Gog in the Baytag:,2008:/2372008-05-15T11:32:12Z
Welcome to ‘Gog in the Bay’, the occasional diary of a political journalist.
My name is Tom Bodden, the Welsh Affairs Correspondent of The Daily Post, which is North Wales’ best selling newspaper.
I am based full-time at the National Assembly for Wales in Cardiff Bay.
Movable Type 3.31Free speech - but not on expensestag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.466942008-05-14T10:36:20Z2008-05-15T11:32:12ZAMs 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...Tom Bodden
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? ]]>
The rules apply if an AM's website is set up, or maintained, by employees paid from the Staff Salaries Allowance.
The guidelines say: "It is important that you follow the rules on content as listed below. You are responsible for ensuring that these rules are fully observed. If they have not been, you will be asked to repay costs involved, and you may also expose yourself to allegations of misuse of the allowances.
"You are reminded that you should seek at all times to ensure that value for money is being provided and that costs are in accordance with the level of service for which you are being charged."
It continues: "The Office Costs Allowance may be used to pay for setting up and/or maintaining a website only if its purpose is to inform or communicate with constituents about your work as a Member and/or to provide contact details. It must not be used to fund party political activity or campaigning. You may not use the Office Costs Allowance to pay for individual web pages or parts of websites, where other parts of the site are paid for from other sources."
"You must not use your website
to conduct business activities
to obtain inappropriate private benefit
for fund raising
to encourage people to join a particular political party
to publish or promote any publication, unless it meets the rules above
for advertising of a commercial nature
to campaign on behalf of or against any person seeking election
to advance perspectives or arguments with the intention of promoting the interests of any person, political party or organisation you support, or damaging the interests of any other such person, party or organisation."
Whose fault was it really?tag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.466522008-05-13T17:31:27Z2008-05-13T17:47:32ZPeter 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...Tom Bodden
here, here and here.
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Gordon Brown’s continuing difficulties with his premiership - his internal opponents becoming ever bolder - is not the whole story, according to the former Welsh secretary.
The toxic 10p tax issue should not be allowed to become the excuse for a battering at the ballot box in which Labour retained overall control of just two councils, land lost overall control of six councils with 137 fewer seats.
There is something deeper than the PM’s unpopularity going on, says Mr Hain, and Welsh Labour needs to embrace that reality or continue to fail.
The Neath MP warned Labour had failed to keep pace with a changing Wales and now had to catch up with a more aspirational electorate being tempted more by David Cameron’s Conservatives.
“For Welsh Labour to use that as an excuse to say it’s all London’s fault, as I have heard some say, simply is not credible.
“There are reasons why we have to look at ourselves in Welsh Labour and make changes.”
During the Assembly elections, Labour’s vote fell three times as much as it did in Scotland and English local elections.
The idea of old fashioned Labour ‘strongholds’ in former industrial heartlands was being blown out of the water.
The days of large workplaces, trade unions, and rugby clubs as bastions of old Labour were gone.
“There are new estates, people don’t go down to the clubs any more, they drink at home, large workplaces don’t exist, unionisation in Wales is very low - it’s fallen down to just one in three workers.
“So the old channels of Welsh Labour’s core base and the links have been disappearing, like Labour in England had to change.”
But the party had yet to evolve to address the new Welsh political landscape.
Mr Hain was adamant: “Wales will not come out to vote Labour as it used to in the past unless we give it concrete reasons to do so.
“We have got to have Welsh Labour as the party of aspiration, of a modern Wales.”
Rhodri Morgan has no plans to review his decision to stand down as first minister and Welsh Labour leader in the autumn of 2009.
Gordon Brown is unlikely to want a general election under present circumstances until 2010.
The trouble is that, as with Gordon Brown, Labour does not have a natural successor lined up to replace Rhodri Morgan as a leader in Wales.
Which tends to suggest that there will be no hasty replacements in any carefully thought-out strategy to deal with the latest poll setback.
The answer for Labour lies in finding that fresh leadership style that appeals more to those new aspirations.
Chatter ye nottag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.462012008-05-08T09:39:03Z2008-05-08T09:50:19ZFIRST 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...Tom Bodden
here. But you had better be quick.
]]>
Four seats will be available on the 17-strong All Wales Convention executive to members of the public.
The deadline for applications is May 27 as ministers aim to drive forward the process, led by former UN diplomat Sir Emyr Jones Parry, to advise on the next move on a referendum by the autumn 2009.
