It's great news that the Assembly has - at last - established a Children's Committee as a means of challenging, scrutinising and investigating all aspects of the Government's (and the Assembly's) actions for their relevance to children. It will also be widely welcomed that this new body will have Helen Mary Jones as its Chair. She has a proven track record and deep personal commitment to this field of work as evidenced both prior to and since becoming an AM. Neither would I wish to challenge the credentials of any other member of the Committee.
But I can't help being disturbed by the fact that the Committee is entirely made up of women. It's as if the Assembly has taken the stance that children's welfare is the domain of Women. An antiquated and frankly dangerous stance. This is the first time the Assembly has created a single-gender committee - and there would be uproar if it were all-male. It's doubly unfortunate that they have done so now in a way that reinforces narrow stereotypes. I understand that the process of establishing membership means that each party puts forward the names of its representatives in isolation of one another. Therefore the potential for this happening again is huge. Surely there should be a moderating mechanism that helps redress any imbalances before the make-up of the committee is finalised? It would be very unfortunate if the work of this valuable body were to be hampered by the time it might have to spend being investigated for imbalance by the Assembly's own Equal Opportunities Committee - which ironically has many members in common with the Children's Committee itself!
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
Land of Hope and Gordon...
He's never really had the presentational skills of his predecessor. If he had seen the opportunity Gordon Brown's speech yesterday would have finished with him being draped in a Union Jack with red, white and blue ticker tape descending and a rapturous crowd bellowing Land of Hope and Glory.
The UberBrit firmly cemented the New Labour & Unionist Party's place on the right of the political firmament and ensured that whenever the Westminster Election comes along it will be fought as much on the Constitution as on any other issue. He's desperate to give the SNP a kicking in his own backyard and to quell demands for enhanced devolution in Wales by raising the spectre of fragmentation and the loss of everything that is "Great" about Britain.
Plaid's response should be simple. If he wants an election fought on the Constitution, bring it on!
Coupled with the sad rantings of Eluned Morgan today - arguing for Labour in Wales to lurch to the right in order to occupy the "centre ground" - not on the basis of any principle or analysis of Welsh needs, but in order to appeal to an electorate that seems to be deserting them - this should be a fun election for Plaid. Unequivocally the only left of centre party remaining, Plaid's leadership should relish the prospect of an election where they can openly propound a full National Parliament led by a Welsh Socialist Government. And let Eluned and the others flounder in the murky grey water - that once was almost clear red - between UberBrit and Welsh Labour.
The UberBrit firmly cemented the New Labour & Unionist Party's place on the right of the political firmament and ensured that whenever the Westminster Election comes along it will be fought as much on the Constitution as on any other issue. He's desperate to give the SNP a kicking in his own backyard and to quell demands for enhanced devolution in Wales by raising the spectre of fragmentation and the loss of everything that is "Great" about Britain.
Plaid's response should be simple. If he wants an election fought on the Constitution, bring it on!
Coupled with the sad rantings of Eluned Morgan today - arguing for Labour in Wales to lurch to the right in order to occupy the "centre ground" - not on the basis of any principle or analysis of Welsh needs, but in order to appeal to an electorate that seems to be deserting them - this should be a fun election for Plaid. Unequivocally the only left of centre party remaining, Plaid's leadership should relish the prospect of an election where they can openly propound a full National Parliament led by a Welsh Socialist Government. And let Eluned and the others flounder in the murky grey water - that once was almost clear red - between UberBrit and Welsh Labour.
Sunday, 23 September 2007
A Coalition for the Future, not Apologists for the Past
Well we’ve lived with coalition government for a week now and the universe hasn’t ground to a halt! Yes I know the coalition was agreed and cabinet announced months ago - but that was just a green light for individual ministers to assume responsibility and to operate within their portfolios. (and during that period Elin Jones has excelled in the unexpected and unwelcome spotlight of foot & mouth). But collective responsibility in Government demands a team approach, and as the cabinet has only just met for the first time, and the Assembly has only just reconvened after a summer hiatus, it is fair to say that it is only now that the coalition exists.
