Valleys Mam

Tory attack on his party -woops

2009-11-30T09:41:00.000Z

A senior Tory councillor has attacked David Cameron's shadow cabinet, claiming "they don't have the experience to 'run a **** up in a brewery".Stephen Greenhalgh, Conservative leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council, has really embarresed Cameron with this.
Greenhalgh is head of Cameron's council innovation unit, a body set up to produce a 'bible of best practice' for Tory town hall chiefs.
Mr Greenhalgh was also named 'local hero of the year' in 2008 by the Conservative Home website. In a debate yesterday he claimed Cameron's top team did not have the experience to run the country.
He said : 'My mates are all in the Shadow Cabinet, waiting to get those boxes, and being terribly excited. I went to university-with them - they haven't run a ****-up in a brewery.They're going to get a department of state, in one case running the finances of the nation.'
He was speaking at a debate organised by Public Finance, the publication of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
He also said 'If you're going to fail, fail running Alabama, fail running Texas, fail running the city of Paris - don't just take over the country,'
The Tories refused to comment Greenhalgh issued a statement later where he "clarified" his comments, 'I was trying to make a serious point about our current political system, that I believe does not prepare national politicians of any party adequately for public office,' he said
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1231601/Camerons-team-job-says-aide-astonishing-attack.html#ixzz0YKkHxCKJ

Tory golden boy ,not so golden after all

2009-11-29T18:38:00.000Z

Zac Goldsmith, green adviser to David Cameron and prospective Tory MP, for Richmond,has admitted that he claims non-domicile tax status. This enables him to avoid huge sums of tax on his estimated £200m fortune.
This must be embarrassing for the Tory party. He admits to being a “non-dom” so he can legitimately escape paying tax on his inheritance from his late father, Sir James Goldsmith, most of which is held off shore.
The Tories have criticised non-doms for avoiding tax. George Osborne has said he will impose a £25,000 annual levy on their wealth. Lord Ashcroft, the party’s biggest donor, is under pressure to confirm his tax status to comply with promises made when he took a peerage.
Non-domicile status is usually reserved for foreign nationals or people with roots overseas. It allows them to avoid tax on money earned outside Britain, unless they bring the money back into the country.
Goldsmith’s 300-acre ecological farm in Devon and a house in Richmond are both owned by companies based in the Cayman Islands. The farm was bought in 2001 and the house in Richmond was bought in 2007 for £7.75m. A house in Fulham, west London, was bought in 2004 and is owned by an investment company based in Liverpool.
Lord Oakeshott, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman, said: “Cameron must sack Zac Goldsmith as a candidate now. He’s not fit to sit in parliament, when he’s claimed non-dom status all his life to keep his offshore hundreds of millions free of income, capital gains or inheritance tax. He must pay the millions he’s dodged to the British taxman.”
This is ironic as Zac has been encouraging Cameron to increase taxes on cars, flights etc as part of his green agenda. Apparently he has said he will relinquish his non dom status once the election is called. Why not now, where is his commitment to the UK and contributing into the tax pot, not good enough is it.

