Too Much Information First Minister.

One of the interesting in thing that we forget about Prime Minister's or First Minister's is that he or she often has prior knowledge of the questions and this means that they have an advantage and explains why they often do not answer the question, but with data  supplied by civil servants and advisers turn the question on the opposition bringing up their record in office for example.

Yesterday however Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones carried things to far.

 During First Minister's Questions on Tuesday, Mr Price asked whether Welsh Language Minister Eluned Morgan - a Labour AM who represents Mid and West Wales - would be censured for posting on social media her opposition to any hospital closures.

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM Mr Price said there should be a vote in the Senedd on any changes.

Mr Jones told him he should "listen and learn", before listing attempts in December and January by Hywel Dda Health Board to contact the AM.

"He's good at grandstanding in this place without doing the work on behalf of his constituents," the first minister said.

The presiding officer had to call for order as Mr Price was heard to shout: "What is this? Putin's Russia? 

"Goodness gracious me... you're using privileged information against a member," Mr Price said to the first minister, adding: "Shame on you."

Presiding Officer Elin Jones said: "The local health board probably has information regarding whether I answered e-mails or phone calls to them as well.

"I wouldn't personally want that shared in this place."

Plaid AM Rhun ap Iorwerth later raised a point of order, suggesting the first minister's actions were a breach of the Data Protection Act.

In response, Mr Jones said a statement was sent out by Mr Price which had said he would be keeping a close eye on the proposals and would be attending a meeting with the health board at the "earliest opportunity".
Mr Jones said:

"If members say they want to meet at the earliest opportunity, it is important that there is an understanding amongst the public that opportunities have been offered."

Mr Price tweeted later:

 "So @fmwales who stands accused of bullying and intimidation chooses to release privately held data the Government holds in relation to me from a public health board in order to attack me.
"This is unprecedented and, prima facie, a criminal breach of the Data Protection Act."

A spokesperson for the health board said:

 "Following a request from Welsh Government Health officials, Hywel Dda UHB considers it was reasonable in the circumstances to share information about its communication with local politicians relating to engagement activities around the TCS Programme - this did not include the content of any discussions."

A spokesman for the First Minister said:

 "No sensitive or protected information has been requested, shared or leaked.
"In response to public criticisms from Mr Price, the local health board has, quite properly, made it known that he has not responded to any of their invitations to discuss this matter.
"This is rank hypocrisy, and Mr Price's anger stems only from the fact that he has been exposed as a hypocrite."

This however is not a question of hypocrisy  on Adam Price's is part but a question of a government using what amounts to private correspondent  to attack an elected member.

Is Adam Price alone in this how many requests have been made about correspondence  between not only elected members   but individual members of the public.

It seems unlikely that this is an isolated incident 

Andrew RT Davies‏Verified account @AndrewRTDavies 11h11 hours ago

Andrew RT Davies Retweeted BBC Wales Politics

This was bang unacceptable from the First Minister to @Adamprice today. Not the first time the Labour @WelshGovernment has sought to gain and use private and personal information to at

Who requested the information from Hywel Dda Health Board and who supplied it?

Carwyn Jones, seems to  be acting like a politician who knows that his time is up and who will use any means of revenge against his critics.

Its time for him to go.

Is it Malcolm Tucker or Sir Humphrey at work in the Senedd?

The BBC carries on with reports that  the first minister is facing fresh allegations he misled the assembly over what he knew about bullying in the Welsh Government.

Carwyn Jones had told the assembly there was no record of a complaint by a minister about the treatment of special advisers back in 2014.
But Plaid Cymru AM Adam Price claims an email has emerged raising concerns.
The Welsh Government said what Mr Jones had said was "accurate".
Mr Jones has repeatedly denied concerns were raised with him about bullying.
The first minister has already referred himself to an independent inquiry into claims of bullying in the Welsh Government dating back to 2014.

The bullying claims emerged following the death of former Labour minister Carl Sargeant.
Mr Price has written to the first minister asking him to again refer himself to an independent investigation over what he knew about bullying in the Welsh Government.

