What exactly is it that's worth fighting for?

It was a sheer joy to be out in Montgomeryshire today. After attending the Funky Dragon debate at the Red Ridge centre, I drove down to Newtown. It would be pleasant enough traveling through Cefn Coch, Adfa, Tregynon and Bettws Cedewain on any given day, but it was enhanced in the glorious sunshine. However what I did today that I've never done before, is actually drive very slowly and stop at various locations to take in the views.

I realised that whilst driving in other countries I've stopped to enjoy views, that are no more glorious than those on offer in Montgomeryshire. Rolling green hills and forests of vibrant colours all topped by a crystal blue sky. Would any other country in the civilised world tolerate the threat to such bliss? Would any other country consider the spectre of 56m pylons running through its heartland, to spoil the life of such rural beauty? Of course not, and that's why what we have here is worth fighting for, to preserve it for those not even born yet!


nick

A shocking tragedy

I'm in total shock at tonight's news of the dreadful explosion in Marrakesh. The Argana was a lovely place to sit and watch the goings on in Djemaa el-Fna square, it was extremely popular with tourists for that very reason. The picture shows the view of the square from the terrace, somewhere we visited every single day of our week there in January, if not to eat then simply for a mid-morning mint tea. I feel so sad for those who have lost their lives, someone possibly sitting in the same chair as I took the photo from, doing nothing more than what Julie and I were doing 3 short months ago.


nick

nick

I Stand For Children

In this hectic election period, we all get many requests for pledges, most of which I am happy to sign up to. Included in that list is the NSPCC's "I Stand for Children" pledge. I willingly signed up for that pledge, especially as I sit as a member of our local Family Panel. Someone has sent me a flyer requesting I sign the pledge, but unfortunately gave no contact details, so all I can do is re-assure them via my blog that I signed the pledge on the 15th April and received a confirmation email from Rebecca Wasinski of the NSPCC.


nick

If the wind changes, I won't

I'm grateful to the many people who have written to me regarding the proposals of windfarm sites in Montgomeryshire. I think it's important to re-iterate my thoughts on wind power. I attended the site in Abermule a couple of weeks ago and took Joyce Watson with me. We were horrified at the short distance involved when we walked to the proposed 'hub' site.

My immediate thought when I attended my first meeting of those opposed to the proposals in Middletown was that 35% property devaluations would mean negative equity for so many already struggling to get by with the state of our economy, higher VAT, highest fuel prices ever. That thought came thundering back in Abermule.

It's not a new 'line' for me to take, I said it plainly last year on the BBC Wales debate with Betsan Powys in Welshpool, when it certainly wasn't the popular thing to say. Wales has water on three of its sides and if we consider that Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm located on the Burbo Flats at the entrance to the Mersey produces on average enough electricity to supply 80,000 households, then it's the way to go. Offshore wind is more dependable too. It's windier at sea than onshore and most importantly, it devalues no-one's home. It's not a change of heart or a cynical attempt to win votes, it is the exact same opinion I had 12 months ago. It is the exact same opinion I will have in 2, 3 or 5 years time. It will not change to suit political party, vested interests or opinion polls.


nick

Defending the indefensible

As inappropriate as Cameron's remark was, LibDem's across the UK must be at the end of their tether to see Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander defending his Tory master!


nick

Not just a poor decision for Montgomeryshire

I went to Shrewsbury this morning and driving along the A5 is truly hateful. Those people who really are so important that they have to get somewhere so damn fast terrified the life out of me. They baulk at nothing as they get the whole car width across the centre line passing the bothersome traffic holding them back. Their arrogance at causing road users traveling in the opposite direction to hug the nearside line is selfish and dangerous. It is a highway of death.