At Last a Chink of Light

2009-11-29T15:46:00.001Z

Three top businessmen have set up their own not-for-profit business support service because they say the assembly government's service is too bureaucratic. Investment fund manager Paul Ragan, MSS group chief executive Bill Mayne and Cardiff Devils ice hockey owner Matt Burge told the Politics Show today that business support in Wales was being held back by too much red tape. As a result they have started a business support service called Collateral Thinking. This rings so true with everyone I know in business here in Wales.
Paul Ragan, who sold his south Wales-based insurance company last year in a multi-million pound deal, said the present business support environment was "stifling". "Over a number of years we've been frustrated at the lack of support, the bureaucracy and red tape,”
Even if you do manage to find out where you go and how you access this help, be prepared to wait for two, three, four, five, nine months depending on the support you need. I was told the other day by a provider of support through WAG the wait is ridiculous and there is such a backlog people are giving up.
The problem is the system WAG has set up, civil servants do not understand the needs of business or how important fast turnaround is, well how would they. Their salary gets paid whatever they do, quite unlike any one running a business. They don’t create wealth, and the don’t create jobs, just paper work
"If I'm going to bring jobs to Wales it's very reasonable for me to ask for faster processes" Robert Clarke, inventor
Mr. Clarke's company Sportfit is now one of the first companies to receive support from Collateral Thinking.
"Collateral Thinking is born out of our frustration actually of being entrepreneurs in an environment that we don't think is naturally that suitable for business," said Mr. Mayne, Chief Executive of facilities management company MSS Group. "From our personal experience we didn't think there was a lot of support for us as we grew our businesses and in talking to other people that wasn't just us, that was a widespread view."
Cardiff Devils ice hockey owner Matt Burge, who is also founder of communications company Communications Direct, said they had set up the new service to pass on their vast business experience. "My involvement really comes from my ability to build businesses quickly," he said. "We've got a really good track record of being able to grow businesses fast from zero to £30m in just a couple of years."
Paul Ragan, who has an interest in 15 companies including a taxi firm and a manufacturing business, said the new service had been "bombarded" with interest from frustrated companies “What we can achieve in a couple of weeks - in maybe three or four meetings - is something we'd compare to maybe eight or nine months of working with some of these other agencies."
Brian Morgan, Professor of Entrepreneurship at UWIC, was also on the Politics Show said the business support offered by the assembly government was "overly bureaucratic, top-down and lacking in real focus".
"Whether you want a £50m property award or a £2,500 innovation grant you all have to fill in this ream of paperwork and at the end of the day most of the people in the Welsh Assembly Government, and there are a lot of people there in business support, simply seem to be form filling, paper chasing," he said.
"We've had business connect, then we had business eye, then we had business gateway - all of these have come in, taken years to be introduced and now we've had this latest incarnation called Flexible Support for Business, which if you ask anyone out there I wouldn't think many people have heard of it."
Brian Morgan has been critical for a long time about the way Business Support is being run.
WAG, well they wouldn’t appear on the programme would they, their statement - all is right in the world and all people are happy and joyful with the service.
I wish them luck, but more I wish WAG would hive off business support so it’s not hampered by red tape, form filling and inexperienced advisors.

Watch out Labour Taxman about

2009-11-26T12:40:00.000Z

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/broadband/6659390/Broadband-tax-of-6-may-be-trebled-for-homes-with-multiple-lines.html
Another tax this time on phone lines ,supposedly to improve broadband access,read the full story in the Telegraph Its a hidden tax that will cost anyone with more than one phone line
Hat Tip to Angus Dei

David against Goliath wasnt it in reality

2009-11-26T11:45:00.000Z

Five judges presided over the case yesterday and agreed banks could charge fees on unauthorised overdrafts.Lord Walker ruled: ‘I would declare that the bank charges levied on personal current account customers in respect of unauthorised overdrafts (including unpaid item charges and other related charges) constitute part of the price or remuneration for the banking services provided.’
Crisis, the charity for single homeless people, said many people on low incomes were often close to becoming overdrawn.Chief executive Leslie Morphy said: ‘The decision by the Supreme Court may be a victory for bankers, but it is a grievous blow to society’s poor and vulnerable people.‘Speaking to homeless and vulnerably housed people who come through our doors every day I know they survive on extremely low incomes, often sailing close to their overdraft limits.‘It only takes an unforeseen expense or administrative error in benefit payments to send them over and incur a bank charge that can constitute a large proportion of their total income.’
Ms Morphy said Crisis’ research showed many people in the private rented sector were already struggling to manage their finances and pay rent.‘If their benefits are swallowed up by bank charges they will only find this harder,’ she said.
‘That the banks should be permitted to charge these people when they are at their most financially vulnerable can only move them closer to or sliding back into homelessness.’
The case was an appeal from Abbey and seven of the largest banks in the UK, including Barclays and Clydesdale against the Office of Fair Trading. The OFT argued the charges were ‘excessive in relation to the services supplied to the customers’.Lord Walker said: ‘No assessment under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 of the fairness of those terms may relate to their adequacy as against the services supplied.’
This will not only hit homeless or near homeless people. It will hit students , those in work on low incomes,small oneman band business trying to survive in this recession.You can add to the list of those that this will affect.
What amazes me is that in all spheres the banks win, they get our money ,we bail them out , there is no recourse when they hit our money .No looking at if its a one time or a hundredth time.No advice ,to maybe spread direct debits , no quarter given and - no interest of any note on most accounts which are in credit.
Yep they have us ways and who will take them on now.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

