Chanticleer

My Welsh Blogosphere

2009-05-26T11:38:00.002+01:00

You can read my contribution to Dave Raybould's series 'My Welsh Blogosphere' at the Welsh Bloggers website.

Reported Missing

2009-05-17T12:22:00.003+01:00

Much curiosity this afternoon over which assembly government minister's Blackberry has gone missing.

Tory AM Darren Millar's released data he's requested about the WAG gadgets that have been lost or stolen in the last few years, and what they cost to replace.

Almost £21,000 in total.

The figures reveal one ministerial Blackberry was lost or stolen in 2008, costing around £250 to replace.

Civil servants have managed to lose 28 laptops since 2006, with the taxpayer footing a near £19,000 replacement bill.

There are no details of whether these items were left on trains or stolen at gunpoint, so I remain open-minded as to whether the computers went missing due to forgetfulness or criminality.

Civil servants also reported six Blackberries and two other mobile phones went missing up until the end of 2008 (£1,740).

Breakdown of losses
2005: no losses were reported
2006: 16 laptops lost/stolen [All civil servants]
2007: 4 laptops lost/stolen [All civil servants]
2008: 8 laptops lost/stolen [All civil servants]; 7 blackberries lost/stolen [6 civil servants and 1 Minister/Deputy Minister]; 2 mobile phones lost/stolen [All civil servants]

Average Costs
Laptops £678
Blackberries £250
Mobile Phones £120

Total Costs
Laptops £18,984
Blackberries £1,750
Mobile Phones £240

Grand Total £20,974

The costs don't include the items already reported missing during the first quarter of 2009: three laptops (civil servants), four mobiles (civil servants) and three Blackberries (from two civil servants and one special adviser).

BNP leaflets "illegal"?

2009-05-17T09:02:00.003+01:00

Adam Price wants the Royal Mail to stop delivering the BNP's European election leaflets.

The Plaid MP says they're illegal, because photos accompanying quotes from supporters are stock photographs of models - rather than snaps of the supporters themselves.

Do photos of Nick Griffin not bring out the vote?

Ironically, given the BNP's anti-immigration policy, some of the models are likely to be foreigners. That's because the image details on istockphoto.com show some of the photos were taken by US-based photographers.

Plaid say the leaflet deliberately misrepresents people's views, infringes copyright, and breaches the Royal Mail's rules on the distribution of election material.

Adam Price says 'It is a sick irony that the people photographed, and indeed the photographers are from other countries - the very people that the BNP seeks to demonize.'

In reality, it is unlikely that a legal challenge will succeed and it seems the preferred method for attacking the BNP is to offer a public condemnation of their policies and constitution.

There are events taking place in Swansea, Cardiff and Flint this morning as part of Hope Not Hate Day.

Image: Formication/Flickr Creative Commons license

Dorries Denial

2009-05-15T17:28:00.003+01:00

Tory MP Nadine Dorries has pre-empted a Telegraph story about her expenses claims with a pretty forceful rebuttal on her own blog.

Seems like she sat on the Caps Lock button in the process.

The one recurring theme in the expenses saga appears to be the suggestion that MPs have claimed money for all of the items that appear on a submitted receipt. The MP then denies that specific items (mini bar drinks in Dorries' case, feminine hygiene products in the case of another male member) were ever intended to be refunded.

There are plenty of legs in this story yet, and it's doing wonders for the Telegraph's sales figures.

More Twit-fluence

2009-05-13T12:43:00.003+01:00

I've updated my list of the influential Welsh people you should be following on Twitter.

Micro-blogging is all the rage, dontcha know?

Click here to see the list.

If you want to follow me on Twitter, click http://twitter.com/huwthomas

Gurkha Update

2009-05-11T23:34:00.003+01:00

Miss Wagstaff has a helpful rundown of which Welsh MPs voted with the government against further settlement rights for Gurkha veterans (those who retired pre-1997).

My previous comments on the Gurkha issue can be found here.

"Johnson for PM"

2009-05-11T23:11:00.002+01:00

Polly Toynbee, the unashamed champion of Gordon Brown's premiership and continual Labour optimist, uses tomorrow morning's Guardian column to call on Brown to stand down.

'It's all over for Brown and Labour. The abyss awaits.'

In a damning critique of his leadership, she denounces his destruction of Labour's electoral chances, and says his promises on closing the wealth gap have all come to nothing.

'As long as he remains leader, there is nothing that wretched Labour candidates can plausibly say on the doorstep at next month's European elections. They are struck dumb. Why should people vote for them?'

'The horse manure bought on expenses is garnish for a decomposing government. The heart of the matter is the economy, and Brown's responsibility for the bubble years.'

'He personally is to blame for Labour's failure to ensure that ordinary people on median incomes and poor people at the bottom received a bigger share in national growth: it turns out that they fell back and only the wealthy prospered.'

'Labour made the rich richer and the poor poorer: growth for the few, not the many.'

Toynbee says only Alan Johnson can restore any respect to the role of Prime Minister, and to the Labour party. She also says Johnson is the only man capable of offering anything resembling a challenge to Cameron's Conservatives (though she concedes Labour still won't win).

On the morning of June 5, the morning after the Euro-elections, the men in grey suits should knock on Gordon Brown's door. So says Polly.

European Dilemmas

2009-05-07T21:48:00.004+01:00

The Conservatives, now surely worth a flutter to win next year's general election, would do well to read yesterday's editorial in the Financial Times ahead of next month's European poll.

My brief sojourn to Brussels last month was enlightening. It was evident that the thorny issues surrounding the Conservatives' membership of the EPP group in the parliament had yet to be resolved.

David Cameron has stated that he wants the Tory MEPs to withdraw from the EPP, which has more federalist ambition than CCHQ can comfortably cope with.

But the FT argues an interesting point: if Cameron's Conservatives want influence in Europe, the EPP is about the only place they can achieve it.

EPP members chair committees and thus help shape European policies; its members come from centre-right governments which run influential European states; it is the parliament's largest group, and withdrawing from it amounts to surrendering real power in Brussels.

When British politicians attempt to convince the electorate that Europe really matters, it isn't just hyperbole. Europe has real influence which is beyond the appreciation of many voters, and while the Conservatives can be more confident than their opponents of governing Britain in a year's time, they risk giving up the power they already wield at a European level by retreating from the EPP.

Gurkhas: Opportunity Lost

2009-04-29T22:17:00.004+01:00

Forgive this foray into matters not directly associated with Welsh politics.

I'm currently in London and last week I covered the small gathering of Gurkhas in Westminster as the Home Office posted an announcement on its website about the new immigration rules for Gurkha soldiers.

As I spoke to Gurkha veterans, their representatives and supporters, it became clear that they were fully expecting a restrictive and controversial decision by the government. And they got one.

Once the new regulations were revealed, the sense of scandal amongst those former soldiers and their relatives who had gathered to witness the publication was palpable.

Despite the rhetoric of the Gurkhas' spokesman and the visible emotion of the actress Joanna Lumley, there was constant discussion amongst the politically-minded who were monitoring the morning's events that it could have all been so different.

Gordon Brown and his government are in desperate need of a 'good news' story. And when the opportunity for one presented itself in the chance to extend a welcome to this band of soldiers and their families, the chance was batted away with such force that it created waves of revulsion not only amongst the Gurkha campaigners but among the popular press and a great many of their readership.

And so, five days later, the Labour government has suffered only its fourth Commons defeat since the party came to power in 1997. Gordon Brown, through the Home Office decision not to relax the rules on Gurkha immigration into Britain, has not only lost an opportunity to court public opinion at a time when the economy and an approaching flu pandemic are souring the mood of the nation even further. He has also deepened the resentment of the popular press towards his government, and further boosted the Conservatives' ambitions for a landslide victory at the next general election.

I have resisted writing-off the government's chances of staying in power past the next national poll, but surely there can be little chance of saving Labour if policy decisions and ministers' public attitudes continue to rile the electorate quite so effectively.

Brussels Bound

2009-04-12T19:14:00.004+01:00

I'm off to Brussels tomorrow until Wednesday with some other hacks to explore the delights of the European Parliament.

If you'd like to keep up with this continental adventure, follow me on Twitter. There may be photos too, if I work out how to post them.

Just go to http://twitter.com/huwthomas and click 'Follow'. You'll need to register first, if you haven't done so already.

More Baldrick than Blackadder

2009-04-12T10:38:00.002+01:00

The demise of Damien McBride, the implication of Derek Draper and the ridicule of AneurinGlyndwr shows that Labour's online operations are still more Baldrick than Blackadder.

"Cunning plans" galore, excitable egos and a vat of high ambition have so far allowed every significant Labour attempt at launching a successful "grassroots" blog to fall flat on its arse within moments of it being launched.

I've blogged previously about Labour's desire to launch a credible grassroots blog presence in Wales. Unsurprisingly, this desire is mirrored nationally, too. But is it the curse of being in power, the over-ambition of junior staffers, or the lack of a concerted and coordinated blog strategy which is proving deadly for Labour's online operations?

In truth, it's probably a dangerous combination of all three. In Wales, Plaid Cymru - a party of government - have the best record in creating credible, even successful blogs. The other parties' online adventures all pale in comparison. But Labour's efforts are only so risible because they fail to learn from the trailer-load of dead sites that precede every new blog attempt.

Aneurin Glyndwr has split the groups of staffers in the Welsh assembly who have been so keen to boost Labour's blog credentials. LabourList has similarly cast a divide between Draper's darlings and the party members who hoped they'd left Mandelsonian tactics behind them.

For blog observers like myself, who spend more time reaping the online political community for stories as opposed to contributing to it that regularly, the only option is to sit and wait for the next installment of Labour's dire blog story.

The eager amongst you will be pleased to hear that plans are afoot for a significant online operation during the forthcoming Welsh Labour leadership race this autumn. I understand that the campaigns of both Huw Lewis and Carwyn Jones, the front-runners to replace Rhodri Morgan, are keen to utilise the internet during their bids to lead the party. It remains to be seen whether the last few weeks have encouraged or quelled those ambitions.

Blogging above its weight

2009-04-06T21:13:00.006+01:00

The verdict from Plaid Cymru's Blogging for Change session at their spring conference on Friday was that Wales is blogging above its weight.

A question from Betsan Powys about how the panel rated Welsh blogs compared to those churned out in Scotland produced a few blank faces. I've only ever read one Scottish blog - that of Brian Taylor, the Beeb's Scottish political editor.

Iain Dale said Wales is consistently producing more blogs of better quality than those in Scotland, despite our smaller population and less devolved political system.

It's true that Wales' appetite for political blogs appears to be insatiable. I find new ones every week, and consistently fail to keep up with who's blogging where and under what identity.

At the blogging event there were the inevitable questions about the introverted nature of Wales's blog scene. Yes, I agree that Welsh blogs are largely written and read by a core of political activists, party workers and politics junkies. But I also believe they provide an important forum for debate, and they're a great document of Wales's changing political make-up - especially since the last assembly election.

I also pleaded an impassioned defence for journalists who, like me, reap the blogs for any tit-bits, gossip and scandal that would merit inclusion in a mainstream news programme. It was suggested that this is 'lazy' journalism. I argued that it wasn't, but I'm not entirely sure I won the audience over.

As for the 'buzz' about Plaid's conference? I'm hardly in a position to judge, as I was only there for a couple of hours and only attended the event that I took part in.

I was slightly disappointed by the PlaidLive attempt - which should have had Twitter entries marked with #plaidconf tag appearing automatically on plaidlive.com. I was told that this stream had to be filtered, and individual Twitter users approved in advance, because of some pranksters choosing to be less than kind about Plaid's spring gathering.

So the online debate wasn't as open as it could have been - but the appetite for online discussion about Welsh politics was certainly whetted.

Lecturing the lecturers

2009-04-01T21:57:00.002+01:00

At times it seemed like there were more journalists and politicians stood amongst the placards than the genuine protesters at the Senedd today.

Lecturers were calling for the assembly government to stop cutting FE budgets, and members of the ruling coalition parties were itching to jump up and shower support on the couple of hundred who'd got a coach to Cardiff Bay.

