I shouldn't be surprised but it is a shame that Ed Miliband missed a chance to use his first public speech as Labour leader to show he understands Wales. He called on Labour to show it understands the economy and to stand by devolution but he ignored the elephant in the parlour of Welsh life – fair funding for Wales.
Wales loses out by more than £300m per year but Ed Miliband still thinks that the formula “serves us well”. Understanding the economy? Not ours!
More surprising still, there was no mention at all of the referendum on law-making powers, the major event of the next year in Wales and one that will – win or loose - shape our nation over the next thirty years. During the tedious months of Labour’s leadership contest, Carwyn Jones and his band of followers do not seem to have made any impact at all on their new boss.
It is good to see that Li’l Ed is now a convert to Plaid policies on the Iraq war, reform the House of Lords, a living wage and the putting people and communities at the centre of economic planning. Has somebody given him one of Ieuan’s speeches from 2005?
I only wish they had. Miliband needs to understand the country next door and he’s shown he knows virtually nothing and cares even less. While so many decisions that affect our life here are made in London his ignorance may be very dangerous to us.
Wednesday 29 September 2010
Wednesday 22 September 2010
Dau fedd fu ei ddiwedd e: y LibDems a thorri budd-daliadau yng Nghymru
Yr wythnos diwethaf bues i’n trafod y ffaith fod Llafur yn defnyddio ffigurau camarweiniol ar gyfer swyddi cyhoeddus dan fygythiad - 50,000 yn ol Llafur tra bod yr amcangyfrif as sail ffigurau’r Trysorlys tipyn yn is. Wrth edrych ar ymddygiad gwarthus cyngor Llafur Castell Nedd tuag at ei gweithwyr - bygwth sacio pawb a bwriadu cymryd y mwyfrif yn ol ar delerau gwaeth - mae’n annodd peidio dod i’r casgliad bod Llafur yn bwriadu torri swyddi ychwanegol er mwyn creu cronfa gwario at y dyfodol, ac er mwyn cynyddu drwgdeimlad tuag at y ConDems.
Ond dwi ddim am awgrymu nad oes toriadau dwfn ar y ffordd, nid yn lleiaf toriadau mewn budd-daliadau a pensiynnau a chefnogaeth i bobl ar incwm isel.
Gyda’i gilydd mae’r gwariant yna yn cyfri am oddeutu 40% o’r arian cyhoeddus sy’n dod i Gymru. Dyma arian sydd dan fygythiad gwirioneddol ar ol datganiad y Canghellor ei fod am weld gostyngiad o £15bn mewn cyllid lles dechre’r mis. Gan fod gwariant ar raglenni lles yng Nghymru 115% yn uwch na’r cyfartaledd, byddwn yn wynebu toriadau o oddeutu £830 million y flwyddyn. Mae’r arian yma ar hyn o bryd yn cael ei wario yn yr economi leol – does gan pobl dlawd fawr o obaith o gynilo. Ac fe’i collir i’r union economi honnno pe gweitheredir y toriadau.
Yn ysgrifennu yn y Times Dydd Gwener, hawliodd Nick Clegg y byddai’r toriadau yn rhai ‘teg’. Ond yr hyn nad yw e’n ei ddeall - neu nad yw am ddeall - yw bod gofal cymdeithasol eisioes mewn argyfwng. O dan Llafur roeddwn eisioes yn gweithio gyda phobl a oedd yn wynebu colli budd-daliadau yr oeddent eu hangen, ac wedi eu derbyn ers blynyddoedd. Roedd Llafur yn newid y meini prawf ar gyfer hawlio cefnogaeth – symyd y pyst hanner ffordd drwy’r gem mewn geiriau eraill. Budd-daliadau ydy rhain sy’n help at gadw car pan na fedr rhywun anabl ddal bws, neu fel arall arian sy’n sicrhau cymorth gyda gwaith tŷ a galluogi pobl hŷn neu phobl â salwch tymor hir i aros yn eu cartrefi.
Yn ôl Clegg, mae cymdeithas teg yn un “lle mae pobl yn gallu creu bywyd gwell i’w hunain gyda chefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth a’r gymuned ehangach”.
Heb gar? Heb gymorth i aros yn eu cartrefi?
Neithiwr apeliodd Clegg ar ei blaid i balu ‘mlaen ‘er lles y wlad’ (Prydain, cyn bo' chi'n gofyn) ac ar eu lles hwy eu hunain. Mae bellach hefyd yn datgan y byddai’n ystyried clymbleidio gyda Llafur y tro nesa. Jiw, jiw, wel dyna ni. Doedd fawr o wahaniaeth rhwng agwedd y Toris a Llafur at les ta pun…
Mae gan Moi Pari englyn sydd wedi bod yn mynd trwy fy mhen trwy’r dydd.
Falle dylwn ei ddanfon at Mr Clegg..?
Beddargraff Consuriwr
Mor slic y bu’r tric pob tro, – rhoi ei hun
Mewn bocs pren i’w lifio,
Ond unwaith, method weithio;
Dau fedd fu ei ddiwedd o!
