Honest John: Huw Lewis defends his corner
Thursday, April 19, 2007

Huw Lewis is Labour's assembly member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. He has a hefty majority and ambition to match. As a politician loyal to the Blair agenda, he'll be monitoring developments in the Labour party closely as Rhodri Morgan's tenure as leader comes to an end. I'll keep the introduction short because the questions and answers are plentiful...

Would you be prepared to PUBLICLY have your fingerprints and DNA taken for your new ID Card, before the election? (ianp)
It would be a pretty boring thing to do PUBLICLY. I remain to be convinced about the need for ID cards, and would want some firmer guarantees about cost before committing one way or the other. But if your implication is that I have a criminal past, I have no fears there!

Where in your opinion does the clear red water lie within your manifesto and London Labour's? (Marcus Warner)
I don't think we should get too hung about the idea of "clear, red water", we should never look to do things differently for the sake of it - but only when it makes sense to our set of circumstances in Wales. There are a number of issues like the Mobile Mammas childcare scheme and like the Welsh baby bond dividend which I have been lobbying for - that show we will go our on way when it makes sense to do so.

Are alcoholism and drug dependency offences that should be punishable or illnesses that should be cured? (Sion Gwilym)
Clearly there is a difference to be drawn between alcohol consumption and drug use - one is legal - the other is not. However, addiction to either is incredibly damaging for the individual and can tear families apart - you need a balanced approach, treatment for the individual, but punishment for drug peddlers. I would be happy to see a grown up conversation between all parties after May about our approach to drug dependency and treatment.

There's a housing crisis in many parts of Wales. What would you do to redress it or are market forces above all other considerations? (der)
I think building more affordable housing is the key - and I'm glad to see some innovative solutions being introduced in Wales to that end.

What is your favourite album of all time? (Marcus Warner)
Astral Weeks, Van Morrison.

Can you tell me where you stand on the following issues. (che gra-vara)
1. The decision to go to war in Iraq
I supported the war in Iraq - and rather than rehearse all the same arguments again, I would point people to the recent book from Observer writer, Nick Cohen, on the subject which runs through in great detail the social progressive's case for war. However, I would also say that much of the handling of post-War Iraq, has been disastrous. Not least the American decision to send home the entire Iraqi army.
2. The decision to renew Trident
I think it will be some time before Assembly Members have a decision to make on this, but I backed the decision to renew Trident. Aside from the arguments on deterrent, consider the hard nosed rules of foreign policy. Those who argue on one side that the USA dictates too much on foreign affairs, then want us to disband our armed forces and downgrade our deterrent don't understand how the world works.
3. Cuts to PCS jobs
I don't think any party is arguing against the notion of reorganising the civil service, if it means we can spend more on front line services. Or are they? What I would say, as I did in the Assembly debate on the matter, let's look at this in the round - we don't want to be shifting HMRC jobs from the Valleys to Cardiff for example.

What have you done as a party or an individual to help engage young people in politics? (Marcus Warner)
On a personal level I engage very closely with all the schools in Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney and we get as many kids down to the Assembly as possible.

What would you do for places like Pontypridd and Blaenavon which are being used by the Utility companies as training grounds? Most streets in both villages have in excess of 400 dig patches each per street. (ianp)
I'm sure they are not digging up the streets for the fun of it. I'd rather have some temporary roadworks than a gas explosion to deal with - but I'm quirky like that. Blaenavon has received massive grants from the Assembly and associated bodies to develop the fabric of the town, and links to the World Heritage Site. Ponty is also benefiting from huge investment in both roads and rail.

You've identified yourself with the child poverty initiative, hoping doubtless to garner much profile. Please tell why, given that Labour has just admitted it's failed its own Child poverty target this time around, we should believe you this time? Is that why you've been a little silent lately... ? (Dave Rodway)
Child poverty under the Tories - up by 100,000 a year. Child Poverty under Labour - down by (rough average) 60,000 a year. Plaid Cymru say Independence first. Take your pick.

Who is your political hero and why? (Marcus Warner)
Clement Attlee - everyone knows why, or doesn't know enough history.

Do you believe that the Welsh language should be given official status in Wales? Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the Right to Services in Welsh? Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the right to work through the medium of Welsh? (hedd)
As far as is practical, everyone in Wales should be able to communicate in whichever language they choose in their day-to-day life. But, whichever way you cut it, 80% of people in Wales can't speak Welsh - are you suggesting that we select our future workforce only from the 20% who can?

You mention "services" - does that include business? I would be in favour of businesses, where they can, offering support for workers to take Welsh lessons. I don't favour compulsion on the Welsh language, and I think I'm right in saying that the Welsh Language Board doesn't either. I'm nervous about a rights based approach - but that doesn't mean I'm somehow against the language, I just wish my own attempts at learning had gone better!

What are you going to do to encourage a more comprehensive coverage of Welsh politics in the media? (sanddef)
Am I allowed to agree with Jonathan Morgan? It is not up to us to dictate to the Welsh media what they cover and what they don't. I do think it is a shame that we in Wales don't reap more benefits of having a world class School of Journalism in Cardiff - but perhaps that will come with time.

How would you like to see the assembly develop in the future? (der)
I'm excited about the post-May Assembly. I think we will end up with a much more democratic system, with individual AMs, subject committees - and the public (through a Petitions Committee) - having a say on new legislation in addition to the party or parties of Government. In short - we are facing big changes, let's see how they go before thinking about further development.

