tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81204783909834038632012-01-28T01:46:09.505ZThe personal musings of Alwyn ap HuwAlwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.comBlogger8811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-16354523986414807562012-01-25T02:41:00.001Z2012-01-25T02:43:02.915Z

Full verion (about 40 mins): Highlights (about 6 mins)

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-35800019072757637312012-01-23T06:04:00.004Z2012-01-23T15:16:14.108Z

Anybody who has ever read this blog will know that Ms Wood and I are poles apart politically. I won't bother to go into specifics, because a simple Google search can do a better job, and a Google search will show, without doubt, that Ms Wood and I are not bedfellows – by a long, long, long way! I'm a right winger; Leanne is very much to my antipathy –she's a horrid lefty! I hate left wing

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-82353492970899401022012-01-19T09:00:00.000Z2012-01-19T09:00:19.700Z

When I left school without the A levels that I needed to fulfil my academic dreams I was put on a job creation programme in my local library. I loved the scheme whilst it lasted! I learned more in those six months than I had learned in a previous lifetime of school. There was something almost magical in handling so many books. Even without reading them, just stamping a book with this book is the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-53668984311023566232012-01-18T04:26:00.001Z2012-01-18T04:41:51.729Z

All of the under twenty - Six Nations home Welsh Rugby international games this year and next, will be played at the new Eirias Park stadium in Colwyn Bay. I would like to urge all supporters of the oval ball in the North to try to attend one or more of these matches. Attending an international match in Cardiff given the cost of transport, ticket and accommodation is way beyond many of us! For

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-84347937732058614892012-01-17T06:05:00.005Z2012-01-17T06:45:55.553Z

In trying to follow the Scottish Independence referendum debate, there is one strain of argument that confuses me. It is the argument where Unionists (usually) ask questions about the policies that an Independent Scottish Government would follow, which are sometimes answered, quite authoritively, by Nationalists. Questions like: What sort of currency would an independent Scotland have? What

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-29169473987313378542012-01-06T05:49:00.003Z2012-01-06T05:57:20.146Z

I have been receiving odd e-mails, comments etc, that suggest that I might be standing election for a New Nationalist Party, as an Independent Nationalist a Plaid Candidate or even as a Conservative Party Candidate for the Llansanffraid ward of Conwy County Council next May! NONE of these rumours are true! I will vote for and give my wholehearted support to the re-election of Graham (Gas) Rees,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-27766821094551357142012-01-03T07:57:00.006Z2012-01-03T08:50:17.177Z

It is no secret that my ideas of centre right Welsh Nationalism are directly opposed to Leanne Wood's Socialism and Republicanism. As I have repeated ad-nausium on this blog socialism is dependent on the state, the state on which Wales now depends is the British state; until we throw off the shackles of state control Wales can never be free! Republicanism is a British obsession. An independent

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-78887507857996769042011-12-20T07:31:00.007Z2011-12-20T15:16:43.286Z

When Simon Thomas was an MP he suggested that Plaid should aim for an independent Wales by 2050, because I am already well into my sixth decade, voting for a party that promises independence by 2050, would be an altruistic act for me, the chances of my living until 2050 are minimal. In an article on Wales Home Adam Price suggests 2036 as the date that the party should advocate for its long term

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-41694424866285012012011-12-18T05:58:00.002Z2011-12-18T06:03:32.726Z

Apparently nobody understands the concept of an Independent Wales, or so says Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas! Despite being an elected member of Plaid, Rhodri's advice to those of us who support Welsh independence is F*** off to Scotland. When I was a member of Plaid in the 1970's and 1980's that was the sort of sh*t I use to hear from Labour and Conservative dinosaurs whilst canvassing ,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-86522217807154834122011-12-11T07:47:00.008Z2011-12-11T08:13:24.214Z

Whatever the result of the Scottish Independence referendum it will affect Wales for better or worse. Whether it is for better or for worse will depend on how Welsh politicians prepare for the result and that preparation should be made now by nationalists and unionists alike. Waiting for the referendum result and playing it by ear after the fact will be bad for Wales. I agree with Jonathan

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-23843565125546440182011-12-06T05:28:00.004Z2011-12-09T03:41:58.434Z

Standards & Poor's is a company, nothing more nothing less; but it has just threatened 15 Euro Zone countries with downgrading their creditworthiness and those sovereign countries are expected to react to this single company's musings by changing economic policies that will affect over half a billion citizens. When a single company can dictate economic policy to 15 countries and half a billion

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-36078645603852783102011-11-30T03:48:00.001Z2011-11-30T03:55:23.413Z

Perhaps I am a bit thick, but I have difficulty in understanding the argument that the Tories are making ad nausium against today's strike. Apparently the unions are irresponsible for conducting a strike while negotiations are ongoing! Isn't the time that negotiations are omgoing the best time to protest and express strength of feeling? Wouldn't strike action, protest, complaint etc be rather

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-19696732146893083352011-11-24T18:01:00.003Z2011-11-24T18:02:31.192Z

Mebyon Kernow held their Annual Conference in Bodmin last weekend here are a selection of contributions; First MK's leader Cllr Dick Cole: And a contribution from Plaid Cymru's Jonathan Edwards MP and a speech from the SNP's Kenneth Gibson MSP

