Three Towns Forum
Members' Lounge => Politics & Current Affairs => Topic started by: Ian on March 09, 2012, 05:03:12 pm
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From the office of Guto:
An overview of February rather than a diary!
First of all my sincere apologies. February was so hectic I failed to keep my diary. I will try and make good my failure by giving a quick overview of my efforts over the past month;
9/2 to 19/2
The February recess started on the 9th and I managed a very busy week in the constituency catching-up with the workload on a local level. In addition to meeting numerous individual constituents I undertook two constituency surgeries in Conwy and Penmaenmawr and did two public meetings in Penrhyn Bay and Llandudno. I also managed a full morning in Capel Garmon looking at the proposals to re-open the White Horse.
On the 13th I went to Venue Cymru to see Yes Prime Minister which was excellent. The audience was surprisingly numerous and it is a credit to the team at the Venue that a West End play can take a full week residence here in Llandudno during February.
Week Commencing 20th February
Back to Westminster and a very busy two weeks ahead of me. The Welsh Select Committee Report on Inward Investment was published on the Monday to a very positive response from media outlets in Wales with the Western Mail highlighting an “important contribution” to the debate about the future of our economy. The criticism of the performance of the Welsh Government on the economic issues facing Wales was severe but recognised as being fair. Most important was the recommendations we made to rectify the position. Will they be acted upon by the Welsh Government remains to be seen.
The 23rd saw the annual Conservative Parliamentary Party dinner which was a most enjoyable event with a star turn from Jacob Rees-Mogg who was very funny if not on message in his use of our Liberal Democrat colleagues as the recipients of most of his funniest comments. The following morning I attended a strategy meeting for the Parliamentary Party where we were provided with extremely interesting insights into the current state of public opinion. It is remarkable to note that two years into this government the opinion polls continue to show the Conservative Party at a higher level of support than what we achieved in 2010. The highlight of the morning was the superb speech from Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, who was as entertaining and enjoyable as always.
Following a dash across London and a train and car journey I was back in the constituency office in time to undertake a Friday afternoon surgery.
Week Commencing 27th February
After spending the morning in the constituency office it was down to London for another week. I had a DL Committee at 4.30 which is a little know but often used procedure where statutory instruments or European legislation is passed into law. On this occasion it was an obscure change to some Scottish legislation.
The 28th started early since I was hosting the Israeli Ambassador to the UK, Daniel Taub, at a breakfast reception. The meeting was very well attended and since I was in the chair I decided to ask the first question. Despite the numerous challenges facing Israel and the concerns about the Iranian nuclear threat Ambassador Taub was incredibly upbeat about the future. From this meeting I headed to the Welsh Select Committee where we were continuing our investigation into services provided for ex-servicemen and women in Wales where we heard evidence from forces representatives. Then it was to a meeting with a number of colleagues to prepare for a briefing session with the Foreign Secretary to discuss developments in the Middle-East. Our aim was to ensure that the meeting was effectively planned in order to ensure that we made the best use of the time available to us on Thursday.
My next stop was the BBC studios in Millbank to respond to the Cuts Watch Wales report on the impact of the changes to the Welfare State in a Welsh context. What a silly report. Despite concluding that there was, and I quote, “a paucity of evidence”, the authors conclude that the changes will have a significant impact upon Wales. The fact that the BBC ran the report, despite such a health warning, as their main story tells you a lot about their political position and so-called neutrality. My next meeting was with the Federation of Small Business national research team to discuss their proposals for a fuel duty stabiliser to deal with the growing pressure on rural communities and small business as a result of the high price of fuel. The Treasury have responded to this issue with a reduction and freezing of duty equating to 10p per litre since May 2010. However the pressure of high prices continues and as such the proposals from the FSB were undoubtedly interesting and worthy of consideration.
Following a quick lunch I then attended the APPG on Tourism in Wales of which I am a vice Chairman. Our initial aim has been to address the VAT issue as it affects tourism in Wales with VAT rates here being 20% compared with lower rates on the hospitality sector in other parts of the European Union. The good news is that the Treasury have now agreed to allow the British Hospitality Association to use the Treasury model to test their evidence that a reduction of VAT on accommodation from 20% to 5% will actually be revenue positive for the Treasury over a ten year period. This is a major concession but we will need to keep up the pressure. Before 5pm. I also had a meeting with the Secretary of State for Wales and the team of Welsh Conservative MPs in anticipation of Welsh Questions. After this meeting I had a feeling of relief. Only two votes at ten and it would be the end of a rather hectic day!
The 29th kicked-off with another breakfast meeting – this time with the British Retail Consortium as part of my work with the All Party group on retailing. The focus, as with the FSB yesterday, was very much on the forthcoming budget. British retailers have had a very difficult few years and there were significant concerns highlighted about both the planning system and the operation of business rates.
Following a catch-up in the office I attended Welsh Questions and asked a question about the Cuts Watch Wales report before enjoying a lively session of PMQ’s. At four in the afternoon I walked down Whitehall to attend the St. David’s Day reception at Downing Street. It was a superb event not least due to the attendance of Sam Warburton and Warren Gatland. However, I also managed to discuss double glazing windows in Llandudno and railway services from London with David Williams from the Hospitality Association. The great work of the Llandudno Air Training Corps was the subject of a conversation between myself and Air. Commodore Dai Williams who is originally from Denbigh and the highest ranked Welsh speaker in the RAF whilst I also had a detailed conversation about the Common Agricultural Policy with the FUW and the impact of the VAT rate on small businesses with Iestyn Davies from the FSB in Wales.
All in all an enjoyable and very useful event.
St David’s Day was the busiest day of my week. Following a meeting with the Foreign Secretary I made my way to the Chamber where I had a question to the Leader of the House. Subsequently I spoke in a debate on the change from RPI to CPI in relation to the up rating of public sector pensions and managed to annoy the Labour members in attendance. I was pleased to be able to point out in debate that the Labour Party had adopted the CPI measure in preference to RPI for their own staff. Finally, despite being downgraded to a one line whip and as such witnessing most of my non-Welsh colleagues departing for their constituencies I stayed to contribute to the St. David’s Day debate where I delivered the final speech of the day. I left the chamber at 6pm after a seven hour marathon and made my way across London to catch the train home.
2nd of March and to Dolwyddelan for 9.30am to celebrate Wales Tourism Week. I was given a great introduction to what Dolwyddelan has to offer the tourist not least the three castles (yes, three!), hidden waterfall and historic church. The proprietor of Elen’s Castle, Mrs. Hardy, was very welcoming as was the team from Menter Siabod. I left at 12.15 and drove to Bangor where I was a guest on a Radio Cymru’s ‘Dau o’r Bae’ - a review of the week in politics programme. I then drove back to Conwy to hold a surgery which was well attended.
Getting home at 6.15 it was a case of a quick shower and back in the car with Esyllt to the Patrons dinner at Caerhun. Whilst I was expected to say a few words I was delighted that the guest speakers were Gavin Williamson, a good friend of mine and the MP for South Staffordshire and Janet Finch-Saunders AM. We had a great speech from Gavin and Janet gave an insightful commentary on the way in which the Welsh Government is failing Wales so badly. The food was as good as always and I can only thank John and Rose once again for their hard work, god humour and kindness.
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Please follow the link below to the headline article in yesterday's Sunday Telegraph which has broken the story of the mis-selling of sophisticated derivative products to small and medium sized businesses. Professor Dempster - Professor Emeritus at the University of Cambridge's Centre for Financial Research and an expert on derivatives is quoted as saying that "I think this could be at least the same size as PPI". Making reference to the enormous scandal of the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance to consumers.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9135986/Bank-mis-selling-victims-from-the-chippy-to-the-small-hotel.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9135986/Bank-mis-selling-victims-from-the-chippy-to-the-small-hotel.html)
The following link will take you to the case study of the Llandudno Hotelier, Colin Jones and his experiences with RBS.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9135947/This-product-was-not-right-for-my-business.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/9135947/This-product-was-not-right-for-my-business.html)
If you know of anyone in a similar situation, please ask them to make contact with Guto in confidence
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From Guto:
Monday 5th of March
Started the week facilitating a meeting between Conwy Council Corporate Director Ken Finch and coach and taxi operators in my constituency concerned about the mismanagement of the school transport contracts. It would appear that since responsibility for this aspect of transport policy was given to Denbighshire relationships have broken down and spending is out of control with a reported overspend of £290,000 this year. I can only hope that the meeting will harness the goodwill of the operators who desperately want a positive working relationship with Conwy and to provide a high quality value for money service to the taxpayer.
Arriving in London late afternoon I caught-up with some office work and read a number of papers in relation to credit swap default contracts before a meeting that I have organised on the issue with a specialist solicitor and Richard Fuller MP. This has the potential to be a very big story.
Tuesday 6th of March
Meeting with Stuart Brothers, solicitors and Richard Fuller MP to discuss the way in which credit default swaps were sold to small businesses with heavy handed sales pitches describing the products as being similar to a ‘fixed rate mortgage’. Significant number of complaints identified with Banks throwing everything at cases in order to try and avoid liability. Where have the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Ombudsman Service been on this issue to date is a key question but I do feel that my hunch about two constituents being badly treated by their banks will be proved to have been correct.
Later in the afternoon I attended a meeting of the Silt Committee which is considering further reform of the Welsh Assembly. Anybody with a view on this issue will need to provide evidence to influence their deliberations with written submissions welcomed in addition to attendance at a number of road shows that they will be holding across Wales. From this meeting I went to the CAMRA reception to celebrate the Great British Pub and authentic British and Welsh beer. It was great to meet with Ian Saunders of the Abercolwyn CAMRA branch who is now responsible for the CAMRA operation in the whole of Wales. He kindly invited me to visit the Albion in Conwy to see the refurbishment for myself.
Wednesday 7th of March
A meeting with colleagues at 10am to discuss our recent meeting with William Hague at the Foreign Office before attending a seminar on family taxation. The bias against single earner families continues to be a key aspect of our tax system which is very difficult to justify. From this seminar it was on to PMQs for another weekly session of Punch and Judy for politicians. I then had a meeting with the Holocaust Educational Trust to understand what they can offer to schools in Aberconwy which will build upon the work which is currently being done in the constituency as part of Holocaust Memorial Week.
I was then engaged in a dash across London to catch a train to Cardiff. In addition to a committee meeting tomorrow morning I had organised a number of meetings with key Assembly Members and the Deputy presiding Officer. Whether you like the Assembly or not what is apparent is that Members of Parliament and Assembly Members need to work together – it is Wales and our constituents that will suffer if we do not. All my meetings were very positive and I feel that my working relationship with Assembly Members will improve as a result of simply talking to each other.
Thursday 8th of March
My positive comments about working together were shown to be optimistic this morning when a joint meeting of the Economy Committee of the Assembly and the welsh Affairs Committee from Westminster was rendered a farce when Edwina Hart AM, Minister for the economy within the Welsh Government, refused to allow her officials to give evidence. This was despite the fact that officials from the Department of Transport had travelled specifically to Cardiff in order to give evidence even though the did not have to do so. Silly gesture politics by a woman who is tasked with rectifying the economic under performance of Wales.
Following the committee meeting I had a meeting with the Andrew RT Davies AM the new Conservative Assembly Leader before heading back to London in time to vote. Then it was off to Downing Street to pre-dinner drinks with the PM before heading with some colleagues to a restaurant. The PM was supposed to have joined us but in view of the tragic outcome of the raid undertaken to try and release a British and Italian hostage in Nigeria. Under the circumstances I was very impressed by his decision to invite myself and several colleagues to his family home above 11 Downing Street.
Friday 9th of March
Early train and back to the constituency in time to undertake my weekly surgery. Not as busy as usual today with only three appointments. I then did a short interview for Radio Wales and Wales Today before heading to the refurbished Albion Public House in Conwy to meet the local CAMRA team. All four local brewers have a stake in the Albion and I felt as if I was going back in time to a traditional local. My grandfather lived in Upper Gate Street in the late 1930’s and early 1940’s and the Albion would have been his local. He would have felt at home with a real fire, good beer and no music!
Saturday 10th of March
A Welsh victory in the rugby setting-up an opportunity for the Grand Slam. Not a great performance but the right result. I watched the game with the twins and Tomos the cat and we were all suitably exited!
Sunday 11th of March
I was delighted today to see the Sunday telegraph run a three page feature on the issue of credit swap defaults focusing on two cases which I have been closely involved with. This is a huge scandal and will, in my view, result in numerous businesses being compensated for sales practices which simply cannot be defended.
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What is he doing about the Pier Pavilion site?
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What is he doing about the Pier Pavilion site?
He had set aside some time on Saturday but unfortunately the Rugby got in the way! ZXZ
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From GB:
Monday 19th
An earlier than usual start this week since I have been invited by the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions to attend their annual lunch. I have worked with the group, not least Tim Bastion from Llandudno, in order to try and mitigate the changes proposed by the Treasury in relation to the way in which gaming machines are taxed and managed a meeting with a Treasury Minister to argue the case some four months ago. We shall see on Wednesday whether the Treasury have been sympathetic. It was also good to catch-up with Cllr. William Knightly, leader of the Conservative Group on Conwy Council who attended the event in his professional capacity.
Following a stint in the Chamber it was a case of dealing with paperwork until we voted later that evening. I am almost on top of things which is a relief!
