Israeli Ambassador

Today, the Israeli Ambassador to the UK will visit the National Assembly, and Assembly members will have an opportunity to raise questions with him. Following my commitment to discuss with Palestinian campaign groups in Wales, and to seek their advice on whether to attend the event or not, I have decided that the best course of action would be for me to join their protests outside the Senedd building.

Their arguments were compelling: that engaging in dialogue with the Ambassador would have no bearing on Israel’s continuing violations of UN resolutions in relation to human rights in the Palestinian Territories, and until they conform to such resolutions politicians such as myself should not provide them with a legitimate platform for which to endorse their actions.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, following a visit to the Holy Land, publicly declared that the situation reminded him of what happened to black people in South Africa. As someone who was heavily involved in the anti-apartheid campaign, it does not sit easy with me to attend the event at this particular moment in time.

The Palestinian campaigners recommended that I join them outside the Senedd, as they believe that this course of action would be the most effective way of demonstrating our collective dissatisfaction with Israeli government policies.

A right Royal visit.

Oh gosh. I'm faltering on the blog scene aren't I? But that's justified by the fact that I've just written a blog for ourkingdom regarding the Tories and devolution, so that should go live in the next few days. I've been really busy this week with attending local events to mark Refugee Week, to speaking at an event to support asylum seekers, to doing street surgeries in Porthcawl. These are all very valid reasons as to why I haven't been here on the blogosphere, although I do keep up to date with the affairs of the day from the comfort of my twitter page welsh politics updates.

Today I was on the Politics Show in Wales talking about Prince Charles's visit to the Assembly next week( its not a breach of security to discuss it we learnt today, as all the details are on the Royal Family website- check it out!) He is set to open the new youth chamber at the National Assembly, and I voiced my concerns with the fact that an unaccountable and undemocratic representative will be opening the chamber. After all, we are seeking to encourage young people to engage in politics, and the involvement of the Monarchy may well lead to more disengagement from our youth in the political process. How about asking a young person to 'officially' open the chamber. Would that be beyond the realm of possibility?

I haven't been invited to the day of Royal bonanza at the Senedd, but as I left the Assembly today there were decorators in painting the walls of Ty Hywel. A member of staff muttered to me- 'If the weather is nice, he won't even walk through Ty Hywel anyway, so what's the point?' Is it a wonder that the Royal family believe that everywhere they go in the world smells of fresh paint and flowers, when public institutions must foot the bill to ensure that they don't see the cracks in the walls? I've put in a Freedom of Information request to find out how much this visit is costing the Assembly's Commission. Its times like this that I wish that I'd taken my full pay rise, as I know on good authority that the pay rise I didn't take went straight back in to the hands of the Commission! Is this really a good use of our resources?

So, another busy week ahead, what with Prince Charles's visit, and the controversy over the Israeli Ambassador's visit also. I can guarantee you that security will be tight this week at the Senedd so if you are considering visiting the Chamber to see the portrait of Maggie Thatcher, I'd probably wait a bit....

Thatcher at the Senedd....

You may be aware of my opinions on that Thatcher piece of art at the Assembly which is set to be unveiled on the 21st of May. You can read the story here, and make up your own mind on it. I personally don't see why we should be giving Thatcher any legitimacy in the new Wales. The existence of the National Assembly can be largely attributed to the decimation she and her government administered over Welsh communities and the fact that sufficient political will was generated to ensure that Wales would never be fully exposed to a future Tory Westminster government.

The new Wales is supposed to be about moving away from the Thatcherism of the two main UK parties, which is alien to the political values of our nation. What is the purpose of placing a statute of Thatcher in the building that is supposed to symbolise the re-birth of our nation?

I understand the concept behind the display. That doesn't mean that I have to agree with it. I perhaps wouldn't mind so much if this was done in a sensitive way e.g placed on display in a room filled with other pieces of art, or portraits of other political leaders. I may have been less disturbed than when I heard that it was going to be displayed at the front of the Senedd, but nevertheless it has been given the go-ahead.

We had a lively discussion on the Richard Evans phone in on Friday about this very issue, and it has obviously polarised opinions quite substantially. I did find it quite ironic, however, that Jenny Randerson AM told me on air (she was on the panel of AMs that commissioned the display) that my opinions 'were dangerous', when the main reason why she supported the art display was to encourage free speech!

