Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

This story made me chuckle today- of a gnome ruthlessly kidnapped from its home in Gloucester. It travelled to places such as China, Thailand, Hong Kong (the lucky thing) telling its owner that it had ‘itchy feet’ ( well wouldn’t you if you were stuck at the bottom of the garden all day every day?)

If you are a huge fan of the film Amelie like myself, then this little incident will not be as mad as others would perceive it to be, but it has provided some comedy value for the press!

I did think that this was a good story for the silly season, but Gloucestershire Police clearly take this matter very seriously indeed. They are quoted as saying-

‘Any theft of a person’s property, even if it is carried out as a joke, will be treated as a crime by police. What may seem like a laugh to one person can cause distress to another.’

So that will teach any future potential gnome snatchers a lesson….

There have been many more movements of late in the press by Plaid politicians in pushing forward the debate on Welsh independence, and its role in shaping the Wales of the future. The Independence Initiative, which will be launched shortly will provide us with an outlet as party members to discuss independence openly and frankly. It will challenge us to research current public percepctions across Wales, and force us to explore bold policy areas that compliment our drive for an independent Wales.

The time is ripe for Plaid to be addressing the issue of independence in order that we take devolution forward on our own agenda. Devolution has previously been dominated by the internal wranglings within the Labour party, and we have followed suit in the hope of getting a deal- any deal in effect, to bring power closer to the people of Wales. Now that Plaid is in Government in the Bay, we should be thinking much more about leading the debate on the National question. After all, it is our party, and ours alone, that is based solely in Wales, with the interests of those in Wales at the heart of everything we do. We are not governed by leaders in London who will only consider the progression of devolution if it means making political gains elsewhere. It is not a game for us, it is one of the main reasons for our existence as a party.

Of course, there are varying opinions within the party of what an independent Wales should and would look like. In my mind, more powers must come hand in hand with a core aim of advancing the social justice agenda. I know that Labour AM Huw Lewis does not appreciate my opinions in this area at all, but remaining part of the UK, in my mind, will not serve to eradicate child poverty in Wales, for example.

Naturally, Plaid members will have differing opinions regarding the make up of an independent Wales, but I don’t believe that we can, or should shy away from having that debate. The SNP are confident in their aspirations for an Independent Scotland. So too should we in Plaid Cymru- and refuse to sit in the shadows of the Salmond rhetoric.

Cynog Dafis reacted to Helen Mary Jones AM’s excellent article on independence in the Western Mail by stating that-

‘The.. danger is that by putting the emphasis on Independence, we take our eye off the really important ball, which is to achieve things for Wales in the here and now. ‘

I would disagree with Cynog here and say that we can only shape the hear and now by being clear in our minds about what we want any Wales of the future to look like. My ‘here and now’ are policies and initiatives that I support and develop of the present to ensure that progressive agendas are sustained for the future, and retained as key flanks in any independent Welsh Nation.

And when exactly is the ideal time to talk about independence? We will be waiting and waiting for the Unionist parties to initiate that debate, unless a facilitation of a total realignment of Welsh politics takes place- where we will be discussing a very different Wales altogether!

So lets start the debate now in line with the National Convention and the referendum on a Parliament for Wales, and tackle the negative perceptions from cynics and Unionist party scaremongering once and for all.

I just wanted to remind readers about the Pontardawe Festival that is starting on the 15th of August in the town where I live. I will be going to the Thursday Steve Eaves gig most definitely. I sincerely hope that its not a wash out like last year. We need some good luck please! There’s a wider variety of artists playing, and you can check out the gig listing at www.pontardawefestival.com. If you are IT savvy then you can also join their Facebook and myspace groups, and get updates on what the festival has to offer that way.

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O’n i jyst am atgoffa darllenwyr bod Gwyl Pontardawe yn dechrau ar y 15fed o Awst eleni. Byddaf yn mynd i weld gig Steve Eaves yn sicr. Rwy’n mawr obeithio na fydd yr wyl yn cael ei ddifetha gan law fel blwyddyn diwethaf. Mae nifer o artistiaid o wahanol fathau o gerddoriaeth yn ware yno, a fedrwch chi edrych ar y rhestr o artisitiaid ar www.pontardawefestival.com. Os ydych yn gwbod eich stwff o ran y we, yna mae gan yr wyl grwpiau ar Facebook a myspace, ac fedrwch cael diweddariadau ar ddigwyddiadau y ffordd hynny.

Nicole Cooke

 I know that every politician in Wales will jump at the opportunity to congratulate Nicole Cooke on her Olympic win in the Women’s Cycling Road Race, and I didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity either. Its brilliant that a Welsh woman has won a Gold medal ( even though she couldn’t win it for Wales but I’m digressing) at the Olympics. She is a role model for other young Welsh women who are ambitious in their fields.

I am somewhat jealous however that a sporting achievement is seen as a positive thing for young women, but when you compare that to how us young female politicians are portrayed, then the story is very different indeed.

