Borthlas (Free subscription) | yesterday
I've noted previously that there's a danger that people over-react to statements made by Labour's leadership hopefuls. We all need to remember that they are appealing to a particular audience for a particular purpose. Today's little storm over whether Carwyn Jones is in order to 'consult' the Labour Party over the timing of any referendum is a case in point. The commitment to holding a referendum on...
Plaid Cymru Llundain London (Free subscription) | yesterday
Cameron commits himself to agreeing to a referendum on further powers. Can we trust him after their U turn on a Lisbon Treaty referendum ....obviously not. Labour commits itself to a Coalition agreement with Plaid on Plaid`s condition that there is a referendum on further powers. Can we trust them ? Obviously not! Peter Hain has been laying the ground for scrapping a referendum, while UK Labour leader...
This is my truth (Free subscription) | yesterday
There will be people who think that this is the wrong time to be discussing holding a referendum, Rhodri Morgan told an audience in Aberystwyth last night. But there will be others who will have “a more optimistic vision”, the First Minister said in a lecture to the Welsh Political Archive. What could that mean? I understand [...]
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
It was always likely to happen but all the same let's note the day the sharp elbows truly came out in the race to succeed Rhodri Morgan. Yesterday the Carwyn Jones campaign put out a press release to be made public this morning. "TIME TO LEAD - POWER MEANS RESPONSIBILITY" said the headline. So far, so the usual attempt at the weekend to look full of ideas and get reported. But hang on and...
Plaid Wrecsam (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
Llongyfarchiadau i T. James Jones neu Jim Parc Nest ar gael ei ddewis yn Archdderwydd yn dilyn marwolaeth Dic Jones. Fe fydd Jim yn cael ei urddo yn Archdderwydd yng nghyhoeddiad Steddfod Wrecsam ar y 3ydd o Orffennaf 2010. Dewiswyd Jim yn dilyn penderfyniad Mererid Hopwood i dynnu ei henw yn ol. Mae'n rhaid i fi gyfaddef ryw chydig o siom na ddewiswyd Mererid fel y ddynes gyntaf i fod yn Archdderwyddes...
Borthlas (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
At long last, David Cameron has managed to climb down from one of his many fences and agree that he would not veto a referendum on additional powers if he were to be in government, and if the Assembly were to request one. In reality, Cameron must have seen that he didn't really have a lot of choice; there was only one sensible answer that he could have given. And unless we want to believe that he's...
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
On St Andrew's Day I wonder how tempted Alex Salmond will be to raise some questions -perhaps answer a few - about his future plans for an independent Scotland? How soon after that would the UK Government be obliged to offer their own answers to come questions raised by the Calman Commission earlier this year. Will they take the same opportunity to respond to the Holtham Commission? It's questions,...
Borthlas (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
One way and another, I get to read a lot of documents (sad life, I know) produced by various government bodies at different levels. Some I have the pleasure of translating; others I read as background or for research purposes. One thing that jumps out at me is the way that some words are used with increasing frequency; and sometimes in ways which seem designed to press the right buttons, but don't...
David Cornock's other blog (Free subscription) | 06/11/2009
Bit of a headache for Welsh political hacks this one. We're now going to have to think of another question to ask David Cameron's people in Wales now he is confirming that a Conservative government would not block a request from the Welsh Assembly to hold a referendum on its powers.* When Cheryl Gillan told us at the Tory conference in Manchester "we will let the people decide" she really...
Welsh Ramblings (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
Credit to the indefatigable Syniadau for drawing attention to today's official launch of the National Theatre Wales. An English-language National Theatre for Wales is long overdue. It was first announced in 2007 as part of the One Wales deal, and will now run as a touring theatre to different venues across the country, like Scotland's National Theatre. Another feather in the cap for Wales' creative...
Welsh Ramblings (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
It's news to us, but Wales apparently holds the chair of the 'Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development' with Jane Davidson able to be involved on the fringes of the Copenhagen Summit. A good article at Wales Home has alerted us to this, it's quite a coup for Wales to be leading this international alliance, though i'm sure even Jane Davidson doesn't want us to be a 'Regional Government'...
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
YOU know what 'aura' is, don't you? Ah yes, in Wales we're very good at piling on the pressure, stoking the fire, talking up your side's chances, questioning the other side's aura of infallibility ahead of the big match . Appearing confident, as if that trophy's yours is half the psychological battle after all. Confident, unafraid, on course - good. Cocky, complacent, dismissive, in the bag - bad....
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
Ok, so I was wrong. David Cameron will not let it be known - not long after the All Wales Convention reports - that a Conservative Secretary of State would not veto a request for a referendum on law-making powers if one is made. Wrong because he's in North Wales tomorrow and if asked - and let's face it, Mr Cameron doesn't make it over the border without being asked - he will apparently give a clear...
Borthlas (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
The closer they get to a scent of power, the more obvious it becomes that the Tories remain split from top to bottom over the UK's relationship with the European Union. Most members of the Conservative Party are, at heart, deeply sceptical about the idea that political power should lie anywhere other than Westminster. From that perspective, sharing sovereignty at European level is much akin to devolving...
Borthlas (Free subscription) | 05/11/2009
I have no intention of responding on a detailed basis to today's story in the Western Mail, which repeats the usual inaccuracies and half-truths (including publishing a highly edited version of a letter as though it were the complete text) which I have come to expect of all reporting on this issue. There are two things which remain a mystery to me, though. The first is why any party member who was...
Videos