Scotland follows our lead- for a change!

I hope you can take time to read this article that I wrote, that was printed in today's health section of the Western Mail with regards to the treatment of eating disorders in Wales. If you want to join the cross party group, then just get in touch, or if you are on Facebook please join us for discussion there.

I also received a link from a member of the cross party group of a debate on eating disorders that took place this March at the Scottish Parliament- praising our action here in Wales on eating disorders. Well, it makes a change to Wales following Scotland all the time! A Tory MSP, Mary Scanlon was singing our praises, although I gather from her speech that she believes the cross party group to be a government led initiative. There's pressure on us now to perform as a committee, which of course we will do!

Here is the quote:

"Whereas there has been a lack of action—or insufficient action—on the issue in Scotland, the Welsh Assembly has taken dramatic and decisive action to combat eating disorders. It established a cross-party committee on the issue to compile a comprehensive analysis of eating disorders in Wales, including recommendations from the NHS in Wales on provision and support for patients and their families. The committee has managed to raise awareness of eating disorders across Wales and has called for proactive campaigns that specifically target young women in schools and universities. It has also promoted the need for increased training in the health sector to equip front-line staff with the skills to identify and to deal effectively and efficiently with patients suffering from eating disorders."

I am pleased that we are progressing on this issue here in Wales, especially following a meeting that a delegation of the group had with the Health Minister, Edwina Hart AM lately. There's still much to be done, but we have recess to continue the work ( some of us are not taking 9 weeks holiday, I'll have you know. We are working very hard in our constituencies, as some journalists such as Matt Withers needs to know.....;-)) and to follow up any issues in the next cross party group in the new term. B-eat Cymru will be launched in October also, which will also be an exciting time for those working in the sector, and for those suffering from an eating disorder in Wales.

petitions committee celebrates its first year

Its been a busy few days for me, and now I have time to sit down and blog. I was privileged that Huw Lewis responded so quickly to my blog on his comments on devolution. I have read his article on this issue, but I based my blog on the general BBC story to clarify to all. I'm pleased that Huw is so passionate about devolution, and that he has emphasised his commitment to the process. I need never attack him again on this matter.

Yesterday a delegation of the cross party group on eating disorders met with Edwina Hart to discuss the future strategy for eating disorders in Wales. I will expand on developments in due course, but I can say that it was a very productive meeting, and we all came out with smiles on our faces! Sarah Aldritt, a young woman who is recovering from an eating disorder came to the meeting also, and put forward her opinions to the Minister regarding the lack of access to Dietitians in Wales, and a carer- Martin Ball also came along to provide the Minister with a valuable insight in to his experiences caring for a daughter with an eating disorder. Health professionals were also present, and could obviously provide the Minister with expert knowledge of what is happening in the Trusts and LHBs ( if anything) regarding the treatment of eating disorders in Wales.

Yesterday I also attended the launch of the AMs photo display at the Senedd. Many AMs took part, and the photos are there are week at the Senedd for you to look at. I took pictures around the theme of the 'Iron Lady'. I'll post them here for you to look at!

I also took part in a petitions committee event last night to mark a year since the establishment of the petitions committee. It was a hugely successful event, and Andy Williamson from the Hansard society chaired a panel debate about the petitions system, and how we are developing it here in Wales. We have had over 100 petitions now, and the committee is going from strength to strength.

Today I attended the Unison/Unite public sector pay rally at The Point in Cardiff Bay. I'm hoping to go and meet those who are on strike at the Bridgend picket line tomorrow. Its an issue that is totally unacceptable. When MPs can award themselves hefty pay rises and such, its unacceptable that those in the public sector are not been rewarded the pay rise they deserve. London Labour undermining the workers in the public sector again. No surprises there.

Politicians are human too!!

I have had a relatively quiet day today, which is more than I can say for my colleague Nerys Evans AM who has been running around doing interviews about her anonomous survey of AMs on their own experiences of domestic abuse and sexual assault. This was initiated in relation to an Amnesty and NUS Wales led survey on the perceptions of domestic abuse amongst students, and the rate at which it takes place. Of course, the findings of the questionnaire are not surprising as we all, no doubt, know people who are victims of domestic violence in one shape or another. But it was actually surprising that so few AMs took part in the process. Nerys Evans was, after all, only seeking to communicate the fact that politicians are involved in this situation, and that we too have experiences that shape our society. I commend her for raising awareness of this issue, and hope that the Assembly's report on domestic violence will lead to action in this area, as well as place additional pressure on the UK government to push this to the forefront of the political agenda.

