Tuesday 27 July 2010

Time For A Truly Welsh Curriculum

by Lleu Williams, Non-Portfolio Officer


“Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” Year 8 History


“The British Empire was the leading and most powerful empire in history” Year 9 History


“Powerful poetry from soldiers in the Great War” GCSE English Literature


These are just a couple of things I remember learning whilst at comprehensive school back in Llanelli, good solid British, or even more so, English related topics in a Welsh medium comprehensive in Wales. Things were worse when my Tadcu (grandfather) was educated in Carmarthen in the 1930s, all he remembers was a map of the world with the British Empire all in pink.


Much of what I remember being taught in history, English literature, leisure studies and other subjects did include many Welsh related topics, but still contained many English topics. And I remember asking myself back then, why? Why am I being taught literature by English soldiers in the Great War? Why am I learning about the Tudors? And bear in mind this was only around six or seven years ago, so we are not talking a long time.


Don’t get me wrong, I am not short sighted enough not to recognise the importance of elements of British topics in developing a thorough understanding of history, English literature and so forth. Yes the Tudors are important, due to Henry VIII’s Act of Union in 1536 and the way it affected Wales, whilst the British Empire played an important role in the development of the coal mines in the Valleys in the Great Revolution. Despite this, I was never once taught about Hywel Dda or Owain Glyndwr, I never studied Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas and nor did I study Welsh music in music lessons. In addition, I am not writing here to advocate a totally Welsh-only curriculum; learning about different cultures, histories and language are and will be essential for our young people if Wales is to become an independent state within the European Union.


This raises further fears for me as proud Welshman that our future generations will not learn about Hywel Dda or Glyndwr, will not have read Under Milkwood or won’t know who the Manic Street Preachers or Edward H Dafis were! I was lucky, I was brought up in a household where this information was taught to me by my parents, and I consider myself lucky, but how many others in the next generation won’t have this opportunity?


Unfortunately, despite the wonderful and sometimes academically accurate Wikipedia, we cannot depend on the next generation of internet users to look up everything on this site. It’s now time for us to develop a truly Welsh curriculum, a curriculum where pupils and students in Wales know the history of their country, a curriculum where they understand the Welsh economy and a curriculum where pupils and students know who Dylan Thomas is and the wonders of his work. In the age of devolution in Wales, an age where many young people wouldn’t know life without the National Assembly and wouldn’t know school without a free breakfast, surely we should seize the opportunity for us to develop a truly Welsh curriculum?


A curriculum that focuses on Welsh history (Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf, Owain Glyndwr, the role of Wales in the Industrial Revolution), a curriculum that focuses on Welsh writers and poets (Dylan Thomas, Niall Griffiths and Caradoc Evans) and a curriculum that focuses on the importance of the Welsh economy (The Coal Mine Field, Industry in the Valleys, Farming in West and North Wales).


For a nation such as Wales, it’s essential now that we exercise these powers and resources that we have in Wales to develop a truly Welsh curriculum. We must work together with exam boards such as the WJEC, the Welsh Assembly Government, teaching unions and the media such as S4C and the BBC to develop a truly distinctive Welsh curriculum that neither you or I have experienced. And in time to ensure that the next generation appreciate, understand and love their history, culture and language.

Time For A Truly Welsh Curriculum

by Lleu Williams, Non-Portfolio Officer


“Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” Year 8 History


“The British Empire was the leading and most powerful empire in history” Year 9 History


“Powerful poetry from soldiers in the Great War” GCSE English Literature


These are just a couple of things I remember learning whilst at comprehensive school back in Llanelli, good solid British, or even more so, English related topics in a Welsh medium comprehensive in Wales. Things were worse when my Tadcu (grandfather) was educated in Carmarthen in the 1930s, all he remembers was a map of the world with the British Empire all in pink.


Much of what I remember being taught in history, English literature, leisure studies and other subjects did include many Welsh related topics, but still contained many English topics. And I remember asking myself back then, why? Why am I being taught literature by English soldiers in the Great War? Why am I learning about the Tudors? And bear in mind this was only around six or seven years ago, so we are not talking a long time.


Don’t get me wrong, I am not short sighted enough not to recognise the importance of elements of British topics in developing a thorough understanding of history, English literature and so forth. Yes the Tudors are important, due to Henry VIII’s Act of Union in 1536 and the way it affected Wales, whilst the British Empire played an important role in the development of the coal mines in the Valleys in the Great Revolution. Despite this, I was never once taught about Hywel Dda or Owain Glyndwr, I never studied Under Milkwood by Dylan Thomas and nor did I study Welsh music in music lessons. In addition, I am not writing here to advocate a totally Welsh-only curriculum; learning about different cultures, histories and language are and will be essential for our young people if Wales is to become an independent state within the European Union.