This would be a call for a separate  inquiry focusing on whether Mr Jones had misled AM, though maybe this could be included into the general inquiry

In a letter, seen by BBC Wales, Mr Price points to a question he asked the first minister in December, asking if then minister Leighton Andrews had complained about the treatment of special advisors.

Mr Jones responded later that month, saying:

 "There is no record and I have no recollection of such a complaint."

An email from 2014 shows Mr Andrews was unhappy that his advisors were not permitted to accompany him to meetings in London.

"I don't recall any questions being raised when (name redacted) or (name redacted) accompanied me to meetings in London when I was previously in the Cabinet. Has there been a change of policy? I would be very concerned if I thought that (name redacted) was being treated differently from other special advisers," .

Mr Andrews, who has been a vocal critic of Mr Jones since the death of Mr Sargeant, has accused the first minister of misleading the assembly in December "on several occasions".
The Welsh Government said the first minister's response to questions were "accurate".
  
Fans of Armando Iannucci BBC sitcom, The Thick of It, may think this is pretty tame even when considering the Tragic events.

But I wonder if it shows a policy of deliberately  undermining colleagues even if it does not involve a "The Thick of It  character" Malcolm Tucker who regularly uses smears or threats of violence to achieve his ends.

Of course the inquiry will probably  resemble one set up by Sir Humphrey of "Yes Minister"  fame and exonerate Carwyn Jones.

Whether it is a Malcolm Tucker or Sir Humphrey who  is at work in Cardiff Bay  the question is to what extent the First Minister Knew what was going on and if he has misled AM and the rest of us in his denials.

Votes at 16 but no STV should not see unquestionable support.

Cynics will probably come to the conclusion that the Welsh labour Government  plans for people aged 16 and 17 could soon be able to cast a vote in Wales under plans to modernise election has been influenced by the "youthquake" at last years General Election  where there was a higher than normal  youth vote which helped cause an upset not only in preventing a Tory landslide but reducing Mrs May's majority as as warmed to Jeremy Corbyn

The Welsh Government wants to lower the voting age to allow younger people to vote at the council elections in 2022. 

Cabinet Secretary Alun Davies said the changes would also give non-UK citizens who are "living legally in Wales" a vote.

He told BBC Wales' Sunday Politics show: 

"I think everybody who pays taxes should be able to vote." 

 I am concerned we are still seeing far too many people, particularly young people, disengaged from the political process.
“There are many reasons for this but we must do more to make the process more attractive, welcoming and transparent. The proposals we’re announcing this week will, we hope, help increase participation and improve the democratic process for everyone in Wales.
“I would like to see authorities in Wales take the lead and pilot a number of innovative voting methods, something put on hold at the UK level since the mid-2000s. I want to see whether, for example electronic voting or counting, voting on more than one day and in places other than traditional polling stations, could boost participation rates and improve the overall experience for Welsh voters.”

If passed by the assembly, the plans would allow young people aged 16 and 17 to vote in Wales' next local authority elections to be held in May 2022. 

With a nominal majority  in the Senedd and Plaid likely to vote for the proposal .it is likely to pass.

But should Plaid unquestionably  back the Labour proposal?

There is no mention of Proportional Representation and if Alun Davies really believes  in reforming the voting system he should be copying Scotland and Northern ireland and introducing the Single Transferable Vote (STV).


The sole Liberal Democrat in the "Not a Coalition" cabinet Kirsty Wiliams, presumably supports her Party's policy on STV but God knoes what Dafydd Elis Thomas  believes any-more.

Certainly they should seek to amend the Bill, to include STV .

The problem is that they can hardly oppose it if any amendments is rejected.

But this is an opportunity to change Welsh Democracy and it should be a aim to make sure it is not just one to favour the fortunes of the Labour Party even if you like me approve the lowering of the voting age.

Cardiff Bay the last Redoubt for Ukip?

