"a bold agenda for the UK that’s more radical than Corbyn’s "

Well Nicola Sturgeon has answered Jeremy Corbyn's suggestion  suggest that the SNP is doing nothing to mitigate Tory austerity and how.

With Sixteen bills, - from justice to health to transport to the environment, via the staple areas of education and the economy. 

"Sturgeon sets out a bold agenda for the UK that’s more radical than Corbyn’s | Robert Somynne".

Here is a look at those bills in more detail from the BBC.

Budget BillThe annual Budget Bill provides parliamentary approval for the Scottish government's spending plans.First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also announced that she would work with all parties to open a discussion on income tax in Scotland.

Climate Change BillThis bill sets out "ambitious" new targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. It will also introduce low emission zones in Scotland's four biggest cities by 2020.Ms Sturgeon said a further target in the bill would be for new petrol and diesel cars and vans to be phased out in Scotland by 2032 - eight years ahead of the target set by the UK government.

Crown Estates BillThe Crown Estate Bill will establish a framework for the management of Crown Estate assets. It aims to ensure that Scotland's local communities, authorities and industry can benefit from this change.

Damages BillThis bill will amend the law on the Personal Injury Discount Rate following a joint consultation with the UK government. It will also enable courts to impose periodical payment orders when making an award of damages for a personal injury.

Education BillThe bill will take forward the programme of education reform which began in the last parliament.Included in the bill are plans to establish a head teachers' charter, improve parental and community engagement, as well as strengthening the voice of children in supporting pupil participation.The Scottish government also said it would provide a "fair and transparent funding system".Read more analysis on the Scottish government's plans for education here.

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax BillThis bill will make changes to the laws around second homes and allow Additional Dwelling Supplements to be retrospectively reclaimed in some circumstances.

Management of Offenders BillThe bill will include measures to enable new technologies to be used for electronic monitoring - and allow this sort of monitoring to be used as part of more community sentences and orders.It will also reduce the length of time which many people will be required to self-disclose previous offences and make the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 more accessible for individuals and employers using the legislation.

Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility BillThe bill will increase the minimum age of responsibility from eight to 12, which the first minister said was in line with "international norms".Ms Sturgeon also announced that the Scottish government would not oppose John Finnie's proposals to prohibit the physical punishment of children

Organ and tissue donation billThis bill will establish a "soft" opt-out system for the authorisation of organ and tissue donation and is designed to allow more lives to be saved by organ donation.

Planning BillThis bill includes measures for a "simpler, more effective" system of development plans so it is clearer how areas will develop in the future.The Scottish government said that communities would have better opportunities to influence the future of their areas as a result of the bill.

Prescription BillThis bill implements the recommendations of a Scottish Law Commission Report to ensure the law of "negative prescription" is clear and fair. Negative prescription establishes the time-limit within which an aggrieved person must raise a claim in court.

Safe Staffing BillThe Safe Staffing Bill will deliver on a commitment to enshrine in law the principles of safe staffing in the NHS. It is designed to ensure that nationally-agreed workload and workforce planning tools are applied.

Sexual Offences (Pardons and Disregards) BillThis bill will ensure that people convicted of offences related to same-sex sexual activity that is now legal will receive an automatic pardon.The bill will also enable those pardoned to apply to have such convictions removed from criminal records.

Transport BillThe Transport Bill includes provisions on smart ticketing on public transport and will tackle "obstructive and inconsiderate" parking.It aims to enhance and improve the role of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner and make changes to the the wider regulation of road works. It also contains measures to help improve local bus services.

Vulnerable Witnesses and Pre-recorded Evidence BillThe bill builds on a review of evidence and procedure by the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.It will remove legislative barriers to allow the greater use of pre-recorded evidence for child and vulnerable adult witnesses.

Warm Homes BillThe Warm Homes Bill will set a new statutory target on fuel poverty which the Scottish government said would further progress on this issue.It will also include measures to improve the energy efficiency of Scotland's homes.

Of course Wales does not have the Powers in Scotland processes  but can anybody imagine Carwyn Jones even approaching this?

