Bethan Jenkins AC/AM Blog

I’ve wanted to blog about this in a long while- purely to make my views well and truly clear on my right as a politician elected to the National Assembly for Wales to take a vague interest in International affairs, and to discuss such topics either here on this very blog- or in the work that I do as an AM. Its safe to say that when we had a debate on Gaza at the Assembly, while the majority of people welcomed the move, I did receive some scathing emails about ‘wasting taxpayers money’,'pushing our nose into areas beyond our control’. You know the type of thing.

 This was of course ignoring the fact that we had Welsh charities helping those living in Gaza, that the Welsh Government sent medical help, and that people such as myself have Palestinian constituents, with families living out there- desperate for our support, be it through strong political statements or practical help. The debate at the Assembly happened regardless, and it was a lively and engaging debate.

The same concern with AMs discussing International issues cropped up again last week, when I dared to hint that I would be mentioning the protests in Iran and Moldova in the context of my debate on how people use twitter to engage and to mobilise mass action. How dare I contemplate talking about issues outside the control of the Assembly! How dare I waste taxpayers money like this! But again, this is a narrow minded, and introverted argument. I am a member of a party that is fighting for Wales to be recognised on a World stage, where we can be equal, and where we have stature and influence. If we shy away from commenting on International issues then we are doing our constituents a disservice. Surely they have a right to know what our opinions are on a broad range of issues? I get emails asking my opinion on ID cards, trident, asylum seekers, youth justice from constituents. Should I just not reply,  send a generic email back, saying not my problem, guv?

And of course, this matter is relevant in that the Welsh Assembly Government has offices in different countries- in Brussels and in China for example. We have trade agreements with such countries, and spend a lot of money developing links to encourage economic investment to Wales. We need to be aware of what is happening on a global stage for that very reason alone.

I am a Nationalist in that I want full powers for Wales, but I am an Internationalist in that I want Wales to look outwards, learn from what is happening in different countries, and bring those creative new ideas back to Wales. I see no rhyme nor reason why this should be contentious, only in that some narrow minded people

 ( mostly, but not exclusively, from Unionist parties) want to ensure that Wales does what it’s told from the ‘leaders’ in Westminster, and keep quiet on such issues so as not to rock the boat. Now, where’s the justice in that?

Heddi, mae stori yn y Western Mail gyda dyfyniadau gan bobl di enw yn y Blaid Lafur bod yna bosibilrwydd cryf i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol ymuno gyda ni a Llafur yn y glymblaid ar ol i Rhodri Morgan ymddeol. Dwi’n sicr heb glywed unrhyw si o’r fath, ond does dim gwadu bod pobl yn siarad am y ras arweinyddol o fewn y Blaid Lafur, a sut fedrir effeithio ar Cymru’n Un- os fydd yr arweinydd newydd am dynnu allan o’r glymblaid ayb. Mae hwn yn drafodaeth wahanol iawn i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn ymuno a’r glymblaid sydd ohoni.

Dwi’m yn sicr felly faint o gryfder sydd i’r stori yma. Mae’n eithaf chwerthynllyd bod y Demorcratiaid Rhyddfrydol wedi ymateb mor gadarnhaol i’r cysyniad o liwio’r glymblaid yn felyn o feddwl nad oedd diddordeb ganddynt nol yn 2007 i weithio gyda’r Blaid Lafur, na chwaith y glymblaid Enfys. Dwi’n credu bod y Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn ofni cyfaddef pa mor effeithiol mae’r glymblaid presenol- ac yntau fel Plaid gwrthwynebol- yn gwneud, yn enwedig Elin Jones fel Gweinidog. Mae hi yn fygythiad cryf i’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn Ngheredigion yng nhyd destun codi proffil y Blaid ar gyfer ennill y sedd San Steffan yn ol y flwyddyn nesaf.

Mae dyfyniad di enw arall yn erthygl Martin Shipton gan Blaid Cymru- yn awgrymu bod rhai aelodau o Llafur yn cydweithredu gyda’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol i ledaenu straeon fel hwn er mwyn tanseilio Ieuan Wyn Jones yn ei rol fel Gweinidog dros yr economi. Dyw e ddim yn sioc i ddweud bod Kirsty Williams am waed Ieuan bob tro mae cwestiynnau iddo yn y Cynulliad, ond eto, hyd yn oed os yw rhai aelodau o Llafur a’r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol yn siarad- beth ydy’r ots? Pam rhoi hygrededd iddynt? Roedd y blaid wedi colli’r cyfle i fod mewn llywodraeth yma yng Nghymru, ac nawr, yn ol y son, yn ceisio gwthio ei hun ar yr agenda i wneud ei hun yn fwy perthnasol i hynt a helynt gwleidyddiaeth Cymru.Rwy’n teimlo’n flin drostynt mewn ffordd od.

Ta waeth, dyna fy marn bach i am y stori. Mae pethau’n newid o ddydd i ddydd mewn gwleidyddiaeth, ond yn bersonol, dwi ddim yn credu mai nawr yw’r amser i drafod newid y drefn clymbleidiol sydd ohoni yng Nghymru yn enwedig yn ngolau’r sefyllfa economaidd. Mae angen i’r Llywodraeth presenol barhau gyda’r gwaith cadarnhaol o mynd i’r afael a’r problemau, rhoi strategaethau yn ei le, a chyllid i fusnesau sydd yn dioddef ac i bobl sydd yn cael ei wneud yn ddiwaith. Hynny sy’n bwysig, nid y ‘siarad’ sy’n digwydd ar hyd coridorau’r Cynulliad, neu rhwng Mr Shipton a’r di-enw rhai…..