Welsh Ukip AM tried to dumb down qualification in order to employ brother.

I have some sympathy with elected politicians who employ family or friends in their office,

After all they know these people can trust them and presumably they share his or her politics.

And given the tendency for some elected members to have affairs with their secretaries (Cecil Parkinson , Paddy Ashdown et al) you can imagine some wives would want to keep an eye on their spouses by taking the job themselves.

The problem comes when those family or friends are unqualified for the Job or actually do know work.

Controversy aroused after it was found the then MP Derek Conway employed his son Freddie as a part-time researcher, while Freddie was on a full-time degree course at the University of Newcastle. Conway paid his son the part-time equivalent of a £25,970 salary, amounting to a sum in excess of £40,000[ over three years, including pension contributions.

Conway was reported to the Committee on Standards and Privileges by former Metropolitan Police Inspector Michael Barnbrook, who had stood against him in the 2005 General Election as a UKIP candidate.After an investigation, in January 2008 the Committee found there was "no record" of what work Freddie had done, and said the £1,000-plus a month he was paid was too high. They recommended that the House order him to repay a sum of £13,000 and that he be suspended for 10 sitting days. However, in a subsequent interview with the Mail on Sunday, Derek Conway disputed the allegation that Freddie Conway had rarely travelled from Newcastle to Westminster, instead stating that Freddie "would go up and down like a fiddler's elbow". In light of the evidence, Conservative party leader David Cameron decided to withdraw the Conservative Party Whip, rendering Conway free of any Parliamentary Conservative constraints, effectively leaving him as an independent MP.

Despite attempts to clear up this mess 9 years after the Conway affair Controversy continues

It has emerged a UKIP AM discussed with an assembly official how an advert for a job in her office could be changed to help her brother get an interview for the post.

Michelle Brown was told that if she used an initial draft of the advert her brother would be "sifted out".

She was also asked if she wanted to "check" with him what qualifications he had before finalising the advert.

North Wales AM Ms Brown said she had acted with "complete propriety".

The institution refused to release under the Freedom of Information Act full details of an exchange between Ms Brown and an assembly official where they discuss what qualifications her brother has.

But according to BBC Wales understands that following an initial discussion about his qualifications the official wrote to Ms Brown:

 "If we go ahead with the qualification that's in the job description [an NVQ] Richard [Ms Brown's brother] will be sifted out before the interview stage.

"Do you want me to change it to [GCSE] Grade C or above in English?"

 Ms Brown replied: 

"Can it [the NVQ] be downgraded to desirable?"

The official then said:

 "We do need to have some qualification in the essential [section of the advertisement], do you want to check with Richard what he has?"

Ms Brown replied:

 "Fair enough! Shall we just leave it as GCSE English and Maths at Grade C or equivalent?"

The official then told her

 "that's fine".

 The job advert was for a receptionist and personal assistant, to be paid between £18,536 and £24,593 a year.

The NVQ requirement was not included in the final advertisement.

BBC Wales understands Ms Brown's brother did not get the job.

The assembly said its recruitment panel recommended someone else to Ms Brown and she will meet that person next week to discuss the position.

But her brother is still listed on the register of members interests as a constituency caseworker for the assembly member and he has been in that role since June 2016.

AMs are allowed to appoint staff on a temporary basis for a six month period after being elected without having to put in place a formal recruitment procedure.

BBC Wales understands concerns have been raised within UKIP about Ms Brown's brother's performance.

A total of 12 AMs have declared on the register of interests that they employ relatives.

In 2009, an independent report recommended the appointment of family members be stopped.

Defending her handling of the recruitment process for her office, Ms Brown said:

 "I appointed Richard upon my election to the assembly, as I needed someone to deal immediately with constituency issues.
"Confidentiality and personal loyalty are essential elements in the job description of all AMs' staff.
"When his temporary contract expired, he was not re-appointed.
"The Assembly Commission is intimately involved in devising job descriptions for open competition and, in the case of AMs' family members, they interview candidates independently of the AM.
"I have acted at all material times on the advice of the commission and with complete propriety.
"Any suggestion to the contrary from within UKIP should be discounted as sour grapes from someone with an axe to grind."

