Its Scotland's Question and it should be Scotland's answer

 Peter Black  seems to be sugesting  that the UK should have  some  form of veto on Scottish Independence.


Peter Black writes.

"I do not think that Scotland will vote 'yes' but should the decision be their's alone? If the Act of Union is to be dismantled then all of those affected must have their say first and that includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland".

There's no reason why the case for or against  Scottish Independence and the Implications should not be discussed in the UK; But Peter seems to be suggesting that if Scotland voted yes then the rest of the UK should have some kind of veto.


This is a very dangerous attitude as I asked Peter in his Blog have the 
Unionist learned nothing of the History of Ireland?
I wrote ...

To deny Scotland Independence if the people have voted for it will result in huge civil unrest and even Civil war.

Peter answer was  

I think you are getting a bit ahead of yourself. All of the polls predict a no vote. And there is no comparison with Ireland whatsoever.

 But there is. Before 1916 there was a perfectly legitimate and peaceful Irish Party that campaigned for Home Rule which elected nearly all the Irish Members of Parliament..


Time after time the UK government rejected Home Rule and this led to violence when after the bill was finally passed it was not implemented because of the First World War.


This contributed to those who were fed up with the UK delaying the Legitimate calls for Home Rule and the Easter Rising. 


But it was not only in Ireland that the call for Home Rule were constantly ignored  In India and the other British Colonies legitimate calls for Independence were not addressed  resulting in Civil unrest.


All to often Britannia has waved the Rules. Leaving people to believe that they shouldn't even obey them. it mustn't happen in this case .
.
If Scotland is to leave the Union then it should as friends and not bitter Enemies .

Jubilee was it abuse of the Elderly?

So the long Bank Holiday us over and it was a long one the weather didn't help the forelock- tuggers ,but it didn't help those of faced us with hours and hours tedious and repetitive of television coverage  in our efforts to avoid it.

I had planed to walk from Beddau ,along  the Ridgeway path to Mynydd y Gaer or the other way to Caerphilly depending on public transport yesterday .. But the weather being as it was and some  bus companies running only a Sunday service . went to Tesco's  instead.

They seemed to have a lot of Jubiliee crap left over and judging by the absence .from the Homes in my area.Where you can walk down whole streets and see no Union Jacks or other bunting they may have come a cropper here.

Any extremists who are looking for Flags to ceremonial burn may get a bargain in the next few weeks. But the stores will probably try an re-brand most of it as Olympic merchandise

One aspect of this was that I started to feel sorry for Mrs Windsor askin an 86 Oldwoman and er 92 year Old Husband to carry out the schedule they did amounted to abuse of the elderly.

Would the forelock-tuggers have allowed their grand mother great-grandmother to stand on a river barge for hours constantly waving.to people I doubt it .

And that's the rub although this Jubilee was supposed to be about showing affection for Mrs Windsor it has really been about the institution and the forelock-tuggers have no real concern over the individuals. When Mrs Windsor passes away there will be a week or two of retrospective of her live. Then they will be bowing to her Son in which all his weirdness will be forgotten and he will be re-branded as a "Modern Royal".

Yes she has a privileged life and she could in theory abdicated years ago but then Charles has by then cheated on his wife and exposed her to mental cruelty resulting in a divorce and then  marrying his mistress so that was probably not an option even if she wanted to.

It may be strange to those reading this Blog to see an avowed Republican feeling sorry Mrs Windsor but even though she may be a wiling victim . Its clear that she has been abused by those who claim to be a bigger supporters.

I do not tolerate abuse of older people no matter who they are.

Let it be Lord Öpik (for his sake)

I've never called for the ennoblement of anyone before; But I think Lembit  Öpik should be given a seat in the Lords ,before the sad plonker kills himself.

 Öpik who lost his Montgomeryshire seat in the 2010 general election, has been desperate to remain in the public eye trying for the LibDem nomination for London Mayor,appearing on I'm a celebrity get me out of here , Cariad Iaith, trying for a pop career and as a stand up comedian. All this has gained some brief publicity but he looks doomed to be a Z list celebrity

His latest act of desperation  was to contest a bout against professional fighter Kade Callous, in Welshpool.

According to the promoter, Öpik lasted about two minutes in the ring.

