Terry v Leighton – Battle of the Giants

Welsh Assembly, Welsh Labour 2 Responses »

May 222013

Terry Mackie’s verbal bombardment of the Minister for Education continues. One of his verbal bombshells (well … you know what I mean …) has landed on target. Please make the effort to watch his column on the Western Mail. I hope to elaborate, and to persuade you that this is something worth doing.

Terry rightly takes Leighton to task for setting Paul Murphy to urge Welsh students to try to get into something called Oxbridge. I freely own that there’s something bizarre about an Oriel man such as Paul encouraging the young to seek admission to other colleges, let alone that place out in the Fens. After all, they were chucked out for being too intense in the Middle Ages, went on to invent things like Puritanism, and have become steadily more intense all the time. In any event, as Terry says, far more important a question is how well our institutions here in fact educate their Junior Members. Terry seems to regard the Pisa criteria as the gold standard of pedagogical efficacy and, whatever a reasonable person’s might be about that particular roadshow, he is obviously seeking some consensual perception that would help us understand better what is happening to our educational system.

One of Leighton’s assets is that he is not Michael Gove. However, he is steadily squandering this asset with his constant fidgeting and foot-stamping. We can easily understand why some of the suits spreading across our universities and colleges like a computer virus make him angry. The continued captivity to the deviant curriculum paradigm originating in Late Victorian England is a worry, a very great worry. However, Leighton’s standard trope of merging, de-merging, re-merging, and re-demerging is worth than doing nothing. The relationships between the ci-devant University of Wales, its sea-divided succursals, and one or two former Anglican institutions in Dyfed, are more convoluted than anything in the Kama Sutra. An organization constantly subject to, well, re-organization, is an organization that bleeds. Many of our educational institutions have been haemorrhaging severely for some time. Whatever Leighton’s aims may be, and whatever our views of those, Leighton’s constant fidgetings and rumours of fidgetings can only frustrate them.

Yes, we need reform, and yes, we need vigorous open debate in order to achieve them. Leighton’s current approach frustrates both reform and debate. What would cure this?

Curse of Kinnock strikes again!

Political Cartoon, Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics 3 Responses »

May 252010

‘KINNOCK BACKS ED!’ scream the headlines. A sense of déja vu? A vague frisson of ‘we’ve been there before’? Well, of course, we have. Remember the Screwloose fiasco just a few months ago and the pathetic hissy fit by Huw Lewis and his whingeing acolytes before poor old Screwers was soundly thrashed by Carwyn Jones in the Welsh Liebour leadership elections? Well, you will also remember that we wrote in Cambriapolitico at the time that one of the chief contributory factors to Screwloose’s defeat, something which sounds like an eerie echo from the tomb of 1980s politics – was The Kinnocchio Factor.

Almost certain demise of Ed’s quest

Yes it’s here again, but then you can’t keep a good windbag in a state of deflation for long. He just can’t help putting in his twopennyworth. The self-important magniloquent Baron of Bedwellty, replete with the usual pseudo-avuncular bombast and flimflammery is at it again, thereby ensuring the almost certain demise of Ed Miliband’s Labour leadership quest. Which prompts the question: is Kinnock actually a closet supporter of brother Dave?

Graham Henry (Eh?!) of the dear old Western Mail (God bless it, as we must now say) commented: “Lord Kinnock’s backing for Ed is a setback for his brother, former Foreign Secretary David” which reveals a huge and staggering dollop of political naiveté given the Baron’s miserable record. Certainly such a comment wouldn’t have come from the pen of saintly, national treasure, Martin Shipton – one of the few commentators at the WM with real political nous.

Kinnock intervention nail in coffin of Ed’s dream

As anyone in Wales with any political intelligence will have gathered, Kinnock’s unwelcome intervention is actually a serious nail in the coffin of Ed’s dreams, and one hell of a boost for his lugubrious brother David and the bouncy little Mr Balls.

It seems that a huge majority of WM readers would agree. The WM’s online ‘Quick Vote’ box posed the question “Will Neil Kinnock’s backing help Ed Miliband to become Labour leader?” A spindly 15.28% said ‘Yes’, while a vigorous and informed 85.72% voted a resounding ‘NO’!

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[IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTE: The terms ‘Screwloose’, ‘Screwers’ and other jocular and whimsical terms or epithets in this article are employed in a purely satirical sense and make no personal implications / insinuations / aspersions / assertions etc as to the mental condition, intelligence, personal propriety, morals, religious inclinations of any persons alive or dead etc etc etc……..]

