Grangetown Jack

Just back from the pub?

2012-01-26T23:34:00.000Z

Have you just returned from your local boozer and lost all those inhibitions about joining a political party?

Do you care passionately about the future of Wales?

Do you want to do something about it before going to bed at midnight?

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

02920 472272 (tell them that Ian sent you)

You Have Until Midnight, Cinderella !

2012-01-26T18:50:00.000Z

Cinderella rushing to join Plaid before midnight

It's not only Cinderella who has a big deadline at midnight, because midnight tonight is the absolute deadline to join Plaid Cymru and have a vote to choose the new leader. Just to ensure that everyone gets the chance, the staff at Ty Gwynfor (Plaid's HQ) are working the phones until the clock strikes 12, taking any calls for membership. The only other alternative at this late stage is via the website, so if you have been putting it off or had plain forgotten, do the right thing and join up, before it's too late.

phone: 02920 472272

web: https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

In joining, you will be part of the fastest growing party in Welsh politics and helping to set the future course of your nation.

St Dwynwen's Day or Burns Night?

2012-01-24T23:27:00.000Z

A Wild Haggis

Wednesday is a double celebration both for the Welsh and the Scots. St Dwynwen's Day is a celebration of the Welsh patron saint of love and Burns Night is a great big booze up celebrating the hard drinking and womanising Scots poet Robbie Burns. So, why is it that the Welsh will be out everywhere for Burns night but be almost nowhere for St Dwynwen? Is it the attraction of the haggis?

A Tamed Haggis

The sad fact is that us Welsh are rubbish at picking a day to celebrate being Welsh. Think of St David's Day for instance; the National Day of Wales recognised all around the world apart from in Wales. Sure, we have a couple of marches and Ynys Mon gives its staff the day off, but that's about it. Then think about St Patrick's Day. What a bash that is across Wales, confirming the rather embarrassing reality that we are far better celebrating the special days of our celtic cousins than we are of our own. What is wrong with us?

Some of the difficulties have come from the inability of schools in Wales to teach their pupils about Wales. There has of course been some change to this since devolution, but it cannot just be put down to education. I still think that many in Wales have a hang up about being Welsh. For instance, many 3rd or 4th generation Welsh still consider themselves Irish from 19th Century links. Also, we are still very much patronised by the London media and politicians, a great example being how 'nice' they all were to us when we did well in the rugby world cup (someone please pass me the sick bucket).

So what is to be done to get our nation to take a little more pride in itself. Well for starters, the London parties can devolve the powers for public holidays so that we can at long last have a day off to celebrate on March 1st. I am bored of the tired old arguments about how it would make us less competitive, when the very same blinkered souls who push this lie then go on to moan about our lack of presence on the world stage. Would there be a better way to make our mark, than by actually being seen to take ourselves seriously on our national day?

We also need to push our history more because as a nation, I doubt there is another of comparable size that has had more influence on the globe in the last 300 years. Yet if we do not know this, why should we expect others to do so. With this in mind, there is a BBC Wales programme in 6 one hour parts called 'the Story of Wales' being shown next month. Maybe, this apparently excellent series will spark greater interest in our nation, within our nation. Only when we start taking a little more pride in ourselves beyond the rugby field, are we likely to instill a little more respect from the rest of the globe.

My Experiences of the Muslim 'Extremists'

2012-01-24T21:59:00.000Z

This week, there has been a lot of press about a meeting being broken up in Canton Community Centre, organised by a small Muslim grouping named the Supporters of Tawheed. The media was full of stories about links to support for terrorism, yet today an impression was given by the local organiser that they were nothing more than a discussion group that gave no support to such things.

I suppose that my first libertarian instincts would be to question the tactics of the Police in this instance, but then, I have bumped into this lot on a previous occasion. A couple of years ago, I was canvassing with a group of Plaid activists in Grangetown and we happened to have a woman Muslim Welsh candidate. We were approached by a few young followers of this particular grouping and they were in our faces, aggressive and frankly manic. These were bright local lads who were driven by a deep passion for what they believed in, but it was way beyond a passionate belief-it was fanaticism. They reminded me very much of a brainwashed bunch of religious sect fanatics who used to hang around outside my college at exam time, looking to pick up vulnerable youngsters. At the time, they went around Grangetown defacing any political posters or even street signs with their 'Muslims don't Vote' stickers and were known by local Muslims families as the 'Go to Hell' Party!

It could be argued that by driving underground such groupings, these vulnerable young people are even more open to extremist views than they would be otherwise. However, it is also vital for the 99.9% of Muslim families to make it clear to the rest of their community, that such views do not have general support. However, I would also suggest that there is far more education about what Islam really stands for, so that the rest of society does not base its opinions on negative stereo-typing. There is still a lot of work to do, in society understanding that Islam is no threat to anyone, but fanaticism from all sides is.

Nuclear Not Subsidised?

2012-01-22T22:55:00.000Z

The UK Government are being reported to the European Commission for potentially unlawful subsidies to the Nuclear Industry. The investigation which will take at least 18 months to resolve, will open up the many scams taking place in order to make Nuclear energy look more affordable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16646405

The main fiddle is based on the capping limit to what a company would face in terms of compensation, if one of their plants went belly up, so to speak. If one was feeling cynical, one may ask if these new stations are so safe, why are the insurance premiums for an accident so high?

Sadly, I also predict that the investigation is likely to lead to nothing, as the vested interests are just too powerful. The decision has already been made for a new generation of nuclear stations and nothing short of a dreadful accident much closer to home will change that. I am respectful of environmentalists who argue that new nuclear can reduce our CO2 although I am not yet convinced. What I find deeply frustrating is the inability of politicians to deal with the chronic waste of energy across Wales and the UK. We have an outdated distribution network and some of our housing stock has appalling energy efficiency standards. Why oh why can't we be more pro-active with energy efficiency? Think what we could do with £32 billion instead of HS2? I am genuinely frightened by the current economic crisis masking the environmental disaster we face unless we act far more swiftly in dealing with global warming.

So in conclusion, Nuclear is subsidised but this will not stop a new generation of stations and while the argument continues over whether nuclear contributes to reducing CO2 production, without serious conservation-it will make little difference. Someone needs to make energy conservation a 'sexy' political issue, so over to the Plaid leadership candidates!

New Leader - Don't Miss the Bus

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000Z

Don't miss it

The deadline date for being a Plaid member and having a vote for the new leader is fast approaching, so if you are undecided and sitting on the fence - get off it!

In Plaid, there is no special weighting for anyone in the party. Whether you are an AM, MP, MEP or President, you have no more say than someone who joins this weekend. We don't bother with the ludicrous system that chooses the Labour leader and I suspect in hindsight, that Labour regret it as well-sorry Ed. Of course as a member, you have a say on the 95 recommendations being hotly debated by the party as to our future direction. You also get an annual conference that decides policy and cannot be 'cancelled' for cost reasons. Unlike the Tories in Wales, Plaid is answerable to its members in Wales and not to a London leader.

So, click on the link below and join online or phone our HQ (Ty Gwynfor) on Monday and join that way (029 20472272). Your vote could make all the difference.

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

Labour Risk Little in Move to the Right

2012-01-18T23:16:00.000Z

The 2 Eds in union - against unions

So Labour have made a strategic decision to distance themselves from the unions this week. Well in all honesty, they have been doing this for months. The union and media reaction has been exactly what the party bosses wanted, angry words from the union leaders and big coverage from Fleet Street. Of more importance to them, has been the reaction from focus groups based in all the marginal Westminster seats lost to the Tories. They are trying to re-build a relationship with the voters who liked and supported Blair and are quite prepared to infuriate their traditional support in order to do it.

So why are they taking such risks with their core support? That's an easy one, as they are not actually taking any risks at all. Ask yourself this question. If Labour infuriate their core support when in opposition to the Tories, what alternative do these voters have in England? None at all. They know that they have nowhere else to go (with the Libs tied to the Tories) and so can get away with blue murder. Of course in Wales and Scotland, that is not the case. In Scotland, Labour have been well and truly found out and have lost control to the SNP. In Wales, Labour are still getting away with it but are vulnerable to Plaid.

So what will the affiliated unions do? They will bluster, make threats of removing funding and do whatever it takes to convince their members that their anger is being taken seriously, but that's about it. The main affiliated unions are well informed of Labours plans and are just playing the game of Miliband's choosing. Already my union is re-building bridges with Labour and the most recent monthly magazine has a nauseous two page spread on: -

"the relationship that's sometimes stormy but always there."

So if you think that Labour and the unions are about to divorce, dream on. The affiliated unions are in Labour's pocket, whether old or new.

What's in a Name?

2012-01-17T23:49:00.000Z

So Plaid's long awaited report on the way forward is finally out for members to read and comment on - and vote on later in the Spring. The 95 recommendations were a bit of a read at NEC last Saturday, but many of them are I believe crucial if we want to take the party forward and subsequently Wales with us.

Perhaps the most eye catching headline from today's press reaction was the proposal to change the party's name to Plaid Cymru - the Welsh National Party. My personal view on this is to go for it. However we perceive the party from within in terms of the openness and broad minded debate, unless people outside the party feel they can join without prejudice, then we are getting it wrong. I remember well when I joined in July 1995 (when I last had a social life) and I was very concerned about not being able to speak Welsh, thinking it would be some sort of barrier.

Plaid has and always will be a staunch supporter of the Welsh language, but Saunders Lewis's wish to make it into a language pressure group rather than political party was rejected then and it is rejected now. We have to open our arms to so many potential supporters, who are themselves so dis-illusioned with the cynical games played by the UK parties. What better example could there be than this week, when Labour have yet again stabbed in the back the trade union members who so loyally support them at election time?

Of course, it is not just about a name, but about professionalising the party at all levels and so making the very most of the activists time and money, given freely in the belief that Plaid is the very best way of standing up for all 3 million who call Wales home. I am very much looking forward to the debate on these recommendations and the leadership candidates taking these issues on as part of their campaign. Plaid changed as a party last year not as a result of a disappointing election, but due to its success in helping to deliver our first proper Parliament for centuries. We now need to make the necessary changes to move the party onto the next stage of nation building. The next 4 years are going to be very exciting times for Plaid, or should I say the WNP.

Why not join up and have your say on the future of Wales? Do it before the 26th January and you can help choose the new leader as well. Sometimes, it's just worth getting off the fence and making a difference.

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

The Return of New Labour

2012-01-14T07:55:00.000Z

New Labour's Ed Balls - Thatcher's Greatest Legacy

If you needed confirmation that New Labour is well and truly back in vogue, then look no further than the statement from Ed Balls today. He has confirmed that a Labour administration would not reverse any public sector pay freezes planned by the Tories. This of course is after the Labour leadership refused to back the public sector unions in their fight to defend their pensions; even being critical of the strike action.

This of course will play well with the voters who deserted Labour in the last election and swapped to the Tories and will also please the many New Labourites within his party; people who loathe the trade unions but love their money. As a public sector worker and steward in one of Labour's affiliated friends, I am struggling to see what argument my union leader can use to defend his current support for Labour.

Of course, any normal organisations who were so comprehensively stabbed in the back by politicians who they supported so staunchly, would question any future support and consider pulling their funding. Yet, this of course will not happen in this case. UNISON, UNITE & the GMB will continue to walk like lemmings across the cliff, because many of their leaders are incapable of putting their members before their party.

I look forward to listening to Labour's excuses in Wales for this treachery, but don't hold your breath for any open criticism-just a few nauseating comments about how different 'Welsh Labour' are. I see no Labour MPs in Wales making any protests. Hypocrites.

One of the Greatest Successes of Devolution

2012-01-12T21:57:00.000Z

Carywn Does the Right Thing with the Dail Mail

Today, the Welsh Government published the latest recycling figures for Wales, showing that half of all our rubbish is now recycled. This is a remarkable turnaround from prior to devolution, when we were rightly labelled as one of the most wasteful nations in Europe-recycling just a few % of our waste. We are now ahead of England and have a very ambitious target to recycle 70%. These figures would not have been achieved without 'carrot and stick' funded targets from the Welsh Government and much credit should go to Jane Davidson; the former Minister responsible for this. In fairness to local Government, they have also played their part in reaching these recycling levels and it has been hugely encouraging how our communities have taken to heart, recycling.

However, the next stage to get from 50% to 70% is a challenging one and one that carries a lot of controversy. An example of this is Project Gwrydd in the South East, where several Councils have got together in order to try to deal with the residual waste that cannot be either recycled or composted. The process of dealing with the waste went out to tender without any technical preference, but all returned tenders involved forms of incineration. This has not gone down at all well with the green lobby, or several communities where the potential incinerator maybe sited.

I had experience of being lied to about incinerators, when involved several years ago campaigning against the one sited near Swansea. It was not hi-tech, breached EA pollution levels and eventually ended up as a white elephant, but not all options of waste disposal are the same. The Welsh solution is different to what is generally found in England, because the waste is different. Certain 'greener' solutions involve making use of organic waste in the process yet in Wales, organic waste is composted and so this would not be part of the mix. On other words, the process chosen by Project Gwrydd has to suit the waste mix that is produced by the constituent Councils, or it will simply not work. With this in mind, the Councils cannot commit to a technology that has not been shown to work with this mix of waste, as they would then be taking the risk of spending hundreds of millions on a contract that cannot deliver.

I sincerely hope that one of the few technologies that falls outside the label of 'incineration' does indeed meet all the criteria but if it does not, then some modern form of incineration is with respect, a better option than landfill; particularly if the ash can be converted to a relatively inert base construction material. This is not the perfect solution, but we cannot keep filling our landfill sites in the hope of a Utopian solution that does not exist. As an engineer who has worked for many years on a very well managed landfill site, believe me when I tell you that it is a form of disposal that is well past its sell-by date.

Stroppy Scottish - Know Your Place!

2012-01-09T23:12:00.000Z

Independence? That's Just for Foreigners!

Democratic self-determination based on a clear electoral mandate from the Scottish people?

Bunkum & Balderdash I say!

What an interesting day in Scottish and UK politics, when a well planned attack on the SNP plans for independence had to be rapidly re-spun, when the Tory/Lib UK coalition realised they had made a fundamental mistake; they used an English politician to attack the Scottish Government. I was fascinated to watch as the media initially took the UK line, then gradually started questioning the validity of posh Englishman Cameron picking on the Scottish nation, particularly when Salmond refused to take the bait and allowed his deputy Nicola Sturgeon to 'stand up for Scotland' (literally, unlike the Carwyn version). Then came the panic and out came the Scottish based coalition politicians, to back Cameron's line. To be fair, this changed the tone of the media, but the damage was done 'north of the border'.

Nichola Sturgeon sank Cameron with her first salvo, questioning how was it acceptable for a party with just one Scottish MP, to dictate to the Scottish Government how to interpret its own policy; a policy that had been clearly stated prior to an election then promptly supported by the majority of Scotland. The statistical fact that Scotland has more pandas than Tory MPs, was then used with some justification by Scottish Government representatives.

More Common Than Scottish Tory MPs, 'North of the Border'

The UK Statists have one major flaw; they don't like each other much and apart from war, never work together. I believe that it will literally take a 'war mentality' for the Tories, Libs and Labour to get together and work in tandem, to defeat the SNP's plans for a self governing Scotland. Yet, I would not put it past them because the stakes are so high. So, this is the first of many attacks that will occur on the SNP and Scotland and it remains to be seen if the Scots can be scared into keeping the status quo. I suspect that it really depends which side is more scared of change.

UNITE Threaten 'Red Ed's' Leadership

2012-01-05T17:59:00.000Z

A Democratic & Labour Liability?

Much to the Government's alarm, the largest UK trade union has given a unanimous 'no' to the final offer, relating to the public sector pension dispute and their NHS members. There is a lot of concern from union members at the coal face that their leaders are going to sell out, but this decision is going to put pressure on the leader's considering this option, to think again.

Of course, the political leader most concerned with this decision will be Labour's Ed Miliband. He has already criticised trade unions for fighting for the future of their pensions, even though the likes of the GMB, UNITE and UNISON are his party's biggest funders and the deciding factor that delivered his leadership victory. There has been a general feeling that he had escaped any immediate threat to his leadership, as it is hard for any leader to make an impression, with no message to sell. However, a continuation of an increasingly bitter pension dispute will force 'Red Ed' to take a harder anti-union line.

So, there will be panic stations in Labour HQ because of this decision, particularly when there is also talk of the GMB and UNITE taking on private sector employers relating to pensions. I may not be a Labour supporter, but I am very concerned when the main opposition to the Tories in London are currently no opposition at all. If 'Red Ed' continues to be a liability not only to UK Labour but also UK Parliamentary democracy, then for the sake of everyone, he needs to go and go swiftly.

Do You Want to Choose New Plaid Leader ?

2012-01-04T00:23:00.000Z

So the leadership campaign has officially kicked off and 26th January is the deadline for anyone to join and have a chance to vote. There are no special preferences for MPs, AMs or trade union members. Every party member from the newest to the party President, has the same say in who becomes the next leader. By joining, you also become a member of the only party that always puts Wales first. Why not make a resolution to make a difference?

Who is that world class goalie in red in the middle?

Nothing went past him at the Plaid leadership launch.

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

The Work Starts Tomorrow

2012-01-02T23:17:00.000Z

Not only am I back at work after the Christmas break, but the Plaid leadership nominations open. On top of this, there will be conclusions drawn from a far reaching party review; something that will no doubt set some of the debate during the leadership contest.I am part of some publicity to launch the leadership contest tomorrow, of which I sincerely hope I am not on camera for. Let's just call it an early lunch and a way of keeping to one of my new year resolutions.

