Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

Like other people, I was quite shocked when I heard Alun Davies AM announce this week that he is seeking the nomination of the Labour party to stand in Blaenau Gwent for the next Assembly election. Fair play  to him if he wants to go back to the ‘area that made him’, and to his roots in South East Wales,  but I can’t understand the logic of building up a base of support for only four years in Mid and West Wales, to move to another seat where Labour are clearly struggling with recent resignations of Councillors, and lack of moral. 

If support for Labour was on an upward spiral then I could see a strong argument for Alun Davies fighting it out with Trish Law and her supporters, but if current polls are anything to go by, this is surely not the case. One thing I think is certain is that he didn’t make the decision alone. But why advise this course of action? Does he need to prove his worth by fighting a constituency seat?

The difficulty Alun Davies has now though is that people will associate him not with the area that he currently represents, but with the campaign in Blaenau Gwent. It has already started in the Senedd- when he asked a question to a Minister on the Western Valleys Initiative, AMs heckled ‘Don’t you mean Eastern Valleys, Alun?’ It will be difficult to represent a certain area, and then try and run a campaign in another- despite the local links involved.

What I haven’t appreciated about this announcement is the hint at personal attacks by Alun Davies on Trish Law’s performance as an AM, describing her as ‘woeful’ and ‘invisible‘. How do you measure that? I am sure that people have their own personal opinions on the performance of various AMs and the way they represent constituents, but I don’t think its proper for fellow AMs to do that judging in the public arena in this manner, at least.  

I can see it getting very nasty indeed. One thing is sure, there will be momentum behind the campaigning yet again in Blaenau Gwent for the Assembly elections, and it doesn’t look as if Trish Law is ready to give in any time soon. Well, that’s if Alun Davies actually gets the nomination. If not,  will Mid and West still want him?…

Today I had the privilege of delivering the opening address at the celebration event of Swansea Young Families Scheme at the The Liberty Stadium in Swansea. It was established in 1994 to address the needs of young vulnerable families- bringing together tenancy support in the home, group work activities and creche sessions.

The support given at the Integrated Children’s Centre in Penlan has provided  young parents with training on how to control their finances, learn how to take care of their children, and on empowering young parents to seek both educational and job opportunities. I spoke to some of the young mothers who have benefited from the scheme before the event started, and they told me about how much they had changed since entering the scheme two years ago- from being too scared to leave the house, to not coping rearing their children alone or managing their finances, to being young and confident women after their time there- taking part in public events and enrolling on taster courses for nursing and so on. Like when I visit such organisations usually, I was equally as inspired by the energy the women exuded.

The young people took part in a dramatic presentation this morning of a woman coping with raising a child with an uninterested and lazy boyfriend in tow, and a mother who had turned to alcohol. We were then told to analyse the drama, and the young women in the audience told us how they feel that people look through them when they seek help from benefits or housing advisers, how they take all responsibility on their shoulders alone, and how juggling all responsibilities are a challenge.

It only goes to show that much more has to be done to support young families and young mothers especially, and this is where work to eradicate child poverty comes in of course, and our determination in the Assembly to address issues surrounding social inequality, and in empowering women.  Perhaps people thought that my blog post the other day was somewhat depressing, but that was never the intention. After today’s event, I again feel motivated you will be glad to know!  They were really pleased to see a young female Assembly Member, and if I can’t be positive about that, then who will be?!

AN EVENT TO MARK INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS’ DAY AND THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO KILL

12 noon to 2.00 p.m., Friday 15 May 2009

Welsh Centre for International Affairs
Temple of Peace, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3AP

Speakers:

Bruce Kent, Movement for the Abolition of War
Robin Brookes, Peace Tax Seven
Frankie Armstrong, singer
George Crabb, CND Cymru (reading declarations by Israeli ‘Refuseniks’)

Chaired by:

Bethan Jenkins AM, National Assembly for Wales

There will also be the laying of a wreath at the Conscientious Objectors’ stone in the National Garden of Peace, beside the Temple.

Organised by Cynefin y Werin, the All Wales network promoting international peace, social justice, human rights and equality.

The event will mark in Wales the world-wide commemoration of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day and those who have and continue to strive for the right not to kill, or pay for the killing of others. Attendance is open to everyone and is free of charge.