Moving the A&E facility from Shrewsbury to Telford is a poor decision for the citizens of Montgomeryshire. It is equally as poor for the road users of Shropshire.


nick

The shame of this Government

Despite his young age, Joe Cotton shows more social 'awareness' than Education Secretary Michael Gove and his ConDem pals who can't grasp that scrapping the EMA and trebling university fees will deter young people from staying in education.


nick

Pot and Kettle

Chris Huhne threatening legal action over "untruths" told by Conservatives opposed to the Alternative Vote system is a tad rich. For starters Mr Huhne signed the NUS pledge not to raise tuition fees and was then one of 8 Liberal Democrat MPs to abstain from the vote on Government proposals to increase them. I am also indebted to the SNP for this on the Energy Secretary's U turn regarding nuclear subsidies last December.

During the LibDem leadership contest, Nick Clegg registered a formal complaint about Mr Huhne's conduct to Lord Rennard, the party's Chief Whip and returning officer, stating that his rival was indulging in "the politics of innuendo, mounting false challenges and running a campaign that is handing political ammunition to the party's political opponents".

If anyone undermines their credibility it's Chris Huhne!


nick

Ed Miliband's address to Wales

"The strength of Welsh devolution is a testament to Labour's achievements in office. Never forget that David Cameron tried to stop it from happening. As a Tory party candidate in 1997, he stood on an anti-devolution platform. But Labour is not running in these elections on the issue of constitutional change - that would be a diversion from the real task which is to the people's voice in the tough times created by this reckless Conservative-led government and their Liberal Democrat allies. No one should doubt that the cuts coming to your street, to every street, were designed in Downing Street. Labour stands for families struggling to make ends meet, for the opportunities of the next generation and for strong communities where we understand the value of what binds us together.

If Labour had won the last Westminster elections, we would have made cuts. But not so far and not so fast. The Tories and the Liberal Democrats chose to take our sensible, measured plans for deficit reduction and go 40 billion pounds further and faster. That is unfair because those cuts will fall first and worst on the most vulnerable in society. And it also the wrong long term choice for our economy because it will destroy the jobs and growth we all need.

A Labour-led Assembly will not be able to stop the reckless deficit reduction plans of the Tories and the Liberal Democrats in Westminster. But it will show that even in the toughest of times for schools, hospitals, jobs and skills there is - and there always will be - an alternative. When David Cameron and Nick Clegg say there is no alternative, they echo another era when another Conservative government practised the politics of division. The politics of division is the trademark of Conservative governments. But Wales shows we can do better. It shows we can do more than protest. We can also protect.

Despite the cuts from the Tory-led Government, there will be no lost generation in Wales this time around. That is the pledge from Carwyn Jones and Welsh Labour in this election - a pledge I am here to support today. We can make a difference, a real difference. But it will only be there if you vote for the one party that is determined and clear about keeping the parties of “there is no alternative” out of office. We will strive to protect what matters most. To put the next generation, hard pressed families and our communities first. These are our values. These are the choices we would make. If you want a party that will be your voice in tough times, vote Labour on May 5th."


nick

A day of very mixed emotions

There was an excellent turnout at Glyn Davies's public meeting in Welshpool this evening, I'm heartened that so many people are prepared to stand up for our countryside. It will be a well supported campaign to keep those pylons at bay.

On the journey there though, I heard the dreadful news of the tragedy near Llanidloes. My sincerest condolences to those who have lost loved ones in this terrible incident.


nick

Wales's Police deserve better than this!

In less than a week, I have received over 80 emails from serving Police Officers and support staff from across Wales. Each one details their concerns regarding the effects that the ConDem Comprehensive Spending Review will have upon Police Officer numbers across Wales and the service they are able to deliver from the front line for the people of Wales, much of which is also delivered through the Welsh Assembly. Added to this, the Police Service is now facing further attacks upon pay & conditions and The Winsor Report will affect them and their families deeply. The Hutton Report is also of deep concern to the police service and all future pension entitlements.

I promised to answer each communication personally irrespective of location within Wales and to date I have kept that promise. As a retired officer and Police pensioner, I probably identify with their concerns more readily than someone who has no connection with the service.

However what touches me the most is that each and every communication still puts the quality of the service delivered to us the public, as the topmost concern. It is heart warming to know that the service is still delivered by people who care about the communities they work within. Wales has 4 excellent Police forces, we are lucky to have them. They deserve better than the ConDems treatment of them!


nick

Tory promises that they can't and won't deliver!