Tuesday 20th
The first meeting of the day was with Tesco but not in relation to the proposals for Llanrwst I hasten to add. I wanted to see how they interact with the food supply chain and as a result of this meeting I expect to visit their Welsh supply chain and their Dairy Herd Research Centre in the near future.
At 10.30 I witnessed the pomp and ceremony of the visit to Westminster Hall of the Queen. The Speaker made what can fairly be described as an interesting speech which did not go down well with the Prime Minister if later TV pictures are to be believed! I then proceeded to a meeting with the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Dan Meridor. What an interesting man and such a varied career. He made one interesting remark which is worth further consideration. All states in the Middle East assume that Israel has a nuclear capacity although this has never been confirmed. Despite this fact countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt have not developed their own nuclear capacity. Is it not revealing that now, with Iran on the verge of becoming a nuclear power all three countries have stated that they would also aim to join the nuclear club. They never made such a comment in relation to the Israeli capacity which indicates a level of trust not often associated with the relationship between Israel and her regional neighbours.
At four I attended the newly formed APPG on the Media in Wales and subsequently attended a meeting of the 301 group. With the budget expected tomorrow it was a quiet day in the Chamber and once I had voted in the final division I was happy to head home around 10.15pm.
Wednesday 21st
An early start this morning to do a Radio Wales pre Budget interview. As I was waiting for the studio to become free Michael Burke wandered into the reception in a pair of tracksuit bottoms before advising me that I should read the Guardian with a pinch of salt. I should stress that I was simply doing my research on the Labour Party position!
I managed to get a PMQ today and was fortunate enough to be able to give Blind Veterans UK (formerly St Dunstan’s) some publicity. The Prime Minister responded very well and made some generous comments in passing about Llandudno. The Budget was a very odd affair. The content was very good, especially for businesses but was there anything apart from the freezing of the age allowances which we did not already know? The pre budget leaks have been very damaging in my view allowing the media to concentrate the evening news on the so called ‘granny tax’. Poor politics.
I did the main S4C evening news live from College Green where the key issues thrown at me were the comments made by the Chancellor about regional pay and the now infamous ‘granny tax’. I am less than happy with the Treasury submission to the Pay Review Bodies on the issue of regional pay and despair of those who use the so called 18% differential as a political battering ram. That figure is based upon simply averaging wages within the public and private sector. There are differentials but basing your arguments on a figure that compares apples with pears is not indicative of a desire to do what is right. In my opinion, this issue will run for much longer than the changes to the ‘age allowance’ .
I caught the 9.07 train from Euston and was home around half past midnight. The paper reviews on the Radio as I was driving from the station were pretty depressing.
Friday 23rd March
A very full day in the constituency including a surgery in Dolwyddelan, Betws y Coed and Capel Curing with a total of thirteen appointments. I thoroughly enjoyed myself before accepting an invite from the FUW for a quick pint of local real ale at the Tyn y Coed Hotel in Capel Curig. I drove home through the vast empty acres of Dyffryn Mymbyr (all in the Aberconwy Constituency) almost gasping at the beauty and splendour of Snowdonia on a fine early spring evening.
Saturday 24th March
The double glazing meeting at the Imperial went well with some 35 businesses in attendance. It was, under the circumstances, a remarkably positive meeting with many of the speakers stating their desire to work constructively with the Local Authority if Conwy are willing to come to the table.
Sunday 25th March
I attended the Conservative Rally today at St. Asaph. There was a good turnout and it was great to see so many candidates and councillors from Conwy in attendance. David Jones gave a good speech before heading down south whilst I did interviews for the BBC, ITV Wales and S4C. Unlike Wednesday when I was dealing with two controversial issues, today it was three issues since the Peter Cruddas affair was exciting the media in terms of ‘cash for access’.
Not a great week for the Conservative Party but it should be noted that the activists were positive, looking forward to the Council Elections and reporting a positive response from canvassing despite all the negative headlines of the past few days.
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From GB:
Monday 19th
An earlier than usual start this week since I have been invited by the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions to attend their annual lunch. I have worked with the group, not least Tim Bastion from Llandudno
He obviously hasn't worked that closely with him, since his name is Tim Batstone, of HB Leisure. ;)
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From Guto Bebb:
Thematic Overview - Easter to Whitsun
The Budget
I really do not have an excuse. Following a very busy period up to the Easter recess the period between Easter and Whitsun has been bitty, messy and less than enjoyable from a backbench perspective – and that is before I start discussing the budget!
However, my office team say that some people do read my weekly diary thus I am going to start again with a diary piece about the Whitsun recess and then back to normal service with a weekly diary up until August. At that point I might revert to the useless service of the past two months – but maybe not. Before embarking on the diary though I want to share my thoughts on the past ten or twelve weeks on the basis of three or four themes such as the budget, local elections, my increasing workload on the back of what I would now describe as the mis-selling of interest swap products to small businesses and issues of a general interest which have arisen in the constituency.
There is only one place to start though – the budget. Seldom has a budget been so thoroughly leaked and subsequently trashed as the budget presented by the Treasury team in late March. As I write we have witnessed a week where three of the key VAT and tax changes proposed have been reversed. This is on top of a number of other reversals which have been announced since the budget was presented. I would not be surprised if more changes were made before the final budget motions are presented to the House before the summer.
So what went wrong? At heart this was a good budget for businesses and also a significant reduction to the tax burden for most low and middle income taxpayers. The reduction in Corporation Tax rates should be welcomed if we want a competitive UK and the increased Personal Allowances are great news for Sole Traders and Partnerships. At the next General Election I will be able to tell a myriad of small businesses in Aberconwy who are structured as husband and wife partnerships that they can make a profit of £20,000 before paying a penny of income tax – that is good news. However, these business friendly changes were not what made the news – probably because they were leaked for days in advance. No, what made the news were the significant VAT changes and the rather unfortunate timing of the freezing of the age allowance and the reduction of the top rate of income tax.
Taking the Age Allowance and the Higher Rate of Tax first, I find myself in a quandary. I am an ardent believer in the often repeated call to arms that Nigel Lawson utilised when he was Chancellor of the Exchequer; “taxes should be low and should be paid”. I remember well the decision taken by Lawson in 1988 (or was it 1989?) to reduce the highest rate of tax from 60% to 40% in one go. That was a phenomenal tax cut and as a committed student socialist I found the decision to make rich people significantly richer to be repugnant. How wrong I was. Churchill famously said that if you were not a socialist at twenty you did not have a heart but if you were not a Conservative by thirty then you did not have a head. Well, it took me significantly less than ten years to see the error of my thinking as a student.
My father was a Chartered Accountant and I worked with him for two enjoyable years coming to the conclusion that whilst it was an important and interesting job, it was not for me. What stayed with me was the simple fact that the taxes paid by those paying the highest rate of tax at 40% was actually significantly higher than that which the same group had been paying when the tax rate was 60%. In other words the Lawson tax change made rich people richer but also made the state better off with higher tax yields and thus more public spending. This was accounted for in two ways;
1) Tax planning was made more difficult as the system was simplified and with the top rate of tax at 40% the justification for avoidance was significantly less than at 60%.
2) People worked harder because they reaped more of the reward. Thus productivity amongst the wealth generators of the UK improved significantly.
Now then, you may ask – why the history lesson?
In my view, we did need to reduce the top rate of tax but from 50% to 45% is half hearted and leaves us with no competitive advantage when compared with EU competitors once you have included the 2% National Insurance that also has to be paid. We should have had the courage to say that 50% was a temporary tax, a barrier to growth and had to go. Will we be able to reduce the 45% to 40% before the General Election? I suspect not in view of the past few weeks.
As for the Age Allowance being frozen – in principle the reason for this decision makes sense. The personal allowance enjoyed by all of us has increased dramatically and will continue to increase until the level of £10,000 is achieved and even surpassed. Under these circumstances the simplification that comes with a single allowance for all is a goal that we should aim for. The financial loss for those who have seen their Age Allowance frozen is around £83 per year although those hoping to benefit from it in the near future will be left on the Personal Allowance and for them the tax loss will be in excess of £250.
These sums are not huge and in view of the complexity of withdrawal rates for those eligible for age allowances but with an income in excess of £26,000 it could be argued that the goal of tax simplification will save more in avoided accountants’ bills than in a tax advantage foregone. However, that is not how people have seen the change. The missing ingredient from this Budget as far as tax changes are concerned was political calculation. Reducing the higher rate of tax is a policy I support but I would have been more radical. A single Personal Allowance for all, equal to the current Age Allowance is an aspiration that I support. To introduce both measures in the same Budget was inviting a storm of headlines claiming that a tax grab on poor pensioners was funding the tax reduction for higher rate tax payers. It was politically inept.
The word inept brings me on to the myriad VAT changes announced and subsequently changed in the budget. You know what I mean, the tax on churches, pies, caravans, energy drinks and other odds and ends aiming to simplify our good friend Value Added Tax. Now I would be the first to argue that VAT needs to be simplified. A tax system that classifies Pringles as cakes thus subject to VAT at 0% whilst other crisps are taxed at 20% is clearly in need of streamlining (Pringles have a less than 40% potato content and so much artificial ingredients that anybody reading the VAT case in question would never eat them again even if they do come with no VAT attached).
The problem arose because the mandarins had not done their homework. The definition of when a pie would be taxed and when not was plain silly with every chance that a pie served at the same temperature in summer and winter would have a different rate of VAT! In the case of the proposed 20% VAT on static caravans there was a clear underestimate of the number of businesses that would be affected – not least in an area such as the North Wales Coast. There was also a real doubt, on the basis of statements made to the House of Commons in 1973, whether the so called anomaly was anything of the kind.
When I was selected by the Conwy Conservative Association in 2004 and re-selected by the Aberconwy Conservative Association in 2007 I was asked the same question. If a conflict arose between what was right for my constituency and what the Conservative Government wanted to do what would be my course of action. Between the budget and the U-turn last week I hope that my course of action was exactly as promised.
I highlighted my concerns with Ministers and the Whips. I went on a delegation to the Treasury to argue our case against the proposal. I met the Chancellor and agreed to abstain rather than vote against the Government when the consultation process was extended. I contacted all relevant businesses to ask them to contribute to the consultation. I co-signed a joint response to the consultation with other Conservative MPs. I attended a debate in the House to highlight our key concerns and surprisingly I was the only member from North Wales in the chamber. In effect, I and many colleagues made a nuisance of ourselves, argued our case and ultimately won an agreement to introduce a much lower rate of VAT on static caravans which the industry can live with and threatens few, if any jobs, as compared to the original proposals.
Some colleagues argued that we should, at a time when the Government was in trouble, present a united front. In my view that is not the role of a backbencher. Yes I want to support my Government but I want to do so on the basis of good policies that are right for the UK, right for Wales and right for Aberconwy. Not enough of this budget met that criteria and under those circumstances I would much rather the publicity that comes with a U-turn than the years of frustration that would have followed the imposition of an ill-judged policy. The best thing about the change though is that again it shows that backbench Members of Parliament are not just voting fodder.
Apart from the above the Budget contained much that I liked!
Guto
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if this CONservative government makes many more 'U' turns, it's in danger of disappearing up it's own orifice. :D
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The problem is that it is a coalition government, bound to be tricky!
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I wish he would get more involved on local issues. What's his position on the Pier Pavilion site, what efforts has he made to break the deadlock with it etc etc. It's local issues like that that will win him the next election, not waffling on about VAT on pasties...
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From the office of Guto Bebb:
Despite Conwy being a target council for the Welsh Conservative Party I had my doubts as to whether we would be able to jump from 18 councillors to the 30 needed for overall control. Nevertheless I did feel at the start of the year that a comeback of sorts was on the cards and expected us to win the 22 we managed in 2008 and, if we were lucky, possibly two or three other seats.
It was not to be. By the time the Prime Minister came to Llandudno Town Hall to launch the Welsh Conservatives local election campaign I was aware of the fact that we were in a defensive fight. Since the Budget candidates in the Aberconwy constituency had been reporting back to me that the biggest issue on the doorstep was the so called pensioner tax – the freezing of the age related personal allowances for those of retirement age.
Throughout the Easter Holidays and on weekends after going back to Westminster I campaigned in all of our Aberconwy target wards and also supported candidates in Clwyd West. David Jones did the same in Aberconwy since our aim was to sell a “Team Conwy”, to the electorate. In my view we had a strong story to tell;
We wanted to use the cash allocated to the Welsh Government to freeze council tax to do just that. All the other parties disagreed.
We wanted to highlight the significant above inflation council tax increases that had been implemented by the ‘Anybody but Welsh Conservatives’ coalition at Conwy Council since 2008.
We wanted to highlight the good governance and accountability of Welsh Conservative controlled councils such as Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan. In the later all council spending above £100 was being published whilst at the former all expenditure over £1 was published. That is what I call transparency and open government – advocated by many, but delivered by Welsh Conservative Councils.
Despite the failure of the Welsh Government to pass on the money allocated for a Council Tax freeze a council such as Monmouth had frozen their local council tax whilst maintaining high quality and customer focused services.
Finally, we wanted to highlight the fact that the only party to have consistently opposed the Local Development Plan for Conwy, a plan based on central assumptions about population growth which would result in some 6,500 new houses, was the Conservative Group.
On all five counts we failed and not just here in Conwy – we were actually a rather decent result in comparison. In Monmouthshire we lost overall control of the council whilst in the Vale of Glamorgan we lost over half our seats. Throughout Wales the party went backwards and we lost some 60 seats. I fail to comprehend the official party position that stated that this was the second best local election performance by the Welsh Conservative Party since 1996. When you fall from having one councillor for every two that Labour has in Wales in 2008 to having one for every 5.7 in 2012 then you have had a very poor result. Sometimes the truth is needed more than political spin!
