Dewi

Welsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways...

IDS the Merthyr expert

| Readers 14

The Western Mail reports on Iain Duncan Smith’s comments on the lack of mobilty of Merthyr people. Mr Duncan Smith said people in Merthyr “didn’t know if they got on the bus, an hour’s journey they’d be in Cardiff and they could look for the job there”. He added: “We need to recognise the jobs often don’t come to you. Sometimes you need to go to the jobs.” Dai Havard, the MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said: “These ministers …

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Cuts hit Wales hard.

| Readers 3

The first of the major Capital scheme cuts are hitting Wales hard. Whilst there were many environmental objections to the proposed barrage across the Severn a construction boom would certainly have been handy… (£30bn and thousands of jobs during construction).

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Of Dante and Chile and Idris Davies……and Rhodri’s Uncle..

| Readers 50

Thanks to Siwsan, of this parish, for sending me this: In Chile, love moves the sun and the stars. Read it all but here’s a great bit: “The first miner, Florencio Avalos, appears–like a newborn. His kid and wife are there. He hugs them. He looks fine. After 68 days under the Earth, his eyes, with sunglasses though, are the first to look up at the stars. And we feel, with old Dante, that on this night in Chile, love moves …

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Welsh Language in the Heartland

| Readers 95

There is increasing evidence of the decline of the Welsh language as a lingua franca of areas traditionally thought of as Welsh speaking, coupled with a marked increase in the use of the language in more Anglicised areas. It’s a fairly easy phenomena to understand – as the % speakers fall below 75 to 70%  it is normal for the languages of institutions such as the WI, Cricket Clubs, Young Farmers etc etc to change their primary language.

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Concerted Opposition from the Devolved Institutions

| Readers 3

Betsan points us to a pretty significant joint declaration of the three devolved institutions. “That the three devolved administrations believe the impending cuts in public spending run the risk of delivering economic and social harm shouldn’t be news to you.That the leaders of the three devolved administrations have signed a joint declaration saying so, very bluntly, is, as one senior source in Cardiff Bay put it, “massive”.” And: “They say, “We believe that promoting economic growth is the best way to …

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Stand Up for the Ulsterman

| Readers 16

Graeme McDowell keeps his nerve….and here’s what he has to say. Super stuff. DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

Croeso i Montgomerieshire…

| Readers 7

Things hotting up nicely for the weekend. Catherine and Katherine introduced golfers, wives and 13,000 others to Welsh song at a gala last night. Tiger has been here before – not sure he enjoyed it much though… – Nice quote from his caddie for that week in 1995, when beset by food poisoning he tried to help him out – “In fairness to Woods, Griffiths reveals he saw the illness close up. “He was pretty rough and I gave him a …

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History of Wales – redux…

| Readers 7

If you have the great fortune (or life planning abilities) to live in this wonderful country then you can buy the Western Mail. Do so today because it’s the start of what looks like being a super series. If by ill-fortune, bad planning, or inconvenient romance you have ended up elsewhere don’t worry it’s on the internet!

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General Election 2010 – Wales (1 of 2)

| Readers 81

OK, for a change, and due to an unprecedented lack of popular demand I thought I’d post about something I know something about…….
Scores on the Doors and a map from Wiki below:

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Independent has an NI day

| Readers 4

I know…..but only just got round to reading the papers:
The Independent concentrates on:

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At last from Australia

| Readers 1

Apologies for the profligacy of posts but just in case anyone is staying up for Australia…… Looks like the Welsh girl’s got it… The Australian says Labor’s great escape. Worth a browse…..oh and they are still counting. AV a wonderful system…mmm. Anyway now we’ve won Australia I await an Alliance surge with you – after all David Ford is Welsh… DewiWelsh Nationalist. Rugby Fan. Know a bit about History and Railways…

General Election 2010 – Sinn Féin

| Readers 18

With 25.5% of the vote SF beat the DUP by 3,700 to get the highest vote of all parties (helped, of course, by DUP absence in FST and North Down). That’s the first time ever in General Elections. (One of the things you wonder about late at night is what would have happened in 1921 with today’s demography?)

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General Election 2010 – the Alliance.

| Readers 9

There was something for everyone in this election but the undoubted highlight was Naomi Long’s stunning victory in East Belfast.

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General Election 2010 – the DUP

| Readers 8

Didn’t stand in FST or North Down so the raw result of 25% a little distorted – but losing the leader’s seat was unfortunate to put it mildly. The dynamic in East Belfast is best left until we get to the Alliance so let’s look at other stuff.

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General Election 2010 – the SDLP

| Readers 21

The SDLP were defending a marginal in South Belfast and had a new leader attempting to follow a popular MP in South Down. Those seemed potential nightmare ingredients. However the election was a real triumph for Ritchie. Looking at their strongest seats you have:

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