much as I respect the offers of Cardiff, there is nothing quite like a night out in Swansea. You run into some amazing characters and I must give a personal mention to the man in the spandex green trousers and life-sized rubber snake (with nothing else) whose appearance appeared to get him free entry to everywhere (I wouldn't recommend his tactics). I would also like to thank the local constabulary and my two mates for aiding in the return of my jacket-I'm sure that the individual who borrowed it is full of remorse.

For Those in Peril on the Sea

Today, the British Government has chosen to make the perilous seas around the coast of Wales, more dangerous for the people who use them. The proposal to close the coastguard stations at Holyhead and Milford Haven and reduce the Mumbles station to part time, will cost lives.

While not doubting that modern technology has made search and rescue a far easier job in terms of locating ships and boats in distress, removing so much local knowledge will fundamentally reduce the ability to respond quickly to local circumstances. This cut in safety for our maritime sector also comes at a time when there is a huge rise in coastal tourism; something that has been actively encouraged not only in improving the health of the nation but also by the huge efforts made particularly in Wales, of improving bathing waters.

All in all, anyone who can claim that these cuts can be managed without increasing the risk levels at sea is frankly a liar or unhinged. For the British Government to propose that is acceptable for Wales with its large, rugged and largely storm wave environment coastline, is a travesty of the reality. I hope that all politicians in Wales whatever their political affiliation, stand together and say no to these unsustainable cuts for in this particular case, lives are literally being put at risk.

Tomorrow's Headlines - Keep Your Head Down!

You can't take our 'fee'dom

This evening, it has been reported that the SNP Government is proposing a similar funding mechanism for their students, as the Welsh Government has for its students. This effectively means that they are using the English fees to subsidise their own students education. I can fully understand the frustration of the English, where they see the Scottish and Welsh prioritising their own but with respect, they only have themselves to blame as they elected for so many Tory MPs in the first place. Some thought they were safe by voting Lib Dem, but we all know what happened there.

Unfortunately, the headlines tomorrow and possibly for the next few days will more than likely be anti-Scottish, anti-devolution and extremely bitter. Yet, all the nations of Wales and Scotland are doing, are prioritising the needs of their electorate. It's not personal-it's just democracy. Unfortunately, it is just another nail in the coffin of betting fair funding for Wales; something I intend to remind Peter Hain about in the Spring who had 13 years to do something-and did nothing.

It's Just Not Cricket

Do Not Take 'Yes' for Granted

I am delighted that the recent polls all point to a big 'yes' vote in next year's Welsh referendum. I also welcome the appointment of the Chair of the campaign and the launch of the 'Yes' website tomorrow (remember to save it as a favourite). However, I strongly suspect that the vote will be closer than people think.

This opinion is not based on any statistical analysis or for that matter on any strong arguments that the rag tag 'no' campaign can muster. It is based on a population's natural conservative approach to change when the economy is struggling. The poll next March in that respect, could not come at a worse time and the 'yes' camp has to be very careful not to fall into the trap of allowing the 'no' crowd as some sort of anti-establishment voice. Due to the media rules of coverage, they will get equal status in broadcast coverage and also the same amount of funding for their leaflets. Their response to the appointment of Roger Lewis yesterday was pathetic but they will have a very consistent message, even if it offers nothing positive.

The main 'yes' launch will be in the new year and complacency is not something that the 'yes' camp can afford. Also, the media will have a huge responsibility to get the message across that there is a referendum in the first place and also from my perspective, expose the 'no' campaign for the busted flush that it will inevitably be. A repeat of giving them undeserved credibility as they did in 1997, will not do Wales any favours whatsoever.

LibCons Confirm English/Welsh Divide

The train arriving from England is the ..........

The train arriving from Wales in the............

It has been reported today in the Western Mail that the British Transport Minister Philip Hammond sees no difficulty in only electrifying the main railway line from London to Bristol, pointing out that Welsh passengers will benefit from quicker journey times once they cross the border. You see, from a London centric perspective this makes sense as Bristol is after all bigger than Cardiff!

This announcement is apparently to be made in the new year and one can only assume that London expects the Welsh Government to cough up with the Welsh section of track, even though this element of funding is not devolved and Wales has just had its capital budget slashed by 40%. This is yet further evidence of a growing anti-Celtic faction grabbing the controls of the increasingly English-centric British Government. If you think otherwise, then why haven't they made similar suggestions for the modernisation of lines to any regions of England with similar populations to South Wales? They are also spending more on modernising one station in London, than it would cost to electrify from London to Swansea.

