Taking a Liberty?

After a brief absence, Rantin’ Ray Welsby is back on familiar ground, i.e. the Evening Post website, where he demands that Swansea Council come clean about yet another alleged scandal at Liberty Stadium. His latest claim is that the local authority has not received any rent for use of the £33 million facility since it was built at public expense in 2005. He adds that the council-owned hospitality box has only raised £2000 from hirings during the same period.

Swansea Stadium Management Company, formerly StadCo, and which has a 50 year lease to run the stadium is made up of the Swans, Ospreys and Swansea Council on an equal thirds basis. However, it is believed that the company has persistently failed to file accounts and that a number of stadium staff are actually council employees on ‘secondment’.

Welsby’s comments could be linked to reported legal disputes between the council and the management company over structural & public safety issues which have sparked rumours that a substantial sum of money is still owed to the stadium’s maintenance fund. There is also a threatened legal action by Landore councillor Rob Speht over promised travel plans that have never materialised despite promises by stadium bosses.

The former Clase councillor has issued a challenge to the council leadership to make a statement one way or another and it will be interesting to see if he actually gets a response – or if his claims are reported in the local press.

Should the allegations be substantiated, and the indications are that he is fairly accurate, then it will raise further serious questions about political & corporate capabilities at Swansea Council. More importantly, it will put a spotlight on an indefensible situation - which supposedly has cross-party approval - whereby school closures are regarded as a preferable option for saving public money than forcing privately-owned sporting clubs to pay their bills.
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(JX)

Cost of comunications

Some might think that Peter Black is a little misdirected in only taking MPs to task for their apparent ‘re-think’ on the use of communications allowances as part of their expenses package.

Back in September, the Daily Telegraph revealed how that up to March 2008, officials at Lib Dem national headquarters were tutoring MPs on how to exploit the arrangements which included advice on the use of "grey areas" to get questionable spending through and were told: "There is lots of scope... so be imaginative!"

Party leaders have all been talking the talk about "cleaning up Westminster" but the party machines have long considered the £10,040-a-year communications allowance per sitting candidate as very handy supplement to electioneering budgets - and so they shall remain it seems.

The joys of devolution - revisited

Funny how things change. Not too long ago, the (then) Labour junior health minister Ben Bradshaw described a Welsh Assembly action to provide free parking at hospitals as "one of the joys of devolution" with barely concealed condescension.

Today, Health secretary Andy Burnham outlined proposals to phase out hospital parking charges in England for in-patients and some out-patients which he says have caused "great resentment".

The Beeb say that he has pledged a ‘fairer’ system for relatives and friends of people admitted to hospital and will be looking at whether to abolish fees for all in-patients' visitors - or just those admitted for a long stay.

¿Dónde está Che?

What's happened to Che-Gravara of Guerilla Welsh-Fare?

Where would the Daily Mail be without Lembit?

We were interested in a recent comment to our 2009 Awards post which recommended (in so many words) that we include a Daily Mail award for crap research. We sort of take the point but also have to confess that we enjoy the odd interesting tale about Lembit that appears on their pages from time to time.

Even so, the sparsity of stuff on their website – which includes an item on state monitoring of phone and e-mail records that everyone else was reporting six weeks ago – does suggest that they could have done with a tsunami or something over the seasonal hols. In the meantime, they’ll just have to make do with “more PC lunacy” – by err ... the police.

Headlines

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Battle lines drawn on fox hunting

26 December 2009

A Christmas Tale

Real news is already drying up as the Christmas hiatus approaches. Witness today’s Independent which carries the bizarre story that Gordon Brown could be asked to stand down as Labour leader in the new year but would be allowed to stay as Prime Minister until the general election - which Labour would fight under a new leader.

The paper describes the plan as “astonishing” but still dedicates a thousand or so words to the suggestion emanating from ‘senior Labour figures’ (presumably during a senior moment) who are alleged to claim it would boost the party's election prospects without humiliating Mr Brown. Apparently, the new Labour leader would take part in the three TV election debates with David Cameron and Nick Clegg announced this week.