The eating disorders cross party group went really well last night, and I thank everyone who attended. We will be meeting with the Minister imminently to discuss the care pathway with regards to eating disorders, and I hope that we can get assurances that there will be substantial investment in this area. Carers and those suffering from an eating disorder, as well as those working in the health sector were present, and I look forward to the next meeting, and arranging more events to raise awareness of the issue.

Tomorrow, I am taking part in a British Council event in encouraging young people to get involved in politics. I met with a group of 6th form pupils to discuss their political aspirations yesterday, and their enthusiasm is clear for all to see. I only hope that we can try and ensure that young people feel part of the political system as opposed to believeing that their voices are irrelevant to us as Assembly Members.

Its Friday!

Here is a link to the blog that I wrote for Ourkingdom on devolution if you want to take a look. It concentrates on the challenges ahead for both the Labour party and the Tories in the context of the referendum on a Parliament for Wales.

I visited Christchurch Primary school in Swansea today. I am always touched by the enthusiasm and the drive of teachers who dedicate themselves to their pupils. They were all very welcoming. My mother is also a Primary school teacher, and so I will always respect the time and effort that teachers invest in their work. It is certainly not an easy job, and I don't think that I could juggle a class of 30 children personally!

I am doing a surgery at the Berwyn Centre, Nantymoel on Monday between 10am and 12 if any readers of my blog live in that area and wish to raise any local issues with me personally. I am trying to do a mixture of street surgeries, and surgeries in various locations across the region so as to reach as many people as possible.

The next cross party group on eating disorders is at 5.30pm next Tuesday at the National Assembly if any of you wish to attend. We are looking at the provision of services by GPs, and also the response of the Health Minster to a letter that we wrote regarding the fact that the current care pathway on eating disorders is only an advisory document- which ultimately means that many local health boards, trusts and GPs alike do not take it as their own individual responsibility to treat eating disorders accordingly.

I've just remembered that there is a London Olympics event at the Assembly on Monday evening also. I was hoping to attend so that I could ask some awkward questions about the financial burden of the Olympics on Welsh lottery monies, but it looks to me as if it will be more of a wine and canapes session. hmmm!

Have a nice weekend....

Cross Party group on eating disorders tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to the cross party group on eating disorders tomorrow, especially as today I visited a woman who has suffered from the condition for most of her life, and was told that had mental health strategies been in place to support her years ago, she would be fit and healthy now.

If this is not a wake up call for action, I do not what is. At the meeting Peter Boyle, a Public Health Specialist will be giving a brief introduction on the work of the All Wales Eating Disorders Special Interest Group. It was enlightening to discover that Peter and his colleagues had previously devoted time and effort into writing a care pathway on eating disorders in Wales, which was then, under Jane Hutt, set to be enforced as part of a National strategy on eating disorders. Unfortunately this did not happen for reasons of which I am unfamiliar with. Therefore, I hope that one of the key first actions for our group is to impress upon Edwina Hart, the current Health Minister the need for the implementation of the care pathway so that those suffering from eating disorders have the care that they rightly need and deserve at every level - from access to GPs who may then refer them to local mental health teams, to the more specialised services.

Experts in the field rightly argue that there will be far less of a need for beds in a specialist treatment centre if sufferers can be supported from the outset- without their condition getting so severe that specialist treatment is the only option. There is much more to do in this field, what with educating GPs about how to identify those suffering from an eating disorder, to providing support networks for people, to ensuring that courses specialising in eating disorders are part of the main syllabus for both nurses and Doctors- all issues that we will discuss in the group during the next three years, at least!

Cross party group on eating disorders gets under way

I've had a busy few days back at the Assembly. Today is a little less frantic so I have prepared to say a few words during the Lib dem minority party debate on ID Cards today. I am hoping to concentrate on the issue of Welsh identity in the context of the argument against ID cards, and the way in which ID cards are another way for Gordon Brown to push forward his obsession with 'Britishness'.