 Asked about the matter on BBC Radio Wales, UKIP assembly group leader Neil Hamilton said: "The assembly commission is entirely responsible for job descriptions.

"All these jobs have to be publicly advertised and in the case of somebody who is a family member who is an applicant then the appointment decision is taken by the assembly itself, not by the individual AM."

In November 2016, Mr Hamilton defended the employment of his wife Christineas his personal assistant on the same grounds.

Actually Mrs Hamolton Hamilton spent many years working as secretary to various Conservative MPs, first Wilfred Proudfoot MP for Brighouse and Spenborough, then Gerald Nabarro, MP for South Worcestershire. So she may well be more qualified than most and who else would want to work for the odious Neil Hamilton anyway?

In a statement, the National Assembly for Wales Commission, which overseas appointments at the body said: 

"The principles of fair and open competition based on merit apply to all posts advertised for assembly member support staff.

"The appointment of the employing assembly member's family members is only permissible where the member plays no part in the assessment and interviews, which are instead conducted by the members' business support team."

Asked about the email exchange involving Ms Brown, an assembly spokeswoman said:

 "It is entirely appropriate, and within the rules, for Members' Business Support to work with individual Assembly Members to establish selection criteria and arrangements for a particular appointment."

Whilst recognising in a role in which the employees political loyalty  is essential it may well be that employing family and friends is useful , but to fix the process by dumbing down the qualifications needed seems to go too far.

Is there a rival to Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau as our national anthem?

Yesterday as part of an Opinion Poll he commissioned Wings over Scotland published the result of an opinion poll in what Scotland's National Anthem should be.




The result favoured Flower of Scotland though God Save the Queen reached 10% ironically similar to those in Wales who want Independence according to some polls.


Caledonia scored 14% and although Freedom Come A Ye only reached 2% it had some support in the comments section.


Maybe the question is whether Flower of Scotland an anthem, which is after all about an English Invasion would be suitable for an Independent Scotland.

It led me to comment


glynbeddau says:16 February, 2017 at 6:20 pmThis could be the only case when Wales is ahead of you. I doubt there’s would be much dispute over Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

I think I am right but maybe there are other options


Yma o Hyd for example ?


I would consider or the rather beautiful Gweddi dros Gymru"  "A Prayer for Wales" (a national song of Wales) if the haunting tune was not Finalndia Finnish composer Jean Sibelius.


Maybe an Independent Wales would consider a New Anthem but the problem is that you could end up with a song like Advance Australia Fair he song was first performed in 1878 and sung in Australia as a patriotic song. It replaced "God Save the Queen" as the official national anthem in 1984, following a plebiscite to choose the national song in 1977.

Its not my favourite tune, and Australia could do better.

I rather like God defend New Zealand.

Originally written as a poem, it was set to music as part of a competition in 1876. Over the years its popularity increased, and it was eventually named the second national anthem in 1977. The anthem has English and Māori lyrics, with slightly different meanings. When performed in public, the usual practice is to sing the first verse in both Māori and English.

Wales is largely responsible for National Anthems at sporting events

In 1905, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau became the first national anthem to be sung at the start of a sporting event.[Although crowds singing anthems during matches was commonplace, there was no precedent for the anthem to be sung before a game commenced in any sport.The Welsh national rugby team were playing host to the first touring New Zealand team, who to that point were unbeaten. After Wales won the Triple Crown in the 1905 Home Nations Championship the match was dubbed the 'Game of the Century' by the press. The New Zealand team started every match with the Haka, and Welsh Rugby Union administrator Tom Williams, suggested that Wales player Teddy Morgan lead the crowd in the singing of the anthem as a response. After Morgan began singing, the crowd joined in,and Wales became the first nation to sing a national anthem at the start of a sporting event.

