Chris Bryant had apoint on weekend childcare (Pity he blew it)

If only Rhondda MP Chris Bryant  has linked the plight of ordinary members of the public who find themselves (often compelled)  to working weekends  instead of cauing outrage by saying MPs should receive money for childcare when Parliament sits on a Saturday.

The MP, who wants to become Speaker of the House of Commons, stood up in the Commons and said he did not disagree with the need to sit   yesterday  but said the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) should consider financial provisions to cover the cost of childcare when MPs have to attend Parliament on a Saturday.

Mr Bryant said the nursery within the House of Commons is closed on a Saturday.

"It's very inconvenient for many people who have children. Unfortunately, the nursery is not able to be open to make sure there is childcare provided for honourable members. Would it not be incumbent upon IPSA to make financial provision so the cost of childcare can at least be met for members?"

Mr Bryant, who doesn't children, said he was not making the comments on his own behalf but for colleagues.

Normally, MPs sit in London during the week and return to their constituencies for the weekend.

The basic annual salary for an MP is £79,468. MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London or their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency.

However, his comments have earned him controversy. and Wales online carry many derisirary comments

Jayne Nancekivell@nancekivell73

Replying to @James_80_

Bloody hells bells !!! Are you joking ??? Lots of families work on Weekends , most don’t get help with cost of childcare any day of the week ! Most families HAVE to work weekends just to pay the rent !! Absolutely disgusting

114

3:32 PM - Oct 18, 2019

Twitter Ads info and privacy

19 people are talking about this

On his own Facebook page, constituents complained about his comments:

The MP responded: "I’m not asking for anything for myself and I expressly said that I was not complaining about working on Saturday, which I do most weeks in some shape or other."

One suggested a charity single to help MPs

Another called him 'despicable'

In response to the comments, Mr Bryant said: "People may not be aware that I have no children myself so I was not seeking anything for myself. There is normally a nursery in Parliament which is paid for by MPs.

"Sadly it cannot be open today. I have always campaigned for free childcare for all as they have in Sweden and am proud parents in Wales now have 30 hours of free childcare a week for three and four-year-olds.

Cynics however will feel that Mr Bryant was trying to ingratiate, himself with MPs in his bid to become speaker .

If so it may have backfired and his potential  voters  in the commons may not thank him for giving the impression of  self-serving money grabbers remote from the realities of normal daily life.

We often rely on people working weekends  some of who do it on regular basis and never consider how they face the same problems of childcare , and who do not have tevenhe already lamentable provision parents have during the week.

The sad thing is that  instead of highlighting this Mr Bryant , has managed to give the impression that MPs are a special case  when they face working on a weekend in Westminster  for the first time we can remember.

For Catalonia 2019 see Scotland in a year.

The coverage by the UK media over is disciple , if the repression there was happening in a South American  country we would have daily reports of police violence against protesters and be of no-doubt with whom their sympathy lies.

I accept Brexit is dominating our politicians , but I expect that it actually makes no difference and support for Catalonia and especially their right to self-determination would be largely absent.


The Guardian whilst reporting on last nights Violence  hardly  mentions the thuggy of he police against peaceful demonstrators 

Catalonia suffered a fifth consecutive night of rioting on Friday after violence erupted in Barcelona following a peaceful demonstration attended by more than 500,000 people in protest at the heavy sentences handed down to Catalan politicians and activists.
There were disturbances and police charges on Via Laietana near the headquarters of the Spanish national police during Friday afternoon but, no sooner had the demonstration begun to disperse at 6.30pm than rioting broke out around Plaça Urquinaona in the city centre.
Black smoke rose 10 metres above the city as protesters set fire to rubbish bins and a newspaper kiosk. Thousands gathered in the surrounding streets chanting: “The streets will always be ours!”
Four hours after the first skirmishes, Via Laietana was a battleground strewn with rubble. Police struggled to control the situation, firing rubber bullets, teargas and later in the night, a water cannon was deployed against demonstrators for first time since it was bought from Israel in 1994.
Demonstrators dispersed into the adjoining streets where they set up barricades and fought cat-and-mouse battles with the police. At least 35 people were treated for injuries and there were 10 arrests.
The Spanish government said a group of about 400 protesters was attacking police and warned anyone engaged in similar acts that they faced six-year prison terms.
Authorities announced late on Friday that 207 officers had been injured in the unrest. Nearly 800 bins were set on fire and 107 police vehicles were damaged.
The escalating violence came at the end of a general strike and amid significant disruption caused by the huge and peaceful marches.
According to Barcelona police, about 525,000 people congregated in the city, many of them having marched there from around Catalonia. Earlier, marchers entering Barcelona found themselves pelted with stones as they passed through the working-class neighbourhood of Santa Coloma de Gramenet.
Their presence brought the city to a standstill before a huge demonstration began at 5pm local time. The entrance to the Catalan capital’s most famous landmark – the Sagrada Familia church – was blocked by pro-independence protesters and 57 flights were cancelled at Barcelona-El Prat airport....

