Tory backs health reforms

I have caught up with the comments of Tory AM Glyn Davies when he wrote in his blog about the current health reforms :

"And Lee's item on the NHS was well done too. We have all signed up to the Wanless health service reform agenda. We know that the 'no-change' approach is killing thousands of people. We know that there must be some rationalisation of services if we want the best value for money in the NHS. I think we all need to press the integrity button in this debate".

Plaid Cymru calling

Leighton Andrews AM has an interesting angle on the Chris Bryant spoof diary in the Guardian. No doubt some in Plaid Cymru were frothing with excitement at the revelations being made - except it was a spoof !

It seems Leighton's team Cardiff are keeping up their head of steam for the Autumn!
Meanwhile the Baggies keep up my theory of keeping home wins as the return route to the Premiership.

A reminder

I thought this piece in today's Guardian was noteworthy.

This is why.

The latest increase in the national minimum wage shows why Labour is important.

Yes there is a need to use enforce and I have concerns over the situation affecting agency workers from Europe but the basic policy is a fundamental reason for existence. It also exposed the fundamental problem of the Tories who use to rant about millions of jobs being lost. And as I recall Plaid Cymru went home early at the time of the critical votes that pushed the legislation through.

Son et luminere approaches the futures bright

As we approach October let us remember the forthcoming son et luminere in Caernarfon.

No I'm not on commission but we need to make sure this type of project is a success for the benefit of the beautiful and historic town.

Mae angen sicrhau bod y digwyddiad yma yn llwyddiant er lles ein dref.

Remember - the future's bright

Remember that as we enter October it will be agreat time to plan a visit to Caernarfon. The son et luminere show is the perfect time. No I'm not on commission but I do feel this type of event needs to succeed. Go on come and visit our beautiful historic town.

Mae'n amser sicrhau bod y son et luminere yn llwyddiant. Y fath o digwyddiad sydd yn haeddu ein cefnogaeth.

Big Opportunity - Big responsibility

At the foot of Snowdon, in the Arfon constituency, there is the opportunity to develop a major mixed use leisure development in a former slate quarry. Plaid Cymru lead Gwynedd Council has marketed the site, invited expressions of interest and are now evaluating two key options.

One of the projects provides a big opportunity for a major injection of private capital, with the chance to put the area on the international map. It could help transform the economy of the area with a wide range of job opportunities.

Will this opportunity be grasped ?

I hope so - but I also fear the echoes of the same Council when it ran scared of big decisions like they did over Pwllheli marina.

It is a big opportunity and carries a big responsibility. They often lecture us on the economic problems of North West Wales.

Are Plaid Cymru up to the task ?

Lennon without McCartney

I think it was Bono who referred to Blair and Brown as Lennon and McCartney of politics. Well Brown did well in my view given the media vultures hovering for a slip. Blair meanwhile is a master of the modern media/political platform.

My hope is that as the transition evolves Brown will unfold his wings and we will see the depth of the politician who I feel will be our next leader.

House recovering

The Eaglestone house is just recovering from running a combined total of 32. (something) miles yesterday. One member of the family had trained for some months and ran the Anglesey marathon, the other is a little overweigth but managed the Anglesey 10K. You can work out which might be which - but my time was 1.15 !

Away draws - home wins (my boring theory)

Baggies 2-2 at Luton. Keeps up my general theory for the season, and avoids 'club in crisis' headlines.

No comment required !

The BBc report as follows :

"Showbiz entrance for Iwan speech

Shock tactics at the Brangwyn Hall on Saturday, as party president Dafydd Iwan propelled himself towards the conference platform.

With lights dimmed, and music blaring, he brought a touch of showbiz to the proceedings

He marched in from the back of the hall, to the surprise of the delegates who have become accustomed to a more traditional back-stage entrance.

However, the hardened hacks of the Welsh press pack were struck by the fact that Mr Iwan was led to the stage by two flanks of t-shirted "Cymru-X" young party workers, marching in a military style which was more than reminiscent of the presentational style of the politics of the 1930s".

Cymad and Plaid (chapter 2)

The Western Mail tells us that Elfyn Llwyd MP has told his conference

"Elfyn Llwyd got a standing ovation when he called for a “return to honest politics” at the Plaid conference in Swansea".

Anything "honest" you would like to tell us about Cymad Mr llwyd ?

"Tell it as it is" - Dafydd El and Cymad

Guto Thomas of the BBC has an interesting take on Plaid Cymru's conference.

But with the leader today asking his people "to tell it as it is", will the great Lord Elis Thomas tell us more about events at Cymad ?

Sorry - say that again Ieuan !

The Western mail reports that IWJs speech to the conference of the Party of Wales included :

“Wherever people come from, wherever they were born, whatever their background, our message to the people of Wales – whoever you are or whatever your background, whatever your language, whatever background you come from – you are part of the project that is modern Wales.”

I assume with the caveat that you shouldn't bother applying for a job with the brothers and sisters in Gwynedd.

Mainstream and blog as close partners

Today's Western Mail contains more evidence that the mainstream media and the world of blogging are feeding off each other, if a little tensely at times !. North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom has been blogging over recent weeks and I am sure he has found it a very useful way of generating some debate in the media, even hostile reaction. Today's Western Mail is not all sweetness and light :

A simple, naive media? Come off it BrunstromSep
21 2006
Western Mail

North Wales chief constable Richard Brunstrom thinks the media is giving him too hard a time. Well, asks Political Editor Tomos Livingstone, shouldn't he do a bit more to help himself?

