Love music, hate racism

Dyma wybodaeth i chi am ddigwyddiad ym Mhenybont ar nos Sadwrn sydd wedi ei drefnu gan Unite Penybont. Dewch i gefnogi'r achos da yma. Am fwy o wybodaeth ewch i wefan Love Music Hate Racism.

Here is some information about a gig in Bridgend this Satruday evening. It's being organised by Bridgend Unite. Please support this important event. For more information go to the website Love Music Hate Racism.

Candidate or AM? That is the question.

It seems that some politicians always manage to live up to the image of being difficult- in this case it's in the shape of Leighton Andrews, New Labour candidate for the Rhondda, who has commented on BBC election guidlines.

Once the Assembly has been dissolved for an election, all candidates, whether they have been AM's for the last 4 years or not must be labelled 'candidates', and ministers must be 'spokespeople.' Leighton Andrews said of the matter- 'I think what they are creating is a sort of real world and a BBC world in the real world we are AMs, talking to constituents, holding surgeries.' His comment is a little confusing, but basically hints that the policy is uncalled for.

Personally I do not think that there needs to be a debate on this. When the Assembly has been dissolved, AM's are candidates like everyone else, and shouldn't be treated any differently. This safeguards the BBC's impartiality, and our ability to assess all candidates on a level footing.

What interests me more as an election issue is that the BBC must give an equal platform to the main political parties during interviews and news stories from now until the election. This must have annoyed Leighton Andrews during the Burberry protest on Friday, as other parties were given a chance to air their opinions on the closure. Other parties that perhaps haven't commented before, or whose views have not been broadcast to a large majority of the population via the BBC.

Is there an argument that this practise should be implemented all year round? There may be, but I am sure that it would create much tension amongst AM's and political parties alike, especially in the context of the BNP. I do not sit easy with the idea of debating with the BNP for example, or giving them coverage on TV. Nevertheless, in the next few weeks all political parties will have to decide whether or not they share a platform with them, or take part in discussions with this blatantly racist party.

I have heard rumours that South Wales Central list candidates have taken the stance not to share a platform with the BNP during the election. Does this only serve to push the BNP underground, and confirm their anti- establishment arguments, or should this party be refused a platform as is the view of the organisation Unite and Searchlight?
I would be very interested in hearing well thought out comments on this pressing issue.