Mae Moi’n gwerthu ’Pentwr o 100 o englynion Moi’ - £3 (neu fwy) yr elw at Blaid Cymru – copiau gan yr awdur 01352 713603 – Bargen – peth prin iawn yng Nghymru Clegg Cameron a Hain
Ond dwi ddim am awgrymu nad oes toriadau dwfn ar y ffordd, nid yn lleiaf toriadau mewn budd-daliadau a pensiynnau a chefnogaeth i bobl ar incwm isel.
Gyda’i gilydd mae’r gwariant yna yn cyfri am oddeutu 40% o’r arian cyhoeddus sy’n dod i Gymru. Dyma arian sydd dan fygythiad gwirioneddol ar ol datganiad y Canghellor ei fod am weld gostyngiad o £15bn mewn cyllid lles dechre’r mis. Gan fod gwariant ar raglenni lles yng Nghymru 115% yn uwch na’r cyfartaledd, byddwn yn wynebu toriadau o oddeutu £830 million y flwyddyn. Mae’r arian yma ar hyn o bryd yn cael ei wario yn yr economi leol – does gan pobl dlawd fawr o obaith o gynilo. Ac fe’i collir i’r union economi honnno pe gweitheredir y toriadau.
Yn ysgrifennu yn y Times Dydd Gwener, hawliodd Nick Clegg y byddai’r toriadau yn rhai ‘teg’. Ond yr hyn nad yw e’n ei ddeall - neu nad yw am ddeall - yw bod gofal cymdeithasol eisioes mewn argyfwng. O dan Llafur roeddwn eisioes yn gweithio gyda phobl a oedd yn wynebu colli budd-daliadau yr oeddent eu hangen, ac wedi eu derbyn ers blynyddoedd. Roedd Llafur yn newid y meini prawf ar gyfer hawlio cefnogaeth – symyd y pyst hanner ffordd drwy’r gem mewn geiriau eraill. Budd-daliadau ydy rhain sy’n help at gadw car pan na fedr rhywun anabl ddal bws, neu fel arall arian sy’n sicrhau cymorth gyda gwaith tŷ a galluogi pobl hŷn neu phobl â salwch tymor hir i aros yn eu cartrefi.
Yn ôl Clegg, mae cymdeithas teg yn un “lle mae pobl yn gallu creu bywyd gwell i’w hunain gyda chefnogaeth gan Lywodraeth a’r gymuned ehangach”.
Heb gar? Heb gymorth i aros yn eu cartrefi?
Neithiwr apeliodd Clegg ar ei blaid i balu ‘mlaen ‘er lles y wlad’ (Prydain, cyn bo' chi'n gofyn) ac ar eu lles hwy eu hunain. Mae bellach hefyd yn datgan y byddai’n ystyried clymbleidio gyda Llafur y tro nesa. Jiw, jiw, wel dyna ni. Doedd fawr o wahaniaeth rhwng agwedd y Toris a Llafur at les ta pun…
Mae gan Moi Pari englyn sydd wedi bod yn mynd trwy fy mhen trwy’r dydd.
Falle dylwn ei ddanfon at Mr Clegg..?
Beddargraff Consuriwr
Mor slic y bu’r tric pob tro, – rhoi ei hun
Mewn bocs pren i’w lifio,
Ond unwaith, method weithio;
Dau fedd fu ei ddiwedd o!
Mae Moi’n gwerthu ’Pentwr o 100 o englynion Moi’ - £3 (neu fwy) yr elw at Blaid Cymru – copiau gan yr awdur 01352 713603 – Bargen – peth prin iawn yng Nghymru Clegg Cameron a Hain
Thursday 16 September 2010
They made us do it! Labour Job cuts in Neath and Port Talbot
I have to admire Peter Hain. That's not a sentence I plan to use very often of
the orange one but there are times when his acrobatics with the facts are almost poetic. In the weeks before this year's Westminster election, Eurfyl ap Gwilym released an estimate of up to 45,000 Welsh jobs at risk following Labour's intended cuts based on Carwyn Jones’ own projections of cuts under Labour.
Peter Hain dismissed this estimate as "irresponsible scaremongering". He was quite right – but the scaremongering was by his own party - for its own electoral ends. Within a few short weeks of the election, Hain himself was back in the fold, claiming that ConDem cuts could cost 50,000 Welsh jobs.
Where does that figure come from? The scale of cuts to the Welsh block grant will not be known until the Comprehensive Spending Review is published at the end of next month and ConDem benefit cuts will pull individuals into poverty and hit local businesses hard. But in the meantime sensible estimates on cuts and jobs at risk should surely be based on the London Coalition Government’s June budget.
Writing on the IWA blog yesterday, Eurfyl ap Gwilym calculates a cumulative cut of 12.9% in real terms over three years.
In his address to the Cardiff Business Club on 29 March, Carwyn Jones however, implied a cumulative cut of 16.5% over the same period if calculated in real terms.