On the bright side, it will add to the already bulging bag of arguments required to win the 'yes' campaign in March. However, I would much rather win it without seeing my nation continually getting knock-backs from the LibCon British Government. At least we have 11 LibCon MPs in Wales to fight our corner -  and what a magnificant difference they have made so far! What is Welsh for sarcastic?

Two Welsh Leaders Announced Today

Two new leaders of Wales will be announced today, both linked to sport. Gary Speed will be announced as the new Welsh football manager, taking up the reigns at a time of real potential for Welsh football. He has not had the greatest of success as a club coach but will have respect form the players and has been there and done it at club and international level. However he may have voted in 97, I wish him well in his new job. Surely, we can qualify for something in my lifetime!

The other announcement has already been leaked by the BBC, but let's say that he has a greater interest in a different shaped ball. His role will be to steer the 'Yes' campaign through to victory in March next year, delivering the first out and out Parliament for Wales for over 600 years.

I wish them well in their endeavours, as success for both men will not only put our nation on the map, but will instill further confidence in our young people; something that will be very welcome in such trying enonomic times.

V.A.T. Will Cost More Than You Think

There is a perception being put out around by the Tories, that next  month's V.A.T. rise will not affect the poorer in society, so what's the problem? Well, apart from the obvious flaws in this argument around unavoidable bills and consumer durables, there is another surprising factor-your weekly shop. There may not be V.A.T. on food, but out of our big shop yesterday, over 25% of the items were V.A.T. charged, including a lot of mandatory household goods that you cannot do without.

Of course on top of this, many items used in the production, storage and delivery on non V.A.T. items like food will also be affected, so food will indirectly go up in price, directly due to the V.A.T. rise. The rise will come at the very same time as post Christmas credit card bills arrive, along with the ramifications of decisions linked to managing public sector cuts. If the Lib Dems think that things are bad now, then they better enjoy Christmas, because it's not looking any better for them in the new year. Mind you they can look on the bright side, as their jobs in Westminster are fixed term for at least another 4 years, which is a lot more than I can say for other public sector workers.

No Christmas for Familes of Pike River Miners

Black gold

There are no cameras or media left at the Pike River Coal Mine in New Zealand, where the shift of 29 miners were killed in an underground explosion. In fact, the bodies have still to be recovered due to the dangerous state of the mine. Now, the remaining miners are now likely to be laid off due to the mine's condition, so Christmas for the local communities will be even more depressing than it already was.

These sort of tragedies were fairly regular occurrences when coal was king in Wales and sadly still are in China. We can but hope that at least the bodies can be recovered before Christmas and the families can start their grieving process properly. I wonder sometimes if the Capital of Wales realises what it owes to the miners of the Bute Estate owned coalfield, for it would be nothing more than a staging post to somewhere worth going, without it.

Cancun Will Just Put Off Climate Disaster

Cancun has just more or less completed its negotiations and due to an utter lack of publicity, it is likely to be trumpeted as some sort of success by the world's largest polluters-without too much fuss. To its credit, it has pinned down everyone to reducing their CO2 output by deadline dates, but only in terms of reducing expansion with India and China. Also, with the US about to swing to the right once more in its politics and there being no short term deadlines or mechanism to reach the targets, it is nothing more than 'feelgood' politics for leaders to get re-elected on.

The world of capitalism that we are all tied into is slowly strangling the planet's environment and recourses and I am dreading the day when our boys sit us down and ask us how our generation got it so wrong and what as parents, we tried to do about it. By the time they are teenagers, it will all be too late and the world will be driven largely by drought, starvation and climate catastrophes. As I keep pointing out, it will keep me in a job as a Civil Engineer but then sometimes, it pays to look at the bigger picture.

Should a 'No' Supporter be the Welsh Coach?

Is he now a 'yes' man?

It's about time that I said something a little controversial and here it comes. In 1997 leading up to the referendum on not only devolution but the future of our nation, people from all backgrounds were queuing up to support the 'yes' campaign. On the other side, there was a George Thomas (please don't start me on him. I still remember the Western Mail putting black edging around its pages in his memory when he died-good grief), a few other non-notable politicians and Gary Speed.

