New Plaid hero Eurfyl ap Gwilym wins encounter with Jeremy Paxman the doyen of BBC interviewers and the one all the politician’s are scared of.
Apr 282010
Mar 232010
This is one ‘cab driver’ voters will not be hiring! Is there no end to it? We need a new breed of politician.
Mar 012010
Video of the 7th Parade through Cardiff. Big Question? Why can we not have a similar bank holiday to St.Patricks Day?
Jan 052010
ER SERCHUS GOF
Hywel Teifi Edwards
1934-2010
Cambria pays tribute to the life and work of a great and noble Welshman and a true, generous and loyal friend of Cambria Magazine.
Cawr o Gymro – llewyrched goleuni gwastadol arno
A full obituary will appear in the next issue of Cambria.
These are certainly exciting times for Plaid Cymru. A General Election when we expect to win the largest amount of Parliamentary seats in our history; an Autumn or 2011 New Year referendum on full law making powers within devolved competencies; and a Welsh General Election in 2011. From a personal perspective it’s great to be back full time in active politics at the heart of the national movement; the political equivalent of playing central midfield for the national football team every day of the year!
Over the next 18 months the future of Wales for a generation will be shaped. In this period, Plaid has the best opportunity in its history of replacing a discredited Labour party as the dominant political force in our country. It’s an opening we have a duty to grasp.
A new political environment will be shaped following the General Election. It is highly likely that we are looking at significant Tory victory across the UK. If tensions between the UK Government and the devolved Administrations have been all too often visible with a Labour Government in Westminster, imagine what it’s going to be like with a Tory Government in London that is at best suspicious of devolved politics.
The Labour party will inevitably implode after their defeat. In the medium term it has two choices in Wales. Firstly it grows up and becomes a party that genuinely promotes progressive nationalism – making itself relevant to the new political environment, or it continues along the path to self destruction with its current political malaise due to its own deep splits.
When Labour enjoyed political hegemony over our country it was able to pacify the two warring factions within its ranks by playing the politics of the lowest common denominator. Opposition parties working within this context had no option but to grit their teeth and bear it. Unfortunately for Labour, in the space of a few years their hegemonic control over Welsh politics (that lasted the best part of a century) disappeared. And the trajectory is only going one way. In the new plural political environment of modern Wales, Labour’s current approach will be ruthlessly exposed – the events within the Government of Wales only last week are a case in point.
In the face of a Tory Westminster Government, the alternative narrative will not be a replacement New Labour London Government – but rather the development of Welsh political democracy and sovereignty. As someone who has spent the last two years of my life campaigning directly for social justice with the CAB movement, it became evidently clear that Wales doesn’t have power over the real leavers to fully tackle social inequity. That is why, if elected, my political future will be in Westminster until Wales has control over the benefits system and fiscal autonomy are devolved. Northern Ireland already has administrative control over the benefits system and even the unionist parties in Scotland are campaigning for fiscal autonomy. We want Wales to have the same rights as our Celtic cousins – why should we accept less?
There are those in the Labour party who accuse us of navel-gazing over the constitutional question. What they fail to acknowledge is that political power is the key to driving forward the social justice agenda. Without the tools to do the job – no craftsman no matter its skill can achieve its task. Are the unionists in their midst seriously arguing that a Tory Government in London is likely to deliver on the social justice more than a government of progressives in Wales?
The political dynamic of post General Election Wales will therefore be between a Conservative right wing, South-East-of-England-Centric UK Government in conflict with an increasingly Plaid dominated Government of Wales. If Labour fail to react to this new political dynamic they will become increasingly marginalised. Peter Hain is only half right – the real political choice is between Plaid and the Tories.
At this stage it’s important to pay tribute to the way in which current Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones, an Amman Valley boy like myself having been born and raised in Garnswllt, is creating the new Wales. Ieuan knows where the future strategic battles lie. Apart from his contribution in steering Wales through the recession, his major contribution will be the way that he has paved the way and shaped the future of so many young politicians.
