Miss Wagstaff Presents...

Following on from my earlier post on the Crewe and Nantwich By-election....

20th May at 2pm in the Senedd:

Q1 Trish Law: Will the First Minister outline the changes that have taken place since April 2008 to the rating of empty property? OAQ(3)1036(FM)

20th May at 2pm, an example of an empty property:

Working class, ready for a class war, and proud.

Clearly some have been watching a very different Dunwoody to me. The only Dunwoody I've seen, is a desperate to win at-any-cost, brittle, playing on stereotypes, unimpressive, spinning, own-career wrecking, cold, and quite possibly misguided by someone/something greater than herself.

Even if you overlook the convenient name change from 'Moyra Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey' to 'Tamsin Dunwoody' and her recent pretentious behaviour, this woman is certainly not her mother's daughter - one chip off the old block does not make a block.

Certain qualities have a habit of skipping a generation, and people get found out when they try to re-write their history.

Just when you find yourself at the end of your tether, and feeling the strain from being snowed under in work, you notice an email message that raises a smile.

The Prime Minister has launched a regular initiative, 'Ask the PM', where he will be responding to the most popular questions submitted by the YouTube community. Here's your chance to ask the Prime Minister about whatever is on your mind. Submit your questions now and come back soon to vote on your favourites. The PM will answer the top-voted questions at the end of June.

Gord help us...

Priority Projects Team

Fans of Cardiff City FC must feel very proud of the remarkable feat that has been achieved this season, despite missing out on overall success.

Independents rule Welsh councils. More than a third of all Welsh local authorities will be led by independent councillors over the next four years.

Two weeks after polling day, coalition deals have been struck across Wales after only four councils were left with clear majorities for one party.

The Lib Dems will have the largest influence among the political parties, joining 13 administrations. Labour will keep a position in running nine councils, Plaid Cymru will feature in eight and the Tories in seven.

WHO RUNS YOUR COUNCIL?

• Blaenau Gwent: Independent led, with People's Voice and Liberal Democrats
• Bridgend: Labour led, with three Ind
• Caerphilly: Plaid Cymru led minority, with two Ind
• Cardiff: Lib Dem led, with Plaid
• Carmarthen: Ind led, with Lab and Lib Dem
• Ceredigion: Ind led, with Lib Dem and Lab
• Conwy: Plaid led, with Ind, Lab and Libl Dem
• Denbighshire: Ind led, with Plaid, Lab, Lib Dem and Cons - TBC
• Flintshire: Ind led, with Lib Dem and Conservatives
• Gwynedd: Plaid led board - details TBC
• Merthyr: Ind led board, with Lab and Libl Dem
• Monmouth: Cons
• Neath Port Talbot: Lab
• Newport: TBC - possibly Cons led with Lib Dems
• Pembrokeshire: Ind
• Powys: Ind
• Rhondda Cynon Taf: Lab
• Swansea: Lib Dem led with Ind and Plaid
• Torfaen: NOC - details TBC
• Vale of Glamorgan: Cons
• Wrexham: Lib Dem led board, with Ind, Cons and Plaid
• Ynys Mon: Ind led, with Plaid, Lib Dem and Cons

I have to agree with Ordovicius in that it's good to see Deputy Minister Leighton Andrews AM having something to blog about for a change...

Keep it up Leighton, but please feel free to compulsory blog about Cardiff City FC on Sunday morning - there's only so much others can do on your behalf ;)

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones told Conservatives he had used the service 42 times since its launch a year ago.

Plaid said it was "no surprise" the only north Wales cabinet member used it more and it was a "tiny proportion" of 14,000 journeys taken on the service.

The Anglesey-Cardiff flight's subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government is £2.4m over three years.

Mr Jones is AM for Anglesey, as well as economy and transport minister.

Mr Jones celebrated the first anniversary of the service last Friday by joining a special flight on the 18-seater aircraft. He said that the service, operated by Highland Airways, was a "huge success", beating expectations.

