One of the last requests by our late friend Rhobert ap Steffan was that we should vote YES in the referendum on March 3rd.
I am happy to comply with this request and urge all followers of Cambria Politico to do the same.
Feb 272011
Feb 162011
We have received several complaints that the survey by the West Wales Business Initiative in the article we published below is biased, unrepresentative and web-ignorant. Well, that may well be true but you also have to remember that the majority of West Wales small businesses are not internet savvy, are not represented by the CBI or FSB or other quasi political body and actually have little or no ‘voice’ or means of expression. Nor do they read blogs like this.
It is also true that this survey is a small selective sampling of businesses but so are the adverts for shampoo on the telly which maintain that 87 out of 100 women when asked agree that the product makes them look beautiful and glossy!
The questions in the survey are also asked in such a way as to predispose the answer nevertheless it is what people are asking whether we like it or not. This is what the NO campaigners are relying on.
The fact remains that (some) small business owners in the very heart of ostensibly ripe YES territory are unhappy with WAG and that whatever is proposed will be viewed with extreme suspicion. This MUST be a concern for the YES campaign and something must be done to address this beyond the constant bombardment by twitter and facebook posts (which are not seen anyway). The only YES campaign material we have seen came in the form of a very cheap printed flier printed on grey paper you would probably only use in a cat litter tray (to be polite). There has been no NO literature which is probably just as well.
The rather weird and frenetic debates held by the BBC’s Betsan Powys on the telly or on the BBC politics websites are strangely fascinating to people like me but do you really imagine that business people listen to these or read them? I don’t think so.
Oh and I am a declared YES vote, voting this way for ‘patriotic’ reasons and no other.
This makes my point from the last article. Business in West Wales says NO.
RESULTS OF REFERENDUM SURVEY.
The West Wales Business Initiative has carried out a survey of how businesspeople in Wales intend to vote in the Referendum on Assembly powers, due on 3 March. Over 200 companies were contacted by e-mail, phone and post.
141 replies were received.
To the first question: Do you believe that the Assembly should be given additional powers ?
75.9 % said No
24.1 % said Yes.
To the second question : Rate the Assembly’s OVERALL performance since 1999 :
Good 0 %
Satisfactory 7.8 %
Mediocre 48.9 %
Poor 43.3 %
To the third question : Do you believe there is too much government (Local, Regional and National) in the UK ?
93.6 % said Yes
6.4 % said No
And the 4th question : Do you believe that we need an Assembly and 22 Local Councils in Wales
93.6 % said No
6.4 % said Yes
Respondents were also given the opportunity to comment. See following page.
A spokesman for the WWBI said “A number of people have stated publicly that the point about Assembly performance is separate to the Referendum question. It is clear that the business community does not perceive a difference, as in the business world you have to perform to survive. Coupled to this is the belief that the Assembly has already wasted billions of taxpayers money.”
“Giving it more powers, before they have proved they can manage resources effectively, will lead to even more waste. Others see it as another step towards a Wales, politically, socially and economically separate to Britain; the same as Ireland.”
COMMENTS FROM RESPONDENTS :
Reducing the level of Local Government would surely assist in reducing the National Deficit, and based on the appalling inefficiency and lack of service within the Local Authorities we work with, a more slim-line structure cannot be any more inefficient or costly than the current system. The Assembly has not really delivered much at all for Wales.
As a small business employing local people we feel we have been let down badly by government…
We do need a strong government but the problem is there are too many civil servants working within government and local councils. Pay and conditions are far too generous in the public sector , just compare the sickness frequency rates between the two sectors, sickness benefits are seen as an entitlement in the public sector rather than for the purpose intended. Final salary pensions are unaffordable and unsustainable and a huge burden on the public purse. In the case of local councils and other public service authorities you don’t see them going into receivership if they fail to operate within their budgets, they are bailed out by central government.
My concern is that in my opinion Wales is not able to be self sufficient, and further devolved powers will make progress towards true devolution, and I am far from convinced that we have the necessary skills, experience and revenue streams to allow this to be successful
I believe that the WAG should be given more tools (which could be construed as powers) to do its job more effectively until such a time as the UK evolves into a proper federation of nation states with a written constitution.
Had Wales been part of the Celtic Tiger, it would by now be on its knees and in far worse a state than that which the Irish economy finds itself presently in.
