Lights out in Powys again.

This is a post of interest to the people of Powys only. Not often that this most beautiful of counties makes the UK news. But that's what happened when the Council decided to turn off 67% of the street lights a few weeks back. Turn them off completely that is. None of this half way house of turning them off at midnight. The full plunge into darkness. Everywhere I go, people are running from their houses to appraise me of their outrage. Anyway there's going to be an unholy row in tomorrow's quarterly meeting of the Council. The Tories are leading the way with a motion for debate. I'm going to turn up to watch the fireworks.

I have to be careful what I say about this subject. Last time I posted on it, the Council's Press Officer emailed me, informing me that my post was mistaken. I really hate it when my information is wrong and I have to retract. Hurts my pride - but needs must. When the BBC network, turned up in Llanfair Caereinion last Monday, I implied that the Council had kept it quiet - to avoid a local posse turning up was my inference. Seems I was wrong. Sorry about that John. That's what I'd been told.

Must admit I had some sympathy with the Council over this 'lights out' issue - but they went much too far. If the 'Board' who take these decisions had gone for one third, with genuine local consultation, people would have accepted it. If they'd gone for two thirds reduced to 'part-night lighting', it would have been accepted. But they didn't - and now they may well have to back track. I'm also told that the Board that runs Powys County Council have decided not to order the bit of kit that allows for part night lighting to be introduced. This could be a mistake. Since lots of other Councils seem to be following where Powys have dared to tread, there is going to be a huge demand for these 'timer switches'. Short sighted in my opinion. Powys should have ordered them. Even if the decision is not to back track at all, there would be no difficulty selling them on. They could well have made a profit! I took the trouble to check up on the waiting time, and was told it's already approaching three months.

Won't be able to stay long at tomorrow's Council meeting though. Will probably miss the statement on the Icelandic banks investment. I reckon that the loss of interest on the investment will probably turn out to be more than the money saved by turning the lights out. What's really intersting is that councillors are being told that its essential to put the lights out for financial reasons, but that the loss of interest will have no impact whatsoever on Council services. Ah well, its the way you tell 'em. Going up to Machynlleth in the afternoonto meet Shadow Secretary of State, Cheryl Gillan. She thinks we're visiting local businesses. But I'm planning on taking her to visit Will Lloyd-Williams' abattoir, which is very important to the town. I hope she's not squeamish - and I hope no-one tells her what I've got planned.

Welcome Back Alun Cairns.

Member of the National Assembly, Alun Cairns is a very good friend of mine. He's also one of the most able and hard working politicians that I know. It follows that I was very disappointed when there was such a hoohah over a silly, indeed inappropriate comment he made on a Welsh Language radio programme a few months back. It was a very poor attempt at humour, which back fired - despite Alun making an immediate retraction and apology. Upshot was that Alun was suspended as our Parliamentary Candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, pending internal party consideration of the issue.

Well, I've just been informed that Alun Cairn's has been reinstated as our man to fight the Vale at the next Election. As the cow and the footballer said, I am over the moon. I'm going to open a bottle of wine for us to enjoy with our supper. Last night we celebrated Mrs D winning a £50 voucher for dinner at the Royal Oak in Welshpool at a local fashion show. That brought a little joy into our house. Tonight, I feel that we are flooded with joy. Welcome back Alun.

Moffett's Back

And you thought 'Mandelson is back' was a shock. Well, in the office of Roger Lewis, Chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union the return of the Prince of Darkness was but a little butterfly alighting upon an echinacea, when compared with the return of Moffett. I wonder how Roger found out. Did he answer his mobile this morning and hear this crazy Australian laughter pouring into his ear. Or was he plucked from his bed in the middle of the night by a 'Man in a Panic' and rushed back to HQ, where the whole building had already been put on a temporary war footing. Yes, David Moffett, ex-Chief Executive of the WRU is back in Welsh rugby, this time representing the 4 regional teams.

I thought that the sacking of Mike Ruddock just after Wales had won the Grand Slam would take some beating for a soap opera story line. But this one is just as unlikely. The word 'Moffett' will have replaced the most vile profanity as a term of abuse in the Valleys of Wales. Every 'Valleys' rugby fan believes it was David Moffett that strangled the life out of their regional rugby team. It will never be forgiven. Never was there a man so committed to confrontation. When he was doing the job that Roger Lewis is doing now, he sacked the Committee that ran Welsh Rugby, he ditched the Wales 'A' team, and he introduced regional rugby to Wales - which involved relegating world renowned teams like Neath and Pontypridd to the second division. There was huge opposition to all of these things. Oh, and he transformed the Welsh Rugby Union from a financial basket case into a going concern. The point to remember is that this man delivers. Moffett is a natural dictator, who gets his way. Those who stand in his way, usually end up taking an early bath.

So why is he back? Simple. The regional clubs which Moffett created are having a bit of an argument with Roger Lewis and his underlimgs. The row is about player availability and compensation for player release. A fairly typical 'Club v Country' row. When David Moffett was leading the 'Country' battalion, they won every time. So the 'clubs' have decided to recruit the beast who hammered them, to take up arms for them. Brilliant move. First interview on Wales Today tonight. Soft little question from the innocent faced Claire Summers, and he sunk his fangs straight into Roger's butt. So stand back you fans of Welsh rugby, and enjoy the fireworks. I don't know where this one's going to end.