Of course the summer should have given all parties time for reflection on how they behave and position themselves for the new reality. What evidence has there been of such cogitation? Clearly there are elements within the Labour Party who are still struggling with the concept. Heading straight into the conference season has meant that Peter Hain and others have to play to gallery of their own disgruntled members who find it so difficult to accept that we have a Government that actually reflects the will of the electorate. Politics will always attract empty posturing. It's embittered posturing that's dangerous.
Within Plaid there has been some sense of euphoria about being in Government for the first time. Llandudno at times turned into a canonisation of Ieuan Wyn in spite of his undoubted personal preference for the abortive Rainbow deal.
The Tories, meanwhile, are sharpening their swords and revelling in the prospect of being the official opposition. Look out for aggressive (and self righteous) scrutiny of the Government for the next four years.
While the Lib Dems will do nothing until they've resolved their leadership vacuum both in Cardiff and Westminster. And they'll struggle even then.
But early signs of Plaid's behaviour in Government might be a bit disturbing. The readiness of Plaid Mininsters (notably Ieuan) to defend statistics and analyses that were challengable in opposition and remain challengable today does not bode well. Coalition is about a new form of Government that starts from now. There should be no obligation on any Minister to defend that which has gone before. That perpetuates the shallowness of politics. Draw a line in the sand and create a new era in Welsh politics in which Plaid retains its independent critique of what has gone before while setting its stamp on future direction that is a clear distillation of the best of both Labour and Plaid. Display collective responsibility for the present and the future by all means. But please don't insult the people by leaping to the defence of the rejected Labour administration.
Of course the summer should have given all parties time for reflection on how they behave and position themselves for the new reality. What evidence has there been of such cogitation? Clearly there are elements within the Labour Party who are still struggling with the concept. Heading straight into the conference season has meant that Peter Hain and others have to play to gallery of their own disgruntled members who find it so difficult to accept that we have a Government that actually reflects the will of the electorate. Politics will always attract empty posturing. It's embittered posturing that's dangerous.
Within Plaid there has been some sense of euphoria about being in Government for the first time. Llandudno at times turned into a canonisation of Ieuan Wyn in spite of his undoubted personal preference for the abortive Rainbow deal.
The Tories, meanwhile, are sharpening their swords and revelling in the prospect of being the official opposition. Look out for aggressive (and self righteous) scrutiny of the Government for the next four years.
While the Lib Dems will do nothing until they've resolved their leadership vacuum both in Cardiff and Westminster. And they'll struggle even then.
But early signs of Plaid's behaviour in Government might be a bit disturbing. The readiness of Plaid Mininsters (notably Ieuan) to defend statistics and analyses that were challengable in opposition and remain challengable today does not bode well. Coalition is about a new form of Government that starts from now. There should be no obligation on any Minister to defend that which has gone before. That perpetuates the shallowness of politics. Draw a line in the sand and create a new era in Welsh politics in which Plaid retains its independent critique of what has gone before while setting its stamp on future direction that is a clear distillation of the best of both Labour and Plaid. Display collective responsibility for the present and the future by all means. But please don't insult the people by leaping to the defence of the rejected Labour administration.
Thursday, 13 September 2007
Plaid Peers?
Interesting to see that Elfyn Llwyd has resurrected the argument about sending Plaid peers to the House of Lords. I wonder if it will generate the same level of rhetoric and emotion as the last time this was debated. In those days the House of Lords was still heavily dominated by hereditary peers and it was pre-assembly. The new debate needs to take account of changed circumstances.
The reform of the House of Lords is very very far from complete. There is still no democratic argument than can support giving someone a seat in a legislative chamber for the rest of their lives. There is still no democratic argument for appointments to that chamber being made by patronage alone. But equally there is no argument for Plaid Cymru to deliberately absent itself from any legislative chamber, however dubious its democratic credentials, if that body has the potential to influence the well being of the people of Wales.
Strangely, in this new era of devolved politics, the argument for a Plaid presence in Westminster's Second Chamber is stronger than ever. The Government of Wales Act has an inbuilt tension between the legislative ambitions of the National Assembly, and the frustrations of Welsh Labour MP's bereft of a meaningful role in so many domestic issues. When those frustrations spill over into blocking Assembly measures - and it is already mooted that this might well occur given the aspirations of Rhodri Glyn for a new Welsh Language Act - the need for alternative strategies, including creative use of the second chamber becomes a necessity rather than a nicety.
