News
Crabb’s cock up provides Commons comedy gold
WESTMINSTER’s status as an anachronistic set of procedures and rules subject to the whims of a Government with an eighty-seat majority was further emphasised in farcical scenes in and around the House of Commons today (Tuesday, June 2).
The biggest laugh of the day was inadvertently provided by local MP Stephen Crabb.
Alarmed by the Prime Minister’s appalling performances at PMQs without packed backbenches to cheer him on and bay at the opposition leader, the Leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees Mogg, called a vote which meant that only members present in the Palace of Westminster would be allowed to vote and speak in Commons debates.
During the prevailing coronavirus precautions, members had been allowed to attend proceedings online and vote and speak using digital technology.
Anyone on College Green today outside the Houses of Parliament would have been bemused by the sight of members formed in a line to allow them to cast their votes in a non-debate. The queue of members waiting to vote stretched from the Commons chamber, around Westminster Hall, and onto the green outside.
The strong smell of farce was unmistakable as those MPs who are often considered lobby-fodder, fed themselves into the lobby to vote along Party lines.
The comedy potential of proceedings was amply demonstrated by Stephen Crabb. Entering the Chamber to cast his vote, Mr Crabb stepped to the ‘no’ side and said ‘aye’. Realising his error, he proceeded to the ‘aye’ side of the Speaker’s Chair to cast his vote and voted ‘no’.
The incident was captured on video, along with Mr Crabb’s eye-rolling moment of realisation about his mistakes. He finally managed to vote in favour of the Government’s motion, which was carried by a substantial majority.
A clip of the incident is here:
https://news.sky.com/video/coronavirus-mp-goes-wrong-way-to-vote-then-votes-wrong-way-11999430
Meanwhile, the devolved governments continue to operate in the twenty-first century instead of the nineteenth.
News
Man remanded in custody following alleged assault in town centre
A PEMBROKE man has been remanded in custody following an alleged assault against a woman in Pembroke town centre last Thursday.
Morgan Ralph, 38, is accused of assaulting a female, occasioning her actual bodily harm during the alleged altercation on March 14.
Ralph, who appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday morning via a video link from Swansea Prison, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
His solicitor Tom Lloyd, informed magistrates that Ralph was acting in self defence during the alleged incident.
The matter was adjourned to May 23 when Ralph, of St Oswalds, Main Street, Pembroke, will be tried before Haverfordwest magistrates.
He was remanded in custody.
News
Retaining wall collapse in Haverfordwest crushes van
A RETAINING wall at Spring Gardens Lane, behind the site of the former Pembroke House Hotel in Haverfordwest, has collapsed following a period of heavy rainfall, causing damage to vehicles parked in the vicinity.
The incident has left two vans damaged, one severely.
The collapse of the wall sent debris sprawling across the car park, illustrating the force of the collapse and the substantial volume of water contributing to the structural failure.
Witnesses described hearing a loud rumbling noise before discovering the aftermath of the collapse.
Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.
The collapse serves as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by heavy rainfall and the importance of maintaining and monitoring ageing infrastructure.
Business
People in Wales are worried about running out of money in retirement
FEAR of running out of money in retirement is rising among those in Wales with more than half (55%) concerned their savings will not last them through retirement, new research from Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) shows (please see the attached press release).
In general, women are more worried about running out of money compared to men. More than half (54%) of women surveyed are concerned about how long their money will last in retirement, compared to only 44% of men. Around 46% of men who are not worried about running out of money in retirement say it is because they have a final salary pension scheme – compared to just 38% of women who have this.
The study by Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), part of Rathbones Group, among people with stock market investments including pensions, paints a bleak picture – around 55% of those living in Wales are concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This is similar to the UK average of 56%.
Women are more worried than men that they do not have enough money for retirement. Almost two thirds (61%) of women surveyed are concerned, with 18% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement. This compares to just over half (53%) of men surveyed, with 14% of these very concerned they do not have enough money for retirement.
The Investec Wealth & Investment (UK) study shows that those living in Wales who have yet to retire are realistic about what will happen to their incomes in retirement – 64% expect their monthly incomes to drop on retirement and 36% did not know.
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