Politics

‘Like an episode of Yes Minister’: Civil servants ‘obstructed’ inquiry

Published

11 months ago

June 27, 2025

WELSH Government bigwigs obstructed an inquiry into public appointments then failed to accept a single one of its recommendations, a watchdog committee warned.

Mike Hedges likened the Senedd’s public accounts committee inquiry to an episode of political satire sitcom Yes Minister, only “without the humour but with the obfuscation”.

Mr Hedges, a Labour member of the committee, was critical of senior civil servants in the Welsh Government following the two-and-a-half year inquiry which found serious failings.

He said: “We met with senior government civil servants who were at best unhelpful or – in my view and possibly that of other members of the committee – positively obstructive.”

During a debate on the committee’s damning reports – which made 23 recommendations – Mr Hedges said he was annoyed and disappointed by the Welsh Government’s response.

He said: “I, like other members, consider the response disgraceful to an inquiry about public appointments, showing disrespect bordering on contempt – not just for those of us who are members of that committee but for the Senedd itself.”

He told the Senedd: “Scrutiny means trying to make things better. It’s very difficult to try and make things better when you’re dealing with people who don’t want to.”

The Swansea East Senedd Member said the most affluent areas have a far higher proportion of government appointments than poorer ones.

Mr Hedges warned: “What happens next? The report is noted and the government response is noted and it gets forgotten – and things continue as usual.

“Or, and this is what I’m asking for, an external public inquiry into public appointments is held as a matter of urgency.”

Mark Isherwood, the Conservative chair of the committee, accused the Welsh Government of undermining scrutiny by failing to clearly accept nor reject any of the recommendations.

He said: “We heard troubling evidence about the lack of diversity in its public appointments on the basis of ethnicity, disability, age, gender, and sexual identity.

“Furthermore, it’s clear that public appointments are not representative of all Wales on the basis of non-protected characteristics – with far too many appointments clustered in and around Cardiff and the south-east.”

Pledging to pursue the issue, Mr Isherwood urged the Welsh Government to urgently reflect and provide a revised response “given the dangerous precedent it could set”.

In closing, he said: “I urge the Welsh Government to now engage seriously with our recommendations and address a system that at present is not fit for purpose.”

Plaid Cymru’s Peredur Owen Griffiths told the Senedd: “At a time when public confidence in our institutions is lower than ever, often for valid reasons, it’s vital that high standards are maintained in terms of public appointments.”

Warning of complacency, he said: “The conclusions of the report are extremely critical…. Worse still, the government’s weak responses to the committee’s recommendations undermine any belief that it will learn any lessons… and this is part of a wider pattern.”

South Wales East MS Peredur Owen Griffiths

Mr Owen Griffiths expressed concerns about almost a quarter of appointees in Wales in 2020/21 having declared political activity, compared with less than 6% in Westminster.

He called for a dedicated public appointments system as in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where country-specific arrangements exist.

The Conservatives’ Janet Finch-Saunders criticised a lack of data on key issues, including Welsh speakers on public boards and the percentage of appointees who live outside Wales.

“The overall theme… is one of deep concern over a lack of transparency,” she said.

Her Tory colleague James Evans called for the Senedd’s pre-appointment hearings with candidates, which are “a little bit dressed up” as accountability, to have more teeth. “What we’re doing isn’t oversight, it’s a piece of theatre,” he said.

He accused ministers of reversing moves to strengthen scrutiny, preferring to rely on internal methods that have “repeatedly failed” and “inappropriately” hand-picking people for roles.

Jane Hutt responded to the June 25 debate for the Welsh Government: “It is regrettable that historic delivery in this area has fallen short of expectation. That’s why I’ve asked for and we are delivering a root-and-branch reform programme.”

Jane Hutt, secretary for social justice, trefnydd and chief whip

The Labour minister pointed to data, which had not been interrogated by the committee, showing “encouraging” progress on ensuring appointments are truly reflective of Wales.

“The direction is clear,” she said. “We’re taking action. We’re listening. We are improving.”

Climate

Pembrokeshire council to hear anti-net zero petition

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A PETITION call to Pembrokeshire councillors, which raises concerns at the “hefty funds” needed to support its commitment to net zero, will be heard at full council next week.

Last July, councillors agreed to set up a group to review its own decision to declare a climate emergency some seven years ago.

In May 2019, the council declared a climate emergency following a notice of motion by Cllr Joshua Beynon calling on the authority to back the global consensus that climate change poses a risk to the well-being of future generations.

He had urged county councillors to back a motion to take “bold, decisive action” to fight “truly, catastrophic” climate change, with the council to committing to becoming a zero-carbon local authority by 2030.

At the July 2025 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, a successful notice of motion by the late Cllr Mike Stoddart called for the establishment of a working group to review that decision.

That led to a recent petition, by Lynda Duffill of West Wales Climate Coalition, which attracted 725 signatures, calling on the council to reaffirm its Declaration of a Climate Emergency, and retain the ambition to deliver Net Zero Council operations by 2030.

That petition was considered at the October 2025 meeting of full council; members agreeing the working group be asked to ensure the petition is included as evidence in its consideration of the matters referred to it by the council resolution in July 2025.

That has now led to a further petition, concerned at a potential increase in council tax from a re-affirmation of a Declaration of a Climate Emergency.