And isn't there a wonderful irony in using the least democratic legislative chamber in Western Europe to safeguard the emergent democracy of Wales and strike a blow for meaningful devolution?
The reform of the House of Lords is very very far from complete. There is still no democratic argument than can support giving someone a seat in a legislative chamber for the rest of their lives. There is still no democratic argument for appointments to that chamber being made by patronage alone. But equally there is no argument for Plaid Cymru to deliberately absent itself from any legislative chamber, however dubious its democratic credentials, if that body has the potential to influence the well being of the people of Wales.
Strangely, in this new era of devolved politics, the argument for a Plaid presence in Westminster's Second Chamber is stronger than ever. The Government of Wales Act has an inbuilt tension between the legislative ambitions of the National Assembly, and the frustrations of Welsh Labour MP's bereft of a meaningful role in so many domestic issues. When those frustrations spill over into blocking Assembly measures - and it is already mooted that this might well occur given the aspirations of Rhodri Glyn for a new Welsh Language Act - the need for alternative strategies, including creative use of the second chamber becomes a necessity rather than a nicety.
And isn't there a wonderful irony in using the least democratic legislative chamber in Western Europe to safeguard the emergent democracy of Wales and strike a blow for meaningful devolution?
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
Architects - Join the 21st Century!
There are some news stories that really get my goat - mainly where they relate to the gross incompetence of people paid by the public purse for professional services that they plainly do not understand. The news this week that Network Rail is paying a taxi service to ferry passengers with mobility problems to access their newly refurbished platform at Newport Station is just such a case. Here we have a ludicrous stop-gap measure not because of some difficulty in adapting an old building that predates the enlightenment of the Disability Discrimination Act but because a newly built public facility treats such access as an optional afterthought. It is said that a lift will be put in place in time for the 2012 Ryder Cup. Staggering. The roll call of those at fault here must be amazing. Architects and professional building advisors; local authority planning officers and councillors who presumably granted consent; Network Rail who commissioned the project and presumably dictated the specification. The list goes on. Even without the requirements of the DDA the morons in this chain of command have clearly never manouvered a push-chair or carried luggage while changing platforms at a railway station. And on purely commercial grounds why on earth are they continuing to design facilities that serve to deliberately exclude a sector of paying customers? But now that we have the DDA there is surely a moral if not legal case for
1. remedying the situation forthwith
2. calculating clearly the additional costs that have been incurred as a result of treating core provision as an afterthought;
3. surcharging all of the culpable individuals in said chain of command for those costs as well as imposing punitive fines on their companies; and
4. sending all concerned back to college to learn the basics.
If the platform had been commissioned and put into use before someone had remembered to install lighting, the opening would have been delayed until the problem had been corrected. Why should basic access be treated any differently?
And why oh why can't architects and civil engineers - supposedly creative people - not recognise the wonderful opportunity for original thinking that a new build project offers in this egalitarian age. The principle of universal access should be feeding the creative juices and generating new mindsets in design - not being perceived of as an irritant foisted upon their profession.
1. remedying the situation forthwith
2. calculating clearly the additional costs that have been incurred as a result of treating core provision as an afterthought;
3. surcharging all of the culpable individuals in said chain of command for those costs as well as imposing punitive fines on their companies; and
4. sending all concerned back to college to learn the basics.
If the platform had been commissioned and put into use before someone had remembered to install lighting, the opening would have been delayed until the problem had been corrected. Why should basic access be treated any differently?
And why oh why can't architects and civil engineers - supposedly creative people - not recognise the wonderful opportunity for original thinking that a new build project offers in this egalitarian age. The principle of universal access should be feeding the creative juices and generating new mindsets in design - not being perceived of as an irritant foisted upon their profession.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
New Welsh Government; New Welsh Blog
The creation of a new coalition cabinet seem to be a apposite time to launch a new blog dedicated to an analysis of contemporary Welsh politics, with a focus on activities in the National Assembly. As a blog virgin I enter the arena with some trepidation, but am happy to nail my colours to the mast at this early stage. I am not active in politics at the current time, but am firmly of the left and of the nationalist persuasion. So a Red/Green coalition government creates a framework I cannot avoid relating to.
