Review Of the Year

It is that time of the year again. A time of taking stock of all that you have, or more likely would like to have. A time when we turn to family, tinsel, and maybe the idea of the innocent baby Jesus, to stave off the yawing emptiness at the edge of our lives.

It has been a funny old year. On a personal level I am grateful for my partner's much improved health, the new flat, and the handful of poems, articles, and essays I've had published. And the few songs I've manged to write and perform with the aid of my trusty acoustic guitar.

This world is bigger than me however, at least the world feels bigger than me, which is why I joined a political party. The most openly democratic, and leftist party, in Wales that is. As Ron Davies once said "devolution is a process not an event." I am pleased with my tiny contributions to this event- an event which could, with time and luck, see a dynamic Wales and Welsh people, institutionally ready to face the numerous challenges ahead, and an example of democracy and co-operation in practice. Such heady aspirations are of course flavoured with cynicism.

This year, for example, we have seen:

The Iraqi government start selling off www.handsoffiraqioil.org The Iraqi people's oil reserves. Such a moves render the invasion and occupation a total commercial success while cementing the legacy of humanitarian disaster.

The world watched on with a face somewhere between horror and disapprobation as Burmese rulers sat upon their hands after the country was hit by acyclone and aid failed to be distributed.

The collapse of the Western Financial sector. Our liberal capitalist system was only saved by state intervention on an unprecedented scale. The coffers of central treasuries around the world have been ransacked in order to ensure the continued lack of integrity in the global capital markets and the restoration of the appearance of liquidity. All in all it is a vindication of Lenin's maxim 'that capitalists will always have the funds to prevent any crisis, as long as it is the workers that foot the bill.'

There were no palpable human rights improvements in China as a result of the OlympicGames. Any cynicism from the Welsh people is largely drowned out by cheers as Nicole Cooke brings home the first British Gold medal.

Bolivia faces an internal crisis as the country's wealthy elite make the most self interested claims for autonomy ever. The media, and the left in general, is weirdly silent in its support for the Evo Morales government (even if Tony Benn et al did eventually send out an excellent letter to the broadsheets)

Civilians suffer as Russia is engaged in a game of geo-political chess in Georgia

Italy elect Silvio Berlusconi (again). He forms a coalition with the far right and Italy is given a de facto fascist government (again).

The US electorate defy prejudice and a somewhat dicey electoral system to elect Barrack Obama. He'll take the reins of this imperial looking democracy in the New Year.

There is no real development in the fight against Climate Change, just the familiar prevarication.

Closer to home

Gordon Brown doubles the income tax burden on the poorest in society by imposing a 100% income tax increase on the lowest earners, he then has to backtrack (a little bit). Tax rises for the richest are postponed until after the next election.

Benefits are to be reformed. It seems the sick and incapacitated might be forced to work for free at Tescos or the suchlike in order to keep benefits.

Wales sees a 25% increase in unemployment in three months. Public sector jobs are still cut in Wales.

New Labour first want to shut 1000s of post offices, then want to keep them open. Now it seems they wish to part privatise them.

Key Plaid policies like the Welsh Language Act, and the reversal of the right to buy, are given a hard time by New Labour MPs as they come before them in the form of LCOs. Some talk (correctly) of a constitutional crisis. Most people are unaware of this as they don't know what LCO stands for.

Everyone's favourite droll mopheaded bumbling reactionary closet racist Boris Johnson is elected as mayor of London.

An open verdict is returned on the John Charles De Menezes shooting. The jury were prohibited from returning the verdict of unlawful killing.

Gwent Ambulance response times are among the worst in the UK. (a post on this subject is forthcoming)

On the plus side

Plaid make some gains and new Labour suffer massive defeats in the local elections. Even Kier Hardie's old stomping ground of Blaenau Gwent is lost by New Labour.

SNP make key gains in Scotland- even taking Glasgow East.

There is a special fund for sub-post offices.

Train lines are finally being improved and extended in Wales.

There is a special mortgage relief fund in Wales.

