In case you weren’t depressed enough about being taken for a ride by the Government yet again over bankers bonuses or the truly hideous stats about the Welsh economy that will be ignored or massaged by WAG, there was always the latest Joseph Rowntree Foundation Monitoring Poverty and Social Exclusion 2009 annual report published this week showing that poverty in the UK was back 1997 levels, reversing the progress made in the early part of the decade and of more concern is the fact the reversal started back in 2004/5 long before the current recession.
The report isn’t all bad news people fear of crime is falling, but on too many of the indicators education, employment and health the report shows little progress or reversal of progress made.
It would be easy to say on that evidence that Government’s, agencies, charities and others are unable to do anything to change the situation and we should just accept that poverty and social exclusion are the price society pays for progress, I for one don’t subscribe to that philosophy i believe that everyone deserves a chance in life.
Tackling poverty, social exclusion, antisocial behaviour, addiction and worklessness is a hard job and should be a long term goal, not short term problems that you throw money at and will disappear over night. To use the cliché policymakers need to think outside the box the Rowntree reports is an opportunity to do that because if we don’t do thing differently we will still be talking about these issues in years to come.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Talking about law making is easy; talking about finance takes more effort.
Last week’s Government response to the Holtham Commission on how Wales was is funded and financed was overshadowed by the row over the timing of a referendum on full law making powers, but the lack of serious debate about the economic development and finance side of devolution is a issue that won’t go away in the coming decade.
The main reason financial and economic debate rarely gets heard is that for most people it’s dull and complex, it’s much easier to discuss law making powers than Tax, National Insurance, Budget deficits, Stock Markets etc.
As for the politicians, financial changes are not discussed in Cardiff Bay due to a lack of knowledge and interest in Financial matters and more widely by the political parties they represent, taking away the ‘blame Westminster for the budget squeeze’ option for many Ministers and politicians would be like taking away their comfort blanket many couldn’t cope.
Then you look at the response from HM Treasury to the Holtham Commission even with its limited recommendations for change that were all but ignored by Ministers and Civil Servants at a UK level. With that as the starting point what chance is there of meaningful change under either Labour or the Conservatives who don’t believe in or can imagine handing over fiscal and financial powers to any of the devolved administrations without it breaking up the UK in their eyes. Other countries like France and Spain have had regional financial structures in places for decades and those countries are coming apart at the seams.
The only groups talking about these issues are those opposed to them like True Wales, who in their response to the suggestion of a Welsh Stock Market by Jenny Randerson pandered to the worst fears of many about sky high taxes, Soviet levels of poverty and it being part of a secret Nationalist conspiracies to end the UK, and if that is all people hear on the issues. then until the counter arguments are put forward this nonsense gains credibility and any rational debate is lost before it started.
Finally there are people putting ideas forward about how to give the Assembly more economic and financial clout, but it’s not as sexy to the press as spats between the parties over lawmaking. To raise the profile of the debate on economic and financial powers Wales need leadership and courage and credible individuals in these fields and for the body politic to listen and engage about the issues, it also means a step change in thinking, something that will take time for many politicians and the public to adjust to, but is not impossible to achieve.
The main reason financial and economic debate rarely gets heard is that for most people it’s dull and complex, it’s much easier to discuss law making powers than Tax, National Insurance, Budget deficits, Stock Markets etc.
As for the politicians, financial changes are not discussed in Cardiff Bay due to a lack of knowledge and interest in Financial matters and more widely by the political parties they represent, taking away the ‘blame Westminster for the budget squeeze’ option for many Ministers and politicians would be like taking away their comfort blanket many couldn’t cope.
Then you look at the response from HM Treasury to the Holtham Commission even with its limited recommendations for change that were all but ignored by Ministers and Civil Servants at a UK level. With that as the starting point what chance is there of meaningful change under either Labour or the Conservatives who don’t believe in or can imagine handing over fiscal and financial powers to any of the devolved administrations without it breaking up the UK in their eyes. Other countries like France and Spain have had regional financial structures in places for decades and those countries are coming apart at the seams.
The only groups talking about these issues are those opposed to them like True Wales, who in their response to the suggestion of a Welsh Stock Market by Jenny Randerson pandered to the worst fears of many about sky high taxes, Soviet levels of poverty and it being part of a secret Nationalist conspiracies to end the UK, and if that is all people hear on the issues. then until the counter arguments are put forward this nonsense gains credibility and any rational debate is lost before it started.