 Öpik said: "I had a black and blue weekend rather than a red, white and blue one"

The BBC reports that the the former Liberal Democrat MP turned celebrity was checked over by St John's Ambulance volunteers after the bout at a packed Welshpool town hall was stopped on Saturday night.

He said he is not sure whether he would go into the ring again after the bout which left him bruised, possibly cracked ribs and a sore back and left arm.

If he carries on like this he will end up doing a stunt that will be fatal or permanently crippling 

I don't wish that on him.I really do pity him and perhaps a seat in the Lords and the occasional appearance on Have I got news for you. Will be sufficient to satisfy his  need to keep in the public eye.

The house of Lords contain a number of politicians rejected by the public and I wouldn't nominally want to add to the number but just one more wouldn't do much harm and it may be a kindness.

300 Parties: Just how many Streets are there in Wales?

The Western Mule reports that....

Thousands of royal party-goers across the principality joined millions around the UK to toast the royal occasion.More than 300 official street parties were taking place across Wales with many more impromptu celebration expected.

The Principality ? What an insult from "the National Newspaper of Wales" as the Mule likes to call itself


Stil 300 parties impressive? Well no.


Locking at my old A-Z of Cardiff and Newport 300 is small fry

 Indeed there are more nearly 300 streets on just one page of the street index.

At a rough calculation  there are over 7500 streets on this Map Although in one of the most populous parts of Wales admittedly  . So even 300 here would less than 5% .


I've no doubt that there were probably more parties where people had't applied for a permit  and this would have been even bigger if not for the weather. But its not the mass celebration that the Mule and the rest of the Media claim



People will use any excuse to Party exceptionally these dark days . You'd get more than  300 street parties to celebrate Wales winning the Rugby World Cup for sure, We went mad getting to the semi finals.


I've seen the odd Union Jack on peoples houses but by and large there little show of real support for the Jubilee . We Republicans may be in a minority but then so are the forelock-tuggers . The vast majority of the People of Wales seem largely indifferent even when they are being told by the Media that they are takeing part.


By the way some are revering to this pathetic newspaper as the Western Fail A god name for it  but I will continue to call it the Western Mule as we did in the 70 's and 80's

Decision to drop Biggar from Welsh squad Bizarre.

I know that in politics,I am in a minority including being  a republican and a supporter of Welsh Independence, but of course it doesn't mean I am wrong.


I appear to be in even smaller minority when it comes to Rugby and my belief that Osprey's Dan Biggar, should be considered  over the Scarlets .Rhys  Priestland for the position of Welsh fly half.


I follow the Blues so I am not Osprey biased:. But Biggar has impressed me ever since I saw play as an under 20's International and at only 22 he has scored over a thousand points for the Ospreys


I accept there are are facets of his game that need improvement but it could be that a few more caps could be the polish Dan needs.


Rhys  Priestland may be better in some areas but Rhys had a poor six nations and if Leigh Halfpenny hadn't taken over his kicking duties he had probably been dropped.


Buy contrast although he hasn't excelled  in his few Welsh appearances . Biggar has had a great season for the Ospreys culminating in his dramatic winning conversion from near a touchline and on the wrong side of the pitch for him to snatch a brilliant 31-30 victory over Heineken Cup kings Leinster in Dublin last weekend.

However Biggar is one of five players cut from the Wales squad set to tour Australia following today's 30 - 21 win against the Barbarians.

Wales caretaker coach Rob Howley  revealed the names of the unlucky five in the immediate aftermath of today's match at the Millennium Stadium. 

However it appears all five were told well before the Barbarians match they would not be going on tour.

It seems strange to not wait until after the match but it explains why James Hook was given the kicking duties during the match and the seeming disappointment  on Biggar's face. What would sit-in coach Rob Howley have done if Biggar had an exemplary game?

Perhaps its just a case of personalities and Biggar doesn't fit in with either Howley or Warren Gatland .

But to select a player for the squad and then to make it clear that no matter how well they played it the match against the Barbarians seems absolutely crazy.

I hope I'm wrong. Rhys Priestland is undoubtedly a fine fly half and may be a match winner in Australia or James Hook, might be but to exclude the inform fly half in Welsh Rugby may prove costly.

BBC shows North Korea how to cringe.

I called in my local Library yesterday where as I was looking for something to read over this Bank Holiday as it looks like  all the Television Channels will be showing the bloody jubilee.


