Merthyr MP Dai Havard was paid thousands in rent deal

A WELSH MP was one of those who pocketed thousands of pounds each to give up the right to cheap rent, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill for the higher charges, it emerged yesterday.
Dai Havard the Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, was one of around 40 who were offered lump sums for moving out of, or paying a higher rent at the Dolphin Square block in Westminster after it was bought from the council by a private company, The Daily Telegraph claimed. The estate had long been used to provide low-cost accommodation for MPs in London.

Germany picks Magna to save Opel

Germany has agreed a deal with Magna International, a Canadian car parts maker, to take over Opel, part of the European wing of US carmaker GM.
Talks in Berlin continued into early Saturday before Germany's finance minister announced the rescue deal.
The German government is expected to provide an immediate loan facility of 1.5bn euros ($2.1bn, £1.3bn).
Questions needs to be asked where was Lord Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise. He should have been at the very top table bidding for British Vauxhall workers and getting his Labour government to invest in Vauxhall. People of Britain will remember Labour saved the banks but failed to save Woolworth’s, other shopping retails and British manufacturing. 'Scrappage Incentive Scheme’, which could give buyers’ £2000 towards the cost of a new car, seems very shallow if Vauxhall is left to go to the wall, at least British families can buy German made Opel cars. I suspect Unite union will still carry on donating to the Labour party, so that their leaders can confirm a peerage at some later stage in their career. It’s the workers and their families I sympathise with the union takes their dues to help fund the Labour party, a Labour government that wouldn’t help them. What are the Labour European MEP’s doing nothing,

Glenys and Eluned Photo

The photo of the two retiring Labour MEP's Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan in todays Western Mail as got to be the most stomach churning one I've ever seen. Why haven't they issued their expenses, is the question on everybody's lips. Are they afraid that the public would not be happy and is it more bad news for the Labour party. When you consider anti eurpean and X commissioner Lord Neil Kinnock made a nice little earner from Europe.

Let Them Not Forget

Thank you to the Sun Newspaper, the nightmares will return.

Rhondda voters get Xmas cards and I put the Bill

Chris Bryant spent £72.43 on Xmas cards, £220.50 on photo's of himself. Paid the Labour party £372.33 for cleaning, £99.99 for a bluetooth headset. Then his latest comment Mr Bryant said,"I fully understand why people feel so angry that we MPs allowed the system to carry on as it has for so long. We must reform now." That is just the same as saying "My hand was caught in the cookie jar so a lock must be fitted to stop this happening again." You are not an MP to benefit yourself and make a profit, you are there to serve the people who are less fortunate than yourself. Give them a voice not pick their pockets

Jeff Jones wants less council

Now that most Welsh council are controlled by Plaid, Liberal and Independent parties Labour’s Jeff Jones and former Bridgend leader wants a reduced number of council authorities. Is there a connection, I leave that up to you but to me it sounds that Mr Jones is throwing his toys around. Why not go a little more and have PR for council election or remove all social services and educational department form local government and have it all looked after by the Welsh Assembly. Social services would have more of a link with the NHS and children would be taught by the same standard and have the same amount of money spent on them. Also there could be a national schools policy, keeping them open or closing if there was a need.

Labour Government Gone Pear Shaped

Alan Johnson, the health secretary, has joined a cabinet push for a major overhaul of the way Britain is governed, in what will be seen by MPs as the start of a leadership bid.
His backing for electoral reform - which would mean scrapping the first-past-the-post system on which Westminster MPs are elected in favour of some form of proportional representation (PR) - came as John Denham, the skills secretary, also let it be known that he favours considering a number of "radical steps", including electoral reform.
The move is seen as a potential way of restoring trust between voters and parliament and drawing a line under the expense scandal. Electoral reform could make it easier to remove MPs who have transgressed, although its detractors argue that it risks benefiting the BNP, Ukip and other fringe parties.
Jon Cruddas, the Dagenham MP who narrowly missed out on the deputy Labour leadership last year, said the crisis required "radical shock treatment", adding: "The way to do that is to introduce proportional representation and a system of fair votes to replace the current arrangement under which a few thousand swing votes have an armlock around the body politic."
Other cabinet ministers, including James Purnell - who is pushing for a swift review of party funding to clean up another area of concern to voters - Harriet Harman and Hilary Benn are also backing a debate on constitutional and electoral reforms. The move came as ministers said that a snap election could be called for October to refresh what is now widely seen as a discredited parliament if Gordon Brown was replaced in a summer coup, most likely by Johnson
One senior minister said that if Brown survived there was no chance of an election before next spring but, "if we remove him and somebody else takes over, then clearly you would want to have an immediate election".
Polls showing the majority of voters favour an early poll have raised concerns about Labour's ability to cling on until next June - renewing speculation about possible stalking horses prepared to force a contest and deals being done to smooth the path of Johnson, now emerging as the clear favourite.

