News

Shadow Education Minister Responds to Western Mail ‘Nonsense’.

Published

12 years ago

August 26, 2013

Speaking exclusively to the Pembrokeshire Herald, Shadow Education Minister and Pembrokeshire South Carmarthen West AM, Angela Burns, hit back at the Cardiff based Western Mail, which ran a critical article about her children’s school placement.

The Western Mail’s feature questioned, via a political source as they put it, Mrs Burns decision to send both of her children to a Cardiff based school rather than a ‘local’ Pembrokeshire School. However, Mrs Burns has responded by pouring scorn upon their ‘political source’, claiming that when she had pressed the newspaper reporter at the Western Mail further it was clear that their article had been based on just this one contributor alone, rather than from a number of sources. She went on to explain to the Herald,

“ I was initially contacted by the Mail who indicated it was regarding an issue of office hours. It transpired they wished to speak about my children. He (the Western Mail reporter) stated that ‘people’ had told him that my children were not being educated locally (in Pembrokeshire). He went on to say it was on my Facebook page.”

The Assembly member then pointed out that actually she did not have a current Facebook page and had not used the social network for nearly two years. Responding to the Western Mail’s criticism of her decision she said,

“ This isn’t really a new story anyway. My children moved up with me to Cardiff a year and a half ago and they now go to a local state primary school, not a private school, in the next village to where we reside when in Cardiff. The alternative would be for them to stay in Cosheston, our home in Pembrokeshire”.

The minister went on to explain the issues with her children remaining in Pembrokeshire whilst she worked away four days a week in Cardiff:

“In the first term of the Assembly I was in Cardiff for maybe two days a week, but now it is for four days a week. If they remained in Cosheston they would just see me at weekends. As my husband is also busy with several jobs it would mean employing a nanny for most probably three to four days a week. We talked to our children, aged seven and ten, and they made the decision that they wanted to be with Mum all week. They are two young girls who need their Mum, even more so as they get older, and this way (by moving them to Cardiff in the week), we don’t need a nanny and they spend more time with mum and dad. They want a normal ‘mum’ to do ‘normal’ mummy stuff, and now with more responsibility this term, I am working four days a week in Cardiff over forty-three to forty- four weeks a year over a five year term. I didn’t want to miss them growing up and, though I am really priviliged to represent my constituency, I don’t want to do it at the expense of my children.They are young for such a short time and it isn’t like my husband could take on the role, so a nanny would have been needed, which is not an ideal situation. It (working away from home) can take a toll on a family and I didn’t want it to happen to my family”.

Mrs Burns also pointed out to the Herald that, as she works and lives in Cardiff, as well as in Pembrokeshire, her children were attending schools for which she contributes. She questioned the motives of the Western Telegraph, by stating, “If I were male or in Westminster, where it is common practice for MPs’ families to move with the MP, I don’t think they would have been so critical.”

Angela Burns also explained the system whereby AMs are able to work away from home in Cardiff.

“ We have the right to a second home and we have an allowance provided by the Assembly. It is seven hundred pounds a month and from this we pay our rent, council tax, electricity, etc. I actually rent a house for nine hundred pounds a month and I personally pay the difference.”

She hinted that the Western Mail may have another agenda, as she believes they are an anti-Assembly paper, and suggested that other Assembly members, and the Assembly, have been unfairly criticised in the past.

“I have been touched by all the support I’ve had (since the Western Mail article) from Labour, Plaid, the Liberals and Cabinet ministers who have all said what a load of nonsense this is. This all stemmed from one person!”.

Earlier this year the Western Mail wrote articles criticising the Welsh Government’s refurbishment of its Ty Hywell building in Cardiff Bay, as well as highlighting their alleged shortcomings in how grants are awarded.

Crime

Stalker built secret den to spy on ex-partner

Published

14 seconds ago

May 13, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Magistrates hear how man’s obsession drove woman from her home

A PEMBROKESHIRE man has admitted building a secret observation den behind his former partner’s home in a disturbing attempt to monitor her movements following the breakdown of their relationship.