 Th Guardian Continea.

.....Peaceful protests, which have long been the hallmark of the pro-independence movement, have been eclipsed this week by violent unrest and running battles between protesters and police.
Friday’s violence surpassed that seen on Thursday, when pro-independence supporters clashed with police and rightwing groups in skirmishes that lasted into the early hours.
After another large demonstration broke up, protesters fought police, throwing stones and at least one petrol bomb in an apparent attempt to reach the seat of the Spanish government in the city. A clothing shop was set on fire and a bank vandalised.

Despite plenty evidence of Police Brutality the only image the Guardian offers  is this

It is reminiscent of the Miners  Strike , where even the liberal press showed only one side of any clashes.

Fortunately those of us who have long given up on the UK media telling us the whole story , there are  social media accounts   (Until the Spanish authorities close  them down ) such as  Help Catalonia who provide us with regular updates on what is actually happening

The images are truly shocking.

Those of us who still back remain must surley be wondering what the European Commission  is going to do about what is happening on their doorstep.

It makes me wonder about my support  for the EU but it is tempered , by the realisation that many of the Brexiters  are probably taking notes and hoping to repeat the what is happening in Catalonia on these Islands in 2020, if the SNP calla n Indyref2

For Catalonia 2019 see Scotland  in a year.

Heads Waleles loses, Taila Wales losses and we don't ever toss the coin.

I imagine many people have trouble understanding what the supposed "New Deal " entails and even those who have been closely following the events over the years what difference  in whatever the Prime Minister has secured to whatever his predecessor brought back and he voted against.


Nation Cymru tells us that..

...The new protocol replaces the controversial Irish backstop plan in Theresa May's deal. Much of the rest of that deal will remain.
Here are some of the key new parts:
The whole of the UK will leave the EU customs union. This means the UK will be able to strike trade deals with other countries in the future.
There will be a legal customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland (which stays in the EU). But in practice the customs border will be between Great Britain and the island of Ireland, with goods being checked at "points of entry" in Northern Ireland.
Duty (tax) won't automatically have to be paid on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
But where something is "at risk" of then being transported into the Republic of Ireland (which is part of the EU customs union), duty will be paid.
A joint committee made up of UK and EU representatives will decide at a later date what goods are considered "at risk".
It looks like a Smugglers Charter and surley MPs cant vote on this without aclear and precise information on just how it would be implemented.
Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru have warned that a new border could have a deeply damaging effect on the economy of Wales, with trade facing delays, tariffs or bypassing the UK altogether.
“This deal does nothing to protect Welsh interests; let alone safeguard our economy and jobs,” Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford said.
“It would wrench us out of the single market and customs union and create new barriers to trade which would make Wales poorer.”
Economists’ early analysis based on the mooted Johnson deal would reduce per capita GDP by 6.4%. They also concluded that Theresa May’s Deal would reduced GDP by 4.9%.
Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP has demanded that official impact assessments must be released alongside the legal text of Boris Johnson’s deal with the European Union.
Liz Saville Roberts MP said: “The Westminster Government must now release the impact assessments of their so-called deal. It is only reasonable for us to see the effects of what we will be voting on.
“This deal will define our economy, society and children’s future for generations – to vote on it blindfold without any idea of its impact would be deeply irresponsible.
“If, as has been rumoured, a border down the Irish Sea will be created the Welsh economy will take a significant hit – especially in places like Holyhead.
“Fundamentally, what the last three years has shown is that the latest manifestation of Brexit is nothing like that which was promised in the 2016 referendum. For the sake of our democracy, economy and constituents, it is only right that this deal is put back to the people, alongside the option to remain.”

Yet Mps are expected to vote on the deal on Saturday and are probably in the dark as much as we are in its implications.

Prime Minister Johnson believes that he is in a Win Win solution and if it is rejected then its a No Deal and we leave on the end of the month , alowing him to call a General Election in which he offers Non Tory Brexiters the choice between his No Deal and a Jeremy Corbyn Government.