It is rather odd that we have in Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau one of best Anthems for a crowd to sing together which such a distinct National Flag but when it comes to taking political power for our nation we shy away.

Anyway I think we probably are united over Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau , but if you have any alternatives let me know.

Plaid attacked for informing people on City Deal.

Plaid recently held a meeting over the push to make the City Deal for the Cardiff Capital Region a reality .

Prior to the meeting i led to an attack on Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood by Rhondda Cynon Taf council leader Andrew Morgan, who chairs the City Deal Shadow Cabinet, said he and his officials had “absolutely no engagement or contact” with Ms Wood during the last 18 months.

On Monday Plaid held a public meeting on the city deal alongside some of the Partys big guns AMs Adam Price and Steffan Lewis.

Mr Morgan accused Ms Wood of taking a “sudden interest” in the city deal, which it is hoped will result in £734m invested in the Metro transport scheme, with £495m going on other projects.

He said:

“I was astonished to see that the Rhondda AM and leader of Plaid is convening a meeting to talk about City Deal; I would be curious to know what Leanne can tell anyone about the City Deal... Myself or officials of the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal Shadow Cabinet have had absolutely no engagement or contact from the Plaid leader over the last 18 months it has taken to arrive at the formal agreement of all 10 local authorities in South East Wales this month to support the City Deal.”

A Plaid spokeswoman said:

 “Plaid Cymru in the Rhondda is holding an open meeting in Ferndale [with] Plaid Cymru’s leader and shadow ministers for the economy and external affairs to hear what people have to say about the City Deal and to answer questions people may have about the Party of Wales’ position on that and other economic questions. People in the Rhondda Fach feel let down and left behind by the Labour-run council.

“They’ve done little to improve the Rhondda’s economic fortunes to date. Since Leanne was elected as Assembly Member for the Rhondda she has embarked on a series of engagement events designed to listen to local people’s views on topical matters so that she can take effective action on their behalf.
“The lack of economic opportunities is a key issue that people keep raising, for understandable reasons. We in Plaid Cymru have many questions to ask about the City Deal and it is our job as the main opposition party to scrutinise public spending.
"People want to know what people in the Fach can expect to get out of the City Deal investment. We hope this meeting will enable more people to learn about it and what they can do to help make sure that investment benefits their communities.”

Labour’s Mr Morgan contrasted Plaid with the Conservatives, saying: 

“You would not normally hear me compliment the Conservatives, but because they recognise the huge opportunity the City Deal presents to transform the economy of South Wales, they have engaged in the process throughout; not even a single email has ever been received from Ms Wood or a request to meet with me as chair of the Shadow Cabinet or even with City Deal officers. "I have not even heard any public backing for the deal, which aims to create 25,000 new jobs, from the Plaid leader, so I fail to see how Plaid can answer any questions on the matter.“The City Deal is all about spreading the investment, both from the public and private sector currently around our capital city, across the region; Plaid are suddenly jumping on the bandwagon because they see Labour local government leaders have delivered this huge opportunity which will provide the necessary step change the Valleys economy needs and they have played no role in setting this vital agenda...“My door is open to brief Leanne on what the City Deal is about, how we have achieved it and how we as leaders, working with Welsh Government Ministers intend to deliver for the region.”

Which seems to  me to say that if Plaid or any one else were to get involved in his is what with any consultation , it would consist of being told this is what we are going to do so accept.

On her Facebook page Ms Wood

 interesting discussion tonight on the City Deal in Ferndale. There has been little information available to people to date. From what is available, it looks as though the Rhondda Fach isn't on the Metro map. With no rail line, how will communities in the Fach benefit from this investment? It was great to welcome our special guests - Plaid Cymru shadow ministers Steffan Lewis and Adam Price, who gave us some good insight and economic expertise on the issues. It was also good to see former Ferndale boy Professor Calvin Jones, who brought some thought provoking points to the meeting, as usual. Thanks to everyone who attended. It's vital that we all now make our voices heard so that people in the Rhondda can make the most of the opportunities that could arise with this investment. If you'd like to be kept informed as to developments and our work on the city deal, please send me your e mail address and mark the e mail "City Deal". 

