Dyfed Archaeological Trust: Archaeology Day
On Saturday, 2 March, both Dr Toby Driver and Dr James January-McCann of the Royal Commission will be giving talks at the Dyfed Archaeology Day at Graig Campus, Llanelli, SA15 4DN. The title of Dr Toby Driver’s talk will be, Discoveries from the Air: Aerial...
One million Welsh speakers ambition “doomed to failure” without coherent education planning / Uchelgais miliwn o siaradwyr Cymraeg “dedfrydwyd i fethiant” heb gynllun addysg wedi’i ddiweddaru
On International Mother Language Day, the Welsh Conservatives have expressed concern that the Cymraeg2050 programme is destined to end in tears if the Welsh Labour-led Government does not enforce a sound strategy in the education sector. Welsh Conservative and Shadow...
Workshop: How can funders and their grantees work together to tackle low pay in the charity sector?
Workshop: How can funders and their grantees work together to tackle low pay in the charity sector? The first ever report of Low Pay in the Charity Sector was published by the Living Wage Foundation last year. It found that 26.2% of people within the charity sector...
Worst January on record for Welsh A&E departments
Nearly one-in-four (22.8%) patients in Welsh hospitals waited longer than the four hour target in Accident and Emergency departments – the largest ever figure for the month of January. Last month also had the highest number of patients spending 12 hours or more in an...
Wales’ new curriculum and qualifications
Kirsty Williams is Wales' Education Minister Keeping it simple, strategic and focused on standards – three important reminders from the IWA’s curriculum reform event a fortnight ago. Keir Bloomer’s speech at the launch of the IWA’s Common Purposes report was clear...
Majority of Local Authorities still failing to use powers to tackle blight of empty homes
A majority of local authorities in Wales are still failing to use their powers to tackle the blight of empty homes. An investigation by Plaid Cymru has found that fourteen local authorities in Wales have reported their intention to apply a council tax discount of 50%...
And maybe I had miles to drive And promises to keep
This song has been running through my mind. So i will share it with you [embedded content] A Thousand Kisses Deep The ponies run, the girls are youngThe odds are there to beatYou win a while and then it's doneYour little winning streakAnd summoned now to dealWith...
Welsh Government burying their heads in the sand over “growing crisis” in higher education
Bethan Sayed, Plaid Cymru shadow post 16 education spokesperson has said the Welsh Government is in "denial" and burying their heads in the sand over an increasing series of challenges in the HE sector in Wales. Last week (13th Feb) Bethan Sayed AM questioned Economy...
The Real Independent Group : Or How Nationalists Could Profit From Labour/Tory Splits
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.At time of writing the Labour party has been hit by eight MPs who have left the party through issues of anti-semitism and the attitude towards the long time Brexit of the soul that a hard Brexit will bring. The Conservative...
More of the same?
Tweet In all sorts of ways, Brexit is an epoch-defining moment, whether it ends up happening or not. Tied up in the debate is a whole series of issues about what it means to be Welsh, British or European, whether the future lies in international co-operation or...
Fade to Blair and back to 2006…
And so we have it the centrist party it's market finery clear for all. As we fade to Blair we realise that the Panama Party is in total denial that it was it's neoliberal policy that caused the crash. It was neoliberealism tbst begat Farage, Brexit and Trump. We can't...
On salaries and greed?
Alex Bird is a Fellow of the IWA, a member of Glas Cymru, and a co-operative researcher, adviser and activist. Now we have a new First Minister, who’s pledged to reform the Welsh economy over the next few years, perhaps it’s time to think about how we remunerate...
Sweet,medium or dry wine but only one brand.
As a "mature" student i n the late 1980's I probably spent too much time in the Student's Union Bar. It did however give me an insight in Human Behaviour. At the end of the evening you would see a number approach the bar either to but a bottle of wine or flagon of...
The ‘CRWG’ Minutes – Let’s sue everyone!!
As you can see at the end of this post, and after a lengthy FOI wrangle, we finally have the draft minutes of the 'CRWG' meeting, which discussed the issue of libel indemnities, and which was held behind closed doors last July.Linda Rees Jones' report, referred to in...
Private Eye – Llanelli to Kuwait, the scandal continues…
Good to see that Private Eye are following events in the wild west, and that Mark James CBE earns himself yet another well-deserved mention in the prestigious Rotten Boroughs column; See also December's article 'Tender spot', and January's 'Down the pan'.And let's...
How to Become a Friendly Funder
How to Become a Friendly Funder On 19th February 2019, Cynnal Cymru hosted a webinar entitled; Could you help Wales become a Living Wage Nation? The purpose of the webinar was to introduce the Living Wage Friendly Funders Scheme – a scheme by which funders and...