What Labour Welsh MP’s claimed for?

Kevin Brennan had a £450 television delivered to his family home in Cardiff even though he reclaimed the money back on his London second home allowance..
Chris Bryant changed second home twice in two years to claim £20,000.
Madeleine Moon spent thousands in furniture shops near her Welsh constituency house and claimed the money back on her London designated second home allowance.
Paul Murphy had a new plumbing system installed at taxpayers’ expense because the water in the old one was "too hot".
Don Touhig spent thousands of pounds redecorating his constituency home before "flipping" his allowance to a flat in London.
These should step down by the next general election.

Brown's lack of leadership

Geoff Hoon (Transport secretary)- Lived in a grace-and-favour home in Whitehall, renting out a London property he owned 2002-6. He made £300,000 on the sale of a family home in Derbyshire in 2006 but declared it as his "main home"- saving him £120,000 in tax. Gordon Brown said: "No problem."

James Purnell (Work and pensions secretary)- Bought a London flat in 2000 as a second home and a house in his Manchester constituency in 2002. in 2004, he charged - under second homes allowance - £395 for "tax advice" on the flats sale. He said it was his main home to save CGT. Gordon Brown said: "He stuck with the spirit of the rules."

Hazel Blears (Communities secretary)- Switched her second home designated three times in 2004 - between a house in Salford and a London flat. This allowed her to claim £850-a-month in mortgage payments and save £13,000 in Capital gains tax. Gordon Brown said: "Totallt unacceptable."

Moral of this entry is stay on Gordon's good side and show him loyalty and he will support you whatever you have done. Bite him on the bum and he will disown you at a blink of an eye.

Shocking ‘cost’ to Wales of Olympics

Claims 2012 Games will leech a whopping £437m from our coffers
WALES is to be robbed of a staggering £437m to ensure the success of the London Olympics, Plaid Cymru claimed last night.
Plaid economics spokesman Adam Price said it was “an absolute disgrace” that Wales, the poorest part of the UK, would effectively be funding a massive regeneration project in London, officially the richest city in Europe.

One in four a "problem drinker"

Nearly one in four adults is now classed as a "hazardous" drinker. A third of men and a sixth of women drink so much they risk of serious conditions such as liver disease and depression. The report also found alcohol-related death jumped 19%. These figures demonstrate Labour's failure to tackle the growing problem caused by alcohol abuse.

Labour Encourage Us to Buy Foreign

This Labour Government has invested £300m in tax payer’s money with this "cash for bangers" scheme. 86% of cars sold in Britain are made abroad. At its most pessimistic, car scrappage will only help about 2% of British car sales. There is thousands of cars stock piling waiting to be sold, so no new cars will be built.

Pensions for failures

Former RBS chairman Sir Fred Goodwin's £17 million pension. Why Michael Martin former House of Parliament speaker has secured himself a £1.4million pension and looks set for a place in the House of Lords.

Union fights 3p pay rise

Union leaders will take three giant pennies today to pay talks covering 1.3million council workers to highlight what a wage offer means. Unison, the GMB and Unite said 0.5per cent offer by local authorites would increase the pay of 150,000 workers by 3p an hour. They want more. If they stopped handing the labour party millions of pounds in donations and gave it back to their members, and force the Labour MP's to hand over profits from their expense claims. Both positive move would help these union members.

Labour's war on drugs "is £1.5bn flop"

Efforts to tackle Britains's drugs crisis have been dismissed as a "phoney war". The Labour government's £1.5billion-a-year strategy is an "expensive failure". which has left the country with the "worse drug problem in Europe", a think tank said.

'British pensioners' on BNP election leaflet are actually Italian models

An elderly couple pictured on BNP election leaflets endorsing the party's anti-immigration views are actually Italian models, it can be disclosed.
The Doctor is from America.

Plaid to Royal Mail: Stop Distributing Illegal BNP Leaflets!
Plaid Cymru has today called on the Royal Mail to stop distributing BNP leaflets.Research by Plaid Cymru has shown that the BNP "supporters" quoted on their election address are in fact stock photos from istockphoto.com.The party believes the BNP's leaflets break electoral guidelines and are therefore illegal and this is why Adam Price, the party's Director of Election has called on the Royal Mail to put an end to the distribution of BNP flyers.The leaflet is in the process of being delivered to millions of homes in the UK. It includes pictures of a doctor, a group of "British" workers and an elderly couple. All the individuals are quoted as giving their support to the BNP.However, according to Plaid, the doctor - who claims he will be "voting BNP" - is a model. The elderly couple - quoted as saying they want to see pensioners put before asylum seekers - are the parents of photographer, Luca di Fillippo, and it is alleged the "British" workers actually posed for Boone Rodriguez: a photographer based in Portland, Oregon.So, it appears that none of the photographed individuals are British or supporters of the BNP.

