Freedom Central » Plaid Cymru

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.

What laws to obey?

Freedom Central — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:58:18 +0000

Interesting letter in the Western Mail from a Neil Welton:

It is a disgrace that elected members of Plaid Cymru are supporting those who refuse to buy television licences.

Such support for potential law-breaking, in an attempt to save the unimaginative output of S4C and BBC Wales, should be condemned by all serious political parties in Wales. One only has to look at the consequence of such a policy, if everyone in Wales decided to behave in such a childish, irresponsible and narrow-minded way.

Perhaps those of us who oppose the anti-royalists in the Welsh Assembly can opt out of paying income tax, on the grounds that there are cheaper ways to produce carbon dioxide.

Perhaps those of us who are opposed to Welsh-medium education can opt out of paying council tax, on the grounds that nationalistic apartheid was a racist disaster in 1970s South Africa.

Perhaps those of us who are opposed to the state handouts to the Eisteddfod can opt out of paying VAT, on the grounds that Mexican tap dancers and Belgian belly dancers add very little to the Welsh economy.

One only has to remember the rioting in England to see what happens when obedience to the law and respect for authority becomes a pick ‘n’ mix free-for-all. You end up with chaos, anarchy, and the deranged rage of an out-of-control minority dictating terms to the majority – in many ways, a bit like what happens whenever Plaid Cymru gains power in the Principality.

We cannot agree with everything in the letter but it does have one important central point: can any party legitimately claim to be a party of government when it advocates law-breaking and opts for token protest rather than using the democratic process to achieve its ends?

Plaid Cymru and Gaddafi

Freedom Central — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 08:32:19 +0000

This morning’s Western Mail carries one of the more unusual political stories for some time, complete with fervent denials by senior politicians all keen to distance themselves from it.

The paper reports that a delegation from Plaid Cymru, including future AM, the late Professor Phil Williams visited Libya in the 1970s in the hope that Colonel Gaddafi would share some of his lucrative oil revenues with the party. However, they returned empty handed when it became clear that the dictator expected them to ‘move forward to the next stage of revolution, which was obviously a euphemism for engaging in acts of violence.’

The source said it was understood the group from Plaid had been staying in a hotel in the centre of Tripoli whose other guests included representatives of a Protestant paramilitary group from Northern Ireland.

“Phil was mortified when he saw them in the hotel lobby,” said the Plaid source. “He didn’t want to have anything to do with them and covered his face with an upside down copy of the local English language newspaper to avoid being seen.”

In the early decades of his rule, Gaddafi supported militant organisations that held anti-Western sympathies around the world. He is believed to have funded a number of militant groups in the Philippines, including the New People’s Army of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

In Indonesia, the Organisasi Papua Merdeka was a Libyan-backed militant group. In Australia he is said to have attempted to radicalise Aborigines, left-wing unions and Arab Australians against the “imperialist” government. In New Zealand he financed the Workers Revolutionary Party and attempted to radicalise Maoris.

Gaddafi’s attitude to the minority, indigenous Berbers was unlikely to endear him to Plaid. In a 1985 speech, he said of the Berber language: “If your mother transmits you this language, she nourishes you with the milk of the colonialist, she feeds you their poison”.

The Berber language was banned from schools, and up until 2009 it was illegal for parents to name their children with Berber names.

What is most startling about this story is the sheer naivety of PLaid Cymru in thinking that they could find common cause with Gaddafi. That is a view that appears to be shared by some of their most senior figures:

Former Plaid president Lord Wigley, a close friend of Prof Williams’ who wrote a seminal work with him in 1970 called An Economic Plan for Wales, said: “This is a very long time ago, but I remember that Phil did go to Libya and didn’t like what he saw.

“We have always been opposed to violence and Phil would not have tolerated any suggestion of that kind for a minute. Plaid has always had strong international links, but most of them are with national minority groups.

“I seem to remember that some people came to one of our conferences from the Libyan Embassy, and I recall there was talk of exporting lamb and sheep products to Libya. I don’t think I ever met them, but it’s possible there could have been a delegation that met me at the House of Commons.”

Willa fuller story ever emerge? Not if Plaid Cymu have anything to do with it.

Sisterly Love?

Freedom Central — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:30:40 +0000

The BBC yesterday carried what seemed like a fairly routine piece about former Assembly Member, Helen Mary Jones and her quest to find a new job so as to put food on the table for her daughter and herself:

Ms Jones has had a testing few months too and followers of her Twitter feed will have read the latest developments in her job hunt over the summer.

The former Llanelli assembly member, who lost out to Labour in May’s election, is now among thousands facing a difficult job market.

She said she signed on for Jobseeker’s Allowance with a “heavy heart”, but was quickly brought down to earth when she saw others out of work in worse situations than hers.