A Statement of Opinion on recognition of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day has been put before the National Assembly for Wales. An e-petition on the same issue will be opened for signing by the public on the National Assembly’s web-site in the near future.

For further information, contact:

Jill Gough on Heddwch@cndcymru.org or George Crabb on georgecrabb@ybontfaen.freeserve.co.uk or Stephen Thomas on stephenthomas@wcia.org.uk

If you intend to attend the event, RSVP to Sue Coles at the Welsh Centre for International Affairs on 029 2022 8549 or suecoles@wcia.org.uk.

………………………………………….

DIGWYDDIAD I NODI DIWRNOD RHYNGWLADOL GWRTHWYNEBWYR CYDWYBODOL A’R HAWL I WRTHOD LLADD

Canol Dydd i 2.00 y.p., Dydd Gwener 15 Mai 2009

Canolfan Materion Rhyngwladol Cymru
Y Deml Heddwch, Parc Cathays, Caerdydd CF10 3AP

Siaradwyr:

Bruce Kent, Mudiad i Wahardd Rhyfel
Robin Brookes, Ymgyrch y 7 Heddychwr Treth
Frankie Armstrong, canwraig
George Crabb, CND Cymru (yn darllen datganiadau gan ‘Refuseniks’ o Israel)

I’w gadeirio gan:

Bethan Jenkins AC, Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru

Bydd yna hefyd gosod torch wrth y gofeb i Wrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol yn yr Ardd Heddwch Cenedlaethol, ger y Deml.

Trefnir gan Gynefin y Werin, y rhwydwaith Cymreig sy’n hyrwyddo heddwch rhyngwladol, cyfiawnder cymdeithasol, hawliau dynol a chydraddoldeb.

Bydd y digwyddiad yn nodi yng Nghymru y dathliad byd-eang o Ddiwrnod Rhyngwladol Gwrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol a’r sawl sydd wedi ac yn dal i ymdrechu dros yr hawl i wrthod lladd, ac i beidio talu am ladd eraill. Mae mynediad am ddim ac y mae croeso i bawb.

Mae Datganiad o Farn am nodi Diwrnod Rhyngwladol Gwrthwynebwyr Cydwybodol wedi ei gosod ger bron Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Bydd e-ddeiseb ar yr un pwnc yn cael ei agor ar gyfer ei lofnodi gan y cyhoedd ar wefan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn y dyfodol agos.

Am fwy o wybodaeth cysylltwch â:

Jill Gough ar Heddwch@cndcymru.org neu George Crabb ar georgecrabb@ybontfaen.freeserve.co.uk neu Stephen Thomas ar stephenthomas@wcia.org.uk

I gadarnhau y byddwch yn mynychu’r digwyddiad, a wnewch chi roi gwybod i Sue Coles yn Ganolfan Materion Rhyngwladol Cymru ar 029 2022 8549 neu suecoles@wcia.org.uk.

Its difficult for a politician elected to any given political party to write about the negativity that most people feel towards politicians and politics in general. Politics has become, or never stopped being a dirty word to many people.  I’ve spent some time over the last few weeks with people who either don’t have that much of an interest in politics, don’t understand the processes, want to learn more, don’t know how to, or are turned off by it totally. And I did learn that one friend really likes James Cameron, by the way;-)

I did a quick poll in my head, and I can reveal that most of them said that the one thing that deterred them from voting was the constant griping amongst politicians, the smears and the negativity- the inability to work together despite our differences. This may not be a surprise to anyone. Now, this is where it gets difficult, because by the very nature of being in a political party, it is common practise for me to attack others if they are not promoting policies that I deem to be effective, or if I disagree with their stance on certain issues. I don’t see anything wrong with this as long as I have strong reasons for opposing them, and explain my stance without hesitation. Nonetheless, the waters are muddied when political parties attack one another for the simple reason that they are in a different party, and they feel obliged to attack attack attack- often to the detriment of the very people they purport to represent.

People getting on with their everyday lives cannot fathom why politicians need to take part in such self indulgent actions, knowing full well that this will turn them even further away from politics. I felt like this to a degree before I got involved in party politics while I was living in Aberystwyth. I didn’t want to have to tie myself down to a party. I didn’t want to compromise my views. I wanted to be part of a team, but not if I had to say things I didn’t agree with or be forced to act in a certain way. I certainly didn’t want to oppose  particular political parties just for the sake of it, or just because people would advise me that my alleged ‘political purity’ would be shattered by even speaking to them. We are living in the 21st Century after all!