RICHARD BRUNSTROM is probably the best-known policeman in Britain - I bet more people know his name than that of Sir Ian Blair, the man who runs the Metropolitan Police.

He made his name with a war on speeding drivers, and yesterday he opened up a new front: a war on the press.

Mr Brunstrom, writing on his blog on the North Wales Police website, said TV news was 'an insult to our intelligence' and the rest of the media 'crave sensationalism and controversy for its own sake'.

Crikey. One wonders if this was the same Mr Brunstrom who dispatched officers to Downing Street after allegations that Tony Blair said something nasty about the Welsh. Perhaps he's forgotten that the only reason those claims came to light was because they were leaked to the Mail on Sunday newspaper.

And this is the same chief constable who called in the press back in 2003 to launch an on-camera attack on a pensioner who had complained about a speeding fine. I remember feeling my intelligence wasn't being given much respect that day either.

Mr Brunstrom owes his title of top-recognised cop - or Prif Copyn to give him his recently-adopted Bardic name - largely due to his ability to get his message across in the media. Because his views are often controversial (and not for their own sake either), he succeeds.

But now this is what he thinks are the problems of the media.

'First, the media's naive and simplistic wish to provide 'balance', which leads to equal airtime for flat-earthers on any topic you care to name despite the weight of evidence.

'Second, they crave sensationalism and controversy for its own sake, often based on out-of-context and simplistic soundbites. This has had a dreadfully debilitating effect on media standards.'

The future, he says is the internet rather than the 'skewed and jaundiced' newspapers and TV.

Relations between police and the press everywhere have always been strained. Most officers know they need some help from the press to solve crime, but are traditionally cagey about giving away too much. Journalists often have to employ a lot of skill (old fashioned stuff like building contacts and asking questions - it's very effective) to get information from forces that are now institutionally secretive.

In North Wales this has got a long way out of hand. On one weekend in August, we know, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act - and journalists at our sister paper the Daily Post in North Wales asking questions - that 1,577 incidents were recorded, but the only ones the press were told about in response to queries were a road accident and a charity race.

Mr Brunstrom thinks it's better to use the internet to get his corporate message across. Fine - why not put a lot more information about real crimes and stories on the website then? And the 'traditional' media might not be so hostile if the police were more helpful.

Swirling in the midst of his attack on the press there is an interesting debate to be had; yes, more people use the internet to get their news - but traditional media brands are still often more reliable and can offer much more.

There is a problem too with the fabled 'balance' on broadcast news in particular - but Mr Brunstrom can't really complain, given that he has benefited from the need to offer opposing views. His position on drugs and on speeding are not exactly mainstream within the police force.

I'm sure he wouldn't just want the Government view on drugs on the TV news every time - and neither should anyone else.

And yes, 24-hour news has led to too many talking heads spouting forth about whatever the topic is, instead of new information.

But Mr Brunstrom's attack just isn't coherent enough to make sense. He's taking a gamble that most people will agree with him, but his experience should teach him that has rarely turned out to be the case".

Pulling Together

The Daily Post has been running letters on the small business/ entrepreunarial / trade union / economy debate. I have decided to chip in as follows if the Post choose to print it.

"Dear editor,

In recent days we have seen a debate involving the Federation of Small Business, Wales TUC and a Conservative Assembly candidate with each looking for a weakness in the others case. I do feel however that our main aim for the coming years must be to harness the energy of small business, the organisational ability of trade unions with the need to take forward the skills agenda, with what Rhodri Morgan has called the "can do" mentality. We will gain most for Wales if we avoid seeing these as conflicting agendas, but accept the challenge of working together for the common good. The employer, the union and the entrepreneur have much to gain from each other and we must avoid building false barriers between us.

Martin Eaglestone

Prospective Assembly Candidate

Labour Party

Arfon constituency"

Robbo - was it the tortoise connection ?

I have it from a good and reliable source that one of Robbo's family recently lost their tortoise in Red House Park, Great Bar, West Bromwich. After many days fruitless searching the tortoise was returned by a stranger who found it in the car park - and the finder had a lovely bunch of flowers in return.

But was the misplaced tortoise the source of Robbo's downfall ? We wait to hear.

This is not a story you'll hear on Sky Sports !!

FT - a bit more depth

You don't have to agree or disagree but I feel this weeks analysis by the Financial Times of the economy/UK over the lst ten years is worth reading. Issues around productivity and Britain's position in the globalised economy, as aganst regional policy. point to many of the tensions that we face in Wales. Perhaps it helps point to Brown's significant skills for economic management but also the tensions that play ay the heart of the Labour movement.

Thanks Robbo

Having watched Robson's years as a West Brom player it is disapointing to see him depart. However football is a harsh game and if the fans/board have doubts over his ability to motivate the players for the months ahead then change seems inevitable.

I somehow feel a message may be on the way to me from Leihgton Andrews AM who is flying high with Cardiff. It is a long season however and the Baggies have a good enough start to see us through.

Vote now - Penyrorsedd

Big interest in the Restoration final - there is only one winner. Vote now for PenyrOrsedd