The sad fact is that it was to a significant extent a “made in Westminster” failure. Despite a strong message in Wales of success and innovation the party was punished for weeks of confusion and lack of clarity that followed the Budget. This fact should not be ignored, hidden or denied.
In Conwy we probably did do better than the Welsh result falling from 18 to 13 seats. In Aberconwy we held on to three seats, lost two and gained one leaving us with one less than on the day the election was called. Clwyd West did marginally worse losing a net four councillors. The good news in Aberconwy was the election of two youngish councillors in Paul Roberts at Caerhun and Sam Cotton in Deganwy. Frank Bradfield maintained our seat at Craig y Don whilst Janet Howarth kept one of our two seats in the Gogarth Ward. It was a real shame to see Gail Hall lose in Dwygyfylchi and that was, in many ways as a direct result of the LDP issue. This is worth further discussion.
There is no doubt in my mind that the vast majority of those who voted in these local elections did so on the basis of national issues. Some very deserving candidates lost as a result and some rather undeserving candidates won. This is not a statement just about Conwy but applies to Wales and the rest of the UK. However, if there was one local issue that did generate some it was the LDP. Did it change votes though?
In Craig y Don we saw the re-election of Gareth Jones as a Councillor. If there was one ward in Llandudno where the LDP was a big issue then it was Craig y Don and yet a man who is seen as a leading player in Plaid was elected despite the fact that Plaid Cymru led Conwy Council throughout the discussions and attempted compromises over the LDP. Despite having only one vote for every three won by the Welsh Conservatives in Conwy in May they continue to lead the Council.
Why and how a senior member of a party that had advocated the building of 6,800 houses in Conwy was elected to a ward which on May the 3rd had two very sensitive development sites within it is a mystery. When the LDP came before the Council in late May Gareth was absent and I must give him the benefit of the doubt as to his reasons. However, all but one of the Plaid Councillors supported the LDP which included Bodafon fields as a possible development site.
In Glan Conwy, Dan Worsley, a doughty and long standing opponent of the LDP was defeated by part of the Conwy Council establishment, Graham Rees. I have no doubt about the integrity or commitment shown by Mr Rees to his ward over many years but when the developers see the opportunities presented by the LDP in this village what can a councillor who voted for the LDP do. Not much I suspect.
The same ‘nimby’ attitude was apparent throughout the election campaign. I lost count of the number of candidates who opposed sites within the LDP which were in their wards having dutifully voted for the LDP in the past and doing so again on the 30th of May 2012. I always thought that once elected a councillor had a duty to all the residents of the Borough and not just their own wards. However, this appears not to be the case with Councillor after Councillor voting for the LDP whilst recording an objection to a particular site. That is in my view an abdication of duty. “ No” to the destruction of a green field in your own ward but “Yes” to similar destruction in other areas – all on the basis of baseline figures produced in Cardiff. So much for a local development plan!
The sad fact of the matter is that we had an important council election decided not on council issues but on Westminster policy failures. We had the only key local decision relegated to a ‘nimby’ parade with councillors of all political persuasions supporting a flawed policy as long as it did not impact their own wards.
I am proud to say that the 13 Welsh Conservatives stuck to their principles. A Local Development Plan should be based on a plan that integrates the needs of the communities and the economy of Conwy. They all voted “No”. The Welsh Conservative Party might be persona non grata in Conwy with all the other parties including the independent party (they are a party – why else take a whip and have a leader?!) working together to control the council.
However, the message from 2012 is that for a change of direction in Conwy we will need a favourable national position as a backdrop and not the ill-judged six weeks suffered between the Budget and the election. It is a sad fact but the Local Elections of 2012 indicate that winning an election on the basis of the performance of an individual Council is almost impossible. The Councils that changed hands in May did so with no regard to their performance over the past four years. If they were Conservative led or Liberal led they fell because the Budget was so poorly planned and executed.
I find this to be most depressing. What is the point of local democracy if accountability is not part of the equation? In 2012 being of the wrong political persuasion resulted in almost certain defeat even if your track record was superb – that is not accountability but it is the basis for councillors and councils to increasingly ignore people and communities. After all, doing well or badly in your job makes no difference if your party is in power at Westminster and having a poor couple of months so why try? It would appear that we get the democracy that we deserve.
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From GB's office:
Day one in America - 22nd July
I was very fortunate to be chosen as one of six MPs to visit Washington DC, Pennsylvania and Boston as guests of the US State Department. I was even luckier that my wife agreed that I could go during the first ten days of the summer recess!
Following a seven hour flight we landed in Virginia on a humid evening before being driven to Washington. Despite being 11pm in the UK we had a dinner engagement that evening with Jason Isaacson from the American Jewish Committee. Over dinner we enjoyed a thrilling insight into the state of US relations with Israel and other states in the middle east before discussing the forthcoming election for President.
Whilst the view from Jason was that Obama should be able to defeat the Republican challenge such an outcome was by no means certain. A key issue creating some questions in relation to the Obama re-election campaign was the fact that this campaign would see both sides spend comfortably above the $1billion mark for both candidates for the first time in history! To think that the last UK General Election cost a grand total of £55million!
I got to bed quite early, around 11pm but of course on reflection that was 4am in the UK. With an 8am start tomorrow morning I think I made the right choice despite some colleagues heading for the roof top bar!
My second day - 23rd July
What a busy and interesting day and it is only 5.30pm.
Our first appointment was at the Meridian International Centre located in an old and grand mansion that witnessed the meeting between the Chief of Staff of the French military and the US military when the United States decided to enter the First World War.
Following an overview of our nine day programme, we were given a superb presentation into the strengths and weaknesses of the US federal system. Our speaker was Dr. Jeremy Mayer from George Mason University who gave a fascinating overview of how the three branches of the US government work and the relationship between the federal level and the states. He was both incredibly insightful and very funny with a two hour presentation over far too quickly.
I suspect that the main message is that the system is a mess but it seems to work and the American people like it! As a country founded on the rejection of government, the whole system created over two centuries but based on a simple constitution amended on only 27 occassions, appears designed to ensure that no part of government is able to trump any other. The only challenge to this over the past fifty years has been the growth of the US military as a result of World War Two and the Cold War. Since the President is accountable for the military, the growth in the armed forces has created a similar growth in Presidential power.
From this meeting we went for lunch with Ambassador Tim Roemer who was a former congressman and for three years, the US ambassador to India. The discussion was wide ranging but focused strongly on trade, business opportunities in Asia, energy security and the population explosion predicted for the US. A fascinating insight and another prediction for a narrow Obama win in November.
Our next meeting was at the State Department to meet the Chief of the European desk. I asked her for three reasons why we should be optimistic about the future of the eurozone but she gave me none despite stating that the US considered the survival of the euro to be essential. I was also fascinated by her interest in Scottish Affairs. Suffice to say that the State Department is taking the possible break-up of the UK seriously.
I am now off to Congress to meet the British Caucus group on Capitol Hill. I will report back!
This evening we had a reception on Capitol Hill hosted by the British Caucus in Congress. This group have more than 100 members which is pretty good in the context of 435 members of congress and 100 senators.
The Congress building and surrounding complex is special. It is remarkable to consider the extent of the confidence that was expressed by a young nation when buildings of the size and quality of the Senate, House of Representatives and the Supreme Court were built. Diplomats and other foreign visitors in the 19th century could not have failed to be impressed by the ambition of the new nation expressed by such a scale of construction.
The meeting went well with a number of Congressmen and women in attendance. I met my own pair, Congressman Charles Dent of the 15th District of Pennsylvania with whom I will spend four days from Thursday afternoon. A Republican, first elected in 2004, Congressman Dent has Bryn Mawr University in his patch - (proof that whether the Welsh people emigrated to the US or remained in Wales we were committed to building Universities be they Aberystwyth or Bangor in Wales) - built with subscriptions from the workers, or an University such as Bryn Mawr in the New World.
Other Congress members worthy of mention were Congresswoman Nan Hayworth from the 19th District of New York State who has not only holidayed in Llandudno but also managed to spell the name correctly in front of her Chief of Staff. That claim to fame was trumped by Congressman Ben Chandler from the Sixth District of Kentucky who has visited Conwy Castle and almost evert other castle you care to mention in Wales. I also enjoyed a good discussion with Congressman Robert B Aderholt from the Fourth District of Alabama.
In all it was a great event and an indication once more of the warmth of the relationship between the US and the UK. Spare a thought though for Muffy Day, Chief of Staff to Congressman John Campbell from the 40th District of California. Recently married her husband is treating her to her first Spurs game as the North London team tour the US. How misguided can you be? A football (sorry, soccer) supporter in the US is a rare thing but to be a Spurs supporter and take your new wife to the match is verging on the bizzare! To cap it all Gareth Bale is not playing due to injury.
Visit to the British Embassy in Washington - 24th July
Our first engagement this morning was at the British Embassy to meet our Ambassador, Sir Peter Westmacott. What a superb building! Built in the late 1920's it is an elegant and impressive house which has welcomed every British Prime Minister who has visited the US. The main staircase has huge portraits of King George III and his wife, "the last King and Queen of America" as the Ambassador stated supressing a smile. I do hope that the Americans enjoy our sense of humour!
Our meeting concentrated on economic prospects for the US, the view from Washington of the Eurozone crisis, and update on defence matters and a very interesting insight into the presidential race as it stands. There is little doubt that whilst Obama is the favourite he remains very vulnerable to a downturn in the economy and with 10 year yields in Spain hitting an unsustainable 7.6% it might be contagion from Europe that decides the future of the US President. We shall see.
Our second engagement today was at the Department of Defence in the Pentagon. The size of the complex is beyond what you would have expected even from TV pictures. Bult in 1941 the Pentagon is still the largest low rise office building in the world and walking around the outside walls is a mile long journey. There are no fewer than 24,000 staff in the Pentagon at any one time.
Our first stop was the memorial to the 183 people killed on 9/11 when the third plane hit the building. All 59 on the plane were killed and a further 124 staff at the Pentagon. It would have been worse if it was not for the fact that the Pentagon has been slowly rebuilt due to concrete cancer (a sixteen year process) and the plane hit a rebuilt part of the building which had new steel reinforcements. Otherwise the damage and loss of life would have been much worse.
The memorial was simple but effective and to be there with a group of American schoolchildren was quite moving.
Our meetings with the Department of Defence staff concentrated on NATO and European defence capacity. The news was not good. We claim in Europe to not want the US to be the world policeman but increasingly only the US has the capacity to deliver any reasonable level of engagement at a military level. Cuts over twenty years across NATO have left many member countries with little or no capacity to act. Even what was done in Libya could only be delivered now by the US due to downgraded capacity in France, Belgium, Denmark and the UK. As a final point it should be noted that US Federal Government spend on defence is some $750billion per year. That is a figure that is confortably greater than the entire annual budget of the UK.
Following our visit to the Department of Defence we has an appointment at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to learn about this organisation and their work for Congress. Meeting the Deputy Director, Bob Sunshine, we were all impressed with the fact that the CBO has a responsibility to put a price on proposed legislation before such legislation is enacted. Simple but effective.
Both main parties support the CBO fully and thus there is a degree of transparency to the legislative process which is not always available in the UK. I was impressed and the example reports that we were provided with does show how useful a tool this office could be for an MP wishing to understand the financial consequences of decisions.
From the discussions we had on the bus back to the hotel it would appear to me that there was a cross party consensus that this was a type of organisation which could and should be developed within the UK.
My evening appointment was a private dinner with the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Representing thousands of small, medium and large chains of retailers across the US and other parts of the world, NACS members in the US employ 1.9million staff and account for 82% of all petrol retail sales. They also have a significant percentage of the beverage, cold food and tobacco market. I was fascinated to learn how NACS manage to represent all retailers regardless of their size and found the explanations of the ways in which retailers had changed in order to survive to be fascinating.
I got back to my hotel tired but enthused by the amount of information I had been privileged to share with experts in their own fields today. This trip is developing into an incredibly useful learning experience and it is only Tuesday - a full week to go!
Wednesday 25th July 2012 - Washington
An 8.15 start this morning in order to visit the Government Accountability Office who are responsible for auditing government programmes. They can be compared with the National Audit Office in the UK in terms of what they do. In view of my background in economic development I was very interested in the fact that they chose to use their work on government economic support programmes as a case study for our group. When the words 'duplication of effort', 'confusion', 'lack of effective targetting' and 'no focus' were used I could have sworn that I was back in Wales! Those are exactly my view of the business support structure operating in Wales as things stand. An useful meeting.
Following this we split into groups to follow our specific interests. Nadhim Zahawi and myself had requested a meeting with the officials of the Senate Committee that found HSBC Bank guilty of money laundering. In less than 36 hours our hosts arranged a meeting for us with the Chief Counsel of the Committee, her deputy and three interns who worked on the research that showed HSBC to have acted as a conduit for money laundering in Mexico and through a subsidiary in Japan, the Russian underworld.
This was a sobering and depressing meeting. When you hear directly from the Chief Counsel to Senator Levin, the Chairman of the Pernament Senate Committee on Investigation, that the City of London is 'dirty' and second only to Paris in terms of corrupt behaviour then I for one take notice. A major institution based in the UK is the subject of a hugely critical report entitled "US Vulnerabilities to Money Laundering, Drugs and Terrorist Financing. HSBC - A Case History" - this is a shameful state of affairs.