I can’t tell you that I don’t sometimes have to compromise, that I don’t have to bite my tongue, that  don’t I get angry or frustrated at some decisions or I would be lying, but as with life’s challenges, there is no rose tinted answer to everything. Nobody can be 100% pure in every decision they make.  I will disagree with many policies of other political parties- and my own on occasions. However, listening to my friends speak in broad terms about politics made me take a step back. In fact it made me more confused in a way, because the main reason I came in to politics was to help others, to campaign, and to make Wales a better place. I didn’t enter mainstream politics to fight, to smear, to shout at others.

I know that people do not want to see elected politicians act in such a way, and if that means I won’t be the most successful politician ever- ruthlessly pushing myself to the top of my party, and that I won’t be all powerful and lead an Independent Wales one day, then so be it! At least my friends will still tell me that I’m working hard, that I’m trying my best, and that I stayed true to my word. I can only begin to try and motivate people to realise that many of us are there as elected politicians for the right reasons. I told one friend recently as we walked past the Senedd  ‘That’s your building. You own that’. She looked suddenly quite proud, and I think she started to realise how important it was for her to find out more about what it could achieve for her in her everyday life as opposed to thinking that it was a place for important people with matching titles.

I can only tell people about the campaigns I’m involved in, the people I try to encourage to get involved in my work, and how I seek to communicate with them positively. If it doesn’t work out for me in this arena, then even though my friends are proud of me for being in’Who’s Who’ (!) or tell me that I looked nice in the Western Mail the other week( all the really high brow stuff you will notice;-)) I will still have had a once in a lifetime experience of representing Wales, of playing a small part in the political process…and my friends will be just that little bit more with it when it comes to voting day next time around….I hope!

Today was a historic day in the development of eating disorders services and support in Wales, with the first ever meeting of the steering committee of Beat Cymru- the charity that provides support for sufferers and carers, and training opportunities, notwithstanding strong lobbying of politicians on this most important matter. I am privileged to be on the committee, and we had an exciting few hours discussing plans for the future, and how to promote the presence of Beat Cymru.

There are plans to move forward with a campaign to address the stigma surrounding eating disorders and mental health issues in general, training volunteers to hold support groups all over Wales, and to man phone lines. The new Director in Wales is set to be in post in May, but in the meantime, should you wish to contact them then please email either l.hislop@b-eat.co.uk who works in the South Wales area, or Carwen Griffith on c.griffith@b-eat.co.uk. Exciting times are ahead, and their presence will strengthen the campaign for more services for those with eating disorders in Wales without a doubt. Here is the link for Beat until the Beat Cymru website is up and running also.

If you didn’t think the budget was bad enough already-  forcing more people into debt and financial hardship, then imagine how I felt  when I read that Prince Charles and his family will be set to GAIN from the budget announcement yesterday. The Daily Telegraph reports that through supplementary documents of the budget  as part of the Amendment to the 1993 Memorandum of Understanding on Royal Taxation, Charles will be given the opportunity to refer the cost of an office that he recently set up to support his sons pr mega machine – to the taxpayer!

As Graham Smith from the organisation Republic said, “As the country struggles to deal with massive increases in debt, and while the rich are being asked to fund government spending through a hike in the top rate of tax, we now find Charles dipping his hand further into our pockets.’

While we are campaigning in Wales tirelessly to call on the Government to ensure that child poverty is eradicated by 2020, calling for support for businesses and constituents, Darling thought it right and proper to try and deceive us by slipping this in to the budget.  And this is all so that the Royals can promote their ‘charity’ work, while at the same time being paid to do it by the public. What irony.

And again, this just gives me another reason to say why Wales needs more powers, and a future free of an archaic, out dated Monarchy.

Today’s Budget announced by the Chancellor represents a severe blow to economic recovery in Wales. Judging by the very confused messages from Labour today, we are able to say that the cut to the Welsh budget will come to at least £1 billion between now and 2013 – a shocking figure that will have a significant impact on Welsh communities.