2009-11-26T11:29:00.000Z

Domestic violence and abuse can happen to anyone, yet the problem is often overlooked, excused, or denied. This is especially true when the abuse is psychological, rather than physical. Emotional abuse is often minimised, yet it can leave deep and lasting scars.Noticing and acknowledging the warning signs and symptoms of domestic violence and abuse is the first step to ending it. No one should live in fear of the person they love.
On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.The UN invited governments, international organisations and NGOs to organise activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on this day as an international observance. Women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence, and the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960, of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930-1961). After the assasination of these 3 women, a revolution started from the village which then made Rafeal Trujillo turn over his power and resign by giving it to his brother.
There is more information about the history of this day, and UN publications relating to violence against women, at the UN's Dag Hammarskjöld Library
Domestic violence and abuse are used for one purpose and one purpose only: to gain and maintain total control over another person. An abuser doesn’t “play fair.” Abusers use fear, guilt, shame, and intimidation to wear their victims down and keep them under their thumb. Abusers may threaten , hurt , or hurt those around their victims.
Domestic violence and abuse do not discriminate. It happens among heterosexual couples and in same-sex partnerships. It occurs within all age ranges, ethnic backgrounds, and financial levels. And while women are more commonly victimised, men are also abused—especially verbally and emotionally.
Abuse in times of finacial restraint often increases. No one deserves to be abused or to live in fear.I know the offical day was yesterday , but this is just one form of growing abuse that we should be concerned about in our society.Its happening to old people , children, babies ,people who look and speak differenly.Time to call a halt

So First Minister

2009-11-24T15:39:00.000Z

Who the hell is running Wales - the one Wales Coalition or Peter Hain and the Labour Policy makers?
This is all about a statement issued this morning
JOINT STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO ALL WALES CONVENTION REPORT
GARRY OWEN, Chair Welsh Labour
RHODRI MORGAN AM, First Minister
PETER HAIN MP, Secretary of State for Wales
1. We welcome the detailed report by the All Wales Convention and reaffirm Welsh Labour’s commitment to primary legislative powers for the Welsh Assembly (under Part 4 of the 2006 Act), and to campaign for these in a successful referendum.
2. Because a ‘No’ vote in a referendum could set back devolution for several decades, triggering the referendum process needs to be based on a firm prospect that public opinion is ready to respond positively in the referendum.
3. Our internal policy process has already begun: Welsh Labour’s Welsh Joint Policy Committee has met, prioritised the need to campaign for a General Election victory, and agreed to start considering the All Wales Convention report in detail as a prelude to stepping-up wider Party consultation with AMs and MPs, councillors, trade unionists and members as soon as the General Election is over.
This would appear to rule out a referendum, contrary to a signed agreement with Plaid. Ignoring the recent commission and may be worst of all forgetting that they are a government ,not just a political party.
Rhodri Morgan ummmed and ahhhed and as usual said nothing when asked directly by Helen Mary ,Nick Bourne and Kirsty Williams if he was ruling out a coalition until after ,may be even well after a general election.
Surely Plaid won’t stand for this
We wait to see if they have the conviction to stand by their policy