Ms Jones, 51, said: “Anybody out of work is anxious and if you’re a single parent you’re more anxious.

“I went to sign on with a heavy heart, but it puts what happened to me into perspective.”

She added: “You just think, ‘Pull yourself together Jones’.”

She said she wanted to turn her back on politics in the days after the election result, but was persuaded to change her mind by friends, including Plaid AM Leanne Wood.

However, she is undecided about whether she will try to return as a front-line elected politician.

She said: “I honestly don’t know. People keep stopping me and saying you will be back. I think, ‘Will I?’.

“I’m currently looking for another job. I hope it’s a job where I can make a difference. Bottom line is it needs to be paying money to keep myself and my daughter.”

So far, so very uneventful. However, one person’s reaction to this narrative has turned this into a much more extraordinary story. Writing on her Facebook profile, Helen Mary Jones’ sister, Myfanwy Alexander was less than impressed:

She signs on despite having three houses, one of which was bought for her by the tax-payer, and a year of salary to tide her over. Sorry to have to say this about a member of my own family but this is a bloody disgrace. Live on the quarter million you alone inherited from dad before asking for hand-outs.

In comments on the post Ms. Alexander elaborates on her initial thoughts. She accuses the former Plaid Cymru AM for Llanelli of building up a property portfolio for her daughter and then adds:

she talks a very good talk. She is rich yet takes dole from minimum wage tax payers. And in terms of family solidarity, she was to one who put a price upon it and not at all in a caring, socialist way.

Not the best way for Ms Jones to start a campaign to become National Chair of Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru go back to basics

Newswire — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 09:40:07 +0000

Matt Withers in this morning’s Wales on Sunday highlights the main selling point of Plaid Cymru’s Elin Jones as she makes a bid for her party’s leadership. She wants to put Independence back on the agenda of Welsh politics.

This appeal to the grassroots will suit the other parties down to the ground. After all why would anybody want to vote for a narrowly focussed nationalist party that is concentrating entirely on constitutional issues and has nothing constructive to say on the economy, education or health? It will certainly make for an interesting contest once it gets underway.

No doubt the Welsh language will feature heavily as well, leading us to question which potential leadership contender pulled out of a fringe meeting in last month’s Eisteddfod because one of the expert contributors would be speaking English? Apparently, the contender in question was concerned that an appearance on the Maes in a bilingual meeting would upset too many activists and undermine their campaign for leader.

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.”

The perils of social networking

Freedom Central — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 14:22:54 +0000

This morning’s Western Mail reports that one of Labour’s new Assembly Members has fallen foul of an impersonation scam on Twitter within days of being elected:

Keith Davies, who represents Llanelli, has also called in the police to see if any laws have been broken in the creation of the account on the popular micro-blogging site.

The feed, under the name @KeithDaviesAM, has been tweeting since May 9. Containing a picture of Mr Davies with First Minister Carwyn Jones and a link to Welsh Labour’s website, it has been publishing messages under his name in both Welsh and English.

The AM believes it has been created by Plaid Cymru rivals. While most tweets from the account seem innocuous, Mr Davies said he thought repeated references to his gardening – at times he would be expected to be at work – and tea-drinking were an attempt to paint him as an old man not doing his job.

Plaid Cymru have denied any involvement, whilst Twitter is investigating. Anybody can become the victim of this sort of scam though clearly the perpetrators do not understand that even new Assembly Members have very little time for gardening.

Call for Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Leader to apologise

Freedom Central — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:16:32 +0000

A leading Plaid Cymru blog has called on the party’s Parliamentary Leader to apologise after he allegedly misled the public on last night’s Question Time with regards to Plaid’s policy on nuclear power.

Syniadau say that Mr. Llwyd tried to make a distinction between “new” nuclear power stations and the building of new reactors at existing nuclear power stations, claiming that Plaid was not necessarily against an expansion of the Wylfa site and that they had voted for this policy in Conference. They go onto claim that this is totally disingenuous on his part, because neither the motion nor the amendment actually said this.

One golden rule of public life is that if you don’t understand what you’re talking about, it’s better not to say anything. The last thing we need as a party is for our MPs to start making up policy as they go along. But on the other hand this is so blatant a fabrication, and such a wanton distortion of the truth, that I suspect he deliberately chose to misrepresent what happened at Conference. It is no secret that some in the party leadership do not like policy being decided by the membership; but if he thinks he can force the party to accept the change in policy he wants because the membership won’t speak out so as to maintain a semblance of unity, he’s miscalculated badly. This subject is too important to fudge.

Plaid Cymru are in complete disarray on this subject with their leaders publicly contradicting their membership.