It’s nice to see that the First Minister Carwyn Jones is capable of getting worked up over something; it’s just a pity that his and every other politician’s indignation over the cuts to BBC which could spell the death of the Welsh media is all utterly pointless and far too little to late.
Let’s be reasonably kind and only go back 12 years, Labour has been in power in Cardiff Bay for all that time albeit with others and hasn’t managed to make securing the current media and findings ways of creating the space for other media to flourish in both languages a priority. And we shouldn’t forget Labour was also in power in the UK.
But this shouldn’t make the other parties smug, the Tories are incredible quiet on the changes proposed by current Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, do they agree and if not why aren't they speaking out. What does their silence on the matter to date say?
Plaid Cymru could be making capital out of this mess, but they would be in a much stronger position if they hadn’t hesitated about devolving broadcasting powers to WAG during the last Government after realising they would have to fund S4C out of the block grants.
As for the Lib Dems they may have raised the issue a few times over the past 12 years, but where were the alternative ideas from them or support for proposals that were being put forward by those in the media.
All in all a sorry state for the Welsh Government and what's left of its media to be in – Carwyn calling for meeting with Jeremy Hunt will achieve nothing, but that won’t stop it be portrayed as ‘standing up for Wales’ and Labour getting brownie points and that’s what really gets to me.
Instead of Carwyn and his team taking some action that might help the media this will descend into a slanging match with the UK Government and nothing will be achieved as usual – what a pity.
And the sad thing is I can’t ever see the pattern changing and not just in terms of the Welsh media.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
'Welsh Government 'could be forced' to take on tax-raising powers '
Interesting article in the Western Mail today reporting that First Minister Carwyn Jones might have to agree to new tax vary powers for the Welsh Assembly and as a result he is starting to shift his position on the matter from outright hostility to a sort of it might be OK one day approach after he gets borrowing powers etc.
Nothing has been confirmed by the UK Government and were probably a while of any changes to the Assembly’s powers, but it's interesting to note that despite Labour in Cardiff and London kicking this into the long grass before the Assembly election, they could now be faced with having to deal with the issue because Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond and his SNP colleagues are pushing the UK Government on the tax powers for the Scottish Parliament and David Cameron has stated his intention to devolve more powers to local communities.
Whatever happens let’s hope the folks in Cardiff Bay are alert to this and get the best deal for Welsh voters - maybe the next five years aren’t going to be a dull as I thought.
The full article is HERE
Nothing has been confirmed by the UK Government and were probably a while of any changes to the Assembly’s powers, but it's interesting to note that despite Labour in Cardiff and London kicking this into the long grass before the Assembly election, they could now be faced with having to deal with the issue because Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond and his SNP colleagues are pushing the UK Government on the tax powers for the Scottish Parliament and David Cameron has stated his intention to devolve more powers to local communities.
Whatever happens let’s hope the folks in Cardiff Bay are alert to this and get the best deal for Welsh voters - maybe the next five years aren’t going to be a dull as I thought.
The full article is HERE
Sunday, May 22, 2011
A momentous week elsewhere
What a week it has been, turmoil at the IMF, Ken Clarke's comments over rape and the latest clashes between politicians the judiciary over privacy laws - but there were equally momentous events closer to home this week.
In Scotland this week, Alex Salmond was sworn in as First Minister for a second term as head of majority Scottish National Party (SNP) Government, his confirmation as First Minister was marked by the UK and foreign press, not bad for a regional Parliament.
In Ireland this week, history of equal significance was made when Queen Elizabeth visited. Given the history between Britain and Ireland it was another important step and has been seen by both sides as a success. As well as the political significance Ireland has also had a worldwide four day show case for tourists and business people through the international media and will have more with even the brief visits of Barack Obama tomorrow before he heads for the UK.
Meanwhile the closet Wales got to any non Welsh media exposure this week was being the host venue for the Heineken Cup Final – a thrilling match certainly but it hardly compares with the above as most rugby fans already know about the delights of Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium.
But the main Welsh political story of the week, two Lib Dems AM’s suspension after a balls up by the Party over selection and election rules has hardly made waves beyond the Bay bubble never mind foreign press. Yes it serious and needs addressing, but rather than being grown up about it, Labour (and the Tories) are exploiting Lib Dem misery for all its worth and sending out a signal that for all the warm words about co-operation after the election, they are firmly in charge and will set the agenda - in short nothing has changed!
Maybe Welsh Ministers efforts should have been focused on exploiting next week’s State Visit to the UK by President Barack Obama, as Denis Campbell said on the Politics Show Wales earlier today, why didn’t anyone from the Welsh Government, politician or civil servant think of sending a business and political delegation to London, in these difficult times Wales needs all the help it can get.
In Scotland this week, Alex Salmond was sworn in as First Minister for a second term as head of majority Scottish National Party (SNP) Government, his confirmation as First Minister was marked by the UK and foreign press, not bad for a regional Parliament.
In Ireland this week, history of equal significance was made when Queen Elizabeth visited. Given the history between Britain and Ireland it was another important step and has been seen by both sides as a success. As well as the political significance Ireland has also had a worldwide four day show case for tourists and business people through the international media and will have more with even the brief visits of Barack Obama tomorrow before he heads for the UK.
Meanwhile the closet Wales got to any non Welsh media exposure this week was being the host venue for the Heineken Cup Final – a thrilling match certainly but it hardly compares with the above as most rugby fans already know about the delights of Cardiff and the Millennium Stadium.
But the main Welsh political story of the week, two Lib Dems AM’s suspension after a balls up by the Party over selection and election rules has hardly made waves beyond the Bay bubble never mind foreign press. Yes it serious and needs addressing, but rather than being grown up about it, Labour (and the Tories) are exploiting Lib Dem misery for all its worth and sending out a signal that for all the warm words about co-operation after the election, they are firmly in charge and will set the agenda - in short nothing has changed!
Maybe Welsh Ministers efforts should have been focused on exploiting next week’s State Visit to the UK by President Barack Obama, as Denis Campbell said on the Politics Show Wales earlier today, why didn’t anyone from the Welsh Government, politician or civil servant think of sending a business and political delegation to London, in these difficult times Wales needs all the help it can get.
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