80 jobs have gone, said some. Hundreds more will go, said others.

Alun Davies, Joyce Watson, Rhodri Glyn Thomas and Helen Mary Jones waxed lyrical about their sympathy, their passion, their desire to help stop these dreadful cuts. Their passion couldn't be doubted. Could it?

Stand by for the wrath of Kirsty Williams. Bounding up to the megaphone, the Lib Dem leader barely needed amplification to slam the Labour and Plaid AMs who she suggested were all talk, no trousers.

After all, when it came to the vote, did they back their government's budget plans - or rebel? You guessed it.

Welsh Political Blogging

2009-03-30T20:55:00.004+01:00

Peter Black and Marcus Warner both kindly agreed to be interviewed for a piece I put together on Welsh political blogs for my postgrad course.

Before you ask, it was filmed 24hrs before I knew about AneurinBevan.com, so the recent ins-and-outs of the Welsh blogs don't get a mention.

A heavy cold means I sound particularly bunged up on the voice over!

Labour staffers unite

2009-03-24T16:20:00.003Z

Labour staffers at the assembly have released a statement in response to the online attacks on Carwyn Jones' media officer Luke Ellis in recent weeks.

It is fairly clear to us however, that such anonymous blogging is taking place from outside of the Labour Party and it is for others to judge what it says about Labour's political opponents in Wales that they would muster this kind of energy, time, resources and malice to attack fellow staff behind the coward's cloak of anonymity.

You can read the whole statement on Marcus Warner's blog here - it's signed by Luke Holland and Matt Greenough from Huw Lewis's office, and by Luke Ellis and Anthony Taylor from Carwyn Jones's staff.

Both sides are keen to distance themselves from what appears to be an orchestrated campaign to suggest that there is a bitter tension between the camps ahead of the autumn's Labour leadership race.

That there will be competition between them is undeniable. But that either side would launch the sort of anonymous attacks which have emerged from brand new Welsh blogs in the last couple of weeks is highly dubious.

Blogging for Change

2009-03-23T12:46:00.006Z

Occasional readers will know that my participation in political gatherings has previously been limited to ad-hoc Green Party coffee mornings at my childhood home while I was still in nappies.

However I will attend my first Plaid Cymru spring conference at UWIC in Cardiff next week, in an impartial capacity.

Along with Iain Dale, Heledd Fychan, John Dixon and Dyfrig Jones I will take part in a fringe event called Blogging for Change. It's chaired by Bethan Jenkins and starts at 2pm on Friday, April 3rd.

Without giving too much away, my opening remarks will probably give Rhodri Glyn a name-check. I'll be talking about the moments that Welsh blogs and the mainstream media collide, and the Twitter take-off too. Hope to see some of you there.

Luke Ellis shuts down

2009-03-18T20:34:00.003Z

Luke Ellis has decided to stop blogging.

His brief time as a blogger propelled him into the Western Mail after he suggested that fellow Bridgend resident Howard Marks should front an assembly government campaign highlighting the dangers of taking drugs.

Luke works for Carwyn Jones, the Bridgend AM with Labour leadership ambitions.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that Luke kept the blog going after the story appeared. Reading the post concerned shows that it doesn't quite offend as much as the Western Mail would perhaps have liked.

However much the MP for Monmouth is outraged by Luke's blog, the paper's inability to gather condemnation from drugs counsellors, or even the probation service, exposes a thinly-veiled agenda.

Luke was filling a big gap in vibrant grass-roots Welsh Labour blogs, I hope he eventually ventures back to plug it.

Top-up fees take-off

2009-03-18T16:40:00.003Z

Welsh students have had it too good.

That, at least, appears to be the assembly government's conclusion as it announces that the fee remission grant will be withdrawn from September next year.

So students from families living off modest incomes will now face the full whack when it comes to paying their tuition fees. Just as in England, there will be no government grant to pay the difference; and there will be no financial incentive for a student to attend a Welsh institution ahead of one over the border.

I should presumably count myself lucky. Two years of studying medicine (£2,600) and three years of English Literature (£3,900) mean I - eventually - got a degree that cost me just £6,500. Someone in my own situation could reasonably expect to pay up to that amount for every year of their studies if vice chancellors get their wish to remove the cap on fees altogether.

But surveying the higher education landscape, and there is a sea-change in attitudes towards top-up fees. Ben Gray, the sometimes controversial leader of NUS Wales, does not attack the notion of top-up fees in his public statements. Instead, he appears to be trying to build a consensus that will see students from the poorest backgrounds given the help they need to get through university, and those from middle-income families not priced out of their higher education plans altogether.

And then there's Plaid Cymru. Long the party opposed to forcing Welsh students to pay top=up tuition fees, its leadership has capitulated to the demands of its government coalition partners against the wishes of some of its own assembly members and a vast swathe of its grass roots support.

Middle-income Welsh families have had their university honeymoon. The cost of educating their children will certainly increase. And the cost to NUS Wales and Plaid Cymru? Damage limitation exercises are already underway.

L/Cpl Chris Harkett

2009-03-15T23:28:00.002Z

Human tragedy is a resource that's often over-used and exaggerated to attract ratings or increase print circulation.

But in a very intense 36 hours, the death of L/Cpl Chris Harkett in Afghanistan has been a difficult story to cover in our newsroom.

A fortnight ago, Chris was one of the soldiers from the Royal Welsh who featured in Red Dragon FM's profile of servicemen heading to the front line in Afghanistan. He wasn't originally lined up to be interviewed, but he approached our location team with such enthusiasm that they had to let him tell his story. He had grown up with the military, he had served alongside his father, and he was proud of his family's close association with the regiment.

In his interview he spoke of his passion for the military, and the close affinity he had for the men in his regiment. He told of the closeness with which the group operated, and how he felt protective of his colleagues ahead of their deployment to Helmand province.

With goose pimples we listened back to his interview today. It made us all appreciate his commitment to the cause, and whether one supports or opposes military intervention in Afghanistan, the tragedy of Chris's story produces a reminder of the real cost of conflict, and the unimaginable hurt his family must be feeling today.

After much discussion with the MoD and Chris's family in Pontardawe, his interview will be played in news bulletins on Red Dragon FM tomorrow morning from 6AM.

Starting an online revolution

2009-03-09T12:11:00.006Z

Regardless of whether you agree with Plaid's ambitions for an independent Wales, taking a look at their new single-issue website shows the party is taking something of a lead in developing its online credentials.

Its Wales Can site uses a simple interface, short and engaging videos, and case studies which show how "real" people feel about the independence issue. It also encourages supporters to donate online - ring any bells?

Granted, it's all fairly shameless propaganda for their cause, but the way it's been done is certainly novel for British party politics.

It's already a cliche to talk about the internet generation, but while Plaid's traditional voters get older the party appears to be ahead of the game in terms of drawing in younger recruits. Those young recruits need optimism and to feel engaged by party politics. Plaid's using Web 2.0 ideas to draw in Supporters 2.0

Plaid is also the most active Welsh party on Twitter and Facebook, and their elected members are perhaps a little looser in their language than other parties' more reserved approach.

Getting the message across properly on social networking sites is of far greater electoral advantage than writing a blog. Imagining that a political blog appeals to anything but a niche audience is getting ideas above one's station, and only through proper manipulation of social networking sites can politicians hope to influence potential supporters.

The are some drawbacks facing Plaid's new site, though.

With just 3 million people in Wales, they're not going to raise anything like Obama with their new donation button.

All the online tricks in the world won't necessarily draw in supporters to such a controversial issue as Welsh independence.

And remember Webcameron? That hardly enthused the voters, did it? The likes of Twitter and Facebook weren't used to exploit its arrival, and discussions about it were reserved for blogs and lobby columns.

Plaid's new website might not even last a year, but its arrival is a significant shift in the use of political propaganda and other parties' own online operations could do better than ignore Wales Can's arrival.

Independence Opportunities

2009-03-08T22:31:00.003Z

In the morning, Plaid Cymru jump from the frying pan and into the fire by launching a website to promote independence.

Called Wales Can (or All Cymru in Welsh) it's going to be 'an interactive forum to discuss and debate the opportunities independence can offer,' and include articles and videos on the bonuses of going solo.

While independence is still (subtly) party policy, it's another potentially divisive issue at a time when Plaid appears to have only just avoided civil war over student top-up fees.

As far as I can tell, the website is intended as an airing of the independence ideology as opposed to a step-up in the party's ambition to split Wales from the rest of the UK. Having said that, I've not seen any more than the holding page for the site - for all I know there could be images of a burning Buckingham Palace and a call for revolution behind its simple facade.

The site is launched by Helen Mary Jones at 11:00. Let's hope the rush for a glimpse doesn't send the servers down in Ty Gwynfor, or we'll never know if the revolution involves blood or ballots.

Housekeeping

2009-03-08T17:23:00.001Z

I've reorganised all the external links on the left of the blog - there's comment, AMs, MPs and journalists.

Only the top five most recently updated blogs are shown, so click "show more" beneath the list to check I've linked to you.

Leave a message in the comments if I haven't!

Change the record, Gordon

2009-03-08T08:08:00.009Z

If he still wanted to return to the cabinet, Peter Hain may have put the proverbial nail in his coffin of ambitions with today's piece in The Independent:

Despite Gordon Brown's best efforts, Labour has not had a clear enough narrative right across government. Ministers have developed a habit of making technocratic speeches where the very purpose of Labour gets lost. On TV and radio, some now sound more like managers than politicians.

Hain's criticism of Gordon's message and his ministers' public performance is already provoking speculation of another threat to the leadership.

Previous rebellions have focused around smaller names amongst Labour's back-benchers, but Hain's clout as a former minister means his call for a change of direction and a renewal of the government's purpose carry significant weight.

Some of Labour's biggest names are now not only unhappy with Labour's direction or its leader, they're also unhappy with the woman who's lining herself up to be his replacement.

Harriet Harman, Hain's deputy-leadership adversary, has been on the receiving end of some stick from her colleagues (reportedly Hazel Blears and John Hutton) over banker bonuses and hardly oozed humility by apparently referring to herself as "duty Prime Minister" while Brown was in Washington.

It's now just a week until the Ides of March. Does Gordon have seven days to stop an all-out cabinet mutiny?

Image: Nick Atkins/Flickr Creative Commons license

Wigley: Referendum Caution

2009-03-05T22:07:00.004Z

Dafydd Wigley is urging caution on a rush into a referendum on full law-making powers for the Welsh assembly.

Writing in his Daily Post Welsh-language blog, the Plaid grandee recalls the devolution referendum of 1979:

In Wales, there was an overwhelming 'No' vote. It was caused partly because of confusion emanating from three years of parliamentary arguments; partly because Labour was split down the centre; partly because it presented a chance to teach an unpopular government a lesson; and partly because of a lack of confidence amongst the Welsh people...

Today Labour MPs are split on the question of giving full law-making powers to the National Assembly. The split amongst Labour ranks is extremely similar to that which existed in 1979. Also today, as in 1979, we observe a tired Labour government which is fast losing people's confidence.

Without learning the lessons of history, we are certain to repeat the same mistakes. It would be very helpful if those who call today for a quick referendum, consider for a moment the lessons which date from the 70s. As a nation we must never again repeat the same tragic mistakes we saw at that time, and the fiasco of a referendum that took place 30 years ago this week.

It was impossible to avoid the enthusiasm of proponents of further devolution following last week's BBC/ICM polls showing more than 50% backing greater powers for the assembly. Some began talking openly about the need for a referendum as soon as possible, without necessarily waiting for the All Wales Convention to report its own findings before getting a full Yes campaign up and running.

But Dafydd Wigley, the wise old sage of the party, holds great strength over every tier of Plaid. His air of caution must surely be a response to these calls for a rapid referendum, and his own experiences of 1979 and 1997 are undoubtedly fuelling his demands for Plaid members to ease off the referendum accelerator.