If we project the both estimates directly onto jobs at risk, then the difference is huge – 45 thousand according to Labour’s estimate as opposed to 24 thousand over the same three years using the Treasury's figures.
Why these differences? Possibly to increase voters’ sense of insecurity, but possibly also to justify additional Labour cuts in Wales.
That brings me to the second point…
Neath and Port Talbot in Hain's own constituency is now the only wholly Labour controlled local authority in Wales. They are also the authority's biggest employer. Wouldn’t it be wonderful then for the people of Neath were their jobs to be protected by the party that appears to put such a premium on them?
But no. Over the summer, the council's entire 7,000 workforce received letters informing them that their jobs were being reviewed, they might be lost or they might have to reapply for them at a different grade or with different conditions.
In June Mr. Hain claimed: "It is clear that the Tories are cutting not because they need to, but because they want to".
Look closer to home Mr. Hain.
At the last election when Labour won votes across Wales, Plaid big hitter, Neath-based Alun Llewellyn closed the gap with Hain by almost 3,000 votes. He will be standing again in May. Those 7,000 council workers and their families whose security is threatened by a greedy and unprincipled council may well want to remind Labour’s cut-happy MP, their councillors and their silent AM that their positions are also being reviewed.
Links:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/16/45-000-public-sector-jobs-under-threat-from-labour-spending-cuts-says-plaid-91466-26254280/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/22/50-000-jobs-on-the-line-as-budget-hits-wales-hardest-91466-26697150/
http://www.clickonwales.org/2010/09/what-we-have-to-spend-over-the-next-four-years/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/22/50-000-jobs-on-the-line-as-budget-hits-wales-hardest-91466-26697150/
the orange one but there are times when his acrobatics with the facts are almost poetic. In the weeks before this year's Westminster election, Eurfyl ap Gwilym released an estimate of up to 45,000 Welsh jobs at risk following Labour's intended cuts based on Carwyn Jones’ own projections of cuts under Labour.
Peter Hain dismissed this estimate as "irresponsible scaremongering". He was quite right – but the scaremongering was by his own party - for its own electoral ends. Within a few short weeks of the election, Hain himself was back in the fold, claiming that ConDem cuts could cost 50,000 Welsh jobs.
Where does that figure come from? The scale of cuts to the Welsh block grant will not be known until the Comprehensive Spending Review is published at the end of next month and ConDem benefit cuts will pull individuals into poverty and hit local businesses hard. But in the meantime sensible estimates on cuts and jobs at risk should surely be based on the London Coalition Government’s June budget.
Writing on the IWA blog yesterday, Eurfyl ap Gwilym calculates a cumulative cut of 12.9% in real terms over three years.
In his address to the Cardiff Business Club on 29 March, Carwyn Jones however, implied a cumulative cut of 16.5% over the same period if calculated in real terms.
If we project the both estimates directly onto jobs at risk, then the difference is huge – 45 thousand according to Labour’s estimate as opposed to 24 thousand over the same three years using the Treasury's figures.
Why these differences? Possibly to increase voters’ sense of insecurity, but possibly also to justify additional Labour cuts in Wales.
That brings me to the second point…
Neath and Port Talbot in Hain's own constituency is now the only wholly Labour controlled local authority in Wales. They are also the authority's biggest employer. Wouldn’t it be wonderful then for the people of Neath were their jobs to be protected by the party that appears to put such a premium on them?
But no. Over the summer, the council's entire 7,000 workforce received letters informing them that their jobs were being reviewed, they might be lost or they might have to reapply for them at a different grade or with different conditions.
In June Mr. Hain claimed: "It is clear that the Tories are cutting not because they need to, but because they want to".
Look closer to home Mr. Hain.
At the last election when Labour won votes across Wales, Plaid big hitter, Neath-based Alun Llewellyn closed the gap with Hain by almost 3,000 votes. He will be standing again in May. Those 7,000 council workers and their families whose security is threatened by a greedy and unprincipled council may well want to remind Labour’s cut-happy MP, their councillors and their silent AM that their positions are also being reviewed.
Links:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/04/16/45-000-public-sector-jobs-under-threat-from-labour-spending-cuts-says-plaid-91466-26254280/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/22/50-000-jobs-on-the-line-as-budget-hits-wales-hardest-91466-26697150/
http://www.clickonwales.org/2010/09/what-we-have-to-spend-over-the-next-four-years/
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/06/22/50-000-jobs-on-the-line-as-budget-hits-wales-hardest-91466-26697150/
Monday 6 September 2010
A’r gwynt i’r drws pob bore: thinking about sustainability
Two years ago at Plaid’s National Conference I introduced a motion calling for a town centres strategy to promote local business, local procurement and food production. Much of the argument, which became part of our Westminster manifesto was based on a document entitled Ghost Town Britain on http://www.neweconomics.org/publications/ghost-town-britain-ii-death-high-street.
Last week some friends reminded me that I haven’t said anything about climate change for some time. I spent yesterday evening reading through the Energy Descent Action Plan produced by Totnes Transition Town group. It’s available on: http://totnesedap.org.uk/ and makes some very important points about the need to a resilient (largely self-sufficient) local economy. The authors point out that money arriving in the area leaves it without creating any benefit locally – in paying energy bills, shopping in supermarkets and online and advocate localisation … Sounds familiar?