Eight members of the group will from interest ‘stakeholder groups’, including trade unions, employers, local authorities, women and youth organisations.
The remaining four will be nominated by the Assembly’s main political parties, but no MPs, AMs or councillors.
The £1m convention is a key part of last year’s coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru.
It must assess whether a referendum on a Scottish-style settlement can be won by 2011.
Sir Emyr Jones Parry said he wanted all shades of opinion represented.
“I want now to crack on with the job, to do that in an open way, open to all people, in all parts of Wales, open to al the arguments,” he said.
Mr Morgan said: “This is not going to exclude the chattering classes, but it is an attempt to get away from the chattering classes if you like.”
Instead, he referred to the 8,000 fans who travelled to the Joe Calzaghe fight in the USA as the ‘clattering classes’.
The First Minister said it was “difficult to say” whether a referendum - which needs a two-thirds majority in the Assembly and the blessing of Parliament - would go ahead if the Conservatives win the next General Election.
“Nobody is ignoring what happened last Thursday (the council elections), but we have to crack on with our commitments in the expectation that any changes that could happen after the next general election won’t us greatly in the process we are talking about,” he said.
But deputy first minister Ieuan Wyn Jones insisted it would be difficult for a UK Government to block a referendum if there was a clear will for one in Wales.
“I think it’s very important that we get the right people on the executive committee and we want the committee to be balanced and representative of all Wales,” the Plaid leader said.
Sir Emyr defended the £500,000 annual cost of the exercise, given that the Richard Commission called for a bigger and more powerful Assembly when it published its report in 2004.
“If you’re talking about the future governance of Wales, taken over two years, £1m doesn’t seem excessive,” he said.
Does anyone else think that the idea of a referendum by 2011 is now wildly optimistic?
Now with added links effecttag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.461202008-05-07T11:41:09Z2008-05-07T11:49:05ZGog 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....Tom Bodden
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.
GB: 'I feel your hurt'tag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.459152008-05-05T09:55:41Z2008-05-05T14:45:02ZGordon 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...Tom Bodden
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.
The cause is a real drubbing at the polls which was more a referendum on the Westminster government than on waste management and wheely bins.
The question facing the Labour Party is whether this was an electorate giving Mr Brown a bloody nose, safe in the knowledge that it wouldn’t actually bring down the Government.
Or is there something more fundamental going on with voters actively choosing other options, in general election terms, David Cameron’s Conservatives?
Gower MP Michael Caton said the party should “start talking about really tackling poverty, and that, I think, is going to have to mean that the richest people in society contribute more”.
Former minister Peter Kilfoyle said: “We need to refocus our efforts on those people who have deserted us, people who feel as though we have left them out.”
Influential backbencher Jon Cruddas warned: “Our people are abandoning us, we’re sinking fast, and no amount of hand-wringing and promises of ’listening and learning’ from election night will change that... It’s not too late to change - but choose change we must.”
Panicky Labour backbenchers are looking for a swift response, even though Tony Lloyd, chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Party, insisted that the only MPs who wanted to depose the leader were “malicious” or had “personality defects”.
The prime minister must learn how to communicate his vision because his message has fallen woefully short of a public transfixed by rising prices and economic woes.
“I feel the hurt they feel,” says Gordon.
A series of policy U-turns are now predicted to try to turn the tide which appears to be, worryingly for the Brownites, approaching a flood.
A national pay-as-you-throw bin scheme and deeply unpopular 2p rise in fuel duty could be jettisoned.
Action to keep food prices down and to help homeowners threatened with repossession could be high on the priority agenda.
First minister Rhodri Morgan insists that the public would still want the erstwhile prudent iron chancellor Gordon Brown to chart their course through the choppy economic waters ahead.
The ‘belting’ Labour received in the council elections now puts off any chance of a general election until 2010, he says.
Next year then, Welsh Labour will go through an internal contest to replace Mr Morgan with all the factional division that comes from a leadership battle.
In between comes the elections to the European Parliament.
There will still be inevitable navel gazing within and without the party.
Mr Brown must deal with a fresh challenge today (Weds) over the controversial decision to scrap the 10p starting rate of income tax.
Birkenhead MP Frank Field, the leader of last month’s revolt over the issue, wants more clarity over how chancellor Alistair Darling aims to compensate the low-paid workers and pensioners aged 60-64 who will lose out from the tax change.