The next 12 months are huge for Plaid and if we get it right, our endeavours will yet again set the Welsh political agenda. Wales is very much at a political crossroads, where many changes will be driven by political forces well outside the influence of our borders. It is crucial that we are pro-active when these changes come, but there are only limited if welcome signs of this to date, from the Labour administration in Cardiff Bay. The way in which Wales has been treated over the £400m Olympic rip-off is a major worry, as all three main UK parties have played their part in not standing up for Wales. Our nation needs to gain the respect of London and not its contempt and relying on our rugby side is with respect, not good enough.

So let the work start tomorrow and let's see what my party has got to offer.

Blwyddyn Newydd Dda !

2012-01-01T01:17:00.000Z

Take a shower in Wales

So it's that time of year again when I take a stab at predictions for the year and I am stating up front for starters, that I intend to bottle any thoughts on Plaid's leadership election or any direct Council election prediction-so there.

A big year for the Middle East. Will the push for democracy create the instability for a two state peace solution? It might just happen, but not until after the US election.

A Republican President (I will be delighted to be wrong on this one).

I will have a Plaid County Councillor for the first time in my life.

The Libs will have a dire Council election, largely based on their London actions and not altogether their local management.

Carwyn Jones is facing big problems with the NHS, with his own party as well as local communities.

Further environmental warnings will come from people 'in the know', but the banks will still hold sway and little will be done.

We are facing riots again I'm afraid, as the combination of unemployment, benefits cuts and a clear rich proportion of society largely unaffected - thrown in with a heatwave.

The Olympics will come and go, with London business milking it and at the end of the day, many will be wondering what the hell the point of it all was.

A royal baby arrives-yippy dippy do.

The Euro will still exist, but not with Greece in the current structure.

Andrew RT Davies will be struggling as Tory leader in Wales, with murmurs of a change behind his back.

Welsh rugby will have a very lean year, sadly.

Ed Miliband will fight on, as the problem is now more of message than just leadership.

A lot of household shopping names will go to the wall, fundamentally changing the face of some shopping streets.

The Lib Dems will go into formal coalition with Labour in Wales, but not until after the Council elections.

The Tory/Lib UK coalition will hold together, more due to Labour's ineptitude than anything else.

The black economy in Wales and the UK will expand hugely, as the poorest communities will not be able to cope without it.

There will be more talk of a Welsh 'super dam' in Wales to bail out SE England. Go for it, I say-as long as Boris pays the going rate.

There will be a Welsh housing crisis, with a combination of people losing homes and a complete lack of investment in affordable housing.

Parents will be denied WM education, due to a combination of a lack of funding and Labour's local animosity towards Welsh once again showing its face.

The Malvinas will once again hit the headlines.

2011 Predictions Assessed

2011-12-31T02:16:00.001Z

Well, I am feeling a little smug about my predictions from last year for 2011 and confidently predict that in 2012, I will come nowhere near as close.

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.

I am so pleased that I got this one right, although it will take many years for Wales to appreciate this. The most important influence of this result was to send a message to London that Wales should not be ignored, whatever Scotland gets up to. Can you imagine London's contempt for us if we had voted no?
HIT

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

I voted yes, but not with any particular conviction. I support STV but recognised that this was a step forward if nothing else. This was a compromise that was never going to get support and am bemused why Clegg thought this was a good deal?

HIT

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

Well, I got the first bit right and would respectfully suggest that the second bit is already in motion-bless you Kirsty.
HIT

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).

Very smug with this one but in all honesty, not all that difficult to get right.
HIT

There will be a new Tory leader in the Assembly.

Not altogether happy with getting this one right, as a Labour election fiddle led to it-directly against real democracy.
HIT

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

I'm claiming this one, although Labour's utter paralysis in Wales has not helped my cause.
HIT

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.

If anything, I have understated this-the illegitimate souls.
HIT

New Zealand will win the Rugby World Cup.

I would have been happy to have got this one wrong, but for an inconsistent refereeing decision from a French Irishman.
HIT

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.

Too early, as the figures will not be out until this or even next year.

MISS

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.

I am very disappointed to have got this one wrong, but Labour have been so inept since taking power that there is no way I could claim a hit on this one.
MISS

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

Sadly true, with more to come I suspect.
HIT

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.

Spot on.
HIT

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

An easy hit.
HIT

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

Yep.
HIT

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

I am very disappointed to have got this one wrong. The South East deserve so much better, in my opinion.
MISS

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.

No invitation arrived.
MISS

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.

I very much regret that I got this one wrong; a huge loss to the Senedd and surely destined to return.

MISS

A Plug for My Local Chip Shop

2011-12-30T17:53:00.000Z

In these depressing and cynical times, I thought that I would try to stick to my promise of being more positive, a little less tribal (in contrast to the Cheryl & Carwyn Show). Over Christmas, our local chip shop went around to all the local houses and offered a free wrapped present of fish and chips. Now, I do happen to frequent this particular establishment anyway but they showed no favours, knocked on all the doors and handed over for free their always rather generous portions of fish & chips.

Now, credit where it is due and it certainly added to the festive spirit already permeating our sprog-filled household. So, my family sends a big Blwyddyn Newydd Dda to:

the GRANGE FISH BAR.

Diolch boys!

It's Hard to be Positive About 2012

2011-12-29T18:49:00.000Z

I am determined to be more positive on this blog in 2012, even if it does mean me biting me tongue sometimes. Yet, it is going to be a horrendous year for many within Wales, as the public sector cuts really start to bite from April 1st onwards. As the former British labour Chancellor Allistair Darling recently stated, the current state of the economy is potentially even worse than the original recession in 2008, as there is now realisation that the private sector cannot fill the gaps left by the public sector job losses. There will actually be cases where people still in full time employment will be close to losing their homes due to cuts to their pay and conditions. I have never seen this before in my working life.

So on the positive side, there's always the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics. Good grief, this positive blogging thing is going to be harder than I thought.

'the Times' are a Changing

2011-12-29T18:48:00.000Z

I try not to invest in the Murdoch media empire but chose to get a copy of the Times today, as I had heard a rumour that it had given both Wales and Scotland a mention, for a change.

For Wales, it related to the fact that local business people in Carmarthenshire are proposing a potential new holiday village predominately for the Chinese tourist market. The article started with a deeply patronising attempt to be 'tongue in cheek' about the whole issue, followed by an almost equally patronising article further inside the paper. In other words, it was yet another effort to put down Wales, although in doing so recognising that the business proposal was rather a good idea. (We are not a Principality as the Prince of Wales plays no role in our Government, so please refrain from using this phrase, Mr Murdoch).

Then came Scotland, where the title 'How Scotland Got Brave About Independence' gives a hint that the following two page article would show a bit more respect for the other celtic neighbour. There was general recognition for the clever campaigning efforts of the SNP, the funding that helped run it, the strong leadership inspiring Scotland and the disastrous approach of the British parties in response to the drive for Independence. The contrast could not be clearer.

Of course, there are many lessons to be learnt here not only for Plaid but for Wales as a whole. With an already faltering Labour party in Wales and a Plaid leadership campaign kicking off in the new year together with the completion of a review into the party's future priorities, there has never been a better time for Plaid to once more lead Wales' political agenda and frankly, our nation needs Plaid to do so. We are facing a double dip recession with a British Government cutting aggressively, a Labour British Opposition offering no alternative through a fundamentally weak leader and a Labour party in Wales that appears content in Government, so long as it is not asked to do all that much.

There is much work to be done but it is great to see our friends in Scotland, not only challenging but defeating the failed British political mantra. Now all Plaid needs is a lottery winner!

A BNP Anus Horribilis

2011-12-21T00:46:00.000Z

I am loathed to even mention such a pathetic bunch of fascists on my blog so close to Christmas, but I have been inspired by watching a DVD of Secret Army - so what the hell!

The BNP have had a dreadful year and I make no apology for the above spelling choice. As with all extremist organisations, they hold together when they are on the rise but once they have peaked, it all falls apart and boy, what a mess they are in. They are pretty well bankrupt, have lost most of their Councillors and are split all over the place and yet, their convicted racist leader Nick Griffin still pretends that all is well. Titanic analogies are frankly understating events.

So why mention them now? Well, I have a friend who in error, receives very regular e-mail updates from them and they are often a hilarious read. They are currently on a strong membership drive and to belong to this particular bunch of 'johnny no mates', it costs £48 a year or £90 if you want a family fascist package. There is also the £98 overseas package, but I assume that there certain requirements to this specific membership - skin pigment etc. Of course, they do keep it in the family as their membership secretary is none other than 'Jen Matthys'; their very own leader's daughter. Bless!

To do something constructive, you could always join the UK's leading anti-fascist organisation. 'Hope not Hate' have done more than any other group to expose the BNP, the EDL and other racist/fascist groupings based in the UK and I am proud to be associated with them. So why not make a new year's resolution, sign up with 'Hope not hate' and ensure that the likes of the BNP stay well and truly under the rock which they crawled out from under.

http://www.hopenothate.org.uk//?page=home

Will Union Leaders Sell Out?

2011-12-19T23:28:00.000Z

Hands up if you still want union money after shafting them?

Rumours are already rife that a deal is coming with some if not all public sector unions in relation to the current pension dispute, but I suspect that there will be some very bitter pills for union members to swallow.

As anticipated, the Tories and Libs have dealt with all the different groupings individually, which is fair enough as the different pension schemes vary widely. There appears to be an attempt to buy off members looking to retire in the next ten years by giving them a level of protection. There will also be a move to bring in average rather than final salary schemes which in reality was never the main sticking point. The crunch will come with the additional contributions and this is where I am very concerned about what is being agreed.

I wait to see how/if there will be any changes to these huge increases, but the rumours are that members will be stopped from opting out of their pension. The problem comes if some members simply cannot afford the increase. Do they lose their home to pay their pension? Plaid has been the only party in Wales not only to give its 100% support to the public sector workers in their dispute, but has consistently made the point that the consequences of the original proposals would be the collapse of these schemes rather than the support of them, as many would pull out or not join due to affordability. So there appears to have been recognition of this issue, but will there also be a reduction in the increase?

All in all, I do not expect another UK wide strike as many of the union leaders appear to want a deal in the New year. However, I sincerely hope that these leaders do not concede too much, as they may find a lot more members leaving than have joined in recent weeks. Of course, it would have helped if the leader of the UK Opposition and his MPs had supported the strikers, instead of sitting on the fence. Did you know for instance that all but 4 Labour Welsh MPs crossed the Westminster picket line on strike day? I bet that they don't put that in their next community leaflet and I know who you all are, by the way.

London Bias Starting to Annoy the English

2011-12-18T12:09:00.001Z

Hands up if you are conning everywhere outside London?

Plaid has consistently pointed out that the Westminster Government is conning not only Wales but the rest of the UK, in terms of public spending per head in London. Despite Jeremy Paxman's hilarious protestations, London actually gets more public spending per head than Wales, even though it happens to be one of the richest regions of Western Europe. Well, now the rest of England is waking up to the con.

The government spends more money on transport projects for Londoners than on those for the rest of the country combined, a think tank says. The Institute for Public Policy Research North says £2,700 is spent per person in London compared with £5 per head in the north-east of England.

This spending bias is of course based on the old adage/lie that by spending vast quantities of cash in London, the rest of the state benefits because it is the capital. What a pile of old crap. Sadly, this lie as with so many other policies, is pushed just as hard by Labour when in power than by the Tories and Libs. Not only is it further evidence that the current devolution settlement is flawed for Wales and Scotland but that above all, the rest of England needs and deserves devolution.

There is always the tired old argument about the NE of England turning down devolution when it was offered, when of course they were offered a system that took powers from Councils rather than devolving from London. While some of this spending in London relates to the Olympics, again there was no 'barnett consequential' to Wales as we are apparently gaining from this 'national spend.' Hmmmmmmm

I am a firm supporter of English devolution and want to see the regions (and nations-Kernow) have a strong voice, but surely this is yet more evidence that whichever party is in power in London, they put the capital first and Wales loses. Labour have and would continue to do exactly the same.

Irish 1 - Ignorance 0

2011-12-17T00:33:00.000Z

Nollaig Shona Duit

It's Christmas and the season of goodwill to all men/women. It is a time when people are supposed to forget their differences and just get on, even if it's fake and only until the New Year. Our two youngest go to a wonderful nursery in Butetown, where they are greeted every morning by posters welcoming them in dozens of languages ; with several of those languages being spoken by the children and their parents who use the nursery.

So how could anyone be offended by something as innocuous as a Christmas greeting, in a language that is actually spoken and originates from the very nation where it is displayed? You would have to be particularly twp and frankly ignorant don't you think, to describe such a greeting as 'gobbledegook' in such circumstances.

The above greeting translates as 'Happy Christmas' in Irish and is currently displayed outside Belfast City Hall. Before the black shirts of the Taxpayers Alliance start moaning about public money wasted, it was actually paid for by the West Belfast Language Centre. David Browne of the UUP who has described Irish as "gobbledygook" said the decision was "an act of bad faith".

"The Irish language or Ulster Scots, it's all gobbledygook to me. The more polite way is to say that I don't understand it," he said.

I realise that bigotry runs deep in the North of Ireland on both sides of the religious divide, but this is such a p.r. disaster for the Unionist cause. If this was in say French, Spanish or Chinese, do you think that Mr Browne would have the same sentiments? From my experience in politics, publicising your own ignorance is never a shrewd move. So my message to Mr Browne and all his ilk is: -

Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

What is twp in Irish, or Ulster Scots for that matter?

Fab Four Line Up for Plaid

2011-12-14T21:46:00.000Z

They will hate me for the above title, but I am delighted with the spread of candidates now declared for the Plaid leadership campaign, ready to kick off in the new year. Tonight, Leanne Wood AM has declared that she is running, adding to the list of Elin Jones AM, Dafydd Elis Thomas AM and Simon Thomas AM. All four are experienced politicians in their own right, who offer different skills and political perspectives, which is why the leadership campaign should be an exciting one, and a great platform for the future of the party.

With the report into the future direction of the party being completed in the New Year and a desperate need for some direction in Welsh politics after Labour have predictably ground to a halt, this contest could not come at a better time. I look forward to some passionate debates, plenty of vision and ideas and above all, a new leader who can take on the mantle of Ieuan and take Wales forward with confidence.

If you are a lapsed party member or are interested in taking Wales forward instead of 'standing still for Wales' as appears to be the current Labour mantra, then follow the link below, join up, get involved and have a vote on who you want to lead Plaid and Wales. There are no block votes in Plaid, where every member has the same say as the next, so what are you waiting for?

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

Do You Buy Welsh?

2011-12-13T23:27:00.000Z

Made & processed in Wales - the real thing

It's that time of year again, when we spend more money than we have on things that we would normally never dream of buying. Christmas is primarily a religious festival but in reality, is chance to catch up with family and friends and an almighty spend fest.

What has become clear this year more than any other is that internet shopping is going to close down an awful lot of shops in the new year. I am typing this blog on a new laptop, purchased in a UK wide based shop that has had many customers, but very few purchasers. Many shops are now nothing more than brief stopping points for shoppers who want to check their potential product, prior to buying them on the net.

So if you are keen to buy Welsh this Christmas in order to support local businesses and keep them open, what can you buy? Well, the most obvious products are food and booze. These are products which we most certainly over-indulge in at this time of year and the good news is that we make world class products at decent prices. For instance, we make beers that are as good as anything else on the market, we even make single malt whisky and as for food products, why buy from anywhere else?

Believe it or not, but certain UK supermarkets are not cheaper than your local grocer, butcher or baker and with respect, the supermarket products are more often than not inferior. Simple things like swapping to Welsh cheese, Welsh dairy milk (not the so-called Welsh milk that is treated and bottled in England), Welsh butter and a local baker cost no less, yet make one hell of a difference to our local economy.

So when you go out over the next week to spend, spend, spend, try to shop local and look for local products. Your choices could make all the difference to local businesses.

Conservative Party - the Real Separatists

2011-12-12T23:23:00.000Z

I have had a week off blogging, partly for sanity's sake, partly due to a knackered p.c. and also, due to not knowing what to say about the implications of Cameron's decision in Europe. I have come to a conclusion - Wales is in big trouble and party political separatism is the problem.

Going into a negotiation without any carrots and wielding a big stick, is never likely to yield positive results or win any friends. More to the point, Cameron has been boasting that his decision will protect the City of London, yet it will do nothing of the sort as any decisions made by the 26 other Euro states could hit the UK without us having any say whatsoever.

Wales is particularly vulnerable as it has far greater reliance on manufacturing than the UK as a whole; an area that could really suffer from last week's decision. Some anti-European Tories appear to be blissfully unaware that our biggest trading partner is Germany and not the US.

What has been more disappointing than anything has been the delayed and relatively muted reaction from Labour both in Wales and London. The Libs and Tories had precious time to get their lines sorted out before Labour reacted with any force, again emphasising Ed Miliband's inability to play the role of an effective opposition. It is now very clear that as bad as 2011 has been, 2012 will be worse and the inevitable double dip recession is about to spring upon us. I am trying to be more cheerful in my blogging output, but the current economic crisis is worse than anything I have lived through and despite devolution, Wales is extremely vulnerable to the ineptitude of this UK Government.

My Boy Wants to Be Shane Bach!

2011-12-04T19:58:00.000Z

A Welsh & World Rugby Legend

My 6 year old has been watching rugby on TV in recent months, mainly due to the world cup. As a former player, I have not been one to actively encourage him as I spent more time in hospital than on the pitch, so my memories of the great game are mixed. Yet, it has been fascinating to see our eldest pick up inspitation from watching Shane Williams play. His reaction is probably more down to our reaction when watching him side-step and put the 'after-burners' on, but even in that context, it shows how such a special rugby talent can benefit the game-by inspiring others to play and yes, play the 'Welsh way'.

