Kirsty Williams late with April Fool.

Some might think that elected [politicians should not take part in April Fools spoofs but Peter Blacks Keeping track of your Welsh Assembly Member  was a humorous attempt.  Though he may have been inspired by reports in the Telegraph last February that Tesco , have been  accused of monitoring staff with electronic armbands.

Which is far from funny.

Still both Peter and his Leader  were a a few days late with an April Fool joke by claiming their party's credit for Tory Chancellor George Osborne  rising the personal tax allowance to £9,440 .

La Pasionaria  in particular seems reluctant to mention the other Tax changes which help the well off


According to the Guardians analysis

 The red book issued alongside the budget reveals that the bottom 10th of households will be worse off by £200 overall in 2013-14, compared to 2010. The next 10th will be hit even harder, losing £250. Only the very highest 10% of earners lose more, around £1,600. The reality is that the cuts in direct taxes, such as the personal allowance, are entirely offset by rises in indirect taxes and the loss of tax credits and benefits.
The rich can be comforted by the cut in the 50% "additional rate" paid by about 250,000 high earners, which drops to 45% in just a fortnight's time – so if you're on £250,000 a year the tax giveaway is worth £5,000.
Osborne said much about help for parents struggling with the costs of childcare, about how he is taking millions more out of the tax net; but on this multi-million pound giveaway for the rich, he was oddly silent.
If you are in the fabled squeezed middle this was a budget in which the chancellor gave with one hand but took with another, pushing many more people into the 40% higher rate tax band.
It is an irony not lost on the Conservative's natural allies, such as the Taxpayers Alliance, that a Conservative chancellor has dragged more people into higher rate tax than any other in history. In just three years Osborne has moved nearly 1 million more people into the 40% band, and from 6 April another 400,000 are likely to join this mostly unhappy ban

 Patrick Collinson

The Guardian, Wednesday 20 March 2013 

La Pasionaria gets even more ridiculous by claiming credit for the Good news (whilst avoiding the bad) on Subordinate Central accompanied with that smug photo (change it Kirsty)

She writes:

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are making a real difference to the lives of the people of Wales. This tax cut is evidence of how in the Coalition Government, the Welsh Liberal Democrat priority is to create a fairer society and a stronger economy, enabling everyone to get on in life.
We all know that you can’t trust the Tories to deliver a fairer society. Their priority is always to help the better off. Let us be in no doubt, this tax cut would not have happened if it was just the Conservatives in Government.

What a load of Tosh 

The Liberal MPs from Wales all three of them may be part of a federal party . But at Westminster they are fully integrated into the coalition.

They are not  some kind of further power brokers and have very little influence even when they party is part of the government.

La Pasionari who can be impressive in the Senedd as opposition leader clearly desires the luxury of opposition and continues to give the impression that the bad decisions at Westminster are nothing to do with her Welsh Liberal Democrats.

She may be right but then no decisions are Westminster are anything to do with her part of a supposedly federal party.

Claiming otherwise only points to the LibDems complacency in the cuts and whatever she tries to cherry pick ,will not help her or her party from the Welsh public wrath.

 

May Elections: MK put up 26 candidates.

Since there  are only elections on the Isle of Anglesey Council and a few By elections (see previous post) next may . My main interest will be in whether Mebyon Kernow  who have announced a slate of  26 Candidates  for the Council Elections  next May and will  to improve on their current total of 6

Party		Councillors
	Conservative	46
	Liberal Democrat	37
	Independent	28
	Mebyon Kernow	6
	Labour	1
	Independent (non affiliated)	2
	Vacant	3
Total		123
Source:[30]

Two sitting Councillor are not standing but  with the Conservative -Independent  ruling group making some unpopular cuts and the LibDems not actually pnot the flavour of the month MK should have high hope to increase their number,

Party leader Dick Cole  has already pointed out the LibDems desperation  

In the  Bodmin St Marys Division. Liberal Democrat candidate claims that the election is a two horse race between the Lib Dems and the Conservatives.




Apart from the LibDems attacking their coalition partners  for making cuts which are partly due to the Westminster Government as Dick points out  that there are four candidates in this contest and none are representing the Conservative Party. Roger Lashbrook is standing for MK and the other candidates represent Labour, the Lib Dems and UKIP.

Same Old LibDems same old dishonesty.

It looks like progressive in Cornwall have only a choice in 26 wards Pity but even a modest gain in seats will push the party forward.

.

Caerphilly: Labour remaking History?.

The  Labour Party  at Caerphilly Council faced with public outcry over its failed plan to hike its  senior executives pay as taken a new turn as it seems to be accusing the previous administration of the same plan in a desperate bid to get themselves out of a hole.

'The  Labour Group on Caerphilly Council... accused he Plaid Cymru administration at Caerphilly Council had itself approved the same senior officers' pay rise in March 2012 - but delayed making the pay award until after the May 2012 local government election...'

