The end
Newsfeed.Cymru ran as an experiment for several years. The aim was to highlight news sources which didn't come from the mainstream, but reflected the diversity of political, geographical and social reality in Wales. With very limited support from donors, we have taken...
The Battle For Wales : Countering The "Wales is Too Poor To Be Independent" Argument
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.I have in this blog begun a thread where I'm suggesting that Wales is heading towards a political battle between Plaid Cymru and whatever the right wing turns out to be with regard to it's future. With the current Welsh...
Key Porthcawl regeneration site set to go up for sale
(Pic: via Google Earth) At next week’s Bridgend Council Cabinet meeting, officers have recommended the Cabinet authorise putting the Salt Lake site in Porthcawl on the market (pdf). The Salt Lake site is the most significant parcel of land in the long-stalled...
How Wales Loses Out On Transport Investment Yet Again : The PROPOSED Cardiff to London Rail Express
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.I have in this blog before chatted about one of the clearest symbols of how Wales as a nation is discriminated against is on the issue of transport. I've chatted also about the railways. Wales being the only country where...
The Book I Probably Took Too Personally
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.So this is the latest library book I've read. Rhys Thomas - The Unlikely Heroics of Sam Holloway I have already mentioned this book in an earlier post. Annoyed as I was in an assertion it made that an only child is a lonely...
Consultation open on proposed affordable housing development in Brackla
(Title Image: LRM Planning) A consultation on proposals to extend an existing social housing development in Brackla is open until July 9th 2019. The pre-planning application consultation is being undertaken by LRM Planning on behalf of Wales & West Housing. Full...
Teaching the new curriculum: time will tell
It is an exciting time to be a teacher in Wales. The implementation of the new curriculum is an opportunity for change. This ‘shake up’ of education can seem completely overwhelming because of the extent of the change, but I am sure that many teachers and parents will...
Leadership hopefuls
Some of the runners and riders in the Tory Donkey Derby managed some interesting quotes following yesterday’s elimination of the three lowest-placed candidates. Rory Stewart, who scraped into seventh place with 19 votes, was pleased with that number, because prior to...
‘Living Hours’ Programme Launched to Tackle Work Insecurity
New research finds one in six workers trapped in insecure work and low pay, with millions facing cancelled shifts, a lack of hours, or short-term contracts Over 5 million (5.1m) workers earn less than the real Living Wage and are in a form of insecure work, 2 million...
Unloved Heritage – Discovering Wales’ Forgotten History Whilst Engaging the Next Generation
I came across ‘Ceredigion Off-limits’, one of the ‘Unloved Heritage’ groups, whilst halfway through my second year studying Fine Art at Aberystwyth University. A community event was being held by them at Aberystwyth Arts’ Centre and I got involved a few months later,...
Auditor General finds financial failures among health boards
Four Welsh NHS health boards have ‘failed to meet their financial duty’ according to the Auditor General, Adrian Crompton. Mr Crompton has described his ‘deep concern’ for namely the beleaguered Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales, which is the only...
Setting tough targets
I wouldn’t normally tend to endorse any of the candidates for the leadership of the Tory party – they all seem pretty dire to me. I was, though, struck by something that ‘the Saj’ said yesterday in his pitch. He argued that he was different, an outsider, just like...
Ford: The Brexit connection
This article was originally published in the Western Mail Last week a story broke that in other times would have commanded the headlines of the national press for weeks because it speaks so loudly not only of a sickening blow to a Welsh community, but also of the...
Conservatives challenge Welsh Government to ‘up its game’ by banning single-use plastics
A debate in the Welsh Parliament this afternoon has called on the Welsh Labour Government to back a ban on single-use plastics. The motion, put forward by Shadow Environment Minister, Andrew RT Davies AM, aimed to see Wales ban plastic straws, exempting those with...
The universe might not be big enough
Infinity is a difficult concept to explain, but the old sayingthat given an infinite number of monkeys with an infinite number of keyboards and an infinite length of time, one of them would end up typing out the complete works of Shakespeare, correctly spelled and in...
How Cool is Now?
This article was originally published in the welsh agenda: issue 62 2019 will see some significant anniversaries for Welsh institutions both pop and political. Among those turning fifty this year are Manic Street Preachers’ Nicky Wire and James Dean Bradfield, as...