But it is frustrating to see how few and far between sustainable practices are. Food co-operatives in Wales such as in Cardigan have great potential as does the allotment movement and the community-owned wind turbines at Gigha and at Findhorn in Scotland. But I wonder if the focus on localism isn’t self-defeating when it clouds the need for national action.
Without a doubt Wales can produce more electricity than we need from renewable sources. So why aren’t we? And why aren’t we making sure this potential stays in Wales?
The first phase of the Gwynt y Mor off-shore wind farm off the North coast will produce just under 10% of our national electricity need. This is projected to rise to producing around half our national need in phase 3. While I do have concerns about the scale, it is mostly hidden from view, which is more than can be said for most dry-land developments.
The Syniadau blog has discussed the 30% equity stake the Munich Municipal Utility holds in Gwynt y Mor. See: http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2010/06/stadtwerke-munchen.html
Munich has long invested in alternative technologies, we haven’t.
Such investment in energy production by our County Councils is not currently possible, but it is a very interesting model to consider. It also raises important issues around the financing and ownership of sustainable energy production.
Faced with a crisis of the magnitude of global warming, we must find ways of allowing communities - large and small - to borrow so that they can be really resilient in terms of food and energy production. Much of the sea bed also remains in the hands of the Crown Estate. Both those discussions need to happen on a National Welsh level and in case of the Crown Estate, in the UK Parliament too.
The Offshore Valuation Group suggests setting up a super-grid for electricity in Europe through which we could sell energy to areas which do not have our advantages in terms of wind and sea. For a copy go to: http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/9/30/2122775//offshore_valuation_full.pdf.
Not only can sustainable technology help us meet – and pass - our 40% CO2 reduction target, but here is an incredibly valuable resource that we can use to keep Welsh people in work and raise our standard of living.
Plaid has long called for a Green Investment Bank to develop long-term jobs and expertise. I’m sceptical about what we’ll see in the UK Energy Bill but I do hope to see discussions about alternative financial models to promote sustainability in the next few months.
Diwedd y gan yw'r geiniog? As always it does come down to money, but this could be the start of something very big
Last week some friends reminded me that I haven’t said anything about climate change for some time. I spent yesterday evening reading through the Energy Descent Action Plan produced by Totnes Transition Town group. It’s available on: http://totnesedap.org.uk/ and makes some very important points about the need to a resilient (largely self-sufficient) local economy. The authors point out that money arriving in the area leaves it without creating any benefit locally – in paying energy bills, shopping in supermarkets and online and advocate localisation … Sounds familiar?
But it is frustrating to see how few and far between sustainable practices are. Food co-operatives in Wales such as in Cardigan have great potential as does the allotment movement and the community-owned wind turbines at Gigha and at Findhorn in Scotland. But I wonder if the focus on localism isn’t self-defeating when it clouds the need for national action.
Without a doubt Wales can produce more electricity than we need from renewable sources. So why aren’t we? And why aren’t we making sure this potential stays in Wales?
The first phase of the Gwynt y Mor off-shore wind farm off the North coast will produce just under 10% of our national electricity need. This is projected to rise to producing around half our national need in phase 3. While I do have concerns about the scale, it is mostly hidden from view, which is more than can be said for most dry-land developments.
The Syniadau blog has discussed the 30% equity stake the Munich Municipal Utility holds in Gwynt y Mor. See: http://syniadau--buildinganindependentwales.blogspot.com/2010/06/stadtwerke-munchen.html
Munich has long invested in alternative technologies, we haven’t.
Such investment in energy production by our County Councils is not currently possible, but it is a very interesting model to consider. It also raises important issues around the financing and ownership of sustainable energy production.
Faced with a crisis of the magnitude of global warming, we must find ways of allowing communities - large and small - to borrow so that they can be really resilient in terms of food and energy production. Much of the sea bed also remains in the hands of the Crown Estate. Both those discussions need to happen on a National Welsh level and in case of the Crown Estate, in the UK Parliament too.
The Offshore Valuation Group suggests setting up a super-grid for electricity in Europe through which we could sell energy to areas which do not have our advantages in terms of wind and sea. For a copy go to: http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/9/30/2122775//offshore_valuation_full.pdf.
Not only can sustainable technology help us meet – and pass - our 40% CO2 reduction target, but here is an incredibly valuable resource that we can use to keep Welsh people in work and raise our standard of living.
Plaid has long called for a Green Investment Bank to develop long-term jobs and expertise. I’m sceptical about what we’ll see in the UK Energy Bill but I do hope to see discussions about alternative financial models to promote sustainability in the next few months.
