Plaid Cymru AM, Leanne Wood makes a strong case for the Assembly Member’s pension fund trustees to change their investment strategy to one with a more ethical stance. The Western Mail reports:
The South Wales Central AM was alarmed to learn that Baillie Gifford Life Ltd, which manages the pension fund, was investing in several companies she said were not in line with the Assembly policies.
She said: “ The smoking ban was introduced in Wales early because the Assembly sees smoking as a serious public health issue.”
Ms Wood also questions whether the fund should be linked to investments in biotechnology company Monsanto, a world leader in genetically modified crops.
In May 2000 the Assembly voted unanimously for a restrictive policy against GM crops.
She is further concerned about investments in overseas mining companies that have been criticised by environmental lobby groups.
Ms Wood said: “This Assembly has made some fantastic statements on the environment backed up with good action. Yet we are investing in companies that run counter to those policies.”
There are two Plaid Cymru members on this board of trustees, Dafydd Wigley and Mohammed Ashgar. Do they agree with Leanne? Have they raised the same issues? What discussions has she had with them? Can she tell us?
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Lets face facts, Plaid rarely sings from the same hymm sheet, one lot is singing Calon Lan, the others are singing Delilah!
It’s not just in the parish council on the bay that divisions can be seen in Plaid and inconsistencies in policy. I’ve become aware that there’s divisions between Welsh Speakers and the non-Welsh Speakers in Plaid.
Hats off to Leanne, she has got some principles, and I’ve got a bit of time for her for that, and I’m glad she’s brought it to our attention.
Not as glad as I am to Freedom Central for highlighting that two of the trustees of this pension scheme (with just 60 members if I’m right) are making investments in Companies that Ms Wood feels are unethical
According to the Assembly website the pension trustees are Alun Cairns, Eleanor Burnham, Rosemary Butler, Carwyn Jones and Mohammed Ashgar. Dafydd Wigley is the non-AM pensioner trustee.