Blog Villian Bridgend Labour Council : Now Considering Cutting Grass Cutting
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.I have since this blog began chatted about the arrogantly incompetent Bridgend Labour council. Recently I've been focusing on their actual (and proposed) public spending cuts. Cuts which have seemed both petty and cruel...
Ford Bridgend Plant Closure
Last week saw the devastating news of the planned closure of the Ford engine plant in Bridgend. A decision that has caused widespread uncertainty for thousands of directly and indirectly employed workers in the local community and beyond. The Green Party has long...
Kirsty Williams announces immediate actions to support teachers with workload
Kirsty Williams, Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Minister, has today announced a number of immediate actions to support teachers with workload and reduce bureaucracy.
Paul Davies continues Conservative crusade to see North Wales health board lifted from Special Measures
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Paul Davies AM, has picked up the baton in the wake of his Party’s Welsh Parliament debate last week, in tackling the Welsh Government on the state of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. In First Minister’s questions today, Mr...
Bishop of Monmouth election
The election of the next Bishop of Monmouth will be held in September. Newport Cathedral will be closed and locked on September 17 as an Electoral College of people drawn from all over Wales, will meet inside to nominate and then vote on a confidential list of...
Labour Party Autism / Neurodiversity Manifesto
I hace been given permission to publish this manifesto on my blog. It is designed to raise issues concerning Autism and how a socialist approach can be discussed and actioned. With thanks to Monique Craine and Lisa Phillips of Ystradgynlais and District Labour Party...
Nick Ramsay AM welcomes devolution of air passenger duty report
Commenting on today’s release of a report looking into the devolution of air passenger duty to Wales, Shadow Minister for Finance, Nick Ramsay AM,...
Royal Commission Archive & Library Bulletin of Newly Catalogued Material – May 2019
Welcome to the latest monthly edition of the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) Archives and Library Bulletin which lists all newly catalogued material. The archival items, library books and journal articles are all available to view in our public reading room....
Shared Prosperity Fund must deliver for Wales
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to ensure the Shared Prosperity Fund delivers for Wales ahead of this afternoon’s Senedd debate. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for the fund to ensure Wales receives not a penny less than it...
Plans to extend prisoner voting rights ‘flies in the face of natural justice’ say Welsh Conservatives following committee report
The Welsh Conservatives have said Welsh Labour-led Government and Plaid Cymru plans to extend the franchise to more prisoners “ignores the rights of victims” and the role of prisons as the “deterrent, punisher, and reformer” of criminals.
A benefit tribunal in Swansea……
I have a very rewarding career, in addition to being a Psychotherapist I represrnt people at benefit Tribunals. I love my job and I win about 90% of the cases. I am disanled myself and partially sighted. I have a whire stick and have a deep understanding of both...
Extending the vote to prisoners could help to tackle social exclusion and deprivation
Today, the Equality, Local Government and Communities (ELGC) Committee publishes its report on prisoner voting. We recommend that the franchise be extended to prisoners serving terms of up to four years. Our committee took evidence from a range of experts including...
What a strange coincidence – or maybe not
It seems to be a well-established practice that all spending pledges made by the Labour Party must be accompanied by a detailed analysis of where the money will come from, whilst Conservative politicians are allowed to make wild promises as and when they wish,...
Russell George AM comments on news of 300 Newport redundancies
Reports today that Quinn Radiators in Newport has gone into administration brought as well the sad news of 300 further redundancies for South Wales. Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Business, Russell George AM, said: “It’s terrible to hear of any...
Wales Green Party leader’s speech – Green Party Conference June 2019
Bore da / Good morning conference Greetings from Wales, at such an exciting time for our Party as part of the Green Wave sweeping across Europe. Congratulations from Wales to our seven recently elected Green MEPs, a vital part of that wave, who will play a crucial...
Grants available for school uniform, kit and equipment
Parents and carers are being encouraged to take advantage of financial support that aims to help meet the cost of the school day as well as enabling participation in extra-curricular activities. The Pupil Development Grant (PDG) Access scheme provides grants to help...
A Parable ……….
A Parable ..........David and Mair ran a little market stall. They sold cakes and bread. Their scones were to die for. It was a busy little stall. Many people visited their stall at least once a week. Others came into the market for other things like fish or...
When they tell you that Socialism is not possible
When they tell you that Socialism is not possible and ask where it has ever worked..remind them of socialust ideas that have burst into fruit. Remind them of the NHS free state education and social housing. Remind them of tolerance care for the vulnerable and an...