What strikes me is the argument put by Brown and Darling during the recession that spending and stimulus were needed to ease our way out of this situation, and yet given the opportunity, they duck from practicing what they preach and are now chocking vital funds to the Assembly government. It seems to me that this is yet more confirmation that Labour on a UK level is still obsessed with the South East of England and has little interest in helping Welsh communities withstand the current economic meltdown.

The London consensus will never deliver for families and individuals in Wales. Adam Price MP has appeared on BBC news to talk about his reaction to the budget, and you can see his initial opinions  here.

The amount the Government is borrowing- estimated at £175 billion is truely shocking- perpetuating the culture of debt that New Labour initiated when they entered government. They  have also initiated a 50% tax rate for earnings over £150,000 but people are already questioning whether this will in fact backfire on the Government. I hardly see the Tories supporting this one, do you? 

One thing I do know is that this is a reason if ever there was one for more powers for the National Assembly for Wales.

I’ll be keeping a keen eye on people’s reactions to the budget, especially organisations that I work with in my region. I’ll try and blog more comprehensively on it when I have time.

Well, Aneurin Glyndwr’s blog got in there before me to comment on Roger Williams MP’s attack on Plaid for being gutless in Government, although Aneurin Glyndwr takes a somewhat different stance to me on the issue of Independence! Surprise surprise….

I find it somewhat ironic that the Lib dems of all parties are criticising us in this manner. Plaid is fighting for more powers, we are spearheading the debate on the future of Wales. Yes the current LCO system is complicated and cumbersome, but that is not of our making as a party. It has been MPs in Westminster ( and you know who you are) who have been intent on stalling progress on Welsh laws in a childish attempt at grasping on to the last vestiges of power in London. Most people can see through their petty games.

And we are committed to holding a referendum on a Parliament for Wales as part of the One Wales agreement. For now we do have to go cap in hand to London, but that is not a situation that Plaid created, Roger Williams should know that full well.

The only party who is gutless in all of this as far as I can see is the Lib dems for failing to make a decision on whether to join a coalition at all after the Assembly elections in 2007! A party that always sits on the fence surely cannot criticise a party of action?

I hope people will attend the following event that myself and Dr Dai Lloyd AM are hosting soon…

Dwi’n gobeithio fydd pobl yn ystyried mynychu’r digwyddiad yma yn Abertawe gyda Dr Dai Lloyd AC a fi yn fuan….

Cinio Dathlu 10 Mlynedd o Ddatganoli
- Gyda Dr Dai Lloyd AC a Bethan Jenkins AC

Mae Plaid Cymru yn eich gwahodd i ymuno a Bethan Jenkins a Dai Lloyd i ddathlu 10 mlynedd o ddatganoli. Dewch i fwynhau pryd 3 chwrs, siaradwr gwadd (i’w gadarnahu) a’r cyfle i ennill noson i ddau yng Ngwesty Morgans, Abertawe!

PRIS: £35
LLEOLIAD: Gwesty Morgans, Abertawe
PRYD: Nos Sadwrn 16eg o Mai
AMSER: 7.30yh

Archebwch eich tocynnau nawr drwy cysylltu a Vici Jones.
E-bost: vicijones@plaidcymru.org
Ffon: 02920 475921

Celebrate 10 Years of Devolution Dinner

Hosted by Dr Dai Lloyd AM and Bethan Jenkins AM

Plaid Cymru invites you to join Bethan Jenkins and Dai Lloyd to celebrate 10 years of Devolution. Come and enjoy a 3 course meal with guest speaker and chance to win a night for 2 at Morgans Hotel, Swansea!

PRICE: £35
LOCATION: Morgans Hotel, Swansea
DATE: Saturday 16th of May
TIME: 7.30

Book your tickets now by contacting Vici Jones
Email: vicijones@plaidcymru.org
Tel: 02920 475921

Facebook group/ Grwp Facebook

Just wanted to provide you a link to Leanne Wood AM’s blog who is telling you all about the new bi-monthly magazine Celyn, which is due to come out to mark the 10th anniversary of the first Assembly elections. Many people from across the political spectrum were keen to set something like this up in Wales, and all credit to the editorial team for the work that’s gone in to producing  it- a way in which we can discuss Welsh politics and International issues. It was inspired by the Scottish Left Review.

Well, pop over to Leanne’s blog, and order your copy of the first edition of Celyn….