With Wales’ most effective political campaigner in Bethan Jenkins and the party’s Director of Policy Nerys Evans already elected at the Senedd, Ieuan has facilitated the development of the likes of the next Jennie Eirian in Myfanwy Davies , the hugely talented Steffan ‘Next But One’ Lewis, forensic thinker Colin Nosworthy and ultra impressive Heledd Fychan.
Added to this, he has managed to recruit a group of exceptionally gifted young staffers and advisers to drive Plaid’s ambitions. Having individuals as talented and committed as this team must make other political parties in Wales not only envious but also extremely worried.
A lesser leader would have pinned down the ‘young Turks’ in the party in order to preserve his own position. His selflessness is creating the new Wales that will shape the future of our nation.
In doing so Ieuan has not only ensured an increasingly impressive team to lead, but has also provided his party with a new generation of politicians ready to lead Wales to justice and prosperity well in to the future.
I am confident that the future is bright – and I’m convinced the future is Plaid.
Jonathan Edwards
Plaid Prospective Candidate, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Nov 262009
We have received and now publish a response from Henry Jones-Davies (of Cambria magazine) on the ongoing saga of Mr.Lewis versus Cambria Politico.We feel that this is an important issue of freedom of the Press/ blogosphere and are publishing the correspondence in the expectation that, on this basis, people will make their own minds up about the politician and party in question.
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Annwyl Mr. Lewis
Re: Your complaint to the Press Complaints Commission
A complaint from you regarding an item published on the Cambriapolitico blog, which you chose to make in the style ‘Matt Greenough’, has been passed to me. Your complaint referred to a post on the Cambria Politico blog, yet it was directed to Cambria Magazine, which did not publish the post.
I will make a defence of the post that must be made in the interests of free speech. I will deal with your points in turn:
• Allegation of intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit:
You have provided no particulars of this, which would seem to require acts which are repeated or intrusive.
• Pejorative reference to mental illness:
You have alleged that “there is a clear implication running through the piece that (you) suffer from a mental health problem”.
The “implication running through the piece”: the theme of the article is that the Labour Party in Wales has in it a body of opinion which is “devo-sceptic”, or “terrified of being labelled a closet nationalist”, or “rabidly unionist or loony-left”, or who “loath Wales, its people, language and culture and history”. Those who hold such views end in positions which, in the opinion of the writer, ought to expose them to ridicule. That is what runs through the article.
You “suffer from a mental health problem”: you appear to base this on the use of the description of you as “Screwloose”. This description appears as follows:
1. Paragraph 1 – where it is linked to political views which the writer perceives you as holding,
2. Paragraph 2 – where it is linked to you allegedly having ‘chips on your shoulder’,
3. Paragraph 4 – where it is linked to you being a contender in the Wales Labour leadership contest.
In the premises, I cannot see that “Screwloose” refers to the state of your mental health. I think a reader would link the description to your political views, with which the writer of the piece clearly disagrees.
References to your mental health: in Paragraph 4 you are referred to as in many ways “reasonable”. There is no other reference to the state of your mental health anywhere in the piece.
On this point, I therefore reject your suggestion that any allegation has been made against you as to your mental health. The suggestion made in the piece is that you, an otherwise reasonable man, hold puzzingly extravagant, inconsistent and unattractive views on the subject of Wales.
I would invite you to consider the use of the epithet “Screwloose” as being analogous to the following. On Saturday 21 November 2009, the normally reliable Andrew Grice, Political Editor of The Independent, wrote an article published in that paper. In the article he reported:
“Mr.Brown (Prime Minister) and others had to swallow their doubts about the centre-right nominee for President (of the EU), the non-descript Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy. Mr. Brown didn’t mind that, even though for weeks his allies have been referring to the Belgian premier as “Rumpy Pumpy” and “Rumpelstiltskin”.