The 'Welsh way' is a bit of a naff phrase to me, but I do wonder sometimes if talented English players are discouraged from expressing themselves on the pitch (unlike my experience in Wales), for they should be doing so much better than they are, with their money and player base. As for Shane Williams, well all I can say of him is at times, he reminds me so much of Gerald Davies at his best. Now, you can't pay a bigger compliment than that. Diolch Shane. You have been an inspiration to a whole new generation of Welsh players.

Is Carwyn 'Dealing with the Devil'?

2011-12-02T00:57:00.000Z

Carywn & Cameron's Plan for the Gwent Levels?

The real problem with painting one of your political opponents as the 'devil incarnate' is that there could well be a situation in the future, where you have to do a deal with the devil. Then along comes the potential of further transport funding for Wales, if Labour spend it in areas to suit the Tories in London.

It is fair to say that a 50% cut in our capital spend, does somewhat limit Carwyn's options in terms of transport spending, so what options does he have? Well, he has been forwarded (not given as it is ours, you know!) an additional £250 million as part of the UK Government additional spend, and there is also the question of what to do with the Severn toll. With the Humber tolls being halved by Cameron, the pressure is on to do something with the Severn toll, but there is no way that Cameron will help out, unless he gets what he wants from additional spend. So here is a theory for you: -

Enough cash is cobbled together between Cardiff and London to re-launch the M4 relief road, using a combination of WG capital transport spend, additional cash, UK cash and further tolling to pay for it. The Tories would be delighted with this, as it could incorporate private finance by paying back through tolling and build a very big road. Labour would spin it by claiming that this was great for the Welsh economy etc as a huge transport investment creating new jobs and improving our infrastructure.

So what are the drawbacks? Well for starters, the whole cost of the full relief road has been porjected as £1 billion; an absolutely massive outlay for a small length of road. Secondly, it would rip through several SSSI sites and wreck any spurious claim that Labour had any green credentials and finally, it would move the congestion a few miles west, to the east of Cardiff, creating further demand for more road building to complete the Cardiff ring road (priced at £150 million no less than 11 years ago, so you can add a little to that). The actual scheme would also not necessarily create huge mumbers of Welsh jobs, as many of the subcontrctors and materials would be supplied form across the border.

From my sources within the industry, I am convinced that there is a potential deal going down here between Labour and the Tories. If a deal is good for Wales then I have no issue with this. However, such a scheme would be an environmental nightmare that would just perpetuate further huge road schemes, when there are so many other areas where very limited capital spend is required. Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones was the first Welsh Transport Minister to spend more than 50% of his budge on sustainable/public transport and knocked on the head the full relief road scheme, proposing a cheaper and more sustainable solution. It will be interesting to see if Labour in Wales try to seek a Welsh solution, or a dated UK solution that creates far more problems than it solves. Let's see which way Carwyn jumps, and how he explains his 'demonic dealings' if he does work with you know who.

I'm Striking for What I Believe In

2011-11-30T00:46:00.000Z

It's past midnight so officially, I have already withdrawn my labour in line with my trade union's ballot decision (UNISON). My first trade union strike was in 1989, when I was a student Engineer in Neath Borough Council. I intended to join a union even though I was only a temporary student, as I had been brought up to do so without question-having mining history in the family tends to leave this impression on you. There was also what was known as a 'closed shop', where I effectively had to join if I wanted to work there. I must admit though to being nervous about the whole dispute and rang my college to see if it was ok to go on strike. There was a pause in the answer on the phone and then came a very clear reply, 'go with the flow boy, go with the flow'. That was my first introduction to union politics.

The strike in 1989 was I believe that first UK wide strike that NALGO had held and the weather was lovely. What a great tan I got from that picket line. Since that date, there have been more than a few occasions when I have been called on by my union to take strike action and I have done so without question. This has nothing to do with me being any kind of militant, but it does mean that I understand the principles of unity and that gives you strength to fight battles worth winning. Without such principles, employees across Wales would have far inferior working conditions.

Today's dispute is for me, by far the most important trade union dispute I have ever engaged in. It is a battle for a dignified retirement, for many individuals who take huge pride in a lifetime's commitment to public service. Most have not earned a great wage, nor will they live in luxury in their final years, but they need and deserve a pension close to what they signed up to when they started their careers. To see them cheated of that dignity in retirement, is price I am not prepared to pay.

I am very proud that my political party (Plaid Cymru) has given its wholehearted support to this dispute but today is not about scoring political points, but about reminding the public of Wales and the UK what services they get from public service employees and above all, how much they rely on them. A slash and burn approach to any pension changes is no way to come to a negotiated settlement, so let's force the UK Government to take a step back, realise that they are going too far and come to a sensible compromise. No-one enjoys withdrawing their Labour, but I'll do it again unless the UK Government is prepared to show a little more respect for the employees of the public sector.

Cuts Threaten Very Future of Pensions - the Proof

2011-11-28T22:59:00.000Z

Coming Your Way Very Soon - It's Personal

For weeks, Plaid Cymru have been banging on about the potential threat to the future sustainability of public sector pension funds such as the Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS), because if many pull out or do not join, then the whole system could be unsustainable. Well, just released is shocking statistical proof to back up our claim that there will be a exodus from the schemes.

http://falseeconomy.org.uk/blog/survey-reveals-mass-exit-threat-to-public-sector-pensions

The above survey was carried out by Survation on behalf of UNITE the Union, and reveals that the biggest response to the government’s proposals may not be industrial action but the large-scale withdrawal from existing pensions schemes as a result of ministers’ plan to increase contributions. Such a withdrawal would be catastrophic to the LGPS and along with the reduced numbers of actual employees in the public sector, Plaid Cymru believes that this would be the death knell of many public sector pension schemes, reliant on a continuous new membership.

I believe as a trade unionist, that this is the overall aim of the Tories and Lib Dems as in the medium term, they will have an excuse to close the schemes, create a vastly inferior alternative to the already lesser payments and save themselves billions - for tax cuts. Such a move would create generations of retired public sector workers on a poorer third phase of their life and be the single biggest move by any post-war government to widen the gap between the rich and poor, by any statistics you would like to quote.

This of course is not something that any Government would normally get away with, but under the guise of 'save our economy or we'll be like the Greeks', the current Con Dems are doing absolutely everything they can to shrink the state, knowing that it would be politically impossible to re-balance the equality equation once the economy has stabilised. Of course, an independent Scotland could take a different route as could Wales, if we were given the opportunity but then, if voters stick with the status quo, no change is the only option on the table.

On Wednesday, every Plaid Cymru politician will be giving their 100% support to the public sector workers of Wales, in their fight to maintain decent pensions for their retirement. They deserve no less. Ask your party of choice if they are doing the same?

Gary Speed R.I.P.

2011-11-27T17:37:00.000Z

I was stopped in the street this morning by a complete stranger to tell me some sad news and when such occurrences happen, you know the news will be shocking.

I have no intention speculating on this blog about the reasons for the tragic loss of Gary Speed to his family, Wales and the world of football today, but am very proud of my home city's response before their match this afternoon.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15910765.stm

R.I.P. Gary Speed

Francis Maude

2011-11-26T14:15:00.002Z

Francis Maude - He's One of Us

When entering into very serious negotiations, it is important to have the people on your side who you can trust, who know their background on the issues at stake and above all, who can earn an element of trust from your 'opponents'. These are things that I have learnt from politics and engineering, so let's have a look at the Government's leading negotiator in the current industrial dispute with the public sector unions, Francis Maude MP.

Francis was born in 1953 and is a son of a Tory MP, so it runs in the family. He attended the very exclusive Abingdon School for Boys in Oxfordshire and then onto Corpus Christi College Cambridge, like you do. He was a Councillor in the City of Westminster for 6 years (now you can't get more inner city than that) before being elected to Parliament, in the seat of North Warwickshire. It's fair to say then that does not exactly have a background in trade union disputes, but surely, that's what experienced Civil Servants are for.

Guess again.

It is rumoured from reliable sources (and I am happy to be corrected on this) that during the current negotiations, he queried why the unions were rushing to go on strike within a month of the ballot. He was blissfully unaware that the law his party had created, demanded it. He then went on to suggest that public sector workers should take only 15 minutes strike action on Wednesday, to make their point but not to cause any 'unnecessary disruption.' How quaint.

Needless to say, this doyen of the working class has not exactly struck it off with his fellow union negotiators.
Let me tell you more about Francis:-

He claimed almost £35,000 in two years for mortgage interest payments (as an MP) on a London flat when he owned a house just a few hundred yards away (with a gym and 24-hour concierge, don't you know).
He was previously a managing director of Morgan Stanley, a director of Salomon Brothers and a non-executive director of Asda during the 1990s.
He also has an interest in a residential investment property in France, according to the members’ register of interests.
That means he has a total of four properties — two in London, one in France and one in his constituency of Horsham, West Sussex — in a property portfolio worth well over £1 million.

He has now decided that the unions have been so unreasonable in their demands for some concessions, that clearly the anti-trade union legislation in the UK (already the tightest in the western world) is far too slack and that there needs to be change to make it even harder to take strike action. This is of course, after the Government has yet to make a single concrete consession to the unions during the whole negotiation process, only a statement of changes 'in principle' if the unions called off their strike.

His statement in today's press was that 'wev'e been pretty bloody reasonable'. Well Francis, try telling that to a Council refuse worker facing a 50% increase in their pension payments, a longer working career and less to show for it on retirement, topped off with a 2 or 3 year pay freeze.

Maybe Francis has a point because after all, we are all in it together, aren't we?

Pension Dispute Doomed Without Labour Support

2011-11-24T22:07:00.000Z

We are less than a week from the largest public sector strike for generations and I will play my part in supporting my union's strike action and in doing so, supporting the millions of public sector workers who face drastic cuts to both their take home pay and standard of living in retirement. Yet one factor above all is damaging the just cause of immense united front - the Labour party.

I note and respect the support that many in Labour in Wales are giving to the dispute and will gladly march with them next Wednesday, but it's not a devolved issue. Consequently, without Ed Miliband and his shadow Ministers backing the unions, what hope to we have to get any sympathy from either the press or public? In my opinion, none at all.

'Red' Ed (and how more ironic can you get) is by all accounts a very intelligent and pleasant individual, but as with other recent Labour leaders, is fixated with the late Philip Gould's creation - the focus group. Any move to support the strike sends alarms bells ringing in Labour HQ, so he is keeping his head down and avoiding the issue. Yet, there is precedent where a New Labour leader slavishly followed focus groups and got his fingers burnt. Prime Minister Blair ignored calls to look at the tax on fuel, as the focus groups told him so. However, the mood of the nation changed within hours once road blocks started and he was left out on a limb.

So what will it take to persuade 'Red Ed' to put on his wax jacket and get down to the picket line on Wednesday? Well, the affiliated sections of the linked trade unions have tried and failed to change his mind, despite hours of behind the scenes debate at the recent Labour conference. Without Labour support, the media is more or less showing contempt for public sector workers and unless everyone starts buying the Morning Star, there will little change here. This just leaves a judgement call by Red Ed.

If Ed Miliband truly believes that by refusing to back the strike next week, it will cost him his leadership, then there is a chance that he will be pushed off the fence he is sitting on and show at least a level of support to the strikers. However, only the affiliated unions can deliver this push and to date, there is little sign of it.

Time to Make Ed's Fence a little Spiky

For instance, I recently received my monthly magazine from Unison where there were 25 pages of excellent analysis of the dispute, together with advice on how to make the most of the strike day. It has posters built into it, stories on regional and national plans and all the advice you could possible want - but what was missing?

In all 25 pages of news, articles and advice, there was not one mention of the Labour party.

If the unions are not prepared to take the 'nuclear' option and make it quite clear to Red Ed what is at stake, then I see no way of winning this dispute; condemning generations to less pay and lower standards of living in retirement. If this dispute is lost, the ramifications to the trade union movement could be extremely severe, as not only will the Tories and Libs be after them, but so will their members. Why should people pay a monthly fee for a union that cannot defend their basic terms and conditions?

The stakes could not be higher for Red Ed or the trade union movement and if neither blinks, then both could be doomed.

The Cynical Demise of the Western Mail

2011-11-23T22:24:00.000Z

Further job cuts were today announced in Media Wales; Trinity Mirror further squeezing the life out what is left of our Welsh media. I have come to the conclusion that the Western Mail's shrinking market and influence is as much by design as by accident or recession.

I am the first to recognise that the advertising market for printed media has shrunk hugely in recent years and that this plays a far more significant role than the cover charge in paying for the running of a daily newspaper. There is also the argument that the free Cardiff 'Metro' has hit sales hard, not to mention the greater reliance for news through the internet. The problem with this argument, is that the Western Mail have done nothing to counteract the threat of the Metro and in today's job loss announcements, staff actually working on the website were being made redundant.

The Metro really is a pathetic newspaper, with precious little local coverage and a series of recycled 'UK' stories filling its pages. I was particularly incensed when they ran a story about the recent tragic death of a Cardiff City fan in London, instantly following the Fleet Street line of blaming a Swansea fan - a wholly untrue smear. My other concern is how the Western Mail is marketed and delivered. The marketing is now carried out from Liverpool and the deliveries are dealt with by WH Smith; the Western Mail fleet being a thing of the past. I often have to go to two or three shops in the morning to find a copy of the paper in the centre of Cardiff, as many only now stock literally a handful and of course, deliveries are down to the priorities of WH Smith.

The NUJ have predicted this week that it is the aim of Trinity Mirror to go weekly with the Western Mail and I believe them. I see a Monday publication to cover the weekend sport, jobs adverts and a few political articles thrown in to pretend that it is still relevant to the changing political scene within Wales. Wales can only suffer from such a move, but what can we do when all the influential strings are pulled by the paper's bosses in London? Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

The Silence of Labour

2011-11-22T23:14:00.000Z

Dave, Nick & Ed

In just under a week from when this blog was published, the UK will be commencing the largest single day of lawful industrial action in living memory. Millions of public sector workers, many of them striking for the first time are all standing together, in a battle to defend their pensions against swathing cuts from the Tories and Lib Dems.

Yet, is it just those two?

The current proposals to make huge changes to public sector pensions was actually kicked off by none other than the Labour party, when they were still in charge in Westminster. Labour's Lord Hutton started a wide ranging review which culminated in the current dispute. Of course, his conclusions were taken on by Labour's opponents but if Labour were still in charge, would there be any difference? Maybe I have missed something, but have Labour actually come up with an alternative to the Tory proposals?

Labour are intensely embarrassed about this dispute, as the trade unions leading the fight are the very same affiliated unions who delivered their new leader his majority. Yet at the same time, they are desperate not to be labelled ; loony left' by the Daily Mail readers who once voted for them and so are playing a very careful game of saying absolutely nothing about the dispute - anywhere. If challenged, the line they have been given by HQ is: -

"We fully support the right of trade unions to take lawful strike action."

How comforting for the thousands of Welsh trade unionists who voted Labour in May, believing that they would 'stand up for Wales' against the Tories. Well, sorry to upset the Labour applecart, but I have absolutely no intention of letting the hypocrites off the hook that easily. If I'm going to lose a day's pay next Wednesday to defend public sector pensions, then I intend to highlight the culprits at every opportunity - including the Labour party.

Some New Nuclear Could be Under Threat

2011-11-22T07:19:00.000Z

Will Changes to Transmission Charges Sink Wylfa B?

The whole debate over energy production and transmission is a complicated one and various lobbying groups on all sides cherry pick various statistics, in order to back their side of the argument. However, I came across an article in the Engineering press this week (diolch NCE), that really does cloud the waters in terms of how we pay for electricity.

Ofgem (the energy regulator) commissioned a study into national grid access charges. These charges effectively subsidise energy production closer to the SE of England and the charges increase as you move ouT from that region; the NW of Scotland having the most expensive charges. This model is more than likely based on the distance to the biggest point of demand and obviously, transmission losses. Yet, whatever the reason for it, a proposal to have a flat rate of charges would almost certianly make many of the new nuclear stations unaffordable, according to the study.

The report which is published by the consultant Redpoint next month has caused consternation within the energy industry as in theory, its findings and potential recommendations are essential if the UK and particularly Scotland, wants to make the most of its renewable energy recourses. There are questions of course about the investment required in the grid to make many of these renewable sources available, but it does put into question why Scotland's renewable industry should be held back, in order to suit the energy market for SE England.

Transmission charges and the layout of a grid designed for large coal fired stations and not remote renewable sources, is going to be a thorny subject for years to come. However, the predicted £200 billion required for upgrading the UK power grid cannot be put off forever and in itself, can contribute significantly in terms of energy efficiency. What people do need to wake up to, is the stark fact that no energy production and supply comes without environmental or subsidy issues and that putting off the necessary investment, is doing the environment no favours at all.

Royals 'Diss' Their Own Cash Cow

2011-11-21T00:12:00.000Z

I was somewhat amused by an article I came across in the Sunday telegraph over the weekend, where the Duke of Edinburgh had apparently described onshore wind farms as 'absolutely useless', further describing them as a 'disgrace'. This of course adds to the opinions of his eldest son and heir to the throne Charles, who has refused to have any of them on his land.

'absolutely useless?'

In the above paragraph, please note that the grand old Duke only refers to onshore wind farms and not offshore farms, but surely if they are 'absolutely useless' onshore, then the much more expensive offshore farms must be worth even more right royal criticism?

Ah, not exactly. You see, the Royals are about to have their costs covered by the revenue earned from the Crown Estate, a multi billion pound asset that includes much of the sea bed for several miles out into the ocean-around the whole of the UK. This means that the current and planned massive offshore farms will line the pockets of the Royals to the tune of tens of millions of pounds a year. Needless to say, the coastal communities adjacent to these energy facilities will see none of this cash.

absolutely loaded?