It looks like the devastatingly awful idea of an M4 relief road is all set not to happen (as the Welsh transport budget has been syphoned off to pay for the London Olympics, apparently)

OK- that concludes my review of the year- if there anything that I've missed (there must be) please fill me in...

Why new Labour really 'saved' the Post Offices:

A few weeks back Peter Mandelson apparently championed a policy to save the Post Offices from threats of closure. A host of New Labour MPs, who had campaigned to keep these amenities open at local level, and then voted for their closure (if they bothered to vote at all), breathed a sigh of relief. Now they could claim to be saviours of this essential public service even if it was their lot who had imperiled it in the first place.

Now the real reason why the post offices were saved isrevealed however. New Labour intend to part privatise the service- and endanger up to 50,000 jobs in the process.

Post Offices have only been saved so that the costs associated with running it can be bumped off the balance sheet, and treasury coffers can be boosted by the sale. As ever, with PFI, there will be be no real saving, and while the risks of running the service will continue with the government any profits will be skimmed off by the private sector. No wonder this practice was so readily embraced by big business.

The usual, and numerous criticisms, of PFI will be be as appropriate with this deal as they are elsewhere. New Labour however, remain wedded to this accountancy sleight of hand.

Winter Fuel

This campaign was launched today. I think the logic of such a move is indisputable- while of course such a move flies in the face of New Labour and Conservative politicians keen to keep the private sector sweet at all costs.


Gwent Winter Deaths 2007

Blaenau Gwent
24

Caerphilly
46

Islwyn
40

Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney
44

Monmouth
42

Newport East
32

Newport West
52

Torfaen
36

Wales Jobs Losses

Wales' economy is shrinking faster than the rest of the UK. There are 95,000 unemployed in Wales and there has been over a 25% increase in job losses in the last few months. Unemployment is certainly rising faster than in the rest of the UK. Presumably the government should be protecting as many jobs as they are able right now, but what you may ask is the response of the Westminster Labour government? They plough ahead with plans to shut tax offices across Wales. Just before Christmas. Offices are to shut in Aberystwerth, Bridgend, Carmarthan, Pembrokshire, Brecon, Bangor, Pontypool, and Rhyl.

With a stronger devolution settlement the One Wales government would presumably be able to protect these jobs, but with so much executive and legislative power still residing in the South East nothing can be done. Welsh Labour MPs meanwhile seem keener on hindering Welsh Language and Housing LCOs, in an effort to prevent the creeping feeling of irrelevance, rather than lobby meaningfully to protect the interests of Wales as a whole.

The whole issue of job cuts in wales is wider, and more deeply felt, than devolution however. All those angered and effected by the vicious caprices of the economy at this time should look to campaign together on this, and many other, issues.

Glamorgan Gazette

I popped over to Bridgend today. While I was there I stopped at a caf' for a mug of tea and and a sandwich, and had a read of the Glamorgan Gazette. The headline story was, superficially speaking, almost amusing. It concerned two drunk blokes who had pleaded guilty for nicking "the holy Mary mother of Jesus and the nativity bed" from a local church. A stupid drunken crime basically.

As I read on the facts were revealed. I read how 'one of the men was homeless having been released from prison 6 days earlier.' This did make me angry (not real anger, but the sort of anger you get from reading things which is a different kind of anger from the proper anger when you end up shouting). Why on earth was someone released from prison only to end up on the streets where, vulnerable, they are far more likely to fall back into patterns of drinking, drugs, and subsequently crime? Fortunately, in this instance, the crime was relatively trivial.

This case is indicative of the rehabilitative failure apparent in our criminal justice system. It demonstrates how the emphasis is squarely on punishment rather than prevention. Letting loose someone with past criminal form, very probably with alcohol problems, alone to fend for himself on the streets, is a recipe for trouble in anyone's books.

I understand that people should not be 'rewarded' for criminal behaviour. I appreciate the idea that we are all responsible for our actions. However, there are social forces at work that can exceed individual capacity. With re-offending rates through the roof, violent crime on the rise, and convictions on the up, surely it is time for a fresh approach- an approach based on rationalism and compassion rather than the urge for retribution.

