Wednesday, 11th September, 2013
Much ado about nothing
Last month you’ll recall a swathe of controversy was generated around the selection of Milford Haven as Pembrokeshire County Council’s bid town for millions of pounds of Welsh Government funding.
All of Wales’ 22 local authorities made applications for town-centre regeneration funding under the Welsh Government’s ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ scheme, and Milford’s elaborate proposal for £20m worth of regeneration included a piazza and redevelopment of the town centre to mixed-use accomodation.
The controversy over Milford’s selection was compounded by the defection of the representative for the Milford Haven Central ward, Cllr. Steven Joseph, from Plaid Cymru to the ruling party. Following his switch of affiliation to the IPG, which was at the same time as the bid became apparent, Cllr. Joseph told the Western Telegraph that he felt being a member of the ruling group would allow him to ‘get more done for the town,’ but that the town’s selection for funding had ‘nothing to do’ with his decision to join the ruling clique, adding “That bid was made four weeks ago – long before I even considered joining the IPG group.”
The first stage of the selection process in Cardiff Bay has now come to a conclusion, and of the 22 local authority nominated towns, eleven will make it through to stage two.
Unfortunately for Milford Haven, it hasn’t made it past the first hurdle, and as if to add salt to the wound, it’s even missed out on an unexpected consolation.
Following the competitive bid process he oversaw, the minister, Carl Sargeant AM said he was ‘determined’ that the most deprived areas should not be left behind, and decided to ring-fence £5m over the next three years to invest in key projects aimed at tackling poverty in the most deprived towns that didn’t make it past the first hurdle.
Seven towns were successful, the nearest of which was Llanelli.
The minister’s written statement can be found at the following link:
http://wales.gov.uk/about/cabinet/cabinetstatements/2013/newregenframework/?lang=en
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This will be bitterly disappointing for the people of Milford Haven, particularly Cllr. Joseph’s ward. That’s two major disappointing developments during his term of office in less than eighteen months. Both involving his dealings with the IPPG. I think he was correct when he stated that he was “not a politician”.
You are right Jon, a politician would wait, get the news before the newspapers and then claim the credit.
I do believe that Cllr Preston and his Plaid Cymru party, under its leader Cllr Michael Williams from Tenby, should take some of the blame. Cllr Joseph was selected as a suitable person to represent the people of Milford Haven by the so called Party of Wales.
I am told that Cllr Rhys Sinnett, another member of the party, gave him his full support during his election campaign.
Err? That was due to his standing as a Plaid Cymru candidate! Okay, we’ll take the blame for his defection and the failure of his bid. Dear oh dear.
I would have thought that any party, even the party that calls itself the “Party of Wales” would select a candidate who would be in tune with their ideals and not jump ship at the first opportunity.
I note Cllr Preston is saying Plaid Cymru is taking the blame for his defection, perhaps he could enlighten us on where he believes Plaid Cymru failed.
On the failure of the bid, it would be interesting to hear from Cllr Preston how he thinks Plaid Cymru had anything to do with that.
I would say Plaid Cymru failed in identifying a candidate with the conviction to remain true to his electorate. In terms of the bid Cllr Joseph had a network of support through Plaid Cymru from the Welsh Assembly to Westminster and the House of Lords yet he chose to turn inward towards the IPPG.
The observation I have communicated back to Plaid Cymru, The Party of Wales, is that newly elected councillors should be mentored to ensure they are aware of the support that is widely available to them from the officers, members and elected politicians of Plaid Cymru.
So Cllr Preston is of the opinion that new Plaid Cymru councillors need nursing, God bless them.
Cllr Joseph has made a decision, rightly or wrongly, regarding leaving the Plaid Cymru group on Pembrokeshire County Council but at least his electors know where he stands. I take it from the remarks of Cllr Preston he and his fellow councillors were fully aware of the Milford bid.
The last thing Wales needs is elected politicians unable to stand on their own two feet, as we will never get out of the rut that socialist parties have dragged Wales into.
Aah, a little dig at the socialists Malcolm, I now have an indication of your political stance, unlike when you stood as an independent. Anyway as Jacob says ‘much ado about nothing’.
Socialist thinking has brought Wales to the state it now finds itself in but I suppose I do not and have never sought employment in taxpayer funded bodies.
Anyone knowing my history would understand my independent nature.
Socialist thinking brought us the Health Service. Does Malcolm Calver think it should not be funded from taxation? Does he never visit a National Health doctor? Does he think that the army and indeed the Royal Family should be privatised?