Diwedd y gan yw'r geiniog? As always it does come down to money, but this could be the start of something very big
Tuesday 31 August 2010
Y bwlch: ystyried cyfleuon y Blaid dros y naw mis nesaf
Dim ond pythefnos yn ôl 'roeddwn yn blogio am broblemau trychinebus y Rhyddfrydwyr a hwythau wedi toddi i fewn i glymblaid gyda'r Toriaid yn Llundain. Soniais a hefyd am ystrywiau Llafur yn chwarae bod yn wrthblaid. (Fe gofiwch i Lafur wrthod cefnogi cynnig seneddol Plaid Cymru i ddileu penderfyniad cywilyddus y ConDems i godi Treth ar Werth).
Roedd y Rhyddfrydwyr yn amlwg yn dioddef yn etholiadol - o bôl piniwn ICM. A dyma ni bellach yn cael cadarnhad ym mhôl Cymru gyfan gan ITV.
Mae'r pôl yma yn holi yn benodol am fwriadau pleidleisio pobl Cymru yn etholiad y Cynulliad y flwyddyn nesaf.
O ran y bleidlais rhestr, mae'n cadarnhau yr hyn roeddwn yn ei ddweud gyda'r Rhyddfrydwyr bellach lawr at hanner lefel eu cefnogaeth ym mis Mai (20% i 10%). Felly mae'n bosibl y bydd yr etholiad nesaf yn rhoi'r ergyd farwol gwbl haediannol iddynt, ac y gwelwn ddiflaniad y giwed diwerth yma fel nerth gwleidyddol cenedlaethol. Dyna fyddai'r ateb gorau i frolio gwag Kirsty Williams ei bod am ennill 31 sedd yn yr etholiad nesaf.
Yn ail, mae chwarae bod yn wrthblaid yn Llundain wedi rhoi hwb dros dro i bleidlais Llafur yng Nghymru. Y nhw cofiwch yw rhieni bedydd y glymblaid ConDem gan iddynt wrthod trafod clymblaid flaengar gyda'r Blaid a'r SNP. Annodd darogan a fydd y fantais yma yn parhau wrth i’r ras arweinyddol droi Llafur fwy-fwy o gwmpas gwrthod neu dderbyn gwaddol Blair (gweler y ddolen isod). Ond y mae'n annodd gen i weld Llafur dan yr un o'r Millbands yn wrthblaid effeithiol, a phrin y byddent yn sefyll dros fuddiannau Cymru a map Lloegr gyfforddus mor las …
'Un pol na wna etholiad ' fel mae nhw’n dweud! Yr hyn sydd yn ddiddorol am bôl ITV felly yw fod y gefnogaeth i Lafur a'r Rhyddfrydwyr fel eu gilydd ar y ffordd i lawr ers y mis diwethaf. Yn yr un modd mae pleidlais Plaid Cymru ar y rhestrau ac yn yr etholaethau fel ei gilydd wedi cynyddu i lefel uwch na chafwyd yn etholiad 2007 - ac mae ein pleidlais ni ar y blaen i'r Toriaid.
Momentwn yw popeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth a chyda gwrthwynebiad i bwerau pellach i'r Cynylliad yn meddalu a phosibiliad da o ennill y refferendwm ar bwerau pellach ym mis Mawrth,rydym fel Plaid mewn sefyllfa ffafriol iawn.
Nid dyma'r lle i sôn am brosesau dewis mewnol y Blaid. Ond rhad i mi ddweud fod gennym griw arbennig o dalentog o ddarpar ymgeiswyr ac mae'r cysylltiad agos tu hwnt sydd yn datblygu rhwng ymgeiswyr ac ymgyrchwyr y Blaid wedi creu potensial rhyfeddol o addawol prin naw mis o’r etholiad.
Dros yr wythnosau nesaf, bydd yr hystingiau ar gyfer rhestrau'r Cynulliad yn gyfle gwych i ymgeisyddion ac aelodau gydio yn y cyfle sydd o'n blaenau ni i sefyll dros fuddiannau Cymru nawr a dechre’r gwaith o adeiladu Cymru tecach a mwy ffyniannus yn y dyfodol. Byddwn yn ethol y grwp cryfaf, mwyaf talentog a mwyaf penderfynnol i Blaid Cymru ddanfon i'n Senedd ni erioed.
Amdani!
Roedd y Rhyddfrydwyr yn amlwg yn dioddef yn etholiadol - o bôl piniwn ICM. A dyma ni bellach yn cael cadarnhad ym mhôl Cymru gyfan gan ITV.
Mae'r pôl yma yn holi yn benodol am fwriadau pleidleisio pobl Cymru yn etholiad y Cynulliad y flwyddyn nesaf.
O ran y bleidlais rhestr, mae'n cadarnhau yr hyn roeddwn yn ei ddweud gyda'r Rhyddfrydwyr bellach lawr at hanner lefel eu cefnogaeth ym mis Mai (20% i 10%). Felly mae'n bosibl y bydd yr etholiad nesaf yn rhoi'r ergyd farwol gwbl haediannol iddynt, ac y gwelwn ddiflaniad y giwed diwerth yma fel nerth gwleidyddol cenedlaethol. Dyna fyddai'r ateb gorau i frolio gwag Kirsty Williams ei bod am ennill 31 sedd yn yr etholiad nesaf.