The assembly has demonstrated no will to encourage Welsh Businesses to grow to become meaningful players on even the UK stage. Just look at the list of 300 largest companies in Wales to see (i) how many are foreign-owned and (ii) how few major UK players are Welsh. The success of the Welsh economy depends on the success of its businesses, and on recirculating money within Wales. It’s a simple concept which WAG has not embraced. It prefers to hide itself behind the pretence that it must conform with European rules, in a way that no other country does. WAG should be abolished.
The level of bureaucracy and red tape is far too high in the welsh economy. We need less government and not more. We need an assembly government which actively supports and encourages established welsh independent businesses. A government which does not squander money on frivolous causes but actively seeks to develop and grow the welsh economy.
I feel the referendum should be on whether we should abolish the Assembly. If you consider that it was born following a referendum which had a 25% turnout and that the supporting majority was only 0.25%. Hardly a clear cut decision. The quality of individuals sitting as AMs is of a very low calibre – many of them have failed to secure nominations as parliamentary candidates. The fact that there is cross party support for additional powers indicates clearly that the individuals are anxious to protect their ‘jobs’ as AMs. Is there an AM who has been a success in a proper job?
If more powers are obtained, then I am certain that more civil servants will be required to draft and an enact legislation. Whatever they say, this will result in more costs which can only be recovered through taxation. Whether that taxation is by the Treasury or by using some of the block grant, the money clearly cannot be spent on other things.
The scrapping of Grant Aid to business in Wales during a recession and in view of large scale job losses, was the final nail in the coffin as far as WAG were concerned from my point of view! In fact apart from the recent support for Welsh students the Assembly has had more of an adverse effect on Wales since its inception and at a disproportionate cost. Bring back the old Welsh Office and disband the Assembly rather than give these AM’s more power and ability to get it wrong!
Introducing extra layers of government and devolved power comes at an extra cost to the tax payer. I question whether the sheer cost of setting up and running the Welsh Assembly has truly benefited the lives of those living and working in Wales.
The only really positive thing that WAG does is provide a lot of jobs in the public sector and create work in the private sector through its enormous spending powers. From a government point of view it is completely pointless – like the EU parliament: an extra layer of government that we don’t need and which costs the taxpayer a fortune.
Although a separate nation comparison of Welsh performance to other nations provides a bench mark for seeing how well or otherwise we are doing. Such comparisons highlight areas of excellence and others of failure and provide a basis for establishing cause and effect.
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For further information contact : 01269 592427
Feb 072011
In my capacity as a ‘bellwhether’…
A bellwhether is any entity that serves to presage future happenings.
The term is derived from the Middle English bellewether and refers to the practice of placing a bell around the neck of a castrated ram (a wether) leading his flock of sheep.[1][2] The movements of the flock could be noted by hearing the bell before the flock was in sight.
I am ringing a bell of warning to all those who think a YES vote in the upcoming referendum in Wales is a foregone conclusion. There is no logic to this and the polls, such as they are, appear to be overwhelmingly in favour. The YES campaign has marketed itself very well (compared to the NO campaign) given the limited resources but, but … I fear that we appear to be on the verge of a ‘black swan ‘ moment in Welsh politics.
I can’t avoid the alarm bell ringing perceptions that:
The Business community is lukewarm and ambivalent to the point of outright antagonism because of the dire performance of WAG on the economy. There is outward ‘lip service’ but the thoughts and private discussions are strongly negative. The ‘economic’ argument has not been made effectively enough.
Whatever they say or state to the contrary the perception appears to be that this is about Nationalism or will lead to separation and break up of the UK. It is only in certain rapidly shrinking areas of Wales that this would be perceived as a positive outcome. This ‘slippery slope’ contention by the NO campaigners has been their most deployed weapon and there is no denying its potency in certain quarters.
People have not forgotten or forgiven politicians for ‘expenses’, the poor performance of the economy, the terrible educational attainment results or lack of action against the ‘bankers’. People are no longer wondering whose side politicians are on – they know, they don’t like it and are still angry.
The rugby team is lacking in confidence and the WAG is losing the confidence of the people. It is no longer sufficient to put James Hook back in at No.10.
There is strong undercurrent that says if all the politicians are in favour then I am against it on the principle that if it’s good for them it can’t be good for me.
Some think a YES vote will give too much power and influence to Plaid Cymru a minority Nationalist party which appears not to represent the non-Welsh speaking majority. This is clearly wrong on every count but it can’t be denied that this perception exists predominantly in the Valleys and populous urban areas.
