Leighton Andrews AM

Fair play, Western Mail

Well, the Western Mail does run the quote they would have been given on Friday if Martin Shipton had spoken to me.

But contrary to what is said in the article, the email sent by Martin Shipton to my researcher David Taylor did not request a quote from me. Nor did it contain the Plaid Cymru quote to which I would have responded.

Martin has always rung me direct before. I am sure he will next time.

The Chiefs

Treorchy Comprehensive's dynamic headteacher Bethan Guilfoyle is the subject of BBC Wales The Chiefs tomorrow night.

A socialist response to the crisis

Yes, I know. The title sounds like one of those doleful Trot pamphlets from the '70s.

However, I believe that we are seeing a progressive alternative starting to be unveiled in the newspapers this week.

First, I welcome the call by Labour MPs for public money to be spent boosting the incomes of the poorest. That would mean real money in the pockets of real people. It would be spent not saved, and in most cases, spent locally, boosting local economies, just like the tens of millions that have been awarded in miners' compensation in the Rhondda in recent years. As the MPs argue:

In an open letter published by the Observer today, the MPs argue that giving tax cuts to the middle classes may simply see money tucked away in savings accounts, but giving cash to those who really need it ensures they will spend it.

Second, Will Hutton's hopes that we will see a new agenda for financial regulation internationally are very significant:

My understanding is that, extraordinarily, the G20 will decide to regulate hedge funds, register credit-rating agencies and their business practices, insist that derivative trading is undertaken in regulated exchanges, set a framework for bank pay and bonuses, require transparency and disclosure of information from tax havens and organise international "colleges of regulators".

And President Lula da Silva has rightly raised the importance of ensuring that emerging economies and less developed countries do not suffer the consequences of a crisis for which they are not responsible, a call also outlined by billionaire George Soros, and Gordon Brown has responded to this in a positive way, suggesting a $100 billion fund to underwrite world trade

Oy, Martin

Martin Shipton says in today's Western Mail, writing about the Aneurin Glyndwr blog, that neither I nor Ieuan Wyn Jones 'wanted to comment personally.'

Well, I can't speak for Ieuan.

But Martin Shipton never contacted me to ask if I wanted to comment on his story, despite the fact that he has my mobile number and my email addresses.

So, for the avoidance of doubt, here is what I would have said had he bothered to contact me:

I have had no involvement whatsoever in the development of the Aneurin Glyndwr website.

As far as the comment from the Plaid Cymru spokesperson is concerned - which Martin should have contacted me about, since it refers to me - I regard David Taylor as an excellent researcher with great communication and IT skills, who plays a major part in helping me communicate how the Labour-led Assembly Government is leading the way in addressing the recession, through schemes of support for business such as Pro-Act.

What David gets up to as a party volunteer in his own time is a matter for him.

Linking Penygraig and Cape Town

Over the next 4 years in the build up to London 2012, and as part of Wales’ Cultural Olympiad initiative,Rhondda-based charity Valleys Kids are planning an ambitious cross cultural community celebration with the aim of linking communities of Rhondda in South Wales and Cape Town in South Africa.

The project is inspired by the iconic film Zulu (featuring Welsh stars: Stanley Baker  Ivor Emmanuel) which was made in 1964, at a moment when history was being made in South Africa, as Nelson Mandela was sent to Robbin Island at the beginning of his 27 year long incarceration.

Valleys Kids have commissioned Welsh writer, Laurence Allan to write and be overall Artistic Co-ordinator.

In South Africa it will be spearheaded by Victor & Linda Ntoni from the Music Lab in Johannesburg and by percussion group Amampondo in Cape Town.

Yesterday BBC Radio Wales Arts Show had an interview with Laurence about the project, which you can hear here.

Obama support grows among younger voters

Stan Greenberg and James Carville report on the Obama Generation -  - and say the Republicans are still struggling with younger voters while Obama's ratings have grown.

Ferndale Rugby Club

Ferndale Rugby Club had its twentieth anniversary celebration game on Friday night. The club was in fact first formed in 1882, and disbanded in 1921. A gang of enthusiasts helped the club reform in 1989.

On Friday night, Chris Bryant MP kicked the game off and I helped with the presentations after the game. You can see Chris kicking off on Rhondda TV.

Comments

There has been a problem with posting comments since we switched back over to Typepad last month, for which we blame Typepad. However, they appear to be working now.

Rhondda Grey

For those who haven’t seen it, the Heritage Park has an exhibition of paintings and hotographs of the Rhondda designed to challenge the stereotype of ‘Rhondda Grey’ embodied in Max Boyce’s well-known song. The exhibition runs in the upstairs gallery until the end of April and is well worth seeing.

Your Pets Warehouse

Last Friday saw the launch of an exciting new business venture in Tonypandy. Your Pets Warehouse is a social firm geared to reinvesting its profits in the community. It has been launched in co-operation with Ysgol Hen Felin and other partners and one of Ysgol Hen Felin’s pupils is amongst the first employees of the company. Your Pets Warehouse offers training and employment opportunities to disadvantaged and disabled young people in Rhondda Cynon Taff. They currently employ a team of 7 disabled young people and 5 support workers, who all have the opportunity to study entry level, and NVQ level 1, in basic skills, customer care qualifications, and animal care qualifications. This is a special kind of business venture and congratulations to its founder Kate Wood and all those involved. ..I have put a video of the launch on Rhondda TV