Yn ail, mae chwarae bod yn wrthblaid yn Llundain wedi rhoi hwb dros dro i bleidlais Llafur yng Nghymru. Y nhw cofiwch yw rhieni bedydd y glymblaid ConDem gan iddynt wrthod trafod clymblaid flaengar gyda'r Blaid a'r SNP. Annodd darogan a fydd y fantais yma yn parhau wrth i’r ras arweinyddol droi Llafur fwy-fwy o gwmpas gwrthod neu dderbyn gwaddol Blair (gweler y ddolen isod). Ond y mae'n annodd gen i weld Llafur dan yr un o'r Millbands yn wrthblaid effeithiol, a phrin y byddent yn sefyll dros fuddiannau Cymru a map Lloegr gyfforddus mor las …
'Un pol na wna etholiad ' fel mae nhw’n dweud! Yr hyn sydd yn ddiddorol am bôl ITV felly yw fod y gefnogaeth i Lafur a'r Rhyddfrydwyr fel eu gilydd ar y ffordd i lawr ers y mis diwethaf. Yn yr un modd mae pleidlais Plaid Cymru ar y rhestrau ac yn yr etholaethau fel ei gilydd wedi cynyddu i lefel uwch na chafwyd yn etholiad 2007 - ac mae ein pleidlais ni ar y blaen i'r Toriaid.
Momentwn yw popeth mewn gwleidyddiaeth a chyda gwrthwynebiad i bwerau pellach i'r Cynylliad yn meddalu a phosibiliad da o ennill y refferendwm ar bwerau pellach ym mis Mawrth,rydym fel Plaid mewn sefyllfa ffafriol iawn.
Nid dyma'r lle i sôn am brosesau dewis mewnol y Blaid. Ond rhad i mi ddweud fod gennym griw arbennig o dalentog o ddarpar ymgeiswyr ac mae'r cysylltiad agos tu hwnt sydd yn datblygu rhwng ymgeiswyr ac ymgyrchwyr y Blaid wedi creu potensial rhyfeddol o addawol prin naw mis o’r etholiad.
Dros yr wythnosau nesaf, bydd yr hystingiau ar gyfer rhestrau'r Cynulliad yn gyfle gwych i ymgeisyddion ac aelodau gydio yn y cyfle sydd o'n blaenau ni i sefyll dros fuddiannau Cymru nawr a dechre’r gwaith o adeiladu Cymru tecach a mwy ffyniannus yn y dyfodol. Byddwn yn ethol y grwp cryfaf, mwyaf talentog a mwyaf penderfynnol i Blaid Cymru ddanfon i'n Senedd ni erioed.
Amdani!
Monday 23 August 2010
Spiders and self-haters
It's the spider season again in my house. I've already spotted disturbing shapes scuttling out from behind my skirting boards. And in some parts of the Welsh press quite ordinary aspects of our identity are being prodded to turn out a very different kind of spider.
Last week a friend set me copies of some peculiar letters in the South Wales Echo. The writers were outraged by reports of a protest by Lleucu Meinir about receiving an English-only letter from the police. Ms Meinir had been clamped and had asked for the notice in Welsh. When it was refused she asked for a Welsh version to be sent on to her. When this request was also refused, she sat in her car with her children and paid the fine. I can't imagine a more reasonable and responsible way to protest. But there you go...
Writers to the paper though made the claim, now seldom heard, that Welsh was being 'forced down people's necks'. They also claimed that Welsh people who don't speak Welsh are 'second class citizens'; that Welsh is being 'artificially kept alive'; had 'no use internationally...' etc
These letter writers also suggested that the cash used for bilingualism (in general presumably) should be spent on healthcare which they seemed to think faces huge cutbacks and was not ring-fenced. News to me, but then I only work for the Department of Health...
By now, 40% of parents would choose to send their child to a Welsh Medium School if there was one nearby. So I am not too worried that the effect that these rants might have. We are a bilingual nation and always have been. So much so that the recent Asylum Act stipulates that in order to pass the Citizenship Test people migrants should prove their ability to speak English - or Welsh.
What’s really being argued in these letters is that if we have to save money, services to minorities should automatically be cut. Any defence of the need to promote equal treatment provokes a furious reaction where these letter writers, in a privileged position in terms of service provision suggest that they, in fact, are victims of inequality.
Even seeing the language displayed publicly appears to have outraged a gentleman from Penarth.
What saddens me is that I am sure the writers of those letters are as Welsh as I am. It's just that they hate the very thought!
We will hear more of this self-directed vitriol as we approach the referendum next spring. Just remember, like the spiders, they're more frightened of us than we are of them.
Last week a friend set me copies of some peculiar letters in the South Wales Echo. The writers were outraged by reports of a protest by Lleucu Meinir about receiving an English-only letter from the police. Ms Meinir had been clamped and had asked for the notice in Welsh. When it was refused she asked for a Welsh version to be sent on to her. When this request was also refused, she sat in her car with her children and paid the fine. I can't imagine a more reasonable and responsible way to protest. But there you go...