I suggest that the use of these epithets by – apparently – your colleagues in the Labour Party, carry no implication of unchastity in M. van Rompuy, or prejudice against ugly persons of restricted growth. I hope it does not tax the imagination too greatly to realise that the epithet “Screwloose” – which has, for some considerable time, been applied to you by way of conversational currency amongst the political classes in Cardiff and elsewhere in Wales – is, quite obviously, a play on your name, rather than a comment on any aspect of your personality or state of mind. As you will know, the use of such epithets has a very long and strong tradition in Wales.
In summary, I feel entitled to point out to you that, as you expose yourself to a level of politics which has more prominence than the level you have occupied to date, you will in future have to accustom yourself to comment couched in tones with which you are apparently unfamiliar and may well find displeasing.
You have chosen to resort to the Press Complaints Commission. As one who loves – and strives for – Wales, I must surely be expected to defend a piece in its comment about a politician – you – who ought, but sadly appears not to, share my feelings for Wales. And I will do so robustly.
As to the remainder of your letter, my replies are as follows:
• Legal Advice: I imagine that you will receive advice which includes the following:
1. Allegation of insanity: defamatory if made, but not in fact made in this case.
2. Cambria Politico: has available the defence of Fair Comment on the views of a person in public life.
• Removal of blog post: As you will know, the relevant blog post was removed while legal advice was taken. You will also know, which will not surprise you on reflection, that it has been re-posted, and that you did – by your (office’s) actions – draw increased, unnecessary and presumably unwelcome attention to the political criticisms made of you in the piece.
Yours etc.,
Henry Jones-Davies
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Editor’s note
Copies of this (edited) reply have been sent to the Press Complaints Commission and to the Presiding Officer and Chief Executive of the National Assembly for Wales. Cambriapolitico finds itself on the front line of the defence of free speech in Wales, and we will not let the retreating rabble of a rapidly disintegrating Labour Party attempt to stamp it out.
The redacted version of the Huw Lewis blog post instead of the one the Labour Party bully-boys don’t want you to see. We’re confident that the full version will be back on line for your delectation (and their confusion) soon!
xxxxxxx xxxxx the xxxxxx
By Axxxxx Llxxxx Pxxxx
xxx xxxx it all appeared to be going swimmingly well for xxxxxx, xxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx Labour leadership candidate Huw ‘xxxxxxxxxx’ Lewis – xxxxxx xxx xxxxxxxxxx.
Over the last few weeks in the gripping battle to succeed Rhodri Morgan as First minister of Wales, it appeared that rank outsider xxxxxxxxxx, xxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx xxx xxxxxxx xxxx Harry Ramsden xx x xxxxxx xxxxxx, might yet slip under the radar and bring the contest to a tight finish.
Obvious favourite Carwyn Jones, a xxxxxxx xxxxxxx and xxxxx xxxx xxxxxx with xxxxxx gravitas to lead a political party, xxxxxx out on the burning issue facing Wales: increased powers for the Assembly – apparently xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx. Meanwhile xxxxxx xxxxxx Edwina Hart’s campaign ran xxxxxx xxxxxx with xxxxxx the future of xxxxxx.
No mention of anything remotely xxxxxx, xxxxxx xxxxxx or xxxxxx
Suddenly xxxxxx seemed to be a contender. The former chemistry teacher’s 5-minute interview on Thursday’s AM/PM programme actually gave the impression of a reasonable, softly-spoken family man and with no mention of anything xxxxxx, xxxxxx xxxxxx or xxxxxx -as might have been expected. When considered against the xxxxxx of Edwina and Carwyn on the same programme, xxxxxx his chances. xxxxxx then came yesterday’s headline…
xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx BEHIND HUW LEWIS’ VISION FOR WALES!
and the dream is all xxxxxx.