Though amongst Wigley's cautious foreboding, he does suggest that Wales would be foolish not to vote for full law-making powers before the next Westminster general election:

When there is a Conservative government in Westminster again, imposing policies which are acceptable to south east England but which are repellent to Wales, the message will begin hitting home. By then the Scottish Parliament will be able to lead its own agenda, in line with the wishes of the Scottish people. Wales will have to follow the priorities of south east England which will be imposed on it from Westminster.

Free drugs for the English patient

2009-03-05T14:39:00.006Z

Is the campaign for free prescriptions in England now growing at such a rate that the health minister there will have to act?

The BMA's call today for the introduction of free prescriptions in England for people with long-term conditions has received a lot of attention. It begs the question whether the Welsh way of doing things will now transpire into a change of policy across the United Kingdom.

Scotland and Northern Ireland are already on their way towards removing prescription charges, and while the English have resisted any moves towards free drugs, the idea that 3 out of 4 nations in the United Kingdom get their medicines gratis can only be discredited by the English for so long.

When Wales's devolved health decisions have caused ructions between departments in Cardiff and Westminster in the past, the English health minister Ben Bradshaw has cited

- millionaires getting drugs for free

- longer waiting times for operations

- longer waiting times for A&E treatment

as reasons why the money spent on free prescriptions could perhaps be better distributed by his Welsh counterpart, Edwina Hart.

But do those reasons hold true today? And even if their content is correct, the fact that the BMA calls the English prescription system 'outdated, iniquitous and detrimental to the health of many patients by acting as a barrier to their taking necessary medication' means the prescription charge lobby will need more than a list of devolution differences to quench an appetite for reform.

That barometer of public opinion, the Daily Mail, is already outraged that prescription charges will rise in England next month - and all the comments on this page suggest the English patients' patience is wearing thin.

Image: Ced/Flickr under the Creative Commons license

Adam's In

2009-03-04T13:14:00.003Z

You may remember my helpful CymruX source spilling the beans on Adam Price's decision to rebel against the leadership line on top-up fees.

Today's Western Mail claims this has provoked "open civil war" between Plaid ministers, the elected rebels and grassroots supporters.

PLAID CYMRU was in open civil war last night as MP Adam Price defied party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones over the divisive issue of student top-up fees.

Mr Price has written a letter to Labour Education Minister Jane Hutt telling her that plans backed by Plaid ministers to force Welsh students attending Welsh universities to pay top-up fees would be unlawful.

He is urging student bodies to take the Assembly Government to court over the proposal if Ms Hutt goes ahead with an expected announcement.

The MP’s letter accuses the cabinet in which his party is the junior partner of taking a decision based on statements and evidence that are "demonstrably false" and "highly misleading".

Will this proverbial straw break Plaid's coalition back, or can Ieuean Wyn Jones stand his ground against an overwhelming backlash from almost every Plaid member outside the assembly government cabinet?

Gissa job, Clegg

2009-03-03T21:07:00.003Z

Forgiving the criminal abuse of grammar, and peculiar choice of idol, the Blogging 4 Lembit Opik blog has produced an amusing template letter to help fellow Lembit fans lobby to get him back on the Lib Dem front bench.

As far as I can tell, it's for real.

The blogger writes:

Many people have said that this campaign is a little childish as it is against the leadership, personally I have nothing against the work being carried out by Nick Clegg as leader of the Liberal Democrats and like I have said on many occasions I support Nick 100% and so does Lembit. This campaign is to ask Nick to bring Lembit back into the winning team!

Do let me know if you send one of the template letters yourself. I wonder if Glyn Davies will fill one out?

Of course, the sudden need to get Lembit back on the front bench has nothing to do with his eviction from Saturday night telly, does it? (He'd been larking about on Saturday Night Take Away with those Geordies til he was booted off.)

Until last weekend, Lembit seemed to be having more fun outside the Lib Dem 'winning team' than inside it.

Plaid top-up fees split

2009-03-02T11:57:00.003Z

Just off the phone with a contact at CymruX, the Plaid youth wing.

To say that the movement is angry with the leadership over the latest student top-up fees palaver is fantastically understating the depth of their displeasure.

Background: Plaid national council voted last weekend to maintain an anti-top up fee policy until 2011, but Plaid leadership says this isn't possible, and may have to follow Labour policy on the possible reintroduction of fees before that date.

CymruX are seething. They have grown into a strong movement within the party, and particularly so on student issues. Assembly members Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood are reportedly backing CymruX, rather than Ieuan Wyn Jones, on top-up fees. My source also claims Adam Price has joined their rebellion.

One glimmer of hope for the Plaid cabinet members, though - my source claims CymruX may be in a position to "negotiate", suggesting a modicum of leeway will prevent the split causing any serious damage.

Labour backroom changes

2009-03-01T21:33:00.003Z

Valleys Mam has alerted me to some chit-chat that all is not well at the Welsh Labour press office.

Separate sources tell me there is now a vacancy at Transport House after the previous incumbent was briefed against by the same people who had lobbied for his appointment.

Suffice to say, the situation is described as "messy".

Happy Saint David's Day

2009-03-01T07:51:00.005Z

A very happy Saint David's Day to you.

Despite being in work since 6AM, today feels more leisurely than previous March the firsts. Luckily, a lazy morning with the Sunday papers gives much reason to be cheerful about one's heritage.

From "fated to be ignored" to tear-inducing ceramics, Welsh author Rachel Trezise writes in the Independent that our understated patriotism (compared to the passion of the Irish for Saint Patrick's Day) should not deter us from taking pride in our nation.

Also in the Indy, Cole Moreton helpfully categorises some key Welsh achievements. Find out why mobile phones, mail-order catalogues and the Brighton Pavillion are cool consequences of Cymru.

Even Google gives a modest nod to Dewi Sant today:

David Davies's attendance record

2009-02-28T18:07:00.003Z

There is little doubt that Monmouth MP David Davies leads a busy life. Juggling parliamentary work with his duties as a special constable must make it difficult to make every meeting on time, or squeeze each diary date into such an exhaustive schedule.

So Tomos Livingstone draws our attention to the attendance of MPs at meetings of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee, as revealed in its annual report.

Out of 42 meetings, Officer Davies managed to attend just eight of them during the 2007-2008 parliament.

Paul Flynn has his own take on the attendance register.

Bourne reshuffle interview

2009-02-28T17:34:00.004Z

Nick Bourne's been speaking about the Welsh Conservatives' shadow cabinet reshuffle.

He says he's feeling "positive" about his future as leader, and that Jonathan Morgan "remains a mate" - despite deciding to quit the front bench.

This from the boys at Politics Cymru:

GM Gerrymandering

2009-02-27T12:24:00.003Z

In 2000, AMs voted to keep Wales GM free.

Nine years on and it's clear that the vote meant nothing, because as demonstrated just a few weeks ago, farmers can grow GM crops this side of Offa's Dyke without a visit from the police or the ministry.

Now, Elin Jones has introduced tougher restrictions on growing GM crops, so that where GM crops are farmed, the risk of contaminating regular fields must be minimal.

But in what can only be described as an enforced climbdown, her actions finally amount to an admission that the assembly government cannot stop GM crops from being grown in Wales. Still, the WAG remains committed to making it as difficult as possible for any farmer wanting to dabble with modified maize from taking the plunge.

Backlash from the back benches

2009-02-27T12:00:00.003Z

When I saw Nick Bourne in the Bay yesterday he seemed pensive, deep in thought. It was about an hour after Betsan and Vaughan broke the news that Jonathan Morgan had left the shadow cabinet, and Bourne was on his way to the Norwegian Church. To pray for guidance, perhaps?

The reshuffle is covered in detail elsewhere - Welsh Ramblings has an amusing round-up of the moves up, down, sideways and out.

Bourne may not have banked on Jonathan leaving the shadow cabinet, but it opens up a can of worms for the next few months.

Will the new shadow cabinet unite around Bourne, with the fresh faces of 2007's intake close to the leader, and the trouble-maker forced to sit on the sidelines?

Or will Jonathan Morgan's excommunication provide him with the time to talk more openly about leadership ambitions, and rally together the disgruntled Tories who haven't been placated by the reshuffle?

One thing's for sure - the Welsh Conservatives haven't given up infighting for lent. Will Bourne still be leader by Easter?

Cardiff University arms investment

2009-02-27T11:44:00.003Z

After a group of left-wing students occupied one of Cardiff University's biggest lecture theatres for two days, they're apparently claiming victory.

I'm told that Cardiff University have emailed the group's leaders, agreeing to their core demand - that the university stop investing in companies which produce arms. Their main grievance was with investments that the university held in BAE Systems and General Electric.

Apparently, the only demand the university appears reluctant to agree to is the provision of sponsored places for Palestinians. Presumably this is because they'd have a hard job getting out of fortress Gaza.

I hear the students concerned are fairly flabbergasted that the university gave in so easily, considering that this theme returns on an annual basis and normally attracts little more than a hectoring piece in the gair rhydd supporting their cause.

Why did Cardiff Uni accept the demands? And will the next aggrieved group see the occupation of university property as the quickest way to reverse or amend university policies?

Back to the blog

2009-02-27T09:29:00.004Z

After a hectic few weeks, I'm back to blogging.

Coming up:

Backlash from the back benches, and when a GM climbdown isn't a climbdown.

No sign-language on Wales Tonight

2009-02-09T13:46:00.004Z

So, ITV's flagship news bulletin in Wales won't have any signed headlines tonight.

The broadcaster's decided to dump the service for deaf people from its evening programme, Wales Tonight, has provoked a fierce response from four organisations who are now campaigning for its reinstatement.

Over at the mabiblogion, The Independent's Rob Williams raises a valid point about the priorities ITV have for providing in-vision sign-language.

The loathsome and spectacularly useless OFCOM have no power to insist that news programmes are signed. They can only insist that a specific number of hours of programmes are signed.
This begs the question, if there is no reduction in the number of hours of signed programmes below the required amount, which bright spark decided it should be news coverage that loses out?
Regional news is the ‘canary in the coal mine’ of the Welsh media. The continuing erosion of local news is catastrophic for Wales and points to a wider future decline in the Welsh media.
The importance placed by ITV on local news is now clear to see. They don’t care about it. They don’t care to the extent that they think it is more important to have other programmes signed.

It seems that for ITV it's been a toss-up between signed news headlines in the evening, or signed Jeremy Kyle repeats in the early hours of the morning.

I have not done any research into the viewing priorities of Wales' 480,000 deaf and hearing impaired people, however I'd love to know if ITV's signing decisions reflect their audience's TV preferences.

Twit-fluence

2009-02-05T00:05:00.018Z

All the chatter may be about the big names tweeting their thoughts in 140 characters on Twitter (Stephen Fry, Philip Schofield, Chris Moyles), but what about the big Welsh tweeters?

Yesterday I set about finding which influential Welsh people are tweeting regularly on the micro-blog site, by asking my followers to throw me some suggestions.

Naturally, I use the term "influential" fairly loosely. Please add your suggestions in the comments for any tweeters I've missed - and any Welsh names you'd love to see signed up.