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-74223253948689301562011-11-11T06:28:00.005Z2011-11-12T09:44:42.835Z

It is probably an age thing! I can understand the Welsh Political Twins antipathy towards the Poppy Symbol, but they are a lot younger than me. I was born 14 years after the end of WWII. The Cenotaphs in Dolgellau, Barmouth, Cilfynydd, Ludlow, Trawsfynydd and Minsterly don't just have names on them they have the names of real people who my parents and grandparents really grieved for, and for

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-60954019243909378752011-11-11T03:56:00.000Z2011-11-11T03:56:54.424Z

An e-petition to the Assembly Worthy of Support: We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh government to recall all Local Development Plans across Wales and to scrap the use of population projections issued by the Statistical Directorate that are used to inflate housing numbers in local development plans. We call for all LDPs at whatever stage of development to be halted

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-33584943348684691072011-11-04T03:24:00.002Z2011-11-04T03:31:12.944Z

It was with a certain amount of despair that I heard on the BBC that the Silk Commission: will hold its first meeting at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Friday What a bloody depressing cliché. They may as well have launched the Commission down The Big Pit or on a mountain farm where the farmer had been arrested for shagging his sheep – if the Millennium Stadium is their starting point, we

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-39879525120900250052011-11-03T20:38:00.004Z2011-11-03T20:46:46.217Z

Apparently if we in Wales ate an English diet our health will improve dramatically. As I'm feeling a bit peckish now, what would you suggest as a quick snack? A Brummy sandwich, Scouser on toast or a tasty morsel of East Anglian with a nice chianti. Dr Hannibal Lecter – Welsh food pioneer

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-24452418172413402802011-11-02T05:52:00.009Z2011-11-02T06:13:38.449Z

I am a Welsh nationalist. I believe that Wales should be an Independent Country. I use to be a member and a branch officer of Plaid Cymru, I have been an electoral agent for the party and I have made speeches in many of the party conferences! I have not stopped being a supporter of Plaid Cymru, I just stopped paying my membership fees after Dafydd Wigley's statement that plaid had never ever

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-26149963563920380912011-10-30T10:27:00.001Z2011-10-30T10:56:38.059Z

Those who supported Mr Obama in his campaign for the White House a few years ago were using the power of the internet for progressive politics! The Qaddafi regime was overthrown by the use of modern communications that overrode official propaganda. Mobile phone videos are destroying the credibility of Syrian State TV propaganda. The internet is working to create political change, for the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-72844075796023270342011-10-14T02:51:00.005+01:002011-10-14T04:39:27.570+01:00

I know that the membership has just been announced, and that it hasn't even met yet, but I would like to offer one word of premature advice to the Silk Committee – Don't do what the press assumes that you are going to do, do not look at tax raising powers for the National Assembly! Raising is an ambiguous word. To raise taxes suggests to most of us that the level of taxation will go up, in the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-84708893643905917342011-10-07T20:33:00.004+01:002011-10-08T02:27:32.808+01:00

Royston Jones ( Jac o' the North) has posted the following petition to the Assembly: We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to address the flawed system for allocating social housing in Wales. At present, a person who has never visited Wales can qualify for social housing ahead of someone born and bred in Wales. This is due to the points system giving

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-49871233731457763292011-10-07T03:02:00.004+01:002011-10-07T03:13:15.254+01:00

I have just watched an old edition of Antiques Road Show on BBC sign zone. As is usual in all of these antique programmes it contained the obligatory I bought this in a boot sale for next to nothing item that turns out to be valued at £1000. When this happens it is always seen as fantastic, brilliant, wonderful – which it must be for the purchaser. But why do these programmes never spare a

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-6311446324774979112011-10-05T04:58:00.010+01:002011-10-05T06:02:30.797+01:00

If I happened to be the winner of yesterday's £85 million Euro Millions Lottery Jackpot, and I decided to use my windfall in order to move into a mansion in a leafy English shire, I would still be able to get free prescriptions on the English NHS. So if Andrew RT Davies objects to free prescriptions being given to Welsh millionaires, of whom there are few, why do his friends in Westminster

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-32737622268600826922011-09-28T01:55:00.002+01:002011-09-28T01:55:52.699+01:00

Whilst I'm being slagged off for opposing the Cardiff Bay consensus I may as well add that I agree entirely with the doubts raised by Archbishop Barry Morgan regarding a presumed consent for organ donation: There is, in presumed consent, a subtle or perhaps not so subtle change of emphasis in the relationship between the individual and the state. That is, that unless we have opted out, our

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-52416672991807894882011-09-27T02:15:00.008+01:002011-09-27T03:41:18.921+01:00

As of next Sunday every plastic bag or paper bag used by shoppers in Wales to take their goods home will carry a 5p surcharge. I am surprised that all of the major retail chains have agreed to acquiesce. Under European law minimum pricing is illegal and this charge on bags is a clear case of illegal minimum pricing. Because the Welsh Assembly Government is unable to raise taxes the proceeds from

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-12202229694764607422011-09-24T02:49:00.002+01:002011-09-24T03:56:45.776+01:00

