Plaid Cymru’s ...

... Westminster leader Elfyn Llwyd said

"... water exports could be a valuable source of income, and said the Welsh and UK governments should ensure that future transfers from Wales to areas of England hit by water shortages result in extra funds for Wales."

... he also said:

"The population of the south-east is set to increase by 40% by the 2030s ...... there is going to be huge pressure."

... presumably he sees the little people of the south-east as fair game in his separatist agenda.

He does of course refer to the South-east that circles London that generates the surpluses that governments of all colours use to subsidise the economic deficits found elsewhere in Britain, the regions that need more money than they generate.

I wonder if this larger than life caricature of good British politics (Elfyn Llwyd) intends to include the £billions contributed by the south-east in his politics of division, will there be a discount for decades worth of contributions ?

Carwyn, do you think we are ...

... all so stupid that you can spin such rubbish !

He said ...

... businesses were kept afloat and thousands of jobs protected by the more than £350m of subsidies Wales receives every year through the Common Agricultural Policies.

 ... and then compounded the  fos  politics by adding ...

... the billions of pounds of EU structural funds paid to Wales made a "huge contribution", particularly during the down turn.

This money, every single penny, came originally from British taxpayers via the EU, of course the EU skimmed a little as a commission for the commissioners.

... not unlike the bankers asking for a fee upfront to arrange an unaffordable loan for the unwary, but unlike a bank loan the money belonged to each and every taxpayer;  until we gave it on loan to you politicians to make the life of everyone just that little bit better, safer, more certain.

Fat cat feeding ...

... of bankers, or lawyers, or doctors ....

  

(part of an independent image)



... by politicians at the expense of the little people without a voice !

Why Wales ?     .... it's no different.

Plaid on Sunday Politics ...

... are as together as granulated sugar:

The candidates on Nuclear:

• Leanne (switch the lights off) Wood.
• Lord (the lights are on with Wylfa ) Elis-Thomas
• Elin (what lights) Jones

The King is dead, long live the Queen (of Plaid), happy days ..............

oops, I'm sure ...

... I said "under no circumstances is he to be returned to Jordan, ................ you say the RAF dropped Abu Qatada off at Amman, ................ and his family were with him, ................ its always good to have company on a long flight."

The "oops" factor has been lost to British Politics, is it time we cast off some of the trappings of civilisation and used this mechanism to re-balance Britain ?

Malaysia used the oops factor when Hamza Kashgari was returned to Saudi Arabia recently, the 23-year-old columnist, sparked outrage in the oil-rich kingdom with comments posted on the Prophet's birthday a week ago that led some Islamic clerics to call for him to face the death penalty.

............ oops !

The fears of ...

... HENRY IV, the life of England's self made king by Ian Mortimer.

There are times in life when standing back from the cut and thrust of the 21st century brings a certain relief.  This week, whilst recovering, it was my week to look back at the 14th century at the life of the first duke of Lancaster.  The book which begins with the full horror of the tyranny of Richard II's final years in power, contrasts with the chivalric fervour of Henry's early life. As the sole grandson of Edward III and the first duke of Lancaster, he was one of the foremost warriors of the 14th century, and possibly the greatest tournament fighter the English royal family ever produced.

Mortimer finishes this literary monument to a great king with only a single memorial (on the east end of Battlefield Church, near Shrewsbury) ...

... he [HENRY IV] is lying by the fire, covered in blankets, dying.  He is in great pain.  But as he lies there who can doubt that his career has been the most phenomenal success.  What has he not achieved?  The King of Scotland is a prisoner.  The Welsh revolt is crushed.  The French are in disarray as Clarence rides at the head of an army all the way to Gascony.  Henry's throne now will pass unopposed to his eldest son, Henry of Monmouth, who is at his bedside, reconciled to him.  Despite all Henry's fears, despite Richard's bitter hatred, despite all those rebellions, plots and arguments in parliament and in the council chamber, he will die in peace, a respected man and unvanquished king.


Few men confront the basic tenants of society in which they live and try to change them.  Very few of these are successful. And even fewer survive to reflect on their success. Henry IV was one of these very few.

... were that our political leaders in the 21st century as great as this man.

European leaders do not trust Greece ...

... to keep their promises, insulting or a taste of reality ?

Confidence in the ability of Greek politicians to keep their promises is so low that eurozone finance ministers are likely to demand that a special protected account be set up to receive funds from the second bailout that they aim to agree today.  (as reported in today's Times).

In a sign of the lack of confidence in that leadership, some eurozone ministers will push today for all bailout funds to be safeguarded in an escrow account dedicated to paying off Greek debts. There will be many more conditions to the handout, which comes after a rescue package of €110 billion two years ago, including a team of experts stationed in Athens to monitor austerity measures.

If I were a German taxpayer I would want every transaction from the escrow account on-line with an explanation as to exactly why it was made, although it might be less of a German taxpayer burden if the politicians ate crow and let Greece float like Russia did after its default.