During a husting at the last Assembly Elections Mick Antoniw the Lanour Candidate and eventual victor in formed us that the much vaunted Metro would see a Train Station being built in in Llantrisant , which led to some to imagine one appearing in the Town rather than a few miles away .

Indeed when pressed he admitted that it may not be an actual Train service, but some other form of transport.

The fact is that virtually all we  really seen of this  is a Map



and yes neither the Rhondda Fach or Llantrisant are on it.

It is an interesting. Should you add legitimacy to a project by getting involved in some capacity even if you believe , that you are going to be ignored.

After next May Plaid may well have a lot more councillors in area of the proposed City Deal , so they will have to come up with a united front on any limitations that will undoubtedly unravel.

If Labour were to lose control of some Councils particularly Cardiff , then it may have to drop the arrogant assumption that its current hegemony in South East Wales gives it carte blanch to decide on everything .

'

Why is it onlyl OK in Anti-Cymraeg issues that Labour suppoters can campaign with UKip

During last years Labour leadership contest there were accusation that the Labour Party were trawling social media  to purge membership who it was perceived 

The Blog AAV wrote

One of the worst examples of someone being purged for supporting other parties long before Corbyn even became Labour leader is the case of Dr Gemma Angel who was purged from the Labour Party over a Tweet from May 2014 in which she explained her reasons for voting Green.
Gemma Angel is far from the only example of someone being purged from the Labour Party for having supported other parties long before Jeremy Corbyn became leader and inspired them to join Labour. Another example is Ben Crawford who was also purged for the "crime" of posting Tweets in support of the Green Party between 2014 and 2015 (see letter).

So I am somewhat perplexed why the Party seems to have a more tolerant attitude if you back Ukip when it comes to issues of Cymraeg

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood has accused Labour council candidates of working with Ukip in a “toxic” campaign against Welsh medium education.

The village of Llangennech near Llanelli is divided over a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council to turn the local primary school into a Welsh medium school. 

Raising the issue during First Minister’s Questions, Ms Wood said it was Welsh Government policy to increase the number of Welsh medium schools towards achieving a target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050.

She told Carwyn Jones:

 “I’ve got serious concerns about the frankly toxic atmosphere that has emerged on this question, and I’m aware that among a group of residents campaigning against Carmarthenshire County Council’s decision, there are some people standing for the Labour Party in Llangennech in May’s county and community council elections. It’s come to my attention that some of those candidates claim to be working with Ukip.”

She asked Mr Jones whether he found it acceptable that Labour candidates were working with Ukip to undermine the Welsh Government’s policy on Welsh medium education.

The First Minister responded:

 “I agree that the situation in Llangennech has become toxicI do not believe that the words used by the leader of the opposition help the situation by turning it into a party political issue.
“There have been some comments made by politicians that I do not agree with.
“I think it’s hugely important now that calm prevails and that the toxicity is reduced.”.

As Y Cneifiwer pointed out  in two posts here and here 

Twitter was briefly ablaze yesterday with news from Llangennech which received a visit from Neil Hamilton and Christine, down for the day from Wiltshire to stir things up in the village.
Here are the happy families who claim to speak for 95% of the village saying cheese for the camera:

Sandwiched between Mr and Mrs H is Labour supporting Michaela Beddows, who readers will recall popped up on Question Time to declare that she had never had a problem with UKIP.

She also has it seems no probelrm with the fascist English Defence League

Ms Beddowes Jacqueline Seward, Labour's candidate for the county council ward) had been liaising with Hamilton and managing the PR.

So you can't tweet about supporting the Green Party and then join Labour but as long as its over the status of Cymraeg you can jump into be with Ukip amd campaign with them.