At the end of my last post I asked the questions: Should Plaid join the Commission, in spite of the Westminster centred politicians? Or ignore it as an insult to Wales? I think that I know where I stand on this question, but it would be interesting to hear other's views before declaring! Thanks to those who responded. The two who came closest to my thinking were: Better Wales who said... I

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-7629752208936961562011-09-23T03:05:00.000+01:002011-09-23T03:05:43.902+01:00

On the IWA's blog Click on Wales, John Osmond has some interesting comments about the progress of the soon to be formed Welsh Fiscal and Constitutional Commission dubbed ap Calman by some. At the end of his article John makes a rather disturbing comment: Plaid Cymru’s nominee is likely to be its economics adviser Eurfyl ap Gwilym who is currently also heading its Commission looking at the party’s

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-31975372386633111612011-09-18T09:27:00.002+01:002011-09-18T09:34:29.872+01:00

According to the last published minutes of the Council those in attendance were: Cllr.Mrs.S.Lesiter-Burgess, Cllr.J.Spicer, Cllr.Mrs.C.Evans, Cllr.Mrs.A.Parry, Cllr.Mrs.P.Rogers, Cllr.T.S.Buckley, Cllr.O.Evans-Jones, Cllr.C.P.Barton, Cllr.D.J.Rees, Cllr.Mrs.S.Edmondson. Why is Cllr Dai Rees described as Cllr, but Cllr Pam Rogers described as Cllr Mrs? Isn't noting a female councillor's gender

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-75029661534535312722011-09-17T10:43:00.015+01:002011-09-17T10:43:00.534+01:00

Andrew RT Davies has a new job, he has my hearty congratulations, but I'm not sure that he has the support of the voters of Wales! Last time I looked, Carwyn Jones was, unfortunately, the Leader of the Welsh Assembly! I'm sure that RT FaRTy, would make a brilliant Assembly Leader, if elected! But before being described as Leader of the Welsh Assembly – shouldn't he overcome the teeny, weeny,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-44097276210314795082011-09-16T22:14:00.004+01:002011-09-17T02:14:38.933+01:00

RIP: Phillip Hill, Charles Breslin, David Powell, and Garry Jenkins; names added to a list that is already too long.

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-6232378371086875202011-09-16T04:16:00.001+01:002011-09-16T04:16:42.781+01:00

Putting apart sour grapes (and my grapes are very sour) elections are the way in which we should choose our representatives. There is something wrong in the way that community councillors are co-opted under the current system! The rules are that ten people have to ask for a community council by-election; if that doesn't happen then the council co-opts. In my last experience three candidates

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-60993569656840765662011-09-14T05:27:00.001+01:002011-09-14T05:45:04.657+01:00

The council co-opted a vacancy today to a person who lives in Eglwysbach, rather than a resident of our village! I am very annoyed. Only two people have asked the voters of Glan Conwy to support their membership of the community council in the past 30 years! Me and Dan. Dan won fair and square in the August poll, but I had more votes than any other member of the community council has ever

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-43278669694337116822011-09-14T03:28:00.003+01:002011-09-14T03:34:58.061+01:00

Dafydd Elis Thomas is one of my mega heroes. I have known Dafydd since I was a 14 year old canvasser for the old Liberal Party in the February 1974 Westminster election. After his election I use to attend every surgery DET held in Dolgellau as a Pain in the Arse Complainant barracking for the Liberal cause, but he never refused to see me! After his re election in October 1974 Dafydd set me a

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-20390865926364902352011-09-13T01:51:00.001+01:002011-09-13T01:57:11.521+01:00

I am grateful to Stuart for drawing my attention to yesterday's Radio Wales Phone-in with Jason Mohammad. The first half of the programme delt with the question Should Wales become independent? Stuart said about the programme I was struck by the fact that the debate wasn't hijacked by the usual suspects and that most people giving their views were at least open to discussing the subject. And I

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-42848237929268714212011-09-12T04:23:00.000+01:002011-09-12T04:23:28.843+01:00

Any mediocre team can beat an opposing 15. A good team must be able to beat the opposing fifteen, a bad referee, the wind, the rain and Lady Luck! Wales failed and was less than mediocre. There are no excuses!

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-34300518433433793502011-09-10T05:53:00.005+01:002011-09-10T05:59:18.431+01:00

One of the opposition arguments made, not so much against the SNP, but against the people of Scotland is that they may sleepwalk into independence! The argument is that the people of Scotland are so star struck by Alex Salmond, that they might vote YES in a referendum because of what they feel in their bellies, rather than what they know in their heads; Mr Salmond's charisma might mesmerise them

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-80636956105451954732011-09-02T16:12:00.001+01:002011-09-02T16:12:06.290+01:00

Apologies to those who have been trying to read this blog today but have found it as "invite only". I have been having problems with a person intent on using the comments section to post spam links, so I switched the blog off whilst I deleted them, and forgot to switch it back on again. Sorry!

