Seeing how the Welsh Government has undergone a long overdue re-brand, "WAG Watch" now stands for Welsh Assembly & Government Watch - I guess.
Labour made gains in the Assembly election, winning 30 seats, falling short of an overall majority. The Conservatives won an extra two seats but lost their leader Nick Bourne. Plaid Cymru had a disappointing night, losing 4 seats - including the party's deputy leader Helen Mary Jones. The Lib Dems...
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Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
The BBC's meaningless school "league table"
I firmly believe that parents have a right to know how well their child's current, or future, school is performing compared to national and local benchmarks.
How that information is presented is a matter for debate. Some would like league tables, others, like the Education Minister Leighton Andrews would prefer "school grading". Personally, I lean towards the latter.
On Friday BBC Wales published a de-facto "league table", based on figures obtained...
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Lessons from Quebec for Big Eck
Jacque Parizeau. Economist. Worked in energy.
Committed Nationalist. Very assured of himself. Sound familiar?
In 1976, the nationalist Parti Québécois (PQ) won the election to the Quebec National Assembly for the first time, winning 71 seats out of 110. This was a meteoric rise, considering that in the 1970 and 1973 elections,...
Friday, 13 May 2011
The new Welsh Government takes shape
Carwyn Jones – First Minister
Well....duh. Though it seems as though the role of First Minister is going to be a lot more beefed up - dare I say it, presidential. Carwyn Jones will be taking a more hands on role in external affairs (dealing with Westminster and the EU) as well as energy, curiously. I'm not sure why exactly. We'll have to wait and see how that plays out.
Edwina Hart – Business, Enterprise & Technology
One of the surprises....
Friday, 6 May 2011
Paying the Price of Power - Election 2011 Results
Well I was on the ball with my predictions then......*facepalm*
Plaid Cymru - and to a lesser extent the Lib Dems - slammed by resurgent Labour in Wales, who fall short of an overall majority.
Nick Bourne loses seat while Welsh Conservatives enjoy a good night overall.
Labour make gains in council elections in England,...
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Election 2011 : Predictions
I've been conservative in my predictions, just as I was with the Assembly referendum. I'm basing this on a "no big shock" factor. That means incumbents by and large holding their seats. Labour can reach 30 or 31 seats, but it's going to be a very, very big ask.
If Labour don't win Llanelli, Carmarthen West, Cardiff North,...
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Election 2011 : Final Campaign Round Up
Well that's that.
One of the most insipid, uninspiring and (on the ground) nasty election campaigns in the Welsh Assembly's short history draws to a close. Each and every party should be embarrassed - ashamed even - at how they've conducted themselves and their campaigns. I don't think it's entirely their fault, but they played more than their fair role.
This might very well be a good election to lose, there might very well be a lot of hard decisions...
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Election 2011 : The BBC Leaders Debate
That was probably the best debate of the election so far (which isn't saying much, to be honest). The standard of debate was a lot better than last week, however I felt the format was odd. Betsan Powys was in danger of losing control at some points, and too quick to interrupt at others. No prizes for guessing which party leader was interrupting and interrupted the most.
I think it summed up the campaign quite nicely. Four leaders trying their best...