Who is this about, can you guess?

When he spoke to the Tory Party Conference in Cardiff this year, X said “It’s time for a fresh and coherent approach to economic policy in Wales - and that's just what we Welsh Conservatives have to offer. We would work with, not against, the UK Government to get our economy back on track.”

What his audience probably did not know at that time is that in the space of just one year X had racked up over £650million worth of spending commitments for his own constituency through a series of irresponsible, undeliverable shamelessly populist local press releases. Welsh Labour said today that the revelations had ended any economic credibility the Tories had in Wales.

In the Western Mail's editorial this morning, the paper said Labour was right to expose X's populist wish-list saying "we have serious doubts about the wisdom of making spending commitments in this way."

In the past year, X made 20 separate spending calls without the ability to deliver a single penny of it. Whilst the Tory Government in Westminster makes savage cuts to our schools, hospitals and public services, X has called for extra spending on schools, medical centres, stopping charges for credit card payments by councils, the chance to freeze council tax, the restoration of a pier, snow clearing, improved train services, business rate relief, preventing a library closure, creating a national park, licensing canoeists, improved road maintenance, better flood defences, pedestrian improvements and road widening and re-routing.


Actually it’s Clwyd West's Darren Millar, but the promises and bandwagon jumping sounds incredibly familiar in Montgomeryshire!


nick

Animals Count

It's not often we get support from another political party, but I have been honoured by the endorsement from Animals Count.

It saddens me that so many people do see animal issues as mainstream, yet so often this isn't reflected in mainstream politics. I very much aim to rectify that if I'm elected on May 5th.


nick

Who's that man?

Across Wales, Welsh LibDems are trying their best to distance themselves from Clegg, Cable and co. and who could blame them? Yesterday on BBC Wales Today, their candidate in Caerphilly repeated the mantra I’ve heard so often in Montgomeryshire and other places, “Separate entity to LibDems in London”.

So I’m in Welshpool today and I pop into a shop and there on the cover of the County Times and chumming up together are Montgomeryshire's LibDem candidate Wyn Williams (who I actually like) and Nick Clegg (who I don’t).

Sorry, but the Welsh LibDems are fooling only themselves in an attempt to avoid the meltdown that’s coming their way on May 6th.


nick

Vote to protect YOUR Police Service

New figures have revealed that Tory cuts will lead to the loss of 250 Police jobs in North Wales, including 125 front line officers. This increased figure (up from the previous figure of 203) makes a mockery of the Tory-led Government’s claim that their cuts will not affect front-line policing.

These figures show the real cost of the Tory-led Government’s savage 20% police funding cuts. I want the Government to be getting more frontline officers on the streets and strengthening neighbourhood policing. Yet Ministers seem more interested in cutting police numbers than in cutting crime.

Because of the Government’s 20 per cent cut to the police budget our Chief Constable has been put in an impossible position. Across the country frontline police officers are being lost, officers are being taken off the beat to do the jobs previously dealt with by support staff, and neighbourhood policing is being cut back. Overall the Government has cut over 12,500 police officers and over 15,000 support staff across England and Wales.

Welsh Labour’s pledge to fund an extra 500 PCSOs shows that there is an alternative. The police cannot be exempt from making savings, but going too far too fast puts the fight against crime at risk. That’s why the numbers of police officers should be protected and why cutting crime should be a priority, not an afterthought.


nick

Oh he won't like to be beside the seaside!

I have a feeling that Andrew Lansley will not be the last vote of no confidence we see in the public sector.

I trust Nick Herbert has a thick skin if he ventures down to Bournemouth for the Police Federation Conference next month!


nick

ConDems must stop this attack on our Police

I am receiving quite a few emails from members of the Police Federation and their families. They concern the effects of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Winsor Report and the Hutton Report which are seriously undermining police morale. Public service delivery is inevitably suffering and will continue to suffer as a direct result of this. The Police Federation say quite rightly that "the three issues have created ‘meltdown’ within the Police Service; such a position has not been witnessed in the UK since the mid-1970’s when we saw officers leaving the service in droves."

