Leighton Andrews

Leighton wears it pink for breast cancer campaign

Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews joined forces with Breast Cancer Wales to take part in their annual “Wear it Pink” campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer.

The “Wear it Pink” campaign – now in its 11th year – will see supporters on Friday 25th October 2013 from all over Wales embracing this year’s theme of superheroes.
 
Speaking ahead of this year’s annual “Wear it Pink” day, local AM Leighton Andrews said:
 
“Every year in Wales, over 2,600 women and are diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 600 will die from the disease. On average, 15 men will also get breast cancer.

“Many of us have lost friends, family and loved ones to the disease, which is why it’s important for us to get behind the campaign as well as help to raise vital funds needed for research into developing a cure.”

 

I'm backing Malky

 

Malky Mackay is the best manager Cardiff City have had in a generation. I was proud to welcome him and the team to the Senedd last May to celebrate winning the championship.

Sadly, since my last post, it has been confirmed that Iain Moody, who was highly rated, not least by Malky and by players like Craig Bellamy, has now left the club.

I know that good people have been working behind the scenes to give assurances to Malky and to ensure a better system of corporate governance is in place at the club.

Mystery still surrounds the claimed overspend on transfers, though I have heard from a number of sources that there was no overspend, but there were misunderstandings on the details of accounting for the transfers which have had an impact on cash-flow.

I hope everyone is aware of how vital Malky is to our staying in the premiership, and I hope that no-one is under any illusions how deeply fans support him. If he were to go it would destabilise the club, and it would have a serious impact on the credibility of those in charge of the club's corporate affairs.

Cardiff City - reading between the lines

Yesterday like most Cardiff City fans I woke up to hear the bizarre news surrounding the 'suspension' of the club's Head of Recruitment, Iain Moody.

I refrained from commenting during the day until by early evening I had gathered enough information from other fans and journalists. 

Thousands of my constituents are Cardiff City fans. There is obviously a major public interest in this story. Equally obviously, it is important not to inflame the situation and make things worse. In sport, as in politics, business and trade union negotiations, it is important to focus on the outcome you wish to achieve and not be distracted by matters that could derail that objective.

My concern, as a fan and as someone who represents a constituency with thousands of City fans in it, is that full support is given by the club to the best manager we have had in a generation, Malky Mackay. On the basis of the information I have, which is certainly not complete, I believe that requires the reinstatement of the Head of Recruitment, Iain Moody.

This is a delicate situation - legal issues of employment law, defamation and the necessity to protect whistle-blowers are involved.

My reading of the situation has been reinforced by two stories breaking overnight. In this Wales Online story, the owner says that the transfer budget was overspent. In this Guardian story, suggestions are made as to who was responsible for signing contracts. Is the Guardian story accurate?

I will post more if I get to know more.

Benefit cuts question to First Minister

Leighton Andrews
  
Does the First Minister agree that the biggest impact on poverty in Wales is caused by the UK Government’s welfare cuts, such as the bedroom tax? Does he also agree with me that the impact of the latest proposals of the UK Government to make claimants sign in at job centres on a daily basis could mean that many of my constituents would have to pay more than half their benefit in travel costs?
  
Finally, is the First Minister aware that today the Prime Minister has said that he does not know the price of a loaf of bread because he uses a breadmaker? I think that the breadmaker is called Clegg. Does the First Minister agree with me that the clear message going out from the UK Government to those in poverty is that they should buy a breadmaker?
 
 Carwyn Jones 
 Y Prif Weinidog / The First Minister 

 ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ says the Lord’s Prayer. That is not something that the UK Government is providing for the vast majority of people. ‘Give us this day our daily breadmaker’ sounds more like it. However, I think the point is a serious one, and it is this: with the bedroom tax—[Interruption.] What is the price of a loaf of bread? It depends what type it is. It varies between 60p and £2.50, depending on where you buy it and what type of bread it is. It is like asking what the price of a car is. [Interruption.]
 
 Y Dirprwy Lywydd / The Deputy Presiding Officer 

 Order. The hubbub has now got to the scale where I cannot hear what is going on. I do know the price of bread, so I did not need that information. First Minister, you really should not react to sedentary comments, ever.
 
 Carwyn Jones 
 Y Prif Weinidog / The First Minister 

 As somebody who is often told by people in Bridgend, ‘It’s nice to see you out shopping in the local shops’, that is something that I am more than familiar with. I am given the task, when I am free, to go shopping, so I am familiar with the price of bread and litres of milk. 