Rather going to Scotland and demanding that the SNP government do something . Jeremy Corbyn should have a word with the Welsh Labour Government calling for a similar imaginative  approach and crucially telling us the next Labour Government will give Wales parity with Scotland.

Of course he may see the danger of Plaid replacing Labour as the SNP has done in Scotland and doing more than Labour have done when they were in power.

But I wonder if Jeremy Corbyn is more interested in Labour winning in Scotland and Wales even under a Laissez-faire government of the sort we have now.

It would be ironic if the "momentum" that could carry Jeremy Corbyn into Number Ten could result in Scotland coming under the control of a Blairite type Labour Administration in Holyrood.

Are the Knives out for Welsh Tory Leader?

The Conservatives need "strong leadership in the assembly", the party's new chairman in Wales has said.

Does that mean that the Party is dissatisfied with their current leader Andrew RT Davies.

Byron Davies is a former MP, having won Gower in 2015 before losing it in June.

In his first comments as chairman, Mr Davies suggested that the Welsh Conservatives do not need further autonomy from party bosses in London.

Assembly group leader Andrew RT Davies has called for the Welsh Conservatives to have a designated leader able to make independent decisions.

Asked about the South Wales Central AM's comments, the new Welsh party chairman said: 

"The Welsh Conservatives have a very strong identity as being the Conservative party in Wales.
"I do not believe that we need any change.
"What we do need is strong leadership in the assembly, of the assembly group.
"Andrew and I will be meeting shortly - we've already been in touch with each other, and we'll be having a conversation around that."

During the last election in which Byron Davies lost his Gower seat the Tories in Wales were desperately trying to cobble together some  impression of unity after the debacle over who should have represented the party at a TV debate.

The BBC Wales Leaders' Debate programme featured leaders from each of the five main parties in Wales, with the exception of the Welsh Conservatives who submitted Darren  Millar, their policy director and health spokesman.


It was Theressa May  who launched The Welsh Conservatives launched their manifesto at Gressford'

Andrew R T Davies seems to be absent from the event though he dis contribute to a forward  with  Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns 

It was Mt Cairns who appeared on the BBC meet the leaders debate and I don't think I'm being biased in saying it didn't go well,

Mr Cairns told BBC Radio Wales that Mr Davies was "always down to do" the BBC  leaders debate, however but that Mr Davies "couldn't do it for personal reasons".

For many it looked like there was a row who the real leader of the Welsh Tories was.

It seems odd that when in Scotland the Tories in Scotland seem to have made a virtue of Ruth Davidson's leadership , the Tories in Wales are not seeking for their leader in their legislature  to promote a similar role.

Byron Davies view on Strong Leadership seems to be the Assembly leader obeying the Westminster Party.

Byron Davies has also previously criticised the decision to allow Mr Reckless - a former Conservative MP who defected to UKIP - into the Tory assembly group a decision made by Andrew RT Davies seemingly against the wishes of his London Bosses.

He reiterated to BBC Wales that he would not be "welcoming him back into the Conservative fold personally".

Many MPs and voluntary party members agree with him, he said, saying that Mr Reckless' membership of the group was a matter for Andrew RT Davies.

When questioned on whether he supported him as Conservative leader in the Senedd, the new chairman said: 

"At the moment he's the elected member by the assembly members and that's a matter for them."

But he added he did not want to build a "great wall" between himself and the assembly leader, saying they were "great friends".

Of course Brutus was "great friends". with Julius Caesar and that ended well.

"Good" Bombs and "Bad" Bombs.

South Korea has conducted a missile drill simulating an attack on the North Korean nuclear site, in response to Pyongyang's as the threat of the use of nuclear weapons either by North Korea or against them gtos nearer.

The live-fire exercise saw rockets launched from fighter jets and ballistic missiles from the ground.

It came as US defence chief James Mattis warned that any threat to the US or its allies by Pyongyang would be met with a "massive military response".

"Any threat to the United States or its territories - including Guam - or our allies will be met with a massive military response, a response both effective and overwhelming."