In a move that seems to be Turkeys trying to resemble Chickens in the run  up to  Christmas all 17 UKIP councillors in Thurrock - including an MEP - have resigned from the party and formed a new group.

Thurrock Independents has been created by the councillors who said they "have had enough of the aggressive and bitter reality of party politics".

The group, which includes MEP Tim Aker, is now the official opposition to the Conservative majority at Thurrock.

A UKIP spokesman said he hoped the group would "continue to serve their constituents as well as they have". 

Graham Snell, leader of the Thurrock Independents, said the party would only stand in local elections and would have candidates in every ward during the 2018 local elections of which a third of the seats are up for contention in May this year..

"Our mission is to maximise the quality of life of all Thurrock residents not gain power for power's sake,"

"Our councillors have won widespread admiration for their hard work even from residents across the political spectrum. We hope that these admirers will now be able to support Thurrock Independents.

"Our logo represents the ethos of our party, hard graft, working together towards common goals, sacrifice and the importance of the protection of our environment."

The resignations come in a week when UKIP leader Henry Bolton insisted he would not resign despite a no confidence vote from UKIP's national executive committee.

A number of senior figures have quit their roles, including Mr Bolton's deputy and assistant deputy, following the end of Mr Bolton's relationship with girlfriend Jo Marney, after she reportedly made racist comments about Meghan Markle.

Charlotte Rose, BBC Essex political reporter, said: 

"With local elections just three months away, it seems clear that they believe the party is facing electoral defeat - and that this move is a way to try and stem the losses at a local level."

With the Welsh Assembly not due till 2021it may be that Cardiff Bay could be the Last Redoubt for Ukip.

Already having lost one of the seven elected in 2016  to the Tories and their newest member Mandy Jones who replaced former UKIP Wales leader Nathan Gill at Christmasr told she could not be in the party group amid a row about her staff they are currently  down to five.

Things cam change and Ukip may be ironically hoping for a Bexit conformation Referendum to bring voters back to them, which just might  be the reason Nigel Farage claims that he is warming to a second referendum. 

It is to early to confine Ukip to the "Dustbin of History" but it can not be soon enough for me.

---

Runners and Riders in Alyn and Deeside By-Election.

There may be something of a indication of the  attitude to Welsh Assembly elections in that he Voters will have the choice of five candidates when the Alyn and Deeside assembly by-election takes place on 6 February.

Yes  6th of February  which is a Tuesday rather than the normal Thursday, which in its self may be contribute to a low turnout.

The poll was triggered by the death of the constituency's AM Carl Sargeant last year and the fact that his son Jack Sargent is s standing as the Labour Candidate may well that everyone  has taken it as a foregone conclusion with arguably only Plaid's Carrie Harper being a candidate with any real profile


But who are the candidates and what issues are they campaigning on?
Here, the BBC lists the  five people hoping to win election

Plaid Cymru - Carrie Harper

Plaid Cymru's candidate is Wrexham councillor Carrie Harper, who serves the ward of Queensway and is on the council's lifelong learning, homes and environment and democratic services scrutiny committees.
"This is a by-election that we all wish wasn't needed and my first thoughts are with the family of Carl Sargeant," she said.
"Our campaign as a party will be to highlight the problems facing the NHS in Wales."

Welsh Conservatives - Sarah Atherton

Sarah Atherton lives in Gresford, near Wrexham. She serves on the village's community council as a councillor for Gresford West.
The Conservatives said jobs, housing and health were priorities for the former district nurse and social worker.
"I have spent many years working in health and have direct experience of some of the problems and frustrations patients - and staff - have to deal with on a daily basis," she said.

Wales Green Party - Duncan Rees

Duncan Rees previously worked for the Co-operative Group in Wales in its membership, PR and community team.
He said the Green party "has the ideas, the energy and the policies to provide an agenda for real change that other parties are not offering in Alyn and Deeside".
Mr Rees, who has lived in Wrexham for 23 years, is active in a range of voluntary organisations, including the support group for the Wrexham-Bidston railway line.

