Sunday, April 01, 2007

Free prescriptions


Today marks one landmark policy of the Welsh Assembly Government with the introduction of free prescriptions in Wales. Barry and I marked the event in Llanberis yesterday.

61 comments:

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flatstomach99 said...

Free prescriptions. That's great news!

Drink lots of tea with the benefits of all those antioxidants too.

Labour seems to be marching on. And Plaid Cymru's Alan Fred, well, he will be able to benefit from the above free prescriptions and smoke-free wine bar.

He'll have more time to blog, so we may yet read him.

People are concerned about Arfon and why Plaid Cymru has not done anything of note here, despite Labour providing tonnes of Objective One investment for them.

Because of Plaid Cymru, one of Arfon's best exports are its skilled young people, who go away where all the action is.

Gwynedd is the perfect exemplar of how they would, if they ever could, run Wales.

That is more than enough incentive for the good people of Arfon to send Alan Fred a strong message.

"Good riddance, matey!"

Then, next year to clear out the dead wood led by Parry Hughes & Co.

Why did I not see the light 20 years ago. This is so cathartic now, i just hope it's not too late for the good people of Gwynedd.

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Aled said...

It amazing how the Plaid Cymru poodles do not have one good word to say about free prescriptions.

Perhaps they have been spending too much time talking their pals in the Tory party that they have forgotten about the benefits of a free NHS...

But well done Labour for introducing this - yet another huge step forward, yet another achievement for the real party of Wales.

Roll on the May elections and Arfon's first Labour AM.

Cymro said...
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Aled said...

Cymro - I hate to tell you this but Plaid Cymru's support was not needed to push through the Labour party motion for free prescriptions.

Still nothing like another Plaid poodle lie to get in the way of the truth.

I've been thinking about this whole Plaid Cymru/Tory pact - something Cymro still won't rule out or say he's ashamed of.

Yet at the same time he is still claims to be a "socialist" - I mean socialists would ofcourse jump at the chance of a pact with the Tories wouldn't they.

But I'd even go one step further.

When David Wigley was disposed of as Plaid Leader - it was all because of his right wing views. Thats why they got rid of him and put in left leaning Ellis Thomas instead.

I know this for a fact - not that it was a secret - as I was a Plaid member at the time.

Now David Wigley's right wing views could all came from his birthplace and upbringing in Derby England - it was only later that he changed his name to Dafydd after all.

(Perhaps Cymro can explain how and when this happened...)

But is it part of the deal between Plaid and the Tories that David Wigley would be brought back into the political fray as his views are most closely aligned with the Tories than Ieaun Wyn Jones?

Is it because David Wigley would be able to stomach agreeing to right policies that the Tories would demand as part of a grubby power sharing deal?

Not in my name - thats why I'm voting Labbour this time and will not support Plaid, the party I've voted for for 20 years...

Cymro said...
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Aled said...
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Aled said...

Cymro for a man that has so many questions you really do have so few answers.

Bit like your party really - who have no answers to any of the issues facing Wales today.

Unlike Labour who have just introduce the free prescriptions you have yet to thank Labour for.

As to my other questions, I ask again:

1) When and why did English born David Wigley become "Dafydd" Wigley?

2) Has right wing David Wigley been brought back as a Plaid Cymru candidate as part of their pact with the Tories?

3) Why do you as a so called "socialist" welcome your party's pact with the Tories?

4) will you feel proud of yourself the morning after the next assembly elections if Plaid let the Tories in through the back door and allow them to govern Wales in your name?

Cymro said...
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Aled said...

So no answers then Cymro - just like your party...

Anyway have another good night posting away to youself to your hearts content.

I'll await the answers to my questions.

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flatstomach99 said...

Hey Cymro, you demented spammer. Stop posting the same copy/pasted message here, over and over again.

You don't add any value, you're just a sad spammer!! There again, tyhat perhaps says it all about Plaid Cymru: Same old story, no value, and truly bad for Wales.

Cymro said...
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Aled said...

LETS HAVE A TRUCE...