Why on earth did he make that decision and what is his opinion of devolution now? His party politics are irrelevant, but I do question someone wanting to be the manager of his nation's soccer team, when he did not even think that devolution was worth supporting. Maybe I'm being a little fussy here as so many managers are from other nations theses days, but he is Welsh, he has played many times for Wales, he captained his country and has a real chance of being the next Welsh manager. So just what does he think of Wales as a nation and isn't it about time someone asked him?

Is that the Best the Tories Can Do?

Do the figures add up?

I saw the Tory explanation today for how they would pay for protecting the NHS in Wales, while still balancing the budget. Their main aim has been built around coming up with a budget that happens to tie in with their British bosses's policy agenda; namely 'protecting' the NHS and also replacing 'Communities First' with a 'Big Society Programme'. They then list a few headline percentages without explaining the ramifications of these additional cuts and claim that this is acceptable. Needless to say, the figures have no particular relation to their previous efforts, as this was made up more or less on the spot.

I am very keen to know just what a 'Big Society Programme' is; particularly if it is going to cost nothing and will rely on charities and business donations. Whatever you think of 'Communities First' and it certainly has its critics, you can at least point to it injecting tens of millions into some of our poorest communities. The Tories appear to want to cut this huge level and funding and replace it with what exactly?: -

Bible reading classes?
Delia Smith cookery clubs??
Coffee clubs with family planning ???
Self-help lectures from Dylan Jones Evans????
Inspiring speeches from our very own Cheryl Gillan?????
A talk on 'My Favourite Bus Journeys' by Ian Duncan Smith??????
How to cook your expenses by any number of former Tory MPs???

Their effort to hide questionable figures just before the Christmas break could well backfire, as it will give opponents and journalists alike plenty of time to prepare for any more details on their spending priorities, not to mention additions to the list above. By the way, please feel free for any more suggestions but please remember that they must not cost anything.

Where Now for the Lib Dems?

This bloke only fibs when his lips move

Let's face it, it hasn't been a great week for the Lib Dems. The tuition fee policy pushed through today has in one sweep brushed away their support at student level; something that their core structure relies upon in many constituencies. Today's decision will not wipe out their party like many opponents predict and no doubt they will recover over time. However, it has destroyed their student activist base and perhaps more importantly, denied them the ability to place themselves outside the traditional British political system that they pretended to be apart from for so long.

For a party with no clear political ideology, this does leave them in somewhat of a dilemma; particularly as they are in formal coalition with the ultimate establishment party in the Tories. It also takes the pressure off Labour at a time when they are vulnerable. I saw 'Red Ed' on TV tonight and frankly, he was awful, but that will not be in the headlines tomorrow. Unfortunately, the violence will be on the front pages, along with a Lib Dem party who split 3 ways in the way they voted. Now, that takes some doing for a relatively small Westminster party.

Their other concern is the remarkable rise in student activism, predominately against them. This new generation of politicians are busting to express themselves and look for a new home, but the last place they will go is the Lib Dems. They could well hound Lib Dem MPs for years to come. Which parties are best placed to pick up this new activism? Well, no doubt Labour will benefit but in Scotland and Wales, the SNP and Plaid have a real opportunity.

Then, the are the Welsh Lib Dems. In fairness to the 3 Welsh Lib MPs, they all voted against the fee proposal but will that really make a huge difference? The English students facing new fees and coming to say Cardiff or Aberystwyth are not going to forgive the Libs because the local MP happened to vote differently. Also, it has to be said that they were never really in danger of losing the vote, even with a moderate rebellion.
I foresee the Libs looking to their Tory partners offering them a policy fig leaf, in order to stabilise their relationship. Maybe, this will be announced in the new year to try to bolster the votes in Scotland and Wales, but then comes the AV referendum. Oh dear, it doesn't get any easier for them, does it?

Celebrity Deaths Remembered

I am not all that sure why I remember where I was when John Lennon was shot, but it is just one of those events that sticks in your mind. I remember waking up to hear the news on breakfast TV and being astonished. I actually grew up listening to the Beatles even though it was a generation before me and also owned a couple of Lennon solo LPs (round plastic disks, for you youngsters). I remember going to school on that day and the teachers rather than pupils being very upset, as they had lost an icon of their youth. Then, there was one of the more hippie girls in my drama class crying her eyes out at the news, much to the bemusement of most of the class.