I am always amused when Royals, politicians and other assorted nimbys queue up to slate all onshore wind farms as 'useless,' over subsidised and a 'disgrace', only to be quite happy with the much more subsided offshore wind farms. Of course, by making such criticisms of onshore wind farms, they are in fact condemning all forms of renewable energy as it is currently the cheapest form of renewable energy production in the UK. Nevermind, for why let a gust of double standards get in the way of a good royal rant?

Where to Spend the Tory Panic Windfall?

2011-11-18T13:45:00.000Z

This Guy's in charge - no worries!

The new buzz phrase is fiscal stimulus and actually it is something long overdue in an economy having the life squeezed out of it. Plaid's Elin Jones tried to make the point last night in between Dimbleby's reluctance to have anything relevant to Wales mentioned on QT (he really is a tedious man) and even the Tories are now admitting, that they are looking at Plaid's 'Build for Wales' model for raising funds.

So, assuming that the Tories do agree some sort of capital stimulus package (and Lord help us if they don't) and Labour in Cardiff Bay go along with it (although I realise that they don't like to co-operate with the 'evil ones'), where to spend in Wales? Here is a wish list: -

ENERGY CONSERVATION
TIDAL LAGOON TRIAL
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
RAIL NETWORK DUALING & UPGRADING
EXTENSION OF ELECTRIFICATION TO SWANSEA
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME
MORE FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR WELSH PORTS TO SUPPORT OFFSHORE WIND

Peter Hain was the first off the mark, talking up the £30 billion Severn barrage. He claimed in the media that it would not require public funding (wrong) and my concern about this scheme is that politicians in London stinging from the accusation of not being seen as green, are looking for a headline grabbing scheme to reclaim the moral high ground. Business groups have now kicked in on the Welsh media this morning, calling for better transport links, including the inevitable call for improving the M4. This equates to a £1 billion spend to move a traffic jam from the east side of Newport to the east side of Cardiff.

If I had to choose one, I would choose investment that had a beneficial effect on as many levels of Welsh society as possible, which is why energy conservation would be my choice. Wales has some of the oldest housing stock in the Western World and also very high and increasing levels of fuel poverty, as the public sector cuts clobber our communities. The past and current efforts to improve housing insulation has with respect, been piecemeal. Think of the gains from a targeted massive spend on homes with low incomes and poor insulation and heating. The families would gain, along with the thousands of skilled and semi-skilled employees required to do the work. We could source as many local suppliers as possible, injecting much needed capital into our SME's. It would touch almost every community and improve the health, life chances and reduce the fuel bills of our poorest families. It would also slash our carbon footprint.

Rockwool - a world class Welsh insulation product

The Welsh economy is in very dangerous waters and now is not the time to sit back and watch as we go down yet another set of rapids. Let's hope that the British parties take the plunge, as we are in serious trouble otherwise.

Pension Dispute - Now the Propaganda

2011-11-17T01:07:00.000Z

With almost all the ballots in for the unions threatening strike action on November 30th, the next 2 weeks is going to see the propaganda war step up to new levels, as both sides battle it out in the media. For a bit of fun, I will give my opinions of where the three main party leaders stand/sit and then at the end, what I believe is the way forward: -

DAVID CAMERON

Accept the changes or the puppy gets it!

When most politicians would be dreading the implications of a Euro collapse, Cameron has not only had the opportunity to talk about getting powers back from a Brussels too weak to respond, but also has a perfect excuse to justify his cash grab, from the public sector pension schemes. Expect a lot of fake concerns for public sector workers (hug a teacher etc) but then an all round effort to paint the dispute as political-driven by hard line unions to bring down a democratic govt etc. There will also be threats of tightening trade union legislation further, but it's likely to be no more than talk, at least prior to the first strike day.

Challenges

127 years ago, it was the last time that there was a trial in England for a case of cannibalism at sea. It was also the year that the Suffragettes started campaigning, not to mention the Reform Act giving farm workers the vote for the first time. It was also the founding year of the ATL, a teaching union that until November 30th this month has NEVER taken strike action. A politically motivated strike? hmmmmmm.

A Tory Cabinet Minister in the negotiating team was days into talks before he found out that unions are actually forced to take action within 28 days, or have to re-ballot. No-one had told him this! I will not say who it was but he also suggested a 15 minute strike as an alternative-a stroke of genius. If that's the level of understanding from the Government side, then things do not look too promising, do they?

NICK CLEGG

Clegg estimates the number of his Councillors after May, in Wales

The Libs have been very hard line in this dispute to date, appearing to be quite happy to add to the already tightest trade union laws in any Western democracy-despite their apparent Liberal status. In fairness, their current leadership are all rather posh with little experience of trade unions but it may well cost them in future years. Maybe, it's a recognition that there is now a core element of Labour support that is lost to them for a generation or more.

Challenges

Trying to sound any different from the Tories, so no change there then. Like the Tories, they have absolutely no credibility within the trade union movement.

ED MILIBAND

An appropriate fence to sit on

(red roses, but leaning to the right)

Now where do I start with 'Red Ed'? This is the man who relied on the public sector union block vote to pip his brother at the post for the Labour leadership. The trade union membership has not been this united since the general strike, in its defence of the public sector pensions and likewise, their membership have never been so angry with unions of all shapes and sizes voting in huge majorities to take on the Tories and their Liberal sidekicks. Yet where is their night in shining armour, the leader of the party created by unions to fight for their basic rights?

Challenges

"Cometh the hour, sitteth the man"

Much to the horror of the affiliated section of the trade union movement, they've picked a lemon. Despite their best efforts behind the scenes at the recent Labour conference, Red Ed would not get off the fence. He knows that if he took to the barricades (and I really don't think that he wants to anyway), the London media would murder him and above all, his beloved focus groups would bomb in Swindon, Slough and all the other swing seats where he needs to regain control in Westminster. At the end of the day, can you really see Red Ed on a picket line with a placard? He wouldn't know what to do with himself-bless.

My Position

There are numerous public sector pension schemes with vastly different levels of contributions and other factors. If the Government was really serious about making them fairer, they would negotiate individually and propose changes that would not discourage membership or create undue hardship, on many workers who are very close to not covering their costs while working full time. If they also used monies collected from changes to both bolster the weaker schemes and make available better private sector provision, then there maybe a way forward. Believe it or not, we do not enjoy taking strike action in the public sector and would far prefer a negotiated settlement, but I suspect that the damage that Cameron can do to both the unions and Labour with this dispute, is too good a chance to miss for him.

The Odd Man Out

I will be stunned if Red Ed stays on the fence, that he will still be in post by the Spring. Labour realise that they have picked a lemon and this is a great if potentially a messy opportunity, to change at the top. As for the unions, we can win this one but it will be one hell of a battle. The consequences if we lose are really quite scary.

Is Tory Hating, a Legitimate Politial Ideology?

2011-11-16T00:33:00.000Z

Clearly a Tory - blue horns

Now, let's set things straight here. I am someone who has only missed one election in my life (Council election when I was out of the country and I still get angry about it) and on every occasion, I have voted for anyone but a Tory. I have even pondered where there would be a situation when I would vote Tory and the only one I could come up with, was if it was a two candidate ward with a Tory and BNP candidate. Even then, I would have to seek a confessional for doing so; converting to Catholicism being an extreme but necessary step to allow me that one Tory vote.

So, now that we have laid the ground rules, it is clear that I have some understanding of why many consider being ruled by Tories as, well just say 'unpaletable', but is this still a basis for a whole political ideology? I don't think so. So, what is my problem with this form of politics, when considering my personal feelings towards the Conservative and Unionist Party?

I genuinely believe that by basing a core message on who you hate rather than what you can offer, you are selling short the community, city and nation you represent. I also believe that this is the core problem with the Labour Party in Wales; a political grouping that can only unite by espousing such 'virtues' but in doing so offers no vision, no direction and no hope in breaking out of a downward spiral of economic decline.

I was flicking through some facebook pages earlier this evening, where a few Labour trade unionists I know neglected to mention their UK party leader's inability to support them in their fight to protect their pensions, or their party's contemptuous treatment of Council workers in Bridgend or RCT. Oh no, for they justified their continuing blind support for a party that now does so little for their union members, by mocking Plaid for voting with 'those Tories' in the budget debate in the Senedd. Somehow, that was a justification for Labour's hypocrisy over so many issues. I did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Labour used the 'we hate the Tories' to great effect in the Assembly elections, realising that such a message with a new Tory Government in power in London, would deliver votes. Yet now that they are in power, where is the vision, where is the direction and above all, where is the leadership? From all the signs, they also appear to be looking to use this winning formula in next year's Council elections. So the argument goes, shouldn't Plaid copy them to chase the same vote? Well in a word, no.

Surely, it is incumbent on Plaid more than anyone, to offer a manifesto based on ideas and a vision based on more than our dislike of our opponents? Above all, it is vital that we do all we can, to convince the people of Wales that they deserve so much better than a message of what we can offer, and not whom we hate.

So let's work for a Welsh political message of Hope over Hate in next year's elections. Lord knows that we could do with some hope in what is going to be a very dark 12 months.

Bridgend Council - the Pressure Mounts On Labour

2011-11-14T23:03:00.000Z

Do you think this guy would be so silent, if it was a Plaid Council?

A week ago, I attended a public meeting called by Plaid Cymru's Bethan Jenkins AM, where a packed meeting of Council workers expressed in no uncertain terms their disgust at their treatment, by their employer Bridgend Council. Since then, there has been some publicity created by the Glamorgan Gazette (give thanks that there is still some local media in Wales) and through Plaid, in the hope that Labour would be embarrassed enough to take a step back and re-consider the mess they have created, in yet another one of their Councils.

Previously, they have caused consternation in two of their other Councils in relation to job evaluation and single status decisions, namely Neath Port Talbot and RCT. However, the treatment of Bridgend's workers has sunk to new depths of incompetence and buck passing that I genuinely never thought I would see from a Labour Council in Wales. First of all, please read to two press stories via the links below, then I would be obliged if you read on as I untangle the weasil words from Labour.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/south-wales-news/bridgend-maesteg/2011/11/10/council-leader-accused-of-washing-his-hands-over-pay-cut-dispute-91466-29749619/

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/11/14/plaid-in-bully-boy-tactics-attack-on-labour-91466-29770727/

(with gratitude for Media Wales covering this very important issue)

In response to the Council's defence, I reiterate that Bridgend is by far the worst offender in mismanaging job evaluation and single status and base this on the following: -

I know of no other Welsh Council not to offer back pay to workers who have been underpaid
I know of no other Welsh Council not to offer any pay protection for workers facing a pay cut
I know of no other Welsh Council to remove all payments for overtime and anti-social hours
I know of no other Welsh Council to advise workers who face huge pay cuts, to visit the Citizen's Advice Bureau for help!
I know of no other Welsh Council to threaten a pay cut of up to 50% on some workers, due to the changes proposed

Bridgend. You are the very worst offender. Nobody else comes close.

I am not going to claim on this blog that job evaluation and single status are easy issues to deal with, especially at a time when such savage cuts are being made to public services. It has meant that many have faced pay cuts and many more will do over the coming months. However, this is all the more reason to give as much support to your workforce, at a time when they are facing a 3 year wage freeze and a potential 3 to 4.4% pay cut as a result of the proposed pension changes. The 'Greater London' evaluation model used by Bridgend has in fact been used by all but one of all Welsh Authorities, yet no other Welsh Council has acted in the manner that Bridgend has. However, there is a pattern of behaviour similar with another, namely Labour controlled Rhondda Cynon Taf. Both have claimed that they had to take drastic action in order to avoid compulsory redundancies and in a second meeting of minds, both officially handed over the responsibility for job evaluation and single status to their senior officers; I assume under the impression that this would shelter them from any resulting criticism. Of course, RCT have also threatened their workers with the sack unless they sign up to lower wages and terms and conditions of employment, so the fact that Bridgend have yet to officially stoop this low must be one saving grace!

One other defence that both Labour controlled Bridgend and RCT frequently use is that their drastic actions have avoided compulsory redundancies, 'unlike other Authorities'. I would be obliged if Labour clarify which Welsh Authority has resorted to mass compulsory redundancies through not following their callous actions. Let me save them the bother - NONE. In England, you may well find Councils carrying out such actions but not in Wales - so even their one potentially legitimate line of defence holds no water.

Finally, Labour have accused Plaid of politicising this issue as if that was some bad thing. Well, if it means humiliating Labour into backpedaling and offering more aid to public sector workers feeling demoralised and persecuted then yes - guilty as charged. Whatever it takes to see public sector workers in Wales treated with the respect that they deserve, and nothing less. How ironic that a generation ago, Labour may well have said and done the same thing. How times have changed.

Join Plaid Cymru - to Save Wales from Labour

2011-11-13T01:38:00.000Z

I Swear that I will work to skew the democratic electoral system of Wales, to ensure a greater bias to the Labour party than it already does - so help me God.

And God help Wales, if I get away with it.

I have decided to combine two issues in this blog item, one being a recruitment campaign for my party and the second, a positive action to challenge the threat faced by Wales from the Labour party.

Now, I realise that the second point sounds a little melodramatic and as someone considered to be on the left of Plaid you may be a little surprised by my position, but 10th November 2011 was for me a huge day for Welsh politics. Yesterday, the Executive of the Labour Party in Wales supported the notion of abandoning any form of proportional representation for the Welsh Assembly and reverting to first past the post. In doing so, this would have given Labour in last May's election 70% of the seats in Cardiff Bay with only 40% of the vote. Under the current partially proportional system, the system delivered them 50% of seats from 40% of the vote but clearly, this was not enough bias for them.

When Plaid stated in the last election that we were defined by always putting Wales even before our own party, we were not kidding. We also stated that Labour were incapable of putting Wales before their own interests and were scoffed at by Labour's leaders. Yet how else can any objective observer judge their decision to remove the present element of proportional representation, than anything other than a cynical and deeply tribal stab in the back of Welsh democracy.

Carwyn Jones stated after his party's decision to fix the electoral system to suit Labour in Wales that:-

"Labour was united behind a common goal of securing a voting system "that best serves the people of Wales"

This really sums up the danger that the Labour party is to Wales, as they genuinely believe from top to bottom that Wales is their property; a 'regional plaything' that they will treat as they see fit. Plaid's position is to actually increase and not decrease proportional representation, introducing STV (single transferable vote) not only at Assembly but also at Local Government level. This would not have given us extra seats after May's elections but for us, that's not the issue. It would have meant that a Tory voter in the Rhondda, a Labour voter in Monmouth,a Plaid voter in Deeside and a Lib Dem voter just about anywhere would have been counted and been equal. Above all, it's about fairness for everyone who lives in Wales and that statement defines our very existence.

There are some who may think that this is nothing more than a 'never to be delivered' sop for the dinosaur element of Labour in Wales, who have never accepted devolution and who are now more likely to listen to Carwyn-but guess again. For it is rumoured that 'Red Ed' Miliband has been persuaded to support this proposal and as the Westminster election now falls a year before the next Welsh election, a successful Labour election could well deliver regressive electoral change-for the singular benefit of Labour.

So, now's the time to decide if you want to make a difference for a nation that you feel part of-whatever your background. We have no business or union backing. We rely almost entirely on the support of our members and unlike the UK based parties, we have no multi-million pound party machine to fund our campaign methods.

Why not become part of a political party that is member based, where policies are still debated and decided at conference and where above all, the 3 million who live in Wales will always be our greatest priority.

Do Wales a favour and click on the link below.

https://www.english.plaidcymru.org/join/

Will Danny Regret Union Baiting?

2011-11-08T21:57:00.000Z

In a recent statement relating to the current public sector pension dispute, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander accused the unions of being hell-bent of wanting strike action. He also stated that he would appeal with his Tory and Liberal colleagues over the heads of the union leaders and directly to union members. The LibCons are endeavouring to paint this dispute as overtly political and not about ordinary trade union members' concerns.

Well tomorrow step forward the National Association of Head Teachers. They are a passionate and very professional union but in their 114 year history have never taken strike action. On Wednesday, they will be announcing the result of their ballot for strike action, so if it comes out as 'yes', where does that leave the Chief Secretary of State? Is he going to accuse the NAHT of political posturing?

Over to you Danny - this should be interesting.

Bridgend Show Utter Contempt

2011-11-08T08:16:00.000Z

I attended a public meeting last night organised by Plaid's Bethan Jenkins AM and local party activists in Bridgend, to clarify what has been going on in Bridgend Council. As with all Councils in Wales, they have been going through a combination of a job evaluation and also a process called 'single status.' Both processes basically looking at the roles that workers do and how to pay more fairly for them, negotiations meeting the expectations of 30 year old equality legislation. Both sets of negotiations are fraught with difficulties, which is why all Councils have gone out of their way to consult at every stage and handle their staff with as much respect and sensitivity as possible - well nearly all Councils apart from the 3 Labour controlled ones that is.

Labour controlled Neath Port Talbot were the first to show 'bully-boy' tactics by threatening their staff with redundancy notices unless they signed new contracts with a pay cut for all, much to the disgust of the unions. Then followed Rhondda Cynon Taf who were even more bullying in their tactics and threats to staff; the Labour leadership claiming that there was no other way. Funny that, as all the Welsh non Labour controlled Council had found 'another way' without resorting to such underhand actions.

However, the prize for the most incompetent, insensitive and mind-blowing stupid approach to these negotiations has to go to Labour controlled Bridgend Council. If I had to arrange a row of boxes to tick in how NOT to handle job evaluation and single status, then not only have Bridgend ticked all the boxes, but even added a few extra.

