Call for an inquiry in to Iraq War ( again...)

So the Tories have called for an inquiry in to the Iraq War, oh how opportunistic of them. Do I sense an election on the way? Of course I do! Perhaps they would like to erase from history the fact that 146 of their MPs voted in favour of the war from the outset, or, because they have a new sparkling leader, does that automatically mean that they can change their opinions?

Plaid has been consistent in calling for an inquiry, and Adam Price's campaign to Impeach Tony Blair was positive in that it sought to mobilise the peace movement in a common campaign goal. Nevertheless, these calls have fallen flat, and the Government still do not believe that it is 'the right time' for an inquiry, when 'our troops' are fighting on the ground ( and are losing morale if the latest poll of families of servicemen is anything to go by)

The Lib dems have put in an amendment to the Tory motion, asking all MPs who voted for the War to apologise. I don't see anything wrong with this, but unfortunately I don't see MPs offering to apologise in a hurry. Apologies are not that common in politics because politicians don't like being wrong, or being seen to be wrong even if they know they are!

Miliband is still in denial that the war was even a mistake, regardless of the fact that even some of George Bush's most ardent supporters in America now recognise that yes, they were, ( gulp) wrong to occupy Iraq.

An Independent inquiry is desperately needed to assess the war on every level- from clarity on the reasoning for war, to the action taken on a ground level, to the continuation of US/ British intervention in Iraq, to seeking to restore faith from the electorate in the political system. Until the London Government acknowledges this, I do not see how they can seek to even address their waning credibility.

Benefits take up in Wales

New investment in encouraging benefits take up is to be welcomed today by the Minster, Brian Gibbons AM, especially given that there is up to £100m in council benefits which go unclaimed in Wales in a year. There was a Conference to discuss the possibilities for implementation with key organisations that work in this field today in Llandrindod Wells, which is a positive sign that the One Wales Government is tackling this issue head on.

I'd like to take a tiny bit of praise for this being on the agenda at all, as I have raised it on numerous occassions with the Minister, mainly due to the work that I have been doing in talking to experts in the field about benefits take up. For example, Disability Living Allowance is an area where take up is low in Wales, and where it is often hard for people to find out if they can claim benefits at all.

Of course, we can do everything within our power possible here in Wales to encrouage take-up, but there needs also to be a steer from Westminster. There still isn't the prioritisation of the child poverty agenda that we so desperately need from London. There have been announcements about the new Child Poverty Unit in the DWP, the new workers contract that Gordon Brown launched last week at Labour's Welsh Conference, and Ed Ball's Children's Plan. All commendable in black and white, but they are yet to appear deliverable in practice. Again, we must work hand in hand with Wesminster, and not against them, to ensure that we can seek to take on one of the biggest challenges of our time.

On another subject- Y Byd- I understand that there will be an interesting piece on this on tonight's Dragon's Eye. I will try and reserve judgment until then. I tend to agree with Adam Price on this one, however. Plaid in Government has almost doubled investment in the Welsh medium press, and the possibility of developing a new Welsh Language daily is still open for debate in that the Government is currently tendering for contracts. I believe that a newspaper on the web is the best way forward at thist stage, but I know that others disagree with me.

I do despair, however of some figures in the Nationalist movement purposfully using their positions to create trouble on this issue. Lets put our heads together and get a successful outcome for the future of the Welsh Language Press instead of making public statements for the sake of making a point.

On the campaign trail. 14/4/07

Tim ymgyrchu etholiad etholaeth Castell Nedd allan yn canfasio heddiw gyda Adam Price AS yng Ngwaun Cae Gurwen a Chwm Gors. Rwyf wedi blino'n lan, ond yn edrych ymlaen at noson yn y Smith's gyda Dafydd Iwan heno ma!

Plaid Neath's campaign team out canvassing in Gwaun Cae Gurwen and Cwm Gors today with MP Adam Price. I'm shattered, but still looking forward to a sing along with Dafydd Iwan in the Smith's tonight!

Any Questions?

Mae Adam Price, AS Plaid ar rhaglen Radio 4 y BBC 'Any Questions?' heno yn fyw o Mumbles am 8 yr hwyr. Y pobl eraill ar y panel yw Cheryl Gillan, Peter Hain a Lembit Opik. Dylse fe fod yn drafodaeth ddiddorol felly. Cofiwch wrando! Pa mor sicr ydyw y bydd y Cheeky Girls yn cael ei drafod?...

Adam Price, Plaid MP is on the Radio 4 BBC programme 'Any Questions?' tonight which is live from Mumbles at 8pm. The other politicians on the panel are Cheryl Gillan, Peter Hain and Lembit Opik. Should be an interesting one. How sure can I be that the Cheeky Girls will be mentioned...?

Politicians blogging....

A journalist student.....Ciaran Jenkins ( who might be my brother...!) has written a very interesting blog -'Welsh Assembly cool on blogging'. I don't sit easy with complimenting Peter Black or Leighton Andrews, but on this occasion I will prove to be the exception I never thought I could be! I think that the fact that they blog as Politicians is positive and is a novel way of reaching out to people who perhaps don't read the papers or watch the news that often. To us politicians, that seems far fetched...but true!

I might not agree with the content of the political blogs coming from our Welsh Assembly Members but I think it is commendable. To have up to date information from a debate while it is happening in the Assembly or to receive personal opinions on how, for example, budget discussions are fairing at the moment can create interest in politics and makes sure that politics is up to date and to the minute. So many websites of Politicians are very poor in standard and are rarely updated. This gives them a stale air, of lack of interest in those of us that use the Internet for information purposes, and creates a feeling of 'I'm too good to blog' amongst Politicians.

Adam Price MP did have a blog for a brief period of time. He was very keen on the idea, and still is. However, he did put a stop to it -I believe because he was inundated with complaints that his blog wasn't totally bilingual all of the time. I think that this is unfair really. Adam Price should be allowed to blog bilingually as he sees fits, and to blog in a language of choice when he sees fit. Blogging is fundamentally different to placing press releases and articles on a website. It's about a natural flow of thought, not about the welsh being translated correctly, to the word. I suggest that we should start a campaign to get Adam up and blogging again. He must be one of the most radical politicians around at the moment, and to find out his thoughts on calling for the inquiry on the War in Iraq, and his recent trip to Venezuela must be of interest to millions out there.

Coming back to the discussion on Assembly and blogging, I think that Assembly Members should broaden their minds to the concept of blogging and its benefits. Of course, you can't tell how many constituents are reading the blogs, but at least you are sharing your opinions with others, are encouraging debate, and are essentially promoting the work that you do in the Assembly. For those AM's who blogon a hap hazard basis, get your socks on and blog more often! One blog every blue moon is a waste. You need to get people hooked, and constantly interested in what you do.

Vetting and policing blogs are also a no no. I can imagine that Leighton Andrews would need to police his blog if Plaid in Rhondda wants to contribute! He's not the most popular Politician in the area, especially given his Unionist, pro monarchy stance!

I know I don't blog enough myself I hear you scream at the computer. True, but sometimes life takes over. I'm sure that if I'm elected as an Assembly Member next year, I'll have plenty of time to sit and blog during plenary discussions. What do you think?!