First Mr Brown faces some difficult months ahead despite Foreign Secretary David Miliband dismissing suggestions that he was considering a bid for the leadership as “complete rubbish”.
X marks the spottag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.454232008-04-29T08:52:56Z2008-04-29T10:54:15ZWhen the one in three voters entitled to make a choice heads for the polling booths on Thursday it is difficult to gauge what might fully motivate the direction of travel for the pencil to place that X in the...Tom Bodden
When the one in three voters entitled to make a choice heads for the polling booths on Thursday it is difficult to gauge what might fully motivate the direction of travel for the pencil to place that X in the box.
More often than ever before, it seems driven by some mythical feel-good/bad factor or a raging single issue than a tribal political allegiance or general concern for the standard of schooling locally or lack of kerbside recycling.
Lib dem treasury spokesman Vince Cable reckons that the backlash from Labour’s 10p tax gaffe - doubling the income tax rate for 195,000 Welsh people - could cost them up to 100 seats in Wales on Thursday.
He said Wrexham Labour councillors have written to residents urging them to ignore the national picture and vote only on local issues: "All too often local elections become about national politics-what do you think of the Labour Government? However our local problems deserve a true vote on their own merits. We urge those of you planning to vote on polling day not to vote for or against us just because of our central party. "
First minister Rhodri Morgan has been putting in some time on the council election beat and has been left with at least some concern over support for the ABL (Anyone But Labour) party.
It manifested itself at the Assembly elections last year, when despite all efforts to concentrate the Labour-leaning vote on ‘mobile mammas’ or jobs creation, it was the Iraq war which intervened to leave Mr Morgan seeking a partnership with Plaid.
This time council candidates will face the 10p tax furore, credit crunch, and rising fuel and food bills as the political distractions which could cost or deliver their votes.
Mr Morgan calculates that those whose pay packets arrive either weekly or half way through the month will already have felt the pain of the tax implications of scrapping the 10p rate, if they earn below the £18,500 threshold.
But another battalion of those paid at the end of the month is yet to come.
How will it go?
Who really knows, except opposition parties are buoyant that prime minister Gordon Brown’s problems are mounting.
Labour, meanwhile, are concentrating on ‘dissing’ the Liberal Democrats wherever they have a hand on the levers of powers in country halls in any ever frantic attack based on crime and anti-social behaviour.
Less than a handful of seats changing hands in Flintshire could rob Labour of overall control in the county, one of the few where that remains the case, albeit remaining the largest party by some way.
In Gwynedd, the clash between Plaid and Llais Gwynedd promises to make the county one of the most interesting battlegrounds in Wales.
The Conservatives will be anxious for a continued Cameron effect on their results in Wales as a progress report on the path to the next general election, while Plaid will also seek some gain, to assess the impact of coalition with Labour.
The Liberal Democrats made some prestige gains in the last council polls, becoming part of the ruling executives in Wrexham, Cardiff, Swansea and Bridgend and will want to at least keep hold of what they have, or consolidate.
With the phalanxes of independents also standing across Wales in the council polls, it is ever more likely that weird and wonderful alliances will need to be formed to run local services by Friday.
Tea and Welsh Cakestag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.454222008-04-29T08:03:49Z2008-04-29T08:27:22ZTea and Welsh cakes marked the retirement of top Welsh civil servant Sir Jon Shortridge as he gave a rare audience with the media in Cardiff Bay. The permanent secretary to the Assembly Government for nine years, Sir Jon, 61,...Tom Bodden
Tea and Welsh cakes marked the retirement of top Welsh civil servant Sir Jon Shortridge as he gave a rare audience with the media in Cardiff Bay.
The permanent secretary to the Assembly Government for nine years, Sir Jon, 61, is one of the old school.
"I took the view I am a public servant, it doesn't necessarily make me a public person," he said.
But he did offer some glimpses inside the world of a real-life 'Sir Humphrey'.
Sir Jon retires on Wednesday to be succeeded by Dame Gillian Morgan, a former doctor and health official.
Finance minister Andrew Davies was telling reporters last week that the civil service in Wales had to raise its game in the new era of devolution.
Sir Jon believed that the Assembly had secured its place in a more self-confident Wales.
But some in Whitehall still had to learn that the Assembly was a separate jurisdiction and ‘not simply another department’.
The £170,000-a-year permanent secretary largely shunned the limelight but confessed that at the beginning he personally took responsibility for facing AMs' questioning on virtually everything in the inquisitorial audit committee sessions.