The serious point here is this: there are people who will be suffering as a result of these benefit cuts. The point that the Member for the Rhondda makes about travel costs is a serious point. People will now have to lose money in order to sign in, for no apparent purpose or reason; it will not help them to get jobs and to reduce the number of people who are unemployed. It is the same with the idea that people who are long-term unemployed should be made to work. That is an argument that many people in Wales would find attractive, I understand that, but it is not an attractive argument if it means that those people would be doing work that people who are paid to do it can no longer do, and they lose their jobs as a result. We know from the bedroom tax and the benefit cuts that the reality is that the message the Tories and the Lib Dems are trying to project is that people who are unemployed have only themselves to blame. That is what they are saying. The people who are being made redundant—it is their own fault. The people who lose their jobs because of the economic conditions created by the UK Government—it is their fault. That is the narrative that they are trying to construct, but the reality is that none of them understands the true cost on individuals and families in Wales of the benefit cuts that their Government is taking forward.

Iain Duncan Smith and the continuing relevance of Gwyn Thomas

Yesterday, in a much-trailed speech, Iain Duncan Smith made it clear that some claimants would be expected to spend 35 hours per week in a job centre. That means daily trips to job centres. As I said in the Assembly yesterday in questions to the First Minister,  some of my constituents would have to spend more than half of their benefit on travel.

Of course, no-one should be allowed to claim benefit fraudulently. But it will be ordinary claimants who will be caught by this scheme. There aren't job centres in all communities, and that means bus or train journeys - bus journeys only in the Rhondda Fach - for most.

I am currently reading Gwyn Thomas's novel about the Rhondda in the 1930s, Sorrow for thy Sons, as part of my background research for this centenary celebration evening in the Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy on October 24th . It was the first novel he wrote, though it wasn't published until after his death. The following passages are particularly relevant today:

The Labour Exchange was a church hall....The vicar had not demurred when the government converted the hall into a Labour Exchange. Three thousand men, drawn from a two mile radius, signed there. The vicar said that this was the finest use to which the hall had ever been put.

If this latest IDS policy is implemented, then the UK government will need local Labour Exchangees again, if it is not to force those on benefit to spend their income on travel. Well, I suppose we have a few church halls, community centres and institutes that could be used. It's back to the Thirties folks, and no exaggeration.

 

 

'Upper Crust' PM doesn't know the price of value bread!

 

Prime Minister David Cameron guessed that a "value sliced white loaf" would cost "well north of a pound", when he was quizzed about the cost of living on LBC 97.3 Radio.

When it was put to him that the loaf would cost 49 pence, Mr Cameron again said he did not buy “value” bread because he uses a breadmaker. 

Only hours before Boris Johnson had admitted on Newsnight that he did not know the price of a pint of milk. He told Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman it was "about 80p or something like that".
 
Told it was half that, he conceded: "Well there you go, I don't know how much a pint of milk costs. So what?"

These confessions go some way to explaining the shambles of the 'pasty tax' last year.

 

 

 

Leighton Andrews supports the World's Biggest Coffee morning for Macmillan

Leighton Andrews supported Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Wednesday 27th September 2013 at the Senedd. 

He is also calling on the people of The Rhondda to get involved by holding their own coffee mornings, to help make the cancer charity’s fund-raiser the biggest and best ever.

Leighton said: “In Wales more than 18,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.  I know that a considerable number of constituents have personal experience of cancer, and I know that Macmillan has been there to support many of those in need. 

“Macmillan Cancer Support is there for people from the moment they are diagnosed, with medical and practical help, as well as emotional and financial support. 

“It is a great idea because everyone likes tea, coffee, cake and a chat - it brings people together and is an easy and fun way to raise money for Macmillan.  Every penny you raise will help people with cancer.”

Last year thousands of people across Wales took part in coffee morning helping to raise funds for Macmillan. This year the charity hopes to raise even more money to help fund vital cancer services across the country. 

Susan Morris, General Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, commented:

“Macmillan in Wales would like to say a huge thank you to Leighton Andrews for supporting the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  The money raised will fund cancer services in Wales.

“With the number of people living with cancer in Wales expected to reach 240,000 by 2030, Macmillan Cancer Support wants to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.

“Money raised by events such as World’s Biggest Coffee Morning helped Macmillan to spend £3.2m on its services in Wales last year alone, including funding our nurses and providing £545,000 in grants to people affected by cancer.”

Now in its 23^rd year, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning raised an amazing £15m for Macmillan last year alone.

To sign up to host a coffee morning, call 0300 1000 200 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee.

For information or support relating to cancer, call Macmillan’s Support
Line on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

"Made in the Valleys" Craft Exhibition 28/29th September 2013

The "Made in the Valleys" Autumn craft exhibition will be held on the 28th - 29th September at the Rhondda Heritage Park, Treforest. Be inspired and entertained by South Wales' creative talent. Bring the family to experience the work of artists, designers and makers for the home, garden or gifts. Learn about the work from the creators and enjoy 'have a go' sessions.

