Programme critics miss the point

The Welsh Government’s Programme for Government has had a lukewarm reception, with criticisms ranging from the lack of targets to its replication of the Labour manifesto.  Whilst the parallel with the manifesto is surely something to…

A Co-operative Communities First Programme?

With the launch of UN International Year of Co-operatives 2012 in New York at the end of October 2011, what better opportunity to focus on this theme than the…

Storm warnings for Carwyn should not leave children out in the cold

As Carwyn Jones made his speech to Labour’s Conference inLiverpoolthis week he did so beset by some of the most challenging political weather in a generation.

The First Minister is leading an administration with a majority of zero, and has both…

Calling time on District General Hospitals?

Thursday sees a debate in the Senedd about District General Hospitals, calling on the Assembly to prevent LHBs from centralizing services away from DGHs.  In one motion laid, the spectres of ‘closures’, ‘downgrading’ and all the rest raise…

The Confidence Tricksters

One of the key reasons for the current UK government’s rapid deficit reduction plan is that they perceive that there is need to win and maintain the confidence of the “markets”. The argument goes that if…

Digital by default?

Our latest report warns that a third of people in Wales could miss out as public services go online.  People who are offline already miss out on cheaper goods and services and information about everything from health…

Step up the Barnett pressure

Reforming the Barnett formula is about much more than fairness for Wales or the obscure maths and mindset of Treasury officials. And it’s also increasingly urgent that there is popular pressure for change if even the most modest of…

Fairer funding beyond Barnett

The Minister for Finance and Leader of the House, Jane Hutt AM,  today called for a fairer and more sustainable funding settlement for Wales.

Following meetings between the First Minister and the Chancellor, and…

Jon hates folk music: loves Heavy Metal

This is the third and final post in our series on work experience at the Green Man Festival. Richard Davies explains why students need the support of enterprising and sympathetic business people – like Fiona Stewart -…

Gleision: a reminder of our debt

The human tragedy at Gleision colliery in the Swansea Valley last week makes us reflect on what it truly means – the grief and loss for a family, and at the same time the powerful sense of community and…