Politics
Bethan Jenkins : the Plaid Cymru assembly member and regular tweeter
Leighton Andrews : the Rhondda's Labour AM chronicles his day
Kirsty Williams : the Welsh Lib Dem leader
Jocelyn Davies : another Plaid Cymru AM joins twitter
Jonathan Morgan : Conservative AM for Cardiff North, who's already got himself in trouble
Huw Lewis : Assembly Member for Merthyr
Jeff Cuthbert : Another Labour AM embraces Twitter
Peter Black : the Lib Dem technophile finally embraces Tweets
Lembit Opik : the first Welsh MP to sign up. He's not said much so far
Adam Price : regular blog updates and tweets from one of Plaid's MPs
Kevin Brennan : Cardiff West's Labour MP
Gwenllian Lansdown : Plaid Cymru's chief executive and councillor for Riverside in Cardiff
Menna Machraeth : Chair of Cymdeithas yr Iaith and airing her views on the Welsh language LCO
Alex Williams : Conservative town councillor in Pencoed
Richard Hazlewood : Conservative communications chief
Rene Kinzett : Conservative councillor in Swansea with parliamentary ambitions
Luke Ellis : Labour councillor and Carwyn Jones's press officer

Bloggers
WelshBloggers : the Twitter feed for the new Welsh Bloggers site
Simon Dyda : the blogger behind Ordovicius and formerly known as Sanddef
Ordovicius : Simon's dedicated micro-blog
Politics Cymru : I'd get it in the neck if they weren't on the list
Aneurin Glyndwr : the blog RSS delivered to your Twitter feed

News
Matt Withers : of MediaWales/SpinDoctor fame
Sion Barry : also familiar from MediaWales outlets, notably the Western Mail
Rhodri Marsden : columnist and blogger for The Independent, amongst other organs
Rhodri ap Dyfrig : Welsh media commentator and a founder of Metastwnsh, a sort-of Welsh-language Mashable
Ifan Morgan Jones : from Golwg's Welsh-language news website
Lauren Turner : Press Association journalist
Vicky Etchells : Red Dragon FM news editor
Debbie James : Online journalist for north Wales newspaper titles
Nick Speed : ITV Wales political correspondent
Real Radio Wales News : updates from the news team at Real Radio
Emma Gilliam : journalism lecturer, Cardiff University and former news editor BBC Radio Sheffield
Rory Cellan-Jones : the Welshman who's the technology correspondent for the BBC

Media, PR and Business
Sion Owen : PR consultant for Good Relations
Marcus Warner : after achieving infamy, Marcus now represents some of the brightest new musical talent
Gwyn Williams : CEO of independent production company Barcud Derwen
Rebecca Jones : business coach, speaker and entrepreneur
Wil Stephens : founder and CEO of Cube
Cathryn Scott : freelance journalist
Institute of Welsh Affairs : keep up to date with the IWA
Daran Hill : Positif Politics chief and bon viveur. Indeed.
Heather Martin : Good Relations PR guru
Phil Bowen : the Welshman responsible for o35s.net

Entertainment
Rob Brydon : actor, comedian, voice-over extraordinaire
Adam Walton : BBC Radio Wales presenter
Huw Stephens : BBC Radio 1 and Radio Cymru presenter
Bethan Elfyn : BBC Radio 1
Jen Long : BBC Radio 1 in Wales geek
Matt Lissack : Red Dragon evening presenter
Darren Lee : Red Dragon daytime presenter
Catrin Dafydd : the author micro-blogs her day in Welsh
Jamie and Louise : the regularly updated Twitter feed for the BBC Radio Wales mid-morning show

Now, who have I missed?

Last updated May 12, 2009

Too Nutty

2009-02-01T11:27:00.002Z

In any newspaper, my fondness for its letters page comes second only to my fanaticism about obituaries.

Over time you see the same names popping up under a variety of titles, often discussing the same topic (in the letters pages, now, not the obits).

In Wales this regularity is particularly true, with some correspondents' names appearing in the pages of our daily and weekly publications more often than those of some staff reporters.

I'm not opposed to this - in fact, I enjoy seeing an argument played out over a few weeks, and admire people who take time to write about the topics they care about.

Andrew Nutt is a regular contributor to the Western Mail, Echo and Wales on Sunday letters pages, and on his blog he says his primary aspiration is "to see an independent Wales and a socialist society".

Media Wales obviously appreciate his commitment to the cause - he has TWO letters published in today's Wales on Sunday.

There are only five letters in total, and one of those is a clarification.

Waiting for Welsh

2009-02-01T07:14:00.006Z

First it was 'before Easter', then 'before the summer', followed by 'before Christmas' and - most recently - 'in the new year'.

Tomorrow, the Welsh Language LCO will finally be published, 18 months after the Welsh assembly government made a commitment to introducing reformed language regulations as a result of the coalition agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru.

A text for the LCO has finally been agreed between the WAG and Whitehall.

Let's be clear here - I have absolutely no idea what's been deleted, amended, rejected or revised. But there remains an unavoidable tension between those Labour members of the coalition (and yes, they are overhwlemingly Labour) who would rather keep Welsh language legislation off the WAG agenda, and those Plaid partners who see the language LCO as their own stamp on the coalition's first term in power.

The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is already gaining a reputation as the LCO roadblock (see Matt Withers' comparisons between the WASC and the Lords in today's Wales on Sunday). But once the moaning about the Committee's delaying tactics has died down, prepare for a more unseemly fight between those who say the LCO is too restrictive and potentially damaging to Welsh business, and other critics who complain it will produce a watered-down language measure which doesn't go far enough.

The LCO announcement's being made at mid-day in Merthyr tomorrow. If you listen carefully, you'll hear the sound of a collective sharp intake of breath from assembly members whose constituencies are within a 100 mile radius of the 'Tydfil.

No cracks?

2009-01-31T17:59:00.003Z

Bethan Jenkins denies the Labour-Plaid coalition is cracking up, following Janet Ryder's front-bench resignation this week.

Several explanations have been proffered in the past couple of days as to why Ms Ryder would rather migrate to the back benches. The most popular theory amongst the Plaid workers I chatted to in Cardiff last night was that she wants greater distance between herself and the One Wales government ahead of the next Westminster election when she'll fight Clwyd South.

Would she really shun the assembly's coalition agenda now, in preparation for a fight against the bow-tie fan (and current Labour MP for Clwyd South) Martyn Jones whenever a general election is called?

Maybe she's fed up with the Labour-Plaid coalition and hers is the first front-bench rebellion?

Or was she just so unhappy with the learning and skills measure she felt compelled to quit the Plaid front-bench, and that's all?

Questions, questions.

At least Plaid will have one of their coalition demands answered in the next 48 hours - more on that later.

Tweet Tweet

2009-01-29T17:37:00.000Z

Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/huwthomas

Coalition Cracks

2009-01-29T12:26:00.003Z

So Janet Ryder's resigned as Plaid's education spokesperson, because she's unhappy with the way the Learning and Skills measure is going.

She backed ammendments put forward by the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, rather than follow the Labour-Plaid official line.

If the relatively placid Learning and Skills measure can prompt a front-bench Plaid resignation, what's going to happen when the Welsh Language LCO fails to meet Plaid expectations?

There'll certainly be fireworks - but will there be a return of the rainbow, too?

Sir Dai Llewellyn

2009-01-14T16:00:00.005Z

So, farewell then, Sir Dai Llewellyn.

The socialite and sometime UKIP candidate has died of bone cancer at 62.

In the 2007 general election Sir Dai stood in Cardiff North, and on being discovered accidentally canvassing in Cardiff Central by a local hack, he exclaimed "no-one's given me a map, dear boy!"

At the count in City Hall, he'd barely been indoors before he emerged back outside the main entrance clutching a large glass of red wine and a packet of Marlboro Lights.

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced, though a return to Aberdare hasn't been ruled out.

What's in a name?

2009-01-13T17:38:00.002Z

What's in a name? Not much if you're Media Wales. The paint's hardly dry on the sign at Trinity Mirror's new headquarters in Cardiff since its operations here were rebranded earlier this year, but it's time for a name change.

In a move which will see Media Wales managing director Keith Dyer leave the company after 24 years, along with Stuart Thomas who's head of finance, the south Wales department will be merged with the north Wales and north-west of England Trinity Mirror teams.

The group of publishers will now be known as Trinity Mirror North West and Wales.

The company blames the economic climate (naturally). Perhaps when a newspaper proprietor is already running its newsrooms on a skeleton staff, a cull in the boardrooms is the only other place to turn to for a bit of payroll relief?

Geraint Talfan Davies on Welsh media in 2009

2009-01-05T19:50:00.003Z

I know I'm always banging on about the state of the Welsh media, but the Yoda of all things related to that topic, Geraint Talfan Davies, offers his excellent take on the next twelve months over at the Institute of Welsh Affairs blog. A must-read piece.

Media Wales and Media Convergence

2009-01-02T09:09:00.014Z

The start of the new year always brings some recurring questions to a Welshman working in the media.

Will I go to any parties that don't feature Amanda Protheroe-Thomas in 2009?

Will the press officer notice I'm enjoying the freebies but not plugging their stuff this year?

Can the Western Mail survive another twelve months?

The first two I'll leave until another time (shame!), but the Western Mail's allegedly impending doom has a certain Groundhog Day quality about it. You can chat all day about the paper's falling readership, its wobbly online videos and sometimes bizarre editorial decisions - these aren't symptoms unique to the Western Mail.

Media organisations are converging all over the place, every newspaper is losing readers and rushing into online multimedia endeavours to try and stem the endless dripping away of their incomes. But has Media Wales (the WM's parent company) invested enough in its future beyond a converged newsroom in a snazzy new building?

It'll take more than big ideas to get the staff on board - old hacks don't take kindly to new tricks. Give a grumpy journo a camcorder and ask him to film the interview he'd otherwise have just scribbled down in short-hand and you can already hear the distant hum of NUJ photo-copiers beginning to churn out strike ballots. In fact, the NUJ has been at the forefront of negotiating better deals for those journalists suddenly asked to increase their workload and technological expertise while their colleagues are made redundant. But the scale of the culture shift in newspapers in the last few years is phenomenal, and there's little wonder that some experienced hands at Media Wales are less than impressed with how quickly things are changing.

Crucially, the group's online presence should to lead the way. But it's taking some time for WalesOnline to become anything but a copy-and-paste version of Media Wales's newspapers. Its multimedia content is of variable quality, to say the least; where it excels in producing podcasts and streaming rugby press conferences live, it falters in its attempts to provide TV news bulletins and interviews which are available in better (and more consistent) quality at BBC Wales and ITV Local.

When WalesOnline replaced the dated icWales website, it should have been the birth of an all-singing, all-dancing multi-media upgrade. Instead it presented itself as a rush job, not the foundation for converged technological and journalistic excellence it needed to be in order to establish its birthplace in the digital age.

Media Wales deserves credit for its convergence efforts, for its determination to produce multimedia content, and for providing its staff with equipment and facilities that ensure they have the tools to meet the digital demands.

But all this could be in vein - after all, are enough people interested in multimedia Welsh news to ensure WalesOnline doesn't die?

Musical Endorsements

2008-12-30T14:05:00.003Z

I've had occasion to work with a couple of the members of Welsh hip-hop group Goldie Lookin Chain in the past, when they presented a drive-time show on XFM South Wales at the start of this year.

But what brings the GLC into Welsh politics? Why, their spiritual leader and the MP for Newport West, Paul Flynn of course!

A quick Google finds all sorts of genuine references to Flynn's support of his local pseudo-ironic superstars.

And in the autumn the GLC relaunched their website - youknowsit.co.uk. It carries an interesting testimonial about the group from their MP at the foot of this page:

"Hello. I'm Paul Flynn. I like Newport, I love draw, but more importantly I think that the GLC are 'Safe as F*ck'. I love them like brothers. Their music makes my soul feel alive, a lot like being a young man again. The question on everyones' lips is this: How do we communicate with the Chain? Admittedly, they seem like nightmarish spectres, existing only between the planes of reality and illusion, but I have found a way. Keep Newport tidy, clart"

Following this piece in the Western Mail last week listing our assembly members' favourite tunes, I was disappointed not to see ringing endorsements from Joyce Watson on the site of one-eyed warbler Gabrielle, or any metion of Mick Bates on Bob Dylan's extensive online presence. Maybe they're just not safe enough, clart.

Best of the Rest

2008-12-22T14:45:00.002Z

An occasional roundup of some choice Welsh blogs

:: Matt Withers confirms Lembit Öpik's penchant for self-promotion knows no bounds.
:: Peter Black says it's time the Yes campaign got on with things.
:: The Bevan Foundation gets Daran Hill's take on the most under-rated and over-rated issues of 2008.
:: Welsh Ramblings thinks the Western Mail's iPod-gate has developed some seasonal similarities.
:: Alwyn ap Huw wants electoral reform - on Strictly Come Dancing.
:: Valleys Mam says Happy Christmas.

A Guessing Game

2008-12-21T07:56:00.003Z

A few plans, predictions and outlandish guesses for 2009:

New Leaders
: LABOUR - Rhodri Morgan has booked a ticket for retirement, dated September 2009. The wise money's on Carwyn Jones to succeed him, but Huw Lewis could have the luck of the underdog.
: CONSERVATIVES - Nick Bourne surely can't withstand such a revolt from within his own assembly group as the one he's experienced during iPod-gate. Expect him gone by the summer, if not by the end of January.