Sorry Edwina , still more needs to be done

2009-11-24T08:43:00.000Z

Children are being let down by inadequate mental health services with some young patients treated on adult wards, a report says today. Unlike other places in the UK, Wales does not have specialist mental health services in the community for the under fives. Teams of specialists in parts of the country struggle to meet children's needs. The location, environment and opening times of services are often not family friendly. Young patients who miss appointments are discharged and could be at risk because of a lack of routine follow-up. Professionals in different organisations do not share information on individual cases in some places, undermining child protection arrangements. The availability of day care and eating disorder services is "particularly patchy and bears little relationship to the local need for such services”. They also found a lack of specific services led to the "widespread" practice of placing young mental health patients on inappropriate wards
It is the first time the four watchdogs - HIW, the Wales Audit Office, Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales and education body Estyn - have worked together on a service review. They have called for the Assembly Government to prepare an action plan to address their concerns within six months.
The youngest case reported was an 11-year-old, with stays varying from two days to seven months. Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) deputy chief executive Mandy Collins said: "It's far more widespread than we anticipated when we started this review.”These children are vulnerable and they are being paced on acute adult wards where you have, at times, an acute complex case mix."She said child protection procedures were in place, but added: "We really do feel that's not enough."There's a lack of specific services for children and adolescents and the only option then is to admit them on to adult wards or paediatric wards. Neither is right."
The report welcomes recent improvements - including funding for parent and family intervention, more counselling in schools and introducing primary mental health workers - but says the way services are planned and provided prevents further progress. But those at the sharp end say this is just not enough when you consider how far back the service start point was, there is still a huge amount of improvement needed to ensure that these vulnerable young people have the care they need. Edwina Hart has come out robustly as usual saying this report is out of date and there have been great steps forwards
Listening this am to the radio, health care professionals say the report is accurate and small steps have been taken, but there are many larger and more decisive steps still to be taken
Children’s Commissioner for Wales Keith Towler, said an overhaul of mental health provision for children was “well overdue”.He said: “I welcome this latest report that draws yet more attention to the issues that my office has continued to raise about CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) in Wales.“It’s extremely frustrating to look back at every annual report since the establishment of the Children’s Commissioner for Wales in 2001 and see CAMHS highlighted as a key issue.“The time for change is well overdue, and I will be monitoring these recommendations. This is a clear infringement of the rights of these vulnerable children and young people, and I am looking for immediate action. These recommendations must be implemented quickly and effectively.”
So this report is underlining very forcibly the need for action sooner rather than later
Let’s hope that this Cinderella service gets the attention and visibility it needs to ensure that these very vulnerable youngsters have the best we can provide for them.

CRB Checks why just for some

2009-11-24T08:20:00.000Z

I am amazed at the sort of checks that many people have to have to work with various groups in our communities - and that is as it should be to ensure that no unsavoury characters get near vulnerable people
Why then aren’t our elected members subject to the same sort of rigour
Many of them have close contact and power over many organisations in the form of a yea or nay over grant funding and even how and where they can operate.
I think Local Councillors in particular should have some sort of check on their past track records, their preferences, any organisations etc that they have either a preference for or a down on.
The same with AMs MEPs and MPs, having seen some of the results of the expenses fallout and the way so called public servants have reacted, we need to weed out those unethical or dubious characters that give the majority of good people a bad name.
These people often have fiscal power and personal power. We have no idea about most of their backgrounds
I don’t want to know the ins and outs of their personal lives, but I do want to make sure that there is nothing that we should be concerned about.

A Domesic Violence Register ,good move or not

2009-11-22T21:06:00.000Z

Police chiefs in England and Wales have called for a domestic violence register of 25,000 serial offenders to be made available to the public.
The Association of Chief Police Officers said the government should also consider letting women know about old allegations against new boyfriends.
The aim is cut the incidence of abuse.
Acpo's proposals come as part of a Home Office review of how to best deal with abuse and violence against women and girls. The full strategy is expected to be published soon.
Police chiefs estimate there are some 25,000 offenders responsible for two or more acts of domestic violence across England and Wales.The review concluded that these attackers were not being adequately tracked and should be placed on a register. Apparently most of the information is available internally to the police at present.
Police chiefs ruled out a national register of all domestic violence offenders.The review also recommends two new injunctions, including domestic violence protection orders which would bar an abuser from a home for 14 days.
Sandra Horley, chief executive of domesic violence charity Refuge, said Acpo seemed to be missing the point by failing to ensure women were protected as soon as abuse became apparent. "If the police were trained to respond appropriately the very first time a man beats a woman, it would stop him from becoming a serial offender and women would feel more confident about going to the police for help. "As it stands, almost three-quarters of abused women do not report the abuse they suffer to the police at all - and many feel they have been badly let down by the system."
Mr Moore rejected the idea that police forces were unwilling to do the hard work of getting early convictions - but acknowledged that only a tiny proportion of all abusers ended up in court.
I guess many will see this as a contentious issue. Three women die each week at the hands of a violent partner.
Yes men get abused too and if there is a register I think it should be gender neutral.
Would this register stop abuse, probably not; what is needed is abusers to be treated and serial abusers to be dealt with efficently.
Only a small percentage of women report or go to court over abusive partners. That abuse could be physical, mental or emmotional.
I am glad that acop is taking this seriously, their report has a raft of proposals to address the issues ,I wonder if these have been informed by the women them selves ,if not how effective can they be.

