Sharp End, ITV Wales political programme has been back on our screens for two weeks with a new format but still has its usual dose of political news, gossip and intrigue from Cardiff Bay.
I think that Mai Davies is an excellent host, but Jonathan Hill was a revelation in his interview with Rhodri Morgan, he certainly didn’t pull any punches on the First Minister’s record on a wide range of topic from constitutional reform, the economy, education reform and the health service. It’s one of the better interviews I have seen Rhodri Morgan’s give.
ITV Wales has considerable problems that are well documented but they produce a watchable weekly political programme to compliment what’s on offer from BBC Wales TV and Radio and we need an alternative view, I hope those in charge take note. By the way when are Adrian Masters and the Dragon’s Eye team back on screens?
On the matter of the Labour Leadership it seems Edwina Hart by making an online video announcement was probably hoping for it to be something along the lines of Hilary Clinton’s announcement for her Presidential Bid, a cynic would say that Edwina didn’t want to answer questions from the media at her leadership launch and you have to ask how long can she keep that up without the press getting irritated by it during the campaign?
It’s a short video that doesn’t tell us anymore than we already knew about the political views of the Health Minister and now candidate for First Minister, but she did make headlines even though Huw Lewis announced today as well, with her embrace of technology, the race to succeed Rhodri has begun at long last.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Anglesey Aluminium – a second chance for WAG?
The news that production at Anglesey Aluminium has finally ended with the loss of 390 skilled well paid jobs is a body blow to the island and community, a situation made all the more galling given the length of time both the UK Government and WAG have known about the electricity issue and had to strike a deal for a reduced price that was key to keeping the plant fully open.
To be fair the Government and WAG came up with £48 million in July, the electricity deal ran out at the end of September but the strings attached were to many and Anglesey Aluminium owners turn it down and the closure went ahead yesterday.
Given how much money has been ploughed into the Car Industry and Banks across the UK without as many strings it does make you wonder what priority the UK Government has to Wales’s manufacturers, who in this case were working in high skill manufacturing, jobs all politicians talk about the need to create or how much advice or notice they actually take of WAG on these matters.
Welsh manufacturing has taken a pounding before and during the recession and the much talked about ProAct and ReAct was no help in this case but in the meantime the Aluminium workers and Anglesey need immediate assistance, it would be fitting if WAG met that challenge head on in a way they failed to do in trying to keep the Aluminium plant open and prove to everyone that they can do more than prop up welsh manufacturing with other people ideas.
To be fair the Government and WAG came up with £48 million in July, the electricity deal ran out at the end of September but the strings attached were to many and Anglesey Aluminium owners turn it down and the closure went ahead yesterday.
Given how much money has been ploughed into the Car Industry and Banks across the UK without as many strings it does make you wonder what priority the UK Government has to Wales’s manufacturers, who in this case were working in high skill manufacturing, jobs all politicians talk about the need to create or how much advice or notice they actually take of WAG on these matters.
Welsh manufacturing has taken a pounding before and during the recession and the much talked about ProAct and ReAct was no help in this case but in the meantime the Aluminium workers and Anglesey need immediate assistance, it would be fitting if WAG met that challenge head on in a way they failed to do in trying to keep the Aluminium plant open and prove to everyone that they can do more than prop up welsh manufacturing with other people ideas.
A Step Closer
After four years in the planning Rhodri Morgan finally admitted the worst secret in Welsh politics that he is stepping down as First Minister and leader of the Welsh Labour Party at the end of the year after nearly ten years in charge.
But seen as we still don’t have a date I will save my thoughts on his time at the top until closer to his departure.
Meanwhile does this mean that Carwyn, Huw and Edwina can bring their leadership campaigns out into the open and start the race to replace Rhodri or do they to wait until he goes?
But seen as we still don’t have a date I will save my thoughts on his time at the top until closer to his departure.
Meanwhile does this mean that Carwyn, Huw and Edwina can bring their leadership campaigns out into the open and start the race to replace Rhodri or do they to wait until he goes?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Even The Sun is divided about David Cameron
It’s really not that big of a shock that The Sun newspaper is backing David Cameron and the Conservatives to win the General Election given that all opinion polls have shown the Party ahead by a country mile for months, but it does highlight how little has changed in British politics that The Sun’s endorsement is still held in such high regard and the Prime Minister of the day speech to conference is relegated to a secondary news story as a result.