MP denies abusing home expenses

A Welsh MP has denied changing his designated second home twice in two years in order to claim more expenses.
Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, has been accused in the Daily Telegraph of benefiting from second home payments by "flipping" his main home. Chris Bryant changed second home twice to claim £20,000 : MPs' expenses

David Chaytor has been suspended from the Labour Party over disclosures that he claimed almost £13,000 in interest payments for a mortgage he had already paid off.
No MP should make profits from their expenses but any profit should be given back to the people, I'm sure £20,000 would benefit some charities in the Rhondda.

New green left magazine for Wales - Celyn

Celyn* is a new magazine for Wales - green, red and spiky. The first edition appears on May 1 and it features some excellent articles on the state of Wales after 10 years of devolution, climate change, green living and workers in struggle. It also features columns by Leanne Wood AM and Paul Flynn MP, reflecting a non-sectarian and anti-tribal approach to left politics in Wales.Join the Facebook group and then subscribe! Further details on www.celynwales.org but you'll have to buy the mag to read the articles!* Celyn is the Welsh word for Holly, which is green, red and spiky.

Welsh Labour MPs vote against Euro cash for Wales. Two billion pounds for Wales at risk, claim Plaid

Plaid Cymru's Adam Price MP reacted angrily to the fact that all Labour MPs voted against providing further European aid for Wales. The party claims that as a result of government delays Wales could lose up to two billion pounds of funds over the next fourteen years.
Speaking after the Welsh Labour MPs voted against further European funding for West Wales and the Valleys in Parliament, Mr Price said:
"Labour MPs had a choice of backing Wales or letting us down. They chose to let us down. European funding is vital to our country's future. If we use it better a second time round then it could revitalize our economy. By voting against Wales Labour has said loud and clear we are willing to put Wales' economic future at risk.
"The billion pound scheme that should have regenerated our economy from 2000-2007 has been squandered by New Labour. Believe it or not West Wales and the Valleys are now poorer than they were before this money was available. Our aim now is to stop New Labour wrecking our second chance at European funding by making sure the decision on whether Wales qualifies is made in June as it should be, and, by opposing the government's plans to do away with European funding for Wales altogether."
"The New Labour government has some serious questions to answer. Why do they want to do away with European structural funding altogether and take control of European funds in London? Why do they want in its words 'to refocus support on the poorest Member states'? Why are they delaying its decision on European cash from June to December? We believe it is in the vain hope that by then Wales will not qualify for the funding it deserves. New Labour is not making decisions that are best for Wales, but best for London. In stark contrast, we in Plaid Cymru will continue our fight to build a better Wales. "
Diwedd/Ends
Notes to Editors:
15 Labour MPs from Wales voted against the amendment on the "Future of EU finances” motion: Nick Ainger (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire), Chris Bryant (Rhondda), Wayne David (Caerphilly), Denzil Davies (Llanelli), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Win Griffiths (Bridgend), Peter Hain (Neath), David Hanson (Delyn), Alan Howarth (Newport East), Kim Howells (Pontypridd), Ian Lucas (Wrexham), Alun Michael (Cardiff South and Penarth), Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside), Don Touhig (Islwyn), Betty Williams (Conwy). The remainder of the Labour MPs did not attend. All MPs from England voted against the Plaid Cymru/SNP motion.
The UK Government is leading a campaign to reduce the budget to 1% EU GNI. This would mean a severe cut in all policy areas, including regional funds.

Labour MP's voted against "Transparency of Parliamnet" vote

Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill — MP's correspondence - 18 May 2007 - Division No. 120
Policy 'Transparency of Parliament' Aye
Wayne David voted No
The Majority kept the proposal to change the Freedom of Information Act 2000 so that no correspondence between an MP and any public body, even if that correspondence was in the possession of that body, could be disclosed or confirmed to exist.

2.2m out of work

More than 280,000 people lost their jobs in the first three months of this year, the biggest rise in 28 years. The redundancies helped send unemployment soaring to 2.2million, the worst since 1996. Rising unemployment figures, former chancellor now Prime Minister, sleaze, expense claims and government under pressure. Seems like history repeating itself.