The strategy – if such a move can actually merit the name – is being dubbed as "the Aznar option" which refers to the unsuccessful attempt in 2003 by former Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar to keep his Popular Party in power. Others within the party are understandably said to be using quite a different description - but which also begins with 'A'.

Political editor Andrew Grice, who penned the article, states that "Labour probably won't go for the Aznar option. But the fact it is even being discussed is a sign that, despite the mini-recovery in the polls, many Labour figures are still braced for election defeat".

The last bit might be true but how may Labour turkeys would vote to give Cameron & Co the best Christmas present they could hope to receive? The question is rhetorical, of course.

Headlines

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Council ponders gypsy site locations

23 December 2009

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photo: patheticphotos.com

Bad advice gets councillor in trouble

We see that the outcome of yesterday’s disciplinary hearing confirmed an earlier Ombudsman ruling that Swansea council cabinet member Mary Jones breached the code of conduct. But they concluded that no action should be taken against the Lib Dem councillor.

The three member Adjudication Panel decided that advice given to Jones by the Council’s head legal dude that she did not need to declare an interest when taking part in an appointments meeting – even though her husband was a candidate – was dubious to say the least. We hear that a number of Swansea councillors have picked up on the very same point.

Meanwhile, Tawe Talk has helpfully provided a link to the council’s Standards Committee which clarifies how a £5000 indemnity was recommended for Councillor Jones who has responsibility for legal services within her portfolio.

Ghosts in the machine

In a move that is seen as a model for local government under a Cameron administration, tory-run Essex County Council is to privatise services through a £5.4 billion deal with IBM. It is claimed that the eight-year contract between the technology giant and local authority will ‘transform’ service delivery and save 20 per cent of the council's annual £1.2 billion budget within three years.

Sounds familiar don’t it? It is to be hoped that Swansea tory Rene Kinzett who led the scrutiny enquiry into the ill-fated Shambles@Swansea IT project has made his party chairman fully aware of the possible downside.

Awards

So as another year draws to a close, it’s time to announce the winners of the 2009 Inside Out Awards. As ever, these are made in sincere recognition of the contribution made by the individuals named towards this blogsite:

Devolution Champion of the Year
This year’s award is shared between Martyn Jones Labour MP for Clwyd South and Swansea Lib Dem councillor Peter May (also Swansea West PPC) for their spectacular confusion as to who-actually-does-what in Wales.

Social Networker of the Year
A clear winner is Lib Dem Sean Aspey who wore what the media claimed was a ‘Nazi storm-trooper’ to a fancy dress party. The ‘outgoing’ Porthcawl councillor lived up to his Facebook description when he was suspended after a photo appeared on his site. He was later reinstated.

The Family Planning Award
No surprise that the 2009 award is jointly presented to Swansea councillors Wendy Fitzgerald & Alan Robinson for their novel approach to social engineering via eugenics and for the creative denials they issued afterwards – instead of keeping their traps shut.

Crap Marksman of the Year
This prestigious accolade goes to Martin Shipton for taking numerous ineffectual pot-shots at tory leader Nick Bourne; thus confirming that the Western Mail has as much direct impact on political issues as spit on concrete.

Planning Watchdog of the Year
Awarded to party-switching Sticky Dick Lewis for demanding the demolition of a millionaire’s mansion in Gower. This came not long after his claims that he ‘missed’ the application the first time around - and despite allegations that he met up with the owner beforehand.

“Oh Bollocks” Award
The unanimous view was that this should go to Swansea Labour leader David Phillips for managing to lose three group members during 2009 and for allowing himself to get stuffed after social workers failed to confirm his claims about children being put at risk.

Fascist Twat of the Year
Despite a number of contenders, the award goes to Roger Phillips, BNP deputy organiser for West Wales who came to prominence after goods supplied by his Patriotic Products Ltd were deemed offensive by Premier League clubs. Phillips is currently under investigation for allegedly making threats to kill anti-fascist campaigner Mark Watson.