Culture and heritage are at the heart of resilient communities
Richard Bellamy is Head of the National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales. Over the past quarter of a century we have been the largest dedicated grant funder of the UK’s heritage, making a lasting difference for heritage and people. From the multi-million pound...
Welsh Labour Government ‘inability to implement’ its own active travel laws condemned
Today, the Welsh Labour Government will face criticism from Assembly Members of all parties – including its own – for failing to live up to the promises it made in its own Active Travel Act. AMs will call on the Welsh Government to “refresh its ambition for active...
No clear plans for the environment after Brexit
Shadow minister for the environment and rural affairs, Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd has slammed the Welsh Government for having no plans for protecting the Welsh environment after Brexit. With less than forty days to go until the UK is due to leave the European Union,...
Cardiff City vs West Ham : Where I Will Be A Quiet Hammer Amougst Bluebirds And Where Again A Chink In The Armour Of The Wales National Rugby Team Will Occur
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.So then yesterday morning at about ten I was here: Bluebird Country I have as regular readers are aware been tracking the general availability of tickets for the visit of West Ham on March 9. Had discovered that they were on...
Ur Fascism……Umberto Eco and our time
This is an interesting collection of fascist characteristics noted by the late Umberto Eco. Look at them , read them in detail. Do you recognise them in Tommy Robinson, in Donald Trump on Neath Voice for Everybody/ Port Talbot Debate and Argue?. Have you met people...
When ‘trust me’ isn’t enough
Tweet Chutzpah: a lovely little word to describe the audacity involved in making outrageous statements or claims, one of the few skills which ministers in the UK Government seem to be honing to a fine edge. Yesterday, it was the Foreign Secretary’s turn to try his...
Council and regional consortium step in at primary school
(Title Image: Mirror) Working with governors, Bridgend Council and the South Central regional consortium have stepped in over the last few weeks to provide a temporary leadership team at Ogmore Vale Primary School. The headteacher of Litchard Primary, Mr J. Phillips,...
The value of sport to our health
Owen Hathway is the Head of Insight and Policy at Sport Wales. The notion of being active to benefit your physical and mental health is far from revolutionary. Everyone knows that doing sport, be that in a competitive environment or purely for individual enjoyment,...
Bernie Sanders throws his hat into the ring.
The news that Bernie Sanders has announced he is seeking the Democrat Party nomination for US President is welcome. The fact that a democratic socialist and progressive, has to do so through the Democrat Party rather than through a third party exposing these values is...
Welsh campaigners “frustrated” by Spy Cops Inquiry
The Plaid Cymru Assembly Member , Bethan Sayed, has written a letter addressed to the Home Secretary urging the Undercover Policing Inquiry take vital steps to achieve their objectives. The independent public inquiry was set up by then UK Government to investigate...
Resident threatens campaign for resident-only parking in Roath
People living in Roath say Cardiff Council are doing “nothing” to tackle parking issues on Wordsworth Avenue. Beryl O’Brien has lived on the street for 38 years and says the situation “is getting worse”. She now wants to take matters into her own hands and launch a...
Going plastic free – how Caerphilly is bucking the trend
As new figures reveal only Caerphilly Council recycles its compostable plastics in Wales , CJS News spoke to a number of local businesses to see what they are doing to become more eco-friendly. A recent freedom of information request by the BBC showed that, of the 13...
Heath residents hopes petition will save bus routes
More than 380 residents in Heath have signed a petition to save three Cardiff Bus routes. Residents have said the routes are essential and are “vital” for the elderly and vulnerable of Neath to get around. Cardiff Bus finished last year with a deficit of £1.9m and...
Cuts to head injury support in Cardiff
A Cardiff charity is going to have to cut the support it provides to people with serious head injuries. Headway is based in Rookwood Hospital in Llandaff. It provides support for people with head injuries to help them become independent and relearn basic skills. The...
Underfunded health care inspectorate is being stifled, says Welsh Conservative leader
No lessons have been learned after years of Welsh health care failings, as Paul Davies AM urges the First Minister to give inspectorate more power. First Minister Mark Drakeford AM was asked today to defend the way the Welsh Government’s health care monitoring body,...
When Books And TV Worked Together
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.When I was a child growing up in the late sixties, seventies and early eighties the facility to record your favourite TV programmes was only really available to a select rich few. As a consequence TV shows to increase more...
