Politics

Call for Senedd election as First Minister steps aside

Published

4 months ago

July 17, 2024

VAUGHAN Gething faced calls for a snap Senedd election after he was forced to stand down as Wales’ First Minister by mass resignations from his government.

Mr Gething, who took office less than four months ago, confirmed he will stand down after three ministers and the Welsh Government’s chief legal adviser quit on Tuesday.

His leadership has been mired by controversy over a £200,000 donation from a convicted polluter, a lost no-confidence vote and the sacking of a minister accused of leaking.

Julie James, Lesley Griffiths, Mick Antoniw and Jeremy Miles penned letters of resignation after the First Minister initially resisted their calls to stand down for the good of the country.

Plaid Cymru called for an immediate Senedd election, warning that the people of Wales are losing confidence in Labour’s ability to govern.

Sian Gwenllian criticised “unforgiveable chaos” in the Labour party during First Minister’s questions in the Senedd’s debating chamber, or Siambr.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservative group, told the Senedd the First Minister refused to shake his hand that morning as they bumped into each other in a lift.

Mr Davies said it is vital that a clear timetable is put in place to appoint his successor as he questioned whether the “riven” Labour group in the Senedd will last until the 2026 election.

“Of course, we can,” replied Mr Gething. “And whatever happens in the leadership contest to come – the people of Wales will decide who comes to this place in an expanded Senedd.”

Mr Gething said the executive of Welsh Labour will determine the rules and timetable for the contest, adding that he will continue until the Senedd chooses Wales’ new First Minister.

He explained: “Early in the autumn a new person will be stood here as the leader of Welsh Labour, and this place will need to decide whether to elect that person as … First Minister.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth called for a snap Senedd election, saying Wales deserves better than a “revolving door” of Labour First Ministers.

Plaid Cymru’s leader said the First Minister should have stood down many weeks ago.

He told the Senedd: “His response should have been to acknowledge his poor judgement and to recognise the very real perceptions created.”

Mr ap Iorwerth accused the First Minister of seeking to blame others, including opposition politicians and journalists, for scrutinising him.

“The lack of good sense of the First Minister and his unwillingness to be scrutinised has undermined the role .. and brought Welsh politics into disrepute,” he warned.

“Very seldom does the head of a government in a democracy ignore the will of the legislature. In ignoring a vote of confidence, he had to go.”

Mr Gething hit back at “smears”, saying: “If our politics is going to serve the country, then some of us at least have to have some integrity about the way we go about our jobs, including the criticism of other people.”

The First Minister rejected suggestions he had swerved scrutiny.

Referring to Boris Johnson, he said: “I have not hidden during the election campaign. I have gone out and been front and centre. I haven’t found a convenient fridge to hide in – I have done my job for the country.”

Adam Price, the former Plaid Cymru leader, called for an independent ethics commissioner, suggesting it could have avoided the damage of the past few months.

He said: “We’re all called into politics … to make a difference in people’s lives and that becomes impossible in the absence of trust.”

In a personal statement to the Senedd, Mr Gething, who was applauded by some on the Labour benches, said: “This has been an incredibly difficult time for me and my family.

“A growing assertion that some kind of wrongdoing has taken place has been pernicious, politically motivated and patently untrue.

“I have worked hard, followed the rules and done really difficult and demanding jobs for my country. In 11 years as a minister, I have never ever made a decision for personal gain. I have never ever misused or abused my ministerial responsibilities.

“My integrity matters – I have not compromised it.”

The first black leader of any country in Europe added: “To those in Wales who look like me – many of whom I know feel personally bruised and worried by this moment – I know that our country can be better – must be better. I know that cannot happen without us.

In a statement, Prime Minister Keir Starmer thanked Vaughan Gething for his service as Welsh Labour leader and First Minister of Wales.

“Vaughan should take enormous pride in being the first black leader of any country in Europe,” said Sir Keir.

“That achievement will have broadened the ambitions and raised the gaze of a generation of young people in Wales and beyond.

“I know what a difficult decision this has been for him – but I also know that he has made it because he feels it is the best decision now for Wales.

“I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

Education

Pembrokeshire free school transport call to be heard at County Hall

Published

7 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to allow school pupils from Johnston and Tiers Cross access to free school transport to the nearby Haverfordwest high school is to be heard by councillors next week.

Due to a change in catchment areas the pupils are no longer able to access free transport to Haverfordwest, instead coming under the Milford Haven catchment area.

A petition calling for the reinstatement of the former catchment area to access free transport for pupils to Haverfordwest was recently started in the county.

The e-petition, which ran from September 18-November 1 on the council’s own website, attracted 351 signatures, meeting the threshold for a debate at the relevant Pembrokeshire County Council overview and scrutiny committee, in this case the Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28.

The petition, started by Kirsty Coaker, reads: “We call on Pembrokeshire County Council to change Johnston and Tiers Cross School Catchment back to Haverfordwest.

“Children of Johnston and Tiers Cross are now ineligible for free school transport to Haverfordwest High due to the areas no longer being in ‘catchment’.

“Both Johnston and Tiers Cross are Haverfordwest postal codes and are classed as Haverfordwest, yet the school catchment is Milford Haven.

“Please help our children access suitable transport to and from secondary school.”

The e-petition will now be considered at the November 28 meeting.

Climate

Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine

Published

7 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.

The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”

In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.

In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.

The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”

The application will be considered by planners at a later date.

Business

Call to end ‘fad’ of ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to end the ‘fad’ of permanent ‘school dogs’ in Pembrokeshire for their benefit and the befit of the schools, instead using visiting ‘therapy dogs’ is to be heard next week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s Schools And Learning Overview And Scrutiny Committee meeting of November 28 will consider a public submission by Robert Thomas – who works with therapy dogs – on the subject of school dogs.

The submission reads: “My definition of a school dog is one that spends long periods in the school and is managed and owned by school employees not outside assessed and insured visiting therapy dogs who stay for an hour with a competent handler.

“The welfare of many dogs in schools in Pembrokeshire has been compromised over the last few years and we are concerned that the rise in the popularity of school-owned or teacher-owned dogs is an animal welfare issue.

“I can think of several school dogs in Pembrokeshire where it has gone wrong for the animal.”

He cites examples of ‘school dogs’ the county, where he says they have had to be removed, with the animals being unsettled, barking and even nipping on occasions, showing “a lack of understanding of animal welfare”.

His submission adds: “We have done some work with the Animal Welfare team at the Welsh Government around licensing this field, a consultation was completed in March 2023, currently awaiting the outcome.

“It has become a fad across the country and many dogs spend all day in schools supported by staff members who have another job to do. It feels like PCC does not have a policy overarching animal welfare policy in schools to protect dogs from being seen as staff members and there purely for human benefit, not the dogs.

“Dogs need to rest and sleep during the day and not in school. The visiting therapy dog model works best as the impact is greatest and the welfare of the dog is managed externally. If the dog is there all the time that can diminish the impact, and the novelty can wear off for the pupils.

“In my experience schools should concentrate on teaching and leave the therapy dog introduction to those that have the expertise in animal welfare.”

The submission will be considered by committee members at the November 28 meeting.