Politics
Plaid Cymru solidarity with Catalunyan Parliamentarian

Facing prosecution: Presiding Officer Carme Forcadell
MID AND WEST AM Simon Thomas has highlighted the case of Carme Forcadell, the presiding officer of Catalunya, who is facing prosecution.
Ms Forcadell is facing a court case in Spain for simply allowing a debate on the constitutional future of Catalunya.
Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas believes the Spanish government should reconsider the prosecution. Mr Thomas raised the issue during First Minister’s Questions in the National Assembly.
If she is found guilty, Carme Forcadell could be fined up to €30,000 (£25,300), be suspended from her posts and face possible further legal action.
Party of Wales Assembly Member Simon Thomas said: “The presiding officer of the Catalunyan Parliament is facing a court case in Spain for allowing a debate on the constitutional future of Catalunya.
“Carme Forcadell allowed a debate in the Catalunyan Parliament on independence. We all know that Spain is very sensitive on the issue of independence. I believe in any democratic state a debate on the future of a nation that is part of the state should be allowed.
“I asked the First Minister to raise the issue with the Westminster Government, expressing concern that the speaker of a Parliament is facing a court case for allowing a debate in that Parliament.”
Politics
Criticism of Labour’s water pollution policy grow

RIGHT OBJECTIVE WRONG METHOD
Fraser McAuley, CLA Policy Advisor, said: “The Government’s laudable objectives can be better met by an approach which focuses attention where it’s most needed. Where a problem doesn’t exist, we should not be imposing unnecessary costs on a hard-pressed sector in a future of uncertainty.
WG HASN’T LISTENED TO THE SCIENCE
Janet Finch-Saunder said: “CLA Cymru is bang on the money here over Labour’s unfair stance on nitrate vulnerable zones (NVZ).
‘CULTURE WAR’
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr’s MP, Jonathan Edwards, went further and accused the Welsh Government of stoking a ‘culture war’ between farmers and the environmental lobby for electoral advantage.
“The Labour Government have also failed to consider the emergence of innovative slurry management technology.
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Cris Tomos, said: “It is concerning that the Labour Welsh Government continues to ignore farmers and the farming unions.
“These regulations could be detrimental to the farming community, especially to the Welsh family farm.
A TIGHT TIMETABLE
If Labour intends to plough on with its legislation, it really has to get its skates on.
‘GREEN’ CREDENTIALS
Having promised a Clean Air Act for Wales in its 2016 manifesto, it is nowhere near bringing any such legislation forward. It appears it’s more in the presentation and consultation than in the statute book.
As Jonathan Edwards notes above: you’d think there was an election coming.
Suppose Labour cannot form a majority government propped up by votes from individuals like Dafydd Elis Thomas. In that case, it will need to haggle over its future plans or face legislative deadlock.
Education
Senedd approves Wales’ National Curriculum

Politics
Senedd elections: Dowson UKIP’s candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

PEMBROKESHIRE County Councillor, Paul Dowson, has been named as UKIP’s candidate for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency for the Senedd
Elections.
Paul Dowson is the sitting UKIP Councillor for Pembroke Dock Central and will contest his home constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire and the Mid & West Wales regional list.
Cllr Dowson was born in the constituency from where he now runs his own TV and aerial business. He has worked in the hospitality industry, in social care and as a trouble-shooter for an international hotel chain.
Commenting on the announcement today, Cllr Dowson said: “I am delighted to be selected as the UKIP candidate for my home constituency of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. Since my election to Pembrokeshire County Council, I have been shocked at the void between the mainstream political parties and local people. Labour, Tory and Plaid have taken people’s votes for granted and, in this election, UKIP will give them a wakeup call they cannot ignore.
“The Penally Camp migrant crisis brought the reality of the Senedd Woke Brigade’s policies on open door immigration to South Pembrokeshire. I stood alone in the Council chamber when I voiced concerns from local residents, who were not even consulted about the decision to house 250 illegal migrants at Penally Army Base. In 2020, illegal migration into the UK was more than 2018 and 2019 combined. At a time when 1 in 4 Welsh people live in fuel poverty, Penally showed that Wales is ill-equipped to be a Nation of Sanctuary.
“Last year, immigration into the UK was at 715,000, something Senedd and Westminster politicians want to ignore. The Tories say they have taken back control of our borders but net-immigration rose to 313,000 last year. That’s a city nearly the size of Cardiff added to the population every year. Unlike the Tories, the figures don’t lie.
“Wales is being made to suffer the consequences of an out of touch political elite, who dismiss anyone with legitimate concerns about immigration as ‘extreme’. It’s a blatant attempt to silence opposition. I won’t be silenced. Wales needs straight talking, real people in the Senedd, not career politicians.
“I called out the self-proclaimed Marxist group, Black Lives Matter, when they vandalised property, defaced war memorials and attacked police officers. Unlike Labour and Plaid, I did not grovel on my knees to the divisive politics of the Far Left. UKIP remained standing and I am proud to stand with them to save Wales from the anti-British Senedd. “
UKIP Leader, Neil Hamilton MS, added: “Paul has been a lone voice for the people of Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. When other Councillors, MPs and Members of the Senedd put their careers first, he bravely stood with the residents of “Penally and called out Labour’s Nation of Sanctuary for what it is – virtue signalling of the most dangerous kind.
“I am delighted to have Paul as an integral part of UKIP’s Election Campaign. Voters have a choice: more of Drakeford’s Senedd or vote UKIP and scrap it altogether.”
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