Dewi – Page 3 – Slugger O'Toole

Scotland: Degrees of Freedom.

Dewi on January 21, 2012, 12:00 pm

| Readers 47

Devo Max (or Full Fiscal Autonomy) seems to be getting some traction. There’s been two big name proponents over the last week or so. Canon Kenyon Wright wrote to the Herald: My own view is that a straight choice between independence and the status quo effectively disenfranchises a large number of Scots who want neither. Since this is a crucial decision for Scotland’s future governance, that is unacceptable. And: Imagine going into the polling booth in such circumstances and being forced …

Another Post on Scotland…..

Dewi on January 15, 2012, 10:24 am

| Readers 59

A few things: 1) A letter to the Scotsman from Lord Kilclooney (John Taylor): As an Ulster Scot I know there would be concern in Northern Ireland should Scotland vote to leave the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland is not only geographically close to Scotland but shares more with Scotland than with any other country. When the majority in Ireland voted for independence from the UK there were 220,000 people in County Donegal. After independence thousands emigrated back to the UK – …

Westminster Boundaries for Wales – best of a bad job?

Dewi on January 11, 2012, 6:33 am

| Readers 50

Wales On-Line reveals the new Welsh Westminster boundaries, which cut the nation’s MPs from 40 to 30. Such a radical cut obviously requires some bold swipes on the map. Here’s a PDF of the new constituencies. The effect? – Currently the 40 MPS are split Labour 26, Tory 8, Lib Dem 3, Plaid 3. Taking the easiest first and extrapolating 2010 results (without assuming any change in voting patterns) Plaid’s two Gwynedd seats are merged into 1 in the North and …

New Hampshire – a cakewalk for Romney?

Dewi on January 10, 2012, 6:16 am

| Readers 44

Famous last words I suppose but things are looking comfortable for Mitt Romney in today’s New Hampshire GOP primary – the most boring NH primary ever? (from the New Republic.) Here’s the Washington Post on Romney’s achievments: It is commonly argued that Mitt Romney has benefited from a weak Republican field, which is true. And that the attacks of his opponents have been late and diffuse. True, and true.But the political accomplishment of Willard Mitt Romney should not be underestimated. …

Plaid’s leadership election…time for a change?

Dewi on January 9, 2012, 5:41 pm

| Readers 20

Here’s the BBC on the four candidates in the Plaid Cymru leadership election. Hot off the press in Golwg comes the news that Adam Price is backing Leanne Wood in the contest. (The Google translate for that is here). Today also sees the endorsement of Elin Jones by Arfon MP Hywel Williams. (Nice, sincere video) There are four candidates: Dafydd Elis Thomas, Simon Thomas, Ms Jones and Ms Wood. It seems that Dafydd is viewed as yesterday’s man – although we must remember that …

Hello Iowa..

Dewi on January 3, 2012, 12:13 am

| Readers 38

So today is the Republican Iowa caucus. The master of US Psephology is Nate Silver (from Wiki) of the wonderful FiveThirtyEight.com. He think’s it’s tight between Ron Paul and Mitt Romney, with Rick Santorum slightly behind but with a bit of momentum. It’s worth a look at the caucus process. From the IOWA GOP site we get: First, the Presidential Poll is taken. At the beginning of your precinct caucus meeting, the Caucus Chairman will call for the Presidential Preference Poll. …

Alex’s New Year Message….it’s time !

Dewi on December 31, 2011, 12:15 am

| Readers 36

Super stuff from Alex. Watch it all – it ain’t long – quote below. Our universities, colleges and scientific institutions are working on cures for the illnesses that beset humankind as well as the renewable energy machines and environmental initiatives that will make human progress compatible with the future of our planet.” But he added: “If we are going to shape the future we must make some changes to the present – and that means taking more control over our …

2012 Prediction Contest

Dewi on December 27, 2011, 10:16 am

| Readers 7

OK – Ten questions – predictions any time this year please – answers this time next year: i) Who will be the Republican nomination for US President? ii) Who will be the leader of the UK Labour Party this time next year? iii) Who will be the leader of Sinn Féin this time next year? iv) How far will the Republic of Ireland go in the Euro Football? v) How many gold medals will Wales win in the Olympics? vi) …

Olympics – the funding disgrace continues…

Dewi on December 24, 2011, 12:32 pm

| Readers 26

We (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) asked for £300m in Barnett consequentials of East End of London regeneration spend in the run up to the Olympics. The formal complaint was heard this week – the result – the case is just but we can’t afford to go back so here’s £30m to shut up. Astonishingly BBC Wales describe our share as a £9m windfall! Alan Trench knows a bit better. Writing for the Institute of Welsh Affairs, Alan says: ….. the Labour …

Johann Lamont – a Gael in charge…

Dewi on December 17, 2011, 6:42 pm

| Readers 43

The new (first) leader of the Scottish Labour Party has the noble distinction of being the first MSP to contribute to a debate in the Scottish Parliament in Gaelic. Here’s her blog post. And here’s herstory. Johann has lived all her life in Glasgow, yet both of her parents are Gaels from the Hebridean island of Tiree. In common with many other Glaswegians from such incoming communities, Johann feels her identity to be double-stranded, in which her love of the city is intermingled …

Scotland – it’s time – why wait?