 However, he said the hope was for denuclearisation, 

"because we are not looking to the total annihilation of a country, namely North Korea".

The North says it tested a hydrogen bomb that can fit a long-range missile.

Pyongyang has repeatedly defied UN sanctions and international pressure by developing nuclear weapons and testing missiles, and the provocations have only intensified.

In the past two months it has conducted intercontinental ballistic missile tests,sending one over mainland Japan into the Pacific Ocean. It has also threatened to send missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Don't get me wrong North Korea is an unstable state and the thought of them having "Weapons of mass destruction leaves me cold".

But so does the US rhetoric and the idea that you can have a "Good Bomb" rather than a "Bad Bomb" seems to be ridiculous.

The UN Security Council is to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to discuss its response.

Also the deterrent  argument surely can't hold up if those who currently have Nuclear capability claim that no one-else will be allowed to do so.

Would the West have invaded Iraq if  Saddam Hussein had developed Nuclear capabilities.

The false claim that he had Weapons of Mass destruction was the main excuse  to invade.

But if you are a state that finds itself in conflict with a Western Alliance or Russian for that matter perhaps the idea of developing a nuclear Offensive/Defence  capability to be used to threaten any potential invasion would be strong.

The following is a list of states that have admitted the possession of nuclear weapons or are presumed to possess them, the approximate number of warheads under their control, and the year they tested their first weapon and their force configuration. This list is informally known in global politics as the "Nuclear Club".^[ With the exception of Russia and the United States (which have subjected their nuclear forces to independent verification under various treaties) these figures are estimates, in some cases quite unreliable estimates.

Country	Warheads (Deployed/Total)[nb 1]	Date of first test	Test site of first test	CTBTstatus	Delivery methods
The five nuclear-weapon states under the NPT
United States	1,800 / 6,800[1]	16 July 1945 ("Trinity")	Alamogordo, New Mexico	Signatory[13]	Nuclear triad[14]
Russia	1,950 / 7,000[1]	29 August 1949 ("RDS-1")	Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan	Ratifier[13]	Nuclear triad[15]
United Kingdom	120 / 215[1]	3 October 1952 ("Hurricane")	Monte Bello Islands, Australia	Ratifier[13]	Sea-based[16][nb 2]
France	280 / 300[1]	13 February 1960 ("Gerboise Bleue")	Sahara desert, French Algeria	Ratifier[13]	Sea- and air-based[17][nb 3]
China	? / 270[1]	16 October 1964 ("596")	Lop Nur, Xinjiang	Signatory[13]	Suspected nuclear triad.[18][19]
Non-NPT nuclear powers
India	0 / 110–120[1]	18 May 1974 ("Smiling Buddha")	Pokhran,Rajasthan	Non-signatory[13]	Nuclear triad[20][21][22][23][24]
Pakistan	0 / 120–130[1]	28 May 1998 ("Chagai-I")	Ras Koh Hills, Balochistan	Non-signatory[13]	Land and air-based.[25][26]
North Korea	0 / ? [1]	9 October 2006[27]	Kilju, North Hamgyong	Non-signatory[13]	Suspected land and sea-based.[28]
Undeclared nuclear powers
Israel	0 / 80[1][29][30]	1960–1979[31] incl. suspected Vela Incident[32]	Unknown	Signatory[13]	Suspected nuclear triad.[33][34]

It could well be argued maybe  emphasised that the election of Donald Trump, has pushed the US into the "Unstable " category.

Any Nuclear strike by any state for any reason retaliatory  or preemptive will completely  destroy the deterrence  argument and certainly mean that Israel could use it as a justification and  certainly mean India or Pakistan may consider this option in the future.

We are on the brink of a appalling the use of of Nuclear Weapons on human targets since their first use in  1945.

There is no Good Bomb or Bad Bomb we must move to the complete destruction of these weapons everywhere , before they destroy us all.

Both Tories and Labour can't be trusted with the NHS.

You got to wonder how  the Welsh Conservatives  leader Andrew RT Davies manage to keep a straight face by claiming that Eye-watering" salaries for top NHS bosses are an affront to those working on the "cash-starved frontline".