Property speculator of the Year
Judges felt the clear winner was tory AM Alun Cairns, who was reported to have lobbied fellow members so he could carry on claiming for a second home just miles from his constituency and then approached an estate agent about renting it out when the rules changed.

Comedian of the Year
Whoever wrote the claim recently regurgitated by some council cabinet non-entity that "Swansea clearly remains the regional retail centre of south-west Wales". (Judges have not been able to identify the arsehole in question but will ensure that he gets what's coming to him).

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and finally, the

Peter Black Award

Goes to ............ Peter Black - who else?

BNP facing Electoral Commission probe

Having made a big stink in the past about Peter Hain’s expenses, the BNP find themselves facing serious questions from the Electoral Commission and the possibility of a former treasurer facing criminal proceedings for delivering “inadequate accounts”.

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission stated they had “a number of concerns” about the financial statements and the inadequate records referred to in Nick Griffin’s annual report. They have urgently requested more detailed information about the inadequacies from the party’s auditors. The BNP has until 8 January to reply, after which the Electoral Commission will consider what further action to take.

These dodgy dealings are causing rebellion and defections at a senior level with individuals such as Chris Jackson posting attacks on a constitutional arrangement that gives leader Nick Griffin dictator status. But then again, what the **** did he expect from a fascist organisation anyway?

Jackson, who along with other activists is defecting to the National Front, lays the blame for the party’s latest woes at the doorstep of Jim Dowson, a major fundraiser who holds an undefined role in the party but is a big gun at the right-wing campaign group LifeLeague UK. Dowson is supposed to be one of a small group behind the move to ‘assimilate’ the BNP into mainstream politics by opening up membership eligibility to non-whites. Besides being a serious benefactor, the Belfast-based consultant also provided a property near Valencia in Spain which was hired out to the BNP as a management training centre for party officers.

There is no evidence if Roger Phillips, West Wales deputy organiser, was present at these events but there is a suspicion that he drew upon Dowson’s backing to set up his Patriotic Products outfit. The company which sold golliwogs and offensive material in football club colours is no longer trading after complaints by Premier League. ‘Dodger’ Phillips continues to elude the press although he was spotted in Ammanford over the weekend and he continues to assist Avon and Somerset police after allegedly making threats to kill anti-fascist campaigner Mark Watson.

CCTV record under surveillance

Politicians often find it difficult to practice what they preach - and even harder to explain their hypocrisy away afterwards.

That's why we’re sort of interested in how Swansea's Lib Dems are able equate the lofty sentiments expressed by some of their number about civil liberties with the fact that a local authority they control has by far the highest number of municipal CCTV cameras in Wales.

(And yet conviction rates based on video evidence submitted at city courts are reported to be substantially below the national average).

Hearing reconvenes

Just a quick reminder that a disciplinary panel sits tomorrow at (see update) in the Port Eynon or Langland Suite of the Marriott Hotel, Swansea to hear more about how a senior council cabinet member fell foul of the Ombudsman for taking part in the appointment of ‘a close relative’ to a school governing body.

As mentioned last month, it is understood that Mary Jones, cabinet member for business improvement & efficiency will be represented at the reconvened hearing by a London-based legal firm at sizeable public expense. However, there is some confusion over whether she was acting in her cabinet role, rather than as an appointments committee member, at the time she breached the code of conduct.

We anticipate that discussions over this point and several other issues will reported in the local press following the hearing. Or is that expectation just a bit naive?

Update: We've received an anonymous comment stating that the hearing convenes at 9.15am and not 10am. (Link)

Misinterpretation

Peter Black feels it is vital that we all understand the reasoning behind a further Lib Dem policy adjustment over tuition fees. But based on the coverage of Mr Clegg's statement, no-one else seems to give much of a toss whether it was misinterpreted or not.