Welsh Labour - Jack Sargeant

Jack Sargeant is the son of Carl Sargeant - the former Welsh Government minister whose death last year triggered the by-election.
Mr Sargeant, 23, said he wanted to seek justice for his father - who was sacked by First Minister Carwyn Jones days before he died.
"I will be standing on a platform of being a powerful voice for local people - in the proud tradition of my father," he said.

Welsh Liberal Democrats - Donna Lalek

Former teacher and a qualified barrister, Donna Lalek is a community councillor from Broughton and a founder member of charitable and activist group Everyone Matters.
She said: "Our area is blessed with fantastic people and vibrant businesses and I'm passionate about giving them the investment, revitalised high streets and career opportunities they deserve.
"I'm excited to fight for the chance to represent this wonderful community in the assembly."

UKIP previously said they would only stand if Jack Sargeant failed to win the Labour nomination. Whether  this bolsters Jack Sargeant's chances is open to question.

The result last time  was a comfortable win (as usual) for Labour with the Conservatives coming second.

Welsh Assembly Election 2016: Alyn and Deeside^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Carl Sargeant	9,922	45.7	−6.9
	Conservative	Mike Gibbs	4,558	21.0	−7.1
	UKIP	Michelle Brown	3,765	17.4	+17.4
	Plaid Cymru	Jacqueline Hurst	1,944	9.0	+1.4
	Liberal Democrats	Peter Williams	980	4.5	−3.1
	Green	Martin Bennewith	527	2.4	+2.4
Majority			5,364	24.7	+0.2
Turnout			21,696	35.0	−2.0
	Labour hold		Swing	+0.1

I think only complacency and a low turn out and Jack Seargeant , inheriting his father seats and who finishes second may depend on how much of their committed vote  can get out.

It is a peculiar By-election  that is so predictable and the only real interest in who comes second.

The real interest may be after Jack Seargeant as expected wins and how he carries out his promise to seek Justice for his father.

First Minister Carwyn Jones may not be too exited about the prospect . but a shock loss would  clearly see his political demise.

 

Quasi-Colonlism continues (2) the Thurley report,

Yesterday's post on Quasi-colonialism does possibly be argued that a company demanding that people  should not speak in Cymraeg in the workplace "out of politeness to Monoglot English speakers could (Just) be put down to ignorance,

But there can be no excuse for a  report on Wales’ national museums which has been criticised after it called on them to abandon a “narrowly Welsh” perspective on history.

Nation Cymru tells us

The report was written by Dr Simon Thurley, who served as Chief Executive of English Heritage from April 2002 to May 2015, on behalf of the Welsh Government.
The report was completed last year but will be debated at the Senedd this week.
The report criticises Wales’ museums for being unambitious and suggests that they focus instead on the history of Wales as part of the British Empire.

 Dr Thurley said.

“My main criticism was a lack of ambition in the story that was being told,”

“These sites were presented as if they were telling part of the social history of a small country.
“Whereas they could be telling the story of how Wales, a small country, together with its larger neighbours England and Scotland, transformed the world in the 19th century.”
The change would make the museums more interesting for tourists “from outside Wales”,
“Wales played a crucial role in the British century and its raw materials and know-how made a major contribution to the industrial revolution and the empire,” he said.
“Of course the human story in Wales is interesting and compelling, but so is the big picture of how Wales, as part of Britain, changed the face of the globe.”

 So what does he want the  Welsh Museums  be decked with Union flags , maybe Zulu being permanently shown on a loop?

Perhaps he wants them to be renamed  the Museum of the British Empire  and Little Wales?

Perspective
Dr Thurley’s recommendation was criticised by Elfed Wyn Roberts, the author of a petition asking that the history of Wales be taught in schools.
His petition, signed by 4821 people, calls on the Welsh Government to change National Curriculum to teach Welsh history, from a Welsh perspective, in Primary, Secondary and Sixth form Schools.
“Wales’ museums should celebrate Wales’ history, its workers and its peasantry,” Elfed Wyn Roberts said.

