Friday, May 22, 2009
Politics of Liberty
Three articles from Costas Douzinas, Iain Dale and Shirley Williams on the politics of liberty over at the Guardian, they were written ahead of a debate on the same subject at the Hay Festival this weekend - all are worth a read.
Thought for the Day
Our hard working little darlings (AM's) in the National Assembly are now on ‘half term’ holiday until 1st June 2009, after a strenuous 4 weeks since they returned to Cardiff Bay following a three week Easter break which finished on 26th April 2009.
And our Assembly Members wonder why they are held in such low regard by the General Public.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Alun Cairns in trouble again
I have just seen on the news Alun Cairns has made enquiries to rent out his flat in Cardiff Bay – the one he bought with Tax Payers money and would benefit from any rent and the one he has been using since his election in 1999, so why all the fuss now, probably because of the expenses row and his campaign to get elected MP for the Vale of Glamorgan.
This is the same Alun Cairns who bought an IPod and Dyson Vacuum Cleaner on his expenses which were disclosed before Christmas and the same Alun Cairns who was disciplined over his ‘greasy wops’ outburst about Italians and the reinstated by David Cameron.
Are there any disciplinary procedures going to be taken against him or does he remain the candidates for the Conservative’s in the Vale of Glamorgan, if so will he get elected?
As a side issue the report in ITV referred to David Cameron as party leader, are the Conservative AM's now all on UK message rather than the Welsh slant because it seems Nick Bourne’s role been downgraded by Conservative Central Office in the likelihood of a big Tory win in Westminster because he’s been invisible of late.
This is the same Alun Cairns who bought an IPod and Dyson Vacuum Cleaner on his expenses which were disclosed before Christmas and the same Alun Cairns who was disciplined over his ‘greasy wops’ outburst about Italians and the reinstated by David Cameron.
Are there any disciplinary procedures going to be taken against him or does he remain the candidates for the Conservative’s in the Vale of Glamorgan, if so will he get elected?
As a side issue the report in ITV referred to David Cameron as party leader, are the Conservative AM's now all on UK message rather than the Welsh slant because it seems Nick Bourne’s role been downgraded by Conservative Central Office in the likelihood of a big Tory win in Westminster because he’s been invisible of late.
More EU Engagement would be beneficial
The European Elections are being held on June 4th and there is very little interest in European matters mainly due to the expense scandal which is dominating MP’s and the public’s minds with many seeing the elections as a way to register their distaste with MP’s and the Government, in Wales its seems that we care even less if some of the hustings reports are true.
One thing that did catch my eye was a report published by the British Chamber of Commerce this week relating to European and UK Business Regulation and Policy saying that British Politicians need to be more engaged with European Policy at an early stage, as in the BCC report its states that it is costing British Business opportunities due to the two different systems of Assessment and the fact that MP’s are only interested in the UK end of EU legislation.
Its only one report but it could be significant for the next Parliament in Westminster in terms of the UK engaging with European Institutions, something that WAG does well at least over EU funding for Wales.
The report also casts doubt on the claims by Conservatives made about excessive EU Red Tape, more here from the Financial Times
One thing that did catch my eye was a report published by the British Chamber of Commerce this week relating to European and UK Business Regulation and Policy saying that British Politicians need to be more engaged with European Policy at an early stage, as in the BCC report its states that it is costing British Business opportunities due to the two different systems of Assessment and the fact that MP’s are only interested in the UK end of EU legislation.
Its only one report but it could be significant for the next Parliament in Westminster in terms of the UK engaging with European Institutions, something that WAG does well at least over EU funding for Wales.
The report also casts doubt on the claims by Conservatives made about excessive EU Red Tape, more here from the Financial Times
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Meanwhle in Scotland ...
The Scottish Media is suffering its own problems but compared to us in Wales it’s in rude health for example
Scotland has its own version of Newsnight that is broadcast on weeknights from 11 – 11.25pm and covers the day going on in Scottish Politics and beyond.
BBC Scotland has a Blog written by its Business and Economy Editor Douglas Fraser looking at Scottish Business and Economic matters, something that is hardly covered in the welsh media and would be welcome in welsh business circles.
It also has an Arts blog ‘View from the Southbank' written by Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean stared recently.
If BBC Scotland is forward looking enough even in these testing times to make these additions to its newsgathering, why aren’t the politicians and journalists in Wales pushing harder for similar resources for Wales, it’s not as if we can afford to be picky with the state of our print and broadcast media especially with ITV Wales going down the tubes.
Scotland has its own version of Newsnight that is broadcast on weeknights from 11 – 11.25pm and covers the day going on in Scottish Politics and beyond.
BBC Scotland has a Blog written by its Business and Economy Editor Douglas Fraser looking at Scottish Business and Economic matters, something that is hardly covered in the welsh media and would be welcome in welsh business circles.
It also has an Arts blog ‘View from the Southbank' written by Arts Correspondent Pauline McLean stared recently.
If BBC Scotland is forward looking enough even in these testing times to make these additions to its newsgathering, why aren’t the politicians and journalists in Wales pushing harder for similar resources for Wales, it’s not as if we can afford to be picky with the state of our print and broadcast media especially with ITV Wales going down the tubes.
An he's off
The Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin has resigned and about time too, when you have obviously lost the trust of MP’s and the public you just have to go.
So the question for me is this the first step on a road to real reform of the House of Commons and Lords that I would like to see or just red meat for the baying mob by MP's in blind panic?
So the question for me is this the first step on a road to real reform of the House of Commons and Lords that I would like to see or just red meat for the baying mob by MP's in blind panic?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
‘Former Carlton Club member middle man in MP’s expenses leak’
According to the Times and Wall Street Journal the middle man who approached UK newspapers on behalf of those who leaked the data on MP’s expenses is John Wick a former SAS Major and Conservative supporter and until a year ago Carlton Club member, the one that only has Conservative members. His name has been known to several of the UK newspapers since the Daily Telegraph started reporting the story.
The expenses were being offered at £5,000 per MP and apparently the Telegraph didn’t buy them all, wonder why not?
According to the paper ‘The Sunday Times was not offered the disks as the ring wanted the expenses details to be printed over several days in a daily paper. A deal was then struck with the Telegraph.
Yesterday The Wall Street Journal, which is owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Sunday Times, also named Henry Gewanter, an American public relations expert who works in London. Gewanter is a friend of Wick and was brought in because of his experience in dealing with newspapers. He declined to comment yesterday.
I have been worried by the turn of events over the past couple of weeks and frankly don’t see where Parliament and politicians go from here even with a new Conservative Government, but are we seriously being asked to believe with these new revelations coming to light that what has been done was in the public interest, rather than a cold calculated political act to benefit one party and destroy another.
The expenses were being offered at £5,000 per MP and apparently the Telegraph didn’t buy them all, wonder why not?
According to the paper ‘The Sunday Times was not offered the disks as the ring wanted the expenses details to be printed over several days in a daily paper. A deal was then struck with the Telegraph.
Yesterday The Wall Street Journal, which is owned by News Corporation, parent company of The Sunday Times, also named Henry Gewanter, an American public relations expert who works in London. Gewanter is a friend of Wick and was brought in because of his experience in dealing with newspapers. He declined to comment yesterday.
I have been worried by the turn of events over the past couple of weeks and frankly don’t see where Parliament and politicians go from here even with a new Conservative Government, but are we seriously being asked to believe with these new revelations coming to light that what has been done was in the public interest, rather than a cold calculated political act to benefit one party and destroy another.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)