News

THE HERALD INTERVIEWS • NEIL HAMILTON

Published

9 years ago

July 12, 2016

Tom Sinclair

‘Bright future’ ahead: Neil Hamilton
gives his views on the Brexit

ONE OF the fairly small band of Welsh politicians who were pleased with the outcome of last Thursday’s EU referendum was UKIP’s Senedd Leader Neil Hamilton, who has been an outspoken supporter of Free Trade since before the UK joined the Common Market in 1973.

The Herald spoke to the Mid and West AM on Friday morning (Jun 24) to discuss his thoughts on what this historic result would mean for Wales.

“It’s a historic day for Wales – I’ve been fighting for this for 49 years , since I joined the Anti-Common Market League in 1967 when I was at school in Ammanford,” he said.

Given that, with the exception of Ceredigion, Mid and West Wales voted Leave, was he pleased with the local result?

“The result from Carmarthenshire was extremely good. It was 55/45 wasn’t it? So it was better than the national average,” he said. “I’m very, very, pleased. Carwyn Jones’ and Leanne Wood’s constituencies both voted to leave so that’s very satisfying as well.”

Given that, even at the time of writing, another EU referendum looks unlikely, and leaders of the major political parties appear to have accepted that Britain will leave the EU, we asked Mr Hamilton what he thought leaving the EU would mean for Wales.

“First of all , it means there will be more money for Wales, and I’m going to issue a demand today (Jun 24) that the government should guarantee that Wales gets the taxpayers money which is currently spent by the EU in Wales and avoid the possibility that this is siphoned off somewhere else in the UK,” he said.

“And then there will be a Brexit dividend from £10bn a year we send to Brussels which is spent in other parts of Europe. We should have at least £500m a year out of that.”

Wales is used to the NHS being treated as a political football, but did Mr Hamilton think that the increase in NHS funding – promised by both Leave campaigns – would materialise?

His response appeared rather more measured than some of the rhetoric used by Leavers like Boris Johnston during the campaign: “The money is there to spend and we, via our elected politicians , will decide where,” he said. “The NHS is a priority, and I would expect that a certain part of that will be spent on the health service.”

In the interests of fairness, it is worth mentioning that the £350m a week figure which Britain apparently spent on the European Union rather than the NHS was not endorsed by UKIP.

Another matter which is almost sure to prove contentious in the coming months is the subsidies received by Welsh farmers from the EU – most notably the Common Agricultural Payment (CAP). We asked Mr Hamilton whether he would be leading calls for the UK Government to provide a similar level of subsidisation for the industry in Wales.

In response, he claimed that leaving the EU could actually lead to an upturn in farmers’ fortunes: “What we need is a guarantee that at least the same amount of money as the EU spends in Wales – it’s all British taxpayers’ money anyway – should be given to the Welsh Government for it to spend,” he stated.

“And obviously agricultural subsidies are another very high priority, particularly because Wales has so many marginal upland farms.

“We can provide a better system of agricultural subsidy and income support than the CAP and we can have cheaper food into the bargain. It will be good for farmers and consumers.”

While UKIP exceeded expectations across South Wales in the Assembly elections, the party was still some way behind Labour in the region. However , the Leave vote, in spite of Labour MPs and AMs supporting Remain, was particularly strong in the old industrial heartland of the country, from Llanelli to Ebbw Vale. We asked Mr Hamilton why he thought this was the case.

The former Conservative MP suggested that this was the result of disillusionment with mainstream political parties, particularly Labour.

“The Labour Party had given up their working class base. The Labour leadership are very multicultural urban-orientated – they’ve given up on the old industrial communities which founded the Labour Party,” he claimed.

“That is why UKIP is doing so well in the Valleys seats. We got 25% of the vote in places like Merthyr and Ebbw Vale in May, and we’re going to build on that. Our aim now is to replace the Labour Party in those Labour-voting areas.”

“I know that at the General Election last year , UKIP’s support base was the most working class of the major political parties in Britain – much more than the Labour Party.

“The people who run the Labour Party today are middle class academics and professionals who have lost their touch with the ordinary working man. UKIP is a grassroots movement full of ordinary people, so we’re much more representative than the Labour Party,” the former barrister and reality TV star added.