The latest e-petition, on the council’s own website, created by Carolyn Ellis, read: “We call upon all elected members of Pembrokeshire County Council to support and to take seriously the working group tasked with the review of the ‘climate emergency’ called in 2019 (by the-then 21-year-old councillor Joshua Beynon) and to question the hefty funds needed to spend on ‘net zero’.

“We refer to the recent petition by the West Wales Climate Coalition which purports to speak for the residents and council tax-payers of Pembrokeshire.

“There is potentially a far higher number of residents who do not share this unsubstantiated view and who are extremely concerned about the potential for huge hikes in council tax, especially if this tax is linked in future to the carbon efficiency of homes and businesses.

“This was hinted at as a possible lever for encouraging ‘compliance’ with decarbonising homes in the ‘Better Homes, Better Wales, Better World’ report. Therefore, not only could we be faced with more taxes, but also inevitable deterioration in service provision by PCC.”

The current petition ran to March 26 and attracted 753 signatures; any petition of over 500 triggers a debate at full council, the petition due to be heard at the May 14 meeting.

Local Government

Eluned Morgan resigns after losing Ceredigion Penfro Senedd seat

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

WELSH First Minister Eluned Morgan has resigned as leader of the Labour Party after she lost her seat in a catastrophic Senedd election for the former ruling party.

Baroness Morgan was defeated in the Ceredigion Penfro constituency with Labour failing to pick up any of the six seats available in the new ward.

Plaid Cymru gained three, Reform two, and the Welsh Conservatives one as Labour trailed in fourth place in the seat.

Baroness Morgan had previously said she was at risk of losing her seat in this election, and Labour sources were reported showing a sense of unease as counting took place.

She has now stood down as First Minister and Welsh Labour leader.

The First Minister was one of 44 candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro, seven of them Labour, with a total of six seats up for grabs.

Plaid Cymru and Reform have topped opinion polls throughout this election campaign, but polls have indicated one single party may not be able to gain enough votes in the now 96 seat Senedd to govern.

During the count, unconfirmed rumours said Eluned Morgan was in danger of losing her seat.

Baroness Morgan first became an MS in 2016, becoming the sixth First Minister, and the first woman to hold the post, in 2024.

During the 2026 campaign trail, on the issue of a potential coalition or working closer with another party like Plaid Cymru, she said: “I’m not making promises on anything until after the election, what I will say is we won’t under any circumstances work with Reform, it’s important our values are clear and we wouldn’t work with them.”

The First Minister entered the count at held at Llandysul’s Ysgol Bro Teifi to a media scrum, the results for the party seeing it only slightly ahead of the Green party.

Out of 89,402 votes cast, Plaid Cymru gained 31,943; Reform 23,003; Welsh Conservatives 14,789; Labour 6,495; Green 6,324; Liberal Democrats 4,613; Gwlad 802; Heritage Party 442; Aaron Carey 368; George Alexander Chadzy 286, and Paul Haywood Dowson 88.

The six candidates elected were: Elin Jones Plaid Cymru, Susan Claire Archibald Reform, Kerry Ferguson Plaid Cymru, Welsh Conservatives Paul Windsor Davies, Paul Marr Reform, and Anna Nicholl Plaid.

Community

Fishguard astroturf ‘long overdue’ for new surface

Published

12 hours ago

May 10, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL for clarity on if and when “long overdue” works on Fishguard Leisure Centre’s astroturf surface will take place is to be heard by councillors.

In a submitted question to be heard at the May 14 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, Bro Gwaun county councillor Delme Harries will ask: “I have received representations regarding the condition of the astroturf surface at Fishguard Leisure Centre which is reported to be a heavily-used facility supporting a range of local sports clubs and community activity.

“Concerns have been raised that the surface is now approaching 20 years old, and that resurfacing is now considered long overdue.

“In light of the council’s recent reviews and investments at other leisure centres in the south of the county, which are much welcomed, can the Cabinet Member please clarify: What formal assessments have been carried out on the condition and remaining lifespan of the astroturf at Fishguard Leisure Centre?

“How this facility is currently prioritised within the council’s wider leisure and sports investment programme?

“What consideration has been given to future upgrade or replacement at Fishguard, particularly in comparison with leisure facility investments made elsewhere in Pembrokeshire?”

Cllr Harries’ question is expected to be answered by the appropriate Cabinet member.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members backed a leisure investment programme including feasibility funding for new leisure centres in Pembroke and Milford Haven, along with works at Tenby leisure centre, with the aim of extending the lifespan of the trust-run swimming pool by at least 10 years.

For Pembroke this includes a detailed feasibility study for a new-build Leisure Centre in Pembroke, on the current school site, providing a feasibility budget of £195,000 from reserves.

For Milford Haven, members backed £1.2m (at risk) in the capital programme to develop a high-level leisure brief into the tender of the new English Medium primary and secondary school project in Milford Haven, and the pre-construction services to develop the project designs (to RIBA 4, Detailed Design) for a new leisure centre at the same time as the school.

For Tenby, members backed a grant of £4,606,667 to the Tenby and District Swimming Pool Association, as owner of the asset, for works to extend the lifespan of the current swimming pool by at least 10 years.

Members also backed other recommendations including £50,000 from reserves to procure external funding consultants to identify and secure as much funding as possible towards the delivery of the investment programme, and to establish a leisure operations review board to undertake a formal review of the leisure services operating model.