Blogs, Barnett and budgetary balls

Strange things are happening in blog world. Since I've put those self-congratulatory quotes in the sidebar, people have been emailing me testimonials to add to the list. I had no idea that was blogging etiquette and just pinched all the others from altogether different contexts. But thank you anyway:)

Meanwhile, the Welsh blogosphere has swelled into a Bertha-like monster, constantly spitting out blogs of many persuasions. This is beginning to be a medium for new audiences, even if my third and fourth most frequent visitors come from Welsh Office and BBC domains respectively.

And now Lee Waters, formerly of ITV politics fame, is sending me press releases. Lee is now in the director's saddle of cycling charity Sustrans. Today, they've teamed up with the BMA and National Association of Headteachers to make the civil case for reviewing the Barnett formula: the complicated method for calculating public spending in Wales.

Political parties have long called for changes in the way Wales is funded. Plaid, for example, argue that the current formula is unfair because it is based on the population and not the needs of Wales.

But has it yet come to the point of no return, where either a revision of the Barnett formula or granting the assembly powers to raise tax and revenue are the only remaining options?

Moreover, in the present climate, political parties are cooing about their ability to make big changes within the present or anticipated financial package, perhaps in an attempt to appear fit for government. Today's intervention from civil society might well serve as a reminder to the politicians that it may take much more than a laptop and free school milk to reverse Wales' economic stagnation.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 9:58 am,

12 Comments:

At 11:24 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I womnder why Lee is posting press releases on his own blog??

 
At 11:29 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

What on earth is "civil society"? Is this just a euphemism for people who can't get a job in the real world?

 
At 11:47 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't think he's behind Arsembly. I heard've the following names mentioned: Cathy Owens, Nick Bennett, Tim Hartley...any others?

 
At 1:38 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

But the barnett formula cannot be reformed in isolation. Any revision will involve major cuts for Scotland and I can't imagine our new PM supporting this. There is also the assumption that Wales will benefit from any change when it is in fact English taxpayers who are subsidising the free gifts from the Assembly. How long will English MPs of what ever political persuasion be prepared to feather bes Assembly politicians who seem stuck in the past. They should read yesterday's article in the Telegraph by Denis Macshane to see where evensome Labour MPs believe that the battle ground of the future will be. On the tax raising issue Scotland has already got this power to vary income tax by 3p and has never used it.

 
At 5:41 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

David Taylor ???

 
At 8:19 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Llyr Roberts

 
At 10:19 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who he? Judging by the name some BBC twat

 
At 1:14 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ex-BBC. Plausible suggestion.

 
At 2:46 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

who is David Taylor?

 
At 4:12 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

An "uber aggressive bully boy" if you believe Arse ...

 
At 3:28 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The only thing we can be certain of is that it's not Ioan Bellin!

 
At 6:39 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know what Arsemembly said about him. I asked *who* is he.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home