The Coalition Cabinet has just been announced, and what a message it sends about Ieuan's bargaining powers when negotiating with Rhodri. Having assured his party that the agreement was going to avoid placing Plaid ministers in stereotypical niches - the language and rural affairs - what do we end up with? The Language and Rural Affairs. Rhodri 2 - Ieuan 0. The appointment of Jocelyn as Deputy Minister for housing is to be welcomed warmly, but while Elin and Rhodri Glyn both have their strengths, how on earth can Ieuan contemplate creating his party's first ever ministerial team and leave out the party's most effective communicator and biggest hitter - Helen Mary Jones. She is the surely the most able member in the entire Assembly to tackle the Social Justice brief, but instead of that we end up with a recylced Brian Gibbons - a well meaning and principled man, but totally lacking in the substance, leadership and drive that Helen Mary would bring to the brief. Maybe it's that word "leadership" that drives Ieuan to keep her on the backbenches. If so may that be an indicator of his inherent small-mindedness.
Elin will bring sincerity and considerable political acumen to the rural affairs brief. I'm sure she will win the confidence of the farmers' unions even if Siambo has to be sacrificed to get it.
Rhodri Glyn will be charged with steering through a new Welsh Language Act - a task that would be hugely enhanced by a public commitment from his new ministerial office that whereas his predecessor (Alun Pugh) had a penchant for bikes, Rhodri Glyn will be touring round the hospitality boxes of the coming World Cup demonstrating a new found fondness for the Wagon.
As the new cabinet will be operating in recess for the next few months it may take a while for the team to gel. Rhodri Morgan has succeeded in keeping his entire previous cabinet team (surely another indication of weak bargaining from Ieuan) so there is a distinct possibility the Plaid members will be seen as an unwelcome add-on. A bit of a wart on the side of the established team. Do Ieuan and Rhodri (as he recovers his health) have the leadership skills to avoid such a scenario I wonder?
The Coalition Cabinet has just been announced, and what a message it sends about Ieuan's bargaining powers when negotiating with Rhodri. Having assured his party that the agreement was going to avoid placing Plaid ministers in stereotypical niches - the language and rural affairs - what do we end up with? The Language and Rural Affairs. Rhodri 2 - Ieuan 0. The appointment of Jocelyn as Deputy Minister for housing is to be welcomed warmly, but while Elin and Rhodri Glyn both have their strengths, how on earth can Ieuan contemplate creating his party's first ever ministerial team and leave out the party's most effective communicator and biggest hitter - Helen Mary Jones. She is the surely the most able member in the entire Assembly to tackle the Social Justice brief, but instead of that we end up with a recylced Brian Gibbons - a well meaning and principled man, but totally lacking in the substance, leadership and drive that Helen Mary would bring to the brief. Maybe it's that word "leadership" that drives Ieuan to keep her on the backbenches. If so may that be an indicator of his inherent small-mindedness.
Elin will bring sincerity and considerable political acumen to the rural affairs brief. I'm sure she will win the confidence of the farmers' unions even if Siambo has to be sacrificed to get it.
Rhodri Glyn will be charged with steering through a new Welsh Language Act - a task that would be hugely enhanced by a public commitment from his new ministerial office that whereas his predecessor (Alun Pugh) had a penchant for bikes, Rhodri Glyn will be touring round the hospitality boxes of the coming World Cup demonstrating a new found fondness for the Wagon.
As the new cabinet will be operating in recess for the next few months it may take a while for the team to gel. Rhodri Morgan has succeeded in keeping his entire previous cabinet team (surely another indication of weak bargaining from Ieuan) so there is a distinct possibility the Plaid members will be seen as an unwelcome add-on. A bit of a wart on the side of the established team. Do Ieuan and Rhodri (as he recovers his health) have the leadership skills to avoid such a scenario I wonder?
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