With a minority Labour Government running Wales at present (again) and the leader of the Welsh Conservatives an advocate of Brexit, we asked what role UKIP would play in post-EU negotiations.

“I said in my very first speech in the Senedd that we were going to be a constructive opposition party and we wanted to play a full part in getting the best deal for Wales, ” Mr Hamilton said.

“Of course, that was contemptuously rejected by Carwyn Jones and Leanne Wood, who tried to do their own downstairs stitch-up deal.

“UKIP has seven AMs in the Senedd and support in constituencies. We represent 15% of the people of Wales and we cannot be ignored. I’m going to give support to the demands by the Welsh Government that we should get our fair share of the Brexit dividend.”

When we spoke to Mr Hamilton, the pound had just plummeted to its worst level since the 1987 crash. We asked whether he thought this would be a short-term blip.

He agreed, and wasted no time in laying the blame for the pound’s poor showing squarely at the door of ‘so-called experts.’

“This volatility has taken place because the so-called experts we were told up till yesterday we had to believe didn’t see it coming,” he insisted. “Markets don’t like upset – they don’t like being wrong-footed. It’s a great time to buy at the moment, and the market will bounce back over the next two weeks.

“It will become absolutely clear in no time at all that the doom-mongering scenario the government itself went into overdrive to promote is entirely bogus, and we will carry on trading with Europe and the rest of the world. In the short term , nothing’s going to change, but in the longer term there’s a world of opportunity.”

The so-called ‘Project Fear’ campaigners suggested that a number of businesses could leave Britain if the country gave up EU membership. However, even accepting that was the case, did he think that uncertainty over Britain’s future would discourage new inward investment over the coming years?

Mr Hamilton did not. “I think when people decide to make an investment they look at the whole business environment, particularly staff, and if we have a better regulatory environment than across the channel then businesses are going to invest here,” he claimed.

“They have done for centuries. We have access to the Single Market in the same way as the United States, Canada, Australia, India and China. There is a tariff wall around the EU but that is relatively small – an average of 4%.

“We have a massive trade deficit with the EU so it is pretty much in their interest to agree to a free-trade agreement, which is what we should very quickly put together.”

Mr Hamilton also dismissed suggestions that Britain should ‘buy in’ to the Single Market: “All we want is free trade, and even if we didn’t do a deal with the EU for the Single Market , we would still have access to it.

“All we would have is a tariff barrier, which is on average 4%. We would put a similar tariff on EU exports to us. There is a hundreds of billion pounds deficit in terms of the EU so if they try to discriminate against us , they will be the losers,” he added.

“We will get the benefits of tariffs on their exports to us which we could then return to our exporters so it is more than self-financing.”

One of the claims made by senior figures in the Brexit campaign was that without EU membership, Britain would be in a position to protect its industries, and possibly part-nationalise struggling firms like Tata Steel.

However, Mr Hamilton felt that this would not be a positive move: “The future lies with free trade not with protectionism,” he added. “But, take steel for example. Where foreign competition is unfairly subsidised as it is , with Chinese steel we can take protective measures to even the playing field as the United States has done.”

Renationalising struggling industries was also not on the cards, except as a short-term measure. “Well we could do it, but I don’t think nationalisation is the way forward. Politicians running industries has not proved to be very successful in the past.

“Sometimes as a temporary measure , the government needs to step in. But , it should never be a long-term option in my opinion,” he added.

Looking forward, Mr Hamilton ‘believed that Wales had a bright future outside the EU.’

News

Neyland councillor defends actions following petition for resignation

Published

16 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A STATEMENT has been issued by Cllr Mike Harry in response to a petition calling for his resignation, which was handed in during the Neyland Town Council meeting on Monday (Jan 13). The petition, organised by Mrs P Percival-Maxwell, accuses Cllr Harry of making inappropriate remarks and creating division within the council.

In his detailed statement, Cllr Harry rejected the allegations, describing the petition as “factually incorrect” and part of a targeted effort to discredit him and further destabilise the council.

Cllr Harry explained that his email, which is at the centre of the controversy, was a response to what he described as “insulting and threatening” messages from fellow councillors Brian Rothero, Steve Thomas, and David Devauden. He clarified that the term “degenerates” referred specifically to those individuals, who he accuses of relentless bullying and harassment of the Town Clerk, not Neyland residents.

