Thought of the Moment... Carwynista

A Changing Wales, and at a Faster Pace?

Not only is Wikipedia showing that Welsh Labour leader and First Minister designate Carwyn Jones is a Rt Hon, and before even becoming First Minister, but I also discover that the Welsh media is abundant with absent script, short sentenced 'new' Welsh speaking AMs who have taken the opportunity to step out into the sunshine for the first time since Autumn has ended and Winter has begun.

Please form an orderly queue before a warm Winter chat and confirmation on the FM's balcony.

Looking back, what surprises me? A large and more than generous donation to the campaign. How desperate can one person be? Surprise? On second thought, no!

Education: Post-14 Shake up or Talk up

Radical changes are needed to the way post-14 education is delivered in Wales, a report is expected to say.

The review by Sir Adrian Webb, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan, into further education will be released to the assembly government.

More than 100 recommendations to improve education and training offered to young people are due to be outlined, and reducing the number of young people not in education or training is also expected to be highlighted.

Sir Adrian is expected to say changes are needed to close a basic skills gap which has been emerging over recent years.

The review is likely to address issues such as whether further education in Wales provides the kind of education and training people need for the jobs of the future.

Sir Adrian has said:

How do we ensure that in school, in colleges, 14 onwards, we have the kind of opportunities which will engage learners, all learners, regardless of ability and ambition, to ensure that we overcome the significant underachievement and we have the skills the economy needs, that employers need in order to take Wales forward? ...There was a need for "fairly radical change"

But he said there were also policies such as the Welsh baccalaureate that were proving successful and could be developed more strongly.

Sir Adrian was asked to lead the review into the further education sector by the assembly government, which had already identified the need to give consideration to the extent to which colleges should specialise and the focus on employability skills.

This review is crucial to education and training in Wales, and hopefully its recommendations provide the radical changes that need to be made.

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But what must be mentioned at this point is that Sir Adrian is also a salaried member of the Welsh Assembly Government's Management Board which handles the day-to-day running of the Civil Service departments of the Welsh Assembly Government. He possesses no executive powers on the board and is there only to advise - so not as independent as we are led to believe.

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We'll have to hope that it's not a case of, 'Let's all stand and sing hymn numbers 14 to 18 - as long as it's from the same hymn sheet.'

Drowning in Clear Red-Green Water

I am so pleased that an Assembly Member has pointed out that John Griffiths, AM for Newport East was waffling such utter nonsense when he appeared on the Politics Show last Sunday.

As Huw Lewis AM states, "I am at turns intrigued, bewildered and not a little worried by this political pitch."

In my view, Huw Lewis, AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney was short changed when sacked from the Welsh Assembly Government before a coalition was formed with Plaid Cymru this year. Huw may be anti-Plaid/Nationalism, but he is an able politician and one of a very few Labour AMs that punch above their weight, or even deserve their seat in the Assembly.

The reason behind Huw's dismissal made him an easy sacrifice for Rhodri Morgan to make, but to leave talentless fools such as John Griffiths in government is inexcusable. Even the irony doesn't escape us, with him being a Deputy Minister with special responsibility for skills. Not to mention the hypocrisy of a government minister appointed by the Queen and swearing an oath to Her Majesty, while also known as a staunch republican, albeit in the closet when it suits.

Perhaps I underestimated Rhodri Morgan's strategy in doing this, and that he's actually thinking long-term and about how Labour will survive post coalition. After all, someone has to make waves when it comes to Plaid's ambition and that is a tall order now that they are in government, which may take more effort than the work of just one man.

And that is because the 'Red-Green' label is just that – a label

Speaking as a woman, when I go shopping, I may be attracted to labels, however, most of them end up in the bin at the end of the day.