I went to the public meeting last night preparing for difficult stories but wanting to counteract some very reasonable concerns with an honest appraisal of how difficult it is to deal with these legal issues, but that approach soon went out of the window. I was struggling to find anything that Bridgend Council had done that I could defend. How the hell did they get this so fundamentally wrong? Just to list a few clangers that they have dropped: -

There is no back pay for employees who will get a pay rise due to the deal (they are entitled to up to 4 years).
There is no pay protection at all for employees facing a pay cut.
They have removed altogether pay enhancements for overtime, unsocial hours etc, when they were supposed to simplify and make the system equal - not non-existent.
They have managed to concoct a pay formula that will mean some employees facing a 50% pay cut.
They have declined to borrow cash through the Welsh Government to pay for issues such as back pay, despite many other Welsh Authorities doing so.
They appear not to have saved any reserves to afford pay protection for any period of claiming, in contrast to other Welsh Authorities.

The list goes on and on, with some horror stories last night from workers not knowing where to turn. Interestingly, Bethan Jenkins was berated by this Council for previously holding meetings about the closure of local care homes and not inviting them along. She invited them last night, but they didn't turn up. I wonder why? Well, the packed hall that did turn up were absolutely outraged by their treatment, particularly when they realised that Bridgend have had alternative options and have just not chosen them. It became clear as the evening wore on, that the Council in August decided for reasons only known to themselves to jump 12 months or so of further negotiations - just to 'move things along'.

So what can be done to sort out this mess? Well for starters, Bridgend Council can accept that it has made mistakes, take a step back and make some meaningful concessions to the exasperated trade union officials trying to negotiate with them. They have to go to the Government and borrow cash to alleviate the distress caused by their callous actions and above all, they need to start showing some compassion to public sector workers who are already getting a kicking off the Westminster Government. The Labour Councillors running Bridgend appear to be passing the buck to the Officers, effectively admitting that they are incapable of running the place. Likewise, the senior officers have lost the trust of many of their staff, with their inconceivability inept handling of the whole process.

I shall be re-visiting this topic over the coming weeks in the hope that the unions can get through to the individuals running Bridgend Council, that treating your staff with utter contempt is not necessarily the way to achieve high morale and better public services. Carwyn. What was that about 'standing up for Wales'. Well, how about standing up for your constituency, even if it does mean criticising your own party?

Why I Voted to Strike

2011-11-04T07:46:00.000Z

Yesterday, the largest public sector union (my union) voted massively to take strike action on November 30th, unless an agreement can be made beforehand. I was one of the yes votes, as a Local Government worker.

Despite how many in the Tory/Liberal Westminster Government are painting it, this is by no means a political fight that the trade union movement is picking; it is a battle for the very basic principles of public service. If it was a political fight, don't you think that Labour would be supporting us? Perhaps it could be argued that the political element is the British coalition setting up Labour for an embarrassing dispute, where the very unions that chose 'Red Ed' (how hollow that now sounds) are being snubbed by him. He must have a very sore bum after sitting on that fence all this time.

So why did I vote yes? Well putting it simply, I see the proposed pension changes as nothing more than a blatant cash grab; a move that will not only fill Westminster coffers for future tax cuts, but a cynical ploy that could well threaten the very future of public sector pensions. Far from making them more sustainable, the additional charges will make the option of a public sector pension unaffordable for many; denying the pension funds the essential young members whose contributions fund the retiring colleagues. I know many colleagues in work who are considering pulling out, even though they have been paying in for many years. Of course, they state that they intend to re-join when they can afford it, but very few will.

These proposals are a direct attack on the very core of public service in Wales and will actually make some sustainable pension schemes unsustainable in the medium term, due to potential members either pulling out or not joining. If you do not believe that many current schemes are not sustainable, why not look at what Lord Hutton has said on this; the very Labour peer who came up with the proposals in the first place?

So in conclusion, unless our negotiators can get more concessions out of the Tories and Libs in the next few weeks, I will be on a picket line outside my office on November 30th and I expect all politicians who genuinely believe in the future of Welsh public services to be there supporting us. I will be blogging on this issue regularly now in the hope that the media in Wales realise how much is at stake here. This is a battle that the Welsh Public Service cannot afford to lose.

Tyrants Don't Need Pensions

2011-10-21T07:41:00.000+01:00

So Gaddaffi is finally caught and surprise surprise, is dead within minutes. There certainly appears to be a pattern forming when it comes to the demise of vicious dictators/tyrants in the 21st Century: -

They start off as good mates with the west
They are no longer mates
They are dead

Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and Gadaffi all started off as best mates with the west, Saddam being their best mate in countering Iran, Bin Laden being their best mate in facing up to the Soviets (well, was there any other reason why he was CIA trained and his family so close to George W Bush?) and Gadaffi best mates well, surely not because of his nation's huge oil and gas reserves?

What was interesting about Gaddaffi's demise was that it was largely caught on a camera phone, which makes it all the more difficult to explain why he ended up having a bullet in the head. Crossfire while in an ambulance? hmmmmmmmm. There is of course the strong possibility that someone in the ambulance put this murderer out of his misery, as so many Libyan families have been touched by the cold hand of his vicious regime over the last four decades. I like to think that it was someone who had lost a relative to this nutter rather than a CIA agent, who ended up being his assassin. Either way, it was awfully convenient for his former western mates, wasn't it?

I am genuinely pleased for the people of Libya that this nasty piece of work is now finally out of their lives and they have shown immense bravery to take on his regime and break him. I recognise that the west's bombing campaign was crucial in delivering this but with respect, it it's more of a risk being shot at while being in the back of a pick-up in the desert, than it is dropping laser guided bombs from 20,000 feet. The challenge is now for the people of Libya to seize the moment and form the type of democracy that works for them. No doubt, the US will have other ideas.

For the remaining despots, tyrants and general nasty pieces of work around the world, my only advice is to keep bribing the western governments that still like you. for unless your people rise up against you and have the military capacity to overthrow you, there should be no problem in continuing with your 'despotic' ways. Your ability to buy western arms and supply oil, gas and other mineral wealth has always been the best guarantee for continuing dictatorship.

Carbon Capture - Just Hot Air!

2011-10-19T21:09:00.000+01:00

CO2 Evades Capture

Today, it was announced that the only UK bid for Government money to develop carbon capture technology, has collapsed. The project looking to be developed at Longannet in Fife by Scottish Power, is apparently dead in the water-despite the UK Government offering one Billion pounds to fund it. There has been a lot of talk about carbon capture being the saviour of the planet over recent years, often by defenders/supporters of new coal fired power stations, but no-one has even come close to proving that the theory works. There is now real possibility that carbon capture is nothing more than the figment of a scientist's imagination.

In other words, the main hope for controlling future carbon emissions from burning coal and other fossil fuels, has no hope of ever coming to fruition. At a time when all three British parties have spurned any opportunity to makes full use of tidal technology around the coast of Wales and the Welsh Government not having the powers to decide on such proposals, it is deeply frustrating to me that we as a nation cannot play our full part in developing real alternative renewable sources.

It's time to look at all the options in developing tidal power off the Welsh coast - and just getting on with it. Do we want to be world leaders, or laggers?

Not All Road Building is Bad

2011-10-19T07:32:00.001+01:00

I consider myself quite a strong environmentalist and try to live with such principles both in work and at home. I also have a huge amount of time for environmental lobbyists such as Friends of the Earth Cymru, RSPB Cymru, Sustrans and others, as their consistent messages often remind politicians of their relative lack of consistency on such issues. However, criticism this week from FOE Cymru of the Porthmadog By-pass was disappointing, as it did not look at the big picture of what this scheme will deliver.

The town of Porthmadog owes its existence to the cob, a stone structure stretching across a large tidal estuary that up until this week, was the only viable road connection to the south from the town. This link was also the direct route from much of the north west to the south, so is pivotal for transport in Wales. During much of the Summer, it is grid-locked mostly due to tourist traffic and causes horrendous jams in the town, often delaying journies for up to half and hour and more. This had a very detrimental effect on the economy of both the town and the region, not to mention the local environment in terms of localised congestion and pollution.

The new by-pass has removed this bottleneck, but the criticism from FOECymru is that the £35 million it cost would have been better spent on public transport and cycle routes. Now first of all, diverting such spending would not have made a blind bit of difference to Porthmadog, however you spent it. What is never taken into account by environmental lobbyists when commenting on transport spending, is that Wales is unique in the UK in term of transport challenges. We have large proportions of our population living in or around upland or even mountainous areas. In Scotland for instance, there are far fewer challenges as the population in the Highlands is sparse and the valleys wide and relatively straight.

Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones when Transport Minister was the first such Minister to spend more than 50% of his budget on integrated and public transport and I for one am very proud of this. Yet, he also managed to stick to party promises to try to bring the nation closer together by improving the north to south links. The Porthmadog by-pass not only has vastly improved the regional transport links in the north west and removed a huge bottleneck in the town, but has also made it easier to travel form north to south. Of course, there should be more spending on the train network from north to south to further improve journey times (something he also invested in), but why not look at an express coach network around Wales, delivering reasonably swift and comfortable travel so that many like myself who use the A470 and other such winding road links, can choose public transport instead of a 4-5 hour slog in the car? Yet, this will not be deliverable unless we invest in the sometimes appalling road links between regions of our nation.

So with the greatest respect to FOE Cymru, you are wrong (in my opinion) to criticise this road scheme.

The Libs 'to Save' S4C !

2011-10-18T07:55:00.000+01:00

The Saviour of S4C - Bless

I note with interest the strong statements that the Lib Dems in Wales have been making, in relation to the changes foisted on them by Westminster. They are all for an independent S4C with clearer funding, after the debacle of changes in recent months. If only they were in Government in Westminster, so that they could have stopped all these changes and protected our non-devolved broadcaster, using their effective group of MPs from Wales to fight our corner. I am sure that with such a strong and principled stance, S4C would have been in safe hands with the Lib Dems!

Hypocrisy! How could you say such a thing?

Rugby Depression, then a 'Lethal Weapon' Moment

2011-10-15T20:03:00.001+01:00

'We was robbed, mun'

OK, so we lost, but we had little time to sulk in our house as not long after the result and commencement of the post-mortem, one of our little cherubs managed to break the fish tank. I don't know if you have seen Lethal Weapon 2, where Mel Gibson shoots a large fish tank, creating havoc while the baddies frantically try to save the fish while getting soaked. Well, I know what they felt like. I suspect that I also paid significantly over the odds for the new tank, but I must have looked like a soft target when I turned up with my sob story and credit card about 5 minutes after our little Mel Gibson did his worst.

I feel no less depressed about the result than anyone else, but am very proud of the team and believe their efforts could well lift our game for years to come. Let's hope that the coaches stay around to see it. However, I have been struck by two things while following the rugby in recent weeks in relation to the support. First of all, we must have the best supporters in the world (the vast majority of the Irish in New Zealand were from the North and South Island and not the Emerald one) and secondly, it always amazes me how many Welsh only show their pride in their nation for rugby internationals. These individuals are often called 'daffodil Welsh' but I think this is a very unfair comment. Many nations around the world with full independence and a proud cultural history, use the same sporting opportunities to express their nationalist fervour, so I see no need to be critical of such individuals.

Yet, it would be good if they are so keen to follow rugby, to sign up with their local club team or regional outfit, for this is where their support would make a real difference. They may also find it a lot easier to get tickets for the national side.

So, let's take encouragement in having the opportunity to show our pride in being Welsh on a World stage, give the team the praise they deserve when they get home and above all, keep a closer eye on small boys in the vicinity of large fish tanks.

LibCons Fail Green Agenda Yet Again

2011-10-14T07:30:00.001+01:00

You Can Get a Lot of Water Through a Loophole

It has emerged in the Civil Engineering press this week (diolch NCE) that the Westminster coalition is yet again saying one thing on the environment and then acting in the opposite direction. The Flood & Water Management Act 2010 was in one of its main functions, supposed to enshrine in law the importance of 'SUDS'. Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems are clever engineering methods of managing surface water run-off, in a manner that reduces current and future surface water run-off in our drains and water courses. With global warming having a significant effect on rainfall intensities, it is a crucial piece of legislation and one that is long overdue.

Then came the LibCons. What DEFRA have done is to propose a 'get out clause' at the last minute, effectively allowing developers to avoid using SUDS designs where they can show that SUDS costs are 'disproportionately expensive'. Local Authorities and Engineers across the UK have reacted with incredulity at this proposal, as we all know what it will mean for an unscrupulous Contractor. They will simply leave the drainage designs to a very late stage, forcing the costs up to a point where they will be able to opt out of creating sustainable drainage. This will effectively scupper efforts to counteract the effects of climate change on flooding incidents, flying in the face of what every other developed nation is trying to do. Do the Tories and Libs really think that the UK will be isolated from climate change? What is the point of this legislation if it has a loophole in it that you could pour a river through?

Now, you could accuse me of being a crusty old cynic here and point out the donations given to the Conservative party by leading construction companies, but I would never dream of a such a thing. I wonder if the Libs will also start getting such generous donations, now that they appear to be happy to stab the environment in the back along with their coalition partners?

I Voted Yes - See You on the Picket Line

2011-10-14T00:15:00.000+01:00

I received my Unison ballot paper today asking if I was 'prepared to take part in industrial action in the form of strike action'. I voted yes.

The current changes proposed to my pension are claimed by the LibCon coalition to make my pension fund sustainable. That's very odd, as they will do exactly the opposite. My Local Government pension scheme was amended a few years ago and is actually doing very well. What the Government are trying to do is actually crash and burn public sector pensions, so that they do not have to contribute towards them.

I have a few colleagues in work who are already quite clear about pulling out of the pension fund if the changes go through, as they simply cannot afford the additional payments. Combine this reduction in fund members with the smaller number of Local Govt employees and the many new employees who will also not be able to afford the pension payments, and you have the recipe for an unsustainable public sector pension scheme. Of course, the Libs and Tories know this and sadly, so do Labour. Despite what might be said locally, they actually support the Tory proposals and after all, it was a Labour Peer that concocted them in the first place.

If we lose this battle, then not only will public sector pensions be on borrowed time, but so may many trade unions. If they cannot defend their members' pensions, then what is the point? The Tories and Libs really cannot lose on this issue, but Labour have everything to lose by not supporting public sector workers-they are just too out of touch with their core support to realise it.

Curry for the Miners

2011-10-13T07:59:00.000+01:00

My Idea of Breakfast Heaven

Curry restaurants across the South West are contributing some of their takings over the next couple of days to the Gleision Miners Appeal. Collections are also being made in Mosques across the South. This is just one of many events that have been organised to raise cash for this hugely important issue, but one that I feel particularly proud of. When so many London tabloids such as the Star, Express and Daily Mail spend much of their time denigrating many in our ethnic minority communities, actions like these nail the lies and emphasise that our Asian Welsh families and businesses are just as Welsh and proud to be Welsh as anyone else living this side of Offa's Dyke.

For me, this means one hell of a lot more than some flag waving exercise in Downing Street and I hope that the BBC and others give it the publicity that it deserves.

Flying the Flag : A Nation is Patronised

2011-10-13T07:45:00.000+01:00

George Thomas Would be Proud

David Cameron states that normally, they would only make such a gesture if we had reached the final but on this occasion, he'll do it anyway! I'm absolutely thrilled!

Is it just me, or is this whole issue over flying the Welsh flag over Downing Street for 24 hours deeply patronising? I listened to Kevin Brennan MP on Radio Wales this morning and he obviously took a lot of pride in creating this 24 hour recognition. I fully accept the excitement being created by the great success of our national rugby team (not to mention our football team's amazing turn-around in fortune), but pampering for such momentary recognition is frankly embarrassing.

It reminds me of the ultimate fawning Welshman George Thomas, a man who's soul purpose in life to was gain recognition from the British establishment.

There will also be a momentary lapse of prejudice from many of the London media, who spend much of their time either ignoring or looking down their noses at Wales - or worse in the case of Jeremy Clarkson and co. Of course, this will last only until Wales are either knocked out or win (the latter please) after which normal service will resume.

I honestly thought that as a nation, Wales had got over its need for an occasional pat on the Dai cap from our London masters. I welcome support for our rugby team from the neighbours and hope that we would reciprocate if in the same position (it would help if England played rugby worth watching). However, can we please stop humiliating ourselves by hankering recognition from the British state when we excel on the International stage? I thought that devolution had banished this particular inferiority complex.

Facilities Time - Labour's Achilles Heel

2011-10-09T13:19:00.000+01:00

'Red Ed' Contemplates Supporting the Unions Gulp!!!!

It is now becoming increasingly clear that the Tories and Libs intend to use a very sneaky manoeuvre, to target Labour's main source of funding. There have been an increasing number of articles in recent weeks in Tory papers, questioning the many millions spent of 'facilities time'. This the time spent by certified trade union members representing their members and in public bodies, the time is re-imbursed. Now, if the Government slashed this funding, then unions would be forced to re-evaluate their whole funding structure, diverting monies from other areas in order to ensure adequate representative time for their members. There are only two areas where this can come from, affiliated and non-affiliated funds; the former being the Labour party funding. Of course, this will also have a detrimental effect on trade union representation and subsequent membership, something that the Westminster coalition will lose little sleep over.

Labour are in a panic over this threat, realising that any significant funding reduction would cost them any chances of winning back power in the next British elections. Even with the 'compliant' union leaders who are only too happy to feed cash to a party that steadfastly refuses to back them over pension reform, there is no way that members will put up with less services, to bail out Red Ed and co.

So what will happen next? I anticipate the LibCons will prepare some legislation for next month, springing it on Parliament around the time of the November 30th day of action. They will not ban all facilities time funding, but will lay out new limits and stricter criteria for what it can be spent on. To an extent, Labour and the affiliated unions have been asking for this many years, openly fiddling the affiliation systems to ensure that many members fund Labour, without their knowledge or consent. Yet, we also need to look at the bigger picture here. The vast majority of trade union stewards are volunteers who not only represent their members, but also help the employers to avoid disputes and work with staff, to deliver better services. Speaking as someone who has done this role on and off for 20 years, I know more than many how vital this role is not only to members but also to the employer.

