Tory comments on Remploy reinforce Plaid’s devolution calls

Time for Labour to stop the rhetoric and take action

Plaid Cymru has reiterated its call for the Welsh Government to take real action to protect the interests of Welsh Remploy workers by bringing it under Welsh control following callous comments made by the Tory Pensions Secretary. Comments by Iain Duncan Smith which suggest that Remploy factories do not offer ‘proper jobs’ have revealed once again that the UK Government fails to understand the importance of continued support for disabled and vulnerable workers.

The Welsh Government has been accused of hypocrisy by Plaid Cymru after a Labour Minister declared the decision ‘wrong’ on social and economic grounds. This is despite a similar move by the former Labour Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain to close Remploy factories in 2007, where the closure of 28 factories was approved.

Plaid Cymru has now called on the Welsh Government to actively seek the devolution of the budget so that it can be protected and to avoid the closure of Welsh Remploy factories.

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Equal Opportunities Lindsay Whittle said:

“Plaid Cymru has long called for the budget for Remploy to be devolved so that it can be protected, and that is what the Welsh Government should be seeking to do. Clearly the Tory Secretary for Pensions doesn’t understand the importance of Remploy. These are factories that employ thousands of disabled workers who will find it extremely difficult to find work anywhere else.

“Remploy workers are facing redundancy and all the Labour Government is doing is wagging its finger. This rhetoric has no impact on the workers who want to know that their government is actively looking to support and protect their livelihoods.

“It is high time Labour listened and took action. Thousands of workers are facing redundancy and any hope of future employment is slim. Talk is cheap; Labour now needs to act.”

Ysgol Haf Bala 2011

This is the first Ysgol Haf that we have attended , and in short was fantastic .

Friday kicked off with a warm welcome from JILL EVANS the Party President and then GERAINT DAY gave us an Introduction to the weekend and we also we all got to introduce ourselves to each other.

From the options of activities we chose from , this is the route we took  .

 

Lecture by LEANNE WOOD AM on the Greenprint for Wales   

  The SNP breakthrough . lessons to be learnt ALYN SMITH SNP MEP









We then had Supper - Tea , which i got to say the food was good . Once we had eaten we went for a quiz followed by a gig by DAFYDD IWAN

above video is 1 of 14

 Saturday started with breakfast and once we finished we proceeded to the days first activities , which in our case was Canvassing Basic Guide with GERAINT DAY .




That was then followed by a very interesting :)
chat and discussion by LINDSEY WHITTLE AM















We then went to learn about Treeware with Shaughan Feakes .Which we found very interesting and can see how useful its going to be in helping us in building up PLAID CYMRU in the ABERAVON CONSTITUENCY in the future .

After a tea break it was time to go listen to ADAM PRICE on his lecture Economics of Small Nations which was introduced by JILL EVANS MEP . I think i speak for many others who where at Ysgol Haf in saying "Come Back Home" the guy is amazing .

After Dinner we had a trip to Fron Goch and to Tryweryn where a local gave a talk on the events that happened . I filmed him speaking about Tryweryn however when I got home to upload it to our Youtube Channel you couldn't hear the man talking just a load of muffled noise from the wind howling down the MIC . shame really as it would of been good .

Sunday  started with breakfast again then we then had a talk by Owen Roberts about Local Election Literature . Which was both interesting and helpful in getting ourselves prepared for the 2012 Local Elections .
Followed by a General discussion and feedback with GERAINT DAY .
After Lunch which was another quality meal it was time to go back home , which was a shame as we had such a great time . We already made the decision we are going to the NEXT Ysgol Haf even before this on was over so roll on next time .

Russell Morris