ffranc sais (Free subscription) | yesterday
On top of the accusation of spending cuts planned by the Conservatives (as opposed to "challenges" to Labour ;-)), the Tories are now accused of homophobia. Today's Independent piece by Jane Merrick sums up the battle so far. MP for Rhondda, and Deputy Leader of the Commons, Chris Bryant went so far as to say: "If gays vote Tory, they will rue the day very soon." But this concerted...
Plaid Wrecsam (Free subscription) | yesterday
Nigel Farage the Leader of UKIP's 13 MEP's has formed an alliance of 30 MEP's called the Europe of Freedom and Democracy Group. Now what is worrying is that UKIP are described as the most moderate party in the group, which makes one think who the hell are the others. Well the second largest group is Italy's Lega Nord party with 9 MEP's which is described as anti immigrant and xenophobic...the leader...
ffranc sais (Free subscription) | 04/07/2009
I turned to Craig Murray's blog to see what his reaction, as a former insider, was to the announcement that United Kingdom foreign aid was to be "rebranded". Instead, I find that he is yet another candidate in the by-election on July 23rd caused by the resignation of Dr Ian Gibson. As a very credible contender, no doubt fighting on a platform of human rights and for honesty in government,...
Bevan Foundation Blog (Free subscription) | 04/07/2009
It's time for a refresh. And for some reinforcements. The Bevan Foundation blog is being re-styled and redesigned. Now it will have six regular contributors and be open to others to make occasional posts. The hope is it will become a forum for debate. We've taken a famous quote from Nye Bevan as our inspiration..." This is my truth , now tell me yours" Come and join us
ffranc sais (Free subscription) | 03/07/2009
I am still waiting for that well-known cat lover Peter Black to comment on the Question Time team being upstaged by a cat, so I shall provide the link myself.
The Half-Blood Welshman (Free subscription) | 03/07/2009
There seems to be a new line of Labour attack recently. Rather than concentrating on the pig's lughole that is the economy, smear your opponents for making personal attacks - and then go on to make a few of your own. It has to be said, this is more likely to be successful than trying to get Gordon Brown to talk about "0%" growth, which made me wonder again why nobody put him quickly and painlessly...
Borthlas (Free subscription) | 03/07/2009
After giving evidence to the All-Wales Convention last week, I noted that I wasn't entirely sure how to read some of the lines of questioning. Was Sir Emyr merely playing devil's advocate, or were his questions telling us something about the way he's thinking? As a follow-up, there were aspects of his article in yesterday's Western Mail which left me wondering whether he isn't trying too hard to give...
Bevan Foundation Blog (Free subscription) | 03/07/2009
OK so here goes, I am sticking my head up above the parapet on AM and MP expenses. Not defending anyone, not defending anything, but reflecting on the last few weeks. It's obvious but needs saying, but if we want politicians that are not just from wealthy backgrounds but from all sorts then we have to pay them, and cover the costs of them doing their jobs. This includes an allowance for somewhere to...
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
First, swine flu seemed to stay away from Wales. Health officials kept saying it would be coming soon and they were, of course, right. Why would Wales be immune? And with it has come the need to pay for the swine flu vaccination programme. The question is, who pays? Rhodri Morgan has written to the Chancellor in the past few weeks and his letter - probably - went something like this. Dear Mr Darling,...
David Cornock's other blog (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
Blogging may be a little lighter than usual during the next 10 days as I'm taking a short seaside break. Radio Wales listeners should not adjust their set if they do not hear my voice at 6.35am. On past form, some major political event will happen in my absence although hopefully my employers will have a Cessna standing by should my immediate return from Bognor Regis be required. I will of course interrupt...
Leanne Wood AM/AC (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
Is there growing support for a Welsh Republic? Following hot on the heels of 50 MSPs not attending the Queen's address to the Scots Parliament , Labour's John Griffiths AM, has joined Bethan Jenkins and I to welcome the launch of Republic Wales : "Republic is set to launch a Welsh campaign following an increase of interest sparked by the 40th anniversary of the investiture of the Prince of Wales....
Betsan Powys' blog (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
On what will Roger Jones and his panel, who've looking carefullly at what AMs can claim in expenses and allowances, have honed in I wonder? Will he have got up this morning and smiled quietly having read our story which reveals the very common practice of AMs and MPs renting offices from their own parties. Fine if done properly you might say. Why shouldn't political parties who have well-known offices...
ffranc sais (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
The legislative log-jam has already been exposed as a spurious excuse for shelving Labour's plans to privatise Royal Mail. Now, the reason put forward is that “Market conditions have made it impossible to find a partner on terms that would make it value for money to the taxpayer” (see Liberal Voice ). But, as Robert Peston pointed out on BBC yesterday, conditions for attracting private...
Andrew Nutt (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
I recently asked for your views on what we should do next . One contributor, Brian Smith, offered a measured defence of the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Some of his comments I agreed with, including his final parargraph: “You will only defeat them intellectually, with facts. Yah booing across the interweb will get no one anywhere.” But I profoundly disagreed with this: “Expecting the...
Andrew Nutt (Free subscription) | 02/07/2009
The very concept of an alliance of "ordinary taxpayers" is a nonsense. We are all taxpayers and so the TaxPayers' Alliance might as well claim to represent everyone. It in fact claims 20,000 supporters – an impressive enough figure, but one that represents just 0.04% of the adult population in Britain. What about the other 99.96%? The shadowy Tax Payers Alliance claims to be supporting...
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