If the Tories were genuine in their efforts to clarify facilities time while still encouraging trade union representation then fair enough but of course, they are not. It is their 'big play' in this Parliament to further role back the influence of trade unions, in the state that already has the most restrictive trade union laws in the western world.

'To an extent, I am tempted to say 'a plague on both your houses' for Labour abusing the affiliation system and the Tories for denying trade union representation.'

However, for me it is all about the ordinary union members, most of whom are not politically active and rarely call on their unions to do anything for them. They see membership as a form of job insurance and anything that threatens that basic right is for me, something I will fight against-whether using facilities or family time. Let's see if Red Ed will back the union members on this issue, as Labour have a lot to lose if he doesn't; millions of pounds to be precise.

Croeso Meri

2011-10-07T18:37:00.000+01:00

So they have finally named the first Welsh Langauge Commissioner and gone for the hot favourite Meri Huws. For so many reasons, this was an easy choice for the establishment; a Labour party member who was also previously the Chair of Cymdeithas, Chair of the Welsh Language Board and a very good communicator.

Yet, I am disappointed with their choice. This has nothing to do with her politics or undoubted abilities, but the fact that they have chosen an individual linked so closely to the Language Board; an organisation that in the eyes of so many working with the language, has been a dismal failure. There has even been a suggestion that by choosing her, there is a welcome element of continuity between the two set-ups, yet this is exactly what is not wanted. Why look for continuity of failure?

Of course, Meri Huws is her own person and it is hoped that she above all others recognises where the Board have gone wrong and can to put this right as Commissioner. So, it is only fair to allow her the opportunity to do so. Therefore, I wish her well in her new role and look forward to a change of attitude, policy and direction; something the very future of the Welsh language depends on.

Too Close to Call

2011-10-07T18:34:00.000+01:00

I along with much of the Welsh nation will be up at 5.55am tomorrow morning, nervously waiting to see if the most impressive Welsh team for two generations can get the better of the Irish. In what will be a game that deserved to be a semi rather than quarter-final, it will also guarantee a 'Celtic' team in the semi's and as far as I am concerned, one in the final. I would be stunned if the winner tomorrow morning does not go all the way to the final and give the other finalist one hell of a game.

It has been another fascinating Rugby World Cup and I am so proud of the way in which Wales have conducted themselves both on and off the field. Whatever the result tomorrow, some of the new faces in our national side will no doubt grace the game for many years to come. What a credit to our nation they are, even the golf buggy thief!

Afghanistan

2011-10-07T06:52:00.000+01:00

Afghanistan's Leading Export to the UK

(after ten years of 'Operation Enduring Freedom')

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan by US troups, in response to the terrorist attacks in the US. So how has this ancient nation moved on since that date ten years ago?

It receives £40million a week in aid and 90% of its GDP is made up of this funding
The vast majority of aid has filled the pockets of US 'Contractors'
The Taliban are still active and killing US, UK and Afghan soldiers on a daily basis
The country is still the main supplier of heroin to the UK
The US admit that they lack the 'knowledge' to end the conflict
The Afghan Government is hugely corrupt
A few leading Afghan politicians have recently been assassinated
The Capital (Kabul) still has no electricity for much of the day
10,000 Afghan civilians have died due to fighting in the last 5 years
2,500 international troops have been killed since the invasion
The US had spent $120 Billion there
The UK has spent £18 Billion there
There is now a drought in Afghanistan, potentially affecting 2.6 million people

I cringe whenever I hear an interview from a parent from the UK, stating their pride in the ultimate sacrifice their child has made for 'our freedom'. The US are now in the process of buying peace by bribing the Taliban warlords with millions, just as they did with tribal leaders in Iraq. In other words, they are making rich the killers of US, UK and Afghan soldiers and countless innocent civilians and funding their heroin business, in order to buy their way out of a war they simply cannot win.

Let's hope that this anniversary raises the profile of this forgotten war and creates enough momentum, for our warmongering political leaders to find a solution to end the pointless slaughter, on both sides.

Hain is Back to His Very Best

2011-10-01T09:43:00.000+01:00

Look Out! It's Mr Consistent

For folk who occasionally dip in and out of my blog, you may have picked up a certain well let's just say 'curiosity' about the statements of the above mentioned political giant.

Well today in the press, he has surpassed even his high standards of hypocrisy after Plaid's dual by-election triumph in Gwynedd, giving the party overall control once more and reducing the influence of the bonkers Llais Gwynedd in the County. Even a deeply twisted tribalist cynic would I venture, concede that it was a 'reasonable' night for Plaid in Gwynedd, but not our Peter.

He described the wins as nothing more than a 'retreat into their heartlands'! Now first of all, how is winning a retreat and if so, then Labour must have advanced in May's elections by losing so badly in Westminster and retreated in the Assembly! Then, one may also ask the question if Labour are the true party of Wales, why did they not even stand in these by-elections in what are predominately working class wards-by their definition. However, the best hypocrisy of all is the Blaenau Gwent experience, where Labour's Alun Davies won the Assembly seat back from an independent, mirroring what happened in this week's by-elections, but surely according to Hain this was nothing more than a 'retreat into their heartlands'? No, apparently it was a triumph and the communities of Blaenau Gwent 'coming back to Labour'. Thank you for your political rants Peter - you are absolutely priceless. I'm surprised that with such a consistent record of double standards and hypocrisy, that Llais Gwynedd haven't snapped you up already. From what many in Labour tell me, it would be a very welcome move.

Two Pats on the Back for Welsh Government

2011-10-01T09:16:00.000+01:00

Just to show that my views are not wholly tribal, I am proud that today, our nation has started charging for plastic shopping bags. OK, so it's not going to turn our economy around but it is a very useful piece of legislation. I have little time for all the moans and groans about this law as people have had adequate warning and if they read and listened to Welsh media a little more instead of the London message they choose, then they would be better informed.

The real importance of this law is the problem that these bags cause at the waste end. As someone who works in this area, I cannot overstate the pain that bags cause both in the recycling plant and on the landfill, where many end up. We have to put up huge fences at enormous expense to try to catch them all and even then, have to employ staff to pick them out of hedges as they drift in the winds across other people's land.

I marched proudly into the supermarket this morning with my re-usable bag as I have for months, so let's have no more moaning about this issue.

The Welsh Government have also proposed this week new ideas on supporting the Gypsy travellers community in Wales; a very timely move with all the negative publicity in England on these people. I listened to a Radio Wales debate on this topic earlier in the week, where people rang up giving very prejudiced views that it was claimed if they were made about other groupings, would not be allowed on radio because they were racist.Well I have news for Radio Wales, for under existing criminal law Gypsys and Irish Travellers are recognised as ethnic groups so any deeply prejudiced comments made about them are in law, RACIST.

The Gyspy culture is absolutely fascinating and I hope that in Wales, we can show a little more respect for these travelling people than the Daily Mail editorials. I recognise that not all Gypsy Travellers are perfect and that some of their approaches to business are a little lets say, unorthodox. However, I challenge you not to look at their infant mortality rates, levels of education or life expectancy and not feel just a little embarrassed by society's treatment of this very vulnerable but proud 'ethnic grouping'. Now, that should get some reaction!

Are the Tories Anti-Environment?

2011-09-30T07:34:00.000+01:00

Cameron With His Disguise Removed

(You will have to be a cBeeBies Watcher to Get This)

Two announcements on the British news this morning, only added to my suspicions that the Tories are quite happy to pass legislation that increases damage on the environment, if it means short term electoral gain.

First of all, there is the bung being offered to English Councils to return to weekly black bag collections, if they want to. Now, this is a particularly cynical move at a time when Councils in England are sacking thousands and drastically cutting their services and it has come about primarily due to pressure from campaigns like the one run by the Daily Mail. Moving to fortnightly black bag collections is an essential element in encouraging hitting the optimum recycling targets and as long as a system is set up to deal effectively with food waste and nappies etc, it works very well.

Then, there is the interesting proposal to increase the motorway speed limit to 80mph. This may at first appear to be a sensible suggestion as cars are now a lot safer and faster than they were when this limit was set. However, if you set the limit to 80, then most will travel between 80 and 90 mph and fuel consumption will go through the roof. If you think not and have one of these fuel economy trip computers of your car, then try it for yourself and you will soon slow down. To make matters even more complicated, apart from the increase in accidents and fatalities that would be inevitable from faster roads, many motorways are simply not designed to cope with an 80mph limit, so do we restrict where the new limit is used or spend billions upgrading the network?

The only benefit is that the economy will gain from faster delivery times, but when many lorries are already fixed at 56mph for maximum fuel efficiency as fuel costs are the prime delivery cost factor, is this really that true? Of course, the SE England BMW belt will be delighted-but when did they ever drive less than 90mph anyway?

Wales Loses Out on £10 Million - Best Not Mention it

2011-09-22T08:39:00.000+01:00

Essex Man Thanks Wales for its Generosity

Yesterday, Plaid Cymru made Wales aware that a £200 million road scheme to improve access to a brand new shopping centre in Essex, was being contributed to by us. This may sound a little barmy, but any funding at UK level that is seen as beneficial to the UK by Westminster, has no funding kick-down to Wales, i.e. we pay our 5% towards it.

This ludicrous position is something that is now a common feature of UK Government spending; the whole Olympic fiasco and a large chunk of the CrossRail project being prime examples, but what has been the reaction from the other parties in Wales and even some of the journalists? Silence, or even a swipe at Plaid for moaning about it in the first place.

Of course, the British parties represented in Wales are discouraged from making any comment, as their Westminster bosses frown of such behaviour.

While we still rely on the dis-credited Barnett formula and wait and wait and wait for an alternative promised by the current Westminster coalition, is there something fundamentally wrong with pointing out that one of the poorest parts of the British state is funding shopping centre access improvements, to the richest part of the British state?

Standing Up for Wales, Carwyn?

Will It Be the 'Carwyn & Andrew' Show?

2011-09-21T00:01:00.000+01:00

So today was the start of the new Assembly session, with a new leader of the largest Opposition taking on the First Minister. Mr Jones will find Mr Davies a very different animal from the previous incumbent; Mr Davies being a man who is very much in the mould of calling a spade an effing shovel. This of course will very much suit both parties, as it will mimic the often comedic debates that go on in Westminster.

The real advantage for both parties will be feeding the perception that in Wales just like in England, politics is very much a 2 horse race, and it will also help both to ensure that debates do not get 'too Welsh' for their London bosses. This is the challenge for Plaid and particularly our new leader, who will not only have to force an agenda away from the cosy consensus of Labour and the Tories, but will also have to persuade what Welsh media there is left, into realising that following the Westminster form of Government is not necessarily in the best interests of Wales - however good the headlines are.

So expect some lively debates over the coming weeks in the Senedd, but also expect a few clangers to be dropped by 'R.T.' and a realisation, that neither party actually has a list of Welsh solutions to Welsh problems because frankly, they are not allowed to have them.

Construction in a Deep Hole

2011-09-20T07:26:00.000+01:00

With the current public spending squeeze and all its unpleasant consequences, there has been very little publicity about how it is affecting the construction industry. A someone who works in it, I have been watching in despair as many long established small construction firms wither on the vine. There has been a very sharp drop in business in recent months across the sector, yet very little coverage of it.

For instance, construction order figures across the UK fell by 16.3% in the second quarter of 2011, against the first quarter figures, a staggering 23.2% drop on the same quarter last year.

This equates to the total volume of new orders in construction being the lowest total since the third quarter of 1980.

Now, you can spin this sort of news anyway you like, but can only come to one conclusion-it's a double dip recession in the construction sector. Just to remove any silver cloud that someone may want to add on behalf of Wales, these figures are actually uplifted by the huge public sector construction schemes in London such as some continuing Olympic linked schemes and CrossRail. In other words, the Welsh construction sector is in one hell of a hole and with the Welsh Government's capital budget slashed by up to 50%-do not expect any early turnaround.

If only London has shown some commitment to making the most of the planet's best site for renewable tidal energy, then things would indeed be different. Why ignore the only large and wholly predictable form of renewables in tidal lagoons? Why ignore the potential of combining both tidal lagoon construction with coastal defence along the north and south coasts? Why are Labour in Wales ducking the potential test lagoon in Swansea Bay?

There are options here for construction sector, but they cannot take them without political support. Time to do that standing up bit, Carwyn.

Do You Believe in Public Service ?

2011-09-19T01:18:00.000+01:00

I have been working in the public sector for 21 years and 2 days. As a Unison steward (Nalgo for the first few years), you would expect me to support an Early Day Motion (EDM) in Westminster that defends trade union member's rights. However, the link below is to an EDM that is trying to defend the very exisitence of public sector pensions and a decent retirement for millions across the UK.

Ah you may ask. but the current proposed changes do not look to close down public sector pensions?

Directly no, but indirectly - ABSOLUTELY.

The consequence of the proposed changes will be for thousands to either pull out of their current pensions due to unaffordable increases, or for new employees to 'put off' joining until they can afford it. This will effectively make all public sector pensions unsustainable in the medium term, closing down the single biggest guarantee of a reasonable retirement in Wales and the UK.

The challenge to this policy is all the more difficult to fight, as all 3 leading British parties support it. All I ask is for you to read the link and forward it to your local MP-requesting that they sign it.

Thanks.

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2198

Gleision Mine Disaster

2011-09-16T19:12:00.001+01:00

The worst of news.

Rest in peace boys.

http://undebcymru.blogspot.com/2011/09/cost-of-coal.html

Gleision Colliery

2011-09-15T23:15:00.000+01:00

Events like these always affect you when there is mining history in the family and I did not expect to see another accident in what is left of the Southern coalfield. Let's just hope and pray that these four miners get out alive. What else is there to say?

Sharing CEO's is LGO

2011-09-15T07:18:00.000+01:00

Which One Has Bigger Teeth?

Carl Sargeant has slagged off Conwy Council for refusing to share a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with an adjoining Council, after the post became vacant. Having some experience of Local Government (21 years this week-Lord help me!), there is absolutely no way that Councils can operate individually in any political sense, without their own CEO. By merging such posts, there would be a daily conflict of interests and it would be seen by many as an impossible working situation.

By insisting on the merger of such posts, Labour are indeed having a Local Government Reorganisation (LGO) by the back door. The very worst case scenario is for Labour to say one thing and do another, as Local Government will not know where it stands. I understand the frustration there has been in waiting for Councils to work together and also the imperative to combine the larger services to save money. However, there is currently no carrot and a very big stick as far as Council leaders are concerned and if Carl wants to get efficient change, he is going about it the wrong way.

'Jaw Jaw rather than War War' should be the way forward now that change is happening at local level and it would also help if there were a few more common boundaries between between public sector bodies. So come on Carl, stop playing the school yard bully and you may find that many will work with you and not against.

The Future of Trade Unionism is on the Line

2011-09-14T07:56:00.000+01:00

Today, the largest British unions will announce ballots for industrial action over threats to make massive changes to the public sector pensions. This fight has been coming for at least 2 years since Labour started formulating the Tory/Lib policies, currently being forced on public sector workers in Wales.

The Tories and Libs intend to play one union against another in terms of negotiations in order to try to split union plans for joint action, but this is unlikely to work. However, the most interesting battle of all will be between the unions, the Labour leadership and its members. Red Ed Miliband has already sided with the Tories and Libs and what choice did he have, as this is Labour's policy in the first place!

The irony is of course that these pensions are already sustainable after changes negotiated with Labour a few years ago, so these proposed cuts are not about making the pensions safe but saving money. If they go through, I can guarantee that huge numbers of public sector workers on low pay will be forced to pull out of their respective schemes, unable to afford the luxury of a pension when they cannot cover their everyday costs. Do you think that I am over-egging this?

Well, let's have a look at say a Council worker in a Welsh Council. They have received a 3 year pay freeze which is equivalent to a pay cut of about 18% with compound interest and the RPI over the last 3 years. Then on top of this, they are facing a single status agreement with their employer which will also affect things such as bonus payments. Then, they face cuts to manage in work in order to maintain services and jobs, then the dreaded job evaluation when up to 20% of their colleagues will receive a pay cut. Finally, the pension proposals will ask them to work longer for less and to pay 5% more of their take home pay towards it.

They will leave the pension scheme in the belief that in a few years when their finances are better, they will re-join. Of course, most will not re-join, the pension systems will become underfunded and will actually be made unsustainable by the very changes that were supposed to do the opposite.

Don't expect the unions to swallow this one as if they do not fight this battle, then many members will ask what is the point of unions in the first place? This is not going to be a pleasant dispute.

A Gamechanger

2011-09-10T20:39:00.000+01:00

The Plaid conference is now over and I'm delighted to say that it was a genuine 'gamechanger'. The party really concentrated on membership input and the feedback both on policy and organisation was fantastic. The changes that the party needs to make are now much clearer and with a new Chief Exec in place (what a speech), the review being completed in a few months and a new leader in the Spring, these are exciting times.

It's hard to overstate how crucial this conference was to the future of Plaid and Welsh politics and we will start work on some of the changes immediately. There's no time to waste so with a night off tonight (the dreaded Caerphilly review), we hit the ground running tomorrow.

Bingo, Music & Politics

2011-09-09T07:56:00.000+01:00

Dafydd 'Bingo' Iwan

One of the real advantages of being a Plaid Cymru member, is that this party is one of the very few that is still genuinely member led and member driven. For instance, practically all our funding comes from individual members and not big business or trade unions and most importantly of all, our members decide policy and if the leaders don't like the decisions, then that's just tough luck.

The conference this weekend is very much about new ideas, in terms of policy, organisation and even vision. There is a particular recognition of how devolution has changed not only Wales but also the rest of the UK, particularly England. While the British parties in Wales tread very carefully so not as to upset their Westminster bosses, Plaid has no such concerns and frankly why should we? We are here for the 3 million who choose to make their home west of Offa's dyke and this is where as a party, we need to look hard at how we are perceived by so many potential supporters. The party review and consultation currently taking place will I suspect be making this issue one of its priorities.

