Sorry this post is late (as if anyone noticed). I got distracted by stuff. A lousy excuse, but that’s all you’re getting.
The All Wales Convention has made an appearance on a few blogs this week following the final meeting this week. Alwyn Ap Huw believes that the recommendation will be a powerful ‘not yet’, which I doubt is the result most in the welsh political world are looking for. More info on the final meeting can be found on Betsan Powys’ blog.
With the new speaker now elected, and thankfully not being Margaret Beckett, Tom Bodden of the Daily Post wonders if the Assembly should be looking into similar recommendations for Assembly Members who break the rules as are being looked into in Westminster. The Assembly has always been a step ahead on expenses, revealing a large amount of data that showed just how ridiculous some of the claims Members were able to make. But there have never been reforms to tighten the system following that ipod claim. Could the Assembly be left a step behind by Parliamentary reforms?
Two different issues appear about the BNP this week. Nick Bourne thinks (correctly so) that Nick Griffin’s comment that “there is no such thing as a black Welshman” is offensive. Peter Black goes down a different route, looking at the lobbying by teaching unions to have BNP supporting teachers removed. The whole idea that someone should be fired from their jobs for their political beliefs is one that fills me with a sort of cold fear. Everyone, including idiots and bigots, is entitled to their view. The only time it should be questioned is if someone’s views interfere directly with their work. Banning a BNP teacher for picking on an Asian child would be fine, as would banning a Labour supporting teacher who picked on a rich kid or a Lib Dem supporting teacher for picking on a child who doesn’t believe in a written constitution. But no teacher should be banned without evidence that their politics has interfered with their job.
The following blogs have Michael Jackson related posts:
They all take a different view on the situation. Nothing I have to say on this subject will be helpful and will probably just offend.
It’s not just MP’s expenses that are making the news this week. Bethan Jenkins spoke on Sunday at a discussion held in the Senedd about the Royal Family. Apparently Prince Charles alone costs the taxpayer £3million, and despite his personal income increasing, the amount of tax he has paid has fallen 10%. Where’s the bloody Taxpayers Alliance now? Why aren’t the public baying for blue blood in the same way they want to punish politicians? Maybe it’s just me, although I do tend to see blood as the answer for most things.
Am I the only one given nightmares by the thought of Carwyn Jones and Brian Gibbons singing at the Labour Christmas party? I hope it was ‘Fairytale in New York’.
Politics Cymru is making excellent use of video. Along with their podcast thingy there is now a weekly feature on what is happening in the press conferences. Having attended a few of our press briefings, it’s always strange to see what the journalists are picking up on. Often stories can be made or quashed, and it’s nice to hear what the other parties are using theirs for.
Most unexpected post of the week has to be on Sweet and Tender Hooligans blog, which seems to be possibly the only blog in existence about Welsh politics and music. I reckon it will forever remain the only webpage in history that contains mentions of both Killswitch Engage and David Melding. I’m not gonna try and compete with him on the music front (or really the political one), but I will post a link to the excellent Killswitch song “Rose of Sharyn”.
Related posts:
