Senedd Watch - March 2017

A leaked document revealed that unless Ford's Bridgend engine plant attracted future work, as many as 1,100 jobs could be lost by 2021. Unions described it as a “kick in the teeth”, while the Welsh Government said they would do “anything they could” to bring new work to the plant. The UK House of Commons Public Accounts Committee...

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Post-Brexit goals for Welsh farming outlined

(Pic : Wales Online) Last week, the Senedd's Environment Committee published its report on the future of Welsh agriculture and land management (pdf...

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FMQs: Article 50, NHS Deficits & Grass fires

The news that the Welsh Government will refuse to bail out four health boards dominated proceedings today, but the activation of Article 50 tomorrow also focused attention...

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Coast with the most?

(Pic : The Telegraph) Wales doesn't have the longest coastline in the world – and the Welsh perhaps aren't considered "seafaring" in the same way as the Cornish or English. Nonetheless it's a spectacular addition to the natural beauty of the country and could also provide a significant economic boost, which was the focus...

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FMQs: City Deals, IndyWales & Rough Sleeping

It was a rather sedate edition of FMQs this afternoon (not that it's different to any other week) with today also marking Carwyn's 50th birthday 🎉 - to the jocularity of opposition leader...

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Right to Buy set to be abolished in Wales

(Pic : The Guardian) The controversial "Right to Buy" scheme – a flagship policy of  Margaret Thatcher – is set to be abolished in Wales as part of a Bill formally introduced by Communities Secretary, Carl Sargeant (Lab, Alyn & Deeside), yesterday afternoo...

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FMQs: IndyRef2, Drugs & Urgent Stuff

The usual stuff was on the agenda today alongside an abnormally large number of urgent questions (a few more weeks and I never have to do this again). Once again, Leader of the House, Jane Hutt (Lab, Vale of Glamorgan), was filling in for the First Ministe...

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Committees Bite Size #3: March 2017

Here's another round up of some of the committee inquiry reports that've come out of the Senedd over the last few weeks, including: ovarian cancer screening, two Stage One reports on Welsh laws, the Kancoat grant scandal and support for ethnic minority and traveller school pupil...

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The Welsh Economy: On Solid Foundations?

  (Pic : via geograph.org.uk © Copyright Kev Griffin and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.) The latest backbench member's debate – held this afternoon – focused on the "foundational economy". No, I'd never heard of the term either, but if you care about the future of the Welsh economy it's worth...

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FMQs: Aid, Air & Dogs

After last weekend's “excitement” I was hoping to return to normality. Plaid's Assembly Group have dealt with the issue in a refreshingly swift and professional manner even if – despite what I wrote on Sunday - a suspension seems too strong. As far as I'm concerned the matter's close...

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We need to talk about Neil

(Pic : BBC) For the second time in succession, a Plaid Cymru conference has been overshadowed by internal politics...

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Senedd Watch - February 2017

The UK House of Commons approved a Bill authorising the activation of Article 50 - granting the Prime Minister leave to the start the EU withdrawal process - by 498 votes to 114 on February 1st. 10 Welsh MPs from Plaid Cymru, Lib Dems and Labour voted against the Bill. The UK Government published its Brexit white paper...

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