During the first Assembly Government from 1999 ,with its wafer-thin majority, as accounting officer he was most concerned to ensure that there was no financial failings or scandal that could have placed the fledgling Assembly in jeopardy.
“I was determined that wasn’t going to happen,” he said.
From an administrative point of view, devolution had to be a "huge change for the better.”
But he added: “We had to put in a lot of time to do what we could so we haven’t had the Terminal 5 in the Assembly or Assembly Government.”
Since then he had identified a growing confidence and self-belief in Wales, reflected in the self-belief of the Assembly Government.
The recent decision on measures to eradicate bovine TB was “a carefully considered policy announcement, more than the potential culling of badgers”, well out in front of the UK government, which demonstrated the Assembly government’s maturity ‘which is great’.
“Devolution is now a done deal so far as Wales is concerned, there’s no going back.
“It’s now one of how far and how fast it’s moving forward.”
The greatest opportunity ahead of the Assembly lay with the convention led by former UN diplomat Sir Emyr Jones Parry into the prospect of full law-making powers for the Assembly.
The biggest threat was with the evolution of UK politics.
“If we are to have a referendum (on full powers) that has to be an affirmative resolution in the House of Commons,” he said.
Was the civil service equipped to handle the next stage of devolution if it comes?
"I have attracted into this organisation some people of stunning ability who weren't necessarily civil servants before they arrived and have not had any great personality changes because they are civil servants."
Sex in the Seneddtag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.447852008-04-21T18:23:14Z2008-04-23T16:53:17ZUPDATE: This from the Assembly Commission today: "The National Assembly has carried out a full internal review of the circumstances of the filming of ‘Caerdydd’. "We can confirm that at no stage of the negotiations about the use of the...Tom Bodden
UPDATE: This from the Assembly Commission today: "The National Assembly has carried out a full internal review of the circumstances of the filming of ‘Caerdydd’.
"We can confirm that at no stage of the negotiations about the use of the building for filming, or during the filming itself, was the content of the scene disclosed by the programme makers.
"Despite this setback, the Assembly is committed to being open and accessible to all, including programme makers and we sincerely hope that this does not prevent us from working with responsible companies in future."
And this from S4C: "S4C has looked into the circumstances surrounding the filming of drama series Caerdydd at the Senedd and is satisfied that the production company followed the correct procedures.
"We are confident that Senedd personnel who dealt with this issue were not misled.”
Spot the difference? This is becoming a true mystery. ]]>
steamy sex scene for a raunchy S4C drama series.
The makers of the series Caerdydd recorded the passionate episode in a baby changing room in the iconic home of democracy, seemingly without the full knowledge of the powers-that be, who thought that they had approved a 'conversation scene'.The programme, Caerdydd, made by Cardiff-based Fiction Factory for S4C, is billed as ‘love and lust at the cutting edge of city life’.
Characters Stephen, an ageing lothario played by award-winning actor Dewi Rhys Williams, and Lea, a 29 year old working at the Assembly, played by former Clwyd Theatr Cymru actress Alys Thomas, were shown in a breathless embrace after locking themselves in what appears to be a toilet at the Senedd.
The baby changing space is part of the public area in the building behind and above the chamber where AMs usually go about their business.
The scene, broadcast last week on S4C, appears to have been filmed without the full knowledge of Assembly Commission authorities who otherwise may have withheld approval.
A statement by the Commission, which runs the Senedd building and is led by presiding officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, said: "The makers of 'Caerdydd' filmed at the Senedd on March 14 with the permission of the National Assembly for Wales.
"Permission was granted to film in the Neuadd area, the corridors of the building and for one scene in the baby changing room.
"However the National Assembly was told that this scene was a conversation scene and was not aware of its full content. The company was allowed to film in good faith."
It begs the question whether drama producers would be allowed, say, into the House of Commons to shoot similar scenes in the bosom (oops) of our democracy.
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Yer 'aving a larf!tag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.442642008-04-15T08:15:50Z2008-04-15T08:18:22ZCorpsing is defined as breaking into uncontrollable laughter at exactly the wrong moment in front of a camera or audience....Tom Bodden
Corpsing is defined as breaking into uncontrollable laughter at exactly the wrong moment in front of a camera or audience.
Radio 4’s Charlotte Green was recently convulsed with the giggles during the reading of an obituary of Oscar-winning screenwriter Abby Mann.