Yesterday, I launched the new Cross-party group on Eating Disorders. I'm really looking forward to the work of the group. Edwina Hart was present, and requested that we draw up a strategy, and raise awareness of eating disorders in order to mainstream the issues surrounding the illness. We are hoping to launch the aims and objectives of the group during Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which starts on the 25th of February. The National campaign this year focuses on the role of carers of those who suffer from eating disorders. While this is an important issue, as this will be our first event as a National Assembly group, we will be a little more general in our approach. If anyone would like to contribute to the group or to help with the organisation of the event, then please do get in touch.

A challenge for Labour in Wales

Much has happened in the Welsh political World since I last blogged- the most important development centering on Adam Price's statements with regards the need to re-ignite the Plaid-Labour/ Red- Green agenda.

I understand that Adam supports both options- a deal, or should I say 'formal coalition' with Labour, or the alternative three party agreement. The reality of the situation is that the Labour party is in Government. In proposing a Plaid-Labour deal, Adam is responding to the situation as it is, and is astute in realising the possibilities and potential of a Plaid - Labour agreement.

It would be foolish for us now to dismiss working with Labour as we would only appear to be opposing for opposing's sake. We cannot push for the three party agreement heads down, with no thought for the current political landscape.

I voted not to suspend talks with Labour as we had not received a closing statement on any said agreement. I believe that this decision is key to understanding where we are now. Labour, at least in appearance, is open to continuing talks with Plaid. Edwina Hart has more than hinted at her willingness to work with us, to discuss how we can move politics forward in Wales. I sense that Labour realise that their hegemony in Wales has ended, and that they must face the fact that they cannot succeed alone. From reading Rhodri Morgan's letter to Ieuan Wyn Jones, it is clear that our party can benefit by at least considering co-operating with Labour- developing a joint group to discuss a referendum on a Parliament for Wales, and the intention to introduce a moratorium on existing changes in the health service at community level being two of the main issues.

It is important now for Plaid to pursue a bilateral approach, so that members and elected representatives alike are provided with two options when a vote will inevitably take place at the National Executive and at our National Council. Members deserve to be presented with the facts in an honest and clear manner. Voting on one option would be unfair, and would not reflect the diversity of that which is on offer to them, and to the people of Wales.

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Sialens i Lafur yng Nghymru

Mae llawer wedi digwydd ym myd gwleidyddol Cymru ers i mi flogi ddiwethaf - y mwya' pwysig i wneud a mynegiadau Adam Price parthed yr angen i ail-danio'r agenda Plaid-Llafur.Rwy'n deall fod Adam yn cefnogi'r ddau ddewis - clymblaid gyda Llafur neu ymuno'r Enfys.

Y gwirionedd yw mai Llafur sydd wedi ffurfio Llywodraeth, ac wrth gynnig clymblaid wyrddgoch, mae Adam yn ymateb i'r sefyllfa fel ag y mae, a'n graff yn sylwi ar botensial y fath gytundeb.

Byddai'n hurt i ni ddiystyru cydweithio gyda Llafur ar hyn o bryd, ac ymddangos ein bod yn wrthblaid sydd yn gallu gwneud dim ond gwrthwynebu. Nid yw'n ddoeth gwthio am glymblaid Enfys heb ystyried y maes gwleidyddol gyfredol.

Pleidleisiais ym Mai i beidio a gohirio trafodaeth gyda Llafur gan nad oedden wedi derbyn unhyw ddatganiad terfynol ar unrhyw gytundeb. Rwyf yn coelio fod fy mhenderfyniad yn allweddol i ddealltwriaeth o'r sefyllfa bresenol.Mae Llafur yn ymddangos yn agored i barhau trafodaeth gyda Plaid. Mae Edwina Hart wedi cyfeirio at ei pharodwydd i gydweithio gyda ni, ac i drafod y ffordd ymlaen yng Nghymru.Mae Llafur wedi sylwi fod ei hegemoni yng Nghymru drosodd, a'n gorfod gwynebu'r angen am bartneriaeth er mwyn llwyddo. O ddarllen llythyr Rhodri Morgan i Ieuan Wyn Jones, mae yn glir y bydd Plaid yn buddio o gydweithio gyda Llafur - gyda datblygiad gweithgor ar drafodaeth refferendwm ar Senedd a bwriad i gyflwyno moratoriwm ar newidiadau i'r gwasanaeth iechyd yn y gymuned yn ddau brif bwnc.