I have no objection to the health service being supported out of taxation and indeed it must be funded out of taxation. I do believe that the health service needs to be radically overhauled before it fails, we can make a start by charging those that need hospital treatment through their drug and alcohol abuse. If you can afford to buy drink and drugs you can afford to pay for any treatment for their misuse.
We must also remember all the industries that failed because of socialism/nationalisation i.e railways, steel etc.
The army needs to be maintained by the state but I am sure we could get rid of many of the hangers on. In a modern society is there really a need for a royal family?
How about making those who move into the area pay for any NHS treatment for the first 5 years. It would prevent those who ‘holiday’ here for free treatment and prescriptions.
Socialist mess? I imagine you’re a reincarnation of a landed gentry who feels the working class should shut up and be ruled by superiors.
The majority of those that have moved into this area have more than likely paid into the general UK pot. I am sorry but it was the socialist government of Tony Blair that allowed mass immigration from Europe, whom I presume you think should now be denied medical treatment.
Perhaps you would kindly define working class and let us know if you believe those turning up at A&E through the effects of drug abuse or excessive drinking, should be charged for any treatment.
My comment has nothing to do with immigration. More than likely they have paid into the UK pot. You mention the problem being socialism, nationalism ie railways, now hangers on in the army?
My comment is swaying towards no free NHS for 5 years, in this country, as in Wales. Far too many people ‘holiday’ in Wales for free NHS treatment.
Oh, and socialism brings protection to the working class, whether this be minimum wage or unionism. Without any of this, there would be no middle class, only lower and higher.
Before we descend into an unedifying game of xenophobic ping pong, let us secure the facts.
In 1973 when that arch socialist Ted Heath signed us up to the European Economic Community, he did, inter alia, endorse Directive 1612/68 entitled “Freedom of movement for workers and their families”.
Another crypto socialist and milk snatcher agreed to extend this right to include self employed and European citizens seeking work as set out in the Maastricht Treaty of the now named European Union in 1992.
When the former East European states began joining the EU, the right to cross borders to look for work was watered down by the Schengen Accord in 1995, agreed by John Major, and signed into force by Tony Blair at Amsterdam in October 1997. This agreement, still in force, allows countries to set qualifying conditions and time limits for newly joined countries, ten of them to date. It has been used sparingly by most countries and no restrictions will be in place after 2014 anywhere in the EU as the seven year time limits allowed for the last two joiners, Bulgaria and Romania, runs out.
Darren, you need to take a reality check, do you really believe Wales would survive without the cheque that comes from Westminster?
My comment regarding the railways was about the nationalisation of the railways, not nationalism. Regarding socialism protecting what you call the “working class” I do believe that the divide between rich and poor became wider under the last socialist government.
I personally do not believe there is such a thing as class, but it is obvious from your comment you believe in the class categorisation of people. The fact that you seem to have concerns over a missing working class shows this. I would be interested to know who you believe is lower class.
I note that you failed to comment on the points I made regarding charging for drug and alcohol related treatment on the NHS.
Malcolm, I am somewhat perplexed by your assertion that “the divide between rich and poor became wider under the last socialist government”. There is no evidence for that and I am sure that Mr Attlee did not allow this to happen.
Wales could easily ‘survive’ – as a tax haven.
I’m not saying anything of the sort, I am a British Welshman, proud of my heritage, proud of my country. I don’t like the situation that this country finds itself in, and I don’t like the proven fact that people holiday to get free prescriptions. Buy a holiday home and the postcode gets you something that they can’t get east of the Severn.
Now you throw another question into the pot “Can Wales survive without Westminster” I think the question should be, “Can Westminster survive without the UK” my belief is NO! I find the biggest problem is too many ex pats scaring the population into submission. If you think it’s ok for Westminster to threaten Wales with massive funding cuts unless they do as they’re told, then perhaps Wales should go it alone. It makes me laugh that people think Wales and the Welsh population and infrastructure puts nothing into the UK.
Now for your other questions, why do I divide people into a class? I can go further, those who have, and those who haven’t. I can go even further, those who are paying the price for “those who have caused this crisis”, yet life hasn’t changed.
I can even put this into a better context, you and I. You believe I caused this recession. I believe you look down on me as a second class citizen. You see, I’m a socialist, a realist, a public sector worker.
Cheque from Westminster? I think not!
http://youtu.be/1Gy7f8vP2QY