The airline said it had been "astonished" at the uptake.

Flying Cabinet

• Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones - 42 journeys
• Education Minister Jane Hutt - six journeys
• Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones - three
• Heritage Minister Rhodri Glyn Thomas - two
• First Minister Rhodri Morgan, Finance Minister Andrew Davies, Social Justice Minister Brian Gibbons - one journey each
• Sustainability Minister Jane Davidson and Health Minister Edwina Hart - no journeys
  

Numbers of flights between Anglesey and Cardiff, up to 16 April 2008.
Source: Welsh Conservative Party

This gives some free publicity for the service, with a huge recommendation and thumbs-up from the Deputy First Minister. Within time, perhaps other transport links will be improved and receive such a ringing endorsement.

Improving transport links between north and south Wales - Air first, rail next??

David Cornock (BBC) reminds us what selective politicians have been trying to remind themselves and their party after the local elections:

A different blame game

Some respite for Gordon Brown, currently more beleaguered than a relegated Premier League manager. Ken Livingstone isn't the only Labour figure prepared to take responsibility for this month's electoral drubbing rather than blame someone else.

Lynne Neagle chairs the Labour group in the Welsh Assembly. She is also AM for Torfaen, where Labour had a pretty grim day on May 1.

Here's her take on what the elections mean for Welsh Labour:

"The electorate has just told us that we haven’t done enough – and what we have done clearly hasn’t been communicated well enough."

"The very idea that none of what happened in the local elections in Wales has ended up at the door of the Assembly is monumentally worrying – it must make us question just what kind of an impact the institution has made on the Welsh psyche?

"We control education, health, housing, community regeneration – and according to some – we’ve established clear red water between ourselves and an unpopular UK Labour Government.
"And yet on May 1st, the clear red blood of good Welsh Labour councillors ran thicker and faster than their counterparts in England. It is time to take some responsibility.

"Playing the blame game just undermines the value of the Assembly in Wales – and indeed there was little in the results of last week that wasn’t foretold in the Assembly elections of last year. Our reaction to that result has been sluggish, and we’ve paid the price.

"The communities for whom only Labour will ever deliver are tired of waiting for lasting change and they’ve just got that message across in the clearest way possible.

"It takes a strong character to ask for a discussion with the person who has just bloodied your nose – but that is what Welsh Labour must do with the electorate, starting today."

Matt Wardman has been rounding up the daffodils earlier and Miss Wagstaff had a night on the tiles (allegedly). So this is “Matt” standing in this week with a special “link blog” Senedd Circular roundup.

Blog Snippets

• Coalition deals sideline Labour
• Lib Dem German to quit in autumn
• New language rule for 57 bodies: thou shalt deliver thy services in Welsh. (I have not yet found out whether the Wardman Wire is on list, but another 57 makes 493 ).

Rounding up the Daffodils/cennin Pedr

There’s a big kerfuffle happening about cennin Pedr and why they should be purchased in Wales and not imported from foreign climes such as Cornwall (for example). Read these links to understand:

• Cennin Pedr in Rural Wales .
• Cennin Pedr and the Professor .
• My take on Cennin Pedr and Free Trade.

I wonder whether someone is going to appeal for a European Union Protected Designation for daffodils as Welsh. If so - prepare to get sued by the Ghost of Wordsworth .

In would be more fun if the Welsh did “red-faced nationalists on the point of exploding”. Unfortunately they don’t; that’s just Tunbridge Wells, a certain brand of Conservative, and Alex.

The Gossip

And - on the gossip front - I only just tumbled to the fact that Blamerbell the Underpants is a sibling of young Ms Jenkins from the Senedd .

Ordovicius tells me that “everyone (apart from me, apparently - pity the English) knows about “the Jenkins Clan from the Rhondda”. [I thought they were from Merthyr]

Isaac Asimov had a race from outer space called the Jenkinsites who survived by carrying a cylinder of cyanide gas to breathe - as that was the atmosphere on their home planet. I’m sure there’s no connection - the Asimov Jenkinsites also had six legs and a carapace.