I’m sure they are popping champagne corks in Tory HQ at Millbank at the news and why shouldn’t they, but it’s not all good news for David Cameron, the Editor of the Scottish Sun Newspaper David Dinsmore is yet to be won over, he said that he was not convinced the Conservatives, who have just one MP north of the border, were the right party for Scotland.
Mr Dinsmore said: "The big question is, 'what is David Cameron going to do for Scotland?'.
"I think we need to hear about what he is going to do for the economy up here, what he is going to do about the constitutional question."
He said the paper was "very much" for the Union and he could not see it backing the Scottish National Party.
The Scottish Sun editor said he wanted to "kick start" a debate in Scotland.
He also said that much of Gordon Brown's speech "had no bearing on Scotland “and: "We (the Sun) gave Labour one last chance at the 2005 election and they failed to take that.
I’m sure they are popping champagne corks in Tory HQ at Millbank at the news and why shouldn’t they, but it’s not all good news for David Cameron, the Editor of the Scottish Sun Newspaper David Dinsmore is yet to be won over, he said that he was not convinced the Conservatives, who have just one MP north of the border, were the right party for Scotland.
Mr Dinsmore said: "The big question is, 'what is David Cameron going to do for Scotland?'.
"I think we need to hear about what he is going to do for the economy up here, what he is going to do about the constitutional question."
He said the paper was "very much" for the Union and he could not see it backing the Scottish National Party.
The Scottish Sun editor said he wanted to "kick start" a debate in Scotland.
He also said that much of Gordon Brown's speech "had no bearing on Scotland “and: "We (the Sun) gave Labour one last chance at the 2005 election and they failed to take that.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Blog Stuff
Tory AM Jonathan Morgan has started a new blog called The Blue Print, good title, welcome to the blogosphere Jonathan hope you enjoy it!
The WalesHome team has expanded and now has a new blog called The Hearth worth a read as well.
Has Marcus Warner stopped blogging over at Sweet and Tender Hooligan or is it a temporary absence does anyone know?
The WalesHome team has expanded and now has a new blog called The Hearth worth a read as well.
Has Marcus Warner stopped blogging over at Sweet and Tender Hooligan or is it a temporary absence does anyone know?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
TaxPayers Alliance at it again
Can’t say I was that surprised Rhodri Morgan didn’t announce a date today in his speech to the Labour Conference in Brighton today, he may be Labour to the core of his being but even he knows as First Minister that his resignation should probably be made in Wales, and so the guessing game goes on.
Meanwhile away from the Brighton bubble, it seems the Tax Payers Alliance (TPA) have been at it again publishing inaccurate data in their report on the money wasting in the NHS and true to form they are blaming others for being caught out rather than their own methods and researchers, which would certainly be looked into in any other respectable think tank if they were caught out like this, but not the TPA this is the second time in as many months they have been found out and their headline in response reads ‘Some NHS Trusts get their FOI responses wrong’
This latest incident follows a Freedom of Information Request to NHS Trusts across the UK and some inaccurate figures were provided a handful of NHS Trusts about costs which is worrying and needs to be looked into and highlighted, but the lack of care that the Tax Payers Alliance has shown over this should make fairer minded individuals question the motives behind this request at the very least.
Despite this my guess is that the TPA will still be used and quoted widely in the Welsh media as a cheaper option for a story instead of employing more journalists and researchers to get better stories and scoops from Wales’s large public sector.
Meanwhile away from the Brighton bubble, it seems the Tax Payers Alliance (TPA) have been at it again publishing inaccurate data in their report on the money wasting in the NHS and true to form they are blaming others for being caught out rather than their own methods and researchers, which would certainly be looked into in any other respectable think tank if they were caught out like this, but not the TPA this is the second time in as many months they have been found out and their headline in response reads ‘Some NHS Trusts get their FOI responses wrong’
This latest incident follows a Freedom of Information Request to NHS Trusts across the UK and some inaccurate figures were provided a handful of NHS Trusts about costs which is worrying and needs to be looked into and highlighted, but the lack of care that the Tax Payers Alliance has shown over this should make fairer minded individuals question the motives behind this request at the very least.
Despite this my guess is that the TPA will still be used and quoted widely in the Welsh media as a cheaper option for a story instead of employing more journalists and researchers to get better stories and scoops from Wales’s large public sector.
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