LibDem MPs led the way in voluntarily publishing their expenses, the Conservatives have partially followed, but where are Plaid and the SNP?
One trusts that Alex Salmond, who spends hardly any time in Westminster (media events apart), does not have the gall to claim for a second household in the capital.
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Tuesday, 15 July 2008
The Abraham report - a deliberate leak?
The Ombudsman's report on the government's conduct leading up to and during the collapse of pension provider Equitable Life has been much delayed. It is now scheduled to be issued later this week. However, at least two economic commentators, James Daley of The Independent and the Daily Telegraph's Damian Reece have already seen the contents, which lay the blame on government.
One wonders whether someone in the Ombudsman's office, or in No 10, fearful of yet another postponement of publication, has tried to force Gordon Brown's hand by leaking the report.
Certainly, although the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major created the economic climate in which Equitable made its rash promises to clients, it was Gordon Brown's Treasury which was responsible for regulation of the insurance market in the two years before the collapse, and let its failed customers swing in the wind thereafter. It would be understandable if New Labour attempted to bury this bad news.
One wonders whether someone in the Ombudsman's office, or in No 10, fearful of yet another postponement of publication, has tried to force Gordon Brown's hand by leaking the report.
Certainly, although the Conservatives under Thatcher and Major created the economic climate in which Equitable made its rash promises to clients, it was Gordon Brown's Treasury which was responsible for regulation of the insurance market in the two years before the collapse, and let its failed customers swing in the wind thereafter. It would be understandable if New Labour attempted to bury this bad news.
Monday, 14 July 2008
WISE nearing completion
Not "Women In Science and Engineering" (another estimable institution), but the Wales Institute for Sustainable Education. It has come a long way since it started (illustration here is from 2006) taking shape in the redundant quarry it shares with the Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth. The latest photos are here.
If you want to join me and others in WISE's final push for funds for completion, go to the support page.
Friday, 11 July 2008
Lib Dems hold English district council seat
So what? This has been happening every month for years - except that this time the winner is a famous name in psephological circles.
A leading Liberal Democrat has calculated this as a 2% swing to Steed.
A leading Liberal Democrat has calculated this as a 2% swing to Steed.
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
Post Office closures
Sitting in the public gallery of the council chamber this afternoon, I thought that the scrutiny committee debate on post office closures within the county borough was like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark - or, perhaps, the Scottish play without the Thane of Cawdor, since we are talking villains here.
The Labour councillors could hardly attack their own government, so they laid into Post Office Ltd for the closure programme. The sub-postmasters' representative was unequivocal about where blame lay: the loss of government business. Most of his members couldn't make a living from post office business alone, and some were even subsidising the latter from their savings. The Post Office people, for their part, emphasised that government demanded that the business be not only made viable by the end of the decade, but that it also start showing a return on capital then.
It was clear where the sympathies of at least one of the PO reps lay, as he actually sought good evidence which would justify removing sub post offices from the closure list. Earlier, his colleague had presented a slide-show which stressed Post Office Ltd's flexibility in entertaining various models of service to replace fixed, wholly-owned, buildings with their overhead costs.
Hanging over the discussions was the future of the Post Office Card Account. There will be a replacement in 2010, but Post Office Ltd. is only one of the bodies tendering for the right to sponsor it.
It is hard to see how another organisation can provide both the security and the breadth of outlets which the Post Office does. If this decision goes against them, it is yet more confirmation that Gordon Brown's government is as dominated by Friedmann-Hayek "economic liberalism" as ever Mrs Thatcher was.
The Labour councillors could hardly attack their own government, so they laid into Post Office Ltd for the closure programme. The sub-postmasters' representative was unequivocal about where blame lay: the loss of government business. Most of his members couldn't make a living from post office business alone, and some were even subsidising the latter from their savings. The Post Office people, for their part, emphasised that government demanded that the business be not only made viable by the end of the decade, but that it also start showing a return on capital then.
It was clear where the sympathies of at least one of the PO reps lay, as he actually sought good evidence which would justify removing sub post offices from the closure list. Earlier, his colleague had presented a slide-show which stressed Post Office Ltd's flexibility in entertaining various models of service to replace fixed, wholly-owned, buildings with their overhead costs.
Hanging over the discussions was the future of the Post Office Card Account. There will be a replacement in 2010, but Post Office Ltd. is only one of the bodies tendering for the right to sponsor it.
It is hard to see how another organisation can provide both the security and the breadth of outlets which the Post Office does. If this decision goes against them, it is yet more confirmation that Gordon Brown's government is as dominated by Friedmann-Hayek "economic liberalism" as ever Mrs Thatcher was.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Philip leads Welsh LibDem Euro challenge
The Welsh Liberal Democrat European result was:
1. Alan Butt Philip
2. Kevin O’Connor
3. Nick Tregoning
4. Jackie Radford
Alan Butt Philip therefore stands an excellent chance of getting in to the European Parliament next year. Based on the 2007 Regional Assembly Election, an election that resembles the European Elections in its proportionality, the Welsh Liberal Democrats need only a 2.45% swing from Labour to take the fourth seat. Taking the constituency vote, the swing required drops to less than 1%. If turnout at the 2005 General Election were repeated, the Welsh Liberal Democrats would win the seat comfortably.