Wrapping Up

Ok - enough. Miss Wagstaff is back next week.

Fellow blogger Matt Wardman's latest 'Welsh' offering is in response to Prof Dylan Evans-Jones' piece on Welsh procurement.

At best, a pair of hands - not a safe one - that gets on with the job, whether good or bad. At worst, an embarrassment and a liability to both his party and country.

Please stop wearing the casual gear when it isn't appropriate, and blaming UK politics for all of Welsh Labour's failings.

Rhodri has always relied heavily on there being no other Welsh Minister with enough of a profile to take over from him. Many in the party believe him to show too much arrogance and reliance on his down to earth attitude with the Welsh public. This has kept him in a safe place in Labour's hierarchy after the awkward departure of Alun Michael.

Miss Wagstaff has pointed out in the past that "Labour in London" or "Unionist Labour" is seen as a good description for the ‘old enemy’ and is constantly used by Plaid Cymru. Senedd Whip is concerned that Welsh Labour is now dangerously close to choosing this option.

It's time for Rhodri to carry out the decent act for his party and step down for another to take over and settle in before the next Assembly term.

Those close to him, if they are loyal to their party, should advise Rhodri to go in the next couple of months. This should give them enough time to select a new leader. A fresh face, a new challenge, and hopefully new ideas and a new style and attitude to political life, whether that be within Wales, the UK or the wider world.

Please stop blaming others for Welsh Labour's failings. Please dress appropriately for the job and give Wales and the office the respect it deserves.

Rhodri, you've had a good run within Wales, more than making up for previous disappointment at Westminster... please...stop!

I don't think the Welsh public are asking for too much.

I continually update my blogroll whenever I notice new and interesting blogs. I thought I'd bring your attention to new (or fairly new) Welsh blogs that I've added to the roll in recent weeks/months.

• Amlwch to Magor
• Bevan Foundation
• Cambria Politico
• Cynical Dragon
• Institute of Welsh Affairs Blog
• Red Flag and Dragon
• Welsh Commerce
• Welsh Lobbyist

A warm welcome to blogging, even if some of you are not blogging for the first time.

P.S. Welcome back from your travels Ordovicius. I'm not at all envious ;)

This article appears in The Wardman Wire:

Today is not only Miss Wagstaff’s birthday, but also - by strange coincidence - a day for local elections. I bet some of you thought it would never arrive!

Senedd Snippets:

• Who runs Wales at a local level?
• Decline and fall of Labour?
• What a turn up for the books.

Acting Local

Yesterday saw the last full day of campaigning in the local elections, and many will be wondering whether there will be a sting in the tail for the coalition partners in Cardiff Bay. Will the electorate hold them to account over their performance since this coalition emerged from the ashes of last year’s Assembly election? Will this be an opportunity for a warning shot across the bow of a Labour Government at Westminster? Or will we all vote as usual and wake up with the results not even changing one single part of our lives?

As it currently stands, Labour holds or shares power on nine Welsh county councils, Liberal Democrats on six, Plaid Cymru on five, Conservatives on four, and independent or other groups on 11.

In the not too distant past a decrease in Labour’s vote in Wales would’ve seemed as plausible as a man becoming pregnant [Doesn’t count! Well, I suppose he did ‘used to be’ a woman].

No longer...

Who runs Wales at a local level?

Blaenau Gwent: Labour
Bridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Independent
Caerphilly: Labour
Cardiff: Liberal Democrat
Carmarthen: Labour / Independent
Ceredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / Labour
Conwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal Democrat
Denbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru
Flintshire: Labour
Gwynedd: Plaid Cymru
Merthyr: Labour / Independent
Monmouth: Conservative
Neath Port Talbot: Labour
Newport: Labour
Pembrokeshire: Independent
Powys: Independent
Rhondda Cynon Taf: Labour
Swansea: Liberal Democrat / Independent
Torfaen: Labour
Vale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / Independent
Wrexham: Liberal Democrat-led Board
Ynys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical Independents

Decline and fall of Labour?