Writers to the paper though made the claim, now seldom heard, that Welsh was being 'forced down people's necks'. They also claimed that Welsh people who don't speak Welsh are 'second class citizens'; that Welsh is being 'artificially kept alive'; had 'no use internationally...' etc
These letter writers also suggested that the cash used for bilingualism (in general presumably) should be spent on healthcare which they seemed to think faces huge cutbacks and was not ring-fenced. News to me, but then I only work for the Department of Health...
By now, 40% of parents would choose to send their child to a Welsh Medium School if there was one nearby. So I am not too worried that the effect that these rants might have. We are a bilingual nation and always have been. So much so that the recent Asylum Act stipulates that in order to pass the Citizenship Test people migrants should prove their ability to speak English - or Welsh.
What’s really being argued in these letters is that if we have to save money, services to minorities should automatically be cut. Any defence of the need to promote equal treatment provokes a furious reaction where these letter writers, in a privileged position in terms of service provision suggest that they, in fact, are victims of inequality.
Even seeing the language displayed publicly appears to have outraged a gentleman from Penarth.
What saddens me is that I am sure the writers of those letters are as Welsh as I am. It's just that they hate the very thought!
We will hear more of this self-directed vitriol as we approach the referendum next spring. Just remember, like the spiders, they're more frightened of us than we are of them.
Friday 20 August 2010
Gwaddod 100 niwrnod y ConDems
100 diwrnod ar ôl ffurfio'r glymblaid ConDem, mae Blog Menai yn trafod pôl piniwn gan ICM sydd yn dangos cefnogaeth y Torïaid ar yr un lefel â Llafur gyda'r cynnydd sylweddol ym mhleidlais Llafur yn dod bron yn gyfan gwbl o gyn-gefnogwyr y Rhyddfrydwyr. Dyma'r tro cyntaf i Lafur ddod yn gyfartal â'r Toriad ers i Brown orymdeithio ei filwyr i dop y bryn ac yna gwrthod galw etholiad yn Hydref 2007.
Gyda phleidlias graidd sy'n dibynnu ar weithwyr sector cyhoeddus, mae'r Rhyddfrydwyr yng Nghymru yn wynebu etholiad pryd gall eu pleidlais ostwng o dan 10%.
Er gwario ffortiwn mewn seddau fel Gorllewin Abertawe, y mae'n ddigon posib mai dyna fydd diwedd eu hanes yng Nghymru.
Annodd fodd bynnag yw barnu a yw'r pôl hwn yn darogan tueddiad a all effeithio ar ganlyniad Etholiad Cyffredinol Cymru. Yma wrth gwrs, Llafur oedd yn fuddugol noson yr etholiad, a hynny i raddau helaeth am iddyn nhw drwy ddadlau mai dim nhw allai gadw'r Torïaid allan. O fewn dyddiau wrth gwrs Llafur ddewisodd ildio awennau'r llywodraeth i'r Toriaid, yn hytrach na thrafod gyda'r Blaid a'r SNP. Nhw felly agorodd y drysau i doriadau eithafol ac ideolegol y glymbliad a chynlluniau preifateiddio gwasanaethau a fydd yn peryglu miloedd o swyddi Cymreig.
Wrth gwrs mae angen talu'r ddyled yn ôl. Ond pwy all wadu erbyn hyn bod stwffio pocedau cwmniau preifat ag arian cyhoeddus yn arwain at wasanaethau gwaeth, gwaethygu amodau gwaith a thorri swyddi? A all unrhyw un sy'n gwybod maint ein dibynniaeth ar y sector cyhoeddus wadu bydd y toriadau yn ddyfnach a'i heffaith lawer yn fwy dinistriol ar yr economi gyfan yma yng Nghymru?
Y tu ôl y wenau pert a wynebau llyfn y Prif Wenidog a'i ddirprwy, mae'n rhaid bod y canfyddiad bod Llafur wedi dewis bod yn wrthblaid. Wedi dewis peidio ag arbed ein cymunedau rhag gwaethaf y toriadau, a hynny er mwyn ennill budd etholiadol. Mae Llafur yn cael hwyl garw ar chwarae bod yn wrthblaid yn San Steffan. Ond chwarae maen nhw - nid gweithredu...
Cofiwn wrth gwrs i Lafur wrthod cefnogi cynnig Plaid Cymru a'r SNP i wrthod cynyddu TAW, a hynny yn unig am mai cynnig Plaid Cymru oedd e.
Wrth gerdded Cwm Nedd a Chwm Tawe dros yr wythnos diwethaf yn siarad â Phleidwyr, rwy'n gweld agweddau yn caledu a'r dicter at Lafur yn cynyddu fel dwr y tu ôl i argae.
Dyma Lywodraeth sydd am wrthod eu cyfrifoldebau at y gwanaf ohonom a Llafur yw penseiri'r Llywodraeth honno.