But Plaid Cymru deny this 

 Former Caerphilly Council leader, Allan Pritchard  who lost his seat last year said: 

 “At no point, at any meeting, at any time, did I or the administration I led, approve or agree to pay rises for the twenty one senior officers at the council. This wild claim by the Labour party is totally untrue and without any foundation. Indeed, the thorough investigation by the Wales Audit Office clearly demonstartes that this decision happened under Cllr Andrews' watch. This fiasco has Labour's fingerprints all over it.

"The fact that they now wish to insult the intelligence of local people once again as a means of deflecting responsibility for this shambles highlights just how incompetent the council leadership are. Closer scrutiny of the previous Plaid administartion reveals that we made efficiency savings in senior officers' costs by £1.5 million over three years. An achievement Cllr Andrews' shamefully overturned."
Councillor Colin Mann, Plaid's current group leader on Caerphilly Council added: “Councillor Andrews has made serious and untrue allegations and considering the fact that a police investigation is underway, I invite him to withdraw his comments and apologise for making them. If he fails to do so, then I believe the severity of his claims would leave us with little choice but to consider the legal options open to us as a party.
"Councillor Andrews is a leader under pressure. He has overseen the greatest scandal in the council's history and will soon face a vote of confidence. His latest gaffe only adds to the sense of anger that local residents feel at his lack of management of the authority."

Can this row have anything to do with Labours reluctance to call the Byelection since death o Stan Jenkins, who , long-standing member for Risca East  who died on the 14th January .

Labour had a massive majority in this seat taking all three seats in the ward last year.

The Election has now been called for May 2nd so Labour may be hoping a embarrassing loss may well be lost in the General coverage of the Local Government Elections in England held on the same day

Mind you with delayed elections on the Isle of Anglesey council where Plaid are expected to campaign heavily to be also held on May2nd. Labour may be celebrating over the boarder but counting the cost oftheir mismanagement here.

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr back on the Radar.

Plaid Cymru AM and former Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas has prompted speculation  with his early  announcement  he will stand down at the next Welsh assembly election. Due in 2016

He has been a member of the assembly since it was established in 1999.

Mr Thomas will have represented Carmarthen East and Dinefwr for 17 years by the next election  

Which in itself is thought provoking as there will be people voting who were babies when thew Assembly came in to existence and have no knowledge of a Wales without it.

With a 4,148 majority over Labour in 2011 his departure announcement will  turn to who will seek the party nomination.

Front runner would have been former  local MP Adam Price .

However back in June last year Adam, indicated that he was leaving main stream politics

He Said:

I’m not saying that I’m turning my back on the idea of public service – I believe politicians can make a difference and that democratic institutions are vital. But they are not the the be all and end all, and there are other ways to make a contribution.”“But I feel a need to achieve something positive that will hopefully change Wales for the better.

Western Mail  33rd of June 2012 

So has Rhodri  Glyn, decided this is the time  to announce retirement divert accusations that he has been pressurised to quit to let the Pri(n)ce over the Water in?

Others being mentioned are Nerys Evans  who has in her past been e an organiser for Plaid Cymru in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr and worked as press officer for the Plaid Cymru group on Carmarthenshire  council n 2006 Nerys was AM Plaid Cymru n Mid and West Wales 2007-2011

In the 2011 election she took the brave step to forgo the regional list and fight Carmarthen West and South Prembrokeshire.

Holding the Plaid Vote in what was a bad year for the party.

Welsh Assembly Election 2011: Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Conservative	Angela Burns	10,095	35.9	+5.8
	Labour	Christine Gwyther	8,591	30.5	+0.8
	Plaid Cymru	Nerys Evans	8,373	29.7	+0.5
	Liberal Democrats	Selwyn Runnett	1,097	3.9	−2.4
Majority			1,504	5.3
Turnout			28,156	48.1	−1.6
	Conservative hold		Swing	+2.5

So she may well have some considerable  support in the Constituency

An other mentioned is Helen Mary Jones but she may prefer to have another crack at Llanelli  which she lost last time but has established a personal presence there.

A bitter contest may do the Party damage whilst a enthusiastic contest may be an advantage on whoever selected and establish he or she among the electorate.

Still its early days yet and there may well be others weighing up their chances and Rhodri Glyn has ensured C

armarthen East and Dinefwr will remain on the  Radar for the foreseeable future.

Iain Duncun Smith wouldn't be able to live on 53 a day.

Iain  Duncan Smith (IDS) has described a petition calling on him to live on £53 a week as a “complete” stunt and claims he knows what it is like to live on the breadline.

The Work and Pensions Secretary, who earns £1,581 per week after tax, said he could get by on £53 per week when challenged to do so by County Durham market trader David Bennett on BBC radio yesterday morning (Monday, April 1).