Anyway, congratulations Nicole. Wales is on the map despite the missing flag…

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Rwy’n gwybod yn iawn y bydd bron pob gwleidydd yng Nghymru yn neidio at y cyfle i longyfarch Nicole Cooke am ennill y ras seiclo ffordd i Fenywod yn y gemau Olympaidd, a doeddwn i ddim am fethu’r cyfle chwaith. Mae’n wych o beth ei fod wedi ennill y fedal aur ( er nad yw’n gallu ei hennill ar rhan Cymru) yn y gemau. Mae hi’n esiampl gwych i fenywod ifanc Cymru sydd yn uchelgeisiol yn eu gyrfaoedd amrywiol.

Mae gen i elfen o genfigen ati hi er hynny, oherwydd pan fod menyw ifanc yn ennill wobr chwaraeon o fri, mae hyn wastad i’w weld fel peth i’w ddathlu.  Ond pan rwyt ti’n cymharu hwn gyda sut mae gwleidyddion ifanc sy’n fenywod yn cael eu portreadu, yna mae’r stori yn hollol wahanol…

Ta waeth, llongyfarchiadau Nicole. Mae Cymru ar y map, er gwaetha’r ffaith bod y faner ar goll…

For all of those who have been redirected to this new blog, welcome. I will be posting all new blogs at this site in the future. I may have some teething problems to start with, so keep with me on this.

Welcome!

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I bawb sydd wedi cael eich ail gyfeirio i’r blog newydd, croeso. Byddaf yn postio pob blog newydd o’r fan hyn yn y dyfodol. Efallai byddaf yn cael problemau bach cychwynol i ddechrau, felly plis byddwch yn amyneddgar.

Croeso!

I am far from convinced by the idea floated by the Institute for Welsh Affairs of an elected Mayor for ‘The Valleys’. It sounds like an idea from somebody who doesn’t live in South Wales (oh, it is!) It also sounds quite patronizing, and quite frankly if I should be excited about praising the system which elected Boris Johnson as Mayor of London then there is something seriously wrong! As Valleys Mam says in her impassioned blog on this issue, there are schemes to re- energise said communities already in place. Would a Boris-esque hero save ‘The Valleys’ from destruction and doom?

The whole point of devolution is to bring politics closer to the people. I certainly don’t believe that another tier of government in the form of a Mayor is the answer to the question in relation to the development of the South Wales communities that are mentioned in the report.

And while we’re on the subject, where do you actually stop when you talk about ‘The Valleys’? There’s been arguments over many a year now within valleys communities themselves about who are the real valleys communities (Yes, its true) Do we really want to open up that debate again?! ( I think of the old Aberdare, Rhondda hatred for one which stems from the Miners strikes.)

The fact that the report was launched in Cardiff says it all, really. It would also help if the Westminster government stopped their centralisation agenda of closing HMRC offices that provide key jobs for people in the South Wales area, stop closing Job Centre offices and moving all the positions to Cardiff, and stop actively working against the Welsh Assembly Government’s agenda of seeking to devolve key offices to areas such as Merthyr Tydfil.

Let the debate continue.

Notoriously, I haven’t blogged in a while. Perhaps because I’ve been more busy than usual. Recess has portrayed this negative image of politicians holidaying- but only in camper vans or tents over Wales, mind. We don’t do flying any more, at least those of use who a( hate flying ( that’s me for the record. Since my car crash I am awful on a plane. or b) are trying to show off about their environmental credentials …or c) like me( again) haven’t actually taken any holiday at all.

I have been dealing mainly with issues that constituents have raised with me in the past few weeks, and taking the opportunity to visit more organisations in my region, like the Port Talbot Tigers football team- a team of people wanting to encourage those from ethnic minorities in the area to take part in a team sport, and to integrate with the wider community.

I’ve also visited People’s First Neath Port Talbot who provide advocacy services for people with learning disabilities, and who are hoping to develop a transition service for those who are aged between 16-18 years of age, as well as visiting Sarn Residents Association to see the work that they are carrying out in the community.

I love what I do for the reason that I can visit so many differing organisations and people, and help them in achieving their goals. So many people have negative images of politicians, but from the community groups I’ve visited, and the constituents who place their faith in me to help them, I feel a huge responsibility to assist them, and not to let them down.

In that sense, I am a servant to them- to help them and to reassure them that we can try and progress their case, their grant application, their appeal process and so on. So when I sit down at night, I can relax in the knowledge that there are people out there who appreciate me, and the help that I give them. That one letter will put a look of relief on their faces, that a mention in plenary will bring the issue closer to their goal, and that one meeting with a Minister will further their agenda. This is what its all about. Its not about petty political point scoring or stupid gossiping. Its about making people realise that they can put their trust in politicians, and that we will fight for them until the end, no matter what.

I’m off to the Eisteddfod tomorrow. I hope I have a productive day!