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-28963245777265937462011-09-02T02:37:00.007+01:002011-09-02T03:38:54.800+01:00

There have been a number of posts on the Welsh blogosphere in the past few days noting the latest Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation Statistics; as Jac 'o the North notes there aren't that many surprises in the statistics – the poor areas of Wales are still poor, although as Plaid Wrecsam notes, not all is woe, some areas have improved. The statistics will, undoubtedly, help politicians and

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-25233247838014047522011-08-29T02:54:00.003+01:002011-08-29T03:10:28.707+01:00

Chris Bryant MP's reaction to Roger Lewis' vicious attack on the Welsh: "I can't believe Jonathan Edwards has risen to the bait," says Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda in South Wales. "Roger Lewis's piece is fatuous nonsense, but the last thing people want is a moaning version of Welsh nationalism. Wales is at its best when it is triumphantly insouciant about the criticism of others, and if we

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-10941805756128094442011-08-28T02:20:00.000+01:002011-08-28T02:20:08.048+01:00

Peter Black AM has a bit of a thing about cats, so his latest post draws attention to Aldi's fish finger advert which features a Welsh cat, he thinks it is a great advert. I am more interested in booze than cats, so I think that this one in the series is an even greater advert:

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-60075170058547342062011-08-24T04:13:00.005+01:002011-08-24T04:31:33.184+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to sign an e-petition on the re-vamped HM Government e petitions website. The petition that I signed asked for Recognition of Cornwall as a National Minority, which was a subject that I was happy to support, despite a lack of faith in on line petition sites. The site is an interesting place to browse, not so much because of the influence it may or may not have

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-65038079149109214482011-08-19T15:33:00.003+01:002011-08-19T15:49:05.814+01:00

This is a quote from the Representation of the People Act 115 Undue influence. (1)A person shall be guilty of a corrupt practice if he is guilty of undue influence. (2)A person shall be guilty of undue influence— (a)if he, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, makes use of or threatens to make use of any force, violence or restraint, or inflicts or threatens to

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-14106870849056470612011-08-11T02:06:00.004+01:002011-08-11T03:19:44.911+01:00

Because of my former involvement in party politics I have attended a number of election counts, for all levels of election Community, County, Assembly, Westminster and Euro, but until last week I have never attended a preliminary postal vote count. Of the 300 odd votes cast in the Glan Conwy Community Council election 68 were postal votes. Postal votes are accompanied by a signed declaration by

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-55677373935394768552011-08-05T01:48:00.002+01:002011-08-05T01:58:44.711+01:00

*A quote from Dick Tuck's concession speech following his loss in the 1966 California State Senate election; not my assessment of the people of Glan Conwy :-) The result of the Llansanffraid Glan Conwy Community Council Bryn Rhys Ward by election was: David Alwyn ap Huw Humphreys Independent 112 (43%) Daniel Worsley Conservative 197 (57%) Congratulations to Dan on his victory and a huge thank

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-13648069978629749402011-08-03T12:11:00.005+01:002011-08-03T12:11:01.600+01:00

Before Mr Black sends his libel lawyers after me I hasten to say that 1 Peter Black has NEVER made such a claim and 2 If he goes ahead with his support of Google Translate to translate the Cofnod (the official proceedings of the Assembly) he wouldn't have a legal leg to stand on, because Google Translate undoubtedly translates a recent comment made by him as accusing a language campaigner of

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-52294933231809714272011-08-03T02:06:00.002+01:002011-08-03T02:11:48.171+01:00

There is rather pathetic post on Wales Home in which David Torrance tries to fry Scottish First minister Alex Salmond for a lack of commitment to proper independence for Scotland! Indeed, over the past 15 years the SNP leader has gone out of his way to emphasis an almost Burkean continuity with the United Kingdom, preserving whichever features of the ,ancien regime he judges Scots voters,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-4211513965159216442011-07-16T04:08:00.001+01:002011-07-16T04:09:02.922+01:00

There is a typically Guardianista debate taking place on the Comment is Free site about intellectual clichés: "We've all been there. You're in the middle of a heated discussion – debating the news over a pint in the pub, or firing off comments below an article on Comment is free. Suddenly, you remember that someone famous once put your argument in a much pithier way than you ever could. It

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-62152949451953236722011-07-06T02:56:00.002+01:002011-07-06T04:05:35.486+01:00

I have refrained from commenting on the Lib Dem two, because I feel that it would have been unfair to do so before the legal advice was available. It has now been published. From what I understand, John Dixon has fallen on his sword and Aled Roberts will challenge any motion to dismiss him in the courts. The thing that has caused me the most disquiet about this saga isn't about whether the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-51494837656989969942011-06-29T11:17:00.001+01:002011-06-29T11:24:33.084+01:00

The Electoral Commission will be launching its statutory report on the referendum on the law-making powers of the National Assembly for Wales at 8:00am on Wednesday 13 July 2011 in Conference Room 24 in Tŷ Hywel, the National Assembly for Wales. The event, which is sponsored by the Deputy Presiding Officer, David Melding AM, will be an opportunity for the Chief Counting Officer, Jenny Watson, to

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-30993020314406597302011-06-29T00:43:00.000+01:002011-06-29T00:43:06.797+01:00

The latest addition to my Blog List is Everyday Welsh. I will let the blogger explain what the blog is for: Right, to begin, I would like firstly to explain (briefly) my intentions for this blog. This blog should NOT be used as your PRIMARY source for learning Welsh. I assume, that any visitors here have already delved somewhat into the beautiful language and know at least some basics. My