This raises further fears for me as proud Welshman that our future generations will not learn about Hywel Dda or Glyndwr, will not have read Under Milkwood or won’t know who the Manic Street Preachers or Edward H Dafis were! I was lucky, I was brought up in a household where this information was taught to me by my parents, and I consider myself lucky, but how many others in the next generation won’t have this opportunity?


Unfortunately, despite the wonderful and sometimes academically accurate Wikipedia, we cannot depend on the next generation of internet users to look up everything on this site. It’s now time for us to develop a truly Welsh curriculum, a curriculum where pupils and students in Wales know the history of their country, a curriculum where they understand the Welsh economy and a curriculum where pupils and students know who Dylan Thomas is and the wonders of his work. In the age of devolution in Wales, an age where many young people wouldn’t know life without the National Assembly and wouldn’t know school without a free breakfast, surely we should seize the opportunity for us to develop a truly Welsh curriculum?


A curriculum that focuses on Welsh history (Llywelyn ein Llyw Olaf, Owain Glyndwr, the role of Wales in the Industrial Revolution), a curriculum that focuses on Welsh writers and poets (Dylan Thomas, Niall Griffiths and Caradoc Evans) and a curriculum that focuses on the importance of the Welsh economy (The Coal Mine Field, Industry in the Valleys, Farming in West and North Wales).


For a nation such as Wales, it’s essential now that we exercise these powers and resources that we have in Wales to develop a truly Welsh curriculum. We must work together with exam boards such as the WJEC, the Welsh Assembly Government, teaching unions and the media such as S4C and the BBC to develop a truly distinctive Welsh curriculum that neither you or I have experienced. And in time to ensure that the next generation appreciate, understand and love their history, culture and language.

Sunday 25 July 2010

Fairness for Graduates

By CERITH RHYS JONES
Officer without Portfolio on CymruX's National Executive Committee

"I guess the main thing I want to look at in my blog space this week, is an e-petition that I’ve set up on CymruX’s behalf, which calls on the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to resist some rather unfair plans proposed by the Russell Group of Universities – including Cardiff – to change the student loan repayment system.

Those with an interest in further education will know that the Browne Review, led by John, Lord Browne, is to report on higher education funding and student finance, this year, and that the Russell Group, a group of 20 elite universities (elite in a good way) throughout the UK, have submitted some proposals, which call (a) to lift the cap on fees, meaning that students could be forced to pay up to £7,000 in England (and of course, when English fees go up, it’s very likely that Welsh fees will do the same); (b) to change the loan repayment system, so that students pay back more money at a time, and when they’re earning less. As the situation stands, graduates start to pay back their loans when they reach £15,000 salary, but the interest rates are fluctuant. The group’s plans would see students paying back at a higher interest rate, and at a lower income level. This clearly isn’t fair, especially when the ConDem government is planning a “graduate tax” and education is expensive enough as it is.

With regard to the graduate tax, I am on the fence. If – and only if – it replaces fees, then of course, I’d rather pay a higher rate of tax than have to spend thousands of pounds on education which should, in all honesty, be free. However, if the grad tax comes on top of higher fees and unfair changes to the loan system, then clearly, prospective students from “working- and lower-class” backgrounds will be priced out of higher education.

It is my view, and the view of both CymruX and Plaid Cymru, that in the current economic climate, higher education should be invested in. We are at a crossroads in terms of where we can take our economy from here. Well, more of a junction than a crossroads, but you get my drift. We can either go back the same old way, let the banking sector and the South East of England run riot; or, we can develop a green, technological economy, one focused on need, one focused on sustainability, one focused on the modern world, and living responsibly, where every individual has the chance to flourish, be that through work-based training, being a valued part of the workforce, or going into higher education. Only with investment in higher education can the latter be a viable option.

In some respects, I can understand the difficulty that the Russell Group is facing. It’s facing huge pressure from the ConDem government, (and be under no illusion that New Labour was any better), and it has to adapt. The group has to keep up its reputation for being the leading research-based universities in the UK, but I would rather see the Russell Group working for its students and prospective students, campaigning and fighting against government plans to cut its funding, not simply give in and force the Tories’ elitist (in a bad way) principles on its students.