To finish on this, it is important to note that all this work (a massive report which utilised 1.4million documents) was undertaken by a team of nine staff and a similar number of interns. Our Select Committee structure needs to have similar ambitions since we do have the resources.
After lunch Nadhim and I met with three Congressmen, two Republicans and one Democrat. Our first meeting was with Congressman James Cooper from Tenessee, who sits on the Armed Services Committee. He gave as further insight into the proposed reductions in US defence spending. We then met Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, a nephew of Fidel Castro and a staunch republican. A great meeting with a positive upbeat message about what the US can and should do to get going again as an economic powerhouse. I think that we will hear more from this man. Our final meeting was with Congressman Lee Terry from Nebraska to discuss farming and energy policy. He had just returned from a briefing on options for the Nuclear Industry within the United States which was useful for myself as a North Wales MP. The message on farming was that prices and markets had been improving but were now under threat due to a lack of rain in the mid west which was now increasing the price of feed and thus reducing profitability for meat and dairy farmers. Congressman Terry also felt that the emphasis on bio-fuel was distorting the market.
The final event of a very busy day was dinner at the home of Ms. Alma Candelaria who leads the efforts of the State Department in relation to these type of visits. She had very kindly invited her neighbours to join with us and thus we were sitting down with college students, teachers, engineers and office workers to discuss how real life in the US is at this point in time. It was great!
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Is he our MP? Who is paying for the US jolly and why?
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More From GB's office:
Back from the States I decided to keep the diary going for another two weeks in order to provide a response to the question – why do Members of Parliament have such long holidays. Well I do hope that offering a flavour of two weeks in the recess will offer some proof that for many of us the recess period is a crucial opportunity to engage fully with issues in the constituency.
1st August
Despite keeping up to speed with my e-mails whilst away (thank you new technology) the train journey from London was a good opportunity to get on top of everything before getting back into the office tomorrow. I knew I was back in Wales when the signs on the A55 mentioned significant traffic jams both west and east of Abergwyngregyn due to an overturned lorry. Thanks to Radio Cymru I was informed that the road was clear and despite all the warnings from my office I managed to get through and home with no problems. However, I now know what will be on my agenda first thing tomorrow.
2nd August
My first engagement this morning was to name a bus! Yes, you read correctly, I was naming a bus in memory of my uncle, Dewi Bebb, the first North Walian to have played international rugby for Wales. A Bangor boy, Dewi was fortunate to do his National Service with the Royal Marines (chosen as a result of seeing the film Cockershell Heroes at the Plaza in the mid 1950′s). Two years in the Marines turned the promising athlete of Friars School into a winger who was selected for Wales on the wing as a student at Trinity College, Carmarthen. A Swansea and Wales stalwart for a decade he won 34 caps, scored eleven tries and was twice selected for the British Lions being top scorer on his tour of South Africa in 1966.
It was an honour to name the bus in his memory and the next time you catch the X5 which travells between Bangor and Llandudno do check to see whether you are on the Bebb bus!
From the launch I headed to the office. In view of the problems with the A55 yesterday I agreed to do a phone-in on Radio Wales and was delighted to be joined by my good friend David Williams, Chair of the North Wales Business Club, who spoke a lot of sense about the need for long term planning for our transport links here in North Wales.
Having caught-up with a significant amount of traditional letters rather than e-mails I finished the day visiting a Llandudno business that has been having problems with one of the nationalised banks. It is often difficult for an MP to argue with a high street bank on behalf of a constituent but when the taxpayer owns some 94% of the bank in question I feel that I have every right to get involved. I do hope that the meeting results in a rather more sensible approach from the bank over the next few months.
3rd August
Two surgery appointments in the office in Conwy this morning before dashing to Bangor to do an interview for Wales Today. Back to the office to sign some letters and then up the valley to Betws y Coed to do a surgery in the Memorial Hall. I was delighted to have a few takers and justified the cost of parking as a result! I then headed further into the mountains to undertake a surgery at Dolwyddelan. Whilst there was only one constituent waiting for a discussion I still find undertaking surgeries in every part of the constituency to be very rewarding.
Heading home from Dolwyddelan I stopped at a number of businesses in Betws in order to ascertain how the summer season was progressing. Despite the odd success story it would be fair to say that the season as yet has not been as good as hoped for – we can only hope for a better end to the season if the weather holds for September and early October.
4th and 5th August
I took the weekend off to be with the family!
6th August
I had arranged to have Monday in the office in order to keep my paperwork in order and to a large extent that is what I did. However, I do keep an open surgery at any time when I am in the office and Monday was no exception with two constituents from the Llandudno area coming into the office with issues that I might be able to help them with. In view of the way in which the rest of the week appears to be planned it was a good thing that I was able to deal with most of the outstanding correspondence today.
7th August
This morning I had the pleasure to visit the Gorse Hill Caravan Park above Conwy. I had met one of the directors, Rob Thomas Evelyn during the period after the budget announcement on VAT at 20% on static caravans. I argued against this proposal meeting ministers and the Chancellor to explain why such a significant change would be damaging to hundreds of businesses across Wales and dozens in Aberconwy. The pressure worked and the compromise of VAT at 5% seems to be acceptable to all.
Gorse Hill is a fine example of why we were right to argue against the initial proposal. A superb site in a stunning location it is a prime example of a long term self financing business based on serving customers well and constantly investing in the site to maintain a competitive advantage. It is a park that cares for the locality, customers and staff and I am delighted that they have not seen their business plan trashed by an ill considered tax increase.
Back in the office I dealt with some correspondence before meeting Richard Foxall from Horizon, the joint venture company tasked with developing a second nuclear power station at the Wylfa site in Anglesey. I am convinced that a new facility will benefit not just the economy of Anglesey but the whole of North West Wales and the work that has been done identifying the skills that will be needed is impressive.
The update was useful and without breaking confidences it can be said that there is a decent chance that Horizon will be taking over sooner rather than later. Such a development would see Wylfa become the first option for a nuclear new build in the UK. With the energy bill expected to be part of the legislative programme this autumn I hope to be able to contribute to ensuring that we finally start to encourage serious energy generation in this country.
8th August
Some months ago I agreed to participate in an Industry-Parliamentary exchange which aims to encourage MPs to try and gain a further understanding of industry and commerce. I opted to use my time to understand the way supermarkets interact with local food producers and the farming community. The first part of my programme was with Waitrose when I visited their Menai Bridge store and a farm which was in their supplier group for Welsh Lamb. This visit took place during the Easter recess.
Today I am using one day of recess to visit the Tesco Dairy Centre of Excellence which is a partnership with Liverpool University. Located on the Wirral the centre is a working dairy farm of some 250 acres with 200 milking cows. To say I was impressed is an understatement. The first fact, confirmed by the NFU, is that Tesco pays well above the market rate for their milk. Their current price for all their liquid milk (some 1 billion litres) is over 29.5p which is some 5p per litre above the market rate which has created such headlines during the past few weeks. To put this figure in context it means that Tesco are currently paying some £50m more for their milk than the market demands. Not bad for a big bad supermarket!
In addition the centre of excellence undertakes research with Tesco funding in order to ascertain best practice models for a variety of farming methods whilst also underaking research into common ailments which often impact upon dairy herds. A particularly interesting piece of work surrounded the issue of animal lamelessness which has an impact on fertility and thus reduces milk yield. All this research is fed back to the Tesco dairy group through a combination of supplier workshops and farm visits. It was all, I have to admit, a far cry from the view that everything Tesco does is bad.
From this superb session I headed into Liverpool in order to visit a Tesco Partnership Regeneration store in Toxteth. In simple terms a regeneration store is when Tesco commit to employ staff from a designated postcode area and to also recruit a certain percentage of staff who have been unemployed for twelve months or longer. Meeting the store manager I was simply amazed at his committment and enthusiasm and when he started giving me some of the figures I started to share his pride at what Tesco have achieved in Toxteth.
At the store in question 50% of man hours had to be offered to the long term unemployed. Working with Job Centre Plus and a teaining company 98 members of staff were recruited from this pool and today, sixteen months later over 92% are still in work. To put this in context that is a higher percentage than Tesco achieves through their normal recruitment process. However, these facts did not even come close to comparing with the reality of meeting the staff. From redundant bank workers told that they had no future at 50 but employed by Tesco four years later, to a mother of seven working for the first time in twenty years, the stories were of an opportunity grasped, a chance given to prove their worth and an opportunity to gain some self esteem. I can tell you, it was moving stuff. I met a shelf stacker given his first job at 24 (and since promoted) and a bakery worker who had bee “on the sick” for ten years. She now states that she will need to be carried out ot Tesco when she hits the retirement age.
What this store proved to me was that people want to work, they want the opportunity to be part of a team, the satisfaction of proving that they have a contribution to make and the chance to show freinds, family and crucially themselves that they are productive members of society. If this kind of success can be achieved under a system that continues to penalise work I can only feel confident that much more can be achieved once we have the Universal Credit in place which will ensure that work always pays. As one staff member told me “I really want to work more than sixteen hours but as things stand it does not pay to do so”. Come April it will.
This was a great day and a superb experience. Tesco might never be flavour of the month with some people but they deserve huge recognition for these two initiatives.
9th August
I did a quick pre-recorded interview with Chris from Radio Wales this morning. I do hope he gets to run the story but to be fair to him and his exclusive I will refrain from saying any more.
On a bright sunny day I then had a surgery at the Llandudno Junction Memorial Hall where I noticed that the Junction must be one of very few towns where the number of those lost in the Second World War is higher than in the First World War. According to Jean, who looks after the Hall amongst a host of other community work in the area, it reflects the significant population growth that was witnessed in the Town between the wars.
From the surgery I headed to Ysbyty Gwynedd for one of my reguar sessions with Mary Burrows, the Chief Executive of the Betsi Cadwalader Health Trust. As always it was a very good session and the proposals for the future of Llandudno are positive despite the real budget challenges faced by the Trust in the context of Assembly Government cuts.
10th August
Paperwork all morning before heading to the recently opened Welsh Food Centre in the old Home Farm buildings of the Bodnant Estate. I met Michael McLaren and his team and it was a joy to see a £7m investment six years in the planning coming together in such a manner. I do believe that we will see the centre grow from strength to strength.
I was disappointed to have missed the official opening due to the Lords Reform debate commencing on the same day. However, I am certain that I saw more on this visit not least the now completed ‘teaching kitchen’ which is a marvel! This project received one of the very few european grants awarded to a private sector led project. I am quite certain that Michael and his team have made more of their grant than many a public sector organisation have managed with grants of ten times greater.
I was pleased also to meet John Walter Jones, the former Chief Executive of the Welsh Language Board, in the farm shop. Michael immediatley asked whether John was there to check on their use of the Welsh language to which John stated (quite correctly) that if only 5% of businesses made a committment similar to that which is seen at this development then he would be a very happy man. It is truly impressive to see the way in which both languages take their place naturally and confidently throughout the complex. It is a real example of best practice.
Returning to the office I made a few follow-up calls and signed some letters before heading home.
11th August
Saturday but no rest for the wicked! The Eglwysbach Show is a great event and with the sun out the Aberconwy Conservative Association stand was busy all day. I honestly do not believe that I stopped talking between ten in the morning and five in the evening but it was great. It was good to meet constituents from all parts of Aberconwy and I hope that the opportunity to give the local MP a good talking to was appreciated by some more vocal visitors to the stand.
I must admit that I never cease to be impressed by the way in which such a show can be put together by what remains a small rural village. Carry on the good work.
13th August
I had a site meeting this morning at the Pen y Garnedd Forest above Dolwyddelan. Despite forestry being a rather obvious part of the rural economy Conwy Council have been almost obstructive in their dealings with the owners and their management team in relation to the harvesting of a part of the forest.
On site I saw local plant hire and haulage contractors and the workers were all local. Why therefore did the Council make life difficult for the venture? Is it acceptable to hear that Councils such as Denbigh, Gwynedd and Flintshire are much more aware of the economic impact of forestry? It is a sorry sate of affairs.
I was back in the office just before lunch and read some paperwork in relation to my on-going work on the interest rate swap issue.
At two thirty I was in Llandudno to meet the Hoteliers who met the Council to discuss double glazing in the Conservation Area following my success in persuading the Council of the merits of such an approach. However, the initial meeting had not gone as well as I would have hoped; I think we have a lot of work to do if we are to have a policy that protects the heritage of the town but acknowledges that the properties are, in most cases, actively trading small businesses.
The frustration of the hoteliers is that the officers at Conwy seem reluctant to work with them and the initial meeting has not resolved this issue yet. If we are not careful the Council will end-up with more boarded-up windows as we see at the Clarence or the St. Tudno rather than the improvements that they wish to see. Ultimatley a town such as Llandudno will only suceed as a partnership between the private sector business community and the local authority. The Council need to re-think their approach and to do it soon.
Back in the office I had an hour long conference call with Bully Banks, the membership organisation working with me on the interest rate swap scandal. In view of the partial redress offeredvby the FSA we need to redouble the parliamentary efforts from September onwards in order to keep the pressure on the Banks and the FSA.
14th August
Following an hour in the office I attended a coffee morning at Cwrt St. Tudno with Anne Roberts, former Mayor of Conwy who has recently moved into the complex. I had a warm welcome and it was good to hear some of the concerns that residents have at both a local and national level.
