The Welsh Assembly

[Ian]

I did, Dave.  I've always voted, because ,despite its imperfections, democracy of any kind is too important not to exercise.

[brumbob]

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has launched its campaign for May's assembly election with a promise to get rid of AMs and make MPs do their work.
UKIP would also ban future onshore wind farms and dismantle existing ones, promoting in its place the use of nuclear energy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-12880541

[DaveR]

Somewhat ironic that UKIP is fighting for the ability of the UK to manage its own affairs whilst seeking to deny the people of Wales the same right....

[BillChapman]

Aberconwy Labour Party has launched a petition on the petitions website change.org. Its members are concerned that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is to open a new regional centre in central Cardiff, while employees in North Wales being expected to transfer to Liverpool.

The petition asks HMRC and the Westminster Government to reconsider their plans for Wales, requesting a regional centre to be retained in the North to meet the needs of local people. Speaking at a meeting of supporters on Saturday, Mike Priestley, Welsh Labour’s Assembly candidate for Aberconwy said, “Sometimes people in London and in Cardiff forget the needs of people in North Wales. I will fight to make sure that the north of Wales is not forgotten".

[rhuddlan]

I support this action 100%.Well done!
In case others can't find the petition here is the link ...
https://www.change.org/p/her-majesty-revenue-and-customs-h-m-government-westminster-keep-hmrc-jobs-in-north-wales

[SteveH]

The Welsh Government has spent over £100,000 on a system to manage its Twitter accounts

A political source told us: “I was browsing the Cabinet Office’s online procurement portal and was alarmed to discover that, since 2013, the Welsh Government has been paying an annual fee of £34,560 for a Twitter Management Platform called Hootsuite, based in the US.

“To date, this cost amounts to a staggering £103,680 – enough to put two people through medical school. Surely this is a frivolity too far?
“The Welsh Government are supposed to be stewards of public money, but how can they justify paying such extortionate rates for what can just as easily be achieved for free?”
A Welsh Government spokesman responded: “We make no apology for wanting to engage with the people of Wales in as wide a variety of ways as possible.
“Social media is increasingly important for us in communicating with the public, stakeholders and the media.

“This contract provides security and resilience for all of our social media channels and so we would dispute that it is ‘frivolous’ to purchase a reliable and reputable service from a company that has been through the Official Journal of the European Union procurement process.”
MORE    http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-government-spent-over-100000-11110348

[Merddin Emrys]

What a total waste of money! Surely they had some staff who already understood Twitter to put messages on Twitter? 

[SteveH]

New 'growth deal' for north Wales is gaining momentum

Welsh secretary Alun Cairns and Welsh office minister Guto Bebb meet north Wales regional leaders on Wednesday
The day after news broke of the Tata steel sale, new Welsh secretary Alun Cairns was not in Port Talbot or Mumbai.
Instead, he was chairing a meeting in Wrexham's Glyndwr University about a potential growth deal for north Wales.
The secretary of state's choice of priorities was an indication of how serious he is about the plan.
But did the meeting - attended by 18 English and Welsh council leaders and business representatives - actually decide anything?
A Wales Office spokesman said: "The discussion made clear that any growth deal needs to be about more than transport infrastructure or a 'wish list' - it must involve genuine devolution of powers.
"What was achieved was a commitment from local partners to work together and to make the bid cross-border."
Yet according to one person at the meeting, this new cross-border partnership potentially creates a huge "governance challenge" for both Westminster and Cardiff.
He said: "We have our cross-border links with England, which are very real, and then we have the link with the northern powerhouse and then obviously there is the role of the Welsh Government.
"But how will it all work - and will Cardiff ignore north Wales like they have for the past five years?"
MORE CONT.    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35936927


Sort of linked to the above     What does the Tata steel crisis really mean to North Wales?
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/what-tata-steel-crisis-really-11127013

[SteveH]

The future running of the A55 is in the hands of a North Wales’ politician after a cabinet shake-up today saw major changes.
After a dramatic fortnight in Cardiff Bay First Minister Carwyn Jones finally named his new super cabinet this afternoon, in a reorganisation filled with promotions.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates was promoted to economy and infrastructure secretary during the reshuffle which saw the creation of both a welsh language and children’s minister.
He will now be in charge of spending decisions for the A55 , North Wales trains, and businesses, alongside a range of other issues.
More    http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/future-a55-now-hands-north-11359311