A similar petition, organised by new Northern Ireland Assembly Member for the SDLP, representing South Belfast, Conall McDevitt MLA, has already been submitted to the Northern Ireland Assembly for consideration. This petition, of which I am principle petitioner, but am really just a link, a liaison, between CymruX and the National Assembly, will close a week before the Petitions’ Committee sits for the first time in the Autumn Term. In 3 days, we have 67 signatories, but there’s a long way to go. Please do sign the petition, and pass it on to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your AMs and MPs (Plaid or otherwise), your student contacts, your old teachers, your neighbours, to sign. Whoever. Plaid Cymru’s constitution lists as one of the party’s objectives, “To ensure economic prosperity, social justice…based on decentralist socialism”. Anyone who believes in these principles, and cannot see sanity in those held by what are now the Libservatives, should sign the petition. After all, how could anyone who gives two hoots for students, graduates and the future of our country and the UK, support a government, a minister of whose, says that students are a burden on the taxpayer? Students, and graduates deserve better, and I am proud to say that CymruX is standing up for them."

Link to the petition: http://tiny.cc/fair4grads

O.N. Daw'r fersiwn Gymraeg cyn hir!

Monday 12 July 2010

Ysgol Haf Plaid Cymru




Gan Emyr Gruffydd, Cangen Cymru X Caerdydd





Nawr ein bod wedi dad-flino wedi penwythnos hynod lwyddiannus yn Aberystwyth, da yw cael ysgrifennu gair am Ysgol Haf Plaid Cymru a rôl aelodau Cymru X yn yr Ysgol Haf.





Cynhaliwyd yr Ysgol Haf i holl aelodau Plaid Cymru ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, gan ddenu nifer go dda o aelodau Cymru X. Cafwyd cyfle i wrando ar nifer o ffigurau amlwg yn y Blaid yn siarad ar wahanol bynciau, yn ogystal â sesiynau hyfforddi ar ganfasio, sut i ddelio â'r wasg leol,


creu taflenni ac ymgyrchu ar lein. Cafwyd sgwrs gan Leanne Wood am syniadau D.J Davies a Raymond Williams, a sut y gallai sosialaeth radical a chenedlaetholdeb y ddau ddylanwadu'n bositif ar y Blaid yn ein brwydr i greu'r Gymru newydd.





Cafwyd dadl agored ynghylch gwleidyddiaeth myfyrwyr a sut i adeiladu ein adain ieuenctid ar gampws nifer i brifysgol. Fel cadeirydd Cymru X Caerdydd, roedd yn ddiddorol cael trafod fy mhrofiad fel myfyriwr sy'n ymwneud â'r Blaid, ac fe gafwyd consensws cryf y byddai'n werthfawr i aelodau Cymru X ymwneud llawer mwy yn ein Hundebau Myfyrwyr ar draws Cymru gan gymryd safleoedd o bwys ar gynghorau a phwyllgorau rheoli'r Undebau. Er hynny, mae'n rhaid cydnabod bod rhaid newid strwythyrau Cymru X er mwyn ei gwneud hi'n haws i ni adnabod lle mae'n cefnogaeth ac adeiladu ar hynny yn briodol. Yn ogystal, trafodwyd rhannu'n mudiad ieuenctid mewn i ddwy adran; un yn delio gyda'r rhai hynny sydd yn yr ysgol, wedi graddio neu yn gweithio, ac adran arall yn arbennig i fyfyrwyr. Buasai pob cyfraniad yn help mawr yn y ddadl ddiddorol hon!





Diddorol a chalonogol oedd clywed ymateb gymaint o bobl ifainc y Blaid a ddaeth i gefnogi'r ysgol Haf. Roedd yn dda gweld cymaint o bobl ifanc yn ymddiddori yng ngwleidyddiaeth genedlaetholgar, ac roedd yn braf clywed nifer yn son mai gwleidyddiaeth radical yw'r ffordd ymlaen i ni fel ieuenctid ac i'r Blaid yn gyffredinol. Cofiwch, os hoffech chi fwynhau digwyddiadau fel hyn yn y dyfodol, neu am wybod mwy am weithgareddau Cymru X yn eich ardal, cysylltwch â ni ar postcymrux@googlemail.com.





Diolch hefyd i'r rhai hynny a ddaeth o bleidiau'r UDB yn Llydaw ac adain ieunctid Mebyon Kernow, Kernow X o Gernyw. Gobeithio y gallwn oll ddysgu wrth ein gilydd gan ymladd dros ryddid i'n gwledydd!