I am honoured to lend my support to the Federation, but deeply saddened that this ConDem govt has brought them down to this. I joined in the 1970s and the Federation is 100% correct, there were many older and experienced bobbies who were leaving and who told this young probationary constable that they had families and couldn't afford to feed them. Our communities lost hard working, competent officers for all the wrong reasons and suffered for it as a result. And so it will be today, if we are to allow this disgraceful attack on the Police service to continue.


nick

The ConDems and our NHS

I just got an email from a fellow trustee of an organisation I support. I have hidden his identity, but it's the message that is important.

He writes:

Have just come out of hospital and am grounded for maybe 2 3 weeks unless a massive change occurs to my leg (which is doubtful) I will not make the meeting on the 12th - sorry.
I was rushed in on Weds and then missed the laser surgery by 10 mins on Friday so now have to wait a MONTH ? It beggars belief at what has happened to our NHS.
So am in agony with district nurse coming each day and fed up too

Now someone try and convince me how the ConDems are not ruining our NHS


nick

Shame on them for thinking we'll forget

They can airbrush Nick Clegg out of as many pictures as they want to, but they can't airbrush people's minds!


nick

The threat to Montgomeryshire

After accompanying Joyce Watson in Welshpool this morning, we headed over to Abermule where I wanted to meet some residents who are not only bitterly opposed to the proposed windfarm ‘hub’ being built there, but who are genuinely concerned for the health of the village.

We all want to see Wales a better place to live; we all want to see Wales less dependent on fossil fuels and moving to renewable energy sources. The proposed location for windfarms and ‘hub’ do not tick any of the right boxes for me. Miles of 56 metre pylons with a 16 metre footprints spread across Montgomeryshire does not make Wales a better place to live in. Locating those pylons near schools, homes and communities does not make Wales a better place to live in. Allowing people to buy homes then threatening to drop 35% off the value of them and dicing with negative equity does not make Wales a better place to live in. Joyce and I also viewed the proposed ‘hub’ site with local residents and were shocked by the proximity to newly built homes.

Whoever the people of Montgomeryshire honour on May 5th will need to hit the ground running, if they genuinely care about this situation developing to the point where the argument is lost before the fight has begun. I am concerned that the consultation is taking place in a time when the Assembly is in recess and representation is not readily available. We must support those who work to resist the proposals, both in Abermule and at the other proposed 'hub' site in Cefn Coch, as well as the thousands potentially affected along National Grid's pylon corridors. We also need to ensure that in the very near future TAN 8 or Technical Advice Note 8 concerning Renewable Energy is reviewed and ensured to serve the people of Wales in a manner that is sensitive, practical and in line with technical developments.


nick

LibDem's knife goes even deeper into a generation of young people

It's not often I'll agree with a Tory Minister, but in fairness I have to agree with
Universities Minister David Willetts when he says it is "important to look beyond the £9,000 headline".

Very true Mr Willetts, how about adding that you are rapidly ruling out all but the most wealthy young people in the country from achieving their potential by returning university education to an elite few. From now on forget grades, hard work and effort and concentrate on Home Counties affluence and privilege.

While I'm thankful of Labour's pledge to support our students here in Wales, I can't help feeling anything but despair for so many who are without that help across the border.


nick

Nice work...if you can get it

Oh dear, there really isn't much to say about this other than it shows how out of touch some councillors are with the people they get elected by. Many on low incomes might even raise an eyebrow at learning some Powys councillors can and do consistently claim over £20,000 per annum!

Compare that amount with basic Nurses pay for instance. The Royal College of Nursing provided its own evidence to the NHS Pay Review Body and contributed to the joint staff side evidence for 2011. Those submissions were made as NHS staff face a two-year pay freeze for those earning more than £21,000 per annum and a minimum increase of £250 for staff earning less than £21,000 from April 2011. The pay freeze adds to other challenges including budget cuts, structural reforms and the threat of redundancy - all while demand for NHS services continues to rise.