There was a time in Welsh politics when it was said that even a sheep under a Labour banner would get elected in Wales. Times have changed! Before devolution in 1999, Labour remained in control of well over half of Wales' 22 county councils, and was a significant force in a handful of others.

This dominance of ‘red’ councils was dramatically knocked back in 1999, as Plaid Cymru won control of both Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf in the Valleys. A successful campaign to regain these councils in 2004 was deflated with Labour losing control of Bridgend, Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham to the Liberal Democrats and their coalition buddies.

In Wales, the Conservatives returned from no-man’s land to control Monmouthshire and the Vale of Glamorgan (for a short period). This was an age that brought an alternative option to Labour in Wales, even if it was to the regular chant of ‘Coalition is King’.

What a turn up for the books

This has been a typical election campaign with the usual nit-picking, back biting, tooing and froing of political ‘worn and new’ tennis balls, with the odd cannon ball thrown in for good measure and extra effect. There’s even been mixed messages from UK party leaders on their election visit to Wales.

We’ve all been expecting this, but what haven’t we been expecting?

Former MP, AM, and Secretary of State for Wales, Ron Davies is hoping to return to politics and is standing as an independent for the third time. Mr Davies is hoping to represent the area - Bedwas and Machen ward - where he was born and where he was first elected as a councillor 39 years ago. The ward elects four councillors. Together with his Independent running mate Colin Hobbs – another former Labour councillor – Mr Davies is up against one Plaid and four Labour candidates.

Popular Lib-Demmer, Vince Cable MP, was in Cardiff rallying the troops this week. Mr Cable said the party had won power four years ago in Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Bridgend on the back of the Iraq war which had disillusioned voters with Labour.

He said: “I think even holding our position will be a good result. Four years ago we were very strong. The Iraq war effect was a factor. If we do make advances that will be a tribute to the way the work of our councils is perceived across Wales. We are starting in a difficult position this time. Four years ago we were in a very strong position on the back of the Iraq effect.” A true definition of ‘fighting’ talk if ever I heard one.

At a more local level, Peter May, a Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate and councillor has been accused of printing election leaflets for his party’s opponents. Today, he will be defending his council seat in the Uplands ward of Swansea, however, an organisation he runs next to his home in the city is printing election literature for independent candidates across Swansea, some of whom are up against Liberal Democrats. You couldn’t make it up.

Usually you have to wait until you’re 18 to cast your first vote, for some it comes surprisingly early. At the other end of the age scale, it seems that certain golden oldie councillors can’t stay away from the ballot box and front line politics. A former councillor who received money to retire under a ‘golden goodbye’ scheme is standing for election again. In 2004 Eunydd Thomas (formerly of the Labour party) accepted a payout designed to encourage long-serving councillors to make way for new blood. He told a newspaper that supporters had persuaded him to stand again this year for Carmarthenshire Council. He will be attempting to spring back into local politics under a different banner – Independent.

An Assembly Government spokesman said: “...However, for legal reasons it was not possible to include in the regulations a provision which would prevent a recipient of an award from standing in a future election."

Keeping an eye on bigger fish, Plaid’s Chief Engineer and bridge builder, Adam Price MP, has outlined Plaid’s greater ambitions in suggesting that “There’s no veto as far as talking to the Conservatives” in the off chance of there being a hung parliament at the next general election.

But at least one AM who opposed Plaid going into a “rainbow coalition” involving the Conservatives following last year’s inconclusive Assembly Election yesterday said she thought Mr Price was right not to rule anything out. Mid and West Wales AM Nerys Evans said: “He is completely right. We need to be keeping all our options open.

I guess power can be an aphrodisiac - Once you’ve tasted it, there’s no going back.