I think this venture on behalf of the Assembly will backfire on the Institution quite frankly. Hardly anyone from the South Wales Valleys will come to the Senedd, view the display and think 'Oh, that's why we need a Referendum on a Parliament for Wales.' They will be angered, they will be upset, they will question why we made such a decision in the first place. Her very presence legitimizes her appalling legacy in Wales. I feel strongly that this is a massive own goal and shows grave insensitivity to former miners and their families, and whole coalfield communities, who suffered under the Thatcher government.

Some of the people who phoned in said they would organise a protest at the Assembly. It will definitely make people 'confront their demons', but was this what the artist really had in mind?

The 'diplomatic' AM for South Wales West

I am still in the Assembly's plenary session, and it will be extended until 6pm tonight. Of course, its vital that we discuss issues as AM's, but for those of us who are not allocated to contribute on debates at certain times of the session, it can be quite a long stint in the chamber!! I think there has to be more emphasis on the Assembly's external communications department to encourage a growth in the number of people who choose to attend the plenary sessions, and encourage interest in the debates here at the Assembly. Personally, I have contributed a number of new, innovative ideas for this purpose, and I hope that Dafydd Elis Thomas and his team will implement them in due course.

I have raised questions on the funding of the One Wales Government agreement today at the Senedd so as to ensure that the Government priorities are implemented and that we are seen as a Government to be delivering on our promises. Nick Bourne quipped in that my comment was coded and diplomatic. I have never been described as 'diplomatic' before, so I take it as a compliment!!!

I have also contributed in the questioning of the Education Minister, Jane Hutt, with regards the Government's grants for school uniforms, and the way in which it should be implemented so as not to conflict with the grants currently implemented by Local Authorities.

Tomorrow, the Equal Opportunities Committee will sit at the Assembly. We will discuss the establishment of a Children's committee at the Assembly- a committee which I deem as being essential so as to look at how our policies and measures affect children across the board. We will also be discussing a review of polling stations and their accessibility for disabled people, as well as the proposal of a scrutiny committee on Migrant workers in Wales. All very interesting issues, and which I will blog on in greater detail at a later date.

First day at the Senedd

I'm finally getting settled in at the Assembly. I've been allocated my office, I've been given a mass of information on everything from wages, to staffing information, to research questions. It's a lot to take in today but I'm sure I'll get used to it. We had a group meeting this morning, and the BBC were like paparazzi outside filming the meeting. ( trying, no doubt to pick up any clues to their coalition story)

I've since done a few interviews for the press, followed by attening the first plenary session( I didn't have to vote, so I couldn't 'do a Gibbons'!). It was very exciting to sit in the Senedd with the other AM's, although I am told that you can hear everything everyone says in private conversation due to the acoustics of the place, so I kept quiet- naturally!

Fair play to Jane Hutt, she was the only Labour AM to congratulate all Plaid AM's in turn. The session wasn't very long, but Dafydd Ellis Thomas was re-elected Presiding Officer, and Rosemary Butler as Deputy. Let's hope they both get on better than Dafydd Ellis Thomas and John Marek!

Until we know who will govern at the Assembly, things will be quiet here I predict. It will give me enough time to plan, and to settle in properly...I hope!

Senedd-open democracy?

I was wondering if anyone could shed a light on my following question?

How can people contact Assembly Members to speak with them at the Senedd on the day? I know that people can contact their AM via phone or pop in to local offices, but does everyone have to pre- book meetings? Can they green card their representatives on the spot, as in Westminster?

I ask because on many occasions I have been to the Senedd, and it seems that there are hardly any Politicians in the main milling area where the public go before watching Plenary sessions. Because the Senedd is below the public quarters, there isn't an obligation on Members to pass their constituents on the way to the Chamber- therefore avoiding any tricky questions from pressure groups. (Brian Gibbons knows all about this!)

I think that there should be cordoned off, designated areas for AM's to meet with their constituents in the main Senedd building, and perhaps computer pods could be dotted around so that people can email their AM in the Chamber- this would be monitored for obvious reasons!

I think that this would assist in creating a feeling of vibrancy, and a new buzz to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay. There is a need for open democracy, but I don't believe that those who constructed the bricks and mortar of our democracy embraced that challenge as head on as we would have wished. Does anybody agree?