Mr Duncan Smith’s claims, which came in the wake of widely criticised changes to the welfare system, prompted  people to sign an online petition demanding proof of his claim of being able to live on £7.57 a day, or £53 a week.

To Date April 3rd 350,722 have signed 

Well on course for their half a million target  after just three days.

Yesterday , however, the MP for Chingford and Woodford Green dismissed the petition outright.

"This is a complete stunt which distracts attention from the welfare reforms which are much more important and which I have been working hard to get done,” said Mr Duncan Smith, a former army officer who married into a wealthy family.

"I have been unemployed twice in my life so I have already done this [lived on the equivalent of £53 a week].

"I know what it is like to live on the breadline."

However we must take any claimd by IDAS with a pinch of salt.

Hie once claimed that he studied at the University of Perugia (founded 1308) was later found to be false after an investigation by the BBC. His office subsequently admitted that he attended the Italian Università per Stranieri (founded 1921) in Perugia for a year but he didn't obtain any qualifications or finish his examsIts not that Iain Duncun Smith claim that he can live on 53 a week that is wrong however . Most people can

But for how long  Just imagine how he would cope after  three months let alone a year.

• Week 1 fine . He doesn't go out and socialise but does the weekly shop and put money aside for utilities.
• Week 4 He starts cutting down on food expenditure by cheaper products 
• Week 6  A Friend invites him to a birthday party he feels compelled to go . Buys a cheap gift and a few cans. I f its in a pub  makes an excuse and leaves early when he can't manage a round.
• Week 8 Microwave breaks needs a new one gets a cheap one at Tesco but takes most of his weekly budget
• Week Ten Iain needs new shoes : See The Sam Vimes "Boots" Theory of Economic Injustice.
• Week 12: Iain finds he is surviving but he hasn't socialised for weeks .  He is  dreading having to pay for any breakdown of his Fridge,cooker or Television . Turns of central heating and spends all his time in one room with just one heater.

IDS  response is typical of those who have no idea what its like to struggle day by day. Who will not even blink at paying £53 for a meal out a regular basis.  Who will take a Taxi everywhere and can't remember when they were  last on a bus.

He will spend more £53 a day and not even blink and the whole of Westminster is full o the likes of him.

We may all be in  this together but some are up to their necks in shit whilst the likes of IDS are standing on their heads, telling those below to stabd on their toes and it's their fault those on top have muck on their shoes.

Welsh Rugby Row: Time For Carwyn To Step in.

Wales's four regions have asked to address the full board of the Welsh Rugby Union this month after the escalation of an already bitter war of words over the weekend culminated in an extraordinary accusatory statement from the governing body.

Last Weekends  double header of all four Welsh Rugby Regions playing at the  the Millennium Stadium on Saturday was watched by a crowd of more than 36,000, was a  undoubted success with to exciting hard fought matches  and the event just a week after wales won it successive six nations championship   marked a successful collaboration between the four and the WRU.

But the following morning the WRU issued a statement with the intention of "giving the public the facts" after some critical reporting of its failure to keep leading players in Wales, with the Scarlet's wing George North in talks with Northampton.

In the statement, the WRU accused the Scarlets of hawking North around from the end of the year and said it had tried to place him with one of the other regions (believed to be the Blues) and had agreed to assist financially. The union also blamed the regions for the lack of progress made by the professional regional game board, a body that was set up in December under an independent chairman to find a way through the regions' financial problems but which has yet to meet because of a failure to agree its terms of reference. 

The regions' initial response to the WRU statement on Sunday night was to condemn it as a defensive reaction from a "body which should be setting standards" but they will explain their position in full later this month to the WRU board.

Guardian 1st April 2013 

So the long running battle between the WRU region goes on including the news that the Pro12 Welsh Regions have  held exploratory talks about the possibility of a new Anglp-Welsh Premiership league. 

And News that the WRU have called the regions in to discuss placing 20 or so elite international players on central contracts.

This situation  of both sides seemingly pursuing different paths cannot go on and maybe its time for those politicians who are only to keen to associate themselves with the success of our national team to call in both sided and  become an honest broker.

Or rather start banging some heads together .

To misquote Thomas  Paine

"Carwyn , Is to keen to praise the plumage but ignore the dying bird".

And he's not alone we can al be accused of this.

Nothing to read here. .

I am foregoing Bloging today

1. Because its a Bank Holiday 
2. I am still getting used to the Clock Changes and need to get my body clock in synch
3. It is April Fools Day and I have already spotted two regular Bloggers who are having fun with us and its  only 7:20 AM. I will not  say who and spoil it for them.
4. I may just mistake ta new  ConLibDem  or WAG policy for a April Fool as for the rest of the year it is hard to think that we are being spoofed all the time. 
5. On the day that the cuts in benefits for some of the poorest in our society come in there's not much to laugh about.

So have a good Easter Monday. Don't believe all you read on the blogosphere and other media (mind you do that tomorrow as well.) and I'll be back tomorrow.