“It’s disgraceful that they would seek to reduce Wales’ history to its contribution to England and Scotland.
“We have the history of the Welsh Princes, the Merthyr Rising and the battle for the Welsh language and these should teach the Welsh to take pride in how we stood on our own two feet.
“The history of how we served the British Empire doesn’t do that.”

 Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Infrastructure and Skills, Ken Skates welcomed Dr Thurley’s report, saying that it was “balanced, thoughtful and impartial”.

“The review is a key step to help the Welsh Government identify the most appropriate ways in which we can help ensure Amgueddfa Cymru continues to thrive in the future, in what continue to be challenging financial times.”

  Mr Skates you may remember  backed the Iron Ring sculpture at Flint Castle which  Plaid Cymru's North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said it symbolises the oppression of Welsh people.

"The 'ring of steel' is the description given to the chain of castles across Wales that were built to conquer and subjugate Wales," he said.
"From a Welsh perspective, this is certainly not something to celebrate. It does not either reflect the many rich Welsh legends that could have been the source of a far more appropriate sculpture."

Responding to the report, former Plaid AM Dafydd  Elis-Thomas, who joined the cabinet  as Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport in the Welsh Government. in November,  seems to have avoided commenting on Thurley's British Empire crap said: 

"I don't want to reopen events which happened before I took responsibility for culture.
"I am very keen on moving on and ensuring that we have a very positive relationship between Welsh government, myself as the minister, officials and the institutions of the National Museum of Wales.
"And we need to ensure that for the future we don't have the kind of breakdown in relationships which Thurley sets out very clearly.
"I have worked as hard as I can since I have been in post to ensure that everything is now positive and forward-looking."

Of course insulting view point from Thurley was only part of the review  There may be some parts s on organisation  for example which may be worth considering, but it ridiculous that we asked someone who seems to be an expert on English Palaces  and seemingly nothing of his own culture blow that  to carry this out.

Quasi-Colonlism continues (1)

And so the insults to Cymraeg and Wales in general continues .

Workers at an aeroplane maintenance firm in RAF Valley were allegedly banned from speaking Welsh unless everyone present could.
BAE Systems and its maintenance partner Babcock employ 470 people at RAF Valley on Anglesey

.
A source told the Daily Post that a female training manager with Babcock allegedly told employees speaking Welsh off.
He said Welsh-speaking HR staff visiting her department were “humiliated” by her actions.

The source said:

“She promptly informed them that Welsh speaking is not tolerated.
“I find this act of ignorance a disgraceful slight on the local Welsh-speaking community.
“The workforce is understandably devastated and uncomfortable.”

However, a Babcock spokesman said the company strives to treat everyone equally.

He said: 

At RAF Valley that means that in the interests of politeness we ask that our colleagues speak English in a business context when there are non-Welsh speaking people also present.

“We have not received any complaints about this request and indeed it was discussed and agreed at a union meeting in December 2017.

The Union agreed to this? They should explain their actions 

“There is, however, no desire to stop any person speaking in Welsh during social interaction or indeed enacting company business requirements should all involved speak Welsh.
“We believe that making the most of the differences in our workforce is key to the success of our business.”

But Osian Rhys from language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith said if the allegations were true, then the company had broken the law.

He said:

 “It has been illegal since 2011 to stop, or attempt to stop, two individuals from speaking Welsh to each other.
“A company adopting such a policy, which in this case appears to break the law, should not get a single government contract.
“We will be asking the Welsh Language Commissioner to start an investigation into the matter.
“It’s important for people to realise they have a legal freedom to speak Welsh.
“Any infringement can be investigated by the Commissioner if she receives a complaint, which can be made anonymously.”

 Rhun ap Iorwerth, AM, echoed Mr Rhys' comments.He said:

"In an area where Welsh is so widely spoken, any manager telling a member of staff that ‘Welsh speaking is not tolerated’ would clearly be unacceptable.