Big fish and small pools

The concern raised by the Assembly’s Presiding Officer at the prospect of a prime minister David Cameron making himself available to answer questions at the Senedd is more about marking out political turf than any worries over ‘constitutional confusion’.

For all the appearance of a rediscovered radical edge to his outlook, his many detractors will point out that Dav-El’s distaste for anachronistic institutions at Westminister has never quite extended to him giving up his peerage.

Headlines

Master of evil makes a comeback

WM - 18 December 2009

Smoke and figures

Back on the smoke and mirrors emissions and vision angle, Matthew Elliot of the Taxpayers Alliance has produced a challenging piece of research entitled “Ending the Green Rip-off”. (Full report).

The thrust of his findings is that UK citizens coughed up £24.6 billion in “green taxes” in 2008 when the ‘social cost’ of emissions and other activities affecting the environment was actually £4.6 billion.

Unsurprisingly, the TPA conclusion is that these figures demonstrate a fundamentally flawed agenda on climate change which places an unfair and unnecessary burden on each resident by forcing them to pay what amounts to additional taxation through rising energy prices, car tax and fuel duty.

The report published today by the campaign group includes calculations for every local authority in the UK. It is an entirely plausible read; if the only criteria to be applied is monetary. It also lists a series of solutions which read a lot like a manifesto – but what doesn’t these days.

No doubt we can expect similarly subjective reaction from a number of quarters claiming that the TPA have only succeeded in confirming that they know the price of everything but cannot assign a value.

Hey-ho.

E is for ... ?

Today’s Western Mail provides Peter Black with space to expound on the valuable contributions that Facebook and Twitter can make in helping politicians like him interface with the public.

If you try hard, you can almost detect a tinge of sincerity behind the yada yada about social-networking and fledgling online-democracy. So what if the approach only generates comparatively low e-numbers (so to speak) - at least you can feel that it is an attempt at engagement.

But the credibility all comes apart at the end when he prosaically claims:
"... in my mind, that little 'e' in e-democracy stands for much more than 'electronic'. For it to be truly meaningful we must also make it stand for a few other words – ones that do not smack of an attempt to be part of the zeitgeist – words such as 'egalitarian' and 'equality of access'. Or maybe just 'everyone'."

As if it didn't also stand for 'ego'.

Pictured in Copenhagen

One of these two people is a skilled self-publicist & survivor with an assertive personality who has used a series of smart career moves over the years to get to the top and gain a small measure of credibility in the process.

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The other is governor of California.

Devolution and dipsticks

Seems we have another Westminster type with a fuzzy grasp on devolved powers. According to a recent post by Betsan Powys, Labour MP for Clwyd South Martyn Jones, has put out a press release calling for free prescriptions for people in his constituency(?)

This is the same self-possessed individual who put a series of questions on key differences between NHS policies in England and Wales to health minister Edwina Hart when she recently appeared before the Welsh Affairs Select Committee. It's a pity he didn't take notes.

An informant tells us that a junior whip on hearing about the mishap rolled his eyes and mumbled, “The twat probably thinks we still run India as well.”

Bridge charges taking their toll

It might seem like small potatoes compared to the macro-economic circles that minister move within, but the point made by Jenny Randerson on bridge tolls is as much a part of the recovery agenda nonetheless.

As an opposition, the Lib Dems are doing their job. Based on the reports of inactivity and accompanying comments from business groups, there appears to be a question mark as to whether IWJ and the gang are doing theirs.

Headlines

Retail boom bucks recession trend

14 December 2009

Clocking up votes

The Sunday Times reports that Gordon Brown could call a ‘snap’ election on 25 March whilst the Beeb states that Cameron is up for it. Serious sources are involved in both cases, but would either party really risk a low turnout by asking voters to venture out in the dark when the clocks go forward at the end of the same month?

Fascists run true to form

Wales On Sunday reports that BNP ‘entrepreneur’ Roger Phillips is being investigated by police for making alleged death threats against an independent film maker who posted footage of him on YouTube.