So, time to recover from last night's 'Dafydd Iwan Musical Bingo' in the Legion (with thanks to the youth section for organising) and get stuck into the forthcoming motions, perhaps with a little black coffee thrown in for good measure. Whoever said that politics had to be boring?

So What Will Be the Plaid Conference Mood?

2011-09-07T00:05:00.001+01:00

On Thursday, the first of the Welsh (and UK) party conferences kicks off, with Plaid Cymru in Llandudno. Venue Cymru is without doubt currently our nation's finest conference facility and I am really looking forward to meeting up with party colleagues for a good debate and all-round natter. From initial post-silly season media comments, it would appear that one or two scribes believe that it will be a bit of a morgue up north after the recent election and are looking for a squabble. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint such luminaries, but I feel quite perky about the whole affair.

We have come out of the first experience governing our nation a little battered and bruised but sometimes, you have to take a few hits to achieve your overall aims, which is exactly what we did.

For instance, when did you last hear the dreaded LCO's mentioned?

The combination of a Plaid delivered Welsh Parliament, a Scotland teetering on the edge of Independence and an England suddenly discovering its own identity has transformed the nature of Welsh politics and Plaid needs to change to meet the new challenges. As I have said previously on numerous occasions, whether we had won 10 or 20 seats in the current Welsh Parliament, the party would have had to change anyway, so maybe a more difficult election result may force us into the changes that we might not otherwise had the courage to have made.

So in conclusion, I am very excited about this week's conference and am very much looking forward to playing my part in the future of my party and nation. I'm sorry to disappoint the sceptics, but I'm up for it and I suspect that I'm not on my own!

Westminster Denies Wales Power Powers

2011-09-06T23:45:00.000+01:00

Know Your Place, Wales !

Today in Westminster, Plaid Cymru led a debate for power devolution for Wales to be under the control of the people of Wales, as has already been agreed for Scotland. The Lib Dems and Tories in Wales actually called for this in their 'Welsh' manifestos but of course as always with the British parties, their Westminster bosses had the final say and blocked it. This allows the continuation of the Westminster Government to decide on any new power supply in Wales over 50Mw, as apparently we are not capable of doing so for ourselves. Of course, Labour in Wales may also call for devolution of 'power power', but their Westminster bosses would again block such moves.

This comes at a time when Scotland is looking to surge ahead as a World leader in renewable energy, free from the shackles of a British state not prepared to show any such imagination. So even though we now have a Parliament of our own, it is clear that Westminster has no intention of allowing us the ability to make best use of the natural recourses we have, for the benefit of our nation.

Such exasperating decisions as the one made in Westminster today, reaffirm my belief that Wales will only truly deliver for its 3 million inhabitants, when it has all the essential tools of governance at its disposal. You can all it independence, self-government or whatever name you like but please don't call it 'narrow nationalism', as that was on display from the British parties in Westminster today - for all to see.

The English Deserve Better Than Clarkson

2011-09-04T09:52:00.002+01:00

A Man Struggling with His Identity

I think that we can now see a pattern forming, something that I take no pleasure of previously pointing out on this blog. One of the main consequences of devolution and particularly the success of the SNP, will be that the British media establishment based largely in London will turn on Wales as frankly, we are an easier target than the Scots.

Please take centre stage Jeremy Clarkson, who stated in the Sun yesterday: -

“I think we are fast approaching the time when the United Nations should start to think seriously about abolishing other languages.

What’s the point of Welsh for example? All it does is provide a silly maypole around which a bunch of hotheads can get all nationalistic.”

Now, this particular English luminary should not be treated with the same seriousness as the recent Daily Mail article, which to my mind was indeed bordering on racial prejudice. Yet, it does follow the now well honed pattern of many English scribes expressing their English nationalism through slagging off other nations and cultures. It is in fact a clear sign of an utter lack of confidence in there own identity as all these individuals whether on the left or right of politics all have one thing in common, they cannot differentiate between being English and British.

Although Clarkson does have considerable influence and no doubt many will be swayed to an extent by such drivel in the Sun (big surprise), I hope that the Welsh do not use this as a stick to do some 'English bashing'. This motormouth is a dinosaur and by making such glib statements, is actually humiliating his own nation rather than others. You also have to take into account that he does like to play up to the persona he makes so much money from; that being the grumpy old Englishman that sells so many books to supplement his BBC salary.

A Man Struggling with the Devolution 'Winds of Change'

In conclusion, I would not treat this particular swipe at the Welsh culture with the same venom that the Daily Mail article deserves. However, be prepared to see a lot more of such comments from across the British/English media over the coming years, as the English fight to re-discover their identity in post-devolution Britain. The worrying aspect for me is that such attitudes do appear to be influencing non-devolved issues such as S4C, so let's see just how far Carwyn is prepared to go to stand up for Wales not just against the ConDem cuts, but also against attacks from the British establishment-including from his own party.

Invest in Welsh Music & Wales

2011-09-03T18:11:00.000+01:00

A new annual prize for the best album to come out of Wales has been launched, with 12 very different acts being chosen this year for the competition. It reflects modern music from both the English and Welsh language genre and includes major established acts along with new ones. I think that this is a fantastic idea, as it promotes new music from Wales that many would otherwise not hear about and believe me, the current scene in Wales is exceptional.

Many years ago, I briefly mismanaged a band and had just an exciting taste of the Welsh music scene-just before 'Cool Cymru' kicked off. There is so much talent out there and successful bands with international acclaim from Wales, almost always raise our profile in a manner that no marketing campaign could ever achieve. So in other words, why not buy a few CDs from the shortlist, investigate further how much variety of music there is coming from Wales and wake up to the talent that we produce. We might not all be able to sing, but we certainly punch way above our weight when it comes to class musicians and songwriters. The link below will take you to the shortlist for this year and the winner will be announced in the Cardiff Swn Festival next month.

http://welshmusicprize.com/

Go on, invest in Welsh talent and open your eyes to the world class acts coming out of Wales.

Griffin Has His Skoda Seized

2011-09-03T00:07:00.000+01:00

Griffin's Car Should Be Easy to Spot at Auction

Believe it or not, the convicted racist and beleaguered BNP leader Nick Griffin has had his car seized, apparently to cover debts owed to creditors, including former employees of the party. High Court enforcement officers visited his house on Friday morning and took his car away, despite him claiming that someone else had already bought it off him.

So now Griffin is skint, his party is in disarray, he has no elected representatives at any level in Wales and not even a car to drive around spreading his depressing message of hate. What a sad and pathetic figure he is and isn't it about time that the Electoral Commission took firmer action against him and his party for continually flouting election law. Let's pile on the agony because believe me, this excuse for a human being deserves all the shit he gets.

Of Course It's A Local Govt. Reorganisation

2011-09-01T07:48:00.000+01:00

At long last, the debate has hopefully started about the inevitable; a re-structuring/reorganisation of Local Government in Wales. I speak as someone who was a union steward during the last one in 1996 and frankly, there are better reasons for one now than there were then.

Of course, the difficulty is in the detail and to some extent, I respect the Welsh Government for what they are trying to do. However, to pretend that it is not a reorganisation is ridiculous-when it clearly is one. The proposal for 6 regional zones to deliver some prime services should be seen as a proposal and not a final model and this is where Labour are coming unstuck. There has been a great deal of frustration about the lack of urgency the Councils have shown in working together, but this attitude has changed significantly in the last 18 months; something many if not all Councils deserve some credit for.

The excellent leader of Plaid's Gwynedd Council Dyfed Edwards made very constructive comments on Radio Wales this morning, welcoming change but criticising change without open debate, not only with Councils but also the electorate. This is where Labour are failing, in that they appear to be ducking debate in order to force through reorganisation, without even wanting to call it that. They let the cat out of the bag when suggesting fewer Chief Executives, which is effectively an admission of a reduction in Councils. Can you imagine 4 or 5 Councils squabbling over their personal priorities with just one Chief Executive?

So as someone who has some experience in Local Government, I welcome moves to re-structure services, but do not welcome a lack of debate within the electorate about how their services will be delivered. Stating that it was in their Assembly manifesto is not good enough, as most people did not read it and voted for Labour on the back of them 'standing up for Wales' against the 'evil' Tories. It's about time that Labour considered 'standing up for democracy' a little more, at a Governmental level that has the most direct affect of the lives of all the people of Wales - Local Government.

Since When Was It Cool to Ignore Prejudice?

2011-08-30T01:59:00.000+01:00

I note with some surprise that some celebs and politicians are having a dig at Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards, for pulling up a Daily Mail article writer for a grossly offensive anti-Welsh article. I have read the article in question and in my opinion, it goes well beyond any of the articles or comments associated with AA Gill, Liddle or any other London opinions having a swipe at the Welsh. Gill's article actually slagged off every nation and region of the UK, in a manner that could well be argued to be not a direct attack on Wales (and yes, I have actually read it all and did so on the day it was published).

The latest article written by Roger Lewis for the Daily Mail was in response to a book written by a fellow Englishman, who had tried to understand what it was like to be Welsh. The Lewis demolition of the book was utterly lacking in any humour and was extremely offensive to Wales in almost everything it said. It's insinuations of a 'monkey language' and comparisons with the Eisteddfod and the Klan were not only offensive but on a level of ignorance that only brought shame on any publication that agreed to it-even the Daily Mail.

What is particularly disturbing about the offending article is that it was written by a very respected and established arts journalist in London; somebody why carries some weight in every word that they publish-even when they are talking out of their proverbial backside.

Consequently, I have been very disappointed to see various celebs and politicians having a dig at Plaid Cymru for challenging such offensive prejudice. As someone who is very active in the anti-fascist movement, prejudice is something I do know a little about and this article is not borderline-it is pure and utterly offensive anti Welsh prejudice. However, I do not believe that it is racially based but driven by a combination of spite and blatant ignorance. Yet, this does not excuse such offense and certainly does not support an argument of keeping any form of dignified silence.

If for instance, someone wrote a similar article in Golwg about the English, do you really think that Chris Bryant, Peter Black and the usual other suspects would just shrug their shoulders and ignore it? They would be straight on the bandwagon of attacking the article and linking it straight to Plaid. Yet such a clearly offensive article in Barn would not have any influence of people's general opinions of England but can you say the same about the Daily Mail article? The UK Daily Mail sells more in Wales than the Western Mail and Daily Post combined and at a time when UK controlled spending on S4C is being slashed, the UK's lead selling 'quality' it turning out anti-Welsh clap-trap, which we are told by Bryant and Black it is best not to talk about.

I suspect that they may well regret their stance sooner than they think, as this article is one of a growing number of post-devolution swipes at Wales that the English media are indulging in. At this moment in time, Wales needs people prepared to fight its corner and not political opportunists prepared to suck up to their London bosses.

Is the Breton Status On the Rise?

2011-08-28T23:46:00.000+01:00

I have been to Brittany many times over the years and in my opinion, there does appear to be an upsurge in Breton consciousness, if not nationalism. This could well be down to the rise in remand for Breton school education (not yet publicly funded) and the passion for change from a new generation of Breton speakers.

Whatever the reason, there is little doubt that the French Government will be keeping a close eye on things and will do all they can to discourage such feelings. For instance, they have repeatedly refused to hold a census/questionnaire on the future demand for Breton in school, knowing that the answers may not be to their suiting.

How Do You Cook/Eat/etc. an Artichoke?

2011-08-28T23:14:00.000+01:00

A food source or a weapon?

Now as much as I am fond of Llydaw, their customs, general attitude and flair for food, what can you do with an artichoke? The fields around Rosco are full of them at this time of year and they really are the oddest looking things. I do not mean to be scornful of a vegetable they clearly take so much pride in, but there is so little of them that you can eat and in all honesty, the butter you dip them in has more taste than the vegetable itself.

I am quite prepared to be corrected on this issue but however hard I tried, I could not find a way of eating this formidable cactus type foe, without thinking that it was some kind of wind-up and they were actually used as weapons in arms deals.

Eisteddfod of Onions

2011-08-28T23:03:00.000+01:00

Where does he sit?

Our family have just returned form a wonderful week in Llydaw (Brittany), choosing to stay in the arrival port of Rosco (Roscoff) to make the most of our time - and what a way to start! For we arrived on the Breton annual celebration of the Onion or as our eldest called it, the Eisteddfod of Onions.

On Sunday last week on our first full day, I committed myself to eat every meal of the day and every course of that meal, with onions incorporated. I cannot speak for my breath at the end of the day but the onion sorbet was one of the most bizarre things I have ever eaten.

Of course as with most things in life, there is a very strong Welsh connection to the onions of the Roscoff peninsula, for this uber-fertile piece of land is responsible for the 'Jonnie Oinions' who were found on the streets of Wales and much of the UK for generations. I have memories of the men on bicycles selling onions when I was a child, but had no idea that they were actually from Brittany and were over here for months every year selling the aforementioned smelly vegetable. An excellent book on their history and trade has been written by Welshman Gwyn Griffiths and I wholly recommend you getting a copy. Did you know for instance that Breton onions have a red tinge because they are fertilised with seaweed? Well, it excites me anyway.

Even Westminster Admits PFI is a Rip Off

2011-08-19T08:31:00.000+01:00

A PFI Company Director at the Grocers

It's taken them long enough, but even the British Parliament has now recognised that the model of PFI used for numerous public buildings across the UK has been a complete rip-off (an Assembly committee came to this conclusion a long time ago, even with Tories on it!). The Treasury select committee said PFI was no more efficient than other forms of borrowing and it was "an illusion" that it shielded the taxpayer from risk. Government had become "addicted" to PFI, the committee's Tory chair said.

Now frankly, I believe this to be a gross understatement, as PFI in Wales certainly turned out to be far less efficient than other forms of borrowing, with some new hospitals for instance costing up to 9 times their construction cost. Some public bodies were offered no alternative to fund critical new services, yet they were walking into what I believe was a private cartel of companies, stitching up contracts between themselves with no effective competition and huge long term profits guaranteed.

As a public sector worker of 21 years experience (next month-that flew by), I am not going to say here that all is rosy within Local Government and the NHS in Wales. However, many of my experiences of the private sector running public sector services have not been good, with public sector 'Clients' immediately pushed down the priority list as soon as the private sector picks up. We are effectively used as a fall-back area of work when times are hard and it is often the case that a lack of expertise within the public sector (the expertise is lost when the services are handed over) is exploited by the private sector to make excessive profits. It would be unfair to point the finger at the whole private sector for this, as where say Councils have enough expertise to control specialist spending, the partnership between public and private can be of mutual benefit.

So what alternatives to the British P.F.I. are there? Plaid's policy floated at the last election is a radical one which while not raising as much capital as P.F.I., is a far superior model and if we are going to be starved of capital funding for many years, what other options are there? It's time to get radical Carywn, even if it does upset your Brit Unionist lot.

Civil Engineering Has Gone Very Quiet

2011-08-19T00:49:00.000+01:00

As a Civil Engineer, you tend to pick up on work trends fairly quickly, due to working closely with Contractors and suppliers. From my experiences, I can confirm that the industry is extremely quiet at the moment. It has got to the point that Contractors cannot pick up standard materials from local suppliers, because stocks are non-existent due to a collapse in orders-forcing them to wait for direct deliveries from material producers.

It has to be said that the Summer holiday is often one of the quietest periods and that things often pick up in the Autumn. However, I get the impression that the trend is much more pronounced than the usual Summer dip. So what do we read into this? Is it just a temporary blip or a sign of the dreaded double dip that many have predicted? Well, it has coincided with the Bank of England's advisers unanimously supporting no interest rate rise, a spike in unemployment levels and a drop in consumer sales.

My gut feeling is that we are about to go into a very difficult Autumn and Winter and from a Local Government perspective, there are only storm clouds on the horizon. On that positive note, I'll get some sleep!

Monkey Language etc - Should I Turn the Other Cheek?

2011-08-16T23:43:00.000+01:00

Do You Speak Welsh? This guy thinks you are a monkey

I have been pondering about this for a few days since I was made aware of the latest London media swipe at the Welsh language and culture, this time from the Daily Mail. As always, the prejudiced claptrap is from someone with links to Wales, who has surprise surprise settled in England and cannot fathom either the language/Eisteddfod/Devolution etc etc etc etc etc...........................

First of all, why consider someone who has lived and worked in England for many years as anything other than English? I really do not see the relevance of him being born in Caerphilly, as for instance basing someone's nationality on where they were born would make the likes of Dafydd Wigley English for starters (a Derby boy). If someone chooses to live in Wales and respects the culture that they live in, then they are Welsh and I will not accept any other definition. This particular Roger Lewis (above) is an Englishman and frankly, they are welcome to him.

The more worrying aspect of this particular article is that someone with such educational attainment and a highly regarded place among the London arts media, could be so utterly blinkered in his attitude. One has to ask how prevalent his bigoted views are and how much they are driven by growing English nationalism-feeding off resentment towards devolution in the other nations of the UK state. I have no issue with a growing sense of English nationalism per see, but progressive Civic nationalism only has a constructive future when based on pride in your nation and respect for others, and not based primarily on a grudge. This goes for Wales as much as any other nation.

This is why on this particular occasion, I choose to call this man a pig ignorant journalistic embarrassment and hope that all efforts to expose his blind prejudice are successful. I am as confident as anyone about my Welshness and try not to get too hung up by jibes at my nation, but this guy's prejudices and the paper who chose to publish it are far too influential to ignore. A timely reminder was a recent comment by the British politician responsible for S4C Jeremy Hunt MP, who seriously suggested that programmes for the Welsh TV channel should be dubbed to save cash. I bet he doesn't read the Western Mail! We also need to be careful not to label this as exclusive to the right wing London media, as lefties like Rod Liddle are equally capable of such puerile nonsense.