"I hope Babcock will give an undertaking to take all complaints seriously, including this one.
“The company says it wants to ‘treat everyone... equally’, and in a bilingual area, that has to mean giving equal respect to those two languages.
"It is inevitable that in a bilingual society there will be conversations in Welsh between Welsh speakers in front of non-Welsh speakers - not because those individuals are impolite, but because that is their first language.
“Anglesey has had a very long relationship with the RAF and its suppliers, and like any good relationship, let’s look forward to seeing it flourish, based on mutual respect.”

It is highly possible  that there are people working there  who are friends who ave spoken in Cymraeg al their lives  and are now told to speak in English.

How can we promote the value of speaking Welsh when people are told that they will not be allowed to speak in when in work?

How can we proclaim that Cymraeg is equal when we here of such appalling demands to speak English?

You would not ask people in a working environment  to discuss last nights football game, because there workers there who do not understand the rules of the game?

"Equality" means Equality  not only when it suits Monoglot English speakers  (Like myself). 

We need a new Language act to make it clear that people have the right to speak Cymraeg amongst themselves in any environment.

Even in the mythical pub when "everybody" starts talking in Welsh when an English speaker enters the room.

This colonial attitude must stop not only from those who make such demands that people speak only in English but from those who in Wales who accept it.

Are Labour and Tories planning to divide Wales economically?

If you were a conspiracy theorist, you may well becoming to believe that Labour and the Tories have come up with "a cunning plan" to  divide Wales both economically and socially.

Last year  Influential business leaders and politicians from across both sides of the Welsh border have met to discuss how economic opportunities from the Northern Powerhouse Region can be maximised for North Wales. 

The cross border summit, held at Coleg Cambria, Flintshire, was intended to drive focussed discussion and raise business awareness on how cross border economic development can be accelerated by a range of mutually-advantageous initiatives. These included modernising the transport network, maximising on energy sector opportunities, a clear cross-border economic development strategy and a strong cross-border economic team.
The Then Wales Office Minister Guto Bebb together with the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure Ken Skates were joined at the Northop campus by representatives from a range of business organisations including the Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses, CBI, the WLGA, the North Wales Business Council, Welsh Enterprise Zone chairs, the Cheshire and North Wales Chamber and the Mersey Dee Alliance.

Back in November 2015  Mr Skates’s , held  similar meeting  which was organised by the North Wales Economic Ambition Boar (No i don't know what it is either) said: 

“I welcome these talks and I’m delighted that the Welsh Labour Government initiated this cross-party, cross-border summit to discuss transport issues affecting both regions. We want to see a more integrated road and rail network which would benefit both sides of Offa’s Dyke. There is huge potential in driving forward an agenda that links the strengths of North Wales and the North West of England to create a world-class economic powerhouse.”

Only yesterday we had claims that A "western powerhouse" between Cardiff, Newport and Bristol can boost job prospects across the whole region, the Welsh secretary has said. Alun Cairns has set up a Severn Growth Summit in Newport, with 350 delegates.
He believes it has the potential to rival the Northern Powerhouse or "Midlands Engine".

"It's about time that we made politics fit business rather than business fit politics," added Mr Cairns.
He believes the Severn crossings have acted as a barrier to businesses and communities in Wales and England for the past 50 years.
This is not just because of the tolls for vehicles travelling west along the M4 but also because the bridges have become a symbol of an economic barrier. 

 It is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South East Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.  

Mr Cairns believes this has held back Wales' prosperity and without the tolls - which are due to be phased out by the end of 2018 - people and business would have become more integrated.
But also since devolution, Wales has differed in the way that it has tried to grow its economy - from training and job creation to apprenticeships, the policy path has been different to England.
Asked if this approach undermined devolved economic policy, Mr Cairns said: 

"For the 20 years we have been talking about devolution we've been talking about collaboration but that collaboration doesn't stop at the Welsh border.
"This is about doing the right thing for businesses and for the economy in order for both sides to grow and I think Wales has a lot to gain," he said.
"I think the whole mass of the great western cities of Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, Bristol and Bath, combining the might of them and all of a sudden if you are an international investor you can see what all these cities have to offer, how they dovetail and how they come together."