When does new stop being new ?

2009-11-22T20:44:00.000Z

Whats new and innovative about co-op, Mutualism, credit unions ,abhoring poverty ,intellectual property
Just asking like

So who has the X factor then

2009-11-20T12:56:00.001Z

A poll of AMs from all parties identified Edwina Hart as the Assembly’s top performer, just ahead of Rhodri Morgan.She gained 25% of the poll, while Rhodri Morgan attracted the support of 22% of AMs.
Carwyn Jones and Huw Lewis tied with Conservative David Melding on 5%.
Only half of the AMs were polled , wonder who they were?The survey says nine Labour AMs, nine Conservatives, seven from Plaid Cymru and five Liberal Democrats.
Elin Jones came in third place with 12%
Edwina's supporters are delighted of course ,Carwyn, well Jones Bridgend was less impressed, saying: “This is all a bit of fun but fairly meaningless, given that two thirds of those AMs who responded are from parties other than Labour.”
The only Liberal Democrat mentioned was Jenny Randerson, who was last year was beaten by Kirsty Williams in the race to lead the party in the Assembly. She won a 2% rating.
Tory leader Nick Bourne and his Plaid counterpart Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones were each considered the most impressive AM by 4% of participants.
So what about Kirsty Williams then if there were five Lib Dems voting.

All Anorak Hoods up - its here

2009-11-18T08:42:00.000Z

http://allwalesconvention.org/getinformed/thereport/thereport/;jsessionid=Lgp1LDybghQ1TTlC286hnJ6ymSd1pHndMt1MvsDhP8GTJs5NxmkH!-962850729?lang=en
You can download and digest it all or just the good bits
Or if you wait it will be dissected and regurgitated by lots of bloggers, commentators, spokes people, politicians etc.
Be prepared
Think I will offer a prize for who ever can sum it up in one sentence

This needs to be noted and responded to

2009-11-18T08:31:00.000Z

This is something that is going to affect all of us, either with elderly relations, those moving into that category or ourselves at some point. The system as it stands is unclear, but I would like to see a system that ensures quality care accorded to those who need it. People’s latter years should not be fraught with worries about debt and where and how they will spend their last days
Deputy Minister for Social Services, Gwenda Thomas has launched the Green Paper on 'Paying for Care in Wales'. The Green Paper sets out proposals for reforming the current system of paying for care and support for disabled and older people who need it.
At the launch Gwenda Thomas said:” It is widely acknowledged that the current system of paying for care is complicated, unfair, and unsustainable in the long term. That is why, last year, I initiated a national debate in Wales about how we should pay for care and support in the future. That consultation asked important questions of principle. This Green Paper takes that debate a stage further, and sets out specific options for reform.
The main options for reform were set out by the UK Government in the summer. In drawing up our own Green Paper we have considered these options in the light of our earlier consultation and in the context of the distinctive approach we have taken to social services in Wales"'
The paying for care options favoured by the UK Government are based on the principle that the new way to pay for care should be a partnership between the individual and government. Everyone who qualifies for care and support would have a proportion of their costs paid for by the government, but would have to fund the rest themselves.
There are various ways in which individuals could prepare to meet their contributions. For example, they could take out insurance in case they needed care in the future. Alternatively, individuals over retirement age could be required to make a one-off payment of before or after retirement or upon death.
Mrs Thomas added: "This is a vitally important issue for all of us in Wales and it is essential that we get as wide a debate as possible going on in our homes and communities. I would encourage everybody to read and respond to this Green Paper, so that our discussions with the UK Government are as informed as possible."
A 15 week consultation period starts today, during which Welsh stakeholders and the general public will be encouraged to give their views on the various options for reform.
Further information can be found on www.payingforcareinwales.net Hard copies may be obtained from the Paying for Care Team, Welsh Assembly Government, Fourth Floor, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ, or by telephone 029 2082 5681