Bydd Plaid Cymru yn mynnu atebion yn y senedd gan herio'r glymblaid Brydeinig mewn difrif - nid mewn pantomein. Ar lawr gwlad yn Nghymru ein gorchwyl ni yn y Blaid fydd i gyflwyno gweledigaeth gadarn o Gymru ffyniannus a theg. Cymru fydd yn fwy-fwy gyfrifol dros ei buddiannau ei hun ac a fydd yn llunio ei pholïsiau yn unol â'n traddodiad o sefyll gyda'n gilydd dros bawb.
Ar fenthyg y cafodd Llafur a'r Rhyddfrydwyr ddegau o filoedd o bleidleisiau mis Mai. Un peth dylient ei ddeall - os na delir llog y ddyled, mae'n rhaid talu'r cyfan yn ol!
Yng Ngorllewin Abertawe gwaddod 100 niwrnod y Lib Dems a'r Torïaid yw ofn am swyddi. Yng Nhastell Nedd, dicter at Lafur am daflu'r buddiannau'r gwanaf i'w ddwylo annhyner nhw.
Con Dem? Na, dim ond Con oedd hi.
Gyda phleidlias graidd sy'n dibynnu ar weithwyr sector cyhoeddus, mae'r Rhyddfrydwyr yng Nghymru yn wynebu etholiad pryd gall eu pleidlais ostwng o dan 10%.
Er gwario ffortiwn mewn seddau fel Gorllewin Abertawe, y mae'n ddigon posib mai dyna fydd diwedd eu hanes yng Nghymru.
Annodd fodd bynnag yw barnu a yw'r pôl hwn yn darogan tueddiad a all effeithio ar ganlyniad Etholiad Cyffredinol Cymru. Yma wrth gwrs, Llafur oedd yn fuddugol noson yr etholiad, a hynny i raddau helaeth am iddyn nhw drwy ddadlau mai dim nhw allai gadw'r Torïaid allan. O fewn dyddiau wrth gwrs Llafur ddewisodd ildio awennau'r llywodraeth i'r Toriaid, yn hytrach na thrafod gyda'r Blaid a'r SNP. Nhw felly agorodd y drysau i doriadau eithafol ac ideolegol y glymbliad a chynlluniau preifateiddio gwasanaethau a fydd yn peryglu miloedd o swyddi Cymreig.
Wrth gwrs mae angen talu'r ddyled yn ôl. Ond pwy all wadu erbyn hyn bod stwffio pocedau cwmniau preifat ag arian cyhoeddus yn arwain at wasanaethau gwaeth, gwaethygu amodau gwaith a thorri swyddi? A all unrhyw un sy'n gwybod maint ein dibynniaeth ar y sector cyhoeddus wadu bydd y toriadau yn ddyfnach a'i heffaith lawer yn fwy dinistriol ar yr economi gyfan yma yng Nghymru?
Y tu ôl y wenau pert a wynebau llyfn y Prif Wenidog a'i ddirprwy, mae'n rhaid bod y canfyddiad bod Llafur wedi dewis bod yn wrthblaid. Wedi dewis peidio ag arbed ein cymunedau rhag gwaethaf y toriadau, a hynny er mwyn ennill budd etholiadol. Mae Llafur yn cael hwyl garw ar chwarae bod yn wrthblaid yn San Steffan. Ond chwarae maen nhw - nid gweithredu...
Cofiwn wrth gwrs i Lafur wrthod cefnogi cynnig Plaid Cymru a'r SNP i wrthod cynyddu TAW, a hynny yn unig am mai cynnig Plaid Cymru oedd e.
Wrth gerdded Cwm Nedd a Chwm Tawe dros yr wythnos diwethaf yn siarad â Phleidwyr, rwy'n gweld agweddau yn caledu a'r dicter at Lafur yn cynyddu fel dwr y tu ôl i argae.
Dyma Lywodraeth sydd am wrthod eu cyfrifoldebau at y gwanaf ohonom a Llafur yw penseiri'r Llywodraeth honno.
Bydd Plaid Cymru yn mynnu atebion yn y senedd gan herio'r glymblaid Brydeinig mewn difrif - nid mewn pantomein. Ar lawr gwlad yn Nghymru ein gorchwyl ni yn y Blaid fydd i gyflwyno gweledigaeth gadarn o Gymru ffyniannus a theg. Cymru fydd yn fwy-fwy gyfrifol dros ei buddiannau ei hun ac a fydd yn llunio ei pholïsiau yn unol â'n traddodiad o sefyll gyda'n gilydd dros bawb.
Ar fenthyg y cafodd Llafur a'r Rhyddfrydwyr ddegau o filoedd o bleidleisiau mis Mai. Un peth dylient ei ddeall - os na delir llog y ddyled, mae'n rhaid talu'r cyfan yn ol!
Yng Ngorllewin Abertawe gwaddod 100 niwrnod y Lib Dems a'r Torïaid yw ofn am swyddi. Yng Nhastell Nedd, dicter at Lafur am daflu'r buddiannau'r gwanaf i'w ddwylo annhyner nhw.
Con Dem? Na, dim ond Con oedd hi.
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