Chris Davies and Graham Watson, as English Liberal Democrat MEPs, are already working hard to uncouple the European gravy train. A MEP from Wales should soon be ready to assist their efforts.
More details at the Welsh web-site.
Sorry to see South Wales West's Nick Tregoning and Jackie Radford tailed off.
1. Alan Butt Philip
2. Kevin O’Connor
3. Nick Tregoning
4. Jackie Radford
Alan Butt Philip therefore stands an excellent chance of getting in to the European Parliament next year. Based on the 2007 Regional Assembly Election, an election that resembles the European Elections in its proportionality, the Welsh Liberal Democrats need only a 2.45% swing from Labour to take the fourth seat. Taking the constituency vote, the swing required drops to less than 1%. If turnout at the 2005 General Election were repeated, the Welsh Liberal Democrats would win the seat comfortably.
Chris Davies and Graham Watson, as English Liberal Democrat MEPs, are already working hard to uncouple the European gravy train. A MEP from Wales should soon be ready to assist their efforts.
More details at the Welsh web-site.
Sorry to see South Wales West's Nick Tregoning and Jackie Radford tailed off.
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Euro list - last chance to vote
- if you still have a Saturday mail collection. Votes for the Welsh LibDem European election list have to be in Cardiff by noon next Monday, 7th July.
As the Labour vote collapses, and has little prospect of recovering by the time of the Euro elections, there never was a better chance to have a Liberal Democrat MEP in Wales, so our choice is important.
The two candidates who bothered to send me an email advancing their case are my top two preferences. I'm sorry to see Peter Price having retired from the fray after so many years carrying our flag, but whoever takes over at the head of the list has many years campaigning experience behind him or her.
As the Labour vote collapses, and has little prospect of recovering by the time of the Euro elections, there never was a better chance to have a Liberal Democrat MEP in Wales, so our choice is important.
The two candidates who bothered to send me an email advancing their case are my top two preferences. I'm sorry to see Peter Price having retired from the fray after so many years carrying our flag, but whoever takes over at the head of the list has many years campaigning experience behind him or her.
Friday, 4 July 2008
Let's not forget Jim Griffiths
60 years after the founding of the National Health Service, Aneurin Bevan is quite rightly receiving his due as the man who pushed the scheme through, using his powers of persuasion and (as he later admitted) downright bribery.
Lloyd George is recognised as having started the state welfare ball rolling in the UK with his "People's Budget" of 1909. Beveridge, whose 1942 report gave the vital kick* to the five giant programmes, including health, which formed the core of the post-war government's programme.
However, it was JH Griffiths from Betws who forced a vote in the House of Commons on the Beveridge Report in 1942, against the coalition government, who wanted to kick it into touch. (Ironically, it was Herbert Morrison, the most vigorous advocate of Beveridge within the cabinet, who was deputed to put, successfully, the government case.) As we now know, the Attlee government of 1945 was to reverse that decision.
As Minister for National Insurance in that government, Griffiths introduced the 1946 Industrial Injuries Act, which effectively nationalised routine compensation, taking it away from the employers and the private insurers.
Jim (short for "Jeremiah") Griffiths secured a more lasting place in history under a later Labour PM as the first Secretary of State for Wales, but his part in the setting up of the Welfare State should not be forgotten.
*The words of Nicholas Timmins, from his book "The five giants - A Biography of the Welfare State"
Lloyd George is recognised as having started the state welfare ball rolling in the UK with his "People's Budget" of 1909. Beveridge, whose 1942 report gave the vital kick* to the five giant programmes, including health, which formed the core of the post-war government's programme.
However, it was JH Griffiths from Betws who forced a vote in the House of Commons on the Beveridge Report in 1942, against the coalition government, who wanted to kick it into touch. (Ironically, it was Herbert Morrison, the most vigorous advocate of Beveridge within the cabinet, who was deputed to put, successfully, the government case.) As we now know, the Attlee government of 1945 was to reverse that decision.
As Minister for National Insurance in that government, Griffiths introduced the 1946 Industrial Injuries Act, which effectively nationalised routine compensation, taking it away from the employers and the private insurers.
Jim (short for "Jeremiah") Griffiths secured a more lasting place in history under a later Labour PM as the first Secretary of State for Wales, but his part in the setting up of the Welfare State should not be forgotten.
*The words of Nicholas Timmins, from his book "The five giants - A Biography of the Welfare State"
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