Bristol-based Mark Watson claims that Phillips, who is BNP deputy organiser for West Wales, made a threatening call lasting 12 minutes in which he loudly swore down the phone about being filmed. All a bit ironic given his use of the same medium to expose the looming lefty, muslim and eastern European conspiracy or something.

According to the film-maker’s supporters, Phillips is currently living in a camper van somewhere to avoid media contact although it is claimed that an ITV Wales news-crew did manage to record him running away.

Note: An interesting suggestion that appears on one of Watson’s videos is to send off half a dozen empty envelopes to British Heritage, Freepost – which is a BNP front organisation. Apparently, each letter costs the party 42 pence.

Rumours of tory rift in Swansea

We’re getting repeated heavy hints that all is not well between local tory Rene Kinzett and the Swansea West party ‘machine’. Unsympathetic sources claim that association heavyweights are annoyed he is not putting in the necessary hours expected of a serious parliamentary contender this close to an election.

Rockin’ Rene, who holds down a weekday public sector PR job in London, was reportedly absent during a visit by some tory knob to the city yesterday – although there is no evidence that he was actually invited. Unsurprisingly, his political opponents are keen to point out that both scenarios demonstrate Kinzett’s diminishing role within a party that has pretty much abandoned any hope of capturing the marginal Labour seat and is now concentrating its efforts on Gower.

In energetic contrast, his Lib Dem nemesis and former colleague, Peter May, has been seen glad-handing at a succession of community events whilst getting his mug into the press. There have even been sporadic reported sightings of the Croydon Phantom abroad in the constituency. This activity, it is claimed by detractors, has resulted in disgruntled tory activists demanding a meeting with the candidate.

Kinzett’s other role as part-time leader of a 4-strong tory group on Swansea Council is also causing friction, according to an elderly colleague who is currently seeking a free transfer back to the ruling coalition. The accusation levelled against the Mayals councillor is that he has paid scant lip service to a job which he regards as little more than a useful parliamentary stepping stone.

Similarly embittered sources have also volunteered that party bosses fear Kinzett’s more forthright Twitter comments are a political embarrassment waiting to happen. This at least has a ring of truth about it. Any unintentional but serious slip-up on his part would be manna for other parties and guaranteed to get media coverage given his self-made profile. A consequent poor tory showing in the polls which somehow saw Labour clinging on to Swansea West would be considered unforgivable by local party workers and Central Office. It would almost definitely deny Kinzett a future stab at a safer seat closer to the London smoke.

But despite the premature Schadenfreude, Kinzett remains one of the few interesting politicians on the Swansea scene - and it is that uncomfortable thought which is probably behind all these tales of discord. Whatever truth behind the rumours, he should regard it as a compliment that his opponents see him as enough of threat to be so actively passing them on.

Fisticuffs

We’re told that a recent Swansea council meeting finished in scuffles between two members. The identities of the individuals engaged in what an observer described as a “robust exchange in the corridors” have not been confirmed - but the clecs are that a cabinet member and a scrutiny committee chairman were involved.

From all the reports received of bum-numbing marathon sessions in the council chamber, it’s difficult to imagine what issue could possibly have generated sufficient passion within the chamber, let alone outside. Perhaps the Ombudsman will find out.

Headlines

Bell tower expense claim "grotesque"

11 December 2009

Cabinet details

Betsan Powys comes in first with details of the new cabinet

Carwyn Jones - First Minister
Ieuan Wyn Jones - Deputy First Minister, Economy and Transport
Jane Hutt - Business and Budget
Edwina Hart - Health and Social Services
Jane Davidson - Environment, Sustainability and Housing
Leighton Andrews - Education, Children and Lifelong learning
Carl Sargeant - Social Justice and Local Government
Elin Jones - Rural Affairs
Alun Ffred Jones - Culture

Deputies:
Lesley Griffiths - Skills, Innovation and Science
Jocelyn Davies - Housing and Regeneration
Gwenda Thomas - Social Services
Huw Lewis - Children
John Griffiths - Counsel General and Leader of the Legislative Programme

Highlights: No places for Andrew Davies and Brian Gibbons who announced they are standing down at the next election. Apparently Jane Davidson still has important stuff do do. Leighton gets Education and Huwey gets to be his deputy.

