Thursday 14 November 2013

Calum Higgins part time councillor for MP? (Doesn't look like it)

Only last week Labour Parliamentary candidate Carmarthen East & Dinefwr seat at the next general election Calum Higgins and Plaid was criticising sitting Plaid MP  afterLabour lost a crucial vote in the House of Commons over its plan to freeze energy prices for 20 months.
Mr Higgins, recently unveiled as his party's choice to fight the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr seat at the 2015 General Election, slammed Plaid for failing to back the move to freeze gas and electricity prices in the UK.
“Not even bothering to turn up to the vote brings back memories of 1997 when Plaid MPs couldn’t be bothered to stay late and vote for the introduction of a minimum wage," he said. "They keep saying they are the party of Wales but their voting records tell a whole other picture.

Alas for Mr Higgins this has led Plaid  to counter attack as reported in the Wasting Mule Pointing out that he  being paid from public funds to work as an AM’s assistant despite enrolling on a full-time university course. Whilst also receiving  an allowance of £13,175 for being a councillor representing Tycroes. 

There has been criticism of his attendance record in the current council year – 29% and 33% on each of two committees. And despite also being a member of the Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, Mr Higgins has not attended a meeting since June.

Even more peculiar  On October 19 he announced on Facebook that he had moved to Cardiff!!


Alun Davies, the Plaid Cymru councillor for the neighbouring ward of Saron, said:
“Serious questions need to be asked about how a student can undertake an intensive full-time course, be paid to work for an Assembly Member – a demanding job in itself – and continue his duties as an elected county councillor in a ward 60 miles away from where he lives.
“More should certainly be done to encourage people of working age to be local representatives, but put simply, his appalling attendance record for some committees this year shows the young councillor is failing to do a job of work. His lack of attendance at various committees – including meetings of the fire authority – is certainly being noticed locally and within his own Labour group on the council.

 A Welsh Labour spokesman said:  The Mule can always find one ...
This is desperate stuff from Plaid, and shows just how worried they are about haemorrhaging support in their core areas in Carmarthenshire. Calum is a fierce campaigner and has championed locally Labour’s campaign to freeze energy bills while the local Plaid MP Jonathan Edwards didn’t even bother to turn up and vote. Calum lives in Carmarthenshire and works part time for a local AM.“He spends up to two days a week in Cardiff as part of his postgraduate university course which will be finishing early next year.
And  there you have it. Mr Higgins seems to think Plaid MP should be at the Beck and Call of the Labour Party to support Labour Energy Freeze Policy which appears to be Ed Milibands only card but can't be bothered to carry out his duties as a councillor. 

And by the way Mr Higgins what your view of Labour no show at bedroom tax debate which they called and which all 3 Plaid MPs t0ok part.

Looks like a Parliamentary campaign which is over  after just one week

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