Leighton Andrews

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.

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.

 

 

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

 

NHS Reconfiguration

Welfare Benefits and GPs

BBC Radio Wales is leading on a story about advice being given to GPs not to write letters supporting welfare benefit appeals.

This was brought to my attention by constituents this week and I have written to Bro Taf Medical Committee asking on what basis they have given this advice. It is outrageous. We know that high proportions of appeals are succeeding, often with support from local AMs, MPs and of course GPs. I will also be raising this with Ministers.

Cymmer Communities First Welsh Learners visit the Assembly

In December, I welcomed a group of Welsh learners to the Assembly from Cymmer Communities First.  I enjoyed meeting the group and talking to them about my work in the Assembly and the Rhondda.  It is always a pleasure to meet groups of constituents from the Rhondda, so please contact us if you would like to organise a visit to the National Assembly for your community group or organisation.

Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign

I was delighted to support Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Breast Cancer Action Month’ at a ‘Wear it Pink’ event at the National Assembly today.

Now in its tenth year, ‘Wear it Pink’ is Breast Cancer Campaign’s biggest fundraising event. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Wales, accounting for nearly a third of all diagnoses in Wales. Each year, on average, over 2,600 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Although it is rare, men can also develop breast cancer and on approximately 15 men will be diagnosed each year in Wales. Breast Cancer Campaign fund innovative, world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

I hope people in the Rhondda and across Wales will ‘Wear it Pink’ on Friday 26th October.

Rhondda Life

Maybe the doom-merchants and mud-slingers will back off now that the audit report confirms that there has been no wrong-doing at Rhondda Life.

I met representatives of Rhondda Life, the Morlais, the Rugby and Cricket Clubs last night. It is evident that we will not have enough information to share about the future of the Glynrhedyn building until September, so I have decided to put back the public meeting till then, by which time I hope that RL, the Welsh Government and the brewery will have met to follow up the Government's letter to RL and its proposal for continuing community involvement. In the meantime, if anyone has any questions, feel free to email me on [email protected]. I expect now to hold the public meeting in the week beginning 10 September, obviously in a Ferndale venue.

We must preserve the Glynrhedyn building for the community

As the Assembly Member for the Rhondda, over recent months I have met and had discussions with a variety of organisations in Ferndale and Blaenllechau, including Rhondda Life, the Ferndale Rugby Club, the Morlais Choir, and representatives of BCR Ltd, owners of the Bell Centre, to discuss issues related to the funding of the Morlais Hall development and the Glynrhedyn building.

News that the Welsh Government is not prepared to put more money into Rhondda Life is disappointing but not surprising. The priority now must be to try to ensure that the building is retained in community ownership. I think that we may need to try to establish some sort of community trust to do this. 

I know that the Welsh Government is involved in discussions with the brewery, Greene King, with a view to ensuring that the building stays in community ownership, and that profits from the commercial element of the Glynrhedyn building can be used to pay back Rhondda Life's creditors over time. I know that the Minister for Housing, Regenration and Heritage, Huw Lewis, who has been immensely supportive of the community interest throughout, wishes to see a community steering group established to represent the community's interest in the Glynrhedyn.

That said, it is disappointing that the Leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood, instead of supporting efforts to ensure the building stays in community ownership, has decided to play politics over the issue. She needs to remember that the funding for the project was approved and announced by her predecessor, Ieuan Wyn Jones, when he was the Deputy First Minister and the Minister for Economy and Transport. The overwhelming bulk of the money was paid out when her Plaid Cymru colleague, Jocelyn Davies, was the Deputy Minister for Housing and Regeneration. For more on this, see my blog-posts of 2nd July and 4th July.