There is an argument that says you can still be a ‘patriotic’ Welsh man or woman and proud of it but still vote NO. This linkage between voting YES and ‘patriotism’ is no longer tenable.
There is a perception, especially amongst women and the young, that this is a non-issue and not worth turning out to vote for or against hence the predictions for a very low turnout. A low turnout favours no-one, let alone the political process.
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As a potential YES voter I myself must face up to these negative influences and I call on the YES campaign to move up a gear and quickly. For Plaid in particular a NO vote or a LO vote will lead to their eventual disappearance from the political scene. This is their watershed moment.
Feb 062011
No prizes for guessing who is who.
Both belong to political organisations beginning with T
Both are attractive and erm… intelligent ostensibly educated women with strong personalities and unusual ability to put across their views on the Media.
Both have attracted a ‘nutter’ type following including some who either should know better or are chancers and camp followers seeking notoriety.
Both are brilliant at selection and editing of ideas, history and ideological concepts to fit their political purpose/narrative.
Both are against ‘the Government’ or want less of it.
As far as I know Rachel Banner hasn’t yet shot anything from the back of a pickup truck.
Palin wears spectacles in public.
Palin can ‘see’ Russia from her back yard, Banner can probably only see a few yards into the mist and rain of Wales.
Palin has aspirations to be the most powerful woman on the Planet with her painted fingernail on the nuclear button. Not sure what Banner’s aspiration is apart from preventing the present government of Wales from acquiring more legislative powers in the upcoming referendum or in her words ‘sliding down a slippery slope’.
Poster below courtesy of syniadau
For fans of Palin I include this wonderful tribute:
Feb 052011
Adapted from this article about the origin of the phrase ‘bunga bunga’ and #bungabunga
Two Welshmen are cornered by a gang of Referendum campaigners. They are asked whether they would prefer to vote or undergo bunga bunga.
The first one opts for bunga bunga, and is immediately subjected to a sexual assault by members of the gang. The second one, who now grasps the reality of what “bunga bunga” means says he would prefer to vote. To which the chief of the party replies: “Okay, you can vote – but before that you will have bunga bunga.”
Having received this morning my voting card, I was going to write a long article about the upcoming Referendum question and vote covering all the pros and cons and analysing the opinions, but now … I can’t be arsed.
Main reason for voting YES
- Politicians of all parties are unanimously in favour.
Main numero uno reason for voting NO
- Politicians of all parties are unanimously in favour.
I think that just about sums it up.
Nov 232010
A BARD FOR HIGHGROVE by Meic Stephens
Some comments by readers…
“ Devoid of literary merit …”
” I had great fun spotting all the cringe-making characters …”
” Welsh Republicans will either love or loathe this amusing saga …”
” A worthy addition to the satirical genre – will cause uproar! “
” How can a Professor of Literature write something like this – outrageous!
” Seditious nonsense by someone who should be locked up in the Tower of London.”
A book review.
Normally, we don’t get involved in the literary side of things on Cambria Politico, but since this novel(la) by Meic Stephens is about imagined events involving England’s Royal Family it has a ‘political’ dimension and is therefore fair game. It has already caused a stir judging by the pre-publication reviews already received.
This novella, at once provocative and percipient, but never bland, is partly a critique of the institution of monarchy and partly a satire on the culture and politics of contemporary Wales … it will make some readers grin and get up the noses of others, in about equal measure. (from the blurb)
With the recent announcement of the impending marriage of helicopter pilot Prince William and ‘commoner’ Kate Middleton, the (English) Royal Family are back in the news headlines again so this little book has arrived with perfect timing. It will provoke argument and discussion about the role of the monarchy in modern contemporary Wales.
The premise of the book, apart from its scathing attack on thinly disguised members of the current Welsh literary ‘establishment’ , is that current heir to the English throne Prince Charles wants to appear more Welsh to his subjects. To achieve this aim, he hires a Welsh speaking (lady)bard (hence the title) who proceeds to make the Prince of Wales become more Welsh than the Welsh with startling and often hilarious consequences.
Whether you are Welsh or not, most people will enjoy and be entertained by reading this little book. Some will be taking it apart word by word and consulting their legal teams.
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Publication Date: December 2010. Publisher: Cambria-Cyhoeddwyr Cymrica Cyfyngedig
ISBN: 9781844269341 | Price : £7.95 plus £1.50 p&p
Ordering: BUY NOW or call 01267 290188