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It was excellent to see so many people in the Plaid Cymru Ysgol Haf (Summer School) this last weekend. Cymru X featured prominently in the Ysgol Haf with many young people attending the activities, where we learned a lot about campaigning techniques, how to strengthen our youth movement within universities and Student Unions, and on the general history of Plaid Cymru and radical politics in Wales. It was also nice to see so many people who had come over from our sister parties, the UDB in Brittany but mainly Kernow X, the Youth Wing of Mebyon Kernow in Cornwall. Thanks for coming! Let's hope that we can all learn something from each other while fighting for freedom for our nations!





If you would like to be involved in Cymru X and Plaid Cymru activities, be they at a national level like this or in your area or University, contact us on postcymrux@googlemail.com.

Thursday 8 July 2010

The Marketplace of Ideas

By Daniel Pryce Lawrence

Tuesday night I and 2 other members of Cymru X (Emyr and Lleu) attended a meeting of the Plaid Cymru Cardiff Central Constituency at the Mackintosh Institute which featured a talk by Dafydd Trystan on 'The Road to the Referendum – Spring 2011 and beyond'. It was a fascinating talk on the challenges we face leading up to the referendum, and the struggles we face post the vote on the very soul of our party. In the style of all the most enlightening lectures it challenged the assembled members to think about and question what was offered, and to go away and really shape the future of the party.

He dealt briefly with some of the debates that will be had in the coming months on how we can convince the people of Wales that a Yes vote in the Referendum is vitally important to the future success of our nation. But there is much work to do in convincing people of the need for a change in the system and the positive benefits that would flow from that change. Two weekends ago on Armed Forces day in Cardiff, I spent 2 hours in the centre of our Capital city working for Cymru Yfory-Tommorow's Wales asking people what they thought of Wales' constitutional situation, whether they knew there was a referendum on the horizon, whilst doing my best to convince them of the need for a Yes vote. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people who were very sympathetic to the Assembly having further powers and how they felt as an institution it had become the centre of national life. Out of the hundred or so people I must have talked to, only one gave me an angry response and expressed their wish that the Assembly be abolished. I came away feeling very positive about our chances, but we can never be complacent on these things, circumstances will dictate the shape of our future arguments.

Anyway, back to Dafydd's talk. Once he had said his bit about the referendum, he moved delicately to a new area. He asked us to look beyond it, past a hopeful Yes vote to where the party would be, should we have finally achieved one of our founding aims, a legislative Parliament for Wales. He asked us to think about what Plaid Cymru would stand for in that brave new world. Would we be content to, having won the long argument for Welsh autonomy, be a generally left of centre party fighting for Labours ground just with a slightly stronger Welsh language flavour? Would Independence feature more strongly in our campaigning? Where would we stand if we had just received a No vote? Could we become the only rational party of the left? What could we do that would better serve the people of Wales? What would be our vision of the future we could offer to them? And would it inspire them?

All good questions, but with no easy answers. What did seem to crop up though was, and with a perceptive question from Eurfyl ap Gwilym, that we as a party were not thinking as much as we used to. Not for any lack of effort or because we couldn't, but because we had matured into a party of Government. We have grown into a party that is ready to take responsibility for the running of our country, and now many of our brightest lights are involved in the daily, punishing grind of power. He said that it was up to the rest of us to provide those radical ideas which has for so long given our party its distinctive appeal.

We face some of the most important months in the history of our party and of Wales. With the first major test of Devolution, different parties in power on either side of Offa's Dyke, a Labour party that is trying to steal Plaids clothes and a referendum that will essentially ask people where the most important decisions on domestic policy should be taken Cardiff or London. So here is the challenge for the future, to provide the ideas and vision that can help take our party into the next stage of its life. So that the country has what it has always, and will always need - those who will speak up for it, unashamedly dream for it and shape its future progress. Where do we begin?

