Plaid Cymru leader to establish Commission on Sustainable Communities

Urgent report on Welsh language communities first task of long term group

Plaid Cymru’s leader Leanne Wood has today announced the formation of a Sustainable Communities Commission.

The Commission will be headed by Llyr Gruffydd AM and Bethan Jenkins AM, and will develop the party’s vision for ensuring our communities are economically, environmentally and linguistically sustainable and able to flourish over the coming decades.

In addition to its longer term work, the Commission will report by Autumn this year on the future of the Welsh language at a community level fulfilling a pledge made by Ms Wood during her leaderhip campaign.

This is the second of a series of commissions to be announced by the new leader, following the appointment of an Economic Commission last month. The commissions are intended to look at key policy areas and feed into Plaid Cymru’s vision of a strong and sustainable Wales.

Plaid Cymru Leader Leanne Wood said;

“My aim is to pull together a group of experts, from both inside and outside the Party to be part of developing a long term plan to ensure that our communities overcome the huge challenges of today and flourish in the decades to come.

“Llyr and Bethan will lead on the work of this commission, reporting back on individual elements of the commission in stages over the next four years. I look forward to reading the first stage report of the group on the future of Welsh language communities soon. Welsh faces serious challenges at a community level, and all political parties have a duty to come up with answers to strengthening our unique national language in the 21st century."

Llyr Gruffydd AM, who will lead on matters relating to the environment, regeneration and housing, said:

“Creating sustainable communities is essential to the future success of our nation. We want to look at how we can rebuild and strengthen our communities, ensuring that were utilising the enormous natural resources of our nation along with the talent of all its people.

“Our work will consult widely on elements such as how we build our green economy, invest in our knowledge base and create the right infrastructure for a 21st century Wales.”

Bethan Jenkins AM will look at aspects of linguistic sustainability, she added:

“Sustainability is more than just being green. We also want to ensure a truly bilingual nation where both our languages are able to flourish. That means ensuring that, for example, communities are able to offer sustainable jobs, affordable homes and wider opportunities for our young people to stay and contribute to their communities.

“The first stage of this commission will focus on the Welsh language – looking at how we can ensure it flourishes as a living every-day language in our communities over the coming decades.

“Plaid Cymru has proven that it is committed to delivering for the people of Wales, and that is what our focus will be with this commission. Our aim is to bring forward clear and realistic recommendations that will benefit communities across the whole of Wales.”

Concerns raised that AWEMA bosses to receive pay-offs

Plaid AM asks for guarantee that no public money will be spent

A Plaid Cymru AM has asked for assurances from the Labour Welsh Government that no public funds will be used to pay-off AWEMA officials implicated in the charity's financial mismanagement.

Bethan Jenkins AM said that sources connected to AWEMA had raised concerns that officials implicated in recent reports into financial mismanagement at the charity would receive 'redundancy payments' as the organisation's affairs are brought to an end.

Ms Jenkins said that given the extent of maladministration highlighted in last week's official report, and previous reports, it would be scandalous for those responsible to receive any further public money.

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins represents South Wales West where AWEMA is based. She said:

"People connected with AWEMA have voiced concerns that those at the centre of allegations of financial mismanagement at AWEMA will now receive pay-offs as the charity is wound up.

"It cannot be right that any public funds should be given out in this way. Those responsible for the financial mismanagement at AWEMA should not be allowed to receive any more taxpayers’ cash.

"I've asked the Welsh Finance Minister for a cast-iron guarantee that no public money will be given to those people implicated in the affair, unless they are first cleared of any wrongdoing."

Lack of delivery - hallmark of Labour government

24/01/2012

Plaid Cymru AM, Bethan Jenkins, has said that Labour’s lack of delivery is a record to be ashamed of. The Plaid Cymru AM for South Wales West said that the reality of Labour government has been uncertainty, confusion, downgraded services, reduced terms and conditions for council workers and a distinct lack of delivery.

Bethan Jenkins AM highlighted areas where she said that Labour has failed to deliver:

- On the economy - the Labour government has failed to deliver a proper economic stimulus plan to help the people of Wales through these tough economic times

- On education – the Labour government has delivered uncertainty in schools with the banding system which has undermined schools and cause confusion amongst pupils and parents

- On health – rather than delivering, the Labour government appears intent on dismantling the health service on a local level

- In local government – Labour councils have treated their workforces with contempt slashing 40% off the wages of some of the lowest paid workers, even threatening them with a lock-out if they did not accept.

Plaid Cymru AM Bethan Jenkins said:

“Labour should be ashamed of their record of delivery in the eight months since they formed the Welsh government. In education, health, the economy and local government they have delivered nothing of value. At a time when the people of Wales are looking to their government to help protect their jobs, Labour has failed to deliver a proper economic stimulus plan. In health they are intent on delivering what they promised they would not deliver – a downgrading plan which will dismantle the health service on a local level. In education, their school banding plans have caused uncertainty among parents, pupils and teachers and have undermined the standing of schools in their communities.

“In Labour run councils in Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and RCT, they have treated their workforces shamefully, slashing wages by up to 40% and threatening lock outs and dismissal for non-compliance.

“Labour seems content to sit-back and let Wales feel the full force of the economic crisis so that they can blame the Tories for all that goes wrong.” 

Plaid Leader unveils new team for 4th Assembly

Shadow cabinet to work for a better Wales

Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM has unveiled his new Shadow Cabinet.

Mr Jones pledged that the new team will work hard to hold government to account as well as promote Plaid’s policy agenda. The Plaid leader re-affirmed his party’s election promise to represent people from all parts of Wales.