Mr Hain ,he says NO

2009-11-16T16:05:00.000Z

There is bad blood after Peter Hain stood fast and vetoed Edinburgh as the seat of the permanent secretariat of the British and Irish council. Hain was representing the UK Government at the meeting. Why I wonder!
Hain claimed there had to be a total consensus on the decision and simply refused to agree to it. In the first round of voting, Edinburgh received 5 votes, the Isle of Man 2 and Cardiff 1. A second vote was held when Edinburgh had 6 votes, the Isle of Man 1 and Cardiff 1. At this point the Isle of Man withdrew and a third vote was held. Edinburgh received 6 votes and Cardiff 2 as Mr Hain, who had previously voted for the Isle of Man, switched to Cardiff. The Welsh Assembly delegate said he was happy to accept the result but Mr Hain refused.
The UK government was then accused of being spiteful towards the SNP and of anti-Scottish discrimination - "...Downing Street has responded angrily by accusing the SNP of a breach of protocol in going public on the matter."
Scottish government officials are furious and are accusing Gordon Brown of ordering Mr Hain to veto any move which would give Scotland more international standing.
Who was there?
Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister
Peter Robinson, Northern Ireland First Minister
Brian Cowen, Irish Taoiseach
Eamon O Cuiv, Northern Ireland Minister for Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
Martin McGuinness, Deputy Northern Ireland First Minister
Rhodri Morgan, Welsh First Minister
Peter Hain, British government
Plus heads of administration from the Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.
So why would Hain not agree to an obvious consensus. Apparently Alex Salmond is raising the matter in the Scottish Parliament this week.
Handbags at dawn eh

The Mail says - the fat lady aint sung Yet !!

2009-11-14T14:05:00.001Z

Far from damaging Brown over that letter, the Sun has actually rallied support for him. Personally I was appalled at the way the rag of a paper acted. Rolling out the mother didn’t help either. It was interesting that GB also had support and praise from the soldiers returning from the front last week. The backlash against the Sun and then wining in Glasgow have given Mr B a lifeline.
Peter Osborne in the Mail to day takes a sideways look at the position of the two main parties and does some interesting comparisons.
He notes that Gordon Brown, despite his continuing unpopularity, is in a far stronger position than John Major was in the winter of 1996.For almost all of 1996, Blair's Labour Party enjoyed a poll rating of well over 50 per cent, while its advantage over the Tories was consistently in double figures. By contrast, Cameron's Tories have a rating of approximately 40 per cent over the past year and a lead over Labour of just over 10 per cent.
Governments tend to improve their popularity in the polls during the run-ups to general elections, so Cameron’s lead, say Osborne, is likely to drop away slightly in the coming months.
A more fundamental problem faced by David Cameron is the fact that the electoral system is skewed against the Tories. Constituency boundaries are biased against them and this inbuilt unfairness meant that in the last general election it took 45,000 votes to elect a Tory MP but only 27,600 votes to elect a Labour one. There have been adjustments but the dis advantage is still huge.
According to John Maloney of Exeter University, the Tories must secure a 10 per cent lead over Labour to win an overall majority of just one seat at the next election. David Cameron faces a very high mountain to climb. Conservative strategists are keenly aware of this problem, as is Cameron himself.
An internal Tory Party document sets out the scale of the problem, 'The Conservatives have never won a General Election from a starting point as weak as they face now.'
The paper calculates that to win a majority, the Conservatives must hold every seat they won in 2005, plus an additional 117 constituencies. To put that in perspective, Margaret Thatcher notched up an additional 63 seats in 1979 for the Tories, while Edward Heath made 69 gains in 1970.The Tory briefing note sums up the problem as follows: 'To become Prime Minister, David Cameron must surpass the electoral achievements of both Margaret Thatcher and Winston Churchill.'
Even a simple overall majority would not be enough for DC to govern effectively. He needs a working majority of at least 30 seats (which means a majority of 15 per cent over Labour on Election Day).
So is everything still to play for, I wonder if anyone has done the maths in Wales on this?