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-22221234233022206822011-06-27T01:47:00.011+01:002011-06-27T02:59:32.994+01:00

If the internet existed when I was in my late teens and early twenties and I had had a web presence on it, my profile would undoubtedly have declared that I was an Adonis, a Lothario and a more successful serial shager than either Casanova or Nick Clegg; I'm sure that it would have declared that I was brave and cool and had done all sorts of things that were seen as "manly" and against the rules

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-13080154163567808152011-06-18T22:42:00.000+01:002011-06-18T22:42:17.612+01:00

Politicall Betting has a poll that makes fantastic reading for Plaid Cymru. It is an UK wide poll by Comres for the Independent and gives the parties the following vote share: CON 37: LAB 37: LD 11: BNP 9%: SNP 5%: GRN 4%: PC 4%: UKIP 4%: OTHERS 13%. As Wales makes up just 5% of the UK vote, for Plaid to have 4% of the UK vote it would have to poll about 80% in Wales itself. Should we

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-4585881743898323882011-06-18T10:12:00.003+01:002011-06-18T10:23:21.416+01:00

Way back in 2008 I made a post about a Panorama programme regarding Primark. Since the programme was broadcast the Beeb has had a spanked bottom for not telling the whole truth in the programme! Primark have asked me to note the fact that they have been vindicated, to publish a link to their rebuttal and their Youtube on this blog! As I supported Primark rather than Panorama in my post I am

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-16883636032136990682011-06-11T05:42:00.001+01:002011-06-11T05:52:53.172+01:00

People who send me e-mails, expecting me to plug their blogs, addressed to Al, rather than to Dear Mr ap Huw Humphreys piss me off rather than make me laugh! So I was not amused by this request: Hi Al This should cheer you up you miserable old fart, a news blog but it's meant to make you laugh: http://welshnewsnot.wordpress.com/

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-19842013742102976022011-06-10T22:26:00.001+01:002011-06-10T22:26:00.443+01:00

When did you Last Vote Plaid Because of its Support for the Queen? A silly question asked by a rather drunken friend in response to a boorish Tory in my local tonight! But a pertinent point!

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-80474140358038073052011-06-10T01:13:00.003+01:002011-06-10T01:28:08.263+01:00

I liked this post from Andrew so much, I have decided to pinch it and repost it here: Thursday, 9 June 2011 Attendance for Welsh Assembly as of Jan 2011 Ieuan Wyn Jones, Plaid Cymru – 78%. Jane Davidson, Labour – 77%. Sandy Mewies, Labour – 74%. Christine Chapman, Labour – 73%. Carl Sargeant, Labour – 69%. Carwyn Jones, Labour – 67% Irene James, Labour – 58%. Lynne Neagle, Labour – 39%

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-57397201208954194652011-06-08T02:55:00.006+01:002011-06-08T03:14:48.061+01:00

A number of National Assembly Members behaved in a disgustingly disrespectful way during the Queen of England's visit to the Senedd yesterday. The vast majority of the members of the Assembly were elected having stood for election as Socialists, Nationalists or Liberal Democrats. Socialists are supposed to believe that everyone is equal, there is no nobility and peasant, that no person is better

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-17400628531232459582011-06-01T03:28:00.007+01:002011-06-01T03:53:17.866+01:00

There is an interesting post on the Better Nation Blog that looks at how likely people are to vote Green. To paraphrase and over simplify the post, it claims that more than 50% of us see the Greens as a cuddly nice party who we might vote for in the right circumstances. This confirms my own non-empirical experience of how people across the political spectrum view the Green Party. Pleidwyr,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-41776456397374613542011-05-25T02:34:00.002+01:002011-05-25T13:56:12.888+01:00

The response to the SNP's outstanding victory in this month's Scottish Parliament Election from unionists within Scotland and British Nationalists outside Scotland has been interesting. The general opinion seems to be that Alex Salmond will bottle out of a referendum on independence, because he knows that it will fail to deliver a Yes vote. They base this on polling results that suggest that "

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-73321154531803550822011-05-24T05:21:00.000+01:002011-05-24T05:21:35.410+01:00

For elected politicians being in opposition is a nightmare, you've slogged your guts out to get hold of elected office, you've had the jubilation of victory in your own patch after campaigning for the policies that you believe can change society, only to find that a majority of those elected to the same chamber thwart your vision and your mandate every time. For political activists the opposite

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-85143405575531166622011-05-22T03:57:00.006+01:002011-05-22T04:38:01.102+01:00

I am not breaking any injunction by reporting the fact that the most boring joke on Twitter, repeated ad infinitum over the past 48 hours (at least 196,000 times according to Google), is Ryan Giggs is suing Twitter I Can't Imogen why! This is supposed to be an example of the Streisand Effect according to Wikepedia. The Streisand effect is a primarily online phenomenon in which an attempt to hide

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-67089305148055365562011-05-18T04:41:00.002+01:002011-05-18T04:46:39.651+01:00

Jac o' the North has a post in which he, quite rightly notes, that Plaid Cymru has lost its way. I agree wholeheartedly with all he has to say. The dalliance with socialism whilst ignoring the national question; the fear of upsetting English incomers who are drowning out the Party's heartlands, and putting places like Anglesey and Ceredigion demographically impossible to regain at a Westminster

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-16787680293146289552011-05-15T03:47:00.003+01:002011-05-17T01:05:56.318+01:00

I am a huge fan of The Rt Hon Dr, The Lord Elis Thomas of Nantconwy, Welsh President Emeritus. I sometimes disagree vehemently with His Lordship's utterances, sometimes I agree wholeheartedly with the wisdom of his pearls and sometimes, despite agreeing with him, I wish he had kept his bloody big gob shut! But whatever I feel about Dafydd's ideas I can guarantee that they always make me think!

