MP gestures

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 2:28 PM | add or read comments (0)

Welsh MPs are determined to play a fulsome part in devolved law-making.
While their AM cousins may glory in their new-found powers, MPs along the M4 at Westminster will have a key role to play in scrutinising the new procedures known as Legislative Competence Orders.
Judging by the Welsh Select Committee's approach - drawing up EIGHT fundamental questions about the first LCO alone - there is plenty of potential for tears before bedtime.

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• Tags:
• laws
• mps

Border Line

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:23 AM | add or read comments (0)

The case of mum-of-two Samantha Cousins is deeply worrying.
The sufferer of Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer, was beng denied a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant, so far as her doctors could understand, because she lived in Wales, not England.
Now, after 34-year-old Samantha (left) had the courage to create a public fuss, she is to have her treatment at Christie's hospital in Manchester.
But other patients still endure the the gamble of this postcode lottery within the NHS.

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• Tags:
• cancer
• health
• nhs

First Plaid SpAd

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:59 AM | add or read comments (3)

Former Ceredigion MP Simon Thomas is Ieuan Wyn Jones' first appointment as a Special Adviser.
Mr Thomas, who was distraught at losing his seat at Westminster by just 219 votes to the Lib Dems in 2005, belonged to the new generation of politicians.
When he won the Ceredigion by-election in 2000, he became the only male MP to wear an earring in the House.
UPDATE: BBC political journalist and presenter Rhuanedd Richards will be Plaid's second SpAd.

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• plaid
• special adviser

CABINET ANNOUNCED II

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 12:28 PM | add or read comments (5)

RHODRI Morgan's 'big-hitters' remain in a new 10-strong Assembly cabinet which includes three members from Plaid Cymru.
The Labour First Minister and Plaid deputy Ieuan Wyn Jones (left) announced the line-up in sunshine on the steps of the Senedd at high noon.
The only pay-roll casualties were Labour ex-deputy economic development minister Huw Lewis (see previous post) and Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant whose deputy business minister job was equally short-lived. But Carl stays Labour's chief whip and will attend cabinet meetings.
Full details below:

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• cabinet
• labour
• plaid

One down

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:26 AM | add or read comments (5)

COALITION critic Huw Lewis, the deputy minister for economic development, was the first casualty of the Labour/Plaid carve-up of government in the Assembly.
The AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney was sacked to create space for Plaid supporters.
He was not happy and suggested that his dismissal was a failure to heal Labour's wounds over the pact.
There's an interesting view of the politics involved here.
Update: The cabinet announcement is expected at noon.

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• Tags:
• cabinet
• huw lewis
• labour
• rhodri morgan

Kirkby X

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:56 AM | add or read comments (4)

Democracy is a wonderful thing.
It gives a voice to the people.
And I am a firm advocate of everyone using their vote.
But today I have a dilemma.
How should I cast my vote on whether the 'People's Club', Everton F.C., should quit Goodison Park, its spiritual home for over a century, in favour of a new stadium outside of Liverpool, in Kirkby?
UPDATE: First images of new stadium here.
UPDATE II: Kenwright, Moyes, Johnson, Cahill all say Yes here.

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• efc
• vote

Get Well Soon Rhodri

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:21 AM | add or read comments (4)

First minister Rhodri Morgan is in good spirits after an emergency operation to clear two blockages in arteries to his heart.
Mr Morgan, 67, was explaining to visitors how the angioplasty procedure works after he watched the operation on a screen while fully conscious throughout.
Today he is expected to ask the Queen to confirm the appointment of Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones as deputy first minister.

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• Tags:
• first minister
• health
• heart
• rhodri morgan

Red-Green for Go

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 4:31 PM | add or read comments (0)

Plaid Cymru's national council signalled the start of an historic coalition with Labour to run the Welsh Assembly Government.
The party's delegates voted overwhelmingly 225-18 in favour of the deal in a meeting at Pontrhydfendigaid, in Ceredigion.
Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones will become deputy first minister plus other seats in the cabinet which will be announced next week.
A copy of the One Wales agreement between Labour and Plaid Cymru can be viewed here.

• Tags:
• coalition
• labour
• plaid
• vote

Over to you Ieuan

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:47 PM | add or read comments (1)

RHODRI Morgan secured an emphatic endorsement by Welsh Labour of an Assembly coalition with arch political rivals Plaid Cymru.
The voting at a special conference in Cardiff was 95.8% in favour among unions and affiliated groups, and 61% in favour among party branches.
Plaid's national council votes on the deal in Ceredigion on Saturday.
Some Labour MPs were leaving the Cardiff International Arena in a sour mood.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain gave a neat summation: "This is not a vote for nationalism. This is not a vote for independence. It's a vote to keep Welsh Labour at the heart of government."
But Plaid MP Adam Price had a dfferent view: "It was a declaration of independence from the Welsh Labour Party from London."

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• coalition
• labour
• plaid
• rhodri morgan
• vote

Heroes or Zeros?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:42 AM | add or read comments (2)

Labour dissent over the proposed coalition deal with Plaid becomes ever more vocal.
Four women AMs, including Vale of Clwyd's Ann Jones and Clwyd South's Karen Sinclair, broke ranks in the Labour Group to voice their opposition.
They are puzzled how the Plaid Cymru's female 'Gang of Four', who opposed a rainbow coalition with the Conservatives and Lib Dems, were hailed as 'brave' within Labour's group, while they now appear 'persona non grata'.
A Labour pro-deal view can be found here.
A Plaid pro-deal view here and a Plaid anti-deal view here

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• coalition
• labour

(Ssh, whisper it) Ieuan's Confident

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 12:55 PM | add or read comments (1)

Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is 'quietly confident' that his party will back the One Wales coalition deal with Labour on Saturday, paving the way for a new government next week.
And Labour leader Rhodri Morgan is feeling a 'tingle' too, ahead of his conference special on Friday.
What happens if Labour/Plaid delegates don't endorse the plan?
Ieuan's not playing that game.

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• Tags:
• coalition
• ieuan wyn jones
• plaid