From Llandudno I wentvto Trefriw, Ysbyty Ifan and Penmachno for hour long surgeries which are always a good way of finding grass root issues in all parts of the constituency. Following the Penmachno surgery I attended a Cartrefi Conwy consultation event relating to proposed new houses to meet local needs within the village. The designs looked good and if the local demand can be proved then this could be a good development for the village.
So there you have it, two weeks of recess. Enjoyable it has been and extremly worthwhile but I do hope that you agree that it is not a holiday! As for a holiday, I’m glad to say that I will have twelve days with the family from tomorrow. I am up to date with my post and e-mails and the surgeries of the past fourteen days has identified plenty of issues to keep the office busy for the next couple of weeks.
Please feel free, as always, to contact my office is there is anything, I or my staff can do to assist you. I shall be back in the Constituency office after the Bank Holiday before the return to Parliament on 3rd September.
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Don't moan about him, you lot voted for him
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Don't moan about him, you lot voted for him
I can assure you, I didn't!
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Neither did I, but he still sends me all the same bumf. I get a great feeling of satisfaction as I delete it without so much as a glance at the contents.
ZXZ
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It's not a surprise that Bebb is full of hot air. Look at his profile on the Tory website.
http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Bebb_Guto.aspx (http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Bebb_Guto.aspx)
The last two paragraphs are as follows;
"Guto has a wealth of hands-on experience in relation to the challenges facing small businesses in a rural and peripheral economy. He has, over the past fifteen years been involved with small businesses on a daily basis whilst also responsible for some of the most innovative and creative projects to have been funded by European Structural Funds here in Wales.
The over-dependence of the economy of Wales, and north west Wales in particular, on the public sector is a cause of concern and alarm and Guto's involvement in politics is, to an extent, driven by the need to change the public sector dependency culture that stifles enterprise and acts as a barrier to enterprise here in Wales."
So he's outspoken about the "need to end Public Sector dependency" but he's proud of the valuable experience he gained from bodies that were dependent on funding from the Public Sector.
This is almost as bad as Darren Millar claiming that he stands up for publically funded services that are under threat when those services are only under threat because of the ideological approach of his party.
Never trust a Tory.
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Me thinks that this particular thread is becoming the Hyde Park Corner for Mr Bebb! Maybe it should be renamed Bebb's Blusters! WWW
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Mr Bebb can't half go on a bit! Oh well, that's MPs for you!
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Mr Bebb can't half go on a bit! Oh well, that's MPs for you!
'Tis but ONE YEAR out of date.
His pencil must have run out of lead. Or he must have realised that the readers of the $3towns$ are much too intelligent to pay any attention to his ramblings! ZXZ
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If we add in his salary of £66,396, that gives us a juicy £120,091 received from the taxpayers...and he still can't even be bothered to live in the Constituency he supposedly serves. &shake& No joking, I've seen more of neighbouring MP David Jones in Llandudno than Guto Bebb.
ABERCONWY MP Guto Bebb claimed more than £53,695 in expenses during the last year, more than any other North Wales member of the Commons.
The Conservative MP also charged for the third biggest food and drinks bill in the UK at £664.80, although he had trimmed a substantial 17% off last year’s claim of over £801.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mps-expenses-guto-bebb-claims-5744302 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mps-expenses-guto-bebb-claims-5744302)
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Seems like he maybe trying to catch up to Eric Pickles, WWW
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Seems like he maybe trying to catch up to Eric Pickles, WWW
The only pounds he's losing are ours! :D
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Politicians? ........ don't get me started on politicians. $angry$
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From Guto Bebb:
"
The Vote on Syria.
First, my honest reaction to the past week - what an unholy mess.
When the chemical attack on Syrian civilians occurred it was clear that the Prime Minister and the Government were intent on taking action since the breach of international law was pretty clear for all to see. Some on the extreme left and within the so called 'anti war movement' questioned whether the Syrian regime was behind such an attack but it is very difficult to conclude otherwise from the limited information available. However, that word limited is important and I will come back to it.
The political problem facing the Prime Minister was that he was faced with a significant number of Conservative MPs (including myself) who were adamant that, despite our unwritten constitution allowing the Prime Minister to use the Royal Prerogative to order military action, the experience of Iraq when the Labour Party dragged the country into a terrible war on false information demanded that Parliament be recalled to debate any such military intervention.
It was pleasing to see the Prime Minister adhere to this demand.
As party managers started to call Conservative MPs in a rather haphazard manner it must have become apparent to the leadership that despite the atrocities in Syria there was a huge unwillingness to act in haste within the ranks of the Conservative Party in Parliament and, more importantly, in the country at large. However with the Liberal leadership supportive and the Labour leader advocating limited action the Prime Minister felt secure even though the response within his own backbenches was lukewarm, to say the least.
All of this changed when Labour announced a change of heart on Wednesday and the motion which would have asked for a vote to authorise military action was significantly re-drawn. Such was the confusion that only late on Wednesday evening did the revised motion arrive via e-mail for the attention of Conservative MPs. This revised motion went a very long way towards dealing with many of our concerns such as legality of the action being proposed, the timing, the views of the UN inspectors in relation to the actual attack and even, crucially, a commitment to a further vote prior to any action.
Such was the nature of the changed motion that many commentators felt that there was now little or no real justification for the recall of Parliament. As the Times journalist Ann Treneman stated;
"The original idea had been to ask for a vote on military action against Syria's use of chemical weapons. In the end two motions were debated, one Government, one Labour, that did not seem different other than the call for a strong humanitarian response."
The text of the two motions are as follows;
Government Motion
That this House:
Deplores the use of chemical weapons in Syria on 21 August 2013 by the Assad regime, which caused hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries of Syrian civilians;
Recalls the importance of upholding the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons under international law;
Agrees that a strong humanitarian response is required from the international community and that this may, if necessary, require military action that is legal, proportionate and focused on saving lives by preventing and deterring further use of Syria’s chemical weapons;
Notes the failure of the United Nations Security Council over the last two years to take united action in response to the Syrian crisis;
Notes that the use of chemical weapons is a war crime under customary law and a crime against humanity, and that the principle of humanitarian intervention provides a sound legal basis for taking action;
Notes the wide international support for such a response, including the statement from the Arab League on 27 August which calls on the international community, represented in the United Nations Security Council, to “overcome internal disagreements and take action against those who committed this crime, for which the Syrian regime is responsible”;
Believes, in spite of the difficulties at the United Nations, that a United Nations process must be followed as far as possible to ensure the maximum legitimacy for any such action;
Therefore welcomes the work of the United Nations investigating team currently in Damascus, and, whilst noting that the team’s mandate is to confirm whether chemical weapons were used and not to apportion blame, agrees that the United Nations Secretary General should ensure a briefing to the United Nations Security Council immediately upon the completion of the team’s initial mission;
Believes that the United Nations Security Council must have the opportunity immediately to consider that briefing and that every effort should be made to secure a Security Council Resolution backing military action before any such action is taken, and notes that before any direct British involvement in such action a further vote of the House of Commons will take place; and
Notes that this Resolution relates solely to efforts to alleviate humanitarian suffering by deterring use of chemical weapons and does not sanction any action in Syria with wider objectives.
Labour Motion
Line 1, leave out from ‘House’ to end and add
‘expresses its revulsion at the killing of hundreds of civilians in Ghutah, Syria on 21 August 2013; believes that this was a moral outrage; recalls the importance of upholding the worldwide prohibition on the use of chemical weapons; makes clear that the use of chemical weapons is a grave breach of international law; agrees with the UN Secretary General that the UN weapons inspectors must be able to report to the UN Security Council and that the Security Council must live up to its responsibilities to protect civilians; supports steps to provide humanitarian protection to the people of Syria but will only support military action involving UK forces if and when the following conditions have been met that:
(a) the UN weapons inspectors, upon the conclusion of their mission in the Eastern Ghutah, are given the necessary opportunity to make a report to the Security Council on the evidence and their findings, and confirmation by them that chemical weapons have been used in Syria;
(b) compelling evidence is produced that the Syrian regime was responsible for the use of these weapons;
(c) the UN Security Council has considered and voted on this matter in the light of the reports of the weapons inspectors and the evidence submitted;
(d) there is a clear legal basis in international law for taking collective military action to protect the Syrian people on humanitarian grounds;
(e) such action must have regard to the potential consequences in the region, and must therefore be legal, proportionate, time-limited and have precise and achievable objectives designed to deter the future use of prohibited chemical weapons in Syria; and
(f) the Prime Minister reports further to the House on the achievement of these conditions so that the House can vote on UK participation in such action, and that any such vote should relate solely to efforts to deter the use of chemical weapons and does not sanction any wider action in Syria.’.
Whilst I agreed with much of the government motion, especially the need to provide increased humanitarian support, I still wanted confirmation from the Prime Minister in his speech that the commitment to a further vote before any action was a guarantee that the Government under no circumstances would act militarily prior to a second specific vote as promised by the motion. Despite my need for clarity I was, nevertheless, surprised at the response of the Labour Party. In view of the demands made by the leader of the Labour Party prior to the motion being published, I fully anticipated Labour support for the new motion. The fact that this support was not forthcoming and we ended up with two motions which were almost identical was unexpected. As Dan Hodges, a Labour Party member, wrote in the Daily Telegraph;
“These facts are indisputable. Ed Miliband said that if he was to back the Government, David Cameron would have to publish the legal advice upon which the case for war rested. David Cameron agreed, and did so.
Ed Miliband then said a solid case needed to be presented demonstrating the Assad regime’s culpability for the chemical attacks. David Cameron agreed, and published the JIC analysis which concluded “there are no plausible alternative scenarios to regime responsibility”.
Ed Miliband then said the Government would have to exhaust the UN route before any recourse to military action. David Cameron agreed, and confirmed he would be submitting a motion to the P5 to that effect.
Ed Miliband said he would need to await the UN weapons inspectors report. David Cameron agreed.
Finally, and crucially, Ed Miliband said there would have to be not one, but two House of Commons votes before military action could be authorised. Once again David Cameron agreed.
And then, having sought – and received – all these assurances from the Prime Minister, Ed Miliband went ahead and voted against the Government anyway”
Thus I walked into the Chamber surprised at the fact that the opposition were playing party politics on an issue of such importance whilst also thoroughly annoyed at the way in which the Government had managed to create such a crisis of its own making. A self inflicted crisis which had led us to a point where we were debating a motion which would simply called for the House of Commons to again debate the issue of military action at a future stage when a specific military aim could be articulated. In all honesty, as the two motions provided above show, the only real difference between the Government motion and the Labour Party motion was the commitment in the Government motion to provide significant humanitarian support.
The Prime Minister was not at his best in the Chamber. I suspect that he was arguing a different case to the one that he had intended but at least he had a detailed knowledge of his brief and argued with passion why, in due course, the option of military action should remain open.
The response of the leader of the opposition was awful. His main contribution was talk of a "sequential road map" which apparently pleased the Plaid MP Elfyn Llwyd but Elfyn must be a very poor barrister to argue (as he did with me on Radio Cymru on Friday morning) that there was a significant difference between the motion presented by the Prime Minister and the motion presented by Labour which Plaid also supported. Indeed, it should be noted that there was only one resignation yesterday and that was of a Labour front bench spokesman who did not want any possibility of military action under any circumstance. The Labour motion did not preclude such action.
The rather poor standard of debate reflected the fact that this was a debate in effect about the need for a possible future debate. No military action could be authorised if the Government motion passed, it would need a further vote in Parliament. As Sam Coates from The Times said;
"The atmosphere in the Chamber is flat; it's the prequel and not the real debate"
Flat or not the one thing I had not heard from the PM was an assurance that if the motion passed he would not use the Royal Prerogative to support military intervention prior to a second vote being undertaken. In private meetings with him this assurance was provided in full and as such I resolved to support what was, in effect, a policy of keeping options open until the UN process had been completed.
The Labour motion was roundly defeated but by a majority of 13 so was the Government motion. This was, in truth, an awful result. Yes, there were loud cheers from opposition benches and smiles on the faces of some Conservative members who opposed the Government not because they care about Syria but because they despise the Prime Minister. But the result is that the UK now has no policy, no position and no influence. Even if the UN now calls for action on the basis of clear evidence of responsibility for atrocities being laid at the door of the Syrian regime we as a country can do nothing. This result is now a defeat for even the option of the United Kingdom being involved in a co-ordinated international response and not just a defeat for the option of a go it alone policy for the UK, the US and France.
The blame for what is a political failure must to a very large extent fall on the Government who failed to adequately consider the views of their backbenchers. The party managers either provided duff information to the Prime Minister and his team or the information provided was ignored. Nevertheless the Prime Minister, the Government and in my view UK Foreign Policy is much diminished as a result. It is a poor reflection on the Downing Street operation that it came to this.
Despite the headlines neither did the Labour Party gain much in the long term. Ed Milliband performed, between Monday and Wednesday a U-turn of epic proportions. Undoubtedly the inadequate preparatory work of the Government allowed the Labour Party the luxury of a communal therapy session to atone for their sins in relation to their support for the Iraq War but in the long term I suspect that a political leader who uses an international issue of this importance in order to gain a short term party political advantage will not appeal to the majority of the general public. I would argue that the Prime Minister, his deputy and the Labour leader are all diminished by their failures over the past week.
