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News

Badger and the appliance of science

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badger84imageECONOMICS, readers, was described by Thomas Carlyle as “the dismal science”. Of course, the fact he coined the phrase in the context of a pamphlet supporting the reintroduction of slavery in the Caribbean demonstrates that one has to have an eye on the context in which they were originally offered up to posterity when considering the wisdom of aphorisms. “Neither a borrower nor a lender be” is often handed down as though it was an immortal truth: one carved in stone; one to be heeded at all times and in all circumstances. Its appeal to authority is often followed by a nod to its origin in Shakespeare. Polonius, the character who offers the advice in Hamlet, is generally regarded as being as thick as mince and his counsel of as little use as a chocolate fireguard. So, readers, bear in mind t h a t wh e n e v e r you hear someone q u o t e t h a t line; their advice should be given as much weight as Hamlet ends up giving to Polonius’. By the way, and while Badger does not want to spoil the surprise, Hamlet stabs poor old Polonius by way of a farcical mistake resulting from Polonius own idiocy.

But it is of economics that Badger wants to write this week readers. In a way, it is inevitable that Carlyle, who subscribed to the dictum above. He believed in the “great man” theory of history which persisted for a surprisingly long time in scholarship. Economics, and more particularly economic history, is less about the individual poised at the moment of decision than about demography and long term trends. Badger is prepared to concede a great deal to those who think that the answer to the questions of the past can be divined from financial history and the study of markets and the masses. Much can be learned about the way in which some countries rise to positions of pre-eminence less because of the individual genius of its inhabitants than by their ability to exploit and more efficiently organize resources.

But when it comes down to it, readers, there are far fewer artworks devoted to the heroism of Keynes, Friedman and Galbraith t h a n there are to Napoleon, Frederick the Great or Churchill. Badger prefers to consider that there is a form of synthesis between the approaches of the different schools of thought. Otherwise how can one go about explaining the economic illiteracy, foolishness and pig-headed ignorance of Pembrokeshire’s county councillors – and more particularly the IPPG – when it came to Bryn Parry-Jones. Badger had hoped that the Brynmeister had made his last appearance in his column, but the eagerness of the national media to suddenly discover details of Bryn’s work car revealed in this paper over six months ago, thrust him and Pembrokeshire County Council’s profligate pay policy for senior officers into pin sharp focus.

That, combined with the news that the Independent Remuneration Panel for Wales wants to cut his successor’s pay by a third to a measly £130K all in, behoves Badger to once more return to the longest running punchline to the longest running joke in Welsh local government. £195K readers. Toy with that fi gure. Roll it around in your head. £195,000 of our council tax paying pounds is what was bunged to Bryn by way of an annual remuneration package. How did anyone, let alone people charged with custody of public money, come to believe that one man was worth so much? Badger has a theory. It is only a notion borne out of Badger’s observations of the way you lot behave up there on the surface, but he offers it for your consideration. Hard as it might be to believe, readers, Bryn was regarded as a bit of whizz kid in his past.

He had been the youngest chief executive of a council in Wales (Llanelli) before the great local government shake-up that returned unitary authority status to our county eliminated Llanelli Borough Council and merged it with Carmarthenshire. So it was to Pembrokeshire – pretty much the last resort – to which Bryn turned. One fl ashy presentation later and Bryn jumped on the gravy train and rode it right up until it ran into the buffers. Thereafter, all Bryn had to do was to consolidate his grip on power and then play up to councillors’ vanity and insecurity to ensure that his pay escalated from the merely very comfortable to the stratospherically lunatic. Councillors, it has been written elsewhere by this newspaper’s deputy editor, were encouraged to believe that they were clever because they had appointed Bryn, who appeared clever.

Councillors, particularly those from the so-called Independent Group, liked feeling clever – or at least possessed of the secret knowledge of their own cleverness. But their misplaced self-confi dence was accompanied by insecurity. If Bryn left, their cleverness would evaporate; worse, their brilliance would be revealed to be as illusory as the emperor’s new clothes. So it was, readers, that slowly but surely Bryn was put into a position where he could apply the screws and chisel more money out of his employers. The vanity and insecurity of a few councillors, over time allowed Bryn to grab more and more. But it is worse than that, readers. The corollary of paying the Grand Panjandrum a large sum of money, means that all his subordinate mandarins’ pay becomes inflated simply to stay in step.

They are all worth more, because the Grand Panjandrum is worth more. The senior offi cers – heads of service – become less likely to proactively act on problems. There are two pressures at play here. There is the risk of killing the goose that has laid golden eggs. And, of course, if the Chief is clever they must also be clever. That is the species of thought that allows heads of service to re-write care home fees without reference to rational external criteria and allow the use of punishment cells in our county’s schools. They cannot be wrong, because they are clever. They can show how clever they are by reference to their pay cheques. Readers, what we have there is a perfect storm of wilful ignorance and self-interest fuelling grotesque pay infl ation. Every chief officer and senior officer in Wales wanted Pembrokeshire’s gravy train to keep on running to maintain the South Sea Bubble of senior staff’s pay.