11:00 - 16:00 daily.

For additional information, please telephone 01443 682036 or visit www.rhonddaheritagepark.com

 

 Details of exhibitors are listed below:

 CONFERENCE ROOM

 Mel De Castro Pugh - "Spiny Sharkly Things" -
Artisan Jewellery collective

Gaynor Lewis - "Fashionned in Glass" - Handmade
Glass Jewellery & beadwork

"Cornelia Weinmann Design" - Printmaking: lino
prints, etchings (demonstrating/tasters)

Megan Phillips - Animal sculptures

VILLAGE STREET

 John Binet-Fauvel - Sculpture: knitted recycled wire, mainly
creatures (demonstrating )

Melissa Warren - Knitted Textiles: accessories, garments,
textile jewellery

"Lemon Blues" - A selection of hand made local
Welsh craft

Julie Croad - Books and individual poems by Julie Croad,
local writer.Laugh out loud poems concerning everyday events.

 THE FANHOUSE

Julie Taylor - "Taylored Craft" - Crotcheted and
stitched accessories and homewares ( demonstrating )

Christine Clare - "Artfully" - Art: Acrylic on
canvas

Michelle Lewis - "Woolly Wumpkins"- Dyed wool
yarns, crotchet, patterns, kits

Helen Silvers - "Silver Stitches"- Hand made dolls
& machine embroidered accessories

WORKSHOPS

FANHOUSE

Sat 11.00-2.00 or 2.30-4.30"Make a Street"
suitable for all ages, £3.50 or £5 for two people with Gayle Rogers and Chris
Williams

Sun 1.00-4.00 "Make a Pinboard" with Gayle Rogers
& Chris Williams £29 Pre Booking essential to Chris [email protected] 07981859075/01443441182

Sat and Sun Creative Art workshops for children, making
masks, sticky faces etc using mainly recycled materials £1

Michelle Lewis - Circular hand knitting workshop, kits available,
£1 to participate.

Helen Silvers - Dressing and decorating your own Spirit
doll, made by Helen £5, just turn up any time!

 VILLAGE STREET

 Sat 2pm & Sun 2pm"Is there a book in you?"
FREE Workshop with Julie Croad

Sat and Sun drop in between 11.00 and 3.30 Any age, £2 Make
a Lavender Bag with Melissa Warren

 

One year to save the union

One year from today, the people of Scotland vote on the future of the UK. Last week I took part in a debate on this subject organised in London by the Institute of Welsh Affairs.

You can see the first part of the debate here where you will also find a link to the second part.

Backing the unions

Last week the Welsh Government announced that it is taking action to deal with the blacklisting of trades unionists by some private companies.

 

Public sector bodies in Wales can exclude blacklisters from bidding for public sector contracts under new Welsh Government guidance that aims to eradicate the practice. Blacklisting is a practice where individuals have been denied employment opportunities because of their trade union membership or their involvement in trade union activity. It is known to have been used by construction companies operating in Wales, and to have involved Welsh construction workers.

This is an issue on which a number of trades unions including Unite and the GMB have been campaigning for some time and it has been discussed in the Rhondda Labour Party’s monthly meetings as well.

 

A Procurement Advice Note has been issued to all Welsh public bodies to outline the necessary steps that can be taken through procurement to help eradicate blacklisting – which can be very damaging to the careers and livelihoods of trade unionists.

The guidance makes clear those circumstances where Welsh public sector bodies can exclude blacklisters from bidding for a public contract.

The use of blacklists is wholly unacceptable and we fully sympathise with the individuals and their families who have suffered a terrible injustice as a consequence of contractors engaging in this practice.

Procurement is an important part of the overall policy toolkit of the Welsh Government. Under no circumstances is it acceptable for any business in receipt of public procurement expenditure to use blacklists.

We are determined to take action in Wales. We hope other Governments in the UK will take similar action if they have not already done so.

 

Another issue where Labour has been active on employment law has been in relation to zero-hours contracts. Ed Miliband made Labour’s position clear at the TUC conference last week and I have been working with my Pontypridd colleague Mick Antoniw AM on this issue after it was raised with us by the GMB.

 

Finally on trades union issues I am pleased that the teaching unions have recognized the different approach of the Welsh Government and have decided not to stage strikes in Wales this autumn. We opposed regional pay for teachers when I was Education Minister and we were critical of the UK government’s plans in relation to teacher’s pensions.

 

(My column in this week's Rhondda Leader)