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News, Issues & Comment on Welsh Politics

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Assembly-sceptic Ann invents a fishy problem with England

September 29th, 2008 · No Comments · Welsh Politics

As a true daughter of Rhyl, we can presumably assume that Ann Jones, AM for Vale of Clywd, is a lover of fish and chips, and has the interests of that creature which now swims in batter but which used to swim in the sea truly at heart.

That presumably accounts for her plenary question [...]

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Jane Hutt needs a kick up the arse

September 14th, 2008 · 2 Comments · Welsh Politics

Do I see a sign that Plaid is trying to stifle criticism of its failures in the current coalition government ?

The annual conference just finished in Aberystwyth got by with very little mention of the failure to deliver a Welsh-language daily paper - just a mention of “sorrow” for the position that currently exists.

The [...]

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Government secrecy shocks minister

August 28th, 2008 · No Comments · Welsh Politics

Even the formidable health minister Edwina Hart admitted she was surprised by some of the secretive ways of working that her civil servants operate.

Mrs Hart had launched a massive consultation operation over the future of the NHS, suggesting that she would abolish the local health boards and make various other changes.

Over 800 submissions quickly submerged [...]

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Stand by for a badger-war with England

July 30th, 2008 · 4 Comments · Countryside, Rural and Farming

Badger-lovers seem determined to turn into an international issue the cull of badgers proposed by Welsh minister Elin Jones in order to curb bovine TB.

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Assembly + democracy = a badger cull

July 7th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Countryside, Rural and Farming, Welsh Politics

The fact that the English have decided not to cull their badgers will make no difference to minister Elin Jones.

Glib comments from the Badger Trust in England and from English newspapers will merely prove that they don’t know what they are talking about.

This is a devolved issue, has been for some time, and preparations are [...]

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Who’s planning the future for rural planning ?

July 7th, 2008 · 2 Comments · Welsh Politics

Just who precisely is minister for rural housing ?

Last week, Elin Jones spoke in detail about the changes to rural planning through TAN (Technical Advisory Note) 6 which were on their way.

This week, deputy minister Jocelyn Davies waxed eloquent about her powers in housing, teasing predecessor Peter Black about why he made so little of [...]

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Elin shows a leg down the Bay

June 17th, 2008 · No Comments · Welsh Politics

When rural affairs minister Elin Jones puts her leg up on a table after a briefing, things are obviously perking up down Cardiff Bay.

But she was just showing off her sensible walking shoes, in response to an earlier query from a female journalist.

Ms Jones is rapidly developing as one of the most confident [...]

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Elin culls Badger Trust lawyers

June 16th, 2008 · No Comments · Welsh Politics

I’m glad to note that the Badger Trust is getting things wrong over the Assembly government’s plans to deal with the epidemic of bovine TB.

The Midlands and Sussex-based trust brazenly boasted in a press release that was headed, ‘”I have NOT decided to cull badgers,” Elin Jones admits in Wales.’

Now, we fully realise that [...]

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Rural housing needs a new minister rather than matches

June 7th, 2008 · No Comments · Welsh Politics

Perhaps it’s time the massive rural housing problem was handed over to someone who can appreciate the issue; it should be split from the rather different issue in urban areas.

I say this after getting the feel that otherwise not much will happen unless someone starts burning homes down again.

In other words, a special housing [...]

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Elin puts a knife into Darling on food

May 20th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Welsh Politics

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Elin Jones is in some ways rapidly becoming the quickest-moving member of the Assembly cabinet.

Ministers have [...]

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