Reducing Greenhouse Gases May Not Be Enough to Slow Climate Change

2009-11-14T13:35:00.001Z

This is very much worth a read and its not only scientific , it has a lot of common sense in it too. I read quite a lot of what comes out on global warming,climate change etc, and there are varying theories and conflicting evidence.
Take a look at a poll in todays times -only 41% of people accept global warming is taking place and is largely man-made. Thirty two per cent believe the link is not yet proved. Eight per cent say it is environmentalist propaganda and 15% say that the world is not warming.
Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Professor Brian Stone publishes a paper in the December edition of Environmental Science and Technology that suggests policymakers need to address the influence of global deforestation and urbanization on climate change, in addition to greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Stone’s paper, as the international community meets in Copenhagen in December to develop a new framework for responding to climate change, policymakers need to give serious consideration to broadening the range of management strategies beyond greenhouse gas reductions alone.
“Across the U.S. as a whole, approximately 50 percent of the warming that has occurred since 1950 is due to land use changes (usually in the form of clearing forest for crops or cities) rather than to the emission of greenhouse gases,” said Stone. “Most large U.S. cities, including Atlanta, are warming at more than twice the rate of the planet as a whole – a rate that is mostly attributable to land use change. As a result, emissions reduction programs – like the cap and trade program under consideration by the U.S. Congress – may not sufficiently slow climate change in large cities where most people live and where land use change is the dominant driver of warming.”
According to Stone’s research, slowing the rate of forest loss around the world, and regenerating forests where lost, could significantly slow the pace of global warming.
“Treaty negotiators should formally recognize land use change as a key driver of warming,” said Stone. “The role of land use in global warming is the most important climate-related story that has not been widely covered in the media.”

Stone recommends slowing what he terms the “green loss effect” through the planting of millions of trees in urbanized areas and through the protection and regeneration of global forests outside of urbanized regions. Forested areas provide the combined benefits of directly cooling the atmosphere and of absorbing greenhouse gases, leading to additional cooling. Green architecture in cities, including green roofs and more highly reflective construction materials, would further contribute to a slowing of warming rates. Stone envisions local and state governments taking the lead in addressing the land use drivers of climate change, while the federal government takes the lead in implementing carbon reduction initiatives, like cap and trade programs.
“As we look to address the climate change issue from a land use perspective, there is a huge opportunity for local and state governments,” said Stone. “Presently, local government capacity is largely unharnessed in climate management structures under consideration by the U.S. Congress. Yet local governments possess extensive powers to manage the land use activities in both the urban and rural areas.”
The Environmental Science and Technology article is available at http://pubs.acs.org/journal/esthag.

Bercow's wife for Labour

2009-11-12T18:03:00.000Z

The wife of Commons Speaker John Bercow is to stand as a Labour candidate in local elections in central London.
Sally Bercow, a long-time party activist, has been selected to fight for a seat on Westminster City Council next May.She will contest St James's ward, which is currently held by the Tories, and includes the Palace of Westminster.
His wife has been widely credited with shifting his politics from the right to the centre-left - leading to widespread rumours of a defection to Labour before he took on the impartial role.

Why are women loosing the fight to be politicians?

2009-11-10T20:59:00.000Z

The IWA has warned that the current tally of 28 women AMs is poised to fall to 20 or fewer at the next election. Already labour have chosen men to replace two retiring women. The near-50% number of female Assembly Members could drop below 30% in 2011 amid retirements and changes in party selection procedures. There are also a few women in very marginal seats.
IWA Women group chair Professor Laura McAllister said Wales was "in danger of retreating to its traditional male dominance of politics and public life as a result of many assuming the battle is won on gender equality". She added: "There is an underbelly of discrimination in all aspects of Welsh public life as regards gender, amongst other things."The figures for Wales and the National Assembly actually belie some pretty awful statistics in other fields."Only eight of our 40 MPs are women and half of those were selected through all-women shortlists."Only a quarter of our local councillors are women, 90% of our council leaders are men: "This idea that there's a meritocracy is quite abject nonsense." Stern words indeed
But what’s happening, are the women not coming forward, no say the parties, but the ones who are being pushed are party hacks and constituencies are not having it. That fair enough, remember Maggie Jones, hey she got her reward she is now in the Lords
What do the high profile women do to encourage other women, very little that I can see? When was the last time Lady Kinnock, or Elin Jones or Angela Burns or Kirsty Williams visited constituencies and rousted the troops .....Ummmmmm
Having worked with Joan Ruddock et al to ensure training and mentoring was available for women when I was in the Labour party, I didn’t see much of that move out of the South East of England.
It is not a level playing field and we have to ask ourselves why this is a never-ending story. May be like the fairy tale we need the Orin to help us out and see why half the populations fails to get half the seats to run the place. May be it needs changing from male club to a modern place of business, national business. How quaint would that be? And its not about buildings its about mindset and realising the need to mobilise the talent and skills women have
I quote Kirsty Williams -She said the Lib Dems had "rejected any form of positive action for women" and were "taking softer measures" to encourage gender balance. "We've established a diversity fund, which helps women financially if finance is a barrier to seeking selection as well as looking at individual mentoring schemes and we've changed our selection process by which people are approved as candidates...[to make it] very much skills-based rather than experience-based," Any evidence this is succeeding ?