Clearly there is as connection that Tolls on the Severn Bridges  this month will be cut   for the first time, as VAT is removed from the fees.

Cars heading for Wales will be charged £5.60 instead of £6.70, with vans paying £11.20 - down from £13.40 - and coaches £16.70, currently £20.
UK ministers confirmed it was a step towards abolishing tolls altogether at the end of 2018, as revealed in July.

Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said tolls had been "an economic and symbolic barrier to Wales' future prosperity"

iT is unbelievable that it has taken over 50 years for a Government minister to come to this conclusion , only when he want to turn South east Wales into a Bristol commuter belt.  


You can understand  Tory Ministers seeking to split Wales into two Economic Regions  where they will be probably dominated by English cities who will be setting the agenda , but why is Labour in the Assembly also going on with this?

Perhaps they think the Northern "Region " will be permanently dominated by them and the Southern Region periodically passing  from Tory to Labour .

Where this leaves the rest of Wales is uncertain, maybe  a playground for the two "powehouses",

It seems to me that this is more a case of Unionist parties coming up with a plan to divide Wales and prevent any Party in power in Cardiff bay  coming up with plans to link the whole of Wales such a reopening the Carmarthen Aberystwyth line.

Maybe they think that people may eventually ask what is the Assembly for?

 

Not even Hobson's choice from Tories over Brexit.

A Hobson's choice is a free choice in which only one thing is offered. Because a person may refuse to accept what is offered, the two options are taking it or taking nothing. In other words, one may "take it or leave it". The phrase is said to have originated with Thomas Hobson (1544–1631), a livery stable owner in Cambridge, England, who offered customers the choice of either taking the horse in his stall nearest to the door or taking none at all.

This appears 90%  of the time to be the attitude of the Tories, over Brexit except either we accept their version of Brexit. or they impose it anyway.

So there is no surprise that the BbC report that 

Carwyn Jones is "irresponsible" to suggest the Welsh Assembly could refuse to back the EU Withdrawal Bill, a former Brexit minister has said.

The first minister called the bill "a fundamental assault on devolution" because powers would initially return to Westminster from Brussels.
UK ministers insist powers on devolved matters will be passed on eventually.
Clwyd West MP David Jones said the first minister should work with the UK government in "a positive manner".

Opposition members of the House of Lords said they would examine the issue when they begin to scrutinise the bill at the end of January.
The UK government had intended to present amendments to MPs in the House of Commons last week but ran out of time.

Ministers have now promised to put the amendments forward for peers to consider.

 The Bill has cleared the Commons and will had to the Lords later this month where many ardent Remainers have vowed to bombard it with a slew of amendments to force the PM to reshape her Brexit plans.

Now I am opposed to the Lords  and see them as a thoroughly undemocratic legislature  and cannot support it when it votes as I would  like whilst condemning it the other

At the same time I recognise we need much more scrutiny of the whole Brexit deal and certainly think we need the voice of those who are worried about the whole Single Market issue to be heard.

However the Tories possible  reaction is to make it even more undemocratic  and there are calls for Theresa May to create up to 200 new peers to force Brexit laws through the Lords, Jacob Rees-Mogg says.Theresa May should create up to 200 new peers to force the Brexit Bill through the House of Lords, Jacob Rees-Mogg has said.He said the Prime Minister should use her powers of patronage if 'the House won't play by the constitutional rule book' and tries to block the landmark legislation.

Meanwhile Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has said unless changes were made he would not be able to recommend that AMs back the plans, warning that the assembly could bring forward its own counter-legislation to protect Welsh interests in the form of a so-called Continuity Bill by the end of January.


Mr Jones, a Brexit Minister between July 2016 and June 2017, told the BBC's Sunday Politics Wales programme: 

"We do need to satisfy the assembly that there will ultimately be a rebalancing of powers.
"But I think that for Carwyn Jones to start talking in terms of refusing legislative consent and so on is rather irresponsible.
"I think that he's got to recognise that the United Kingdom - and of course Wales itself - voted to leave the European Union and he's now got a duty to work with the UK government in a positive manner to ensure that we resolve this

Interesting he uses  the fact that Wales voted for Brexit to support  Brexit whilst failing to mention that Scotland did not.