8 Reasons to Dislike the PBR

OK- I've just noticed Adam Price has beaten me to it with a PBR reaction. I haven't read his yet and hopefully I'm not just reiterating what he has already observed. (I expect his observations are acuter than mine. He was there live after all :-) )

My main take on it, as a layperson, is that despite welcome fiscal stimulations and interventions the report neglects and fails the needs of Wales and of
the vast majority of taxpayers across the UK in key areas.

This is a bit suprising. We were led to believe through the numerous leaks beforehand that radical things were afoot. But what we have is a report that offers only crumbs to working people. The mainstream media of course paints it differently. They seem to think that Brown and Darling have embarked on a gamble just short of the sort of radicalism exhibited in early revolution Cuba, even if the CBI themselves welcomed the report this morning. Don't be fooled though-

Spin aside these are the key facts:

1. Growth in public spending is actually set to slow from 1.8% to 1.2 %
2. VAT decreases have grabbed headlines. But the effects of this in the pocket are negligible, crucially there is no need for retailers to pass the decrease onto consumers. Even the lowly 2% decreases may not be reflected in prices. Re-instating the 10% tax band for lowest earners would have had a much more tangible benefit. This, however, is not on the cards.
3. The increase in income tax for highest earners, which should have happened back in 1997, is dated to after the next election. So if Labour lose the next general election the increase will be postponed or reversed by the likely Tory victors.
4. The planned increases in national insurance contributions will hit middle income earners and small businesses hard.
5. Of the £3 billion set aside for public works only £100 million is set aside for green projects. This is a massive missed opportunity. If there was any good side to this recession it was the opportunity to substantially 'green' our economy. It is likely more money will be set aside to increase motorway capacity than for green energy
projects.
6. Big business sees almost immediate benefits with a tax holiday for foreign dividends planned from 2009. Basically there is no tax reduction or exemption for the poorest, but for the rich who spend outside our economy.
7. There is no mortgage relief fund. The 3 month delay before repossession proceedings is good- but any homeowner who finds themselves long term unemployed, or under long term financial pressure, will still be at risk from repossession.

Last but by no means least-

8. There is no new money for Wales. Despite Welsh unemployment rates rising and house prices falling among the fastest in the UK there is no additional help earmarked specifically for Wales. We must instead restructure, if deemed necessary, under the unjust confines of the Barnet formula.

New Labour may have broken fiscal rules, and this was totally necessary under the circumstances. But as ever they are short of innovation. This is because Brown and Darling don't have a genuine social democratic bone to rub between them, let alone a socialist one.

When the first increase in income tax for the highest earners is postponed for at least another 3 years, and we are told that is re-distribution, it sums up the full extent of the neo-liberal crisis we are still in the midst of. New Labour seem to be stage managing the financial crisis by making overtures to the left- while making no meaningful ideological break with the past.

The Tories response to the current crisis meanwhile: Do Nothing.

Right- I'm off to read Adam Price's more immediate reactions. I suggest, if you have not already done so- to do the same....

Remember Warwick Lightfoot....?

I thought not. He was once an important and shadowy figure behind the scenes of the Tory government, and he acted as an adviser over the chancellors who brought us the last recession.

today he was voicinghis opinions over the current recession.

"The exchange rate has fallen sharply this year, by about 16% overall. In my judgement, that's been a good thing...

"But you do not want, even in a very deep recession, your exchange rate to go into some kind of free-fall because it completely undermines confidence in your economy."

The problem with Lightfoot pontificating on the economy was that it was the ethos of financial de-regulation, of which he is such a keen proponent, that brought not only the last recession, but the current one as well. So taking advice from Lightfoot about the economy is a bit like taking advice from Napoleon on the merits of invading Russia.

George Osborne however, desperate to be seen as having something to say, that does not remind people of Russian oligarchs and luxury yachts, is spouting the Lightfoot dogma. If, as one would expect, there is not a run on the pound, George Osborne will start to look very silly indeed.... a Tory meltdown starts here? Probably not- but expect George Osborne to take a polite demotion some time soon.