Foxtrot Oscar

Enough of the carefully understated tory gloating over Oscar’s defection and the hindsightful rationalisations by Plaid bloggers. It takes Shipton of the Mail to come up with the real dirt.

Passing gas

Underground coal mining in South Wales is making a comeback, albeit in a different form. An outfit specialising in coal gasification plans to conduct drilling tests at locations around the UK coastline and Swansea Bay is on their list. The method of burning coal seams underground and drawing off gas has been around since the 1930’s and is seen as a ‘cleaner’ form of extraction, apparently.

The local media appear to think that the decision by some quango to give permission for drilling equates to winning a prize and even Friends of the Earth have given the idea a cautious welcome. But it remains to be seen if the same will be said by residents when plans are revealed as to how and where the gas might actually come ashore.

And the award for the most inane reason goes to ....

The only nomination in the “best I could come up with” category is Mohammed “Oscar” Ashgar for his explanation as to why he has defected to the Conservative from Plaid Cymru. The South Wales East AM told a press conference, presided over by a very smirky Nick Bourne, that he felt "out of tune" with Plaid policies, and in particular its desire for an independent Wales.

"My politics are very much in line with wanting a stronger Wales within a successful United Kingdom," he said, adding "I am also attracted by the caring Conservatism and policies for change put forward by David Cameron and the Conservative Party at Westminster."

When questioned why he had left it so long to actually decide that he was opposed to independence when it was clearly a long-standing nationalist policy in one form or another, he claimed that he was like "a little parrot in a jungle" and that his squawks were unlikely to influence Plaid's stance either now or in the future. The same appears to be true of other parties that Oscar has joined in the past, according to Betsan Powys.

Ashgar is a former Plaid regional co-ordinator and a member of the party's National Executive Committee. He stood as a Plaid Cymru candidate in the 2005 general election.

Legacy

As the retrospectives roll out on Rodder’s last day in office, we find ourselves relating more with some of the assessments by Gareth Hughes on the First Minister’s achievements rather than the sycophancy appearing elsewhere.

That is not to say that he is undeserving of credit for being a glib & capable operator with a keen survival instinct and possessing an uncanny ability to have the media & electorate indulge him his many failings in the mistaken belief that he was the architect of Welsh devolution instead of just being the maintenance guy.

Whatever progress was made in the last ten years, it has been punctured by failures underpinned by personal dogma and quasi-academic insights. There have been wasted opportunities to improve physical infrastructure – outside greater Cardiff - and which seem destined to be repeated in the future. It may be simplistic but the fact that Wales still remains very much eligible for European aid is probably as telling an example of Rhodri’s legacy as you will get.

Next!

Reforms and rats

It was widely noted among the government watchers that as Gordon Brown faced the cameras this morning to announce yet another wave of public sector reforms, so his advisors were quietly switching ships.

The Times reports that Sir Peter Gershon (as in Gershon Review) and Bernard Gray are to join the Conservatives’ Public Services Productivity Advisory Board. They will be accompanied by Lord Levene, the chairman of Lloyds and Dr Martin Read who beside being the chair of Logica is also leader of the Treasury's operation efficiency review. Also on the team is Lucy Neville-Rolfe of Tesco who has served on government advisory groups.

Brown’s reforms include cuts to quangos, new ministerial approval for public sector fat cats over £150,000, plans to slim down the Civil Service and a promise to put performance data about public services on the internet. The package also includes £3 billion of new efficiency savings which he stated had been identified since the budget, on top of the £9 billion already announced. Around £1.3 billion will come from streamlining the Civil Service.