He also pointed out that the “constituents” referred to in the petition are, in fact, a group of five individuals who attended an unauthorised meeting and whom he alleges are regulars at a local pub owned by Cllr Rothero.

Cllr Harry claimed that the ongoing behaviour of Cllrs Rothero, Thomas, and Devauden has rendered the council dysfunctional and unable to serve the people of Neyland effectively. He described their actions as consistently disruptive, highlighting the negative impact on the Town Clerk and the council’s ability to progress key matters.

“I’d simply had enough and had to finally call it out for what it is,” he stated, noting that his email was directed at a total of eight individuals who, in his view, show no interest in the council’s proper functioning.

Cllr Harry, who has served on Neyland Town Council for nearly 20 years, emphasised his dedication to the community and its residents. “The interests of the residents of Neyland have always been paramount to me,” he said. He expressed frustration over the current tensions within the council, calling the situation “particularly difficult and insulting” and not reflective of why he became a councillor.

The petition has deepened divisions within Neyland, with some residents supporting Cllr Harry’s defence and others standing by the petition’s call for his resignation. The issue highlights broader concerns about the council’s internal dynamics and its ability to address key issues for the community.

Charity

Two shouts and nine hours at sea for Angle RNLI

Published

18 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

ANGLE All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch at 9:15pm on Wednesday night, 15th of January to assist a 25 meter commercial landing craft with 8 persons onboard taking water in St Brides Bay. The vessel was under tow from a tug following a grounding and salvage operation.

St David’s All-Weather Lifeboat were on scene with their salvage pump having already been transferred onboard, and Little Haven Inshore Lifeboat had also attended during the evening.

Angle Lifeboat made best speed to the area and arrived on scene 30 minutes later and soon had their salvage pump transferred onto the casualty vessel to assist with keeping the water ingress at bay.

Both lifeboats began to escort the tow but whilst west of Skomer Island, however a change of plan, and in light of the vessel still taking water a plan was made to alter course and proceed to Broad Haven Beach with a view to beach the vessel to prevent it sinking.

The lifeboats then spent the next few hours escorting the tow and providing safety cover. Upon arrival off Broad Haven, and with the tidal state not right to beach the vessel the lifeboats stood by whilst pumping efforts continued.

At 3:15am, with the situation now improving, St David’s Lifeboat was released and returned fo station. Not long after at 4am, with the water ingress now under control, Angle Lifeboat was subsequently stood down after the master confirmed he was content with the vessels condition.

Just over 3 hours before, at 5:30pm the crew were paged to assist a 10 meter pleasure vessel that had suffered electrical failure off the VPOT oil terminal on the Milford Haven waterway.

As the crew were already at station preparing to launch on exercise, the crew were soon underway and with the casualty vessel not long after.

Following a quick assessment the vessel was soon underway and with tow towards Neyland Marina.

Once off the entrance to the marina, the vessel was transferred into an alongside tow and placed safely alongside a pontoon within the marina.

With no further assistance required the lifeboat was stood down and the crew returned to their usual Wednesday night exercise.

Community

Welsh International Culinary Championships to showcase best of Wales

Published

21 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

AROUND 150 talented chefs, front of house staff, apprentices and students from across Wales will showcase their skills over three days of competitions at the Welsh International Culinary Championships (WICC) 2025 next week.

The International Convention Centre Wales (ICC Wales) in Newport will become the Welsh hospitality, butchery, food and drink hub from Monday to Wednesday, as competitors seek to make a name for themselves on the national stage.

Welsh Culinary Association National Chef of Wales Competition at the ICC Wales. Picture by Phil Blagg Photography. PB005-2024

Four coveted national titles will be at stake as well as Skills Competition Wales glory at the WICC which hosts a Castell Howell Food Show for the first time.

The WICC is open free of charge to visitors, including pupils of local schools. Visitors can pre-book tickets to experience the dishes cooked in three finals at: [email protected] .

Organised by the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), the WICC will feature the National Chef of Wales and Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year Finals on Monday, Skills Competition Wales competitions on Tuesday and the Vegan and Junior Chef of Wales Finals on Wednesday, followed by the awards dinner in the evening.

WICC skills classes, organised by the CAW, will also be held over the three days.