Dewi on December 11, 2011, 6:36 am

| Readers 5

With the latest opinion polls showing the SNP at a sensational record 51% for Holyrood, and a pretty impressive by-election win in Lanarkshire, it’s getting tempting for Alex to go for an early independence referendum. The context is key – the Scottish government and SNP are acting like history is working their way. We have: The Independent describing the SNP’s Scandinavian strategy as “Bye Bye England” ….. whilst Alex is just back from China, and the party unveils it’s £60 billion infrastructure …

Pandas and Psephology of Scotland.

Dewi on December 6, 2011, 12:17 am

| Readers 5

OK – we’ve finally found the formula: If Tory MPs in Scotland = x and Giant Pandas in Scotland = y the formula is: x= (y-1) I think that’s a pretty scientific correlation. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Of the Old North and other Vanished Kingdoms..

Dewi on November 23, 2011, 7:09 pm

| Readers 217

I’m currently trawling through Norman Davies’s fabulous new tome – “Vanished Kingdoms” – Five stars in the (London) Telegraph’s review from Ben Wilson: All the nations that have ever lived have left their footsteps in the sand,” writes Norman Davies. “The traces fade with every tide, the echoes grow faint, the images are fractured, the human material is atomised and recycled. But if we know where to look, there is always a remnant, a remainder, an irreducible residue.” In this brilliant, …

Budget Deadlock in Cardiff Bay – What happens next?

Dewi on November 17, 2011, 2:45 am

| Readers 15

The BBC reports on the tied Budget vote in Wales here. Adrian Masters on ITV reports on Labour’s reluctance to deal with the Tories here. The Welsh Government has ruled out doing a budget deal with the Conservatives and will from now on only talk to Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats. It’s no surprise that a Labour government would find it difficult to reach any such agreement with the Conservatives, but it’s still a significant step to rule it …

Scotland Referendum – Cameron starts his play…

Dewi on November 11, 2011, 5:24 am

| Readers 6

I’ve been expecting something for a while but perhaps not exactly this (from the Indie): David Cameron is considering a UK-led referendum on Scottish independence to prevent the Scottish Nationalists from setting the terms, question and timing to suit themselves, British government ministers admitted yesterday. That might be a bit of a red herring but this ain’t: There have also been suggestions from the Nationalists that Scots would be able to choose more than one option in the referendum – …

What the UK spends stuff on.

Dewi on October 30, 2011, 6:22 am

| Readers 6

Apologies for the delay and thanks to Malcolm Redfellow for the tip. Here’s a great graphic from the Guardian on UK Government spending 10/11. Have a play to find out the easiest way to interpretate. (I bought the paper to get hard copy,,,) Anyway UK debt interest is £44 billion quid a year. For those of us lucky enough to work that’s twenty quid a week each. Seven billion quid a year on the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority….. Child benefit costs £12 …

Tŷ Hywel – is the mystery that deep?

Dewi on October 26, 2011, 12:51 am

| Readers 205

The BBC reports on the Welsh Assembly Mystery Landlord: The assembly’s rent for the Ty Hywel building in Cardiff Bay will rise nearly 30% next year from £1.7m. (To £2.3m – Dewi) It is paid to Crick Properties Ltd, registered in Douglas, Isle of Man, but assembly authorities cannot say who the ultimate owner of the building is. and further on: Ty Hywel, originally called Crickhowell House, was built in the 1990s by Grosvenor Waterside, the property arm of Associated …

RWC – Mum: ‘He proved them wrong’

Dewi on October 24, 2011, 4:25 am

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Wonderful stuff from the NZ Herald: Sheryll Donald this morning said she never doubted her son would turn in a great game when he was called off the bench with 50 minutes to go. Seeing him rescue the flagging All Blacks side was one of the proudest moments of her life, she said. And as Graham Henry said: Didn’t he do well. Steve Donald. Superb DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Scotland, it’s starting…

Dewi on October 24, 2011, 4:09 am

| Readers 8

You can do some stuff with close to a million quid…. Angus Robertson at SNP conference at Inverness: Today I am delighted to confirm that Scotland’s independence campaign has been generously supported by the late, great Scots poet and Makar Edwin Morgan with a substantial contribution of £918,000, which is ring-fenced for the referendum campaign Whatever one thinks of Alex Salmond I think we can all agree he doesn’t lack confidence: Nae limits: Delegates On the way to Inverness I …

RWC – almost done….come on All Blacks!

Dewi on October 23, 2011, 8:34 am

| Readers 1

Enjoy: Power’s back on in Auckland. Sticking with the Herald – A number of All Blacks are pacing around the playing surface.. Enjoy! DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…