Glenrothes result

A few years back I had the pleasure of watching the England and Wales cricket team contest an Ashes cricket series which was eventually won by England (as they are usually called, somewhat erroneously if for convenience's sake).

At some point, maybe the third test, Australia started celebrating a drawn match. I was stunned, the win at all costs and win easily mentality of the Australians had been transformed. They had taken to celebrating results which would have once been seen as disappointing, or at least expected. Change was afoot. England (and Wales!) went on to win the Ashes.

It is this air of unmerited triumphalism that figures in today's headlines. As New Labour celebrate holding on to Glenrothes, Gordon Brown's neighbouring constituency. A new constituency created mostly from Central Fife this was, until the SNP resurgence, safe territory. Don't be fooled by the spin, the song, and the dance. If they are not to be reduced to a rump in Scotland, as the tories now are, New Labour have to hold some seats like Glenrothes. And the SNP increased their share of the vote by 3%, with a 4.6% swing form Labour to SNP. So while the SNP may be a bit disappointed at failing to get another scalp, this is no time for New Labour to bask in glory.

The headline -LABOUR CELEBRATE HOLDING SAFE SEAT- would have an all together different feel to it. One that points accurately to their current decline.

Calls For A Green Windfall Tax

Earlier this year, after much pressure from the left both inside and outside of the New Labour Party machine, it was announced that a windfall tax was under consideration.

Then- a short time later a windfall tax was categorically ruled out . Just one day after the French nuclear giant EDF announced it would buy the UK's creaky nuclear assets after all. I am not saying the two decisions are connected. But it is foolish to think that a Windfall Tax on profits would not necessitate a restructuring of the EDF offer. Business sense dictates that you will pay a great deal less for, or not bother buying at all, a business that's profits will be taxed, than you would for business which is entirely shareholder friendly.

Going back to at least 2006 there have been calls for a windfall tax based at least in part on Norwegian Oil Legacy programmes. Yet the debate in the UK did not explicitly mention leaving non carbon emitting energy out of the tax. Perhaps this was assumed. But it was not made clear.

A green tax of this nature would be a masterstroke. By ring-fencing carbon tax revenues the government could create a giant capital fund- the interest payments on this could presumably be directed at alleviating fuel poverty. It would also incentivise investment in green technology green energy projects. The energy companies could effectively claim tax back, and this would accordingly be directed at schemes that reduce emissions and create jobs.

That is one possibility. I'd be very interested in running it passed Hilary Benn and Ed Milliband. Given that this New Labour government has presided over one of the lowest tax regimes for the rich ever, while forcing the burden onto the working and middle classes, I won't be expecting a positive response. I'll let you know though. Interesting to note that this proposed tax would exempt nuclear fuel energy providers from paying a penny- while opening up the door for them to receive huge investment grants. Could this make it more attractive to this New Labour government? If we suppose the windfall tax was a consideration for EDF then perhaps it would.

The other possibility is my favoured one. It involves nationalising the energy companies, breaking up the US owned national grid, and encouraging community owned, and produced, green energy. Together with bringing the costs of installing solar energy panels right down- by installing them in every home, and insulating every home (with wool, a commodity we the Welsh are rich in).

This second proposal is the clearly the more radical, and in keeping with my understanding of Plaid's ethos. It is ideas like this supported throughout the grassroots that, as I said at conference this year 'makes Plaid like Plaid, not just New Labour with a red dragon on the sleeve.' However- radical proposals would only be attainable after a period of transition. So the former proposal of a green windfall tax could help facilitate the latter.

I'd be fascinated to hear your thoughts. Clearly something needs to be done. The governments current policies of going nuclear, building an expensive and inefficient Severn Barrage, and making optimistic targets for decades into the future, with no plans of how they will be reached, are failing the climate. Failing the climate is failing our future. To be honest it seems New Labour favour the soft selling of climate change, in order to avoid risking the wrath of big business. The Tories are committed ideologically to more of the same. I despair of English politics, but at least in Wales Plaid offer a green, and progressive, alternative.

election night

It is election night, just gone 11pm GMT- and in a few hours the world will know whether America will elect the most bold and exciting US presidential candidate, certainly in recent history- or John Mcain.