There is no indication as such from the advisors that they disagree with the planned reforms. It just seems that they think it will be Cameron and not Brown who will be putting them or something very similar into effect.

When petards get hoisted

A letter appears in today’s Evening Post from 15 Swansea social workers who deny whistle-blowing at an earlier meeting with Labour officials that vulnerable children had been forced to spend the night in motorway cafes.

The claims which hit the headlines drew absolute denials from council sources that are now apparently backed up by the signatories who state that nothing of the sort was ever said. They add that they are “not aware of any such incident taking place”. The letter is accompanied by a report of how this week’s council meeting heard demands for the allegations to be withdrawn.

Such an unequivocal denial by the staff involved is seen as a political and personal blow for Labour leader David Phillips who, having had the Lib Dem-led regime on the ropes for some time over its poor stewardship of a key service area, now finds himself and his party of the back foot whilst also refusing to back-peddle on claims of what was actually said.

Equally, Edwina Hart will be less than thrilled to see this latest development. She and her staff expect further questions by press & political opponents over her judgement in getting involved at all. The timing of such queries arising as Assembly cabinet posts are up for apportionment is hardly opportune.

Meanwhile, Swansea’s Lib Dems have gleefully seized upon the opportunity to divert attention from the glaring fact that children’s services has spiralled down into special measures on their watch. Their press releases are certain to repeat earlier demands for a full apology - accompanied by vague assurances of improvements. Other administration figures baited in the past by Phillips for lapses in integrity are said to be returning the favour with relish.

This unhappy outcome for the city’s Labour group was to be expected given that their only perceptible tactic since losing office has been to lay a succession of complicated & well-signalled ambushes for the council’s ruling cabal; sprung in the naive hope that the politically detached local media will somehow join in - thus prompting the controlling coalition to break up out of sheer despair. Some hope.

It was bound to backfire at some time and, as it happens, the Beans on Toast editorial carries a clear condemnation stating “It sounds to us very much as though this claim was made rashly in order to score political points and with no concern for improving the care of children in the city”. Not exactly the most insightful of comments but one that has its consequences nonetheless.

One of these is that the episode will be rightly portrayed in future coverage - not to mention government circles - as supporting evidence that service improvements are too often hampered by cross-party spoiling actions. Another might be to start questions as to whether a party which acts so recklessly should be entrusted with supervising the scrutiny process.

It is a setback for Phillips but, for some observers, it could also be a prompt for Labour in Swansea to perhaps think again on how they can act more like an opposition with their own ideas, comments and alternatives rather than an reactionary administration-in-exile, led (no matter how ably) by a one-man-band. Hopes on that front however are not said to be high.

Note: Due to the inexplicable policy of the Beans on Toast to put anything other than actual news coverage on its website – compared to their sister regional publications in the Northcliffe group - we are unable to provide a link to the story mentioned.

Good science, bad debate

In these days of environmental certainty where the accusation of being a climate change denier carries the same social stigma of admitting hold an RBS directorship, it is interesting to read that the Met Office now plans to review 160 years of temperature data.

The announcement comes, says the Times, after an admission that, “public confidence in the science on man-made global warming has been shattered by leaked e-mails”. Analysis work is scheduled to take three years to complete.

The move reportedly goes against urgings by government ministers – who probably to see an environmental accord at Copenhagen as something along the lines of Gordon’s legacy - in which he actually does save the world. But the close working links between the Met Office and the University of East Anglia’s Climatic Research Unit (CRU), which has figured in claims of temperature data manipulation, makes the action inevitable if scientific credibility is to be re-affirmed.

Met Office sources claim to be confident that the review will verify the figures but also say that there are plans for a new and fully open method of analysing temperature data.

Of course, none of this helps in a debate over climate trends where expert opinion remains as changeable as the weather and it often seems that as much, if not more, effort is expended on rubbishing the respective messengers rather than the message.