It followed an item on the first recording of a human voice, singing Au Clair de la Lune.
Green was distracted when a colleague whispered in her ear that the female singer sounded like a ‘bee buzzing in a bottle’, prompting the frantic hilarity.
Mid and west Wales AM Alun Davies ‘corpsed’ spectacularly during an Assembly plenary session last week after becoming hyper-amused by preceding speaker North Wales Lib Dem AM Eleanor Burnham.
The wild fit of giggles continued for the best part of a minute, despite several attempts by the new chair of the Assembly’s broadcasting committee to compose himself.
The written record does little justice to the episode.
But Eleanor Burnham was in full flow in a Lib Dem inspired debate on broadband access.
She said (in precis): “Globally, I am sure that we are a laughing stock, frankly, and we will remain so until we get up to speed.
“Our pupils and our youngsters are already ahead of us - compared to them, I am obsolete (sic) when it comes to IT. Each generation improves. deputy first minister, do your best and improve the not spots (sic).”
Mr Davies was undone. “Follow that. Some things are beyond satire,” he managed.
“[Laughter.] Sorry, I have—[Laughter.]
“I have great sympathy with the motion this afternoon, and with what has been said—[Laughter.]”
Deputy presiding officer Rosemary Butler was losing her patience.
She said: “I do not know what the Record will make of this - you are not on the BBC, Alun Davies.
“You are using up your time by laughing, and I am not sure how laughter is noted in the Record. Please try to control yourself and move on.”
At last, he did: “I apologise, Deputy Presiding Officer. I have sympathy with the motion this afternoon, and I am not entirely sure that the Government’s amendment would necessarily improve it.”
The radio classic corpsing title belongs to cricket’s Brian Johnson bringing listeners quickly up to date with: “The bowler's Holding, the batsman's Willey,” before collapsing into mirth.
Ex-cricketer Jonathan Agnew commented on Ian Botham's failure to hurdle his stumps with, ‘just didn't quite get his leg over,’ also reducing Johnston to wheezing fits of laughter.
The subject of Jeremy Paxman’s underpants doubled up This Morning presenters Philip Schofield and Fern Britton, while BBC Radio 2 newsreader John Marsh saw the funny side of an item involving the unconventional use of a firework.
Mr Davies said: “It’s a bit embarrassing to say the least.
“She (Ms Burnham) was talking about broadband and suddenly said with a dramatic pause, ‘I am obsolete’ - and then the laughter started and couldn’t stop.”
As they say, ‘You had to be there.”
We're all happy Bluebirds nowtag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.434732008-04-08T08:07:04Z2008-04-08T09:28:34Z Surely, all Wales - apart from parts of Swansea - is now backing the Bluebirds to complete the remarkable feat of taking the FA Cup out of England for the first time since 1927. But at the other end...Tom Bodden
Surely, all Wales - apart from parts of Swansea - is now backing the Bluebirds to complete the remarkable feat of taking the FA Cup out of England for the first time since 1927.
But at the other end of the footy spectrum, the outlook is black.
Can we contemplate Wrexham playing Conference football, leaving just two Welsh clubs in the Football League?]]>
Cardiff City have faced a turbulent season.
They flirted briefly with the promotion play-off places before the threat of administration in a legal row over £24m in loan notes negotiated with the Swiss-based Langston organisation when Sam Hammam was club chairman.
Within weeks of a partial victory by their lawyers in a High Court case, the players secured a dream £1m final place by dispatching fellow championship giant-killers Barnsley at Wembley.
Bluebirds season ticket holder, Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews, who queued for hours to secure his tickets for Sunday’s semi, is now among tens of thousands looking forward to a return along the M4 on May 17.
Still with a croaking voice yesterday after cheering the side to glory, the deputy minister for regeneration admitted it was a nerve-stretching 82 minutes of play after hero Joe Ledley put Cardiff ahead with a sweet volley.
“The fans were terrific. The noise levels were significant. The team played very well and with one exception (when Barnsley striker Odejayi stabbed wide one-one-one with keeper Enkleman) we didn’t really look in danger.
“I drove up for the game with a couple of people and it was great along the M4 to see all the buses and coaches packed with fans with colours and flags.”
Mr Andrews would not tempt fate with a prediction for the final.
However, the occasion revived his memories of 1968 and Cardiff in the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners’ Cup...