As for Parliament? Many would claim that it is strengthened and there is little doubt that it is now very difficult to envisage of any circumstances in which a Government could embark upon military action without the support of Parliament. However, the standard of debate and the fact that for far too many the issue of military action, the use of chemical weapons in Syria and a vicious civil war was of secondary importance. For many the motivation for their votes last night was party political advantage or a personal animosity to the Prime Minister. Is a Parliament that votes on such a basis, on an issue of this magnitude, enhanced?
Finally for myself I feel depressed and annoyed despite some real successes as a result of efforts late in the day to influence the Government. What do I mean by this? Well first of all I feel that my support for the letter from Conservative backbenchers demanding a Parliamentary vote in relation to any intervention in Syria was a success. A recall was granted and despite the failure of the Government to adequately plan for such a recall it was undoubtedly a good thing that such a recall was granted. Secondly, as with numerous colleagues, we made a case for the Government to slow down the process. A recall aimed at securing the support of Parliament for a military intervention became a recall to debate the merits of a further vote on a more specific intervention if and when the UN process had been completed in a satisfactory manner. Finally, despite the knee-jerk reaction of many who felt that the vote was a vote about supporting military action or not (that was not the case) I voted on the merits of the motion which at least had the advantage of providing a semblance of coherence to our foreign policy position.
That we are now in limbo should not, in my view, be a cause for celebration.
"
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A great pity that we are represented by an individual of such disingenuous perceptions and incompetent rhetoric.
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On the contrary, I think it's interesting and gives us a bit of an insight into how things work at Westminster behind the scenes. At least we are represented by somebody who is prepared to criticise Cameron, the Government and the Opposition. I got rather tired of Betty Williams' sycophantic ramblings when she was the MP (and judging by her Twitter feed, Mary Wimbury, the Labour candidate for the next election is no different). I cannot stand politicians who aren't prepared to say that their party or leader is wrong when they are.
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The problem is that the Party Leaders, irrespective of colour, cannot accept the fact that they sometimes may be wrong. I bet Cameron is still crying over his defeat last night.
We don't want, or need, to join forces with O'Barmy again, in trying to sort out another country's internal problems. Tell O'Barmy to get John Wayne and his Merry Men on the case!
:rage:
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A great pity that we are represented by an individual of such disingenuous perceptions and incompetent rhetoric.
I couldn't agree more, what a plonker but I'm afraid that there are many more like him in Politics. The vote against only just got through but didn't express the feeling of the voting public who are very much against the action proposed by Cameron.
How would the UK feel if Syria or any other country in the world wanted to interfere in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland when it was at the height of its troubles?
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A superb analogy Hugo, and we are no more fit to intervene in any such matters these days than the Syrians would be in N Ireland.
Ian (Moderator Ian) is entirely correct, and he would usually use the 'quote or copy' function of this forum to pick apart every vacuous statement made by that pathetic politician. I assume he could not be bothered wasting his time.
We are all sickened, saddened, appalled (and the rest) by what we see perpetrated in Syria, but we feel the same about Angola, N Korea, Yemen, Palestine.... the list is endless.
We poked our noses into Iraq and Afghanistan..... we waltzed into Libya within days of sniffing a problem.
However, we never seem to make a positive difference anywhere, we don't fully understand it and we are obsessed with making some short term political (or financial) gain.
Guto Bebb and his like should be swept aside, forced to get an honest job for once in their lives and devoutly ignored when it comes to risking the lives of British citizens. They make me sick.
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From the office of Guto Bebb:
"Dear Business Operator and Resident,
WE WANT TO WORK
I would like to invite you to join me on 19th September 2013 at the Imperial Hotel, Llandudno between 1pm and 3pm to meet Jobseekers who are “Work Ready”, senior representatives from A4E whose recruitment services are funded by government and members of staff from our local Job Centre in Llandudno.
We all know that people are the biggest asset of any business, however large or small. There are many government initiatives and incentives currently available to employers that can help you invest in your workforce and expand your business. I want to share with you, some of the local inspiring success stories which I hope may encourage you to support local jobseekers.
Tea and Coffee will be available from 1pm and I would be most grateful if you could indicate whether you will be able to attend so that we may make the appropriate catering arrangements.
Yours sincerely
Guto
Guto Bebb"
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Tell O'Barmy to get John Wayne and his Merry Men on the case!
Team O'Barmy World Police
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Dear Constituent,
I should like to invite you to attend one of the three events that I am holding in the constituency this summer. These events are an informal opportunity for me to tell you what I am doing in Parliament, what plans the government has for the next parliamentary session and also an opportunity for you to ask questions about my work as an MP either in Westminster or here in Aberconwy. Since you did me the honour of electing me to represent Aberconwy in Parliament, much has happened both at home and abroad and I am keen to hear any comments you have on both domestic and international issues.
Refreshments will be provided and therefore it would be useful if you would be kind enough to indicate if you are able to attend to assist with catering arrangements.
I look forward to meeting with you and hearing your views.
Kindest regards,
Guto
Eagles Hotel, Llanrwst – 6.30pm – 19th September 2013
Beach Café, Llanfairfechan – 6.30pm – 26th September 2013
Imperial Hotel, Llandudno – 6.30pm – 3rd October 2013
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These events are an informal opportunity for me to tell you what I am doing in Parliament, what plans the government has for the next parliamentary session and also an opportunity for you to ask questions about my work as an MP either in Westminster or here in Aberconwy.
Given the subject matter, these meetings should be of very short duration I would imagine. 10 seconds maybe?
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Given the subject matter, these meetings should be of very short duration I would imagine. 10 seconds maybe?
Just enough time to tell him I'm thinking of voting UKIP next time and then watch his face drop. $uk
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Dear Constituent,
Since you did me the honour of electing me to represent Aberconwy in Parliament. . . . . . .
Did you do that all on your own B, or did you get a little help from your friends? How does he know you voted for him anyway? Or is it NOT a Secret Ballot anymore? :D
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Given the subject matter, these meetings should be of very short duration I would imagine. 10 seconds maybe?
Just enough time to tell him I'm thinking of voting UKIP next time and then watch his face drop. $uk
Please leave your Middle England xenophobia at the Welsh border. Thank You.
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What is UKIP's policy on Welsh independence anyway?
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If they were a logical party they wouldn't mind if Wales wanted to be independent of something they didn't want to be but their party isn't full of logic, it's full of disaffected cranks that get angry about "them" rather than logic. When was the last week that one of their elected politicians wasn't outed as a reactionary moron?
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Oh God, more politics.....
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To be fair, this is a political topic...
8)
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To be fair, this is a political topic...
8)
Indeed it is Ian, and I have no one to blame but myself for clicking on it! :(
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Please leave your Middle England xenophobia at the Welsh border. Thank You.
In a Free Society Kowalski having an opinion about the current state of affairs in our Country is my Democratic right and in no way makes me Middle English or xenophobic.
I've earned the right by serving my County for 10 years in places you wouldn't go even if they paid you. I've worked all my life and paid more than my share of Tax and National Insurance to help support misguided idiots of your generation.
That gives me the right. Can you say the same? or are you just full of hot air and pseudo babbling claptrap.
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I'm allowed to attack your opinions with all the pseudo babbling claptrap I can muster because it's a "free society".
It's not just hot-air filled scroungers that think UKIP are a "little bit Xenophobic", Alan Sked, the party's founder, also has similar thoughts - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10080835/Ukips-founder-says-the-party-has-gone-completely-fruitcake.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/10080835/Ukips-founder-says-the-party-has-gone-completely-fruitcake.html)
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I find UKIP to be too left wing for me :twoface:
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Attack what you like but my comments still doesn't make me Middle English or xenophobic. >>>
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Stop acting like "Offended of Chipping Norton" then.
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I wouldn't wish to let sensible questions get in the way of insult slinging but...as I've asked before, but what is UKIP's policy on an Independent Wales? I'm assuming they are against such a thing? I'm wondering how they can reconcile that with their aim of freeing the UK from they they view as the controlling EU?
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I'm wondering how they can reconcile that with their aim of freeing the UK from they they view as the controlling EU?
Quite. The absurdity of parochial nationalism becomes starkly revealed when that sort of question is asked.
I've always thought the biggest issues in regard to EU membership are very much the same as the HS2 proposals: a complete lack of lucid explanations coupled with a dangerously perverse media industry.
HS2's a simpler case, but it does show how tricky it becomes to explain ideas with significant merit to the public. The media seizes on the bits that have impact, such as how it shaves 15 minutes off a particular journey, instead of the long-term and intrinsic value of high speed rail links throughout the UK.
I assume the media behaves like that because it believes (as the DFM certainly does) that the average IQ in the UK is about room temperature, so everything has to be reduced to Janet and John levels.
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Guto Bebb's most recent email is more insterestng than usual>
Dear Constituent,
On Friday I attended a meeting at Bodlondeb with the Chief Executive and the Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr. Ronnie Hughes. Since my election I have met regularly with the Chief Executive and political leader to discuss concerns, specific cases or just broader issues affecting the constituency.
Superfast Broadband and the 19 Bus Service
On Friday the issues raised were to update the Chief Executive and Deputy Leader on the progress of my lobbying to bring superfast broadband to Aberconwy sooner rather than later and to discuss the withdrawal of the hourly 19 Bus service in the Conwy Valley and the impact that it was having. I had earlier in the day met with Arriva Buses who had been quite clear: they had not withdrawn the service for any commercial reason but had had their de-minimis funding withdrawn by Conwy Borough Council. It is a shame that officers from CCBC had been less than transparent about their role in the decision to reduce the regular service from an hourly service to a service every two hours.
The last issue that I wanted to discuss was the recent decision made by the local authority to pay a redundancy payment to the Chief Education officer who had indicated widely last year that he was intending to retire in August 2014.
Proposed Changes to Education in Conwy
The matter has its origins in mid to late 2013 when the Chief Executive was told of the impending retirement of the post holder. I was pleased to be able to congratulate the Chief Executive on his forward thinking when he and his colleagues, in light of the Hill report into Education in Wales, decided to use the opportunity of Mr. James’ retirement to look at the whole structure of the local authority education department and consider amalgamation and other options to ensure a continuation of service within a more cost effective solution.
The report prepared by Mr. Davies provided three options for the elected representatives to consider and Option C – the amalgamation of Social Services and Education into one department was chosen as the way forward. This option will see the creation of a new Strategic Director post to lead the combined department with a newly defined post of Chief Education Officer (which is statutory) being within this department.
So far, so good. However between November and March 2014, the planned retirement of Mr. James changed into a “proposed retirement” and discussions took place in July 2014 about a redundancy payment.
Legal Advice
When I was made aware of this, I asked Mr. Davies to share with me the legal opinion that had been provided to Conwy Borough Council that would support the change from “retirement” to “redundancy”. Mr. Davies freely and without hesitation provided that information to me. The independent legal advice that was provided to the senior officers at Conwy was received by the Council on the morning of the 9th of July and was a written version of a telephone call undertaken with legal advisors from outside the local authority the previous day. The written advice was provided in an email timed at 10.15am on 9th July which was sent to Ms. Delyth Jones – Head of Legal Services. The advice arrived as the Chief Executive was speaking to the full council and sharing what I assume was the verbal advice received during the telephone call the previous day.
I have a huge concern about this “redundancy” payment of some £40,000 particularly at a time when council tax has been rising at 5% per annum and lollipop ladies are being removed from rural villages. I do not share the Chief Executive’s certainty that this is a redundancy situation and certainly from a moral point of view I believe it is wrong. The legal opinion that I have received on the advice given to Conwy is that their lawyers have provided justification for the scenario that the County Council has created.
My concerns
The decision to pay the £40,000 in redundancy is justified on the basis that the post held by the Chief Education Officer was being made redundant and therefore he was entitled to compensation. My doubts about this logic can be summarised as follows;
The review was instigated by the post holder informing the Chief Executive(and many others) of his wish to retire. As such how can a redundancy be an option?
The alleged saving of £400,000 over five years is based upon the post of Chief Education Officer being abolished. In view of his impending retirement that saving could have been achieved through a similar restructuring being undertaken without the need to pay a redundancy package. Why agree a timetable for change which created a basis for justifying an unwarranted redundancy payment?
If this was a redundancy situation why was there no position offered to the Chief Education Officer within the new structure? Was no such offer made because he had indicated a desire to retire? If so, why the redundancy payment?
If this was a redundancy situation was there any efforts made to find an appropriate post for those affected by the changes somewhere else within the Council and if not, why? Was it again, as above, clear to all involved that the holder of the post being made redundant had no intention to continue working for the Council since he had indicated his aim to retire? If so, we must again ask, why the redundancy payment.
The alleged saving of £400,000 does not include the additional costs incurred as a result of the changes to the structure within the local authority. Thus salary increases for a new Strategic Director and the newly defined Chief Education Officer were not deducted from the alleged saving of £400,000. Why?
My meeting with the Deputy Leader and Mr. Davies was not conducted as courteously as other meetings that I have had with Conwy mainly due to Cllr. Hughes being of the view that he could try and intimidate me in the same manner as he uses to intimidate and bully during council meetings. His comment that if I went public with this complaint he would “fight fire with fire” was, to say the least, bizarre.
To me this situation is indicative of what is wrong with so many of our public services here in Wales. I believe that the decision is flawed and that our councillors have been insufficiently robust in questioning why a decision of a senior post holder to retire, described as such in Council documents from November 2013 onwards, has now resulted in a £40,000 redundancy package being approved at a time when services are being cut and council tax is being increased. It is on this basis that I have decided to make this issue public.