Mae'n bwysig fod Plaid yn dilyn llwybr ddwyochrog fel bod aelodau a chynrychiolwyr etholedig yn cael dwy ddewis pan mae pleidlais yn ein Bwrdd Gwaith Cenedlaethol ac yn ein Cyngor Cenedlaethol. Mae aelodau yn haeddu derbyn yr hollw wybodaeth - byddai pleidlais ar un dewis yn annheg, a'n methu adlewyrchu'r dewis sydd ar gael i Gymru.

Carwyn Jones- a 'consensus' politics advocate or not?

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to listen to Carwyn Jones on Taro’r Post regarding his opinions on a New Welsh Language Act (the sound on my computer is not working!) but from what I understand he is opposing a New Welsh Language Act, and his opposition therefore to implementing such an Act as a Minister whose brief includes the Welsh Language and its development.

This news is somewhat confusing, especially if you take the Labour Party’s recent soundings at face value- the need to create consensus politics in Wales which will develop the Assembly for the future. I don’t understand his tactic (if he has a tactic) of making soundings against a New Welsh Language Act so soon. Considering that the Labour Government is a minority Government, one would have thought that it would be in Carwyn’s best interest to keep quiet for now. Speaking against one of Plaid’s main policies is hardly a good start to a positive working relationship!

What is more confusing is that Carwyn Jones (according to the media and political analysis of him) is on the Nationalist wing of the Labour Party. In my humble opinion, it really doesn’t help Carwyn Jones to be pushing for a vote of no confidence in the Government, as it is almost inevitable that the Unionists in his own party will mobilise against him while in opposition for the race to be leader of the Labour Party in Wales. This can’t be an ideal scenario for Carwyn and the like.

In simple terms, it would seem to be imperative for Carwyn Jones to seek to appeal to Plaid Cymru so as to establish himself and his agenda. His opinions against a New Welsh Language Act totally undermine this strategy. Martin Shipton and Vaughan Roderick have noted that Rhodri Morgan’s thinking behind placing Carwyn and Edwina Hart in key positions within the Cabinet was to make it hard for Plaid Cymru to undermine the Government with such ‘Plaid friendly’ faces at the front line.

So what is the importance of this to Welsh politics? If Carwyn Jones and his colleagues continue in this way, consensus politics in Wales between the Labour Party and Plaid will be very hard to implement in the short term, and certainly in the long term. As you know, I did hope that we could come to an agreement with Labour, and that is why I voted not to suspend discussions with them last week.

It’s vital, therefore, that we assess the actions of the Labour Party in the next few weeks to get a clear, holistic idea of the situation. If the Labour party do not play ball, its anyone’s guess as to what will happen next.

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Carwyn Jones- O blaid gwleidyddiaeth 'consenws' ai peidio?

Yn anffodus, dwi ddim wedi clywed y cyfweliad gyda Carwyn Jones ar Taro'r Post am Ddeddf Iaith Newydd (nid yw'r sain ar fy nghyfrifiadur yn gweithio), ond o'r hyn rwy'n deall, mae Carwyn Jones wedi datgan ei fod yn erbyn y cysyniad o Ddeddf Iaith Newydd, ac felly ei fod yn erbyn gweithredu y fath Ddeddf yn y Cynulliad tra bod ef yn Weinidog sydd a phrif gyfrifoldeb dros yr iaith.

Mae'r newydd yma yn benbleth i mi, yn enwedig o ystyried datganiadau diwedddara'r Blaid Lafur am yr angen i hybu gwleidyddiaeth consensws yng Nghymru er mwyn datblygu'r Cynulliad yn y dyfodol. Dydw i ddim yn deall ei dacteg ( os oes ganddo dacteg o gwbl) dros wneud datganiadau mor bendant yn erbyn Deddf Iaith Newydd. O feddwl bod y Llywodraeth Llafur yn un lleiafrifol mi fasa un yn tybio bod Carwyn Jones am gadw'n dawel am gyfnod o leiaf! Tasen i yn 'sgidiau Carwyn Jones, baswn i'n ceisio darganfod ffordd o gymodi polisi'r Blaid Lafur ar yr Iaith gyda polisi Plaid Cymru, ac hynny er mwyn hwyluso'r broses o lywodraethu. Nid siarad yn erbyn un o brif polisiau Plaid Cymru yw'r ffordd gorau o ddatblygu perthynas gref, mae hynny'n sicr!