Huw and Edwina will soon feel knife

Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics No Responses »

Dec 032009

THE TREMENDOUS result which saw Carwyn Jones easily returned as leader of the Assembly Labour Party group – but not, I believe, as leader of the party in Wales; that job goes to a Scotsman – should lead to a period of peace with that party, writes Clive Betts from the Assembly press gallery.

Mr Jones’s ability to win a PR vote without the need for a single recount sends the bluntest message possible to the entire Welsh party.

If I were Mrs Hart, a former president of the National Union of Banking Employees, perhaps I’d start looking for a job with Lloyds Bank.

And why, the day after the result, did her agent Andrew Davies announce he was standing down from the Assembly in 2011. His excuse was that he wanted a more rounded personal life.

If that’s shorthand for a woman, make sure there’s mutual respect between you for each other’s achievements.

Another possible reason is that he doesn’t fancy a lot of time in opposition. Particularly as fixing deals with the opposition was his raison d’etre when he served as business minister under the Alun Michael minority administration.

Although he was a former party full-timer in Transport House, he was broad-minded enough to realise that there was much that was good in the other parties.

He was also one of those in the Labour Party who was not afraid of the press. That party often has dreadful difficulties handling the press – very similar to Plaid Cymru. Although in complete contradistinction to both the Lib Dems and the Tories.

I can recall two of us journalists once having a deep political discussion with Andrew late one evening on Cardiff Central station – he on the Swansea platform, and we some way away on the Valleys platforms. Goodness knows who else was listening.

Perhaps one of the reasons for his decision is that the size of Carwyn’s win means that the new First Minister is truly his own man in what he does about the shape of his cabinet. You can be sure there will be a lovely job for Rhondda AM (and former Lib Dem) Leighton Andrews.

But what about the Gower AM ? Mrs Hart didn’t do herself many favours in her conceding speech; too much about herself. And it is her own personality which is her weak (or, as some would say, her strong) point.

As to Huw Lewis, he presumably realises that the size of his vote indicates that he is in danger of emulating the Communist Party of GB in votes terms. Of course, they had good ideas to the very end, which they continued to believe in. But politics and life had passed them by. Ditto Huw. And that’s without living in Penarth.

Interesting to note that Huw’s younger son – who must be aged around six – was present at the official declaration at the Millennium Centre, with eyes and ears all awake, sitting next to mother Lynne Neagle, the AM for Torfaen. There sat certainly the next generation of Labour activism in Wales.

Whether Huw will get anywhere under Carwyn, I know not. Let it be remembered, however, that Huw’s first ministerial resignation was aimed in Carwyn, over the disposal of foot-and-mouth carcases.

Huw was criticised in full plenary at the time by a fellow Labour AM for his entire mishandling of the issue. His attacking of a minister (Carwyn) should have been handled entirely differently. He should not have based his line on his own personal feelings, but on the feelings of his constituents … which he felt obliged to pass on to the minister.

It’s difficult to see Carwyn finding any post for such an individual in his cabinet. After all, the second resignation was over the formation of the Labour-Plaid coalition, which Carwyn now has to keep in existence.

Cambria Politico answers Liebour threats

Opinion, Press and Media, Welsh Labour 3 Responses »

Nov 262009

henry2

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 free speech boot: cartoon

Political Cartoon, Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics No Responses »

Nov 202009

Who are we thinking of? You know who you are.

cic gosb!

Who is Look Luke Holland?

‘The unsmiling svengali behind Screwloose’s campaign….’. ‘Is Luke the Rasputin to Huw and Anne’s Nicholas and Alexandra….?’ ‘Is he Dutch…or is he Georgian? – just who is this enigmatic Machiavelli whose very name strikes dread into the hearts of erm……his own Party!?…..this media magus, this augurer of the airwaves, this thaumaturge, seer and sorcerer who is leading his idol so deftly and so brilliantly to almost certain disaster victory in Labour’s leadership armageddon?????????????’

Is he (gulp) a manifestation of Jonah’s Curse?

Liebour rewrite history

Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics No Responses »

Nov 202009

This interesting video from Guido Fawkes blog sums up how NuLiebour appear to be twisting historical facts in their party political broadcasts. It gets worse and worse!

Huw Lewis Redacted

Press and Media, Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics 3 Responses »

Nov 192009

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!!

Labour thugs try to stifle free speech

Press and Media, Welsh Labour, Welsh Politics 6 Responses »

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.

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