New MPs
: BY-ELECTION - rumours are rife that one south Wales constituency will face a Westminster by-election in 2009, with a Tory gain on the cards.

Coalition Struggles
: LANGUAGE - Plaid are already getting restless because the Welsh language LCO is taking so long to materialise. Imagine how fraught things will be when it's still not resolved this time next year?
: KIRSTY - will the Kirsty factor see Plaid flirt with a coalition pull-out and a rebirth for the Rainbow?

Media Muddles
: ITV WALES - it should survive 2009 intact, but will its political coverage plummet further now that their Cardiff Bay unit has been abandoned?
: BBC LOCAL - there won't be any BBC Local video websites for Wales, so any hopes of increased grass-roots political coverage has been scuppered. Don't expect Media Wales to come along with any high-quality web-based offerings any time soon, despite all the crowing from Trinity Mirror.
: COMMERCIAL RADIO - Real Radio may get their new north Wales service off the ground by the back end of 2009, making it the first commercial station to cover the whole of Wales. Politicians will have to fight hard to get on the air-waves, though.

Leave your own predictions - cautious or courageous - in the comments below.

What are the odds?

2008-12-19T13:41:00.003Z

Betsan's booky has all the betting on the runners and riders likely to topple Nick Bourne as Welsh Tory leader.

A fiver on Brynle Williams at 25/1 is surely worth a seasonal flutter?

Coincidentally, Brynle was overheard on Cardiff's Saint Mary Street the week before last exclaiming a loud "corr, look at the legs on that!" as a female colleague tottered past in a seasonally small outfit.

(She's also a rural affairs journalist, though Brynle probably couldn't tell from behind).

But is Brynle just Boris Johnson mk-2? Has his political genius been so consistently overlooked, his oratory so shamelessly played down, his triumph as a man-of-the-people so endlessly diminished by jealous colleagues that only now can he come forward to lead a band of brothers united against a directionless leader?

I firmly believe Brynle could do for the Welsh Tories what Boris has done for London - a chirpy sense of humour and a large waistband are definitely en vogue. Who do you want leading the opposition, Wales? A man of the people, a literal giant of a politician, or a suited and booted Tory clone?

Brynle's time has come.

Line Drawn, Case Closed?

2008-12-18T22:34:00.004Z

Is this the end of iPod-gate?

Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne and his colleague Alun Cairns have reimbursed the public purse for the cost of their iPods, which had been claimed on expenses.

Will the Conservative assembly group now fall back in line behind their leader? Or will they see this as another stunt in Bourne's scrabble to claw back authority over a divided, dissenting bunch of AMs?

Bourne's paid back the cost of his iPod, but what about that trouser press which was also on his list of expenses? Surely an iPod which allowed him to learn Welsh on-the-go merited a greater presence on the register than the trusty Corby? Coughing up cash to charity didn't stave off Bourne's critics, and he can't expect a tax-payer refund to quell the unrest either.

This latest offering must surely be too little, too late. In fact, it will add to Bourne's woes as it's provoking more comment on political blogs, has propelled the scandal back into news bulletins, and guarantees another mention in tomorrow morning's papers.

Bourne's borrowed time is fast running out. The Christmas recess is all that appears to be saving him from a party mutiny.

Image: Fabbriciuse/Creative Commons license

Getting the message across

2008-12-18T00:34:00.003Z

OFCOM has outlined why it chose to award its new north Wales FM radio license to GMG's Real Radio.

A couple of the points OFCOM doesn't mention:

For starters, Real are offering a viable radio experience that comes pre-packaged in Real Radio gift-wrap. Already Wales' biggest commercial radio station (although purely because, until the advent of the ailing Nation Radio, no other station's transmission area was so large), it offers a friendly format of music and talk that draws in listeners and advertisers.

But they're also offering Wales its first national commercial radio station, providing listeners with a brand that will be competition to the BBC's offerings in every part of Wales.

Why should the politicians be paying attention? It doesn't take a genius to work out that Real will be drawing in more listeners than BBC Radio Wales and Cymru every day. I don't think there's a transmission area in Wales where either of the BBC's Welsh stations are ahead of the local commercial offering in terms of its audience share or reach (though I'm willing to be proven wrong if you're partial to a bit of RAJAR anoraking).

And if you want to connect with voters, there's no easier way of reaching those ABC1 and C2DE members of the electorate who prefer to ditch sophisticated chit-chat for 3 minutes of snappy news followed swiftly by a bit of Leona Lewis.

Until now, if you wanted your message heard across the whole of Wales, you had to go to the BBC. The only near-equivalent had been the group of stations owned by Global Radio (Red Dragon in Cardiff, Champion/Coast in Bangor, and Marcher in Wrexham), where the news teams co-ordinate and share their news across the network.

But when Real arrives, politicians and lobbyists will have access to a unique national news service with a huge audience. The rules of the game will have to change though, because anyone who's heard a Real Radio news bulletin will know that policy announcements and the intricacies of the Barnett Formula don't merit inclusion without a news peg targeted to Real's average audience member.

Gordon Brown opened the headquarters of Global Radio in London's Leicester Square the other day, before appearing on LBC to answer callers' questions; he then launched his dodgy knife-crime stats on Global's youth-oriented radio brand, Galaxy. Are we entering a phase where discussions for wonks happen on BBC services, and to talk to the people you head to a commercial rival? I'm having flashbacks of Tony Blair on This Morning, but the sight of Jacqui Smith on the GMTV sofa this Tuesday shows there's still a concerted effort to talk to the people who prefer to eschew in-depth discussions in the morning.

The note of caution in all of this is XFM South Wales. Launched at great cost last November, it was switched off in the spring of this year after parent company GCap Media put it up for sale as it scrabbled for cash to stave off a take-over bid (Nation Radio bought XFM, Global bought GCap).

There's no sign yet that Real Radio in the north will be an albatross for GMG, and it has a very different (and proven successful) format compared to that of XFM. However the global downturn has claimed many unexpected scalps, and a downsize amongst some of the commercial radio sector's biggest players could well be on the cards as advertising revenues dry up.

Interest to declare: I freelance for commercial radio newsrooms, including those owned by GMG and Global.

On The Rack

2008-12-15T12:50:00.003Z

Nick Bourne put himself up for a public dressing down on the Radio Wales phone-in this lunchtime.

It wasn't quite the medieval torture routine it could have been; perhaps the most uncomfortable point in the discussion for the Welsh Conservative leader came when one caller accused him of being morally corrupt for splashing out on an iPod courtesy of you and I.

Bourne stuck to the line that the rules are wrong and need to be changed, and that all parties are as guilty as each other. By and large, he came off more as the victim of a witch-hunt than the perpetrator of an assembly sleaze-fest.

Labour's Alun Davies AM came on once Bourne had left the programme to accuse him of being the 'bad apple' in the assembly's expenses hoo-haa. But Davies squirmed under pressure from presenter Mai Davies to explain how his own purchase of a digital camera helps him communicate with his constituents any better than Bourne's iPod.

After all, Alun Davies's reasoning is that the camera allows him to put photos of what he's been up to on his constituency website; Nick Bourne learning Welsh on his iPod to talk to his constituents in their native language is surely just as viable a communication tool as Alun's snazzy camera?

Davies is one of Labour's bright young things in the assembly, but he may just have saved Bourne's bacon.

Any undecisive Conservative AMs wondering whether to back a coup against their leader will have had little encouragement from today's phone-in antics.

English Iwan

2008-12-14T10:25:00.005Z

Perhaps people who email news stories to each other on a Sunday morning need to get out more, or perhaps a conspiracy's being compiled to discredit Dafydd Iwan's Welsh speaking credentials.

Either way, a four-year-old news article about the folk-singing nationalist is the fifth most-emailed story on the BBC News website as I write.

The story's here; it's about his decision to give his first major speech as party president in English.

I was at a lecture delivered by the BBC's technology correspondent, Rory Cellan Jones, the other week. Part of his reasoning as to why conventional news programming and editorial priorities won't be over-ridden by public preference alone were the irregularities often thrown up by the 'Most Read' and 'Most Emailed' comments on news websites.

He cited a story about a Sudan man marrying his goat as further ammunition as to why the public shouldn't control the news agenda. Apparently it's the most-read story on BBC Online, ever - though it never made the 10 O'clock News.

Bourne Ultimatum

2008-12-12T16:15:00.002Z

Could it be?

The Conservative assembly group has been feeling blue for a while, but are they really ready to revolt against their leader?

Vaughan Roderick claims the spat between Jonathan Morgan and Darren Miller over who should fill Nick Bourne's boots has finally been settled - JM to take the reins, DM to deputise.

Bourne's feeling the brunt of today's expenses coverage. Will it be the trouser press that finishes him off? What a way to go.

Two Tellies Ramsay

2008-12-12T11:21:00.003Z

Nick Ramsay has done it again. The latest batch of assembly member expenses are out, this time for their offices.

The Conservative AM is not content with one TV on the taxpayer - he's bought another one for his office (as well as a stand and some insurance, naturally) for £814.98.

Turns out Nick Bourne had reason to keep his head down today as well. Perhaps he's listening to some tunes on his taxpayer-funded iPod?

Alun Cairns has an iPod courtesy of you and I as well. The Tory AM also bought a Dyson vacuum cleaner for his office, and billed us £250.00 for it.

Are our AMs value for money?

Friday Feeling

2008-12-11T23:55:00.003Z

A few AMs are making themselves scarce ahead of the publication of their office expenses tomorrow.

Hints are being dropped with the subtlety of an elephant pianist that Nick Bourne has particular reason not to answer any calls tomorrow. Suggestions that he has attended his last plenary session as leader of the Welsh Conservatives are perhaps a little premature, though.

Among the items apparently being billed to the taxpayer by AMs are i-pods and even bathrooms, though it's just wild speculation until the lists can be poured over by the hacks.

Are AMs value for money? Betsan Powys points out that Sir Roger Jones, chairing the independent review into their future pay and expenses, said last week that a number of them are decidedly under-par. The impending outcry over trivial expense claims and lavish furnishings will hardly boost their standing.

Rhodri on Sharp End

2008-12-11T23:22:00.003Z

Did you see Rhodri Morgan on Sharp End tonight?

I'd be interested to know what you thought of his performance.

I know he's got a heavy cold at the moment, but he just seemed unable to response to some pretty straight-forward questions about expenditure and differences of opinion between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.

He seemed frustrated and downbeat. Was his heart even in it?

This just in...

2008-12-08T19:02:00.004Z

The new top-team?

Courtesy of Confused of Cardiff, who seems to have sent it out to a few of us this afternoon.

In all seriousness (I know that's difficult considering the picture) - congratulations, Kirsty.

Sunday Stories

2008-12-07T09:23:00.002Z

Not much going on in Welsh politics today. No idea what's on the Wales opt-out for the BBC Politics Show, but I'd put money on a Peter Hain interview.

If you've got any stories, titbits or gossip you'd like to share (with or without a credit) do drop me a line - huw@huwthomas.co.uk

Lib Dems: Mike's last day

2008-12-06T22:24:00.004Z

So Mike German's had his last day in charge of the least successful party in the Welsh Assembly.

Quite how one group can keep a leader who's presided over a static performance of six AMs during three elections over the last nine years is beyond me. After all, Labour, Plaid and the Tories have all swapped at the top a few times and have polled consistently better than the Liberal Democrats.

His replacement will certainly be a woman - Jenny Randerson and Kirsty Williams are in the running; she'll also certainly be stuck with the bitter divisions and petty squabbles that have plagued the Lib Dems for all of their nine years in Cardiff Bay. For starters she'll have to deal with Eleanor Burnham's ego, Mick Bates' sense of humour and Peter Black's penchant for spilling the beans on his blog.

There is something peculiarly Lib Dem about the time it's taken to oust Mike. I predicted he'd leave last May when the Lib Dems again managed to scrape through with just six AMs and completely ballsed up the Rainbow Coalition that seemed like a dead-cert for government before One Wales arrived.

