Senedd/Election Watch - March 2016

Celebrations were held to mark the tenth anniversary of the official opening of the Senedd building on March 1st. Llywydd Rosemary Butler (Lab, Newport West) said the Senedd has “established itself as a central part of Welsh public life". The Communities and Local Government Committee recommended the BBC spend an additional...

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Fourth Assembly Review : End of Term Awards

The stage is (not) set, the red carpet is (not) laid out.... (Pic : modified via Shutterstock) After focusing on what they've collectively done or haven't done, it's worth turning attentions to AMs themselves and being "nice to them...

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Fourth Assembly Review : Final Verdict

(Pic : The Guardian) Here's a final round-up of how the Welsh Government and opposition party leaders have performed as the Fourth Assembly draws to a close. End of Year Report 2015 End of Year Report 2014 WAG End of Year Report Card 2013 Welsh Government - End of year report (2012) Office of First Minister; Constitutional...

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Senedd on the Buses

(Pic : greentraveller.co.uk) I couldn't let the Assembly term come to an end without giving "my favourite committee" – Enterprise and Business – a proper send off; and it could well be the last time I do this anyway.In what's likely to be amongst the last official business of the Fourth Assembly, the Committee today launched...

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Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap VI : The Debate

Apart from recently announced legal action, the curtain comes down on the RIFW scandal on the last day the Fourth Assembly met in plenary. (Pic : BBC Wales) Yesterday, I covered some of the failures over the course of the term, as well as a last-minute "special performance" by Cirque du Plaid. I couldn't let the Assembly...

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What the fuck was that!?

(Pic : Wales Online) I usually only post this often when something serious has happened. To say I'm angry and disappointed right now is an understatement and I've had to restrain my response to the utterly inexplicable clusterfuck that took place on the Assembly's last day in sessio...

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Fourth Assembly Review : Key Failures

Like last time, these are in no particular order...

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Fourth Assembly Review : Key Achievements

Although the National Assembly doesn't officially dissolve until April 6th, as this week is the last sitting week the election campaign will soon ratchet up a gear or tw...

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Fourth Assembly In Focus : Education

Following the economy and health, my final in-depth look at policy during the Fourth Assembly goes into our classrooms and lecture theatres.Major Policy Initiatives of the Fourth AssemblyThe Donaldson Review – A major review, led by Prof. Graham Donaldson, into the national curriculum in Wales. The proposals mirror those...

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To be or not to be

A debate older than dirt. (Pic : BBC) The final individual AMs debate of the term was held yesterday and wasn't a particularly upbeat one as it addressed the sombre issue of suicid...

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A Smarter BBC Charter for Wales?

We know where programmes for Wales will be made in the near future, but will the BBC properly reflect Wales? (Pic : BBC Wales) Last Wednesday, the National Assembly's Communities, Equalities and Local Government Committee published their views ahead of the BBC's Charter renewal – which also affects Welsh language broadcaster...

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