Finally there are people putting ideas forward about how to give the Assembly more economic and financial clout, but it’s not as sexy to the press as spats between the parties over lawmaking. To raise the profile of the debate on economic and financial powers Wales need leadership and courage and credible individuals in these fields and for the body politic to listen and engage about the issues, it also means a step change in thinking, something that will take time for many politicians and the public to adjust to, but is not impossible to achieve.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
New Tory Attack Blog
Just when you thought you were safe from attack blogs online, the Conservatives have set up Leftwatch on the ConservativeHome website, the latest is ‘campaign’ in conjunction with the Taxpayers Alliance is to get rid of Government funding for organisation the Tories don’t like and people who criticise them to often, if it sounds familiar that because it similar to Labour’s infamous NATWATCH and Aneurin Glyndwr blogs in Wales that attack Plaid Cymru and the Tories with real venom.
I doubt this is the last attack blog we’ll see, but I wonder if the parties realise that this strand of politics only appeals to a minority rather than the majority of the electorate.
I doubt this is the last attack blog we’ll see, but I wonder if the parties realise that this strand of politics only appeals to a minority rather than the majority of the electorate.
Will things change or will the advice fall on deaf ears?
I read two interesting pieces following yesterday election by Labour members that are worth highlighting.
The first was from Jeff Jones the former Labour leader of Bridgend Council in the Western Mail talking about economic development saying the new Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones should ‘take on board innovative advisers. People might think this is really strange for me to say, but I think he needs to listen to people such as Professor Dylan Jones-Evans – a fully signed-up member of the Conservative Party.’
“He has to be big enough to go beyond the inner circle and look at people who have expertise.”
And the second from Lee Waters over at the Bevan Foundation on the diminishing power of Welsh Trade Unions, their role in the leadership campaign and their political affiliations.
He wrote ‘Earlier this year a private opinion poll on the political affiliation of Unite members showed that just 34 per cent favoured Labour and 31 per cent the Conservatives. Now only those who pay the political levy to Labour voted in the Welsh contest, but it adds to the picture of a breaking down of the traditional political role that Unions have played.
If the Conservatives win the General Election and Labour go into opposition union leaders will want to reflect on how they use their remaining political influence, and may want to focus more on campaigning on issues rather than trying to play the role of power brokers.'
The first was from Jeff Jones the former Labour leader of Bridgend Council in the Western Mail talking about economic development saying the new Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones should ‘take on board innovative advisers. People might think this is really strange for me to say, but I think he needs to listen to people such as Professor Dylan Jones-Evans – a fully signed-up member of the Conservative Party.’
“He has to be big enough to go beyond the inner circle and look at people who have expertise.”
And the second from Lee Waters over at the Bevan Foundation on the diminishing power of Welsh Trade Unions, their role in the leadership campaign and their political affiliations.
He wrote ‘Earlier this year a private opinion poll on the political affiliation of Unite members showed that just 34 per cent favoured Labour and 31 per cent the Conservatives. Now only those who pay the political levy to Labour voted in the Welsh contest, but it adds to the picture of a breaking down of the traditional political role that Unions have played.
If the Conservatives win the General Election and Labour go into opposition union leaders will want to reflect on how they use their remaining political influence, and may want to focus more on campaigning on issues rather than trying to play the role of power brokers.'
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Congratulations Carwyn
So it’s all over and Carwyn Jones, the front runner is the new Welsh Labour leader and First Minister elect. He got almost 52% of the vote in the first round and won in all three sections that gives him a real mandate to put his own stamp on the new Welsh Assembly Government.
He certainly has a big task ahead in terms of rebuilding the Welsh Labour Party and helping Wales through the remainder of the recession.
Monday, November 30, 2009
A thought ahead of tomorrow
Carwyn Jones the Counsel General and Assembly Member for Bridgend is widely expected to become the leader of the Welsh Labour Party tomorrow, but just how safe is the Bridgend seat for Labour, Carwyn had majority of over 2,500 at the 2007 National Assembly for Wales elections but the seat remains a Tory target in the upcoming General Election.
I ask because the politics.co.uk website has an article looking ahead to the General Election in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had the following
‘The nationalist impact is more muted in Wales, where Plaid Cymru have been forced to accept the constraints of coalition government. Conservative success in 2009's local elections makes Wales more similar to England than Scotland, too. Hence their possible victories in Brecon and Radnorshire, the Lib Dem seat held by Roger Williams; Bridgend, held by Labour's Madeleine Moon; and Cardiff North and the Vale of Glamorgan, where Labour incumbents are standing down.'
There is a difference between voting intentions at the Westminster and National Assembly Elections, but if Bridgend was lost at a UK level to the Tories, how vulnerable would Carwyn, who would be First Minister, be in the 2011 National Assembly Elections?
