Carwyn's splitting atoms again

It isn't only goggles that do nothing. Our devolved government's pretty good at that too! In today's Daily Post, the First Minister attacks Welsh independence as a threat to nuclear jobs on Anglesey, citing Scottish examples as a warning. He's quoted as saying: "They (nuclear submarine/Trident) are jobs that would...

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Business Rates Wales Review

The report suggests that changes to Non Domestic Rates could encourage trade back into Welsh town centres. Will it work? (Pic : Bridgend Council) In what could be considered to be a follow-up to my post in April, "Council Tax in Wales - Are the poor paying more?", Business Minister Edwina Hart (Lab, Gower) recently released...

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Basketball Wales - Selfish, or just sensible?

"Some people say they know they can't believe Wales we still got a basketball team." (Pic : MVP 24/7.com) Considering our climate, Wales should be a powerhouse at indoor sports. However, when it comes to Welsh sport, basketball won't jump out at you as one of our major ones. We do have a committed organisation that...

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Draft Human Transplantation Bill

The draft Human Transplantation Bill would create a "soft opt out" system, whereby anyone not specifically opting-out of a new organ donor register will have presumed to have "opted-in". (Pic : The Telegraph) Following on from my post last year on the Organ Donation white paper, Health Minister Lesley Griffiths (Lab,...

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National Literacy & Numeracy Framework

The new criteria and testing in primary and secondary schools aims to improve standards, which have come under increased criticism from the likes of Estyn. (Pic: Guardian) It's often been quoted by the mainstream media – that "kids today" don't have the requisite skills in literacy and numeracy to please prospective employers,...

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Carwyn prostitutes Wales to the grim reaper

        I thought Carwyn Jones  had much more sense than this. To say I'm disappointed that he's my AM right now is an understatement. This is the first time I've ever been truly embarrassed.Carwyn said in the Senedd earlier today, quoted from the Western Mail: "There would be more than a welcome for the UK's submarine fleet, and 6,000 new jobs in Milford Haven." What exactly does "more than a welcome"...

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Politics of pride : The evils of nationalism

200-up. Thank you for your continued support.No political ideology is perfect, and nationalism (in all its manifestations) is no exception. I expect this post is going to go down like a lead balloon, but it's a subject worth considering.It's often been said that socialism, for example, is the "politics of envy". If we're going to use the Seven Deadly Sins in this exercise, you can disregard gluttony and sloth as they don't really fit in anywhere....

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Draft Public Audit (Wales) Bill

"Who watches the watchers?" The draft Public Audit Bill aims to address some key issues surrounding how public institutions in Wales are held to account. (Pic: BBC) The second "meaty" piece of legislation so far this Assembly term is incredibly boring, but absolutely essential. It's to do with the Wales Audit Office, which...

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The inflexibility of British identity politics

Owen: As I suspect most of the people reading this will know, I recently wrote an article for Cambria Magazine on the "affordability" of Welsh independence. You can read "The Big Independence Question" here at Cambria Politico. "People can be Scottish and British, it's OK. And if they feel primarily Scottish that's fine too. But if they leave the UK they won't be British any more: it stands to reason." - Ed Miliband, 7th June 2012 (quoted from...

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Euro 2012 predictions

It's the biggest single-sport event of the Summer, co-hosted by Poland & Ukraine,  starting tomorrow afternoon.There's no Welsh involvement obviously. The death of Gary Speed cast a shadow over a promising end to the qualification campaign. With the European Championships expanding to a 24-team tournament, Euro 2016 will be the best chance for Wales to qualify for a major tournament since 2004's disappointment. Wales should make the most...

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Welsh Government Annual Report 2012 - "The Beast"

The first Welsh Government Annual Report is a hefty document, weighing in at more than 600 pages. "Ooooooh, nasty!" (Pic : Via Tumblr) Many are called, but few are chosen. Last week, the First Minister unleashed his secret weapon – what will now be known as "The Beast". An annual report that would reduce even the most...

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