Celebrity deaths do have unusual effects on the populous, the death of Diana being without doubt the most bizarre. The whole of the UK appeared to get sucked into a period of mourning, even though few now remember the anniversary-other than for some Welsh thinking at the time that it had sunk the devolution campaign! The one celebrity death that sticks in my memory most is not Lennon, Diana even Elvis but Ryan. To anyone Welsh who ever came across this unique entertainment legend, I suspect that you also remember where you were. My mam came into our front room while we were playing a board game with tears in here eyes, to tell us that he had gone. I remember having a big lump in my throat as I had never seen her cry before, but then Ryan was never a celebrity. He was just Ryan Davies - Welsh superstar, and he always will be.

Do You Want to be Balkanised?

Peter Hain, on learning that Wales is to be twinned with the Balkans!

I listened to Mr Brass Neck himself this morning on Radio Wales, Peter Hain. He indulged in a little Lib baiting on tuition fees, which you can hardly blame him for. He then went onto the concerns this had raised in the English media. He stoutly defended the right of WAG to set its own policies on devolved issues and then came the very predictable Hain one - liner -  about the 'Balkanisation of Britain.'

What he always tries to insinuate in such debates, is that any talk of further devolution or English MPs voting on English only issues, will lead to some kind of Balkan situation. Of course, Plaid and SNP MPs already decline to vote on English only issues that do not affect their respective nations, but do we see a Civil war ensuing? Do we see ethnic cleansing on the streets of Resolven?

Of course, Welsh Labour MPs will vote the way that their London boss tells them (with one or two honourable exceptions), whether it is in the interests of England, Wales, Iraq or anyone else. After all, Hain was an MP with his Labour colleagues for 13 years in power, when they did not lift a finger to deal with the unfair funding formula for Wales. Their current leader stated recently that the settlement was 'about right' for Wales. No change there then.

So the next time that Peter Hain uses the phrase 'balkanisation', I hope that the journalist questioning him asks for an explanation for his bizarre comparison.

Is Business Transport Worth It?

I note that the Tories and their Lib Dem friends are attacking the Welsh Government's Transport Minister for continuing to support business transport subsidies from the North to the South. This is admittedly a contentious issue with all the cuts we are facing, but let's look at some facts before going to judgement.

The subsidy to enable business flights from North to South Wales are a tiny proportion of the overall transport subsidy funded in Wales, the economic statistics in part of the north west are some of the worst in western Europe and the Tories and Libs have just blocked the rail electirification funds coming to Wales, diverting them to London instead. Now, which is more elitist, spending billions on a high speed train from London to Birmingham that can only be afforded by the very rich, or creating a swift transport link from Wales's poorest region to the capital, specifically to encourage economic growth there?

Please also remember that the Tories wanted WAG to spend a billion on the M4 relief road, without any explanation as to how we would pay for it and please also consider that the current Welsh Transport Minister was the first to ensure that more was spent on public/integrated transport than road construction. I also have vague memories certain current and former Lib Dem AMs using the public purse to fly down to the South of France, from the obvious transport hub of Newquay ariport in Cornwall. I would very much welcome any bloggers to remind people of that little escapade.

It is a difficult decision to subsidise business as well as standard transport with the public purse, particularly when we face such horrific cuts at the hands of (you guessed it) the Tories and Lib Dems. However, when politicians make accusations of 'elitism', they would be well advised to do so from a position of moral high ground, or they might find themselves re-visiting past actions that they may want the electorate to forget about.

Hwyl Fawr £300 M

There is still much talk within Welsh political circles about the £300 million shortfall in funding for Wales, based on a fair funding formula independently calculated by Jerry Holtham. The findings of his report have been accepted by people of all political persuasions in Wales, yet what we believe will have no bearing on this funding shortfall.

The English nation has now woken up to devolution and with their media champing at the bit to have a dig at their celtic cousins, the chances of Wales receiving funding based on need are about as good as Leanne Wood AM getting an invite to Billy and Katie's wedding next year.

This lack of fair funding will sadly hold Wales back in its attempts to improve its economic lot, but I find it hard to lay the blame at England, when there is a far more culpable target for this travesty. Look no further than the Labour party, who for 13 years held the reigns of power and ignored all the pleas from Plaid Cymru and others to re-visit the dated Barnett formula.