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-65890807244175539852011-05-09T01:16:00.000+01:002011-05-09T01:16:44.785+01:00

On both Peter Black's and The National Left's blogs an anonymous commentator has resolved the Llywydd Conundrum: Miserable old fart talking about Peter Black being presiding officer, but MOF will be in opposition as well so why does not he be pres officer? I think that Anonymous' idea is brilliant – I would love to do the job and I'm sure that I would be the best Llywydd ever; but there is one

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-89269771343360549772011-05-08T02:47:00.004+01:002011-05-08T03:14:55.742+01:00

Because of the 50/50 split between Labour and the others, my favoured coalition - that of a rainbow is now a no brainer. A minority Labour Government might (just) work, a minority rainbow coalition would be an impossibility. Even if it was a possibility, I'm not sure that I would still back any form of coalition in either a First Past the Post or FPTP plus election, the risks of coalition are

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-76868821251022559252011-05-07T06:25:00.002+01:002011-05-07T06:44:44.638+01:00

We know who is going to be First Minister in the Assembly without any doubt. The big question is who is going to be Presiding Officer? With Plaid having lost 4 seats in the Assembly Election the party, clearly, can't afford to lose one of its biggest beasts, Dafydd Elis Thomas, by him being tied up in the President's chair. Unless Labour goes into One Wales #2, which is looking unpalatable to

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-11700951694230365192011-05-05T23:24:00.002+01:002011-05-05T23:24:42.762+01:00

I have just come back from the pub, having popped in for a couple after the polling booths had closed. There were only about 20 locals in and only 8 of them had voted, about 40%, which is about right. The worrying thing, however was of the 8 who voted 4 had voted 1 2 3, rather than X. having been confused by the AV publicity. Ok 8 voters in my local aren't a scientific sample, but it does

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-46319740217240370742011-05-05T01:30:00.002+01:002011-05-05T01:32:32.036+01:00

My prediction for Friday's result in the Assembly election is one of no change (ok Blaenau Gwent will turn real Labour rather than pretendy Labour). I doubt if any constituency seat will change hands. I can't see any Green, UKIP or BNP candidate making the breakthrough on the lists. Tinkering at the edges might result in some list candidates swapping places from second to third etc, but I

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-26542928825880615572011-05-01T04:53:00.000+01:002011-05-01T04:53:04.124+01:00

I don't have a lot of faith in Welsh opinion polls; they are conducted on a UK, even worse an USA model. A model that can predict the outcome of a 650 seat legislature cannot, without immense refinement, predict a 60 seat legislature with any accuracy. To make things worse the Welsh polls use an UK weighting method to predict their seat distribution. Wales is not a mini UK. The ITV/YouGov polls

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-41354541505203619412011-04-28T04:29:00.000+01:002011-04-28T04:29:16.094+01:00

I can't stop laughing at this hilarious report from STV News about Iain Gray popping into an Asda store where Alex Salmond was doing a meet and greet. Iain Gray and Alex Salmond have accused each other of hiding and running away during a visit to an Ardrossan supermarket. Scottish Labour claimed that Mr Salmond "hid" from Iain Gray when the two leaders found themselves in the same supermarket

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-25635867206859973642011-04-16T19:25:00.001+01:002011-04-16T19:28:10.643+01:00

In a comment on the Syniadau blog Welsh Agenda notes that in their recent party Election Broadcast the Conservatives featured David Cameron but there was no sign of Nick Bourne. I received the postal election address from Janet Finch-Saunders, Aberconwy's Conservative candidate this morning. It contained the compulsory picture with Cameron, but look who seems to be standing in for Nick where you

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-48302126940727200312011-04-16T03:48:00.000+01:002011-04-16T03:48:35.905+01:00

From the Conservative Party Manifesto's Welsh Language Policy: (We will) Create a Bilingual Nation – Introduce a Charter-Mark for businesses which will recognise Welsh language services. The scheme will be voluntary but will offer incentives for bilingual signage and Welsh language training for front-line staff. As kitchen staff aren't front line and Carreg Môn doesn't appear to be a willing

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-70576962790795259182011-04-15T15:15:00.007+01:002011-04-15T19:32:26.539+01:00

Click image to enlarge I have blocked out the phone numbers on the poster, apparently they were genuine.

