Senedd Watch - October 2016

• UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, announced a “Great Repeal Bill” would be introduced to repeal the European Communities Act 1973 and end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. She also confirmed Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty will be triggered by the end of March 2017, starting a two-year EU withdrawal process.
  

Read More

What type of Brexit suits Wales?

Soft Brexit vs Hard Brexit - the same process but different end results.
(Pic : buzzfeed.com)

I said I wouldn't return to Brexit until something concrete happens. Now that we have a timetable for the activation of Article 50 , a recent ministerial meeting involving the devolved administrations and hints at what sort of Brexit the UK Government will pursue, it's worth coming back to it again.

Read More

Welsh Budget 2017-18

(Pic : BBC Wales)

The Welsh Government's spending plans for the next financial year were tabled in the Senedd on Tuesday by Local Government & Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West).

Read More

FMQs : Trains, Cash & Arts

AMs donned windbreakers and proverbially hung around platforms as the future of rail services dominated proceedings this week. It's also a week that marks the 50^th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster on Friday – with commemorations due at the Senedd tomorrow. It's budget week too and I hope to have something on that for tomorrow (Thursday at the latest).

Read More

Dic Siôn Dafydd?

Traitor? Following his conscience? Legitimately disgruntled?
(Pic : Wales Online)

The timing's a bit of a shock, but the news isn't. This was going to be a more jocular post, but that's been shunted as there's only one story today and that's Dafydd Elis-Thomas' announcement last night that he's left Plaid Cymru and will sit out the rest of the term as an Independent AM.

Read More

Senedd rallies to get Wales moving

Only a third of Welsh schoolchildren get their recommended hour of physical activity a day.
Pic : Road Safety GB)

The latest backbench members debate was on the subject of physical activity, in particular walking and cycling.

Read More

FMQs : Curious Tales, Cwmbran Hospital & Ireland

There was a varied FMQs today, with questions ranging from the M4, average earnings, the planning system and also a polite warning from the Llywydd.

Read More

Assembly Committee Slams Wales Bill

(Pic : BBC Wales)

Last Thursday, the National Assembly's Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee published its report into the latest draft of the Wales Bill, which is now in the unelected House of Lords (pdf).

Read More

Plaid's Infrastructure Commission

(Pic : Plaid Cymru)

(Owen : It's funny how things turn out. I'm sure that counts as three correct predictions in a row. As for the recent controversial episode of Question Time this sums up what happens in pretty much every episode and why I don't watch political programmes. "Don't feed the trolls.")

On Monday, the Shadow Ministers for the Economy & Infrastructure – Adam Price AM (Plaid, Carms. E & Dinefwr) and Dai Lloyd AM (Plaid, South Wales West) respectively – launched a policy paper outlining their proposal to create a National Infrastructure Commission (pdf).

Read More

Local Government Reform : Mergers Ditched

In case you were wondering, it's in reference to this.

Yesterday, Finance & Local Government Secretary, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West), unveiled the Welsh Government's latest proposals for local government reform.

Read More

FMQs : Breakfast, Food & Cadw Merger

Another Tuesday, another FMQs and, as usual, there was plenty up for discussion.

Read More

A Polished Diamond?

(Pic : Wales Online)

A major review into tuition fees and student finance reported back earlier this week, authored by the Vice Chancellor of Aberdeen University, Prof. Ian Diamond.

Read More