Uefa must have a heart, and if they could allow Liverpool to bend the rules to re-enter the Champions League as cup winners two seasons ago, then a Welsh side should be handed a place Uefa cup place as English FA Cup winners.
Meanwhile, Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, who attends all the club’s home games, endured another dismal 1-1 draw at the Racecourse at the weekend and admitted: “I haven’t looked at the league table. The feeling among fans is that next year we will be in the conference. I can’t remember the last time we won.”
Wrexham are rooted to the foot of the Football League, seven points from safety with just six games remaining, reliant on other teams above them to slip up even if they put together a remarkable run of results of their own.
Ms Griffiths said: “When we were in administration I remember some Cardiff fans coming to the Racecourse to support us and singing their hearts out.
“I’m delighted for them, even though we are pretty despondent right now, I hope they go on to win the cup.”
Swansea City fan Dai Lloyd, Plaid AM for south west Wales, suffered as his side missed a chance to secure promotion to the Championship losing at home to Bournemouth.
Former Swansea player Leighton James was dropped as a soccer pundit by BBC Wales after suggesting 99.9% of Swans fans - himself included - would want Cardiff to lose the semi-final.
But Mr Lloyd enthused: “At times like these we should all rejoice in Cardiff’s success which will raise the profile of Wales around the globe.”
GogLitetag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.425392008-03-27T19:20:52Z2008-03-27T19:35:58ZBlogging wil be light over the next few days as I chase the spring sun in the Mediterranean. However, feel free to comment on any news of the day and I'll try to find a computer terminal to update the...Tom Bodden
to scrap the contentious A494 'superhighway' through Deeside? Protesters will be happy but what do those drivers on the clogged uproad network from North Wales to the north west and those unhappily evicted from homes on the proposed route?
Plaid Cymru is flexing its political muscle at its spring conference in Newport, what are the near-future prospects for the coalition with Labour?
And the mighty Blues face the old enemy at Anfield on Sunday - will they show the world's greatest derby match on TVs in Florence without mentioning the Uefa cup penalty shoot-out?
How can I go away?]]>
More paytag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.420972008-03-24T10:19:27Z2008-03-25T00:26:42ZThe mid point of a quiet three-week Easter recess at the National Assembly led me on a tour of the darker corners of the institution’s website. There is the report of the independent panel set up to deliberate on the...Tom Bodden
the report of the independent panel set up to deliberate on the contentious issue of AMs’ pay.
This issue of the inflation-busting 8.3% pay rise, which flared up just before the recess, may well be thought to have burnt itself out by now.
But there were a few questions raised in this report that were worth pondering, especially as they were disregarded by the commission which settled the pay deal.]]>
and Plaid Cymru’s rejection of it - the widening of the pay structure to encompass extra roles and duties appeared to receive less scrutiny.
The number of enhanced salaried posts rose from 27 in the last Assembly to 35, in theory giving extra responsibility payments to more than half the Assembly.
For the first time, the government chief whip would receive an additional £25,566; opposition chief whip £11,331 more, so too the leader of the smallest party, and four Assembly Commissioners; while previously unpaid chairs of some committees were handed an extra £5,934.
Interesting to read then what the independent panel, chaired by former parliamentary clerk Sir Michael Wheeler-Booth, had to say on some of these enhancements among just five recommendations to the Assembly Commission.
That figure of 82% was calculated thus: “Although Members’ roles had not reached the level of those of Members of the Scottish Parliament, for example, pending a more fundamental review of financial support to Members, it would be appropriate to recommend an increase in salary to a point about halfway between the existing percentage of an MP’s salary and the percentage of that of a Scottish Member.”
Quite scientific then.
On the extra payments to the chairs of committees, it said: “Some of the submissions we received suggested that it would be desirable to extend salaries to all chairs of committees.
“However, we did not find the evidence in support of this view to be convincing.”
Regarding payments to whips, which caused a cross-party row when suggested by first minister Rhodri Morgan last October, the report concluded: “We were not satisfied at this stage that we had sufficient evidence to recommend an appropriate level of salary for party whips.”
On payments to party leaders, the report considered: “We also noted that in the House of Commons only the leader of the main opposition party receives a salary. And in the Scottish Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly no opposition party leader receives a salary.
“But we are persuaded that the current system produces anomalies that we believe should be addressed.”
There does not appear to be any recommendation to pay Assembly Commissioners more money.
Further more detailed reviews of that salary structure should take place in the future, it says.