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-65362329342666627112011-04-13T02:54:00.006+01:002011-04-13T03:42:01.430+01:00

I must congratulate Plaid and Uncut for his incisive description of Labour's campaign to use the Assembly election as a midterm British protest vote Labour's headline so far has been Vote Labour to send a Message to David Cameron and Nick Clegg. Essentially the political equivalent of putting a dog turd through their letterbox or ordering a pizza to be delivered to their house. Messaged

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-38142397262805010802011-04-11T03:07:00.006+01:002011-04-11T05:12:07.736+01:00

Will Paterson has an interesting post that highlights the fact that there are evident similarities between the Labour Party's Election Broadcast for the Scottish Parliament, The English Counties and the National Assembly. The PEB's are not the only things that are similar between the campaigns in the three countries. The main thrust of debate from Labour in the three elections is that a vote

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-51708450300296634892011-04-08T02:26:00.001+01:002011-04-08T02:55:26.849+01:00

"English votes for English matters" is a non starter, it contains so many problems that it will cause more animosity and strife than it could possibly resolve. What is an English matter? Under the current system few are, because if expenditure is involved (be it spending more or less) it has Barnet consequentials for the finances of the devolved bodies! What happens to things that are neither

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-17464896456548798192011-04-06T02:25:00.008+01:002011-04-06T03:37:10.191+01:00

There is little doubt that the site supposedly registered at Ieuan Wyn Jones' office address is a Labour attack site, a site designed specifically in order to enable Chris Bryant to repeat, under Parliamentary privilege, the slur that Plaid is a Tory stooge, which seems to be the Westminster Labour Party's main attack weapon against Plaid in the forthcoming Assembly Election. Look at the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-79813845782878513702011-04-01T01:53:00.001+01:002011-04-01T02:00:38.816+01:00

There is no secret that I have a particular dislike for the Labour party, a party that has promised so much to Wales over the past hundred years but delivered so little and that I was bitterly disappointed that after a campaign in the last Assembly elections that promised to kick Labour into touch that Plaid decided to prop Labour up in government. I suspect that propping up Labour is what

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-53113928002785595832011-03-29T03:14:00.002+01:002011-03-29T03:32:08.555+01:00

With the polls looking up for Labour, the chances of a Labour list seat in North Wales is zilch, nada, F*** all! The only way that Labour can gain a list seat in the North is if the North West constituency vote collapses under a Tory landslide - that is not going to happen!. Any Labour list vote is going to be a wasted vote, so how should Labour supporters in the north use their list vote? I

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-82174481117803483162011-03-25T02:01:00.001Z2011-03-25T02:01:57.753Z

I notice a rather intriguing coincidence about Royal events affecting Assembly elections. This year the Royal Story that threatens to overshadow coverage of the election is the April Wedding of Wills and Kate. In April 2007 the Royal story that knocked the election off the front page of the Western Mail was Wills and Kate splitting up. See what a difference that just one term of a Plaid lead one

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-30935702896033172372011-03-16T21:52:00.005Z2011-03-17T02:06:55.774Z

In a speech in Cardiff yesterday Ieuan Wyn Jones outlined plans to raise money that could be used to fund 50,000 new jobs in Wales over the next 4 years. Given the high levels of unemployment in Wales and the need to reinvigorate the Welsh economy, one would have thought that such a scheme would be welcomed by all. The only grounds that I can think of for opposing plans for such a massive and

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-27669953399896586222011-03-15T03:51:00.002Z2011-03-15T03:55:10.530Z

This is the first PPB offered by the SNP for the May 5th elections: I am not impresed, it reminds me of the Deus ex Machina of ancient Greek and Latin drama, a good story with a bad ending, where a god in the machine comes down to say it all ended happily ever after! Ych a fi. I hope that the SNP has better to offer than Salmond as the god in the Machine of Scots politics! Having said that,

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-1161662244137988592011-03-07T02:20:00.003Z2011-03-07T02:22:25.899Z

See: http://walesfirst.blogspot.com/2011/03/dusting-off-cobwebs.html

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-37176171772744694302011-03-05T03:57:00.003Z2011-03-05T05:02:46.103Z

As the only person to apply for lead campaign status for the NO campaign, I am disgusted that Rachel Banner was invited to give a post result speech in the Senedd but that I wasn't even invited to the count. Had I had the invite this is what I would have said in my "response to the result speech": I give the Yes campaign hearty congratulations on a tremendous victory. I was, honestly shocked by

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-16987966578264882042011-03-04T14:21:00.000Z2011-03-04T14:21:21.560Z

With four results still to declare Wales has said Yes, the result in the Rhondda having just taken the Yes vote over the 402,594 threshold needed to win.

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-74131670047886713112011-03-01T01:15:00.000Z2011-03-01T01:15:25.577Z

The results of the recent ITV YouGov poll were published on S4C's Y Byd ar Bedwar tonight. The opinion poll suggests that 67% of us will vote yes and 33% will vote no; this seems over optimistic to me; I would have expected the vote to be much, much closer. Even odder is the poll's suggestion that turn out will be a whopping 56%! I tend to agree with Jac of the North's assessment of the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-40352253389972950092011-02-23T03:54:00.003Z2011-02-23T04:19:08.280Z

Those of us who are married, middle aged and set in our ways are the most likely to vote in political elections. At a rough guess I reckon that between parish, area, county, Assembly, British, European and referenda, I have voted about 45 out of 46 times since I was 18. The one I missed out on was on 18 September 1997 the date on which my Mother in Law had a heart attack. My wife and I