At the same time,the  local Mother and Baby group were having their weekly get together in the library.Something I hugely approve of .My Library is at the heart of the community and should be used as much as possible. We recently had a WEA  lecture during opening hours on Crime in 19th century Wales.


What saddened me was that they were having a jubilee theme day. It's the sort of thing which those Mothers who a were indifferent to the Monarchy and even some who were Republicans  may have found themselves going on with, so as  not to provoke discord in the group.


My Sister was in such a quandary her son Reuben Nursery in Derby was holding  a Jubilee Party and he has inherited my family radicalism so she was a bit worried he might say something disproving.


He certainly managed to look disproving in this photo (he's in the background)

Reuben showing his disapproval.

But what would happen if a nursery or School decided to have a Republican themed day . There would be an outcry of "Their indoctrinating  our Kids".


But apart from parents  bringing their children up to question the Status quo (an they have a right) all the news including that aimed at Children is supportive of the Jubilee.


Nowhere  on Childrens' Television has there been any question of the role of Mrs Windsor . The CBBC 's Newsround  could easily be reproduced in  North Korean  where wording just changed to Kim il Sung or  whatever member of his family alive or dead they were praising.


The BBC charter calls its coverage of major events to be "balanced and even " and it made some attempt via Panorama programs before the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan  to attack its Human rights record and prior to the  European Football Championship next week to highlight right wing racism in the host nations Despite the fact they had major investment in these events.


But when it comes to the Jubilee .  There's no question of reporting on dissent or indifference and every programme shows happy flag waving people a la North Korea.


Its probably one of  the reason I am friends with them but all my close associates are seeking something alternative to this forelock-tugging rubbish this  weekend.and I'm sure many reading this will be doing anything than take part or even watch it. on the Television. Stock up on DVD's folks..


We may be in minority but should should not be totally ignored in this way in a supposed democracy or forced to join in something we don't agree with be cause or as in my Sisters case we have no choice.

Berhan Jenkins AM misses Conference meetings in Dublin.

The Western Mule reports that Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins failed to attend two sessions of an international conference in Ireland at which she was meant to be representing Wales having travelled there at taxpayers’ expense.

It is claimed that Ms Jenkins,, attended social events linked to the trip – but failed to attend a short early morning committee meeting and a full plenary session of the 44th British-Irish Parliamentary Association Plenary Conference in Dublin.

In her defence Bethan Jenkins  said ..

“I was privileged to attend the 44th plenary of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Dublin, where I not only took part in the full plenary session on the Monday, but also held a series of very useful meetings with opposite numbers in the other participating parliaments, including in my own time on the Sunday prior to the start of the event.
“I had given my apologies in advance for not attending the half-hour-long committee meeting on Monday morning at 8.30am.
"This is because I had not been part of the investigation that was being discussed.
"I was, however, in my seat ready for start of plenary shortly after the meeting, and participated fully in proceedings when they began at 9.30am.
“On Tuesday morning’s session, I was called to the phone on a constituency issue shortly before going in and had to spend the morning working on that.
"My office has over 150 pieces of casework on the go at any one time and while I was honoured to be asked to go to Dublin, the needs of my constituents always come first. It’s not surprising, therefore, that I had to take time out during a two-day engagement to deal with constituency issues.”

This is (if it is correct) then depending on the urgency of the issue then it is understandable. Though she should probably have attended the committee meeting.since she was member.

It appears that after Bethan Jenkins’s  non-attendance has been referred to her party group by the National Assembly’s Presiding Officer Rosemary Butler. and a "Party Spokeswoman" issued a statement....

 “The matter has been discussed internally and there is agreement that members attending Assembly visits should carry out the duties expected of them wherever possible.
I was in a quandary over repeating this story  since it involved  one of the few AMs I admire.and this may just be case of the Mule AM bashing. and  I ask myself. "would I have bothered if it was any other AM". for what could be viewed as a minor transgression hardly worth mentioning . Probably not but I'm not going to ignore because it a Plaid AM.

 It does show that our AM are under scrutiny and if they do attend these meetings at Tax Payers expense we expect them to represent us fully.

There may be further revelations or it could be that there nothing more to come out of it . Unless there was something amiss over Bethan Jenkins's excuse there nor reason for there to be.