But the report points out: “It may also be desirable to develop a system which sets AMs’ pay without the intervention of the Assembly or the Commission so that politicians would no longer have a direct say on their pay increases.”ENDS
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Civil serfingtag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.416122008-03-18T08:48:55Z2008-03-18T08:56:53ZA whistleblowing blogger in Whitehall has been tracked down by cyber-detectives and suspended from her job as a civil servant in the Department of Work and Pensions. (Hat tip: David Jones MP) But the internet is increasingly becoming a refuge...Tom Bodden
Hat tip: David Jones MP)
But the internet is increasingly becoming a refuge for disgruntled public sector staff.
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The 33-year-old known as ‘Civil Serf’ was recording for an internet audience instances of Government ‘incompetence’ since November and attracted something of a cult following.
She dubbed prime minister Gordon Brown as ‘Velcro-man’ because ‘bad news always stuck to him’ unlike ‘Teflon Tony’ Blair; and declared that senior politicians only took decisions at the weekend ‘probably because they have their spouse and/or political adviser to do it for them’.
Two support staff for AMs were 'virtually' dismissed for sharing their views on internet blog sites while many anonymous bloggers are believed to have insider Assembly links, with some sites regularly changing/protecting their ‘identities’.
Blog entries have landed AMs in front of the standards committee too.
No surprise that staff at the Senedd might be reticent about their identities when commenting on the recent AMs’ 8.3% pay rise.
One who e-mailed the Daily Post wanted to be known only as Just Some Guy ‘overworked and underpaid in Cardiff Bay’.
It is always difficult to assess the merit of anonymous contributions because of the obvious suspicion that someone isn’t what they claim to be, or otherwise has an axe to grind.
But, that aside, this correspondent, who ‘currently works for an AM’ raised some interesting points about the increasing workload for the elected members.
“The main increase in their workload has been the increase in the number of committees the AMs sit on, mainly LCO committees,” the message said..
“However, aside from the extra three hours a week they spend sat in committee, most of the extra work has fallen on their staff who do the research and write their speeches for them.
“There are many AMs, I will not name names, that actually do very little and get by on because they are well briefed by their staff.
“Many have no idea what casework goes in and out of their offices.
“I have been informed that staff salaries will be reviewed in the future, but I do not believe for one minute that our own pay rises will be as generous, or backdated to May in the same way theirs are.”
Owch!
Another ‘former support staff worker’ blogging on-line declared: “I can assure as someone who worked for an AM, they don’t all work hard at all, they are in the bay 1.5 days, their constituency on a Friday at most, and that depends on they have any functions on.”
There is an argument that the extra pay is not just for ‘extra work’ but for the ‘extra responsibility’ that law-making heaps on the elected legislature, rated at 82% of that of an MP.
Presiding officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas plans a root and branch examination of AMs’ allowances which presently cover the salaries of their staff.
He wants to root out the employment of family members, use of allowances to buy equity in property, and pay rent to political parties.
He would like to see support staff employed directly by the Assembly Commission with a salary structure in place.
Unfortunately it could take until after the next Assembly elections in 2011 for the result of an independent review to influence such decisions, leaving staff to grumble on the internet.
Faith, hope and charitytag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.410282008-03-11T09:34:59Z2008-03-18T17:38:56Z UPDATE 2: Aberconwy AM Gareth Jones has just issued a statement declaring that he will not be accepting the recommended pay award as Plaid AMs opposed the 8.3% rise in principle. "In the first and second years, I will...Tom BoddenUPDATE 2: Aberconwy AM Gareth Jones has just issued a statement declaring that he will not be accepting the recommended pay award as Plaid AMs opposed the 8.3% rise in principle.
"In the first and second years, I will donate the above-inflation element (i.e. above 2.5%) of the pay award to local hospices - St David's Hospice, where I was a Trustee, and to Ty Gobaith Children's Hospice, and also to Aberconwy Women's Aid and the North Wales Air Ambulance."
But he added: "More generally, I am not pleased that AMs are being seen to have a public row over whether they should get 76% or 82% of a MPs pay.
"My view is that there should be parity of pay - MPs and AMs have an equivalent workload and an equivalent level of responsibility.
"That could just as well be achieved in my opinion by reducing MPs pay to match that of AMs, especially since their actual responsibilities within Wales have been drastically reduced over the last eight years."