Disappointed for England

I genuinely wanted England to win the bid for the Football world cup, in 2018. This support was not based on any belief that Wales would gain economically out of such an event, as no doubt we would have been scammed like we have been with the Olympics. It was based on the opportunity for the English to grow their Englishness in a positive and constructive way, around the sport that they love above all others.

My support for their cause though, was somewhat diminished by the wall to wall coverage of their last minute efforts to swing the result, even though most commentators had Russia down as favourites. Journalists across the spectrum used the term 'us' and 'we' when referring to the bid, not only on the so called British media but even Radio Wales. Having said that, it is difficult for the English to express their thoughts as English people, when they do not actually have a station for them, do they?

I also noted the efforts made by Prince William to get the voters to support the cause. The lad is clearly a passionate Englishman and rightly so. Therefore I have to repeat a statement that I have made on other occasions. When his dad steps up to take the British throne, why should William have Welshness foisted upon him? He is clearly a proud Englishman, so where is the sense in making him Prince of Wales?

I Bought the Sun Today!

Kelvin MacKenzie said in today's Sun: -

"The Welsh don't burn our cottages now that we subsidise their education."

The last time that I bought the Sun was 34 years ago, when my teacher in Sketty primary school chose me to buy his paper for the day. We all took it in turns to buy his paper and for the boys in the class it was very exciting, as it had boobs on page three!

Talking of tits in the Sun, I bought the paper today to read what Kelvin MacKenzie had written about the Welsh, because we had chosen a different path for student fees on a devolved issue. Many scoff at the mindless ramblings of bigots like MacKenzie, but to many people he is seen as some form of the 'voice of the people'. He certainly sees himself this way and is a very good example of a right wing English nationalist-with blinkers firmly fixed. As an anti-fascist, I sometimes scour discussion pages on the net linked to fascist groups like the EDL and MacKenzie is worshipped by such people.

Whatever you think of the Sun, it is a hugely influential paper that is brilliantly targeted at its audience. It outsells any other paper and has a knack of backing the winner in any British election. It, along with other London based papers will now take an increasingly nasty line towards all things Welsh as they already do to Scottish issues. It is nothing more than the English nation starting the find its feet after the sudden realisation that devolution has taken place. We are about to enter very interesting political times.

This Maybe the Week that Changes Things

There have been a clash of events in the last few days that may just be a line that Wales has crossed, in terms of getting a 'yes' vote in next year's referendum. The BBC rugby debacle last weekend was a no more than an annoyance to many, but to the thousands who look to rugby as an expression of their nationality, it was a huge slap in the face from London. Again, after all the publicity surrounding the student fee issue and for Wales to go its own way and recognise the importance of higher education for all, has there ever been more publicity in the British press about devolution? Can you ever remember another time when the Daily Mail put a devolved issue on the front page? Finally, the largest independent poll was released today, showing a clear lead for the 'yes' campaign, before the campaign has even started-including a lead in every one of the 22 Welsh Council areas.

The current One Wales Government in Wales has I believe, been the difference in transforming devolution from the perception of an experiment, to the reality of a respected Welsh Government. I could of course be wildly optimistic in my predictions about this, but as more events as a result of WAG policy show that Wales has different needs and priorities to the London Government, then the more recognition there is that we Welsh can actually do things for ourselves. I will be a little later getting to work this morning, but I will have an extra skip in my step.

The Spite of the English Media

Much of the right wing English media has this morning turned on our nation, for us having the temerity to set laws relating to our priorities and our needs-despite being underfunded on a needs basis by £300 million a year. The likes of the Daily Mail are horrified that 'the Welsh' have the nerve to do something different to the British/English Government.

They of course are of the firm belief that the Welsh are a bunch of unemployed miners who sing in choirs and live in caves etc etc etc... If you think I overstate this, try asking someone from Wales who has recently moved to London. The danger here of course is that the level of resentment felt by the English towards the Scottish starts to be targeted at the Welsh and the problem here is that we are smaller and frankly less confident in ourselves as a nation

From these headlines, there will hopefully be more recognition from the people of Wales that devolution really does make a difference and that the referendum in May really can help Wales. With a little luck, it may also encourage a few more in Wales to buy Welsh media and not put up with the right wing clap trap coming out of much of the London media. After all, it has less and less relevance to Wales.