On a more positive note, I feel that Wales as a nation has moved forward as a confident European country after this particularly offensive Daily Mail article, as we have now joined an exclusive club with France, Germany, Spain and many others, who have also had the temerity of having a different language and culture to good old Blighty! I'm rather pleased with such notoriety.

How Will Cameron's Plans Negotiate Devolution?

2011-08-16T00:06:00.000+01:00

Cameron and the Tories are talking hard about mending 'Broken Britain' after the reaction to the English riots of last week and whilst I accept that many of the problems that helped create last week's chaos do indeed exist in the UK nations outside England, how will his radical reforms work in devolved areas?

When it comes to benefits and policing, Cameron will have free reign on issues that are not devolved but on schooling, Council housing and even gang issues, it is frankly none of his business in Wales. So, does he believe that the Welsh Government is going to buy into his current reactionary politics? I may have some reservations about the current Labour Welsh Government but right wing reactionary is not one of their main 'attributes'. If anything, the actions of recent days from the British Government have only gone on to re-affirm many people's belief in Wales that policing should be devolved sooner, rather than later.

Carwyn needs to take this opportunity to stand up to his unionist party streak and demand the devolution of Policing and the Justiciary for Wales. It simply makes no sense for an increasingly right wing London Government to run a Welsh Police and Justice system, when there is such a growing consensus in Wales to do things differently.

Rushed Justice Leads to Rough Justice

2011-08-15T23:49:00.000+01:00

I blogged last week about the inevitable consequences of the speed in which many of the current cases relating to rioting, are being processed. There is still very much a 'hang 'em high' mentality going on in the press, as is always the case when communities and the public are genuinely scared by such frightening events. Yet in the cold light of day, do you think that the following case delivered justice for anyone?: -

Today in court a woman was sentenced to 5 months in prison for handling stolen goods that were looted during the riots. Serves her right you say. It's time to stamp on these people you shout. Time to take the fight to the criminals you rant.

The woman was asleep during the looting and was given a stolen pair of shorts by a friend the next day, which she accepted. She is a mother of 2 young children and took no part in any rioting.

I am not going to type this blog and claim that many of the acts committed last were anything other than appalling, including some despicable murders and mindless violence. However, the case above would never have led to any form of custodial sentence in other circumstances and 2 children are left without a mother for at least a few months, when all the politicians are complaining that a lack of parental support is one of the main lessons to be learnt from this whole affair.

I also very much question the policy of forcing families out of their Council homes, if one of their number was involved in the riots. Of course, Councils have the powers to take such action at any time if a family are persistent offenders detrimentally affecting their own community but what will the current rush to evict solve? Families will be put out on the streets due to the stupid actions of one of their own. They will either then end up in a B&B or with a private rental landlord. Assuming they have children, they are very likely to stay in the very same community or the children will have to move school and be even more badly affected, than they already would have been.

Maybe, one of the most significant lessons to come out of this whole sorry affair will not be the radical solutions taken to mend the so called 'broken society', but the mob mentality that society appears to have got sucked into, it their very reaction to the riots in the first place. Maybe, our reaction speaks more about a 'broken society' than any of the fires or looting, as now is the time for honest appraisals about what we have done wrong to create these scenarios - not gut reactions to make us feel better.

I Agree with Ed Miliband

2011-08-15T23:11:00.000+01:00

Miliband, Reacting to the News that I Agreed With Him

I listened with increasing despair to David Cameron today, as more soundbite solutions came flowing from his mouth in response to last week's English riots. It is less than a week since several English towns and cites had some isolated looting and disorder but already, the Tories are coming up with a list of solutions that have no doubt been sitting in their right wing ideas drawer for decades.

I do not doubt that issues such as inner city gang culture and family breakdown played a part in the riots, but is it ever sensible to set up a list of new policies when driven by newspaper headlines rather than a cool-headed look, after a period of reflection? Miliband's call for an enquiry is the right one. It may not get the headlines or keep the public off your back, but it is far more likely to come up with solutions that will work. The danger with Cameron's approach is that within 6 months, priorities will be elsewhere and due to the lack of planning and above all new funding, all the current headline grabbing proposals will be conveniently forgotten - leaving the communities with the problems in an even worse position than they are now.

Problems that have been created over decades will take decades to solve and so what is the point taking days to come up with solutions, when a few months of independent assessment may well come up with far more effective ideas. Cameron is currently indulging in the worst kind of politics of cheap meaningless sound-bites and frankly, showing himself up as a leader with a lot less depth than many thought. This could well be the start of the fightback for Labour in England, even if Ed may not be the leader to gain at the end of it.

Language Commissioner Must Have Vertebrae

2011-08-15T19:19:00.000+01:00

Hwyl fawr

Within months, we will know who the first Welsh Language Commissioner in our nation's history will be. I hate to put any pressure on the person to be chosen, but I hope to God that they have the backbone to take on both the detractors of bilingualism and also the politicians who appointed them, for their attitude will shape the role for many years to come.

Without mentioning individuals, I have been disappointed in the list that has so far been suggested in the media. This role needs new blood, from someone with a background in supporting Welsh but also someone with some political nous and expertise in management. Frankly, I would be rather depressed if it was given to anyone with a previous link to the Language Board, as what sort of signal would this send out? The Language Board has for me been a major disappointment, with its senior management either not prepared or unable to step on any toes-even when the language was at times crying out for support. Just because you fall under the umbrella of the Civil Service does not mean that you cannot express your opinions and push new ideas; such actions having being scrupulously avoided by the Board management. A more 'conservative' bunch I have not come across in my 21 years working in the public service.

So let's hope that the talented who could take on this role and mould it into what the Welsh language needs, are actively encouraged to apply, as this may well be the last piece of Welsh language legislation for a very long time.

Come On You Super Swans

2011-08-14T23:41:00.001+01:00

The Late Great Robbie James

On the eve of the Swansea starting once again in the top football division, I watched highlights of the first home game 30 years ago, when we hammered Leeds Utd 5-1 at home. I had followed the Swans from the days of Harry Griffiths in the 4th Division through to Toshack and that amazing first season in the top division, when we never left the top 6 and frankly, should have won it.

Needless to say, I was at the Leeds game with my North Bank season ticket and when the final Curtis wonder goal went in, it was one of those magical sporting moments that you never forget. Mind you, I also never forgot the Leeds fans rampaging through town after the match, either. To be able to travel to all the famous clubs I had seen on TV and see my club compete and often beat them was a feeling of pride I will also never forget.

So when the Swans of 2011 step out to play Manchester City tomorrow, I hope that the team play with the same confidence and enjoyment that they did 30 years ago. The odds are against them with the obscene money that some clubs have, but I remember the same things being said in 1981. We shall see.

How Much is Materialism to Blame for Riots?

2011-08-12T13:21:00.000+01:00

I mentioned on an earlier blog this week, how I suspected the gang culture so prevalent in many English cities probably played a Key role in the violence and looting that took place there. On coming home from work at lunchtime today, the same point was made on the Radio Wales phone-in by an ex-gang member. He described with some passion the pressures that gang members were put under in order to conform, including having the right trainers, clothes and I.T. goods etc.

Now that I am a parent, I am becoming increasingly aware of the pressures on parents to conform to the demands of materialism from their children, whether it is from TV advertising or from friends in school. This is by no means a new phenomenon as I remember well such urges when I was a child, but the pressure now on young people to conform is immense. Of course, this is no excuse for what happened in England earlier this week, but it does make you question if the American path of consumerism and capitalism is necessarily a sustainable one to choose. It's not like many of us can afford new goods at the moment anyway, so let's see if Cameron and co will take such a radical line and challenge consumerism? Don't hold your breath.

BBC Does England an Injustice

2011-08-12T08:23:00.001+01:00

With all the media debate over the riots in England in recent days, I was frustrated that yet again, the BBC made a fundamental mistake in their coverage. Almost every time when an ethnic minority was referred to either by BBC Wales or Radio 4, they were 'Asians', 'Indians', 'Africans' etc.

Am I missing something here, as were not all these communities UK citizens and in fact English citizens? These ethnic communities or groupings in you like are Asian English, Indian English and African English. The ethnic origin defines where their ancestors/families are from, but why is it being continually used by the BBC to effectively define their nationality? They are just as English as any other Englishman or woman and so the top UK media outlet somehow defining them as separate is not exactly helpful at such times. So come on BBC, you are no longer in the days of Empire and Imperialism. Stop using ethnic origin to define nationality!

While on the Issue of London

2011-08-10T22:58:00.000+01:00

I'm sorry to kick the great city when it's down but prior to the riots, it became clear in the media that the Multi-billion pound CrossRail project in London was defined as 'UK' and not 'London.' Well. so what you may ask? Well, that particular Tory/Lib Dem definition has cost Wales approximately £260million; an amount that Wales would have received if it had been considered a 'Barnett Consequential.' When adding to this the cash taken from Wales to help pay for the London Olympics, the total figure that we are paying to the richest region of the UK is about £800 million. This figure would electrify the Valley lines, complete the mainline electrification to Swansea and still have some over to start the mainline electrification to Holyhead, but sadly, the money is gone and we face years of cuts.

Of course, you may argue that London's gain is our gain as it is 'our capital' after all. Well, I have not spotted too many unemployed teenagers from the Valleys welcoming the London bankers still receiving their bonuses after the economic collapse they played such a significant part in.

I do look forward to the day when the people of Wales realise that as long as they keep voting for British parties, they will continue to get policies and priorities largely alien to the needs of their own communities. Labour had 13 years to sort out fair funding and failed and the Tories and Libs are following in their footsteps, so why not use the ballot box to show your displeasure just as Scotland has done? After 5 years of Carywn standing still for Wales, I suspect that many maybe looking for that option.

It's now down to Plaid to offer it.

Let's All Pray for Rain

2011-08-10T22:55:00.000+01:00

The riots in recent days across England have been thoroughly depressing news, so I cannot imagine how soul-destroying it is for the communities directly affected. When I was a teenager, my brother was working in a Brixton pub when the Brixton riots kicked off. The building across the road was burnt down and the only reason why the pub stayed untouched, was the manager and bar staff were armed with baseball bats. That particular riot although linked to poverty, a recession and hot weather was largely driven by an openly racist Police force.

This week's riots across the towns and cities of England are a different animal altogether. Although arguably being triggered by a controversial shooting of a black man in London by the Police, the resulting looting was just looking for an excuse. As I publish this article, the riots have not yet materialised in Wales (the incidents last night in Cardiff were not matched with street violence and in all honesty happen occasionally anyway).

There has been speculation on the blogs that the lack of a defined Englishness has left many communities across the border bereft of a clear identity to share and while I believe this to be a significant problem for them, this still does not explain the utter lack of concern for many rioters' very own communities. The justice system will be as swift as it can to get individuals into Crown Court, as only then will some of these people realise the implications of being prosecuted under the umbrella of 'RIOT'. It will mean sentences of many years for individuals who have previously had clean records or no more than an ASBO and the sheer speed of the prosecutions will tragically net some genuinely innocent people.

All in all, it has been a depressing week for all within the UK and whether or not the nations outside England escape the violence, Wales will be labelled with the same condemnation as the rest of the World still thinks we are part of England anyway. Now, there's another good reason to have our own Olympic team!

Thoughts on Eisteddfod

2011-08-06T23:02:00.000+01:00

Well, what an enjoyable Eisteddfod. Our family had a marvellous time and Wrexham has been a wonderful host. So, what have been the highs and lows of the week?

HIGHS

Without doubt the very best traffic and car parking management that I have experienced, at any Maes.

A very compact and well laid out Maes.

A highly competitive standard I am informed.

Good weather, no mud and little dust.

A very warm welcome.

A lot of freebies for the sprogs.

Very good S4C TV coverage-you can't be that bad, can you?

LOWS

The fast food is frankly embarrassingly expensive.

When the Maes was really busy, the compact layout made things at times a little crowded.

The opening and final concerts were in my opinion (apart from the young singers in the opening gig), a little flat (from the tv view).

So diolch yn fawr Wrecsam and because of your efforts, our family will return and no doubt Welsh will flourish in the locality. A good result all round.

National Eisteddfod - Not Worth It?

2011-08-05T22:25:00.000+01:00

No doubt the headline to this blog will be music to the ears of all the Walesonline language bashers out there, but I am a little concerned about the perception some locals are having about what they are getting out of having the Maes for the week, and all it entails.

The main problem lies in the false belief that town centres will be packed by thousands of new faces from across the nation. This simply does not happen. However, this does not mean that a host town or community does not gain significantly - in all sorts of ways that initially are hard to quantify. As an analogy, look at how our capital has benefited from huge sporting events. Local shops complain that on the day, their business is actually down but the repeat visits from 'new tourists' are hugely significant and apart from all the accommodation being booked up for months and many local businesses actually doing very well out of the Eisteddfod, Wrexham has put itself on the map with people who have never previously been here. Myself along with my family are a good example. We will have stayed here for 8 days by the time we leave, we have never stayed here before and our eyes have well and truly been opened about the wealth of industrial and cultural history in the area. I confess that we sneaked off for a couple of days to local attractions and although we may well not be back in the near future here for a long family holiday, we will certainly consider a short break as there is much we would still like to see and re-visit.

So, my advice to the Eisteddfod on future sites is to sell what locals can quantify rather than what they can recognise as not a reality. The danger is that communities will start to become less favourable towards welcoming the Eisteddfod, not because they actually gain less than they think but because they are led to believe that the gains are instant for all. This misconception will help no-one but the language haters, so let's not give them an excuse.

We Are a Nation, Not a Building Society

2011-08-01T23:17:00.000+01:00

Well done to Plaid AM Leanne Wood for exposing the fact that in constitutional terms, Wales is a Country and not a principality. The latter requires a Prince to have some executive role with a nation/region he is linked to through title. In Wales this does not exist so in technical terms, we are now officially a country.
So the next time that you hear someone use the 'P' term in relation to Wales, challenge their error as it would be a snub to our whole identity, unless of course the person was after a mortgage and not a constitutional argument.

Tuesday Maes Update - Dust Supression Day

2011-08-01T14:15:00.000+01:00

I see the arrival of rain on the Maes as a wholly positive thing. The umbrella stalls make a killing, all the boring stands get visitors avoiding getting wet and above all, it keeps the dust down. The way the Maes has been laid out, you would be pushed to have any mud so it is no excuse not to turn up either.
Politicians are also starting to turn up but with the NUJ on strike, they are unlikely to get much coverage. We also have another leadership contest on the cards and one likely contender has already taken a prominant spot on the Plaid stand.
I have had my 5 minute break in Mudiad Meithrin and better get back to changing nappies and learning my berfau! It's all go at the Eisteddfod.

Maes Update - Brass, Dust & a New TV Star

2011-07-31T01:24:00.000+01:00

We spent our first day as a family on the Maes today and what a blast. May I first start for thanking Plaid for lending my wife's stand some milk- I always knew that it would pay off being a member. My suspicions that this was a well designed Maes were realised. What a great set-up. It takes some talent to match the landscape to requirement for stands, toilets and bars and they have pulled it off.
There were several highlights including a full brass band storing their instruments behind the stand for a few hours (they came third but got stage), our boys deciding that getting covered in dust was their priority in life and the youngest (all of 13 1/2 months) having his fist tv appearance, holding a 'first' card in his hand for a contest result, while crying his eyes out in his pram. Well, it's what you do on the Maes.
Tomorrow is the day when many locals attend and from the perspective of the future of Welsh, many would argue the most crucial day. Last year in Ebbw Vale, the locals day was packed and what a way to sell the advantages of Welsh Medium education to a community with so much potential demand for it. So let's hope that tomorrow is just as successful and that our boys sit down all day, avoid all dust and do not put embarassing stickers on my back without me knowing- the little cherubs!!!!Y

Maes Is Looking Good

2011-07-29T23:39:00.001+01:00

It's that time of year again when the family transfers itself to the National Eisteddfod and I have good news, as it is one of the best laid out Maes sites that I have seen. With some comprehensive road signage this year, you have no excuses for not finding it so if you care about the future of your language and culture, then why not pop along? I'll be easy to spot with 3 sproggs, a worn out green pram and a tan-I hope!

Guto Goes All Cockney On Us

2011-07-28T00:05:00.000+01:00

Cockney Comrades Guto & Boris

Laughing At (a book on) Wales

So Boris's sidekick Guto Harri finally shows his colours as a Cockney convert and puts the boot into his former nation. On hearing about criticisms about a lack of input from Wales into the Olympics, he stated ;-

"It's a bit late to complain that not enough has been distributed to Wales isn't it, because we have more or less settled these things for years."

"Did Carwyn, did the other people around him, do enough to offer Wales as a location for different things?"

Boris's favourite then went onto say: -

"You get nothing in life without asking for it. The days of sitting in Cardiff complaining about what governments in London are doing to Wales have long gone.

"Wales now has a medium to behave like an adult, not like a small child complaining."

Now, I actually have a little sympathy for some of his comments, as Carwyn has said little on the issue up until now and again to an extent he is right, we should be more grown up now that we have a Parliament.

However, what Mr Cockney Cymraeg did not recognise, was that Wales tried to get sports like mountain biking, sailing and canoeing, but were told that 'we were too far away'. So it was not for the want of trying, but we were never in the running.

Guto Harri has done what most good Welshmen and women do to get on in London when they move there, and slag off their homeland to gain favour with their bosses. He is not the first and will not be the last and missed an opportunity to do his homework and recognise that his former nation was never in the running.

However, I feel quite comfortable complaining about one of the poorest nations/regions in the UK funding over £500 million towards a 2 week sporting jolly for Guto and friends to have a ball, in one of the richest cities in Europe. That's not whingeing - that's an economic reality. Don't rush back Guto, there's a good lad. We are unlikely to miss you.