It's a strange world!


nick

Wales Labour Launch

I spent an enjoyable morning with colleagues from across North & Mid Wales in Llandudno today at the official launch of Wales Labour's Assembly Campaign.

Speaking to candidates from other areas was interesting, especially to note how Welsh Liberal Democrats across Wales are making every effort to hoodwink the electorate into believing they are not associated with Clegg, Huhne, Alexander, Cable and all the other Tory apologists. People across Wales are smarter than they give them credit for and to quote Roger Daltrey they "Won't get fooled again".


nick

Not voting Labour? Why you should think again!

The daily embarrassment to the Welsh LibDems that is Nick Clegg shouldn't be ignored by the electorate of Montgomeryshire. In the past, voters have elected LibDems to represent them in Westminster & Cardiff with startling regularity. Consequently Montgomeryshire has been represented from a weak minority opposition group in both bodies. Of course that trend changed slightly when Glyn Davies won the Westminster seat last May and yes the Tories are leading in a coalition government with the LibDems, viciously cutting funding to the services we take for granted.

It is that very point which means that a vote for either the Tories or LibDems on May 5th will simply return an AM for Montgomeryshire to sit in another weak minority opposition group in the Senedd, but now with the added 'given' that they will endorse every savage, swingeing and unfair cut imposed on us by their ConDem Alliance colleagues.

To ensure Wales has a strong first line of defence against those cuts, Wales MUST return a government that is able to stand up for its people. Wales Labour is able to do that, it has a track record to prove it. For once I hope the people of Montgomeryshire realise they need representation from within that strong government and not from a point within weak opposition.


nick

Same party, same empty promises

Just when you think it's safe to take a breath, along comes more LibDem waffle. Now Kirsty wants us all to not "focus on Westminster". Well she would say that wouldn't she, but who can blame her? One short year ago they were filling everyone's head full of promises and signing pledges they promised to keep. She's hoping we are all sufficiently gullible enough to believe that the Welsh LibDems are a completely separate entity to their less than glorious counterparts, currently aiding Cameron & Osborne on their attack on Britain's middle & working classes. How dare she take us for such fools!



nick

LibDems support the principle of privilege shocker!!

There's more than a whiff of hypocrisy from Clegg in his latest attempt to downplay his role in propping up this vicious government by 'championing' the common man. Particularly as he and his colleagues have 'U' turned on their pledge to students and ensured personal advancement has become financially impossible for those born without financial privilege.

Perhaps the next time he's sitting in the Cabinet Room, he should put aside his glee that with just 57 MPs, he's found himself elevated to a position totally beyond his entitlement, and he should consider the Eton/Oxbridge brigade that he supports. There again perhaps he knew them in his Cambridge University Conservative Association days!



nick

Animals Count Endorsement

In what I believe is unprecedented before in Welsh politics, it is a great pleasure to announce that my candidacy for Montgomeryshire has received an official endorsement from UK political party ‘Animals Count’. ‘Animals Count’ has a broad membership across the UK and works to produce a fairer society for both people and animals. Its leader Vanessa Hudson honoured me by saying “ We recognise Nick as an ethical candidate with shared values. There are many areas of commonality between our two parties and Animals Count looks forward to working with Nick through the Welsh Assembly to bring about greater equality for all. We would urge people who regard animal protection as an important issue, to vote for Nick on the 5th May”.

I am honoured to have my candidacy endorsed by the members of Animals Count. I very much share their concern that whilst many citizens regard animal issues as mainstream, other political parties have often poorly reflected them in the past. I would work to re-dress that balance.



http://www.animalscount.org/


nick

Value it? Then protect it!

On the day Cameron, Clegg, Osborne et al increase their taxing of the sick in England to a whopping £7.40, it's worth reminding everyone that Wales's first line of defence to protecting the services that we rightly value so highly, is by ensuring the Tories and LibDems don't even get close to a foot in the Assembly door on May 5th.

If you value it and want to protect it, vote Labour.


nick