Dewi Williams, 32, of Neyland Road, Steynton, selected a secluded spot at the rear of the woman’s property in Pembroke Dock and used it over a three-month period to track her day-to-day activities.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that Williams also regularly drove around the area in a further attempt to observe the woman, who has since been forced to move house.

“He had a look-out at the rear of her property and when the woman was told about this, she felt unable to return to her home,” Crown Prosecutor Ann Griffiths told the court.

“She had to make significant changes to her life and went to live in another location.

“This very persistent activity has had a significant and onerous effect on her lifestyle and has caused her considerable stress.”

Williams pleaded guilty to stalking the woman between May 15 and August 28, 2024. He was legally represented in court by solicitor Tom Lloyd.

“This wasn’t done to deliberately cause her distress, but he struggled to cope when the relationship ended,” said Mr Lloyd.

“And he struggled in a way that can only be described as complete madness.

“This is a man with a previously clean character who has responded to an acrimonious break-up in entirely the wrong way. When arrested, the first thing he said was that he was sorry for what he had done.”

The court was told that since the incident, Williams has been engaging with counselling services.

Magistrates rejected a request by the Crown to send the case to Crown Court, choosing instead to retain jurisdiction. Sentencing was adjourned to June 3 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service.

Williams was released on conditional bail, with strict conditions not to contact the victim either directly or indirectly, and not to enter Pembroke Dock except to travel to and from his place of work at the Valero Oil Refinery.

Crime

Young motorist banned after marginal drug-drive reading

Published

2 minutes ago

May 13, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A 19-YEAR-OLD motorist has been disqualified from driving after he was found to be marginally over the legal limit for cannabis.

Rudy Poole was stopped by police while driving his Ford Fiesta near the Penblewin roundabout at around 8:30am on December 28. A roadside drugs test proved positive, and subsequent analysis at the police station showed 2.4mcg of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in his system. The legal limit is 2mcg.

“This is a hard-working man and the repercussions of losing his licence are going to be life-changing for him,” said his solicitor, Tom Lloyd, after Poole pleaded guilty to drug-driving.

“He was only just over the legal limit and there was no evidence of any bad driving.”

The court heard that a character reference submitted by Poole’s employer described him as a diligent and reliable worker.

Poole, of Glebe Cottages Lane, Lamphey, was disqualified from driving for 12 months. He was fined £250 and ordered to pay a £100 court surcharge and £85 in costs.

Crime

Jealous attack leaves man with life-changing injuries

Published

7 minutes ago

May 13, 2025

Sarah Jane Absalom

A JEALOUSY-FUELLED altercation that left a man with life-changing facial injuries has reached the courts this week, as 22-year-old Oscar Allen admitted causing grievous bodily harm in Tenby town centre.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard that the incident took place on the evening of November 25 in Bank Lane, Tenby, during a confrontation between Allen and the victim, Jason Page.

“It was the result of the defendant’s jealousy when his girlfriend spoke to another male,” said Crown Prosecutor Anne Griffiths.

“Both parties became angry, things escalated quickly, and the defendant carried out a punch to Mr Page’s face that rendered him unconscious.”

The court was told that both men had raised their fists before the blow, but it was Allen who struck first. His solicitor argued that Allen had felt threatened but accepted that the punch went beyond reasonable self-defence.

The attack left Mr Page with a broken jaw, requiring extensive surgery and the insertion of a metal plate.

“This has had a lasting impact on my everyday life,” Mr Page said in a victim impact statement read in court.

“Social situations are now a huge struggle, and this is having a negative impact on me and my family. It’s also changed my physical appearance with permanent scarring, and I no longer feel like the person I was before this happened.”

Mr Page added that he has not been able to return to Tenby since the incident.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until June 3 to allow for a pre-sentence report to be completed by the probation service. Allen, of The Ridgeway, Penally, was released on unconditional bail.