I ask because the politics.co.uk website has an article looking ahead to the General Election in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland had the following
‘The nationalist impact is more muted in Wales, where Plaid Cymru have been forced to accept the constraints of coalition government. Conservative success in 2009's local elections makes Wales more similar to England than Scotland, too. Hence their possible victories in Brecon and Radnorshire, the Lib Dem seat held by Roger Williams; Bridgend, held by Labour's Madeleine Moon; and Cardiff North and the Vale of Glamorgan, where Labour incumbents are standing down.'
There is a difference between voting intentions at the Westminster and National Assembly Elections, but if Bridgend was lost at a UK level to the Tories, how vulnerable would Carwyn, who would be First Minister, be in the 2011 National Assembly Elections?
Sunday, November 29, 2009
‘Cameron urged: let Scottish Tories set up a breakaway party’
Interesting stuff in the Sunday Herald today that says ‘David Cameron has been urged by a senior and influential Conservative to create a breakaway Scottish Tory party. Tim Montgomerie, editor of the influential conservativehome.com website, said the radical move should be considered as the Scottish Tories were making “limited” progress under leader Annabel Goldie.
His call comes after Cameron was warned by his own financial backers at a private dinner about Goldie’s performance.
The Sunday Herald revealed last month that senior Tories want Cameron to avoid making David Mundell the next Scottish Secretary if the party defeats Labour at the General Election.
A number of Tories believe that Mundell, the party’s sole MP in Scotland, would be no match for First Minister Alex Salmond, who could exploit the lack of Conservative seats in Scotland and jeopardise the Union.
It is believed that appointing an MSP to the House of Lords and then as Scottish Secretary has been floated as a “plan B”.
Montgomerie, who has impeccable links to the Tory shadow cabinet, urged Cameron to consider a Scottish Tory breakaway: “The Cameron effect has not reached Scotland like it has in Wales or the north of England. If the progress in Scotland is as limited as it looks like it might be, we should revisit the idea of creating a Scottish party with its own identity. It would help them break free from the Thatcher years.
“We [the Tories] talked two years ago about whether we should have a Scottish Reform Party, or a Scottish Freedom Party.”
He added: “It is a great shame that draft plans to give the Scottish party independence from the rest of the Conservative Party were shelved when mooted in April 2007.”
Francis Maude, a key Cameron ally in the shadow cabinet, is also thought to believe the Scottish party should have far greater independence.
It’s worth saying that the Conservative advance in Wales has as much to do with Labour’s decline as an wholehearted embrace of David Cameron’s party, but if Scotland’s Tories are to go it alone would the Welsh Conservatives follow suit, especially given some private fears of losing seats and support because of what could happen in the next 18 months before in the 2011 Welsh Assembly Elections.
It would also be interesting to know if similar concerns about Scotland Tory leaders have been raised with David Cameron about Tory Welsh Assembly leader Nick Bourne and Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan.
His call comes after Cameron was warned by his own financial backers at a private dinner about Goldie’s performance.
The Sunday Herald revealed last month that senior Tories want Cameron to avoid making David Mundell the next Scottish Secretary if the party defeats Labour at the General Election.
A number of Tories believe that Mundell, the party’s sole MP in Scotland, would be no match for First Minister Alex Salmond, who could exploit the lack of Conservative seats in Scotland and jeopardise the Union.
It is believed that appointing an MSP to the House of Lords and then as Scottish Secretary has been floated as a “plan B”.
Montgomerie, who has impeccable links to the Tory shadow cabinet, urged Cameron to consider a Scottish Tory breakaway: “The Cameron effect has not reached Scotland like it has in Wales or the north of England. If the progress in Scotland is as limited as it looks like it might be, we should revisit the idea of creating a Scottish party with its own identity. It would help them break free from the Thatcher years.
“We [the Tories] talked two years ago about whether we should have a Scottish Reform Party, or a Scottish Freedom Party.”
He added: “It is a great shame that draft plans to give the Scottish party independence from the rest of the Conservative Party were shelved when mooted in April 2007.”
Francis Maude, a key Cameron ally in the shadow cabinet, is also thought to believe the Scottish party should have far greater independence.
It’s worth saying that the Conservative advance in Wales has as much to do with Labour’s decline as an wholehearted embrace of David Cameron’s party, but if Scotland’s Tories are to go it alone would the Welsh Conservatives follow suit, especially given some private fears of losing seats and support because of what could happen in the next 18 months before in the 2011 Welsh Assembly Elections.
It would also be interesting to know if similar concerns about Scotland Tory leaders have been raised with David Cameron about Tory Welsh Assembly leader Nick Bourne and Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan.
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