And finally…

Taking a few minutes out and looking at the situation objectively, while taking into account the goings on of UK and Welsh politics over the last year, I predict that the Welsh Conservatives will be the big winners in the local election stakes:

1) They’re doing well at UK level, even if it is partly down to a tired Labour Government.
2) They have the most to gain at local government level in Wales (in terms of improvement).
3) They didn’t enter into a coalition in Cardiff Bay and won’t suffer from the backlash.
4) Even if they had entered into a Cardiff Bay coalition, core members probably wouldn’t have turned against them.
5) They’re generally seen as being an effective opposition in Cardiff Bay and Westminster.
6) The other parties in Wales have more to lose and less to gain after the events of the last 6-12 months (short-term memory of the indecisive voter).

The question is whether the electorate as a whole take this into account, and let those parties that fizz during their campaign go flat overnight.

As a final thought... While we’re all tucked up in our beds with our warm milk and being read a bedtime story by our chosen partners, spare a thought for those tired officials having to count your vote, whether that vote counts or not in your constituency.

It's my birthday and local election day! What more could a girl wish for?

Happy Birthday to me. Happy election to everyone...

The latest twist in the tale of how the Welsh Assembly Government deals with internal matters takes a turn into the predictable. This post now brings to a conclusion past posts on this blog.

This article appears in The Wardman Wire:

This week, Miss Wagstaff has been unwell and unable to write a column. Before you’re able to type her email address and send in a ‘Get Well Soon’ card with concern, she has managed to raise a smile at the thought of certain progression in the Senedd.

It seems that not content with Doctor Who being filmed at the Senedd, the Assembly Commission has allowed a popular television programme, Caerdydd [Cardiff] to film there. This has produced unexpected [expected by viewers] results*. At this rate, Pippa is blushing and quaking at the knees at the thought of what may be broadcasted on Senedd tv.

* In the scene, a young employee of an unnamed political party - who had just been asked to stand as an assembly candidate - is seen enticing her older lover into a toilet and baby-making-changing room in the Senedd.

There then follows an explicit encounter between the two.

"However the National Assembly was told that this scene was a conversation scene and was not aware of its full content," said a spokesperson.

"The company was allowed to film in good faith."

Miss Wagstaff had wondered what the Assembly Security Guards could have been up to at this point. Were they guarding the entrance? Were they guarding the rear? Whatever they were doing, they certainly weren’t keeping an eye on the film crew, actors, and the situation that arose. Her memory was jogged.

From Dr Who, to turning blue - Live debate from the chamber is coming soon to a box near you.

My quote of the week comes from an article by David Williamson in the Western Mail concerning Ministers’ car bill accelerating to £¼m.

ASSEMBLY Government ministers have been accused of enjoying a “limousine lifestyle” after new figures showed a four-fold increase in spending on official cars.

Figures obtained by Conservative Shadow Environment Minister Darren Millar show that in the last five years total expenditure on Assembly vehicles has risen by 352%.

In 2007-08, £240,016 was spent, up from £53,063 in 2003-04. In the last financial year £159,750 was spent on new cars. The ministerial fleet is made up of Volvo S80 2.4 diesel automatics.

The full article can be read here and if you scroll down to the bottom you can read:

The fleet consists of seven ministerial cars, plus two for use in emergencies. The basic models were purchased. They lack optional extras such as sunroofs.

The Ministry of Justice has reversed a decision to exclude Wales from a new law offering hospital workers extra legal protection against violence.

Welsh Assembly Government ministers had initially said there was no need for the law in Wales. The assembly government had told the Ministry of Justice it would set up its own policies to protect staff, although it does not have the power to change criminal law. But this prompted an outcry from Labour MPs and crossbench peer Baroness Finlay of Llandaff.

The assembly government will have a say in how the new law works in Welsh hospitals. Full story HERE.