For over the boarder he NHS in England may suffer its worst winter in recent history if it does not receive an emergency bailout, hospital chiefs are warning.

They say the cash is needed to pay for extra staff and beds because attempts to improve NHS finances have failed.

They criticised the Welsh Government for approving 12 cap-busting pay deals in the past three years.

Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies said it was "unsurprising" four out of the seven boards had run at a loss.

The Welsh Government said pay reflected the responsibilities and experience of those in "very senior roles".

Recommended pay rates for senior NHS managers in Wales range from a minimum of £85,850 to a maximum of £202,000 for a chief executive and are set based on the size of the organisation and range of responsibilities.

Any plan to advertise a role paying more than the maximum has to be backed up by a business case submitted to the Welsh Government for approval by the NHS chief executive for Wales.

The Conservatives published a letter from Health Secretary Vaughan Gething to Mr Davies confirming there had been 13 occasions since September 2014 when health boards asked permission to do this.

Five came from Betsi Cadwaladr, three from Cwm Taf, two each from Aneurin Bevan and Cardiff and Vale and one from Hywel Dda.

All were approved, apart from one of Cwm Taf's.

Mr Gething wrote:

 "These are very senior roles within the NHS in Wales and whilst we need to ensure that pay is carefully controlled and represents value for money, we also need to recognise the critical nature and breadth of responsibilities of these highly experienced individuals in providing a high quality, safe and effective NHS for the people of Wales."Health boards and trusts are required to publish the pay rates of their executive and senior posts each year as part of their annual accounts to ensure there is transparency about the rates paid to the individuals who hold these posts."

Mr Davies said: 

"Four of Wales' seven health boards have operated on a budget loss for the past three years, and it's unsurprising given the eye-watering sums they are willing to throw at new app where ointments.
"While I accept that health boards have to remain competitive to attract the best talent, many working on the cash-starved frontline will see this as an affront given the millions Welsh Labour have cut from their budgets."

Meanwhile in England  the Tories run the NHS the latest figures show A&E waits and bed shortages remain "stubbornly" bad, according to NHS Providers.

The group, which represents NHS chief executives, is calling for between £200m and £350m to be made available immediately.

The target to see most patients in A&E within four hours has been missed for two years now, while bed occupancy rates remain above recommended levels.

Over the summer, just over 90% of A&E patients were treated or admitted within four hours.

That was below the goal of 95% and was almost exactly the same percentage as last summer, which was then followed by the worst set of winter waiting times since the target was introduced in 2004.

Two Nations two NHS failures and yet we find it is the two major parties in control.

For Welsh voters it is clear that we can't trust either Labour or the Tories to run the NHS because if Andrew RT Davies was in charge in the Assembly he would be under orders from the Westminster Head Office to run down the NHS  so the public will become more inclined to favour privatising it.

However the Tories don't need their Welsh Manager in charge. Labour's seems to be the job for them. 

MPs using immigration enforcement hotline to report people

The website Politics.co.uk  has revealed Members of parliament have been using a Home Office hotline and webpage to report people for immigration enforcement.They say 

In response to a Freedom of Information request, the Home Office confirmed that it received 482 tip-offs from MPs between 2014 and 2016.

The news raises the possibility that MPs are reporting their own constituents to the authorities when they have come to them for help.

The Green party hit out at the practice calling it a "fundamental betrayal of trust" and called for the MPs involved to come clean about how they came about the information they reported.

"This appears to be a fundamental betrayal of trust and duty of care if elected representatives have been tipping off the Home Office about people they suspect to be undocumented migrants," party co-leader Jonathan Bartley said.
"Members of parliament should support, defend and advocate for all those living in their local communities, not have them dragged away to indefinite detention and potential deportation.
"Serious questions must now be asked about how the Home Office's 'Big Brother' system is being used by MPs.
"Those involved must come clean about how they came by the information upon which they have acted. Has personal information been abused? Have they acted upon information given in good faith by alleged undocumented migrants themselves?  Have they abused the privilege of their office?"

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants called today's news "extremely concerning".