If it all comes down, as it so often does, to a matter of trust then it is vital for citizens to feel that a distinction still exists between the respective roles of scientists and politicians. For a great many people, the increasing tendency by both groups to confuse evidence with agendas represents just as big an obstacle for the planet.

Changing places and early doors

What it about the Western Mail? Even when they try to make nice they manage to sound as inappropriate as a Gordon Brown condolence letter. Witness the uncharacteristically generous review of Andrew Davies’ accomplishments as finance minister by Shipton of the Mail. Talk about rubbing salt into a poorly healed wound.

Everyone knows that it was the economic development portfolio that the Swansea West AM most coveted and even periodically managed to hold onto – except for those times when it was given to Mike German and later to Ieuan Wyn Jones as coalition-building concessions. Davies took the finance role on sufferance and as a favour to Rhodri – but he always saw it as a demotion.
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Having decided that a statement about not standing in 2011 equates to a cabinet resignation, Ms Davidson notwithstanding, Shipton reckons that “Carwyn Jones needs to ensure that he has someone he can rely on to do just as efficient a job as finance minister”. Hence the unexpected accolade aimed at Edwina Hart’s for her “political passion, economic know-how .... and an element of ruthlessness” – note the absence however of any mention of ‘leadership’ qualities.

It’s difficult to decide if the article is intended as a speculation piece on the possibility of a baton change or if the paper thinks it is passing on a message. But we shall have to wait till next week to see if the Mail is any more successful in shaping the cabinet as it was in changing the Welsh tory leadership.

But if CJ does move Edwina from health to finance then there might be a few prodigal Unison members finding out that her successor has a very different view on the no-redundancy policies she insisted upon following recent NHS mergers.

Anon anon anon

Could it be coincidence that the anonymous take on Carwyn Jones provided by an unnamed Lib Dem bears a striking similarity to earlier views expressed by Peter Black?

According to the Beeb, The advice from this helpful Lib Dem opponent was that Mr Jones should use his election mandate to turn Labour in Wales into a “real Welsh party”. The suggestion, albeit from a partisan source, was that Labour, for all its claims, has never really embraced devolution properly, and Mr Jones now had an opportunity to change that if he really wanted to.

On Freedom Central, Black states: Furthermore, although Labour may have changed its head it needs to change itself if it is to make a difference. As a party it remains very much UK-focussed, with weak Welsh policy processes and Welsh governance. Whereas all the other UK parties have empowered their Welsh arm (in the case of the Welsh Liberal Democrats 50 years ago), Labour are lagging behind.

Same irrelevant Lib Dem hymn sheet or just the same old singer who is probably feeling a little left out of things? Who cares either way.

Pedantic point: the Lib Dems did not exist 50 years ago – it just feels like it.

Did we miss anything?

With hindsight, attempting a 'quick blog upgrade’ last Sunday night was a crap idea on our part. But the upside of subsequently being unable to post anything for a few days has been an opportunity for more time to read the varied comments & congratulations aimed at Carwyn Jones by Welsh political bloggers.

Reaction in the various camps has been as you would expect. Most Plaid contributors seem split between relief and studied indifference and the same could be said from Labour’s limited observations in which “renewal” is clearly this week’s key word. Those Lib Dem insights on offer go slightly further than the usual obsession with process to suggest that it was them wot really invented devolution – and the new Labour leader would do well to listen. Meanwhile, the real opposition stays almost silent other than muted congratulations on Nick Bourne’s blog

Speculation on who is likely to be in or left out of the new cabinet has momentarily replaced X-Factor press coverage and the reason is understandable.

As one senior Labour source stated to the Western Mail, “Reshuffles always lead to surprises, and even the leader can’t be sure how things work out. Carwyn could have a plan about who he wants in each job, and then everything could change when someone unexpectedly turns down the post they are offered.”

All very true and no-one will be more aware than Carwyn that how he manages this particular process will set the bar for the remainder of his term.

Update: It appears that Andrew Davies has decided to help the process of selection.