My concerns about this decision should not in any way be taken as criticism of Mr. Geraint James, who has served the residents of Conwy faithfully in his current role as Chief Education Officer and indeed, as I would contend, would have made a good candidate for taking the post of Strategic Director for the new amalgamated department. However, as he told me as early as September last year, he wants to retire and I respect that decision.
Do we get good value?
There are other issues that the council have not handled as well as they should have done. To increase Council Tax by almost 25% over a period of four years demands that any expenditure incurred is undertaken with care and a degree of responsibility towards hard pressed tax payers. The scandal of Maesdu Bridge, the ongoing saga of Porth Eirias, the handling of the North Shore beach issue and many other issues that have come to me through casework would indicate, quite clearly, that valuing the taxpayer pound is not as high a priority as it should be for officers and the Councillors at Conwy County Borough Council.
It all adds up to paint a rather different picture of the local authority to the one presented to the public by so called ‘team Conwy’. For far too long the ruling coalition in Conwy Council, which comprises 46 of the 59 Councillors, have intimidated and excluded anybody and everybody that raises questions about their actions on the basis that they are undermining the work of the Council. If local democracy is to work then officers should be challenged and questioned and decisions which cost money through waste or incompetence should result in hard questions being asked. If the cosy relationship between councillors and officers has created a local authority where scrutiny is slipshod and cursory then it falls on others to shine a light on what are, at the very least, highly debatable decisions. This, in my view, is just such a decision.
What do you think?
Do you share my view? Do you have issues that you would like to bring to my attention? My contact details are on this email and I am always keen to hear your opinions.
Guto Bebb
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So in a nutshell, someone was going to retire, then magically that changes into redundancy and a £40k redundancy payment is made! Amazing! &shake&
I see also the mention of the ongoing saga of Porth Eirias ( the skip by the sea! ) I'm involved in that saga now, after my fall there last week!
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So in a nutshell, someone was going to retire, then magically that changes into redundancy and a £40k redundancy payment is made! Amazing
And it's only because of Bebb that we've learnt about this one. How many others have there been?
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And how many more in the pipeline? :o
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So in a nutshell, someone was going to retire, then magically that changes into redundancy and a £40k redundancy payment is made! Amazing
And it's only because of Bebb that we've learnt about this one. How many others have there been?
There were a lot of Aberconwy Council employees who "retired early" with very handsom pay offs and enhanced pensions in 1996, when the Unitary Authority was formed. Some of these "retirees" were then given Seasonal Jobs with CCBC to "lead them gently into retirement. Some who have left since, have been re -employed on a Consultancy basis, no doubt charging big fat fees. I won't name names!
ZXZ Z** ZXZ Z**
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Making the post redundant _))* just watch it will become another name on a bigger salary, ccbc at its best ,mind you it's always happened and will never change on the gravy train,about time ronnie packed in anyway.
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Part II of GB's post:
"May I firstly take this opportunity to thank all of you who have responded to the “Retirement or Redundancy” email sent to you last week. The sheer volume of responses has shown the strength of opinion of local taxpayers and I am grateful to all of you who have responded with comment, insight and further examples where you believe the council has let you down.
As part of that feedback I have been supplied with a document dated September 2013 prepared by the Chief Education Officer called “Education Services Staff Bulletin.” I reproduce below the Press Release which has been sent out today.
PRESS RELEASE
Councillors and Public Misled
Guto Bebb MP has been provided with a copy of a Conwy Borough Council staff bulletin – dated September 2013 in which the Chief Education Officer of Conwy Council writes:
“All this coincides with my planned personal career path to retire at the end of the academic year during which I reach my 60th year – namely summer 2014. I have shared this intention with the Chief Executive and Cabinet Portfolio Member. We have agreed that this will provide the Council with an opportunity to consider various options for the future delivery of Education Services”
Guto said – “This bulletin written by the Chief Education Officer to his colleagues is absolutely crystal clear and unambiguous. There is nothing that requires any further clarification. The Chief Education Officer clearly tells Conwy Borough Council staff that he is retiring and that the Chief Executive has been informed of this. I am appalled that Councillors and the public have been misled in this matter and allowed a contrived redundancy payment of £40,000 to be paid out of scarce Council funds. I shall be sharing this further evidence with the Wales Audit Office who I have asked to investigate this situation in detail".
Guto further added, “Again, I would like to reiterate that this matter is not about any individual. My concern is that council tax payers money has been used to make an entirely unnecessary and inappropriate redundancy payment. I wonder whether the Senior Officers shared this bulletin with their lawyers when seeking last minute legal justification for their decision?”
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I have discovered that he does not respond to mail from Local people, obviously copying David Jones MP, JFS AM and County Councillors!
WWW
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I am just having a look at his Summer 2014 newsletter "intouch" which was delivered today. He talks about the good news for our local economy and makes reference to 'the refurbishment of the Clarence and St Tudno Hotels in Llandudno'. He surely means the old Tudno Castle Hotel (and formerly the North Western Hotel) not the St Tudno.
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I am just having a look at his Summer 2014 newsletter "intouch" which was delivered today. He talks about the good news for our local economy and makes reference to 'the refurbishment of the Clarence and St Tudno Hotels in Llandudno'. He surely means the old Tudno Castle Hotel (and formerly the North Western Hotel) not the St Tudno.
More 'out of touch' than 'in touch', in my view. Still, being as he doesn't even live round here and has no connection with the area, it's hardly a surprise he's making errors like that.
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Seems he is too busy worrying about Israel, god knows why! Before I vote next year I will check carefully for any of this 'friends of Israel' nonsense! &shake&
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Maybe he is of the faith? ZXZ
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I am just having a look at his Summer 2014 newsletter "intouch" which was delivered today. He talks about the good news for our local economy and makes reference to 'the refurbishment of the Clarence and St Tudno Hotels in Llandudno'. He surely means the old Tudno Castle Hotel (and formerly the North Western Hotel) not the St Tudno.
Pathetic isn't it? You wonder why I have no time for politicians of any kind.
What has the Clarence and The Tudno Castle to do with him? Is he simply trying to associate himself with the success of the private businesses which are developing those sites?
He needs to concern himself with what is going wrong, not things outside his remit which are being put right. &shake& &shake&
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You wonder why I have no time for politicians of any kind.
We don't need them, either; if everyone was made to do a stint as a local representative you could construct a system whereby only a small admin force would be needed to carry out the 'wishes of the electorate'. But I sense we're moving into a new era, one where politicians will succeed based solely on their performance in front of the cameras. Not entirely sure that's a good thing.
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Guto's thoughts on the Israel/Gaza situation are summarised here (you'll need to use Google Translate if you don't read Welsh).
http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/rhyngwladol/156542-bebb-israeliaid-yn-teimlo-dan-warchae (http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/rhyngwladol/156542-bebb-israeliaid-yn-teimlo-dan-warchae)
I honestly find it truly amazing that he takes far more interest in these matters than ones in his own constituency. There's also the matter of the £5,000 he has received from Alexander Temerko: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/140428/bebb_guto.htm (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/140428/bebb_guto.htm)
Why would Guto take £5000 from a Russian who has probably never even heard of Aberconwy? The whole thing stinks.
Personally, I think he has made a major error and now has pretty much no chance of getting back in, come election time.
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""Personally, I think he has made a major error and now has pretty much no chance of getting back in, come election time.""
Let's hope he out at the next election, he's upset a lot of the people with his pro Israel stance. Hard to believe he's been so vocal.
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Lucky for him the election is 9 months away and all this will probably have blown over by then. People tend to vote for the party rather than the candidate (despite what we would all prefer) and your average voter won't cast their vote on this one matter.
However, he seriously need to pull his socks up and leave off these nuts comments on Twitter. He's a nice man and actually very helpful, but has come across as a complete idiot in his dealings on Twitter. He seriously needs some heavy duty PR advice and he needs to pound the streets and get himself seen. These past 3 weeks have been an absolute car crash.
If he had a majority less than 5% he'd be toast, but he has 11%, which means his seat isn't technically even marginal (10% is usually the cut off).
You must remember, most voters don't read Twitter, nor do the 45,000 electors read Oscar like we do.
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I for one, do not read Oscar.
G Bebb Esq. needs a lesson in politeness. I recently contacted him about Porth Eirias, and did not even receive an acknowledgement, let alone a reply. We pay for his Constituancy office, so surely he could get a member of his staff to at least let people know he had received their communication?
He is probably trying to woo the Electorate by devoting his time to exploiting the Social Media sites, as a means of spreading the "word of Guto Bebb!" Well I don't use Twitter either, so unless he decides to "expose" himself on the Three Towns Forum, there is little chance of getting my vote, and I suspect, many other Votes?
If you're reading this, Mr Bebb, pull your finger out and get typing!
ZXZ $walesflag$
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Interesting that Guto has had his lawyers send a letter to Oscar regarding the accusations of the last few days. Although I don't think Guto has come across well in this at all, if they are untrue then I think it's fair enough to send a legal letter of rebuttal, otherwise insinuations and rumours never stop (though he should have done something softer earlier).
Oscar tweeted this: "I'm feeling Guto is the school bully, sitting there all self righteous and in judgement. Just who does he think he is lording of us plebs?"
It's pretty ironic really. I can't help thinking that Oscar has bullied so many people over the years, that he deserves a taste of his own medicine.
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Interesting that Guto has had his lawyers send a letter to Oscar regarding the accusations of the last few days. Although I don't think Guto has come across well in this at all, if they are untrue then I think it's fair enough to send a legal letter of rebuttal, otherwise insinuations and rumours never stop (though he should have done something softer earlier).
Are they untrue though? I seem to recall all of the accusations were thoroughly referenced from various news sources?
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That's why I said 'if they are untrue'. I must say, having read the comments on Oscar, there seem to be quite a few crazies out there...it's all about Zionist conspiracies and all that jazz.
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Now when seeing the word Zionist being used in such a context, do I smell a little bit of racialism? WWW
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Now when seeing the word Zionist being used in such a context, do I smell a little bit of racialism?
Not racism. A Zionist adheres to the tenets of Zionism (https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=zionist&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=DQXlU6_dA46BbKS8gOAG)
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Neither Zion or Zionist are permitted in Scrabble..... but interestingly (and upsettingly) Zaire, and Zaires are!
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More bad publicity for Guto Bebb. Most bizarre.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-tells-autistic-man-4166980 (http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tory-mp-tells-autistic-man-4166980)
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Sounds like he should listen to his own advice! When he loses the election next year perhaps he will go to his beloved Israel? WWW
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Bebb is quoted as having said,"“I do have a close family history of mental health issues . . . . . . .”
Oh yes! Maybe he should be the one to think before he comments! ZXZ
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Sounds like he should listen to his own advice! When he loses the election next year perhaps he will go to his beloved Israel? WWW
Who will he lose to?
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Sounds like he should listen to his own advice! When he loses the election next year perhaps he will go to his beloved Israel? WWW
Who will he lose to?
Labour is the only real possibility. However given the amount of propaganda that has already started spewing and will continue to from the Tory PR machine - they haven't got a cat in hell's chance.
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Sounds like he should listen to his own advice! When he loses the election next year perhaps he will go to his beloved Israel? WWW
Who will he lose to?
I would hope that the Conservatives will come up with a new candidate, the current one comes with too much bad baggage!
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I suppose we all have to expect much more of this **** between now and next May.
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PUBLIC MEETING
Imperial Hotel, Llandudno.
Thursday, 18th September 2014
18:30 - 20:30
This week I shall be holding my first public meeting this autumn in the Imperial
Hotel, Llandudno. The meeting is due to start at 18:30, with refreshments available
from 18:00 onwards.
These are an opportunity for you to question me on any subject - national,
international or local and have proved popular and interesting events.
If you are interested in attending or would like further details please telephone
01492 583094 or email office@gutobebbmp.co.uk.
I look forward to meeting with you and hearing your views.
Guto
PS. If this meeting isn't convenient you may be interested in one of my other
public meetings:
Beach Cafe, Llanfairfechan 18:30-20:30, Thursday, 25th September 2014
Eagles Hotel, Llanrwst 18:30-20:30, Thursday, 9th October 2014
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Tory ****
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In my view, Bebb should do the decent thing and stand down before the next election.
Llandudno solicitor calls for Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb to be deselected by the Conservatives
Sep 24, 2014 19:16 By Jez Hemming
A solicitor wrongly named as author of a “poison pen” blog by Guto Bebb says Aberconwy Conservatives should consider deselecting the area’s MP.
Lawyer Dylan Moore spoke about the scandal after Mr Bebb backed away from his allegation that Mr Moore had helped newsagent Nigel Roberts pen the Thoughts of Oscar blog.
Mr Moore, a colleague of MP David Jones at his solicitors’ practice in Llandudno, was himself a victim of the blog in 2011, when he discussed it with his MP Mr Bebb and sent him evidence of the abuse he had suffered.
Mr Moore said: “The impression I get from his own comments was that he didn’t really care about the fact that this blog was affecting his constituents.
“But, when it affected him and it was aimed at him, then he decided ‘We must do something about this’.
“I’d raised it with him three years ago. He didn’t care about my problems then.
“When there was a letter on the blog regarding his links with Israel, he decides to let rip and he doesn’t seem to care whose reputation he tries to destroy.”
Mr Moore said the MP’s judgement must be called into question after accusing him so publicly, using Parliamentary privilege to escape legal redress, then doing an abrupt U-turn.
Mr Bebb admitted in Parliament he didn’t fully understand the evidence he had been presented with, obtained by a private investigator two years previously.
