Freedom Central » Ieuan Wyn Jones

Keeping on NHS Managers

Peter Black — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:09:23 +0000

The BBC report today that the NHS in Wales is spending £700,000 a year paying managers whose posts were scrapped during a shake-up of the health service in 2009.

They say that figures obtained by BBC Radio Cymru show about 120 people who lost their posts were redeployed, some on the same salaries they had before.

Figures from all seven local health boards in Wales show that at least 52 managers on pay protection are earning over £40,000 a year, 40 are earning over £50,000 and 24 over £80,000. The total cost of pay protection to the NHS in Wales is around £700,000 a year.

Astonishingly, this attracts criticism from Plaid Cymru who were in government when the policy was introduced and defended it at the time. They will be attacking Ieuan Air next.

Plaid Cymru all at sea again on nuclear power

Freedom Central — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:39:49 +0000

Confirmation by the UK Government that Anglesey is to be a proposed location for of one of the next generation of nuclear power plants has reopened some very public divisions within Plaid Cymru.

As the Western Mail reports Plaid Cymru leader and Anglesey AM Ieuan Wyn Jones has responded warmly to the news, saying: “I welcome the fact that they have confirmed that Wylfa is on the list of suitable sites for the next generation of plants. I will now be organising a meeting with [nuclear developers] Horizon to discuss the timetable.”

Howevet, this contrasts markedly from the official line from his party:

A spokeswoman said: “Plaid is not in favour of the building of any new nuclear stations. Furthermore, we believe that decisions on all energy projects should be made in Wales.”

No wonder people are confused as to what Plaid Cymru stand for.

Senior figures move against Plaid Cymru leader

Freedom Central — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 08:49:09 +0000

This morning’s Western Mail reports that one of the most senior figures in the nationalist community has stepped into the Ieuan Wyn Jones controversy by calling on him to step down imminently:

Former Plaid MP and AM Cynog Dafis said he could see a “compelling” case for Mr Jones to go so that the party can secure a power-sharing deal with Labour.

And there are others within the nationalist community who want Mr Jones to relinquish his position as leader so the party can move on.

The Plaid leader came under fire this week for choosing to remain on holiday in France rather than attend the Queen’s opening of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Mr Dafis said the prospect of five years of a Labour Welsh Government was “depressing” but a new leader could take Plaid back into power with its former partner.

He said: “The argument for Ieuan leaving soon is to enable a new leadership to lead Plaid Cymru into coalition with Labour. That seems to me a compelling argument.”

He continued: “I think a Plaid presence in a coalition government on the right terms would offer a far more progressive and productive and radical few years of government in Wales. My assessment of this is leading me to the conclusion it shouldn’t be too long a delay before a leadership contest takes place.”

Accused of disrespect

Freedom Central — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 17:52:10 +0000

The BBC report that Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has been called “disrespectful” for being on holiday and missing the Welsh assembly’s royal opening. Plaid Cymru AM Jocelyn Davies took his place in the line-up of party leaders greeting the Queen:

Labour AM Ms Neagle said: “It’s completely disrespectful for a party leader to shun the official opening of the fourth session of the assembly to take some time off.

Plaid Cymru AM Jocelyn Davies (left) meets the Duke of Edinburgh in place of Ieuan Wyn Jones “The fact that Ieuan Wyn Jones needs a rest is symptomatic of the current state of his party.

“Plaid Cymru has looked tired for a considerable amount of time.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Conservatives said: “It is extremely disappointing to see the leader of a Welsh political party failing to take part in such an important and established event.

“That he is currently on holiday during term time, when he is being paid to represent his constituents in the assembly, only adds to Plaid’s embarrassment.”

WASTE WATCHERS – Day 17

Freedom Central — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:33:47 +0000

It was revealed last January by the Wales Audit Office that major road and rail projects in Wales have cost substantially more and took longer than expected to build.

The Wales Audit Office report into 18 major projects found the total cost rose from an estimated £366m to £592m, with final projects costing an average 61% higher.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Cynon Valley Candidate, Ian Walton, said:

“This is yet another example of waste and inefficiency of the Labour-Plaid Cymru government. We’ve seen them waste a jaw-dropping amount of money on projects that they’ve mismanaged or just shown incompetence in delivering. The report by the Wales Audit Office just goes to show that they cannot be trusted to spend our money.

“During the Welsh General Election Campaign, the Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose examples of waste and inefficiency of the Labour-Plaid government during their four years in government.

“When every family, charity and business is having to make every pound stretch that little bit further, Wales needs a government that does the same. Labour and Plaid Cymru have turned waste, incompetence and inefficiency into an art form.”

Wales doesn’t need any more ‘Plaid-driven’ government

Elizabeth Evans — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:13:17 +0000

Plaid Cymru says the current Government is ‘Plaid driven’ but their manifesto ignores their failure in government over the last four years.

They say they want to create jobs but when Ieuan Wyn Jones took charge four years ago, Wales’ unemployment was below the the UK average, now it is higher than the UK average.