Martin - may I make a suggestion.

I seriously thinks it time for some consideration to be given to the need to introduce some moderation of comments unless posters stop abusing the openness of this blog.

Not in order to censure people's views - least of all those that disagree with what you believe.

After all I'm sure you welcome the interest in your site from people of all political persuasions - and an exchange of ideas is never a bad things.

Thats why I think Menai/Alwyn and other Plaid Cymru members actually bring something to this site.

They stimulate debate. You can have an interesting exchange of ideas. Nothing wrong with this.

However when that debate is stifled by mischief making and plain spamming, I believe it has to stop.

Now some people might think that by spamming your site they would harm your blog.

I actually think they are wrong and any one coming on this site and witnessing the spoiler tactics being used by one individual will only harm Plaid's chances.

Whilst I've laid my cards on the table - and said I will be voting Labour instead of Plaid for the first time - I would rather votes be won and lost by a proper debate between the candidates.

And a proper debate between candidates and the public.

Unfortunately the activities of a minority on this website fail to achieve this.

So lets have the genuine debate between Plaid cymru members and others going on this site. Its this exchange of ideas that motivates people to get involved in politics and ultimately vote but lets do this in a way that doesnt give politics a bad name - and especially Plaid Cymru who I can see cymru is very passionate about...even if his actions sometimes do his party more harm than good.

After all there should be no need for enforced moderation on this site. We are all adults. We are all passionate about our views - but surely there are better ways of expressing them then bombarding this site with ten messages at a time...

Cymro said...

Martin, in direct response to the above comments, I am very glad that you personally have adopted a very liberal and democratic approach to moderation. However, I do hope that you appeciate my desire for you to reply to the issues I raise.

If it is necessary to repeat the message until you do, then I will do so. Thank you.

Cymro said...
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Cymro said...

In 1997, pension funds could reclaim the 20% tax imposed on dividend income. Until Labour came along. What is clear from the official documents released over the weekend by the Treasury is that civil servants realised there could be many unintended consequences of such a tax grab.

The chancellor bet that the benign economic environment would continue and pension funds would easily cope, just as the Tories had earlier.
Civil servants said corporates could make up the difference, but they would struggle if there was a drop in stock market values. Three years later we had a stock market crash.

Gordon Brown didn't read his civil servants' analysis or he didn't much care, because there were plenty of caveats, expressed in bold type, throughout the advice he received. Officials said pension funds were more delicately poised than he supposed, and stripping them of the dividend tax credit should be approached more cautiously.

Increasing life expectancy, the cost of final salary guarantees, low interest rates and the decline in investment returns are more fundamental problems - but the attitude that pensions were something to be plundered rather than carefully managed, and that the proceeds should fund other priorities reminds everyone of Robert Maxwell.

Cymro said...

To Aled: I did try to find answers to your four questions today but didn't get very far. However, nobody should be scrutinized over race, religion or place of birth. What is known is that Dafydd Wigley was raised in the area of Llanwnda, had friends here, talks Welsh of the highest standard and went to school in Caernarfon.

Dafydd Wigley is no part of the pact with the Tories. He has suffereed a cardiac problem, which is why he stepped down as leader, MP and AM. He is now recovered, and still stands for equality and social justice in Wales.

There is no pact with the Tories, and ther has never been any mention of this. Plaid Cymru is, and will remain a socialist party. All that has been said is that Plaid Cymru will talk to any party that wants a bright future for Wales, including Labour.
No type of coalition can be ruled out, but what will be ruled out is any move that does not agree with the core values of Plaid Cymru.

I agree, I would feel thoroughly ashamed if the Tories were allowed to gain power in Wales. Fortunately, this will not happen - since no socially irresponsible moves would be a bargaining chip in coalition talks. This is what is meant by partnership on Plaid Cymru's terms.

I hope this answers the questions - and I hope that you appreciate why it was not possible for me to reply instantly. Now that I have answered, I hope that Martin will do the same.

Aled said...

Thanks you Cymro - see it is possible for us to be civil :-)