How may of the 500 jobs you claimed when the assembly came to Merthyr were real jobs? - ie how many people moved up with the assembly and how may jobs were filled from Merthyr when they arrived *and what other than cleaning jobs were they)? Also, why did you move your family out of the valleys? (valleys mam)
They are all "real jobs", but they are jobs that have moved with the department of Social Justice. Nobody, least of all me, claimed these were 500 new jobs for people in Merthyr - I can send you a copy of the piece I did for the Merthyr Express on this if you don't believe me. But don't be so short-sighted. What kind of impact on the local economy are 500 extra workers going to have? With staff turnover, there will be plenty of opportunities for local people to get work in the new offices - I think, roughly 50 local people already have jobs there. This will be a permanent local employer for people in Merthyr that simply wasn't there before.

And I haven't moved my family out of the Valleys.

Blimey. That was a session. Huw had by far the most questions to answer of all our brave politicians. So what's the verdict? Is it more Mother Teresa than Jeffery Archer? You decide.

Labels: , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 5:15 pm, ,


Has Huw Lewis saved the children yet?
Thursday, January 18, 2007

Merthyr AM Huw Lewis entered the blogosphere in October. Since then, we've had 11 posts, the most recent on December 6th.

Huw's first post goes like this:

"I’m hoping this blog is going to make it easier for people across Merthyr & Rhymney to keep track of my work on your behalf, and to ask questions about local and national issues. Being completely new to blogging, I’m happy to hear any suggestions for the site."

Here's a suggestion: use it.

Labels: , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 11:49 am, ,


The truth behind Welsh fat
Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Is there no end to the surveys saying that Welsh people are the fattest, unhealthiest, stupidest and perhaps even the ugliest in the UK?

Sure, they make great headlines, but the statistics are rarely scrutinised and so, for the sake of an easy story, mud sticks.

Take the BBC's lead last week: Wales top of Britain's sick list

This research was conducted by market research companies CACI and TNS. They target areas by postcode, using an array of official statistics and market data. Funnily enough, they also provide target analysis to supermarkets on localised consumer trends and activity.

According to their survey, Merthyr Tydfil is the most unhealthy town in Britain. And yet a new fast-food complex and giant Tesco store has just opened in the town, no doubt earmarked by some handy market research.

The data which the BBC used to get their top story is produced by CACI to be sold to health providers. No doubt such headlines are very useful to them.

Sometimes, 'Welsh people are fat' just isn't the whole story.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 11:54 am, ,


Rhodri and Hardie
Saturday, December 02, 2006

The first ever Labour MP is now officially commemorated in his constituency.

A bust of Keir Hardie has been unveiled outside the council offices in Aberdare - he won what was the Merthyr and Aberdare constituency in 1900 and held it until his death in 1915.

I wonder what he'd make of Rhodri Morgan's '21st Century Socialism'? Probably not much more than he'd have made of Morgan's 2003 election gimmick, 'Clear Red Water'.

It's all pre-election gobbledygook, isn't it?

He certainly wouldn't have been happy that Ann Clwyd was the MP to unveil him. Hardie was an ardent pacifist who fervently opposed the Great War. Clwyd, by contrast, makes no bones about her support for the war in Iraq.

Merthyr, Aberdare and Wales used to be political melting pots, formative of some of Britain's great ideas and ideals. But back then we had real heavyweight politicians. Hardie said, 'mankind in the mass is not moved by hatred, but by love of what is right.'

But mankind is also moved by great leaders. Regrettably, most Welsh ones are now statues.

Labels: , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 7:48 pm, ,


Can Merthyr get any worse?
Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Merthyr Tydfil was recently voted the third worst town in Britain. But the Welsh Assembly is doing its best to make sure Merthyr wins the honour next time around.

They've won an appeal court decision to inflict one of Europe's biggest opencast sites on the town.

The Environment minister, Carwyn Jones, was found by the high court to have been 'biased' in favour of the scheme by apparently pre-empting a planning decision on the project. But the appeal court has now reversed that decision and so the opencast will go ahead.

Residents are annoyed that the buffer zone between the site and houses will be lower than usual for a project of this scale. In Scotland, there must be a 500m buffer between the mine face and houses. In Merthyr, it'll be just 40m.

Statistics show that Merthyr's people are already among the unhealthiest in Britain. Thanks to the Assembly it looks like Merthyr will be moving up that ladder too.

Labels: , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 10:55 am, ,


Grotty Merthyr
Monday, October 23, 2006

This is what Merthyr Tydfil looked like in its prime.

Now, the trams have gone, the shops have gone and worst of all the life has drained away from the place.

A Channel 4 programme says that Merthyr is the third worst place to live in the UK. Only Hackney and Tower Hamlets are more unpleasant.

I've never been to those alleged London hell holes, but in my experience Merthyr is no paradise.

There was a time, of course, when Merthyr was plagued with disease, people threw raw sewage out of the window and drunken mass brawls were commonplace.

But we've moved on from the 1990s. And these days Merthyr is little better.

The Gurnos council estate is one of the most deprived in Europe. Wales has simply left it behind.

Ironically, leisure and cultural facilities were probably better during the industrial revolution. There's no excuse for the people of Merthyr to help each other out of this rut.

If we believe the council and the Welsh Assembly then our biggest hope is a massive and potentially damaging opencast mining project.

Some hope.

There'll be lots of angry denials from councillors and politicians in the press today. But that won't help Merthyr wake up to the reality of its situation and drive itself into a brighter future.

What's certain is that we can't go on as it is.

Labels:

posted by Blamerbell @ 11:31 am, ,