Of course there are other options calling for a referendum under the Alternative vote system  with 

1. No Deal 
2. The Government Deal
3. Remain

On the ballot paper

The voter puts a number by each option, with a one for their favourite, two for their second favourite and so on. They can put numbers on as many or as few as they wish.

If more than half the voters have the same favourite option, that then it wins If none gets half, the numbers provide instructions for what happens next.

The counters remove  whatever came last and look at the ballot papers with that candidate as their favourite. Rather than throwing away these votes, they move each vote to the voter’s second favourite  option .

So unless there is a fourth option it would take two counts.

A three month campaign ending in January should be  enough for arguments for any option to be made.

For me Remain is the only option in which Wales does not suffer an economic disaster.

But of course it would probably leave the Shadow of Brexit with us for years , and those who supported it in the first place would not accept it , just as they wouldn't have if in the first referendum had resulted in a Remain vote.The only viable option for Wales is Independence ad yes I know voters here voted leave, but this will be a different story and especially a different future.

Transport for Wales: 10 things they're claim to be of achieving since taking over.

As you are awaiting  a late or cancelled  train, or standing in a crowded  carriage (assuming you get one,  be of good cheer, because.

To mark their first anniversary, we asked Transport for Wales the ten things they're proudest of achieving since taking over.

This from Wales online with my comments in green

1. New advanced fares to make journeys cheaper

Transport for Wales say they have set up 3,000 new advanced fares, which makes rail travel cheaper "for many journeys over 50 miles".

I wonder how many have taken this up or aware of it , but for many commuters it is the short journey in overcrowded cartridges in which they have paid for a seat which does not exist is the main concern.

2 . New services set up

Transport for Wales told us it has launched 215 services a week by reopening of the Halton Curve track in north Wales.

It means Wrexham and Liverpool are connected by rail for the first time in 40 years and there is an hourly link between Cheshire and Liverpool.

Services are hourly from Chester, calling at Helsby, Frodsham, Runcorn, Liverpool South Parkway (for John Lennon Airport) and Liverpool Lime Street.

There are also be two direct services per day from Wrexham General and one direct from Liverpool to Wrexham.

OK it must surley benefit parts of North Wales , but it seems "Transport fir Wales" are more interested in getting people to and from Chester and Liverpool than Transport in Wales , are they there to support English travellers more than Welsh in that area.

3. A new compensation structure

Transport for Wales told us that for the first time ever, rail customers in Wales and the Borders can claim for delays of just 15 minutes. A 15-minute delay is a big deal to our customers so this is a huge benefit to them and shows our recognition of that."

However there has been criticism of the compensation scheme, it can take a whopping 24 pieces of information before you can get compensation, which consumer champion Which? said was "fragmented" and "confusing".

They found passengers claim for only a third (34%) of journeys where money is owed for delays and cancellations.

Wales Online hit the nail on the head and shouldn't people on overcrowded Trains also receive compensation for paying for a seat that doesn't exist?

4. New trains

In May, additional rolling stock, including the return of loco-hauled Class 37 trains, was announced to provide extra capacity on the Rhymney Line.

In September, 12 new trains were announced.

It included a three-car Class 170 with 186 seats which will be joined by a further seven three-car-units and four two-car units that each provide seating for 110 passengers.

They will run on the Cheltenham to Maesteg line from December and could be used on the Ebbw Vale and Heart of Wales lines.

Again I wonder when Cheltenham , became part of Wales? and "could" is not good enough

5. A new way of checking how trains are performing

A spokesman said: "Our passengers deserve a high quality, reliable and punctual service, so we have introduced a new suite of targets around train performance, that are passenger focused and bespoke to TfW.

"These include measuring passenger time lost, short formations, and the percentage of station stops missed".  

There is a huge difference between "setting targets" and meeting them its not the availability of information , but how they are used that is important. 

6. New jobs

Since taking over, Transport for Wales has created more than 120 new jobs from engineering and design roles to customer service and cleaning positions.

How many of these jobs include  those taken on to introduce concessionary cards ? Is there are enough to cope Given that the address on the paper forms is  

Concessionary Travel Card 
PO Box 55 
Penrhyndeudraeth 
LL49 0AY

Is there enough people to deal with the thousands of applications ?

7. Concessionary travel cards

What TfW say: "We have achieved a key milestone in our first all-Wales bus project. TfW is leading the roll-out of a new-style Concessionary Travel Card, to ensure consistency across Wales.

"The 22 local authorities began issuing the new-style Concessionary Travel Cards to new applicants on 17 June, and holders have been able to apply for the new cards since September."