Now that he's gone, will it be 'more of the same' with Jenny Randerson? Mike certainly thinks a lot of Jenny - when he had questions to answer about his time at the WJEC, she was chosen to take his place as Deputy First Minister when the Lib Dems were in coalition back in the first Assembly term. But will Mike in a new mold help them get off the ground?

As for Kirsty Williams - the party might buy her ideas for getting 31 Lib Dem Assembly Members, but the laws of logic and reason are surely acting against her. She's got age and beauty on her side, and if a fresh face and a dash of charisma will push the Libs' vote up in 2011 she's already got a head start.

If the suspense is killing you, it'll all be over on Monday afternoon.

Image: artesea/Flickr Creative Commons license

Penny for them?

2008-12-04T22:47:00.004Z

Peter Hain thinks the Welsh population have got the credit crunch on their minds, and not much else. Certainly not the idea of a referendum on further powers for the Welsh Assembly.

Russell Goodway thinks nationalist sympathies amongst the media are the only ones being whipped up by the Yes campaign that's tentatively getting off the ground.

But is it an 'artificial debate'?

'I want to see a referendum when we can win it,' said Hain on Dragon's Eye tonight. Undoubtedly Bethan Jenkins' Yes group would argue that without their campaign getting off the ground, Wales will never arrive at a point where a referendum is winnable.

Bethan Jenkins, as a Plaid AM, can almost guarantee unanimous party backing for a Yes vote. For Labour and the Tories, though, the battle lines are already being drawn.

Both parties have a pretty hefty wedge sitting between those in favour of further powers, and those most certainly against.

Before the Welsh public start thinking about which side of the referendum divide they're on, surely the parties should make their minds up first?

Image: artesea @ flickr/Creative Commons license

An English S4C?

2008-12-03T21:39:00.002Z

Flirting with the idea of an English TV channel for Wales is the headline from today's press conference by the Assembly Government's Broadcasting Advisory Group.

Great, now the WAG can just draw on its primary legislative powers over broadcasting and... oh.

While there is certainly political support for some of the Group's recommendations, setting up an English-language equivalent of S4C is hardly realistic in inverting Wales's status as a "passive" consumer of programming.

It's the season to be a Scrooge, but I'd like to offer a few points which may help pour light on my pessimism.

:: An English channel for Wales may have worked when there were only 5 others on offer. Now there are hundreds, its purpose would be lost in a multi-channel world of programming that suits every need.

:: It would actually lead to a dilution of programming quality. Barely enough interesting local programming can be made to meet the small commitments of ITV and BBC1/2 at the moment. Stretching that across a whole channel for 12 or 18 hours a day, every day, would lead to cheap and uninteresting television or a world of Welsh repeats.

:: How would the channel be funded? Advertising revenue in TV is on the slide (downwards). Public funds would need to be meticulously justified to support its establishment and transmission, and unless the venture can be proven to offer something better than is already available on the traditional channels, it cannot expect to receive wholesale government backing.

There are lots of difficult decisions facing Welsh broadcasters. Is now the right time to be fantasising about an English S4C?

Broadcasting Blues

2008-12-01T12:17:00.011Z

On Wednesday of this week, the Assembly Government* will give its response to Ofcom's public service investigations and the BBC Trust's plans for delivery of local content.

Reasons to be cheerful? I'm told there won't be many.

Among the problems facing broadcasting in Wales:

:: Uncertainty over the future of ITV Wales news programming.
:: Cancellation of BBC Local plans to produce online video content for local communities.
:: Expansion of news hubs in commercial radio.
:: The take-over of IRN by Sky News Radio.
:: Brain-drain of talent from low-paid jobs in Wales to marginally better-off positions in England.

ITV is an ongoing concern, though things do appear to have settled down now with no major announcements expected this side of 2009.

The BBC Local plans are a blow specifically to Wales - I've mentioned why on my technology blog.

Hubs are great for cash-conscious commercial stations, but can mean bad news (literally) for listeners. Hubs mean a small team of journalists are writing and reading the news from outside the area where their bulletins are being broadcast. In Wales, the biggest operation of this kind takes place on the Neath Abbey Industrial Estate, where news bulletins are written and broadcast for radio stations owned by Town and Country Broadcasting. They are:
- Swansea Bay Radio
- Radio Carmarthenshire
- Bridge FM (Bridgend)
- Nation Radio (south Wales)
and also provide material in part to Scarlet FM in Llanelli and Radio Pembrokeshire.

There were two staff in the Neath news hub at the last count, with the team recently reduced from 5 or 6 full-time journalists to cut costs.

IRN's take-over is also likely to affect the quality of reporting. IRN is the radio wing of ITN, who produce TV news for ITV and Channel 4. IRN provides scripts and clips to UK commercial radio stations, including the vast majority in Wales.

Until recently, Sky News Radio was a smaller competitor. But SNR has launched a successful take-over bid for IRN. The impact for Wales? IRN could always draw on its Welsh news sources (i.e. ITV Wales) for audio and story information. Sky News have no reporters in Wales. At all.

Logically, this will impact on its ability to cover Welsh affairs with any credibility.

So why don't the commercial radio stations in Wales research their own Welsh news? When there are two or (if you're lucky) three of you in a local newsroom, researching anything out of your patch in any depth requires time that you just don't have.

Post-devolution, there should be an IRN-style service just for Wales. In the past, the BBC has flirted with the idea of providing its own script and audio service (called GNS) to Wales's community radio stations, but eventually decided against it.

It's a question of costs. The commercial radio sector won't fund an IRN for Wales. Can the Assembly Government really afford for commercial Welsh news services to go down the pan?

*UPDATE Wednesday PM: It was actually the Assembly Government-appointed Broadcasting Advisory Group which presented its response to the current broadcasting climate in Wales.

Maesteg's COSi Collapse

2008-11-26T23:37:00.005Z

Growing up in Maesteg, getting knock-off Revlon shampoos for Christmas became something of a tradition.

The factory was the place to go for summer work too. I lose count of the number of friends who screwed lids on lipsticks for bugger-all cash every July and August. And if you walked the dog down the industrial estate where Revlon's sprawling factory dominated high above the sheds and rusty gates, you'd always meet three or four middle-aged women sat on the pavenement with their feet in the road and a cigarette in hand. Blue tabbards made them stand out as good old Revlon girls.

Today, COSi (who took over the Revlon factory a few years ago) have pretty much given up on producing cosmetics in Maesteg. They started the pull-out last October, shedding 250 jobs and leaving the other 400 workers worried about their futures.

In some ways they've been lucky to last a year. They'll rightly resent talk of 'luck' tonight, though.

Down the road on Commercial Street, Woolworths appears doomed tonight as well. More jobs lost in a valley which has suffered its fair share of setbacks since the last pits closed in the 80s.

But what hope for Maesteg now? So often the victim of here-today, gone-tomorrow job schemes and fly-by-night multi-national companies whose loyalty to the Llynfi Valley is as strong as that of the politicians who decimated the coal industry there twenty years ago.

True, as Betsan Powys points out, both Janice Gregory AM and Huw Irranca-Davies MP will undoubtedly seek support for the jobless and investment for the town. But talk of a dent to Labour's majority in the Ogmore constituency is pure fairytale.

I'll be home on Saturday for the Cor Meibion annual concert, though Christmas cheer will be in short supply.

Image courtesy christina1980 under Flickr Creative Commons license

Feeling Blue

2008-11-26T11:19:00.005Z

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear.

Which group in the Assembly is currently "at its lowest ebb"?

Indeed, which group press officer isn't even on speaking terms with his party leader?

I'm told the group is split down the middle - those siding with the leader, and those with the PRO. 'It's like everyone's got one hell of a hangover,' apparently.

Of course, there's one man who has a great relationship with both of them, except he also wants the leader's job.

What a kerfuffle.

So, what's the easiest way of getting your mate's job without rubbing him up the wrong way? Get the other members of your group to brief against the boss and talk up your own chances of taking over. Naturally.

That Huw Lewis lecture in full

2008-11-25T19:39:00.002Z

Huw Lewis gives a helpful link to the lecture he delivered at the Institute of Welsh Politics on Saturday.

Easiest to summarise it in numbers, I think. Here's how many mentions he gives a few choice keywords:

0 - Plaid Cymru They're only coalition partners, after all.
1 - Leadership (though he's talking about Labour's role in fostering social solidarity, rather than his own ambitions)
2 - Obama At least he's en vogue for Welsh politicos.
9 - Poverty Probably wise to keep on top of that, given his Merthyr constituency's still embarrassingly high on Britain's child poverty league table.
12 - Labour Never forget your roots.

Other phrases that failed to cross his lips included Carwyn Jones, Leighton Andrews and potatoes.

The end of cut-price Cymru?

2008-11-25T19:11:00.005Z

Could today's announcement on student fees signal a change in Wales' reputation as the UK's bargain corner of public services?

Now that the students seem set to get less generosity from the Welsh state, the thought of a policy re-draft on prescription charges and hospital car parks must surely have crossed a few minds at WAG HQ as well.

Imagine the millions they'd save if only those who proved they couldn't afford their medication would get it for free. For the wonks who are counting the cash, the damage of a quick U-turn could be limited by blaming the global financial fracas.

I doubt any one-eighties would get past some of the biggest fans of our freebies though. Indeed, warning shots have already fired across the bows of any WAG ministers plotting a policy change. This just in from Bethan Jenkins, who questions her government's policy direction:

On the one hand universality is promoted in policy areas such as free prescriptions and bus passes for the elderly, yet in the Higher Education sector the government is proposing to end the universality of the current fee grant system, concluding that a larger percentage of Welsh domiciled students will have to pay higher fees after 2011 based on means testing.

Are millionaires really going to have to pay for their own prescriptions next? Perish the thought.

Image courtesy Clarence Chin under Flickr Creative Commons license

Surely Shome Mishtake

2008-11-25T10:55:00.004Z

So police and victim support groups think the credit crunch will encourage domestic violence in Wales?

They might want to check out how one Caerphilly school's helping children to knock seven shades of sh*t out of each other without any assistance from our failing economy.

Is the irony lost on BBC Wales?

The Price of Arts

2008-11-24T21:30:00.001Z

Heritage minister Alun Ffred Jones has called for the National Library of Wales to abandon its plans to shut on Saturdays.

On Newyddion tonight (the BBC's Welsh language TV news), the policy was condemned by Mr Jones but defended by staff at the Library who are desperate to save cash.

While there may be bigger financial fish to fry at the moment, Wales's arts scene has been notoriously underfunded and mismanaged since well before the famed downturn kicked in. But why are Welsh institutions seemingly so bad at taking care of the cash?

The easy answer is that they never have enough. But no establishment, whether it's an arts venue or a swimming pool, can expect unlimited financial backing if they can't turn a profit. But the level of prudence in front line arts investment is really starting to grate amongst some of Wales' brightest and most established artists.

Last week, one of our top photographic artists told me how the National Library had asked for prints of his work to put on display as part of the Library's new exhibition of the best Welsh art. How much were they willing to pay - market value? OK, maybe they wanted the works half price, given that the show might generate some publicity? No, the Library wasn't prepared to pay anything for them. In fact, donating his work would actually have cost the artist money he can ill-afford to lose.

Very few Welsh artists can make a living from their work alone, but when they're expected to contribute their works to exhibitions at public buildings for nothing, there's little wonder that rumblings for reform are a consistent theme amongst this passionate group.

This post also appears on my arts blog, Arty Smarty.

David Cameron's Homework

2008-11-24T14:43:00.005Z

In response to the Conservative's resurrection of the tax bombshell poster, Labour have launched a counter-campaign in the form of David Cameron's Economic Homework.

Whose sums add up? I've a feeling we won't find out any time soon.

The shops aren't busy, and if you venture into Cardiff on a Friday night it's as empty as Saddam's WMD factory when the UN calls (joke from the archive, circa 2002).

Darling is going to have to pull something magical out of the bag this afternoon to turn our spending habits around.