Already the democrats are poised for a legal struggle if the persistent rumours of electoral purging of African American voters and dodgy voting machines appear to have influenced the result. This, like in 2000 when bush stole the election, could prove significant.

I feel sick with nerves. My memory of a tearful November 2004 feels as fresh- when I remember realising how the world was stuck with Bush for another 4 years. So I am drinking wine here as calmly as I can manage, little sips.

I can't concentrate I am that nervous, so no more posting as of yet.

Needless to say- together with 99.9% of Plaid, am routing for Obama.

As Leanne Woods has argued more articulately than I the government are getting off on scapegoating the poor these days. It seems hardly a week goes by without a new crackdown on benefit cheats, the 'workshy', or immigrants.

Quite obviously benefit fraud is a serious, and populist, matter for politicians. Yet the costs of benefit fraud do need to but into perspective. Not that our tabloid press, which leads the foaming at mouth brigade, are too keen on perspective. It is estimated that in 2007 the cost of benefit fraud was £690 million. Up a remarkable £678 million for the £18 million of 2006. (This leap makes one wonder how the figures are calculated, or where all these additional fraudsters are coming from). These are a not insignificant sums per annum, and could better spent, but it is substantially less than the costs of the taxpayer bailout of the financial system, for example.

The vitriol aimed at the 'undeserving poor', and all the valid claimants who are caught in the cross fire, would be better directed at the unregulated financial system that treated the UK economy as a casino chip. Unfortunately for anyone who holds a flame for the values of objectivity and truth it is much easier to cast aspersions than take responsibility.

Costs in the UK Economy:

Benefit Fraud: £18 million to £690 million (see above)
Cost of MPs expenses: £86.8 million
War on Iraq: £at least 5 billion
Replacing Trident: £76 billion
Corporate Tax Avoidance: £25 billion
UK Bank Bail-out: £500 billion

Now there are lies damn lies and statistics. It is not my intention here to question the relative merits of defence expenditure and so forth (although you can probably guess my position just from the tone of this article). But clearly, as the evidence bears out, the amount of column inches, and level of hysteria, directed at the minority of fraudulent benefit claims is entirely disproportionate. I just wish collective indignation and anger was directed with greater urgency elsewhere.

Does Newport need a rebrand?

Newport needs lots of things but one thing it doesn't need is a new golf course. The swank Celtic Manor is just off the M4 and this of course will be home to the Ryder Cup in a couple of years. This could be the most exciting thing to happen to Newport in many a year. Not since the Chartists rose up in an effort to establish constitutional democracy has there been such an air of expectation. The Ryder Cup offers golf the chance to line up with Goldie Looking Chain in being a source of local cultural pride.

All this has been too much for the newly elected Conservative led council. Keen to be seen as full of new ideas, and to pull in as much tourist revenue as possible, they have hit upon the idea to rebrand the city. Newport sounds a bit downtrodden, they reckon, so best to call the city Newport-On-Usk instead. It seems there is an historical precedent for this. Back in the days before the industrial revolution Newport was indeed known as Newport on Usk. Thing is, as anyone familiar with the cost of London's Olympic logo knows, rebrands can be exceptionally expensive. And it isn't just logos. All council branded materials, all signs, buses, and letterheads, would need to be redone. the cost could easily run into hundreds of thousands.

As the city council has just been landed a below inflation settlement now would be the worst time to direct funds away from front-line services. And even if Newport-on-Usk sounds pretty there are any number of initiatives that could be taken in order to make tangible improvements to Newport's tourist infrastructure.

anyway- that is the background- here is Marshfield community councilor for Plaid, Keith Bennett, on the subject:

As a community councilor I know first hand how hard pressed our services are right now. Therefore I feel I have to speak out against this idea to change our city's name.