Gan Daniel Pryce Lawrence
South Wales East Representative

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Annibyniaeth Ariannol i Gymru? Fiscal Freedom for Wales?

gan Owain Rhys James

Gyda Comissiwn Holtham yn cyflwyno mwy o’i ganlyniadau heddiw fe gafodd cwfnogwyr datganoli mwy o bwerau, a’r rheini sydd yn dadlau yn erbyn y Cynulliad oherwydd ein body n dibynnu ar arian Lloegr, ddigon i gnoi cil drosto. Awgrymodd yr Gerald Holtham y dylai’r cynulliad gael y pwer i newid trethu gan arwain at fwy o bwerau i’r Cynulliad. Yn fy mhran i buasau hyn yn gyfle gwych i’r Cynulliad ddatblygu i fod yn fwy cyfrifol dros yr hyn y meant yn ei wneud gan rhoi’r cyfle iddynt ddatblygu eceonomi’r wlad yn ol anghenion arbennig Cymru. Gan a fydd yr effath ariannol yn newid llawer yn y Cynulliad buasau’r elfen gyhoeddus yn rhoi’r gallu i’r pleidleiswyr fesur llwyddiant y llywodraeth o ongl newydd.

Mae’r pwerau newydd i godi trethu yn agor y posibilrwydd o benderfyniadau anodd ac amhoblogaidd ofnadwy, ond mae hyn yn wir am unrhyw fath o bwer llywodraethu. Ers ymuno a’r lywodraeth glym-bleidiol mae Plaid wedi bod yn llwyddianus wrth lywodraethu fel y mae ei angen, gan gymryd penderfyniadau anodd, ac ar y llaw arall parhau i gadw cefnogaeth etholwyr. Buasau caniatau i’r llywodraeth newid trethu mewn adrannau arbennig yn ei galluogi i ddelio a’r torriadau brawychus i arian cyhoeddus sy’n cael ei drafod yn San Steffan.

Mae canlyniadau defnyddio’r pwer yn ddiddorol. Fe all y Cynulliad godi treth incwm gan 1c ymhob £ gan godi tua £150milliwn o arian treth ychwanegol; ond mewn gwirionedd ni ellir gwneud llawer a swm mor fach o arian ac fe all yr amhoblogrwydd arwain at fusnesau a talwyr treth i groesi Clawdd Ofa i dalu trethu yn Lloegr. Yn groes i hyn fe all disgyniad mewn treth anog pobl i ddod i Gymru gan arwain at gyfanswm uwch o dreth yn cael ei godi. Digon i’r cabinet yng Nghaerdydd ei bendroni.

O rhan Plaid, mae hyn i’w weld fel cyfle gwych i’r Cynulliad ddatblygu a phrofi ei werth yn ystod y cyfnod economaidd anoddaf ers blynyddoedd. Buasau’r annibyniaeth ychwanegol hyn yn ein galluogi i ymateb fel yr angen i sefyllfa Cymru ac yn rhoi’r gallu i’r Cynulliad fod yn atebol i’r etholwyr.


Nodyn bach arall am ddadl sy’n codi yn San Steffan. Mae’r cwestiynnau cyntaf am addasrwydd cael AS o Loegr fel Gweinidog dros Gymru yn cael ei gofyn gan Peter Hain wrth iddo gwyno fod Cheryl Gillan yn gorfod cymryd arian y treth-dalwyr i dalu am ei gwesty pob tro y bydd yn ymweld a Cymru. Er mae ond pwynt arwynebol yw hyn mae’n ein atgofa bod Cymru heb cael ei gynrychioli yn Llundain gan y llywodraeth Ceidwadywr-Ceidwadol; rhywbeth sy’n peri gofid pan bydd angen i lais y Cymry cael ei glywed yn San Steffan.


********


It’s been an interesting few days for Welsh economic news with yesterdays unveiling of a new inward investment plan and the second report of the Holtham Comission into public funding for Wales. Today’s suggestions by Gerald Holtham make interesting reading for all with an interest in Welsh political affairs and for those who have opposed Welsh devolution on the basis of the need for financial reliance on the English purse. It is that second group of people who I think will be most grateful for this suggestion.

Giving Wales a power similar to the so-called ‘Tartan Tax’ as it is in Scotland is a huge step for the Assembly. In real economic terms it will not be ground-breaking but in the electorate’s eyes this new financial responsibility will prove to be a key measure of a governments success. As Mr Holtham himself stated it will be the new requirement for the Assembly Government to consider the true cost effectiveness of measures that will be the actual result from this proposed change.

The giving of this additional power will of course bring with it the possibility of tough and unpopular decisions, but that is the downside of power. Plaid has, since joining Labour in coalition in 2007, grown used to such decisions and has been reasonably successful at securing public support in spite of difficult choices made. The ability to raise taxes gives a clear opportunity to cause unhappiness amongst various classes of people and how the Assembly deals with this will be a measure of their ability to govern independently. Allowing the Assembly to soften the cuts to some key areas by distributing their own collected monies to those areas may be one way of avoiding the 40% discussed by Westminster.