“I’d have thought that anybody making such serious allegations would want to understand the evidence,” said Mr Moore.
“The power we give MPs is huge and it is capable of abuse. They can say whatever they want and damn the consequences.
“He’s hiding behind Parliamentary privilege in the same way this anonymous author was hiding behind anonymity.
“It’s exactly the same, neither of them are prepared to basically be responsible for what they are saying.”
Mr Moore outlined he had feared for his security after Mr Bebb’s disclosure to Parliament on September 9 and his mother, partner and family members had also been extremely worried over the affair.
Mr Bebb said: “On meeting Mr Moore, I was convinced that this information presented to me by a private investigator was incorrect.
“I am fully acknowledging the information was not robust.
“Of course I will be correcting the record in the House of Commons.”
Mr Bebb maintained he retained the support of his constituency association.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943)
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Mr Bebb admitted in Parliament he didn’t fully understand the evidence he had been presented with,
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943)
.... and he acted on it, for his own PERSONAL reasons. Because it affected HIM, never mind his constituents (and members of this very forum who have been adversely affected in the past)!
He has made a fool of himself, and embarrassed himself.
Politicians have the power to take us to war, and they admit they act without fully understanding the information at hand. &shake&
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Politicians...admit they act without fully understanding the information at hand.
Politicians aren't the brightest bulbs in the box but a lot of the blame lies with the electorate. Through sheer inertia or laziness most people don't become involved in politics. I'm not talking local, but MP level, where those elected wield very real power. That they're essentially corrupt, disingenuous, not overly bright, self-centred and grasping goes without saying, but enough of their good points.
There are excellent MPs, but they appear to be in a minority and the voting system in the UK (not that foisted on the Welsh or Scots) tends to prevent election by anyone not affiliated to one of the main parties. The answer is for more to become actively involved in the main parties, and that means joining one of the associations and having a say in how a candidate for Parliament is put forward.
It's worth remembering that UK governments are determined by only a few marginal seats. Most constituencies in the UK are 'safe' seats, where a locally selected candidate would only have to have the intellectual prowess of a drooling baboon to be elected. But unless and until more people become actively involved in the selection process - that's the one that matters - we'll continue to get the MPs we deserve.
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Mr Bebb admitted in Parliament he didn’t fully understand the evidence he had been presented with,
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943)
.... and he acted on it, for his own PERSONAL reasons. Because it affected HIM, never mind his constituents (and members of this very forum who have been adversely affected in the past)!
He has made a fool of himself, and embarrassed himself.
Politicians have the power to take us to war, and they admit they act without fully understanding the information at hand. &shake&
One thing that intrigues me about this whole affair is that in the fallout of Mr Bebb's 'revelations' in Parliament a number of people claiming to have been wronged by Oscar took to social media sites (ironically hiding behind pseudonyms a la Oscar) and started a witch hunt.
Even though this was after the author had stepped forward and claimed full responsibility, they not only named the two innocent men (thus committing libel) but also made promises of more names to follow. It seems that in their rush to claim their pound of flesh, and no doubt monetary compensation, they failed to realise they were acting exactly like Oscar and were using similar tactics but arguably committing a bigger crime as their targets were of a higher profile and therefore would have more to lose by being libelled.
Whilst some of these people suddenly fell silent a week or so ago, possibly acting on the advice of their solicitors whilst preparing their cases against Oscar, it would be very interesting if they were now sued themselves by either of the wronged men thus negating any victory they may possibly have over Oscar.
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Mr Bebb admitted in Parliament he didn’t fully understand the evidence he had been presented with,
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llandudno-solicitor-calls-aberconwy-mp-7827943)
.... and he acted on it, for his own PERSONAL reasons. Because it affected HIM, never mind his constituents (and members of this very forum who have been adversely affected in the past)!
He has made a fool of himself, and embarrassed himself.
Politicians have the power to take us to war, and they admit they act without fully understanding the information at hand. &shake&
One thing that intrigues me about this whole affair is that in the fallout of Mr Bebb's 'revelations' in Parliament a number of people claiming to have been wronged by Oscar took to social media sites (ironically hiding behind pseudonyms a la Oscar) and started a witch hunt.
Even though this was after the author had stepped forward and claimed full responsibility, they not only named the two innocent men (thus committing libel) but also made promises of more names to follow. It seems that in their rush to claim their pound of flesh, and no doubt monetary compensation, they failed to realise they were acting exactly like Oscar and were using similar tactics but arguably committing a bigger crime as their targets were of a higher profile and therefore would have more to lose by being libelled.
Whilst some of these people suddenly fell silent a week or so ago, possibly acting on the advice of their solicitors whilst preparing their cases against Oscar, it would be very interesting if they were now sued themselves by either of the wronged men thus negating any victory they may possibly have over Oscar.
A very astute analysis, SDQ. I wonder if the shadowy figures involved realise that the full spotlight of publicity will be shone upon them should they take any legal action themselves?
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Whilst I somewhat agree with what has been said, do we not all shield behind a nom de plume on this very Forum?
Some of us may well be known by some others, but generally we do not have a clue about the majority of the registered Members! Or will someone tell me I am incorrect?
ZXZ
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I'm glad to see my MP is fully devoting his time to Constituency matters and not personal obsessions. Oh wait...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/11157561/Labours-Palestinian-vote-damages-Britain.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ed-miliband/11157561/Labours-Palestinian-vote-damages-Britain.html)
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... and to think they have just voted themselves a £9,000 pay rise for unnecessary drivel like that, when the nurses and midwives cannot be spared a penny!
I makes me sick. :puke2: :puke2: :puke2:
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... and to think they have just voted themselves a £9,000 pay rise for unnecessary drivel like that, when the nurses and midwives cannot be spared a penny!
I makes me sick. :puke2: :puke2: :puke2:
Pity he's not interested in Aberconwy.
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I Don't think Plebb has much chance in the elections next year, should he stand again.
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I Don't think Plebb has much chance in the elections next year, should he stand again.
I don't think anyone named Plebb will be standing. WWW
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Daily Post WEB BLOG: This quote from Parliament has been brought to our attention today.
Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) (Con): "On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. On 9 September, I secured an Adjournment debate entitled “North Wales Police and Anonymous Blog Site”.
"During the debate, I highlighted information presented to me by a private investigator who identified a Mr Nigel Roberts and a Mr Dylan Moore as being involved with the site. Mr Roberts subsequently admitted his involvement, but Mr Moore strongly denied it.
"Following a long meeting with Mr Moore, I formed a view that the conclusion raised by the private investigator with respect to Mr Moore was incorrect. While Mr Moore accepted that I acted in good faith, it is important to me to correct the record. I am grateful for the opportunity to do so."
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MP Guto Bebb formally retracts Thoughts of Oscar blog allegations
Aberconwy MP Guto Bebb has formally retracted his suggestion that the business partner of Clwyd West MP David Jones was linked to a “vicious and nasty local blog”.
Last month the Conservative MP used House of Commons privilege to describe how a private investigator told him he was confident that Llandudno solicitor Dylan Moore was involved in the now-defunct blog Thoughts of Oscar.
But on September 19, Mr Bebb described the information as “erroneous” and apologised “unreservedly” to Mr Moore. Mr Moore had denied any involvement in the blog, adding that he did “not tweet, text or use a mobile phone.”
Conservative MP and former Welsh Secretary David Jones also denied any involvement in the “authorship of the blog.”
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mp-guto-bebb-formally-retracts-7952224 (http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mp-guto-bebb-formally-retracts-7952224)
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G Bebb spoke in favour of the TTIP this afternoon in Parliament. If you've not encountered this before, it's the treaty that will make trade much more unrestricted between ourselves and the US. The final result of this treaty could be bad or good, but the main provision to which most object is ISDS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investor-state_dispute_settlement), an instrument which would allow major corporations to sue the UK Government in secret.
Geraint Davis MP (Swansea) gained the debate to discuss those concerns. Mr Bebb, however, has immense faith in the US. He stated: "On employee rights, I met representatives of the American trade union movement, which sees TTIP as a great opportunity to ensure that the rights we have in Europe are replicated in the US.".
Peter Lilley (Con Hitchin and Harpenden) spoke eloquently: "All these problems are comparatively easy when we are just dealing with the abolition of tariffs. When we are handing to international bureaucracies and legal tribunals wide areas of regulation, investment rules and procurement, the problems may be greater. My other concern about bureaucracies is that they may be unduly influenced by corporate lobbying."
Guto Bebb, however, was unmoved and clearly views those concerned about the effects of the TTIP as, at least, irrational. He stated: "This is another example of how elements in British society are trying to close down debate. [] This is not about trade and not about the health service, but about a latent anti-western, anti-US agenda."
Thus those who object to TTIP being blithely pushed through are Left Wing, anti-US and anti-Free trade.
Full text of everything said is here (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/396/).
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Guto Bebb has sent an interesting email. It's worth reading, if only for the decidedly anti-media tone and the Trump-like sentiments he appears to be expressing:
Further to my message yesterday I am now in a position to explain further why the behaviour of the Daily Post raises serious questions about the integrity and impartiality of that paper and their reporter.
When we were contacted by Mr. Brennan we did not refuse to provide a comment as was claimed. We did in fact explain the context of the exchange of correspondence with Mr. Thomas but further explained that due to data protection issues and other matters of a sensitive nature we would not make all the emails / facebook messages available. We did however provide Mr. Brennan with a quote which he was free to use taken from the article I had previously written for the North Wales Weekly News which is a sister paper of the Daily Post. Mr. Brennan did not choose to use any of the quotes freely available to him from that article.
There are two issues which arise from this. The first is the undisclosed fact that Mr. Brennan was not once but on two occasions a Plaid Cymru candidate in local and national elections. Nowhere within the Daily Post or on their website is this touched upon. I do wonder whether somebody with such a strong and recent party political affiliation can claim to be impartial. In view of a previous less than well researched and far from impartial story about me which was written by Mr. Brennan I think that it’s fair to ask whether this journalist is using his platform on the Daily Post to attack what he considers to be his political opponents. I think the question is worthy of a response from the Daily Post. I have never, despite a degree of annoyance, complained to the Daily Post that another of their dwindling band of reporters always displays Plaid Cymru posters during elections. It is now worth asking whether a paper, produced by a very small group of journalists, can accommodate such strong political affiliation within its journalistic ranks without it having an adverse impact on the ability of the Daily Post to provide an impartial service to their readers.
Secondly, as a result of the publication of this rather disreputable and less than partial article on their website and on their front page the Daily Post allowed their on-line comment section to reveal that Mr. Thomas is a serving police officer within the North Wales force. I have little doubt that his correspondence with me is in breach of the code of conduct for police officers which asks officers to act with political impartiality at all times. Due to the sensitive nature of any such concern I had not wanted to embarrass a constituent who had behaved badly and rudely despite his decision to try and use the press to attack me. As such I made no mention to Mr. Brennan about Mr. Thomas’ employment in order to avoid him being embarrassed in public. However, as a direct result of the reporting of the Daily Post and the ‘outing’ of Mr. Thomas within their comments section I have had no choice other than to formally write to the Chief Constable on this issue making Mr. Thomas the fourth police officer to have been the subject of correspondence between myself and the Chief Constable since the General Election.
My respect and admiration towards the vast majority of police officers is absolute. Any concerns I have had as the local MP have always been discussed privately with North Wales Police through the appropriate channels. It’s a real shame that in order to follow what I regard as a political vendetta rather than any real interest in reporting a news story Mr. Brennan has caused distress to many – not least Mr. Thomas. I think people here in Aberconwy need to give careful consideration as to whether they can take the Daily Post seriously when they allow a politically committed individual to claim the cloak of journalistic impartiality.
I've highlighted the sections where Guto Bebb makes comments towards the DP and the aside where he refers to
"another of their dwindling band of reporters" displaying a PC poster.
Aside from Mr Bebb's curious use of the Royal 'we' whatever we feel about the DP (there's little doubt in my mind that the overall quality of their editing has deteriorated somewhat in past years) I believe the real point is whether Guto Bebb is merely jumping aboard the Trump Bandwagon. Denigrating a free press sets extremely dangerous precedents, and especially so when done by those in power. The DP - like all print media - fights a daily battle for survival. Of course we're not going to agree with what it says much of the time, but the press exists to hold power to account. Of course reporters are going to hold political views: that's called democracy and although those views may not be what the incumbents want to hear it's their right to hold such views.
I am no defender of PC, the party founded by his Grandfather and of which Mr Bebb was once chair of the Caernarfon branch, but I'm forced to wonder had the reporter in question declared they were Tory supporters or displayed Tory posters whether Mr Bebb would have complained. The only point - the only point on which it is legitimate to challenge any media reporting is accuracy. It is patently absurd to hint at political bias in a small local paper when a very large chunk of the mainstream press provides significant funding for the Tory party and actively campaigns in favour of the Right. And the results of the last General Election would seem to indicate that what the papers say has little impact on the average voter, despite what the more paranoid of the parties at Westminster might feel.
For a sitting MP to send out an email which is definitely threatening in tone and smacks of bullying, making allegations of political bias and misreporting is a serious matter and seems designed to intimidate. Perhaps Mr Bebb should consider talking directly to people.
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More evidence, should any be needed, of why the vast majority of politicians are not worth their pay.
In fact, any pay really.
Given how well China and Russia seem to be doing these days, I'm starting to wonder why we bother with democracy at all. I'm being serious.