Of course its not for Leanne, Y Cneifwr or myself to tell Labour who they can and can't allow to become members.

But we can ask why it seems to acceptable for Labour Candidate to campaign  with Ukip over the  use of Cymraeg , when it would not be in a any other situation?

Ukip are a far right party the BNP in suits.

In April 2001 the Guardian reminded us that In the general election of 1964, Patrick Gordon Walker was confidently expected to win the inner Birmingham seat of Smethwick and, in the event of a national Labour victory, go on to be Harold Wilson's foreign secretary.

But Gordon Walker did not win. He was sensationally defeated by a Tory nonentity, Peter Griffiths, whose campaign featured the infamous 10-word slogan: "If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour."

As the defeated Walker left Smethwick town hall after the count 50 years ago today, Tory supporters yelled after him: “Where are your niggers now, Walker?” and “Take your niggers away!”

This racist campaign shocked Britain. In the Commons, the new Labour prime minister Harold Wilson called on then Tory leader Sir Alec Douglas-Home to disown Griffiths. 

“If Sir Alec does not take what I am sure is the right course, Smethwick Conservatives can have the satisfaction of having sent a member who, until another election returns him to oblivion, will serve his time as a parliamentary leper.” Twenty-five Tories walked out of the chamber in protest and proposed a motion deploring Wilson’s insulting language; Labour members countered by proposing a motion reproving the prime minister for insulting lepers.

One reason the Tories refused to condemn Griffiths was that he had found the Conservatives’ holy grail – undermining industrial working-class support for Labour. Margaret Thatcher would find a similarly winning formula in the 1980s by selling off council houses. Admittedly, Griffiths’ method had involved exploiting anxiety over a housing shortage in Smethwick and blaming it on immigrants but, still, it got him elected.

The Guardian in 2001 optimistically claimed that

No candidate would dream of saying such a thing now. If they did, they'd be prosecuted.

Alas this has not turned out

Sunday evening Ukip's immigration spokesperson shared an image that Twitter users have described as "appalling and disgraceful".

Mr Bickley is a member of Ukip's National Executive Party Committee, treasurer of the party and is also the party's spokesperson for immigration. 

He represented Ukip in the 2015 parliamentary election in Heywood & Middleton and the Oldham West and Royton by-election - Where he failed to be elected on both occasions.

He has since deleted his retweet. The image in question depicts a red lorry, with the Labour logo on the side, filled with people and the slogan: 

If you want a jihadi for neighbour, vote Labour.

The image also features a crescent moon and star, an internationally-recognised symbol for Islam, a sickle and hammer and a caricature that would appear to portray the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The original tweet was posted by user David Jones, with the caption:The Labour party are now the party for immigrants and ; muslims [sp]. Labour hate British people, the working class and despise patriotism.

When he re tweeted Mr Bickley must surely  have been aware of the  reference to the 1964 By election.


Some years ago I  wrote that I didn't think Ukip were the BNP in suits . I however  changed my mind .

it was changed when Nigel Farage  stood in front of a poster that reminded many of Nazi propaganda





Plaid Leader Leanne Wood repeated her opinion on the Jason Mohammad show yesterday that she regarded Ukip as on the far right . 

The evidence is there.

The only argument that cam be made is that Brexit has moved the centre ground to the right  and  the Tory right wing agenda is becoming mainstream.

Those who consider themselves on the left who supported Brexit or like Jeremy Corbyn  seems to have surrendered  . Must ask themselves  if it is not time to accept that in opposing Brexit we are also opposing the poisonous  rhetoric that has come from it and that it has given to the Far Right of which Ukip  are an example.

Attack of the Tory Clones.

The Tories seem to be putting serious money into May's council election im my area.

I had this delivered by Royal Mail recently From Sam Trask

So a leaflet from a candidate who has campaigned  for his ward and has plans of his own.