Political xxxxxx
The very idea of this xxxxxx duo of political xxxxxx and xxxxxx xxxxxx (Kinnock as Labour leader, Glenys as a xxxxxx ‘xxxxxx’ MEP xxxxxx xxxxxx Foreign Office minister) giving a boost to anyone in this contest is as xxxxxx as it is xxxxxx. Here is a couple whose xxxxxx Wales, its people, language, culture and history (xxxxxx is on record as saying that xxxxxx) is matched only by an xxxxxx (see Cambriapolitico passim). Lewis xxxxxx that he was “honoured and humbled to have the backing of two such great party figures”, adding xxxxxx that xxxxxx was somehow responsible for having “saved the party from electoral extinction”, xxxxxx opposite xxxxxx case. He famously xxxxxx election xxxxxx it to years in the xxxxxx until Tony Blair recreated it along Tory lines in the lead up to the New Labour victory of 1997.
Champagne- xxxxxx
xxxxxx avowed socialist AM for Merthyr Tydfil – who lives with his AM wife in xxxxxx Penarth (xxxxxx his “passion is to rid Wales of the xxxxxx of child poverty”) – being endorsed by a duo of champagne- xxxxxx and political xxxxxx, is one step xxxxxx.
xxxxxx the Labour Party in Wales has the sense to see straight xxxxxx.
The Stasi are waiting in the wings!!
Nov 192009
A warning from history.
In an attempt to gag Cambria Politico, one of the fiercest critics of the Labour Party in Wales, agents for Labour leadership contender Huw Lewis launched a barrage of intimidatory threats resulting from an article on this blog which hit their boss a little too hard for comfort. With precious little investigative political journalism in Wales as it is, and the consequent yawning democratic deficit, Labour’s thugs are determined to hound journalists who criticise their bosses even in a quite obviously satirical and tongue-in-cheek way.
Such naked intimidation on the part of the Huw Lewis camp does his campaign no credit whatsoever. If this is a foretaste of what we might expect from a Labour administration led by Lewis it bodes very ill for Welsh democracy indeed. But this is Labour showing its true colours and they are ugly ones. Be warned.
For the record, here is the full text of an email (sent erroneously to the editor of Cambria Magazine) from one of Lewis’s henchmen and forwarded to Cambria Politico:
Dear Editor
Further to my phone message this afternoon and my conversation with Clive Betts, I’m writing to inform you that I am making a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission regarding defamation in the above piece and in regards to how the article relates to the following sections of the PCC Code.
1. (i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.
4. (i) Journalists must not engage in intimidation, harassment or persistent pursuit.
12. Discrimination (i) The press must avoid prejudicial or pejorative reference to an individual’s race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation or to any physical or mental illness or disability.
Leaving the entirely puerile tone to one side, there is a clear implication running through the piece that Labour AM, Huw Lewis, suffers from a mental health problem. This is an extraordinarily serious allegation made in a totally unacceptable and staggeringly crass fashion.
I would like to know what your publication guidelines are for Cambria Magazine and the accompanying blog, which is registered to the magazine.
Where does editorial control lie?
I am also reporting this matter to Claire Clancy, the Head of the Assembly Commission in order that she may review ongoing concerns in relation to the conduct of Cambria Magazine in relation to Members of the National Assembly for Wales, with particular regard to article 4 of the PCC code.
I am also asking for legal advice in relation to taking the matter forward relating to the specific blog post.
For your information, Clive Betts today denied to me directly that he wrote this piece and is therefore not responsible for its content. I have to accept his word on that matter.
Mr Betts also denied knowing who did write the piece and who was responsible for the publication of the blog. A statement which I believe to be untrue. I look forward to your clarification on who the blog author is.
Whilst these matters are being taken forward, I would like this blog post removed immediately.
Yours sincerely,
Matt Greenough
Office of Huw Lewis AM & Lynne Neagle AM
matt.greenough@wales.gov.uk
Tel: 029 2089 8752
Fax: 029 2089 8387
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay CF99 1NA
While Cambria Politico takes legal advice on this issue the post has been ‘unpublished’. Watch this space.
Cambria Politico will not be silenced but will continue to speak for, and fight for, the people of Wales and continue to expose cant, humbug, corruption, bullying and intimidation wherever it is found.