Follow Sky's excellent coverage of the Chancellor's pre-budget report online at their PBR microblog.

He's not the Messiah, he's a...

2008-11-23T07:16:00.005Z

This week's infrequent Naughty Boy award goes to Matt Withers, who is thoroughly chastised by the Presiding Officer in the letters page of today's Wales on Sunday.

~~Captain Mainwaring~~ Lord Elis-Thomas, in the way that only he can, derides Withers for saying Wales has no written constitution as part of a witty aside in last week's paper.

Apparently Wales has had two written constitutions. News to me.

Now pull your socks up, look sharp, and report to Dave ET's office after school for a lesson on the Government of Wales acts.

Politics Cymru

2008-11-21T18:31:00.002Z

Three of my colleagues covering politics on the postgrad broadcast journalism course in Cardiff have launched the Politics Cymru blog.

They're also producing an irregular podcast, which is well worth a listen.

Leighton Andrews steps aside (for Huw)

2008-11-20T21:21:00.007Z

There's only room for one unionist in the Labour leadership contest, and the fish called Rhondda has jumped out of the pond. Ahem.

On Dragon's Eye tonight Leighton Andrews ruled himself out of the contest (which hasn't actually begun) to succeed Rhodri Morgan as First Minister, leaving Huw Lewis to take on Carwyn Jones next year.

Huw Lewis has wider support than Leighton among Labour members in the Assembly group and across Wales. If anyone's going to mount a serious challenge to Carwyn, it'll be Huw.

And if anyone's determined to help stop the Bridgend AM becoming heir apparent, it's Leighton.

UPDATE: Leighton Andrews publishes a get-on-with-it mantra on his blog today.

He says: 'Following the US election and the Glenrothes by-election, this is a moment of progressive potential.'

Sounds like he's been taking tips from Mick Bates, though luckily Leighton draws no direct comparisons between Huw Lewis and the new leader of the free world.

Photo Credit: Smoob/Flickr Creative Commons License

Rewind

2008-11-20T20:39:00.008Z

I'm back. So what have I missed?

Mike German has finally quit - perhaps my initial prediction was a little premature.

The Labour-Plaid love-in is starting to feel the strain. But wasn't it always a bit rocky?

And then there was this, born on the blogs and seized on by the mainstream media.

Oh, Rhodri Glyn, where are you now?

Fast Forward

2008-10-22T23:12:00.001+01:00

Those of you with time on your hands to read more blogs from Wales might want to check out my new offering - Arty Smarty at http://arty-smarty.blogspot.com

The End

2007-05-25T14:26:00.000+01:00

And that, my friends, is it.

With Rhodri back as First Minister, the assembly elections are as over as they're likely to be (for the next 24 hours at least), and it's time for my sojourn in the blogosphere to come to an end.

Thanks for the comments and emails; my hearty appreciation goes to those correspondents who are now in my contacts book and will undoubtedly be hearing from me in a professional capacity as the fourth term of this Welsh assembly government progresses at pace.

Should you wish to contact me the email address to the left will stay operational for a month or so. This blog will remain here until the nice people at blogger.com decide to remove it.

I now hope to have a relaxing, though productive, summer. I hope you do too.

Labour Yoof

2007-05-25T01:00:00.001+01:00

Where is the Labour youth revolution? Conservative Future is the new, shiny, friendly and acceptable face of Conservatism on our university campuses.

But when I tried to arrange a get-together of political students for a programme in the run-up to the elections on Cardiff uni radio this spring, Labour were incommunicado.

They weren't registered as a society with the Students' Union, and had no point of contact for lazy hacks like me - or anyone who might be interested in joining them.

Contrast this with Conservative Future, who have a growing presence in Cardiff, are well-coordinated and well-presented, and are reflecting on a grass-roots level what David Cameron appears to be offering on the national stage.

If the Labour party in Wales are to reinvent themselves over the course of the next four years, their youth wing needs a dramatic overhaul too. There are plenty of elements in the Bay and at Transport House who are the Labour equivalent of the Tory Boys of the 21st century - geeky, arrogant and self-serving, and who will gladly put the party before Wales' best interests when called to arms by their unionist bosses.

Labour's immediate future remains uncertain - only with a dramatic public makeover under a progressive new leader will they discard an image of arrogance and petulance that currently dogs the unionist wing of the party. Like the Conservatives, this revolution needs to be mirrored at a grass roots level.

On campuses across Wales the Socialist Workers organise protests and campaign on issues that were traditionally Labour territory. George Galloway's Respect has a bigger presence in Cardiff than Labour, for heaven's sake.

While a return to a staunchly socialist past will certainly damage the party's image, they do need to offer a healthy alternative to Conservative Future if they are to prosper amongst the next generation of wannabe politicians, business leaders and opinion formers. This includes mobilising on campaigns that are important to students - and any new leader's first task will be to distance himself from Iraq, and oppose student fees, if they want any respect on campus.

Like Welsh Labour, Young Labour needs a rebrand too.

I should mention that I did get hold of Cardiff University Young Labour, but only by chance when their two members were canvassing with Cardiff Central candidate Sue Lent.

So, that settles it

2007-05-24T16:03:00.000+01:00

Plenary has been called for 13:00 tomorrow, when - for lack of an alliance candidate - Rhodri Morgan will be elected First Minister of a minority Labour government.

The Liberal Democrats, in wanting to rewrite that old allegory about bolting the stable door, are going ahead with their special conference on Saturday. Around 20 members have asked Elgan Morgan, the party's conference bod, to keep their deposit on a board room at the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells where the party will gather to ~~unceremoniously line their AMs against the hotel wall and shoot them~~ discuss what went wrong. They might want to glance at the post below.

Plaid are peeved, though so are some Labour members who were hoping for a spell in opposition to really stir things up. Now both parties will have to battle on as damaged goods - Labour in a minority government, and Plaid with the humiliation of coming so close to running Wales but seeing their tentative agreement falling spectacularly apart.

Secretly I'd given the rainbow alliance until October for the whole hotch-potch get-together to come crashing down around poor Ieuan's ears.

The only unanswered question: when will Mike German resign? I speculated below - "Expect him to quit the day the next Welsh assembly government is formed" - though he might want to hang on until Saturday's conference if he's a real sucker for punishment.

Lib Dems: what went wrong?

2007-05-23T23:34:00.000+01:00

I haven't been at the Lib Dems' meeting in Llandrindod Wells, but the outcome was hardly surprising giving the monumental struggle within the party that emerged once the election result was announced.

Here are a few reasons why I believe it all went pear shaped.

: Discontented AMs - Peter Black and Mick Bates publicly announced they would not support a Rainbow Alliance option. Both seemed to prefer four years in opposition to reorganise the party and up their game ahead of 2011. This includes replacing Mike German as leader.
OK to clarify, Mick Bates said he wanted Labour to continue in minority government, rather than express dissatisfaction with a rainbow coalition.

: Distracted AMs - Kirsty Williams has remained silent, though many suspect she preferred a deal with Labour all along and didn't want the Rainbow Alliance to get off the ground. Now a reluctant contender to replace German at the top.

: Worried councillors - the party's councillors sitting in cabinets at four Lib Dem-led local authorities in Wales (Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham) seemed horrified by the prospect of a coalition with political enemies, with local elections looming. Though how much this worry was spun by those in the Assembly group to better their case is debatable.

: Party grandees unconvinced - Alex Carlile was set to address tonight's meeting in Llandrindod Wells, according to Peter Black's blog. Lord Carlile carries authority and respect, and adds credence to the concerns of those Lib Dems opposed to any coalition.

: A leadership in chaos - Mike German appears to have little control or respect amongst his Assembly group, which in turn has metastasised amongst the party faithful. His days have been numbered since those within the group began privately and publicly berating his leadership style in the election fall-out. Expect him to quit the day the next Welsh assembly government is formed.

Dead in the water

2007-05-23T22:49:00.000+01:00

So the Lib Dems have chosen not to go for a Triple Crown Rainbow alliance or whatever they're calling it.

The whole thing seems to be dead in the water.

Time for Plaid to get back on the blower to Rhodri?

Hay Festival 2007

2007-05-23T17:08:00.000+01:00

Tomorrow sees the start of the twentieth Hay Festival.

I went last year for the first time, and thoroughly enjoyed it. My last-minute trip twelve months ago prompted me to be thoroughly prepared this time round (and early with the ticket-booking) so I'll be in Hay for eight of the next ten days.

The highlights? The News Quiz and Any Questions for Radio 4 live from the festival site this Thursday and Friday, JPR Williams and Gruff Rhys on Saturday.

Next week: Monday - Lesley Philips, the Radio Cymru debate, Sioned Davies discussing a new translation of the Mabinogion, the new poet laureate (Gwyn Jones) talking to the old (Gwyneth Lewis), and the unveiling of the short list for the Wales Book of the Year.

Next Friday, the great Ogmore-by-Sea poet Dannie Abse.

Saturday - Fergal Keane and William Hague (not together)

And finally Sunday - Jeremy Bowen and John manning.

Fingers crossed for good weather, though I already see that this Sunday looks set to be a wet one.

(Oh.. Gordon Brown's chat clashes with Gruff Rhys. Didn't realise until I'd booked the tickets!)

Reasons to be cheerful

2007-05-22T14:25:00.001+01:00

...for Glyn Davies and his general election hopes, at least.

The Indie's reliable Pandora says rumours about Lembit running for Mayor of London are becoming more believable by the day:

I am reliably informed, however, that the publicity friendly MP, who has revelled in his headline-grabbing relationship with Touch-My-Bum Cheeky Girl Gabriela Irimia, is now privately telling friends that he is "genuinely tempted" to have a surprise crack at Livingstone next year.
"We [the Lib Dems] are struggling to find a high-profile candidate," says a loose-tongued pal of the Montgomeryshire MP. "Lembit repeatedly refuses to rule himself out if you ask about it.

Hat tip: maes-e

Assembly Answers

2007-05-22T10:34:00.000+01:00

We've finally arrived at Coalition Tuesday - we'll know by the end of the day whether Rhodri's last-gasp effort to tempt Plaid has shattered the Conservatives' dreams of a partnership in the new Welsh Assembly Government.

Of course, as Tomos Livingstone points out, if a Triple Crown agreement is reached, the Lib Dem membership could scupper the whole thing on Saturday and send us back to the ballot box.

If an agreement isn't reached, it will reflect badly on Wales, our politicians and our electoral processes.

Peter Black gives the impression he's a noble non-believer, laying down his convictions for the good of the party, and steadying the good ship Lib Dem Wales. Tough times call for tough measures.

In the meantime, it's my end of term essay hand-in day so I will be in the pub from mid-day. Expect this blog to be as unreliable as ever with the news that matters.

CUTV

2007-05-21T22:58:00.001+01:00

CUTV is a project that's set to revolutionise the student media experience at Cardiff University's students' union.

Complementing the award-winning Xpress Radio, Gair Rhydd newspaper and Quench magazine, Cardiff Union Television will launch in the new academic year (2007-2008).

Cardiff is one of the only Russell Group universities that doesn't offer its students a television station as part of its media portfolio.

At the moment the union's media officer and myself are recruiting a team of students to help run CUTV in its inaugural year, establishing an on-demand internet television station that's set to rival the best in the country.

If you are a student in Cardiff this autumn and would like to be involved with this exciting new venture, please contact me via email, or join either of the Facebook or Myspace groups.

Likewise, if you are a television production company who would be interested in advising the new executive or hosting training workshops at Cardiff students' union, I would love to hear from you.

Arsembly over?

2007-05-20T16:42:00.000+01:00

Has Arsembly been rumbled?

Former Conservative candidate Dylan Jones-Evans seems to think so.

There hasn't been a post from Arse for a good few days (though he has been logging in to his Facebook account to accept new friend requests); is this an unscheduled break, or is the Prof correct and the anonymous one's "bosses" are on to him?