They talk about making sure children read, write and count to the expected standard but under the ‘Plaid driven’ government we have seen the worst relative decline in standards in education for decades.

They say that want to raise private money to invest in buildings but they have spent the last four years trumpeting their refusal to build hospitals that way.

They say they want to tackle climate change but their own minister has spent £8 million pounds of tax payers’ money subsidising air flights instead of investing in public transport.

They say they want to tackle affordable housing but they failed to increase the supply of affordable housing by 6,500 as promised.

Plaid say they stand up for rural communities but every farmer knows that it is a Plaid minister that has presided over the unmitigated disaster of Glastir, the agri-environmental scheme.

Plaid didn’t even deliver on the Welsh language, promising a Welsh language newspaper that never materialised and failing to ensure official status for the Welsh language.

Plaid may not like it but they share responsibility with Labour for the failure to deliver for the people of Wales. Wales doesn’t need any more ‘Plaid-driven’ government.

Plaid Cymru’s Economic Policy Unveiled…. #plaidfail

Newswire — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:35:07 +0000

Related posts:Voters should punish Labour and Plaid for Economic Failure Labour-Plaid budget a missed opportunity on NHS waste, economic growth and pupil premium Plans unveiled for £500m rail scheme linking Wales to Heathrow Related posts:

Labour and Plaid under fire over Ieuan Air again

Freedom Central — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:53:47 +0000

An environmental charity has said that businesses are cutting back on flights and the Assembly Government should stop subsidising the North-South air link.

According to the Western Mail research by WWF found nearly half (47%) of companies had cut back on plane journeys over the past two years and 85% did not intend to return to “business as usual” flying.

Businesses stated that benefits of avoiding air travel included having fewer staff away from the office and greater staff productivity.

A full 63% of companies now have a policy in place to reduce business flights or are intending to develop one.

Anne Meikle of WWF Cymru said: “It’s great that at least some good news has come out of the recession, with companies realising that cutting business flights can be both good for the planet and good for business. Businesses get it – they can fly less and still be profitable and competitive.

“Yet the Welsh Assembly Government is encouraging flying. WWF Cymru believes that this is contrary to the WAG’s vision for a low-carbon economy.”

Ms Meikle said: “The Welsh Assembly Government should support these findings by investing in high-speed broadband, supporting a videoconferencing network for Wales and improving and investing in the rail network.”

This view reflects the position of the Welsh Liberal Democrats on these flights. Economic Development spokesperson, Jenny Randerson said:

“It is an environmental and financial outrage.

“This controversial air link not only pumps thousands of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but has already cost the Welsh taxpayer £3.2m in public subsidy.

“We want to see a transport policy that serves the many in Wales, not the privileged few.”

Deja Vu

Newswire — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:48:05 +0000

There are times in politics when Government announcements start to look a bit samey. This is often because Ministers have a habit of re-announcing things in the hope that people don’t notice. At other times there is just an air of familiarity about them.

Back on 1 December the Social Justice and Local Government Minister, Carl Sargeant announced extra funding totalling £7 million for local authorities to spend on mending potholes and buying road salt for gritting this winter. The BBC carried the story here.

Three months later and the Government have found another £7 million, or is it. This time it is the Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport, Ieuan Wyn Jones promising £7.085 million to support councils, who are under pressure following a second winter of widespread snow. The BBC cover the story here.

Although the money will be very welcome for local Councils who are facing Welsh Government cuts of 90% to the roads maintenance budget from £68m this year to £6m by 2013/14 the similiarity of the two announcements is rather interesting. Let us hope that it is not a re-announcement of the same cash.

Searching for the disenchanted

Peter Black — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:35:21 +0000

It is reported in this morning’s Western Mail that Plaid Cymru have set their sights on attracting disenchanted Liberal Democrat voters in this year’s Assembly elections.

Their leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, tells the paper that: “A lot of the Liberal Democrat voters would be progressives, they would be left of centre and therefore would be attracted by the kind of policies that Plaid Cymru would want to pursue, and also would not want to see an overall Labour majority.

“In the past they have voted Liberal Democrat because they wanted an alternative. Clearly, if they feel they want an alternative which is a progressive party, Plaid is the place for them.”

There are a lot of assumptions there, not least that Plaid Cymru is the sort of liberal party that might attract Lib Dem voters. It is not! But there is the other factor of Plaid’s record of government that any voter will need to take account of when making their choice in May.

Plaid Cymru has of course, had its own tuition fees moment, introducing top-up fees in Wales as a junior coalition partner, despite pledging in its manifesto that it wouldn’t. There is also the failures of the One Wales Agreement, including missing the affordable housing target, not delivering a Welsh Language Daily Newspaper, falling short on linguistic rights on the Welsh Language Measure, abandoning grants to first time home buyers, backing an unsustainable and polluting air service between Anglesey and Cardiff at a cost of £1.6m a year, and presiding over a £533 per head funding gap in education spending between England and Wales and appalling PISA results that put us behind the rest of the UK in the quality of our education to name but a few.

Why any Liberal Democrat would want to back that record is beyond comprehension.