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-71121466779660116972011-02-20T03:37:00.003Z2011-02-20T04:21:28.354Z

Whether or not the response to Nick Clegg's offer to change the dates of the Welsh Assembly Election is childish or sensible, I find the offer totally confusing. The reason behind the offer is to ensure that devolved and Westminster elections don't clash, so far so good – elections to different establishments shouldn't clash. But the reason why they might clash is because the Lib Dems have

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-63903345579389613182011-02-17T03:26:00.000Z2011-02-17T03:26:14.092Z

There was an exceptionally important debate in the National Assembly Chamber yesterday; despite its importance it probably won't receive much media attention. It was a debate about work based training for vulnerable children. This might not be a subject that raises the blood pressure of political activists in Wales; indeed it was so uncontroversial that it was given unanimous support by

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-67323390520787319992011-02-14T12:04:00.004Z2011-02-14T18:49:31.283Z

Despite the best efforts of Yes for Wales and Untrue Lies there doesn't seem much enthusiasm about debating the pros and cons of moving to part four of the Government of Wales Act (2006). There is however one question that can always guarantee to raise Welsh passions and to divide our nation into two separate camps: What is the National Game of Wales – Rugby or Football? By being led by the

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-29349656487120030912011-02-03T03:39:00.011Z2011-02-03T04:19:24.156Z

I have enjoyed my No campaign. It has, I hope, highlighted some of the faults in the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act (2000). It has noted that the reasons for voting one way or the other and even not voting cannot be extrapolated in an over simplistic way. The reason why people vote Yes, No or choose not to vote in a referendum are many and variable. But when devo naysayers

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-27236517296282413652011-01-29T14:56:00.001Z2011-01-29T14:56:46.531Z

When the Electoral Commission decided last Wednesday that there should be no officially designated Yes and No campaigns, Yes For Wales Ltd, the only bidder for the Yes lead designation, put out a statement saying that despite the Commission's decision that the company would remain the official leader of the Yes campaign because it retained the support of all the other groups who had registered

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-32433198337561530722011-01-26T11:56:00.001Z2011-01-26T12:02:41.960Z

Press Release from Electoral Commission 25 Jan 2011 The Electoral Commission has decided that, although the applicant to become the lead campaigner for the ‘Yes’ campaign in the referendum adequately represented those campaigning for that outcome, the only applicant to be the lead campaigner for the ‘No’ campaign does not meet this statutory test. In these circumstances, the law does not allow

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-47774175609506638892011-01-25T03:16:00.012Z2011-01-25T04:24:32.056Z

True Wales' decision not to apply for official designation was not a surprise to me, it was widely mooted a fortnight or so before the closing date for applications to lead the campaigns. I made my semi-jocular application to lead the No campaign because I knew, beforehand, that True Wales was seriously considering not making a bid. Supporters of the Yes Campaign have been unjustly

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-4660206664392771492011-01-24T11:21:00.000Z2011-01-24T11:21:26.596Z

I have just received a "notice of poll" card from Conwy Council regarding the upcoming referendum on powers for the Assembly. The 3rd of March is the official date of the poll, but those who are entitled to postal votes can, of course, vote earlier than that. The council tells me to expect my ballot papers from Wednesday February 16. According to a letter I received from the Electoral Commission

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-23862902286390421922011-01-21T02:23:00.004Z2011-01-21T04:09:57.359Z

This is not a term that will be oft found on this blog but In Fairness to True Wales, despite the rhetoric, it is not True Wales' policies or difficulties that have thrown a spanner into the workings of the Government of Wales Act referendum campaign it is the inadequacies of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (the PPER Act), an Act drafted without the foresight to know

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-42010357453631512052011-01-20T03:07:00.003Z2011-01-20T03:43:56.067Z

One of the things that really annoys me about the True Wales No campaign is their claim that those who are elected to serve the people of Wales by the people of Wales are some sort of élite. I am a fairly common bloke, I was bought up on a Council House Estate, I still live in a Housing Association owned home. The highest "status" that I have ever achieved is a Charge Nurse in the healthcare

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-73767941239658998832011-01-19T19:42:00.002Z2011-01-19T19:42:45.175Z

I have just been informed by the Electoral Commission that my application to lead the No campaign on the grounds that what is offered doesn't go far enough is the only application that they have received on behalf of a No campaign!

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-34730628238483229322011-01-16T05:33:00.001Z2011-01-16T05:37:15.766Z

The Open University has a new definition of the word Devolve. Rather than using it to describe the passing down of responsibilities to a subordinate legislature, the University has decided that Devolution is the reversal of Evolution. In order to promote their biology courses they have come up with a fun application called Devolve me – where you can upload a photograph of yourself and "devolve"

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8120478390983403863.post-82033422758165958412011-01-15T04:48:00.002Z2011-01-15T05:05:34.500Z

On a post about the organ donation controversy Welsh Ramblings makes an interesting comment about whether The Westminster government neglects Wales as a systemic characteristic, and that passive neglect or misunderstanding- rather than outright nastiness- constitutes the existence of an anti-Welsh set up. On the whole I would suggest that passive neglect of Welsh issues is the reality; but this

Alwyn ap Huwhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06194724336424525283noreply@blogger.com4