Want to play

2009-11-10T20:32:00.000Z

you have to write just one word answers I have been tagged by FFF
1. Where is your cell phone? Office
2. Your hair? Unkempt
3. Your mother? dead
4. Your father? Heroic
5. Your favourite food? Ribeye
6. Your dream last night? Forgotten
7. Your favourite drink? Gin
8. Your dream/goal? Peace
9. What room are you in? study
10. Your hobby? Books
11. Your fear? Snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Breathing
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Thifty
15. Muffins? Yuk
16. Wish list item? Greenhouse
17. Where did you grow up? Wales
18. Last thing you did? Crossword
19. What are you wearing? Frown
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? Sleeping
22. Friends? Fundamental
23. Your life? Good
24. Your mood? Ambivulent
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Jag
27. Something you're not wearing? Bra
28. Your favourite store? Candlelight
29. Your favourite colour? Purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Faithful
33. One place that I go to over and over? Memories
34. One person who emails me regularly? Work
35. Favourite place to eat? Italian
And now to pass on to any one you feel will play ! No pressure!

Sad news for Powys and jobs

2009-11-10T16:49:00.000Z

Powys County Council’s Economic and Community Regeneration Services department, which currently employs 60 staff, will be streamlined in a bid to improve efficiency and reduce overall running costs, in the local authority.
Last month a special session of the county council’s board was told it faced a £33 million budget deficit over the next five financial years, although this figure has since been provisionally revised to £26 million.
A two-month consultation period between staff and the council began last week. The council did not say which jobs would be affected but added it was hopeful that some staff would be redeployed.
Wynne Jones, the council’s board member for regeneration, said: "Regeneration services and the way they are managed have changed dramatically in recent years. We must have a service that is flexible and capable of responding quickly and professionally to different emerging priorities as set by national government and European directives."
The council said that in recent years, the service had reduced the number of tourist information centres it runs. It used to manage 16 visitor centres, but now only runs one such centre, in the Brecon Beacons.Is this a good move for a location such as Powys
In March, the council also lost the contract to manage Business Eye, a Welsh Assembly Government-funded service that offered business advice.The group that took it over apparently declined the contract as it was not pssible to run it on the money in the pot

Need Some Quotes ------------- Some good uns here

2009-11-10T16:41:00.000Z

"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?' - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
- Moses Hadas
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." - Winston Churchill, in response.
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." - Paul Keating
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" - Mark Twain
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
'He has Van Gogh's ear for music.' - Billy Wilder
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

Swine Flu is it a Conspiracy ?

2009-11-09T18:31:00.000Z

Was sent this by a friend today
Dr La Dra Rauni - Conspiracy re swine flu Dr La Dra Rauni is the retired head of Ministry of Health in Finland.

Lembit goes in for product placement

2009-11-08T19:45:00.001Z

The Montgomeryshire MP and Wales’ least eligible bachelor,our Lembit was pictured this week with underwear model Katie Green at a party celebrating the 80th birthday of condom manufacturers Durex.The pair took full advantage of the the hospitality, and the freebies before moving on to London’s Movida club, clutching their Durex goody bag.Glad to see he is practising safe sex.He will do anything to get his face in a paper or a magazine.
Kirsty Williams must be at her wits end with this stupid man

Time to pause for thought

2009-11-08T14:53:00.000Z

Remembering my dad who fought in Burma,My uncle Bob who was a medic and was one of the first into Changi, Uncle Bill who was in Normandy and my Uncle Tom who died aged 20 .None were professional soldiers they were just conscripted The stories were heroic and horrific.
And we have learned nothing.War is not a solution to anything.
That doesnt detract from the men on the front line who fight,I would like to bring them home