The National Chef of Wales final will be contested by 10 chefs. Sam Everton from Llangeler, Llandysul, a catering lecturer at Coleg Ceredigion, Cardigan, will be bidding to win the Junior and National Chef of Wales competitions in consecutive years. The only chef to achieve this feat was Danny Burke, from Connah’s Quay who now runs Olive Tree Catering, Runcorn.

Wayne Barnard from Caerphilly, who works at Llechwen Hall Hotel near Pontypridd, will be hoping to improve on his third place last year while Matthew Owen from Cardiff and Rebekah Wright, from Ebbw Vale, who both work at the Celtic Manor Resort, return for another shot at the final.

They will line up with Celtic Manor Resort colleagues Patrick Millard from Bargoed, Ionut Rosca from Newport, Gareth Jenkins from Fleur de Lis and Pratik Bhandarkar from Newport.

The other finalists are Sam Rust from Swansea, who works at The Grove, Narberth, and Jordan Howorth from Baschurch, who works at Shrewsbury School for Independents by Sodexo and helped the Culinary Team Wales win a gold medal at the Alen Thong Golden Coffee Pot Young Chef Challenge in Sharjah in May.

The finalists will have three hours to cook three courses for 12 diners featuring GI Welsh ingredients and Cygnet Gin. The menu must include a plant-based starter suitable for a vegan diet, a main course featuring two different cuts of GI Welsh Beef and a dessert featuring hot, cold and chocolate elements and a biscuit or tuille.

The Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year final will be contested by Kieran Thomas, who works for Albert Rees Ltd, Carmarthen Market and Ollie Holden-Davies, who works for Neil Powell Butchers, Hay-on-Wye.

Sponsored by the CAW and Cambrian Training Company, the competition allows the butchers 30 minutes to cut a whole Welsh Lamb carcass into primal joints and one hour and 40 minutes to create a visually exciting display of products showcasing their skills and creativity.

Rebekah Wright will also contest the Welsh Vegan Chef of the Year final against Celtic Manor Resort colleague Byron Burns, from Pontypool and former National Chef of Wales winner Ryan Jones, from Maesteg, head chef at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. They will cook a three course menu for six diners in two-and-a-half hours.

The competition, sponsored by Henley Bridge, challenges chefs to cook an appetiser with 50% warm components, a main course with a minimum of three components, including microgreens and a dessert including chocolate, tea and two fruit puree products.

The Junior Chef of Wales finalists are Katie Duffy who works at The Halfway, Llanelli who finished third last year, Junior Culinary Team Wales captain Calum Smith who works at Shrewsbury School for Independents at Sodexo and Niruth Wijetunga and Gold Ayinia-Adeyemi, both from Newport, who work at Celtic Manor Resort.

The chefs will have two-and-a-half hours to cook a three course pescatarian meal for six diners with a plant-based starter suitable for a vegan diet, a main course featuring trout and a dessert including one hot and one chocolate element. The competition is sponsored by Cygnet Gin.

The winner will be automatically seeded into the UK semi-final of the Young National Chef of the Year.

Winners of all three competitions, together with the Welsh Apprentice Butcher of the Year, will be announced at the awards dinner.

CAW president Arwyn Watkins, OBE, said: “It promises to be a fantastic three days of competitions to showcase the culinary, hospitality and butchery talent, as well as the quality Welsh food and drink products, that we have here in Wales.

“This time next year, we shall be in the final stages of preparing to host the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 at ICC Wales – the first time this global event will have been held in the UK.

“Hopefully, the WICC will help identify the chefs who will represent Wales in finals at the global event. As the host, Wales has been gifted places in the Global Chef Challenge, Young Chef Challenge, Vegan Chef and Pastry Chef finals.

Sponsors of the WICC are Castell Howell, Cambrian Training Company, Roller Grill UK, MCS Technical Products, Capital Cuisine, Churchill, Cygnet Gin, Henley Bridge, Food and Drink Wales, Kentaur, City & Guilds UK, Essential Cuisine, Ecolab, Hybu Cig Cymru / Meat Promotion Wales, Terry’s Patisserie Ltd, Willo Game, Fresh & Tasty Microgreens, Radnor Hills, Robot Coupe and Friedr Dick GmbH & Co.

Pictured: The Welsh International Culinary Championships will showcase culinary, hospitality and butchery talent over three days.