Possible results of varying taxes are very interesting. A raise of 1p in the £ would bring in approximately £150million in additional revenue; but may also lead some higher earners to cross the border and pay their taxes in England resulting in an overall reduction in funds. The contrary argument may be that lowering tax rates would persuade people to move to Wales meaning that the total collected by the Welsh Taxman would be greater.

All in all an interesting development for the government in Cardiff and London to consider, and for us in Plaid a fantastic opportunity to embrace new challenges and use these new powers to benefit the people of Wales.


A final few words which may interest some of you; the first result of having an English MP as Secretary of State for Wales has caused a mild political storm at Westminster. Peter Hain has raised the issue that Cheryl Gillan has to claim expenses for her hotel visits every time she visits Wales as she has no home here. Political points scoring this is, but it does highlight the fact that Wales is not truly represented by the Con-Dem coalition.

Monday 5 July 2010

Scottish Government acts on domestic abuse

By Luke Nicholas

One of the best things about the Plaid Youth movement, in my own opinion, is that 2 of our members are actually AMs. No other youth movement in Wales- as far as we are aware- can currently claim such an achievement. I'm sure there is research to suggest that Plaid Cymru is not necessarily the strongest party amongst young people at the moment, but it's clear that we in the future will be a very viable option for young voters who have grown up under devolution. Our appeal to the youth is enhanced by the fact that our two AMs- Bethan Jenkins and Nerys Evans- are among the most prominent of the backbenchers in the National Assembly.

One of Nerys' most significant achievements has been in driving forward the cross-party agenda on domestic abuse. Eventually the Welsh Government took action and created its own strategy and awareness campaign based on tackling the huge problem of domestic violence.

The Scottish Government has now acted decisively on this issue, becoming the first government in the UK to use the NHS to address domestic abuse. 5,000 staff will be trained to specialise in the field of prevention, so that the SNP Government is able to offer a "co-ordinated and consistent" level of service to the victims.

It would be really worthwhile if the Welsh Government took a similar step, building on the existing work that has been done.

Friday 2 July 2010

A “disrespect agenda”

Chad Rickard, Secretary / Ysgrifenydd, CymruX - Young Plaid Ifanc

It’s only been a few months of this coalition government and already the cracks of David and Nick’s “respect” agenda are starting to appear. First we have the announcement of fixed term, five year parliaments, that will cause, coincidentally, UK elections to clash with elections to the devolved bodies in Wales and Scotland. Now we have the ridiculous and thoughtless proposal to hold an AV referendum, on the same day as devolved Assembly and Parliament elections next May.

It is clear that the UK government and, in particular, Nick Clegg’s “department” know full well the implications for Wales and (to a lesser extent) Scotland. The debate in Wales will need to be about the things the Assembly has power over. The implications for legislation and government activity if a referendum on further powers results in a yes vote. The challenge of finding spending cuts in Wales. (Albeit, cuts that have been forced upon Wales by the UK government). Instead what we will have is a UK (invariably English) dominated debate, which will be focussed overwhelmingly around the campaign, for a yes or no vote on, what will be a totally pointless exercise in electoral reform. And to top it all off it won’t affect the devolved bodies one little bit. The only way in which this referendum will affect the devolved bodies, will be to confuse the issue and drag attention away from important matters of devolution and instead onto very minor reforms of Parliament.

The most unbelievable thing about all of this, is the complete lack of discussion, consultation, or consideration with either the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly. The leader of the Scottish Labour party, Iain Gray, had to “hear about this on the radio”. Such a lack of respect to the internal politics of Scotland and Wales is truly disgraceful and cannot continue to happen. It makes perfectly clear where the Lib Dem’s and Tories priorities now lie. Of course we in Wales and those in Scotland expect this kind of thing from the Conservatives. But weren’t the Lib Dems entry into coalition supposed to be a moderating influence? Were they not going to be the ones who forced the Conservatives into looking at the whole of the UK and not just the usual prism of the South and South East of England? It’s rather amusing that the Lib Dems are not claiming to be the “driving force” in this government as they would otherwise usually do. And why would they? All they have to show for selling their souls down the river are a few ministerial cars, special advisors and a record of abject betrayal and disrespect. This is just the latest, but it certainly won’t be the last case of the UK government not giving Wales a second thought.