Spokespersons in the new Plaid Cymru shadow cabinet:

Finance & the Constitution: Ieuan Wyn Jones AM

Planning, Business Manager & Chief Whip: Jocelyn Davies AM

Health: Elin Jones AM

Education, Higher Education & Skills: Simon Thomas AM

Business, Enterprise, Technology & Science: Alun Ffred Jones AM

Housing & Regeneration: Leanne Wood AM

Europe, Local Government, Communities & Transport: Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM

Environment & Energy: Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM

Heritage, Welsh Language & Sport: Bethan Jenkins AM

Social Services, Children & Equal Opportunities: Lindsay Whittle AM

Rural Affairs (inc. Agriculture, Animal Health & Welfare): Llyr Huws Gruffydd AM



Plaid Cymru Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones AM said:


“The pool of talent from which I have been able to choose this shadow cabinet is very strong. Not only does Plaid Cymru have a wealth of experience amongst our long established AMs, we have also gained new members who have a vast amount to contribute.

“Without a majority government in place at this time, the Plaid team’s responsibility is to ensure that any Welsh government plans that come before the National Assembly are fit to bring about real improvements for the people of Wales. Our focus will remain firmly fixed on ensuring that the voice of every part of Wales is heard loud and clear in the Senedd.”

THE AFTERMATH - By BETHAN JENKINS AM

It would be wrong for me to say that Plaid did well in the National Assembly election campaign. To come third to the Tories in Wales is a reality that I am far from comfortable with, but something we must face up to, and address. You may have read comments online recently and in the press about the views of individual Plaid members and political commentators – from blaming the lack of Welsh press, to the strategy, to the fact that this was a referendum on the UK government’s cuts where Plaid got squeezed in the debate, and the role of Plaid post the referendum on more powers for our National Assembly.

All of these elements were raised at the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on Saturday, which followed Ieuan’s Friday announcement that he will stand down as leader within the next two years. We are conducting a full analysis of the election results, the processes within the party, how decisions were carried out, where resources were prioritised, and how party members on a grassroots level are kept up to date with the national campaign.

We can take lessons from the SNP, although I must add that trips to Scotland by Plaid members happen already, and we are gaining a greater understanding of what they are doing by carrying out such research. We cannot directly compare the SNP’s results with ours, but we should never turn the opportunity down to learn from them, or from other parties across Europe where we have clear links.

What has always struck me is that when I visit my friends who are in the SNP, they never appear satisfied with the current constitutional arrangements, and raise their arms to indicate quote marks when discussing the Scottish ‘Parliament’ – they seem to suggest that they do not see it as such until they win Independence for their Nation. We should have the same confidence and passion to talk about the future constitutional aims of our party, and more importantly, discuss what type of Wales we want to see in an Independent Wales. We need to do this without fear that our political opponents will scaremonger or criticise us. They will do that anyway!

I am not sure that I share the concern of others who are asking ‘what is Plaid for?’ I know that Plaid is for greater autonomy for Wales, but for me it is the type and scope of that debate that we should be assessing- we need to look at what Plaid as a movement can now offer the people of Wales.

We must appeal to more people, for a start. Relying on the Fro Gymraeg for support is not sustainable if we want to realistically win seats in the South Wales Valleys and in cities like Swansea and Cardiff. This must be an aspiration if we really want to be the party of Wales. What we need to do is show Labour up for what it is – a party interested in winning for power’s sake. We need to change people’s perception of Plaid by proving that we can be effective representatives, and that we are an integral part of the communities in which we live and work.

Nonetheless, the elephant in the room with regards to the ongoing success of Labour in Wales is the unwavering support that they gain from trade unions who are affiliated to the Labour party, despite the fact that in Neath Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taff, for example, the Labour-run councils have been far from effective in dealing with staff entitlements and conditions in the last few months. Please don’t get me wrong-there are Plaid members in these unions who do a great job of representing their colleagues, and I support many of the campaigns that unions carry out across Wales. But in my view, we need to create a new Welsh trade union system, that is not tied up to the Labour party, that offers its own distinctive agenda.

Cosying up to Labour now will not win us seats, especially when Labour tribalism in many of our towns is as strong as it has ever been. The relationship between Plaid and Labour in the Assembly for the last four years may have been relatively stable, but this was not reflected on a grassroots level. Carwyn needs to eradicate the tribalism in his own party before re-entering talks with Plaid Cymru on any level. The ball is not only in our court in terms of change and reform, but in Labour’s too.

Carwyn Jones cannot expect to gain our support for vital votes in the Assembly and then take all the credit for getting legislation through, and he cannot assume that we will support the Government so that there will be stability for Labour in Wales. If they carry out initiatives that we do not agree with, we should not shy away from saying so. And we should also note the fact that Labour will seek to implement policies in Wales because they are not in power on a UK level, and will push issues like fairer funding when they failed to do so for so many years.

Of course I am pleased that Plaid in government played a key role in delivering a referendum on more powers for the National Assembly. I wanted the referendum sooner, but such debates are quite easy to have in hindsight, and the fact that we won the referendum is the most important thing. But just because coalitions are becoming the norm, and just because we have had a taste of power does not mean that as a party, or more importantly, as a movement, we should seek power for power’s sake. If it means we are in opposition for some time so that we can strengthen and re energise, then so be it. If it means that we can become bolder and clearer in what we do then why should that be seen as a negative? We need to develop our appeal as a party, reach out, and become the true party of Wales.

http://www.bethanjenkinsblog.org.uk/the-aftermath