But no more: the Remuneration Panel has decreed that Pembrokeshire’s size and staff complement cannot support a wage more outrageous than the £130,000 a year it proposes. Such is the infl ated pay that the Council pays to its individual heads of service, a new chief executive could end up being paid less than those notionally their underlings. So, Jamie Adams has a problem, readers. Whether he settles for what the Panel proposes or insists that £145,000 is the minimum to attract someone who will make his friends on the “Independent” benches feel clever again, he will be acknowledging that it was under the “Independent” group’s stewardship that this council (our council, readers!!) not only threw away hundreds of thousands of pounds of public money on overpaying its chief offi cer and his lackeys, but continues to do so. The economic science the “Independent” group understands, readers, is the economics of the madhouse. It’s dismal, indeed.

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Crymych Football Club launches £90,000 fundraising campaign to secure new pitch

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Crymych Football Club – Clwb Pel-droed Crymych – has announced plans for a major new fundraising campaign in a bid to raise £90,000 to fund a new football pitch.

 The ambitious project aims to provide an accessible pitch for the club, which currently boasts two senior teams with 90 signed-up players and a newly formed rapidly growing junior section, attracting over 80 youngsters.

Since its inception just six years ago, Crymych Football Club has gone from strength to strength. In 2023, the club achieved a significant milestone by purchasing its own clubhouse at the Crymych Arms Pub, a hub for players, supporters, and the wider community. Now, the club is turning its attention to securing a dedicated football pitch to further its development and ensure a bright future for football in the Crymych area.

Club Chairman Gary Phillips said: “This is an incredible opportunity for the community to come together and support a project that will benefit generations to come. Our junior section has grown exponentially, and having our own pitch will allow us to nurture local talent and provide an additional focal point for the village. We’re offering a win-win situation – a great return for investors and a lasting legacy for the Crymych area.”

To raise the necessary funds, the club is now inviting individuals to lend £1,000 over three years at an attractive annual interest rate of 4%. This investment opportunity also comes with the added benefit of 30% tax relief under the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), making it a financially rewarding way to support local sports.

With the 4% interest guaranteed, this scheme offers a better return than leaving £1,000 in a traditional savings account. By participating, supporters will not only earn a competitive return on their investment but also play a vital role in securing the future of football in the Crymych Area.

The pitch project is being supported by the community charity PLANED which supports local charities and associations in purchasing and asset transferring property for community benefit. The football club also has support from the Football Association of Wales in developing the new site.

The new pitch will not only serve as a home for the club’s senior and junior teams but will also become a valuable community asset, hosting local events and fostering a sense of pride in the area.

With the support of the community, Crymych Football Club is confident of reaching its £90,000 target and securing a bright future for football in the area.

Those interested in supporting the campaign can find full details of the lending scheme by visiting www.cpdcrymych.cymru. Alternatively, application forms are available at the Crymych Arms Pub or Siop Sian in Crymych.

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Crime

Child seriously injured in dog attack in Pembroke Dock

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A CHILD remains in hospital with serious injuries after being bitten by a dog at a property on Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, on Friday evening (February 22).

Police were called to the scene at around 6:50pm following reports of the attack.

Officers seized one dog, which has since been put down.

A significant police presence remained at the property throughout Saturday and Sunday, with forensic officers seen entering and leaving the house as investigations continued.

A 42-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dangerously out-of-control dog causing injury. She has been released on bail pending further enquiries.

Dyfed-Powys Police have urged the public not to speculate on the circumstances of the incident while their investigation is ongoing.

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News

Waspi campaigners threaten legal action over pension compensation

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Government refuses to pay £10bn to women affected by pension age rise

CAMPAIGNERS fighting for compensation over changes to the state pension age have threatened the government with legal action after ministers ruled out a £10bn payout to those affected.

The Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) group has sent a “letter before action” to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), warning of high court proceedings if the matter is not resolved.

The dispute stems from changes that saw the state pension age for women born in the 1950s gradually raised to match men’s retirement age. The parliamentary and health service ombudsman ruled last March that these changes had not been properly communicated and recommended compensation. However, in December, the government announced that no payments would be made.

Labour leader Keir Starmer previously acknowledged concerns but defended the decision, stating: “Ninety per cent of those impacted did know about the change – and in those circumstances, the taxpayer simply can’t afford the burden of tens of billions of pounds of compensation.”

Angela Madden, chair of the Waspi campaign, accused the DWP of “gaslighting” those affected. She said: “The government has accepted that 1950s-born women are victims of maladministration, but it now says none of us suffered any injustice. We believe this is not only an outrage but legally wrong.

“We have been successful before, and we are confident we will be again. But what would be better for everyone is if the secretary of state now saw sense and came to the table to sort out a compensation package.”

Campaign gathers political backing

The campaign has previously been backed by key Labour figures, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, when the party was in opposition.

Around 3.6 million women in the UK were affected by the pension changes, first announced in 1995 and later accelerated in 2011 under the coalition government. Many have claimed they were left in financial hardship, forcing them to rethink their retirement plans.

Labour MP Brian Leishman was among those calling for action, warning that if the party did not deliver “improved living standards,” the next UK government could be a “hardline far-right effort.”

Government stands firm

A government spokesperson said: “We accept the ombudsman’s finding of maladministration and have apologised for the 28-month delay in writing to 1950s-born women.

“However, evidence showed only one in four people remember reading and receiving letters they weren’t expecting, and by 2006, 90% of 1950s-born women knew the state pension age was changing. Earlier letters wouldn’t have affected this. For these and other reasons, the government cannot justify paying for a £10.5bn compensation scheme at the expense of the taxpayer.”

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