Streets of Rhondda

Have you seen the young man

Outside the job centre Peering through the window,

with his worn out shoes?

In his eyes you see no pride

And held loosely at his side

Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's jobs

Chorus

So how can you tell me you vote Labour,

And say for you that the sun always shine?

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Rhondda

I'll show you something to make you change your mind

Have you seen the young girl

Who walks the streets of Rhondda

Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?

She's no time for talking,

She just keeps right on walking

Carrying her home in two carrier bags.

Chorus

So how can you tell me you vote Labour,

And say for you that the sun always shine?

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Rhondda

I'll show you something to make you change your mind

In the all night cafe

At a quarter past eleven,

Same young man is sitting there on his own

Looking at the world Over the rim of his tea-cup,

Each tea last an hour Then he wanders home alone

Chorus
So how can you tell me you vote Labour,

And say for you that the sun always shine?

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Rhondda

I'll show you something to make you change your mind

And have you seen the old soldier

Outside the Labour Club

Memory fading with The medal ribbons that he wears.

In our valley so gritty,

The rain cries a little pity

For one more forgotten hero

And a Labour that doesn't care

Chorus

So how can you tell me you vote Labour,

And say for you that the sun always shine?

Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of Rhondda

I'll show you something to make you change your mind

Is this how to remember our MP’s

This is the type of picture people have in their minds of politicians, sadly the latest expenses fiasco doesn’t helps.

Rhodri: Tory Win in UK is good for Labour in Wales

It seems Rhodri Morgan thinks a Tory win in the next general election would good for his Labour party in Wales but history has shown us the Tories are not good for the people of Wales. A classic example of a respected Welsh politician putting his party before the people of Wales. I have no doubt that some of the Labour MP’s sitting in safe Welsh seats share Rhodri’s thoughts. Well “News Flash”, there is no safe Labour seat in Wales, there is no safe Liberal seat in Wales and there is no safe Tory seat in Wales. In the next general election I predict Plaid Cymru will increase its number of MP’s across Wales and increase its vote. For the European election Plaid will have 2 MEPs.

Why Should Labour MP's in Wales vote Independence

If you was a Labour MP who represented a save Welsh constituency seat. Would you be willing to give up your £65,000 job in London’s most expensive “Gentleman’s Club”, with unquestionable expenses to boot? This is what they are giving up if Wales became independent but that can’t be why they are against an independent Wales.

London Governments continue to Rob the People of Wales

In its Swansea conference the other week New Labour pointed out that Wales accounts for 5% of the UK population but generates only 4% in taxes collected by the London Treasury. The UK government raised £496bn in taxes last year, so 4% of £496bn means Wales generated £18.76bn to the treasury but only received back about £14bn.
When Labour boasted that it had doubled the Wales budget since 1999, the question that if Wales are being robbed blind now, how much were we being robbed before 1999? Roll on an Independent Wales.

Calls for investigation over Labour peer Baroness Uddin's expense claims

A Labour peer, Baroness Uddin, has become the latest politician to be embroiled in the second-homes expenses scandal, after reportedly claiming about £100,000 despite living just four miles from parliament.
Lady Uddin, 49, claimed a two-bedroom flat in Maidstone was her main residence, enabling her to receive the money under a scheme designed to compensate politicians who live outside London for the cost of accommodation close to Westminster.
However the Sunday Times reported neighbours' claims that the Maidstone flat had not been occupied for some time and her Facebook page, which lists cabinet ministers Hazel Blears, Harriet Harman and David Miliband along with Tony Blair's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell among her friends, tells of her "great sense of belonging to the East End [of London] which has been my home for 30 years".

Target to Halve Child Poverty by 2010 is still 600,000 Short

Campaigners yesterday accused Labour ministers of going back on their promises after statistics showed they were still 600,000 short of their target in cutting child poverty.Gingerbread chief executive Fiona Weir,said "Backing out of promises made to poor children should not be an option. This is just one of countless labour promises that lie in tatters".

Well Done to Plaid Cymru councillors in Caerphilly Borough

Plaid councillors proposed to freeze their pay due to the current finanical climate. Which was supported by the other political parties. Sensible politics.