Not quite; because the Tory Candidate for the Llantrisant ward has produced virtually the same pamphlet with only a few word changes and different what looks like photo shopped pictures'

Thw Questionnaire is more or less the same apart for the second which his campaign to allow Llantrisant  pupils to attend y Pant School rather the one in er Beddau.

The questionnaire  can be returned free of charge via the post and seems largely a recruitment drive.

I am not up to electoral expenses law but I wonder if the cost of Mail shots pushes the Toties in each ward over the limit. Or can they claim that its a questionnaire and not an electoral leaflet.

This may shock you but I could envisage voting for a Tory councilor if he or she was an independent minded individual , who worked hard for the people for Beddau. It is sad that good councillors from all parties lose thier seats because of National Politics as the Lib Dems found last time.

Don't worry its an unlikely scenario  and I
am particularly unlikely to vote for someone who , seems to be basing his or her views on a script fro Conservative HQ central casting.

Tories have decided that they can snub Assembly over Brexit.

Surprisingly or rather not the news that UK ministers responsible for farming have been criticised for an "apparent refusal to engage" with the assembly environment committee's Brexit inquiry did not get much coverage

Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom rejected an invitation to appear before AMs while junior minister George Eustice cancelled at two days' notice.

It even angered Committee chairman Mark Reckless of Ukip  wrote to Mr Eustice saying he was "extremely disappointed" by the cancellation.

The UK government said it was in "regular dialogue" with Welsh farmers.

In a Photo shoot it appears that the only politician Ms Leadson seems to want to engage with

is fellow Tories.

The committee is currently carrying out an inquiry into the future of farming in Wales post-Brexit, and was due to take evidence from Mr Eustice on Thursday.

Given the importance of agricultural and farming policy in Wales, it is vital that AMs and the people of Wales hear directly from Ministers in the UK Government," Mr Reckless wrote.

"Furthermore, ensuring that future agricultural policy is a success in Wales and at a UK level will depend heavily on cooperation and mutual respect between the Assembly and UK Government.
"The Committee's recent experience in trying to engage with UK ministers brings into doubt the UK Government's commitment to that spirit of cooperation and respect."

The letter goes on to say that the committee offered alternative dates and a video conference to both ministers.

Ms Leadsom, who visited south Wales earlier in February, did agree to meet Mr Reckless as the committee's chairman, but "subsequently cancelled that meeting at short notice", the letter added.

Mr Reckless now says he expects "as a matter of courtesy and respect" that Mr Eustice attend a meeting of the committee on 15 February or 8 March, "the only remaining sessions at which we can take evidence for this inquiry".

Plaid Cymru environment spokesperson Simon Thomas was critical of the UK government, saying: 

"Given the first hint of accountability for their decisions, Westminster ministers withdraw into their protective shells, far away from Welsh scrutiny."

 A spokesman for the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said

: "Although it has not been possible for the minister to give evidence to the committee on this occasion, we are in regular dialogue with the industry in Wales and Welsh farmers and we will be working closely with them on future agriculture policy."

Is this how Wales will be treated, as if it was just a Region of England , that does not have a devolved government,

We know that previously UK farming minister George Eustice has said he cannot guarantee that future agricultural support programmes will be as generous as current EU subsidies.

Last July he said 

 "What I can guarantee is that...once we leave the EU, we won't be spending that budget on EU membership, and the things that currently we delegate to the EU we will be funding ourselves," he said."The point I'm making is that now we have a new government in place, before we can guarantee exactly the same amount of money, that is a discussion we've obviously got to have with government colleagues.
"I can't do it at the moment, but it doesn't mean it won't happen..

Over six months later should't we  have a clearer idea on what Brexit means for farmers actually for all of us when it comes to  matching EU spending.

The Tory leader in the Assembly Andrew R T Davies a farmer himself was at the Photo Opportunity with  Ms Leadson.

Was he given any reassuring words over his family farming business of anti-EU received EU subsidies totalling nearly £100,000 in a year,will no longer be available.

Perhaps he could inform the Assembly because it is clear his Westminster Bosses , have little intention to do so.