Electoral arithmetic
Last week, the leader of Nigel Farage plc demandedthat his ‘party’ be given a role in future negotiations over Brexit, whilst also demanding that the UK leave the EU without conducting any such further negotiations. His basis for issuing this demand was that his...
From barley grains to booming Welsh business: Penderyn Whisky hosts Tory leader for visit at unique distillery
Paul Davies AM has enjoyed a tour of Penderyn Whisky Distillery, learning about the thriving company’s humble roots and unique ingenuity. Once a long-forgotten product and a scoffed-at dream, Welsh whisky was lost to the ages for more than 100 years, and long...
Britain Through The Medium Of A Supercar In A Layby On A Sunday Afternoon
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.Well I'm driving on my way to work in the Bridgend area yesterday afternoon. The sky is blue at that moment but it has changed throughout the morning. At least it's dry though.I notice on this journey that a car with it's...
One rule for us…
As various Tory leadership candidates line up to confess to the usage of controlled and illegal substances in their youth, they are asking us to judge them not on the ‘mistakes’ they made many years ago, but on their record since. At first sight, this is an entirely...
Further On The Battle For Wales And Labour’s Inadequacy : Bridgend Ford Edition
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.I have discussed before my belief that Wales is slowly moving towards a battle between Plaid Cymru and whatever the right wing eventually turns out to be.So we have another example of Labour's inadequacy when it comes to the...
Planners struggling with big projects in local areas, audit report finds
Planning authorities in Wales are struggling from a lack of support and funding, a report by the Auditor General has revealed. Shadow Minister for Housing, David Melding AM, has spoken of his concerns over the report’s...
‘We won’t give up’: Shadow Minister continues fight to cure Betsi on fourth anniversary of special measures
Today marks four years since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was placed under direct Welsh Government control. Welsh Conservatives marked this sad anniversary this week by holding a debate in the Welsh Parliament, asking the Welsh Government to act now to...
A Short Post On Apparently Dodgeing a Vasily Grossman literary bullet
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.I've mentioned prequels before in this blog. Apart from the TV series Young Sheldon (which I've chatted about previously) I hate prequels for the simple reason that even if you don't know the route to get there you know what...
Dads,Daughters and Dyeing
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.Well daughter has done something that she's wanted to do for a few years now. I return from work to discover she has dyed her hair.I have been against it since the first time daughter mentioned the subject years ago. But...
The Book That Will Make Some Men Contemplate Having Sex…Over A Cup Of Tea
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.When I started my history GCSE's oh those so many years ago the starting focus was British parliamentary reform around the early nineteenth century (I can tell you're riveted already).One of the books that I remember my...
Sera – Rabbit Hole
There was a time when Welsh language singers switching into English was tricky to say the least. Thankfully these days artists such as Al Lewis can switch back and forth with apparent ease and at the same time take the audience with them. Sera is already well...
On reading `Liberation` July 2019, Thoughts, reflections and Musingss….
In 1969 as a boarder at an English Prep School I first encountered the horrors of the British Sate. I was fore fed a diet of the Monarchy and Imperialism. My reaction to the events of July 1989 were the origin of my commitment to an Independent Welsh Socialist...
Go Green Day Poster Challenge
Young people here and around the world are speaking out about Climate Change and its causes. Take our Go Green Day poster challenge and make your voice heard. Do you know about climate change? What’s causing it? What can be done? Here’s a very brief summary…Most cars,...
Dead Method – Codeine Culture EP
Wales has a growing number of high quality electro acts and at the top of this field are Dead Method who, alongside Hvnter & Hana2k, complete the holy trinity of Welsh electro pop. The music here is often dark, brooding and at its best simply beautiful as in the epic...
Bridgend Ford Engine Plant – The News Everyone Feared
Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.When I return from work normally just after 10pm and drive along the A48 I normally have to stop at a set of traffic lights early on the route. From the road to my left cars come out whilst I'm waiting. They're from the...
Confirmed: Bridgend Ford engine plant to close in in 2020
(Title Image: Sky News) Following strong rumours Wednesday evening, it was officially confirmed yesterday that the Bridgend Ford engine plant will close on 25th September 2020 in the single biggest blow to the local economy in decades. Around 1,700 jobs will go,...
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