“All constituents have a right to petition their MPs and should have confidence that they will not betray their interests," the legal and policy director Chai Patel said."It is extremely concerning that members of parliament appear to be sharing information with the Home Office in these circumstances. With massive cuts to legal aid many migrants have nowhere else to turn to find someone who can advise them and represent their interests."We need to get to the bottom of what information MPs are giving the Home Office and in what context.”Fizza Qureshi, director of the Migrants' Rights Network, said:"If parliamentarians are reporting their constituents, it demonstrates how deep the 'hostile environment' is seeping into our society."You would hope that MPs would advocate on behalf of their constituents rather than report them to the Home Office."

A Home Office spokesperson said:

"Like any member of the public, MPs can use the form on GOV.UK to report an immigration crime. They would only be identified as an MP if they declared themselves on the form, which allows someone remain anonymous."

I wonder to what an extent an immigrant would understand  that someone who they seek advise from would realise that if they were not anonymous they could find themselves arrested after the MP reported them to the authorities.

Even if you think an MP has a duty to report a crime it does not bode well for the future  for those EU Citizens who have been living in the UK and paying Taxes legally for years even marrying a UK citizen..

However Brexit means they could  now be declared illegal, and it seems in some cases if they were to seek advise  from their MP they could be reported.

If you live in a UK Constituency, then you are a Constituent of that MP even if you cannot vote for him or her , because you are not a British or Irish citizen and here legally or not.

MPs should remember they represent all in the UK irrespective of country of origin.

Unison are wrong in barring Ukip from event.

Much as I hate to say it the decision to bar a Ukip AM  from a council-wide meeting against funding cuts is the wrong one.

Organiser Unison said it would be “inappropriate” for Ukip politicians to attend the meeting after its Neath Port Talbot branch had “openly and publicly campaigned” against their policies.

All South Wales West region AMs were invited but Caroline Jones was told later her invitation was an error.

Unison said including a UKIP politician would be against its members' wishes.

"It is my belief that by not being allowed to attend these meetings, Unison have obstructed an AM from representing the constituents by whom she was elected," Ms Jones said.
"This decision flies in the face of democracy."

UKIP said more than 130,000 people had voted for the party in the 2016 assembly election, and the party's views should be heard.

A spokesman for Ukip Wales said:

 “The decision by Unison to ban Caroline Jones from participating insults the more than 130,000 people who voted Ukip at the last assembly elections. Rather than supporting an inclusive social democracy, Unison are obstructing an elected representative of the people of “How can they possibly claim to support democracy when they will only allow people whom they agree with at their events?”

Unison has called employees together to demand more funding from the Welsh Government for 2018/19, saying any reduction would “undermine the quality of public services in our community” and “threat-en service cuts, job losses and privatisation”.Wales.

Mark Fisher, from Unison’s Neath Port Talbot branch said: 

“This is a local Unison branch organised and run event. “Politicians attending recognise severe UK government spending cuts have damaged Neath Port Talbot communities and the urgent need to end austerity. “This meeting is to explore the importance of investment in public services and how best to promote fairer funding for Wales.
“As Neath Port Talbot branch has openly and publicly campaigned against Ukip policies and principles, it would be inappropriate and against our members wishes for Ukip to be included in this event.”

Whether we like it or not Ukip (for now) have democratically elected  members of our Assembly and whilst I wish other AM tried to avoid being seen to cozening up to Ukip AM by joining in group photos for example they deserve the same rights in the Assembly as all the other Parties.

Yes its up to Unison who they invite , but in doing so they give  ammunition to Ukip who can accuse the left of being undemocratic.

To some extent I agree with no Platform for Racists but nasty as Ukip are I don't think this applies to them though they are heading that way,

In my experience  of election hustings the Ukip candidate is usually absent I suspect because they can't face interrogation from the public.

Surely it is better to have Ukip at the meeting and question tier polcies rather than allow them portray themselves as victims.

Has South Wales West  Tory AM Suzy Davies  been invited?

Inviting them is not an endorsement in the same way as inviting a Tory wouldn't be