UPDATE: Iain Dale has received word from the Arse:

Over the last few months Arsembly has grabbed the Welsh political
establishment by the balls. In a short space of time it became Wales's number
one political blog. I always wanted to go out on a high, leaving the public
wanting more – and I have done just that. Happily for me, I am no longer working
in or around Welsh politics, but that does mean the blog would have been
difficult to keep up. It's been a hugely enjoyable few months, thank you to all
my readers, and particularly my anonymous sources, without whom this would not
have been possible. Rest assured your identities will be protected. Arsembly
hasn't been deleted, and I will no doubt return to it sometime in the future. In
the meantime, I will continue to voice my opinion on the goings-on in Welsh
politics in the comment sections of other blogs.

UPDATE 2: The Welsh blogosphere's other anonymous conspirator, Ministerial Briefs, has just vanished too (see comments)

Jerusalem

2007-05-19T21:17:00.000+01:00

There was an excellent documentary by Lord Ashdown on Channel 4 tonight.

Battle for the Holy Land: Jerusalem followed the former Lib Dem leader, UN representative to Bosnia, and ex-resident of Northern Ireland as he drew on his experiences in an attempt to unearth the fundamental arguments that pitch neighbours against each other in what's arguably the world's holiest city.

The film ended with a remarkable series of clips which showed his interviewees all agreeing - to an extent - that they were prepared to live in peace, side by side. The problem lies with forty years of history attempting to steer all parties on a collision course that will inevitably lead to further conflict and suffering.

If you get a chance to see it again, I'm sure it will be repeated on the digital channel More4 in future, or join me in experimenting with the new 4 On Demand service, which lets you download and view again any programmes you may have missed on C4.

(What's great about 4OD is that it tends to make all its documentaries available for free download, whereas all the rubbish I don't watch costs cash to view again. Genius.)

Blair in Iraq

2007-05-19T17:22:00.001+01:00

Subscribers to the Channel 4 News "Snowmail" service will be familiar with the astute commentary often provided on the day's major issues as part of a preview of their evening programme.

Today's offering is no different. Alex Thompson sums up wonderfully well one aspect of the consistent lack of understanding amongst Western leaders about the ways of the Middle East, and in this instance the relationship between Iraq and Iran:

Mr Blair often speaks of Syria and Iran interfering in Iraq as if it's Paris sticking its nose into London. This displays a painful lack of appreciation that Iran being involved in Iraq IS the historic, cultural and religious norm - not some kind of diplo-military anomaly. But as ever, lack of understanding about Iraq remains the central difficulty that western politicians face.

You can subscribe to Snowmail here.

Where's Lembit?

2007-05-18T12:04:00.000+01:00

Vaughan Roderick has heard whispers about why Lembit Opik, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, was absent from last night's "historic" meeting in Llandrindod Wells.

Apparently, he was in a London TV studio recording tonight's edition of Have I Got News For You.

As Vaughan points out - a question of priorities, perhaps?

Paul Flynn MP calls Lembit a 'media tart'. Quite.

UPDATE: Cheekygate continues - the saga in full.

UPDATE 2: It seems one tabloid regular has given dear Lembit some advice. Chris Tarrant hosts tonight's episode of HIGNFY:

Referring to guest and Liberal Democrat politician Lembit Opik - whose partner is Cheeky Girls singer Gabriela Irimia - he said: "He wants to stop the press prying into his private life? Take my advice - pop out for a quiet curry. It works like a treat." (source)

Will it take the voters of Montgomeryshire more than a poppadom to forgive his "anything-but-politics" mantra of late?

'Exclusive'

2007-05-17T18:44:00.000+01:00

Paul Flynn MP (Newport West) has been taking his local rag to task about their use of the word 'exclusive' in his latest blog posts.

Speaking only from a radio point-of-view, it's great when you get to say your story's 'exclusive'; it's up there with 'breaking news this hour...' and 'sources tell [station]' as the buzzwords that make you feel your bulletin's striding ahead of the competition.

We're all guilty of overusing the phrases, but you have to measure your use of the word 'exclusive' against the likelihood that anyone else would bother to have run the story, or if you really are the only person to be reporting it/have that exclusive angle.

Paul's argument centres on comments made to the newspaper's website by readers, which supposedly appeared as an exclusive article in the paper the following day. I haven't seen the website or the paper, so I suggest checking things out via Mr Flynn's blog yourselves.

One thing's for certain - the threat from blogs and other online activity to the traditional preserve of the news outlet's 'exclusive' is only going to increase. At the moment it's minimal - any story broken on a blog can only reach a wide audience if it's picked up by a traditional media outlet.

I only got in to blogging when I realised, around a year ago, that it was fertile ground to pick up a story that more seasoned hacks were passing by. Now, as you're no doubt aware, everyone's in on the game, but I don't believe there's a real danger - yet - of regular exclusives in blog-land threatening the steady hand or authoritative voices of Wales' journalistic fraternity.

A cartoon classic

2007-05-17T16:48:00.000+01:00

My days of reading the Beano are (sadly) long gone, but my latest cartoon purchase is turning out to be a thoroughly recommended read.

I'm not one for sci-fi cartoons (no really, despite being called a "nerd" by Betsan Powys for my blogging tendencies, outside the small world of Welsh politics I like to indulge in what I would consider "normal" behaviour) so the prospect of buying a book of cartoons from the makers of Spider-Man and Wonder Woman was always going to be unprecedented.

The Illustrated 9/11 Commission Report is a fascinating read. I was unaware of its publication until I saw an item on its authors/illustrators on last weekend's Culture Show.

I've taken a break from writing my essay on Anglo-Welsh poetry to get into the book today, and it's gripping. I thought the prospect of seeing Batmanesque "FLAMMMs" and "WHOOOSHes" would devalue the work and, to an extent, the original Commission report. Instead it adds a greater depth to the findings of the Commission and certainly generates a new angle to the tragedy, the build-up and the fallout of 9/11.

Glyn to win?

2007-05-14T23:01:00.000+01:00

After much hinting and online soul-searching, Glyn Davies has revealed he's ready for a cheeky challenge in Montgomeryshire in two years' time.

His latest blog post says he's "applying for entry on the candidates list for the General Election," after being inundated with messages of support since losing his regional seat at the Senedd on May 3.

So the battle-lines are being drawn - it could well be Glyn v Lembit in 2009.

Libs out, Plaid in

2007-05-13T08:22:00.000+01:00

Over the last few months, this blog (along with many others) may have given the impression that there was a certain sense of inevitability about the outcome of post-election coalition talks.

Indeed, the Pope laying down his Rosary and devoting himself to a west Walian sacred bull seemed more plausible than a potential Lib-Lab deal being pushed off the table.

Time, perhaps, to embrace alternative options for the next Welsh assembly government.

Mick Bates has joined fellow Lib Dem AM Peter Black in ruling out a coalition with Labour - he'll say as much on this lunchtime's Politics Show.

Meanwhile, in today's Wales on Sunday Matt Withers reckons the 'New Zealand' option will be embraced by Labour and Plaid, with the nationalists propping up a minority Labour WAG when the votes matter - in return for policy concessions.

One assumes a ballot on independence isn't on the cards this time.

UPDATE: Matt's piece is now online here.

Interesting to note that Plaid's "red line" policies (i.e. those they will insist on as part of a deal) include a referendum on Scottish-style powers, which has pretty widespread support across the parties already (though not what you'd call "cross-party" backing).

A revised Welsh language act is also part of the bargaining between Ieuan and Rhodri - I'd love to know what the valleys Labour AMs think of all this. Inedible is probably an understatement; nauseating, perhaps?

Number 1

2007-05-12T14:42:00.000+01:00

Time for some brown-nosing...

Well done Red Dragon, who I supply with the bulk of my freelance broadcast journalism.

They remain number one in their broadcast area, with more people tuning in at breakfast than to any other station (including Chris Moyles on Radio 1, Terry Wogan on Radio 2, and all local competition.)

The icing on the cake was the announcement this week that GCap Media, Red Dragon's parent company, have won the new South Wales license.

XFM South Wales now has two years to get on the air, though I understand it will be sooner rather than later. The new station is a local version of XFM, already available on DAB digital radio and in several other cities across Britian.

G-Wiz

2007-05-10T15:56:00.000+01:00

In a way that only Boris Johnson can, the Tory MP and sometime test-driver for GQ magazine sums up why the G-Wiz electric car should not be banned.

The runabouts have just failed a standard industry test, which seemed to show there wasn't much left of the plastic/rubber inventions when they came into contact with a brick wall.

However the average recorded speed of these "cars" is 10mph in inner-London, which may limit the likelihood of them coming to any great harm.

(Click here for background, or here for a BBC video report on the G-Wiz failing safety tests)

The Blair era

2007-05-10T14:03:00.000+01:00

The people I've spoken to today have all expressed the feeling that 'it could have been worse.'

I'm currently studying for a Shakespeare's Tragedies exam on Tuesday (so forgive my artistic digression) and on revisiting King Lear this morning I couldn't help being struck by this passage in Act 1 Scene 4 (247-249) when Lear begins to realise his daughters (to whom the country has just been handed over) are about to undermine him:

O Lear, Lear, Lear!
Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in, (striking his head)
And thy dear judgement out!

Is Blair's departure a case of 'you don't know what you've got til it's gone'? And is this the end of New Labour?

First day back

2007-05-09T12:37:00.000+01:00

...And the shock news from the Assembly is that Lord Elis-Thomas has again been elected Presiding Officer, and the worst kept secret in Cardiff Bay has produced Rosemary Butler as his deputy.

Lib Dems Peter Black and Eleanor Burnham are sat behind their (current) leader, Mike German, in the siambr. They have yet to scratch each others eyes out, and as far as I can tell neither are carrying knives with which to stab German in the back.

Perhaps the damage has already been done.

So, farewell then...

2007-05-08T17:18:00.000+01:00

A number of blogs have disappeared into the ether of election night.

Alun Pugh's blog has followed in the tradition of his cabinet post and assembly seat - ~~it's vanished~~. Err it's sort of back up this afternoon, but not saying anything new.
Richard Hazlewood evidently has his hands full with the new Tory additions to the Assembly, meaning Sky Blue Thinking has kicked the bucket.
Plaid's Swansea West candidate Ian Titherington has packed it in.
Dylan Jones Evans still has his campaign blog intact, but from now on his academic ramblings will have to suffice.

A number of others have gone quiet since election night, but haven't dropped off the radar just yet.

Sadly, Welsh Women's Voice and Dear Julie Morgan MP remain in full working order.

Lib Dem coalition: No Deal

2007-05-08T15:43:00.000+01:00

The Lib Dem AM for South Wales West, Peter Black, is opposed to going in to government with any party:

...I believe that we need to stand aside from government this time and reaffirm our independence, our radicalism and our relevance.

It's the latest shot from Black after four days of a heated public falling-out between the pro- and anti-Mike German Lib Dem group in the assembly.

German remains perilously close to losing his position as leader of the party in Cardiff Bay when a leadership election is eventually called. The Liberal Democrats' constitution (as I understand it) demands a leadership contest within a year of an assembly election. The sooner the better, for Peter Black at least. He told the Richard Evans programme on BBC Radio Wales yesterday that he has no ambitions for the top job himself. Eleanor Burnham has also ruled out running for leader. Kirsty Williams can be assumed to be the only likely successor - and certainly endorsed by Black and Burnham.

Peter cites Jenny Randerson in today's Western Mail as abandoning a core principle with which the Lib Dems sought office this time round. Perhpas because Randerson occupies the safest Lib Dem seat in Wales (and was a minister in the last coalition government) she feels there can be negotiation on such a fundamentally Lib Dem policy as PR in local government.

Before the elections I interviewed Mike German, Jenny Randerson and Peter Black, and all repeated the mantra that any coalition deal would include the most important of their manifesto promises. "After all," they trumpeted, "we implemented over 100 manifesto pledges when we entered coalition last time round."

It's so far proved difficult to establish whether Peter speaks solely for himself, or if the silent thoughts of any of the five other Lib Dem AMs bear a resemblance to his own.

I certainly think it will do the party a world of good to get this murky patch in their Welsh history over and done with for the sake of their electability in forthcoming council polls, and at the next general election. The question now is how long will it take before more of Peter's group join the Salemesque campaign to oust German and reinvent the party's image in Wales.