Labour's Brexit spokesperson and deputy leader in the House of Lords Baroness Hayter told the programme 

"The government has given us no reason at all why they shouldn't respect the devolution settlement and allow these [powers] to go to Cardiff.
"What I would like is that our elected government here in the UK get together with the elected governments in Scotland and in Wales and they come to an agreement.

We may well see Labour Peers in the Lords  putting up a bigger fight against the Tories Brexit plans as opposed to Jeremy Corbyn's Pro-Brexit stance .

It will be a bit of a dilemma of the Left in the UK who support Remain or at least a Hard Brexit that their  views  may ne expressed in the Lords  rather than the Commons front benches led by the most Left wing leader for generations.


 Plaid Cymru's Lord Wigley said:

"It's really hard to imagine why it's taken them so long and why they haven't had the sort of negotiations that would have led to a good outcome on this."
 "We have to ensure that the powers on matters that are devolved go straight to the assembly.
"Certainly there'll need to be a mechanism whereby there's discussion and agreement between the four governments in the UK to ensure there's a level playing field in the single market that there will be in Britain then.
"But it's something that needs to be done by agreement and not by imposition from London down."

 The Tories have used the referendum to push forward their  own version of Brexit  to prepare for an attack on Human and Workers rights a roll back off the devolution settlement   and a right wing social and welfare policy.

I am not happy that the main opposition to this could come from a thoroughly undemocratic body, but will not be disappointed if it succeeds.

A Bridge not far enough.

What with Boris with his France-England  Bridge crossing and a new direct Ireland Spain direct link . Surely we shttps://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jan/19/boris-johnson-proposes-22-mile-bridge-across-the-channelhould be looking at a bridge or Tunnel linking Holyhead with Irelan?

Boris Johnson has floated the idea of a 22-mile bridge across the Channel to enhance transport links with France after Brexit.
The foreign secretary discussed the issue with Emmanuel Macron, the French president, at the Anglo-French summit, saying it was “ridiculous” that two of the world’s biggest economies are linked by a single railway line.
Macron is understood to have responded positively with an agreement that a second link should be built.

Boris's Number Ten pored cold water on the idea but expect it to be raised again

Ireland and Spain are to be linked by a direct ferry service for the first time.
The sailings will enable firms to bypass the UK when transporting freight between the two countries, which could be particularly useful after Brexit.
There are fears that the UK’s ports could suffer from severe customs queues after it withdraws from the European Union in March next year.

Back in May last Year The Scotsman reported that A land bridge or tunnel between Ireland and Scotland is once more back in the public debate.The idea of a permanent land link between Ireland and Britain and indeed Europe, has been around for some time.
At its closest point the land masses are only 12 Miles away but the part of Scotland near the Mull of Kintyre is very remote.

The principal proposal is a 21 mile bridge, one of the longest in the word, second only to a 22 mile bridge in Asia,

There are four main routes that have been highlighted as possibilities for connecting Ireland and Britain. Two stretch between Northern Ireland and Scotland, while the remaining two would bring passengers from the Republic of Ireland to Wales. Another suggestion has been to build two bridges on either side of the Isle of Man, but the idea of building two such long-distance bridges is thought to be extreme.

 
Though not  impossible and surely it is a disgrace that the machinery that was used to dig the Chanel tunnel was not Mothballed?

 I would advocate both a Scottish and Welsh crossing  even stimulating  a rival competition for completion

Such a duo plan would stimulate the economy of all three countries.

Indeed I would have though our Unionist fiends would be enthusiastic over this  arguing that it proved we were "Better Together" .

But i doubt it the South East of England will always come first and we may not see the Boris Bridge soon, but it will be built before any soil is dug to connect either Wales or Scotland with our friends across the Irish sea,