However the scheme has been hit with difficulties. When the website launched itr crashed and had to be taken offline.

See above: But we can ask why was this necessary in the first place . I have helped a number of people with this  whereas  online  you only have to supply your current card  number age and current provider . The application form asks for more details and Evidence of eligibility* 60 and Over to and  you’ll need to send your completed application form along with two forms of evidence of your address and one form of evidence of your age (see Application Form Guidance for details).

You need to fill in the number of your current card  so why cant it be dealt with in the same way as the online application.

8. Station improvements

Last month, a £194m scheme to improve every station in Wales was announced.

A spokesman said: "We’re investing £194 million in every station across the Wales and Borders network, including improved passenger information, new signage, better platform shelters and better cycle storage facilities.

"We’re also making our stations safer, with CCTV installed at all stations."

The changes will come in over the next 15 years

195 million sems a lot , but  when divided throughout  Wales then it could be easily spent on the whole of the Cardiff - Swansea Line.

9. South Wales Metro

TfW says detailed planning and preparation for the Metro is under way "and we’ve also started work on site at both the new Metro tram-train depot at Taff’s Well and the new infrastructure depot in Treforest". 

The South Wales Metro will provide four trains per hour between Cardiff and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil from December 2022.

 South Wales Metro is just a  "Welsh Labour Government  PR stunt it's just a map 

and anyone seeking anything like the London Metro is living in a pipe dream. I can't see any significant diffrence to what we have now

Four trains per hour between Cardiff and Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil from December 2022< is that four trains for each of the three lines beyond Pontypridd or what?

10. Community schemes being set up

Community Rail Partnerships are being set up across the Wales and Borders network to promote and encourage rail use in communities.

It will see £600,000 spent every single year, with 22 new community ambassador roles created alongside marketing roles to promote regional tourism and local economic growth.

This looks like creating smiling PR men and women to try and convince us Transport for Wales are doing what we expect.

If this was a half term report then the teachers comments would read "Could do Better"

Vote Unionist ("Welsh" Labour, Liberal Democrat) and get decades of Tory government.

Since Nation Cymru has done the work in presenting  the latest  new edition of the quarterly Welsh barometer poll , I have nicked some of it here.

Though of course all the real credit goes to  Professor Roger Scully’s full psephological analysis here.

 So Nation Cymru presents it as 

October 2019’s Welsh Barometer Poll

They say

At Westminster, the Conservatives capture Alyn and Deeside, Bridgend, Cardiff North, Clwyd South, Delyn, Gower, Newport West, Vale of Clwyd, and Wrexham from Labour. Plaid Cymru are projected to win Ynys Môn but lose Ceredigion.At the Senedd, the Conservatives are projected to gain Cardiff North, Gower, the Vale of Clwyd, the Vale of Glamorgan, and Wrexham; Plaid Cymru are projected to gain Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Cardiff West and Llanelli; while the Liberal Democrats are projected to gain Cardiff Central.However, Professor Scully does warn that “in these unprecedented political times […]all attempts to use opinion poll numbers to project outcome in term of parliamentary seats should be viewed with very considerable caution.”One of the paradoxes in Wales is that a few of the areas where the Remain parties are expected to taste success, such as the valleys, tend towards being pro-Brexit, and the pro-Brexit Conservatives are expected to do well in quite pro-Remain areas such as Cardiff North!It would be rather difficult therefore to tell how these projections would actually play out in individual seats across Wales.

Perhaps the interesting aftermath is the response of some Labour AMs

Lee Waters AM

@Amanwy

Plenty of bad news for Labour in this poll but interesting that despite the chest-beating Plaid are going backwards - down 3% in GE (losing Ceredigion), down 2% in Assembly voting intentions

While the left peck at each other the right are consolidating

Dawn Bowden AM

@Dawn_Bowden

Replying to

@Amanwy

Maybe the Indy marches weren’t such a good idea?

8:45 AM · Oct 15, 2019·Twitter for iPhone

It seems that some Labour members are more interested in   Plaid's performance than their own.

Mind you Lee waters has a point and  Plaid and Labour could cancel each other out and as in England give the Tories the lion's share of the seats .

But it is important to note Not In Scotland , where the SNP are set to dominate.

Maybe only when the Labour Branch Office  here is almost closed down as it has  in Scotland , then Wales can deliver similar blow to the Tories.

We are likely to see much of Vote Plaid get Tories in the next months as we approach an expected from 2Welsh" Labour but the answer to that is vote against a Independence and no matter how Wales voted we will see a Tory government in Westminster lording over us for decades to come.