This Conservative led council has cut back on committees and allowances inherited from the New Labour administration. They said this was because the money would go to front-line services. Now they wish to put the money into an expensive marketing exercise instead. Newport City Council has had a below inflation settlement from government. Cuts will be made or taxes raised. To be ploughing tax
payers money into redesigning logos, and away from hard pressed public services like primary schools is frankly ludicrous. Or have the Conservative councilors forgotten that there is a credit crunch on?

The South Wales Argus argued against a similar re-brand of the Gwent Healthcare trust earlier this year. On the basis that it would detract money from front-line services. The Argus were correct then and they would be right to oppose this Conservative inspired waste of tax payers money now. The council should concentrate instead on making real improvements to this city not just changing the name. As Shakespeare said 'that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet'

New M4 would be bad for business

I sent this letter out to the south wales Argus today (see below).

For those of you not in the know the Assembly is looking into spending several transport budgets all at once (£350 million) on a few miles of motorway skirting round Newport. Effectively this scheme is a bypass that allows you to bypass the existing motorway that itself allows you to bypass the centre of Newport. So road planning has reached the point where you need to build by-passes for by-passes.

Officially we are now at a point consultation with the motorway. Public, environmentalists, and businesses are being consulted. After this consultation the motorway will go ahead as planned. That is the normal result of such a consultation. Government can say how they have consulted and very carefully, and gravely, decided to do what they planned to do all along thank you very much.

The new M4 would also, somewhat incidentally, though none the less crucially in my opinion- carve through an area of scientific interest, home of cute little mice and voles, and roman ruins. Unfortunately environmental cases- however strong- rarely influence infrastructure decisions. Politicians and the public are both swayed more by economic rather than environmental concerns. For this reason all my campaigning against the motorway will be based on the unsound business case for this new motorway. It is this argument that the environmental lobby need to win if the motorway is to be stopped. The sad thing is that many people couldn't give a stuff for voles and curlews. Fortunately for the voles and curlews however- the business case for the motorway is frightfully weak, as this letter below hopefully begins to illustrate:


The proposed Levels M4 development in Newport would be bad for
business. Tolling motorists and freight vehicles twice- once at the
Severn Bridge, then again at the new M4 as planned, would deter rather than encourage business into Wales.

We are told by the New Labour politicians planning this scheme that the 'economic case' for this motorway justifies the £350 million cost. And that tolling this new stretch is a key to its economic viability. But this 'economic case' for the motorway is shaky at best. Just last week there was credible evidence that one toll at the Severn Crossing was damaging for Welsh business. Are we really meant to think that adding another toll deterrent just a few miles down the road will encourage business into Wales? This new toll will actively discourage investment.

All environmental concerns aside the more you study the Levels motorway proposal the more logically conflicted it becomes. The assembly would be better off holding on to this money and making improvements to our rail infrastructure instead. One key step to tackling climate change is freight on rail. As the new motorway proposal is environmentally unsound and economically incredulous it would be best for everyone if the plans were abandoned now.

Plaid of course are not against all new roads just as they are not against new development in general. Just this week Jonathan T Clark, Westminster candidate for Monmouth, was saying how a new trunk road was needed in the Caldicot area. Plaid are for development- but not when development satisfies only the needs of vested interests and rich lobbyists- but Wales and Welsh communities on the whole.

Scrap Council Tax?

That sounds 'controversial' (imagine me doing that annoying index finger gesture). However, now would be a fantastic time to rethink the existing council tax system.

Welsh councils have just been given a below inflation cash settlement from the government. While this doesn't sound to bad at first it doesn't take a genius to work out that, since councils are paying more for stuff like the rest of us, they will have to cut spending and jobs to make ends meet. Or, just as unpopular and unfair, raise council taxes. In fact council tax increases are abysmal- as it is the hardest pressed (usually the hardest working in my experience) who notice council tax increases the most. Cutting spending is equally dire. Less money for schools, for police, for refuse collection, leisure facilities, and all the other really important things councils pay for.

When governments cut council budgets they effectively pass the buck for spending cuts onto elected bodies that are not central government- thus spreading the blame when Primary schools need to close, or the lollypop lady gets the sack.

