Free speech - but not on expenses

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:36 AM | add or read comments (0)

AMs are beginning to kick off about new rules which they fear could curb their blogging activities.
Labour bloggers Huw Lewis, AM for Merthyr Tydfil, and Leighton Andrews, Rhondda, are among those unhappy at a lack of consultation over the guidelines, as is Plaid's Bethan Jenkins.
Surprisingly, Lib Dem uber-blogger Peter Black, an Assembly Commissioner, disagrees.
The aim of the Assembly Commission is to control the use of the costs allowance paid to AMs to run their offices.
With presiding officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas promising a major overhaul of AMs' expenses - but not till after the next election - could this be the taste of what's to come?

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• Tags:
• blog
• expenses

Whose fault was it really?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 5:31 PM | add or read comments (0)

Peter Hain’s targeted intervention over Labour’s dismal election showing is the clearest indication yet that something deeper than a 10p tax gaffe is wrong in the party’s relationship with Welsh voters.
The findings of an internal inquest into Labour’s failures at last May’s Assembly polls at least hinted at an aspiration to set about learning those lessons.
But clearly not yet.
Some views here, here and here.

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• Tags:
• election
• labour
• leadership

Chatter ye not

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:39 AM | add or read comments (2)

FIRST minister Rhodri Morgan wants to attract people outside the ‘chattering classes’ to help to chart the next stage of devolution.
The Welsh Government is seeking applicants from across Wales to sit on a committee to test the appetite for a full law-making Assembly.
Are you up for it? You can apply for one of four seats on the executive of the All-Wales Convention here. But you had better be quick.

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• Tags:
• convention
• devolution
• referendum

Now with added links effect

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:41 AM | add or read comments (1)

Gog in the Bay has got round to drawing up a list of links for the blog.
It took some time but, hey, sometimes life is like that.
Any suggestions for additions are welcome.

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• blog
• links

GB: 'I feel your hurt'

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:55 AM | add or read comments (0)

Gordon Brown is facing an uncomfortable test of his leadership qualities.
Some of the same leftist MPs who actively sought his redesign of new Labour to replace that of Tony Blair are now among those piling the pressure on his premiership.

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• Tags:
• elections
• gordon brown
• labour