Beth sydd yn fwy o benblethdod yw bod Carwyn Jones, (yn ol y delwedd sydd ohono yn y wasg ac yn y byd gwleidyddol) yn un sydd ar adain fwy Cenedlaetholgar y Blaid Lafur. Yn fy marn pitw i, nid yw'n helpu Carwyn Jones i wthio'r agenda gwleidyddol tuag at bleidlais diffyg hyder a'r clymblaid enfys oherwydd mae e bron yn anochel y bydd adain Undebol ei blaid ei hun yn gweithredu ras arweinyddol yn ei erbyn os ydynt yn cael ei gwthio i fod yn wrthblaid yn y Cynulliad. Nid yw hynny'n sefyllfa bleserus iawn i Carwyn a'i debyg.

Yn syml felly, mae'n bwysig bod Carwyn Jones yn apelio i Blaid Cymru er mwyn sefydlogi ei huno fewn ei swydd. Mae ei symudiadau diweddaraf yn erbyn Deddf Iaith yn gwrthdaro gyda'r strategaeth hwn yn llwyr. Mae hyd yn oed gohebwyr fel Martin Shipton a Vaughan Roderick wedi nodi mai un o brif penderfyniadau Rhodri Morgan dros benodi Carwyn ac Edwina Hart i'w safleoedd presenol o fewn y Cabinet oedd i greu sefyllfa anodd i Blaid Cymru o ran disodli'r Llywodraeth, gyda'r Gweinidogion ' Plaid friendly' ar flaen y gad.

Felly beth yw pwysigrwydd hwn i ddyfodol gwleidyddiaeth Cymru? Yn fy marn i, os ydyw agwedd Carwyn Jones a'i cyd weithwyr yn parhau, fe fydd gwleidyddiaeth consensws rhwng Llafur a Phlaid Cymru yn anodd iawn i'w weithredu yn tymor byr, ac yn sicr yn yr hir dymor. Roedd gen i obeithion am yr allu i gydweithredu a Llafur fel yr ydych yn gwybod, a dyna i chi'r rheswm am i mi bleidleisio yn erbyn dod a thrafodaethau gyda'r Blaid hynny i ben wythnos yn ol.

Mae'n hanfodol, felly i asesu sut y bydd Llafur yn gweithredu yn yr wythnosau nesaf i gael darlun clir ac holistaidd o'r sefyllfa. Os nad yw'r Blaid Lafur am weithio gyda Plaid Cymru, pwy a wyr beth fydd yn digwydd nesaf.

Blairism, Brownism. Is there a difference?

Bob Hart, Edwina Hart's husband has now entered the anti- Blair camp in the run up to the National Assembly elections in May. He has hit out against criticisms of the hypocritical nature of Labour AM's who supported the PCS Civil service strike. He laments that AM's 'do not share the free market zeal of disdain for working people which characterises Blairism', and that there are no plans for job cuts by the Government in Wales.

Bob Hart's attack on Blairism( what about Brownism?) may be justified, but as Jeff Evans of PCS emphasises in today's Western Mail, the fact of the matter is that job cuts in Wales are inevitable. The strategy is, after all, a Westminster based strategy. The reality is that Labour in Cardiff Bay cannot merely opt out of the implementation of this policy without taking the fight, with more strength, to their colleagues in Westminster.

In fairness, there may be a divergence of policy opinion between London and Cardiff, but if this is so, then Labour AM's should not only take part in Civil Service strikes across Wales, but they should put much more pressure on their fellow Party Members in London to put a stop to this privatisation agenda. The very fact that they have so far failed to do this shows that Labour AM's are still bound by New Labour's centralisation agenda. Until there is a change in attitude amongst Labour AM's- until there is an obvious readiness to stand up to Blair and Brown alike, this latest attempt to shrug off the Blair affect on Wales is just another sign of panic from Labour AM's.

The angry reaction by the public to Labour in Wales's double standards in supporting the strike, but failing to stop the job cuts shows that Labour will not succeed in pulling the wool over their eyes. When jobs are slashed, they will know that it was their own 'socialist' Labour Party that took such a decision, and nobody else.