Spare a thought everyone for poor Blaenau Gwent- who this year voted out the New Labour council, and have been handed a measly 1.7% increase in spending, which is like a 3.8% cut (I am not saying these two events are connected or that the outgoing Labour council acted out 'slash and burn' tactics. I am not saying the same thing happened in Newport either. These are just scurrilous rumours.)

With greater powers for the Welsh assembly, and a Plaid government heading it up- we could see off this situation by introducing a local income tax. Plaid has long argued for this. Like conventional income tax local income tax would ensure the rich pay 'slightly' more for local services and the harder pressed less. The current system, based on anachronistic valuations of your house, is not really fair, and it leaves no room for equitable targeted increases directed at those most able to pay. In this way negative effects of a recession in Wales could be mitigated with Plaid in power.

So scrap council tax- of course not- rethink it- yes.

Mortgage Relief and the economy

In a fanfare, together with billions of squid being doled out to the banks, interest rates were cut last week. All part and parcel of the taxpayer rescuing the failed private sector.

It seems the model made so popular by Thatcher and Reagan, and subsequently deregulated further by Bush, has failed. It was a bad idea to take Adam Smith's enlightenment era advice of 'let the market alone' literally after all. As many of us knew before the credit crunch. The official line of 'no-one could have seen this coming' simply is not true.

Ideology aside the immediate evidence for now is that banks are not passing on the interest rate cut to those struggling with mortgage payments. In fact mortgage rates remain, at best, static. With massive support from the taxpayer to bail out banks in their hour of need the least we should expect in return are mortgage rate reductions, so that ordinary families can live free from the fear of repossesion.

With the limited powers and resources available to us the Plaid deputy housing minister Jocelyn Davies has already taken crucial steps to protect homeowners caught up in the current crisis. But the banks should be caring less about profit and more about their consumers until this crisis has passed. One would hope for an immediate half a percent reduction in mortgage rates. With greater powers Wales could add this string to any bail-out actioned.

Unfortunately this rate cut does not seem to be on the cards and the most we can hope for in the short term is that the gloom mongering news is abated for a day or two and that the economy can take a breath and begin to recover.

The upshot of the entire rescue package is that New Labour, through effectively nationalising so many banks, inadvertently, and in a very roundabout way, end up fulfilling one of their key 1993 manifesto pledges. It is all very much the accidental death of New Labour economics.

Anyone hankering for a socialist utopia on the back of all this nationalisation should not get their hopes up though. It seems most unlikely that either the Tories or New Labour would allow for a similar nationalisation deal to be permitted for any part of the Welsh transport or energy sector. It is one rule for the bankers and another one for the rest of us. This incumbent government in Westminster are the same crew who were until recently declaring an end to boom and bust and asking the FSA to back off the banks. New Labour economics have failed-and in Wales only Plaid have a convincing programme to begin to replace it.

No hope in David promotion

Wayne David, MP for Caerphilly, was last week promoted to junior minister in Gordon Brown's government. This is clearly payoff for New Labour loyalty and it provides opportunity make a rubbish joke. How does a Welshman get a new Labour promotion? Carefully.

Very carefully in Mr David's case. He, like his Newport East colleague Jessica Morden, has carefully avoided voting against his government on one single occasion. In other words, like so many welsh new labour MPs, he was against an inquiry into the Iraq war, for post office closures, for abandoning the 10p income tax threshold, pro-ID cards, and for 42 days detention without charge (a measure that was abandoned today by central government in light of overwhelming cross party opposition in both places, lords and commons alike).

In South Wales it seems we are stuck for now with New Labour MPs who will do nothing to offend Westminster and upset the New Labour project. This, of course, is one reason among many why to vote for Plaid.

While it would be nice to applaud more Welsh representation at government level it seems David's promotion is nothing more than a thank you after years of forgetting his values and kow-towing to the likes of Blair and Brown. Hopefully the good people of Caerphilly will remember this come the long delayed general election and vote for Plaid. How delicious if Wayne David was to lose to Plaid again, as he did in Rhonnda not so long ago.