Politics Cymru (Free subscription) | yesterday
Well dear readers, I hate to be smug but, as I rightly predicted on this very blog some time ago, Jonathan Edwards has been selected by Plaid Cymru members to succeed Adam Price. Roughly 9.30pm last night the man from Ammanford won the ballot, securing the required number of votes in the first round of voting. Having interviewed him today – it’s apparent that party members have chosen the...
The Guardian (Free subscription) | yesterday
Latin America faces the greatest threat to its democracy in decades (International, 7 November). The military coup that overthrew elected president Manual Zelaya and seized power in Honduras in June is now seeking to legitimise its illegal government through the international recognition of elections on 29 November. Such recognition would give a green light to opponents of democracy throughout the...
A Change of Personnel (Free subscription) | 26/11/2009
A chance to improve the financial situation of Wales, to increase WAG’s and Welsh local authority’s budgets were well and truly flunked today and not just by the Welsh Secretary Peter Hain. Today’s statements from the Government and Opposition parties was entirely predictable with not a shred of courage or vision just the usual denial of reality and blame game. So here’s the...
Plaid Wrecsam (Free subscription) | 26/11/2009
Whatever the Lib Dems publish contains this little graph which is in effect an outright deception, whilst the figures themselves are right the context is totally wrong. Yes these were the total votes cast for the parties in Wrecsam County Borough Council wards that fall within Wrecsam Westminster Constituency in the 2008 council elections. But what these figures don't tell the reader is that there...
Welsh Ramblings (Free subscription) | 26/11/2009
It is excellent news that even in a time of recession and economic crisis, one of Plaid's Ministers is co-ordinating record levels of spending on affordable housing. Jocelyn keeps a lower profile than many other Plaid elected representatives, but her work-rate on housing has clearly contributed to today's news that investment in affordable housing has gone up 20%. This is in spite of warnings from...
A Change of Personnel (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
I’m sure there was a lot of anticipation in Cardiff Bay over Welsh Secretary Peter Hain’s speech on the Queen’s Speech following his statement yesterday, but it turned out to be a bit of a damp squib, he said he saw no inconsistency between the two statements and stuck to his line about having a referendum when it could be won, apart from that it was pretty predictable stuff, Labour...
Gwilym Euros Roberts (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
Mae'r erthygl yma ar dudalen flaen a thudalen 4 Daily Post heddiw yn hynod drawiadol. A'i dweud mae "Arweinydd"Cyngor Gwynedd yw ei fod o Phlaid Cymru wedi gwneud tro pedol ac eu bod nhw bellach am warchod ysgolion a pheidio a symud ymlaen gyda'r bwriad i gau hyd at 25 i 30 o ysgolion yng Ngwynedd. Os felly mae o yw longyfarch ac mae cynnwys yr erthygl yma i'w groesawu'n fawr. Ar y llaw arall...
Politics Cymru (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
So what is Welsh Labour’s stance on the timing of a referendum? Well if you read this statement sent out yesterday lunchtime by Peter Hain, Rhodri Morgan and Gary Owen (Welsh Labour Chair) it seems obvious. “ Our internal policy process has already begun: Welsh Labour’s Welsh Joint Policy Committee has met, prioritised the need to campaign for a General Election victory, and agreed...
icWales (Free subscription) | 25/11/2009
TALKS to seal a deal to sell land to steel-makers Celsa for a future major expansion of its Cardiff operations are continuing, Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks has learnt.
A Change of Personnel (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
It was certainly a day of drama in the Assembly today over the timing of a referendum and Welsh Labour Party’s official response to it, which if you believe the reports almost resulted in the Labour/Plaid coalition imminent collapse – something I doubt, but Rhodri and Ieuan hurried statement issued earlier this evening is a sign of how difficult things remain between the parties. So what’s...
Scots and Independent (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
Interesting developments today in Wales, where all hell appeared to break loose after Labour put out a press release declaring that there would be no more progress on a referendum on further devolution until after the general election. Referendum? Further devolution? Labour? Yes, you read the above correctly. Enacted by a Labour government and supported by the Lib Dems, as a result of the 2006 Government...
Cambria Politico (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
The Welsh Labour Party issued a statement at noon on Tuesday from Rhodri Morgan and Peter Hain, Secretary of State for Wales, which was read differently by the two coalition parties. It is clear that Labour is more cautious on a referendum that Plaid Cymru. Labour fears that a No vote “could set back devolution for several decades”. Of course, some senior figures in Labour have an aim of...
A View from Rural Wales (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
'The Old Man and the Sea' by Ernest Hemingway is a very good book. I've read it twice. When David Cameron delivered his ' Broughton Statement' it was the equivalent of old Santiago casting his line. The Welsh Labour Party takes the role of the unfortunate marlin who took Santiago's bait. Labour can huff and puff and thrash around all it likes - but there is no escape. There will be no veto of a request...
Welsh Ramblings (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
There's no need to get excited as the predicted collapse of the Welsh Government has failed to happen. But it's clear that Plaid Cymru flexed its muscles earlier and simply will not be taken for a ride. Rhodri Morgan under pressure in the Senedd Chamber appeared to contradict his press release with Peter Hain and the Party Chair. In the statement with Hain and Garry Owen, it appeared that the leadership...
Peter Black AM (Free subscription) | 24/11/2009
All hell has broken out in the Assembly with the release of a joint statement co-signed by the First Minister to the effect that Labour will not even consider the timing of a referendum until after the General Election. According to legal advice circulated to all Assembly Members, if that happens then it is almost certain that a referendum will not be held within the timescale envisaged by the One...
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