This article appears in The Wardman Wire:

This week, Miss Wagstaff is both delighted and appalled by her seeming to have lost a week. We can blame Parliamentary Recess, Pippa’s time keeping, or the rumour that the Welsh Assembly Government has banned her blog internally.

Either way, although always partial to a bit of mother-son bonding during recess, it has been a sight for sore eyes to see the Head Boy [Rhodri Morgan] back in school this last week and laying out his plans for all to see. Eagerly assisted by the School Prefects [Cabinet] - after nine months in coalition government - ‘One Wales’ Delivery Plan has been announced, listing pledges made by the coalition government and complete with a detailed easy-to-follow timetable for Jo public. The downside is that some have experienced difficulty in making up their minds as to how many commitments have been made.

This aside, while Pippa was away, another historic occasion has occurred [no connection] as the Queen approved the transfer of new powers to the Welsh assembly in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. The order allows the assembly to draw up Welsh laws to help people with additional learning needs. A further nine orders are in the Assembly-Parliament pipeline, on issues ranging from mental health services to fire safety, however, the process still receives a large amount of criticism from the Welsh Conservatives as being too complicated and should be simplified. Meanwhile, Plaid’s trio are chomping at the bit to help the process along, but seem to have fallen at the first fence. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t think long-term in politics, and are left grazing instead of experiencing pastures new.

Senedd Snippets:

• When to cull and when to kill.
• Welsh Assembly Delivers to your doorstep.
• Tea and Crumpet with the First Minister.

When to cull and when to kill

One look at this headline and you’d be forgiven for thinking it referred to the bold attempt at making ‘difficult decisions’ by the One Wales Government over its pilot badger cull [braver than the pilot a free laptop plan for school children]. It was expectedly welcomed by farmers, but faces fierce opposition from conservationists, and many are also expecting heated debates over the issue from within the Assembly, though the government is confident of winning the vote otherwise it would have reserved its judgement.

A former cull has come back to haunt the government this week in the form of the merger of Quangos with the Welsh Assembly Government. The Welsh Development Agency, Wales Tourist Board and Elwa [education] were abolished two years ago. It was estimated that the changes would save the assembly government £10m a year from 2009. Regarded as a "bonfire of the quangos", this action brought responsibility of the quangos under direct ministerial control.

Questions were raised pre-merger, and former executive chair of the largest quango in terms of its turnover [ELWa], has recently spoken out, saying that she was not surprised with the report's findings, "I think at the time you couldn't predict all of the implications and the outcomes, so it doesn't surprise me that some of the predicted cost savings haven't materialised,"

The assembly's Audit Committee have said the savings seemed to be financial cuts rather than efficiency gains, and reports that there are still ongoing issues – an issue that is likely to outlive Morgan’s administration

Welsh Assembly delivers to your doorstep

The much awaited Delivery Plan of the coalition government has now been announced, and nearly one year into the Assembly’s four year term.

Following on from this week’s introductory paragraph, Rhodri Morgan [Labour] and Ieuan Wyn Jones [Plaid Cymru] insisted their coalition government was on track. Returning from Easter recess, they both read out their “It’s a coalition but it’s one administration” government’s list of priorities for the remainder of the term. Another bold step to take this week, and one for the Welsh Conservatives and Welsh Liberal Democrats to get their teeth into, after the Conservative leader of the Opposition in the Assembly’s response of, “Yet more glossy propaganda at our expense…”

Tea and Crumpet with the First Minister

A Welsh Labour local government election broadcast has been made on television. This focussed on Rhodri Morgan reaching out to the public from text messages sent to him by members of the public suggesting what policies the Assembly Government should pursue. The broadcast showed the First Minister [man of the people] meeting with three of the texters to discuss their ideas...

Rhodri's Text Life

The First Minister received 237 text replies from an earlier political broadcast in February. Among the topics covered were tackling graffiti, curbing youth drinking, addressing general youth anti-social behaviour, council tax rates, cleaner streets, more cycle routes and better recycling.