First Minister Claims Brexit Deadlock Has Not Been Reached After Reneging on People’s Vote Deadline
Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has called on First Minister to stop dithering over a People’s Vote after Mark Drakeford claimed that Brexit deadlock had not been reached, weeks after his initial deadline for resolving the deadlock passed. Mr Drakeford had told the...
UKIP brands Welsh Government fly-tipping measure “confused”
People in Wales involved in fly-tipping could face a fixed penalty notice of £300. Assembly Members are voting on the new rules which would make it easier for councils to issue the notices. Councils are already allowed to issue penalty notices against individuals who...
‘Anorexia should be treated more as mental illness’, says blogger
An eighteen year old from Cardiff who suffered from anorexia said there needs to be better education around living with an eating disorder. Lara Rebecca decided to share her recovery journey on social media – which has been watched by millions of people. She said it...
Battling for the best for Wales, preparing for the worst
Rhun ap Iorwerth AM is Plaid Cymru’s Shadow Economy Minister Honda’s announcement of the closure of its Swindon plant has sent shockwaves through the automotive industry in the UK, including here in Wales. The announcement could have dire consequences for the supply...
Cautious welcome as Wales fly-tipping fixed penalty move to be approved
The National Assembly for Wales is today expected to approve new rules making it easier for councils and Natural Resources Wales to take action against householders who hand their waste to people not authorised to handle it. People who give their waste to someone "in...
Direct and indirect causes
Tweet Different people have reacted differently to the announcement by Honda that it is to cease production and close its plant in Swindon, depending largely on their views over Brexit. Opponents of Brexit have been quick to claim that Brexit is clearly a factor,...
Innovation in the NHS takes time – but it’s worth the wait
Nick Rich is Professor in Operations Management at Swansea University School of Management. He is a socio-technical systems researcher, meaning he has an interest in how people and technology work together, and his interests cover healthcare systems reliability and...
Households could be fined up to £400 over rubbish disposal
Households could be fined up to £400 if their waste is fly-tipped – even if they don’t do it themselves. The Welsh Assembly are expected to approve proposals to make it easier for local councils to penalize those who dump waste illegally. Some illegal fly-tipping...
Pet shops in Wales could be banned from selling puppies and kittens
Puppies and kittens could be banned from being sold in shops in Wales. A consultation about banning third party sales has been launched today. It would mean people would have to buy directly from breeders or go to rescue centres. There are worries that pet shop...
There is nothing knew under the Sun……Chuka Umunna
And so the magnificent seven dwarves register in Panama a private company for the funding of their 'independent' group. The private company means that they do not have to then tell us who their donors and funders are....I wonder why and who they could be..? What a...
Time to deliver: revitalising Wales’ public institutions
Gerald Holtham is an IWA Trustee and Hodge Professor of Regional Economy at Cardiff Metropolitan University What sort of institutional development does the Welsh public sector need? There are three possible answers. One is: none; the Welsh public sector functions...
The Less Than Magnificent Seven.
The "Gang of Four" were centrists, who had defected from the Labour Party due to what they perceived to be the influence of the Militant tendency and the "hard left" within the party, Yesterday Seven Labour MPs have quit the party citing several reasons including that...
Elfyn Llwyd appointed shadow counsel general
The former MP and barrister Elfyn Llwyd has been appointed the shadow counsel general for Plaid Cymru in the Assembly. He will join Plaid Cymru AMs as a member of the Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet. The Counsel General is responsible for providing legal advice to Welsh...
In Which Selma,Matthew and The Radio Times Film Guide 2013 Have Made Me The Film Whisperer Of The Family
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.The story so far. Have watched Fools Rush In starring Matthew Perry and Selma Hayak as part of my little mad exercise to watch as I come home late from work to watch a film randomly selected to cross off on the Radio Times...
Smart Energy schemes “could be worth £7billion+ to Bridgend economy”
(Title Image: Smart Energy International) Tomorrow, Bridgend Council’s Cabinet will be updated on proposals to create a smart energy grid in the county (pdf). At the moment there are two “showcase” projects in the pipeline – a geothermal energy scheme in Caerau and a...
Emily Thornberry…the Future
[embedded content] Dear Friends,You may have seen the news this morning that a small group of Labour MPs are planning to break away and form a new party, and I wanted to give you my reaction to that. Whatever tradition of the Labour Party anyone belongs to, whether we...
2019 Eisteddfod
On the Full Moon of the Seven Dwarves… “History repeats … first as tragedy, then as farce”
"History repeats ... first as tragedy, then as farce" From the Eighteenth Brumaire. There was more socialism in Paul Flynn`s little toe than the entir being of the Seven Dawrves of the @Independent Group. As Adlai Stevenson commented ..the independent is the...
Latest comments