Wednesday, 31 January 2018

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 Davies Retweeted BBC Wales Politics
This was bang unacceptable from the First Minister to today. Not the first time the Labour 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.



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