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UPDATE: Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has just told the weekly WAG media briefing that he will donate his extra pay rise to two charities, Christian Aid and the Stroke Association.
The Plaid leader calculates the average public sector pay rise this year at 2.5% and the difference will go to the good causes.
"What I personally have said is that I won't be accepting the money which is above the average given to the public sector. That's a completely personal decision for me. It's not a policy issue for the party, it's a decision each and every AM has to make on their own behalf."
Nevertheless it puts a lot of pressure on the 15-strong Plaid group in the Assembly to do the same.
Plaid AM and presiding officer Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas, who chairs the Assembly Commission which endorsed the recommended 8.3% increase in basic salaries, was making no comment.
AMs are are in line for a 8.3% pay hike - including a 1.9% annual rise given to MPs - to recognise the extra work and responsibilities of law-making.
As a minister, the Ynys Mon AM's salary is due to rise from £87,029 to £91,337, back-dated to the Assembly elections last May.
Other Plaid AMs also declared that they won't take the inflation-busting increase, while the majority of AMs in other parties are expected to accept the deal.
The £3,888-a-year increase for a backbench AM takes the basic salary to £50,692, or 82% of that of an MP.
Those on fixed incomes, or less than inflation-proofed salary structures find this decision hard to swallow, certainly its timing, as the public sector is asked to face a tightening of the collective belt, police are marching the streets in pay protest and the coastguard goes on strike.
Prime minister Gordon Brown, soon joined by other party leaders, told MPs they should stick to the 1.9% rise the Government was imposing on many public servants.
The justification for the ‘one-off’ wage hike in Cardiff is that the job has changed and so should the pay.
Senior Lib Dem AM Jenny Randerson put it this way: “People refer to it as a pay rise, I like to call it a promotion.”
Whatever your interpretation, as the wages bill for 60 AMs tops £5m, the public relations fall out from the self-regulated decision has not been lost on some in Plaid Cymru.
Seven of Plaid’s 15 AMs, including Arfon’s Alun Ffred Jones and North Wales member Janet Ryder, already announced that they would refuse the enhanced pay hike.
Now Ynys Mon AM and leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has spoken out, the pressure will be on the rest to fall in line although it is stressed that this is an individual decision.
All of which could leave not only AMs from different parties receiving different basic salaries, but even some within the same political group receiving less of a whack than their ‘close’ colleagues.
The Tories’ Nick Bourne described it as ‘the worst kind of political opportunism’, as his group, Labour and Lib Dems accepted the deal drawn up by an independent panel of experts and endorsed by the Assembly Commission.
It should be an interesting meeting of minds in the Plaid group in the Assembly today when the refuseniks meet their other colleagues.
Asked if she would accept the 8.3% rise, Mrs Ryder said: “I don’t think given the current financial climate it’s the right thing to do.”
Meanwhile, Abercowny AM Gareth Jones was considering his position: “Should we be entitled to 82% of an MP’s salary? If Joe Public feels that AMs don’t deserve that level of remuneration someone has to ask what happens to MPs now they have lost a substantial amount of their workload.”
If AMs refuse to accept the rise altogether the cash will stay in the £40m budget of the Assembly Commission.
Perhaps that's why Mr Jones is choosing the charity option.]]>
What you pay your AMtag:goginthebay.welshblogs.co.uk,2008://237.407242008-03-07T07:48:27Z2008-03-13T13:40:50ZThis blog predicted it. Now the political row has erupted about the inflation-busting 8.3% pay rise for our AMs....Tom Bodden
predicted it.
Now the political row has erupted about the inflation-busting 8.3% pay rise for our AMs.
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here.
The salary increases in full:-
MP from £61,181 to £61,820;
AM from £46,804 to £50,692;
AM who is also an MP or MEP, receives an increased payment from £15,601 to £16,897;
First Minister: from £124,350 to £129,047;
Presiding officer, Welsh ministers: from £87,029 to £91,337;
Leader of the largest party without an executive role, deputy presiding officer, and deputy ministers: from £72,105 to £76,258;
Government chief whip (new payment): from £46,804 to £76,258;
Opposition chief whip (new payment): from £46,804 to £62,023;
Assembly commissioners (new payment): from £46,804 to £62,023;
Chairs of scrutiny committees, audit or finance committee: from £52,677 to £62,023;
Chairs of other committees (new payment): from £46,804 to £56,626;
Leader of opposition parties other than the largest (new payment): from £46,804 to £62,023.
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