Paul Murphy's plumbing bill because water was too hot: MPs' expenses

Paul Murphy, the Welsh Secretary, had a new plumbing system installed at taxpayers’ expense because the water in the old one was "too hot".
The cost of the £3,419.25 bill for the work on his Westminster house was claimed under the Additional Cost Allowance, which MPs can use to fund a second home. Mr Murphy put the £2,336.37 arrangement fees for purchasing the freehold on his ACA for March 2007, along with £1,799 in stamp duty.
Although taxpayers footed the bill, there is no obligation on Mr Murphy to pass on any profits he makes if and when he sells the flat. He also claimed £390 a month in mortgage interest payments and £687 for annual service charges.
As well as the freehold, the Welsh Secretary made regular claims on his allowances for decoration costs and furniture, including £35 for a lavatory roll holder, £537 for an oven and £1,674 for a carpet. In addition, he bought a £605 Samsung television set and £449 sound system. Smaller items included light bulbs for £1.98 and £6 vacuum cleaner dust bags and a £6 tin opener.
These expenses may not be breaking the law of the land, but they are breaking the moral law. Pigs in the trough comes to mind with a whopping £95m bill for expenses. How many hospitals could be build, how many doctors and nurses could be employed, how many elderly could have the care they deserve, how many children and pensioners that could rise above poverty. This is why MP’s like Mr Murphy, Chris Bryant, Wayne David and Peter Hain Voted against a transparent Parliament.

Theme tune for Labour

In 1997 New Labour had D:Ream - Things Can Only Get Better

But in the next election New Labour should have : Can't Touch Me

What Wayne David MP has voted on in London

How Wayne David voted on key issues since 2001:
· Voted moderately against a transparent Parliament. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly for introducing a smoking ban. votes, speeches
· Voted strongly for introducing ID cards. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals. votes, speeches
· Voted strongly for introducing student top-up fees. votes, speeches
· Voted strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly for the Iraq war. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly for replacing Trident. votes,
· Voted very strongly for the hunting ban. votes, speeches
· Voted very strongly for equal gay rights. votes, speeches
· Voted moderately for laws to stop climate change. votes, speeches
. Voted very strongly for the closure of Post Offices.
As Labour Government whip, it is his job to make sure Labour MP's vote in line with a Labour Government policies.

Where 'Welsh' Conservatives are registered to vote...

Conservative Party - Plaid Geidwadol Cymru
1. Kay SwinburneRhea CourtRhea LaneLedburyHR8 2PT
2. Evan David Lewis Price20 SpringcroftAvenueLondonN2 9JE
3. Emma Louise GreenowInglenookGrub StreetHigh OffleyStaffordshireST20 0NE
4. David ChippLlan-y-StancTregareMonmouthshireNP15 2DL

These are the Conservative Party candidates in Wales.

Gordon Brown's YouTube fightback (shame about that swastika though)

Another Gordon Brown YouTube classic

Oops. He did it again. At the end of what had been a fairly low-key PMQs, Gordon Brown got up and shuffled out of the Commons chamber. Apparently he'd forgotton that he was due to stay on the front bench to deliver a statement on Afghanistan and Pakistan. So Mr Speaker's call of "Statement, the Prime Minister" appeared to come as a surprise to Mr Brown, who duly shuffled back to his perch.
The Tory frontbench could not contain themselves, and dissolved into laughter. Not a few Labour MPs were also laughing at their leader, and in the lobby afterwards, MPs were talking of little else. "He's a laughing stock," offered one Labour type. "Can't wait to watch it again on YouTube," said another.

Weak Labour Laws

Amicus points to the manufacturing employment situation in the UK and falling real incomes as evidence that this approach is flawed. "10,000 jobs have been lost every month in manufacturing since 1997 and employment in the sector is likely to dip below three million for the first time next month.
"The UK has lost out to foreign competition to a greater extent than Germany and France because of Britain’s weak labour laws. Whilst employment levels are higher in the UK than in France and Germany average wage levels are lower here. Average wages has fallen below inflation in Britain now for the first time in over a decade. By the next General Election Wales who have lost more manufacturing jobs under New Labour than anyother London Government. Still the Unions donate millions of pounds to the New Labour party.

Own Goal by Labour over the Gurkhas

MP's like Chris Bryant and Wayne David fly the Union Jack in the faces of Welsh people for many years. So when they had a chance to vote on Gurkha settlement rights (ok they are not British but they spilt their own blood for the British people). These MP's vote with Gordon Brown against this motion, reminds me of a song "Gordon is a Moron".

Hazel Blears savages Gordon Brown over 'lamentable' failures

The first cracks in Gordon Brown's cabinet appear today as a senior minister attacks his government's "lamentable" failure to communicate and warns of "dire" consequences if it continues to blunder on policy and misread the mood of the British people.
After Charles Clark MP said he was "ashamed" to be a Labour MP and David Blunkett MP, warned the Labour government have lost its "political antennae". In other word a rudderless sinking political ship with clueless Capt. Gordon Brown.