Assuring us that their words have not fallen on deaf ears, Rhodri Morgan goes on to comment, “I heard their views loud and clear and will do my very best to see how we can meet their aspirations.”

This reminded me of an anonymous email I received a month ago about a former initiative within the civil service, whereby the Permanent Secretary of the Welsh Assembly Government would invite selected staff to a ‘Tea and Biscuits Session’ in order to discuss issues of the day e.g. Admin grades invited to discuss what problems they face while conducting their daily duties. Much seen as an internal public relations exercise at best, it’s comforting to know that initiatives are regenerated, and an opportunity not wasted.

On the other hand of the coalition [to be determined whether it’s a left or right hand], Plaid Cymru followed up these broadcasts with their own ‘man of the people’ image for their leader - Ieuan Wyn Jones was seen comfortably handling members of the public as they interrupt his making of a Plaid-rousing speech to those on the other side of the box.

And finally…

With the run up to the local government election and expected ‘Column Special’, the Welsh public will be stunned into silence (surely not!) by the recent statement that, “Councillors are not getting younger” [average age of councillors is still 61 in the 10 local authorities surveyed four years ago. Across Wales it is 40, while 40% of councillors are over 65]; and possibly even less so by Wales having just elected its first Communist councillor since the 1970s.

Something seems to have stirred the Liberal Democrats into accusing Labour of trying to manipulate the electoral system as the party was worried about doing badly in the council elections on May 1. That particular stirrer was Minister Brian Gibbons, provoking a debate on the future of Wales’ 22 unitary authorities by threatening to cut their number if they don’t perform.

Only at election time. Only in Wales!!??

The former Work and Pensions, and Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has spoken of his “surreal nightmare”.

It seems that extraordinary evidence has emerged of a dirty tricks campaign to discredit his failed Labour deputy leadership campaign further. Mr Hain resigned from Gordon Brown’s Cabinet in January, when police were called in to investigate his failure to declare donations totalling more than £100,000 to his campaign. But in recent weeks, the text of damaging e-mails purporting to have been sent by members of Mr Hain’s campaign team have been circulated.

Some have been sent to the Western Mail while others have gone to the political blogger Guido Fawkes, who was credited with claiming the first blogging scalp.

It now appears that many of the e-mails have been faked. Mr Hain told the Western Mail yesterday: "Something extremely sinister has been going on here. All sorts of things happened during the campaign which I can’t explain." The RSPCA has this week investigated the content of some of the e-mails which falsely suggests that one of its employees in Wales was using its premises to campaign for Mr Hain.

You can read the full story here. Miss Wagstaff is wondering when our nightmare will end and how long do we have to put up with raking over the old bones of Peter's political career before the facts are fully disclosed.

I'm disappointed by the leaders of the Welsh Assembly Government due to their lack of support for Joe Calzaghe this weekend.

Not that I condone two men beating the living daylights out of each other, which I suspect may have been taken into account as demonstrated by their hesitation. However, after jumping on the sporting success bandwagon by openly supporting Wales' success on the rugby and football field, the very least they could do is send Joe and the team their best wishes.

This aside, I always find it odd when athletes in their prime play down their opponent's achievements and abilities. I guess boxing is different in this respect, with the need to psyche out the opponent, but surely there is more glory in beating an excellent and much regarded opponent than a poor one.

This fight is generally regarded as not an easy one. Best wishes to you Joe - we're behind you!

Number of specific commitments in the One Wales Delivery Plan, according to a WAG press release on the morning of April 8: 228.

Number of specific commitments in the One Wales Delivery Plan, according to Rhodri Morgan in the Chamber on April 8 at 4:40pm: 225.

Number of specific commitments in the One Wales Delivery Plan, according to Rhodri Morgan in the Chamber on April 8 at 5:10pm: 229.

Joined up Rhodri Morgan at work. Now, how about abolishing Wales' internal political market and merging 4 political parties into 3?