Talented Youngsters.

When I was a school boy, I couldn't sing. I don't just mean that I wasn't a good singer. I couldn't sing at all. Don't know why I said "When I was in school". Truth is I've never been able to sing. Unless you think a cross between Lee Marvin singing 'A wondrin Star', and an aroused frog in spring constitutes anything resembling singing. That's not to say that I don't enjoy singing. Its just that no-one else does - especially if I develop the confidence that comes if there's a crowd. In school I couldn't speak in public either. Just froze whenever the situation demanded any public comment. And that's how it would have stayed if it hadn't have been for the local Young Farmer's Club. I was around 20 year's old when I turned up to club night after an hour or two in the Lion, just as there was a call for someone to enter the County Senior Public Speaking Competition. So it started as a joke/dare - and then my competitive streak took over, and I haven't really shut up ever since.

The reason I comment thus is because I've been adjudicating a Welsh School's Debating Competition this afternoon at Llanidloes High School. I was stuck by the self confidence of these young people. Much better than when I was in Caereinion School a few decades ago, unless you could sing of course. Oli from Builth Wells High School was so laid back that he was next thing to horizontal. I particularly enjoyed the contribution of Steffan from Ystradgynlais, because he allowed real passion to show in his opposition to embryo research. But it was Oli's team who won.

Over the last week, I've spent a lot of time in our local secondary schools. Next time I hear anyone talking down the ability of today's young people, I will respectfully disagree.

Nature's response to recession.

Sorry about this. Two gardening posts in a week is indulgant. I'll have snide comments from non-Tory bloggers suggesting that I'm avoiding politics because our opinion poll leads are shortening. Well No. Its just that there's been so much in the media about this years absolutely stunning autumn colours. I don't want to feel left out.

OK, so its not Westonbirt. And she's a bit past her best because today's wind has taken a fair few of her clothes off. But there can be no more beautiful sight (except for those we love) than an Acer palmatum dissectum 'viridis' in the autumn.

In the spring she starts off rather slowly. You could say she doesn't look her best in the morning. There's always quite a bit of die back, and the new leaves dribble out rather than burst forth. But when she's fully clothed in her freshest green, she makes a lovely centrepiece for the 'gallery' lawn all summer. And then this happens. Every year. Regular as clockwork. And I marvel at all those stupid people who pay fortunes for stuffed sharks in Formaldehyde.

Why young people are cynical about politics.

Its all chance. What I blog about, that is. Its not what I consider the most important issue of the day. Usually, there are plenty of others blogging about that. I just post about odd things that catch my eye, or amuse me. But occasionally, I blog about an important issue that I think is slipping under the radar without sufficient notice being taken of it. This week, it was the demolition of whatever reputation Tony Blair had left. That's because this week we learned a lot more about the 'Ecclestone Affair'.

As a result of a determined campaign by the media, most people who write and talk about this now seem to believe that Mr Blair intervened on behalf of Bernie Ecclestone to grant an exemption for Formula One motor racing to carry on advertising tobacco. And these people also believe that this was an exemption for the purpose of rewarding a donor to the Labour Party, in the expectation that there would be more loot to follow. Yet the then Prime Minister of Britain denied it in a highly public way, and went on television to inform us that there was no connection between his meeting with Mr Ecclestone and the extra million donated, and that he could never do such a thing because he was such 'a regular kinda guy'. There have been plenty of other examples where Mr Blair's integrity has been questioned, but nothing quite as damaging as this.

Last week, I spoke with the Lower Sixth at Caereinion High School about why young people are disillusioned with politics. Mr Blair is the best example I can come up with. If our Prime Minister is thought to have behaved in this way, and to have got away with it - with hardly a ripple of concern being expressed by the media, there's no surprise that politics is held in such contempt.

A Lord's Advice

I was never a member of Scouts - even though there was always a strong branch (if that's the word) in my local village of Berriew. So I never benefited from advice given to boys by Robert Baden-Powell, Lieutenant General in the British Army who started the whole movement off in 1907. It began with his famous work, Scouting for Boys, which was aimed at young adolescent boys between the ages of 11-17. Its a brilliant organisation, and 40,000 youngsters attended its centenary jamboree last year. In his book, Baden-Powell gave advice to boys who 'experienced sexual urges'.

According to today's Sunday Telegraph, Lord Baden-Powell advised any of these adolescent boys who felt sexual urges to "wash your parts in cold water and cool them down". This information has emerged because the Scout Association has decided to introduce sex education. The report also refers to further advice which Lord Baden-Powell gave in a later book 'Rovering to Success'. in this book he advised that young men should not indulge their "primitive sexual urges", but that they should put their energies into "hiking and enjoying outdoor manly activities". He would have approved of my youth, much of which was spent hunting, shooting, fishing and playing rugby.

Told you so.

Sometimes its very satisfying to see one's warnings vindicated. It depends how much you care. I watched the National Assembly's Presiding Officer on the Politics Show today, with a growing sense of despair. I care about how Wales is governed. Ever since the Government of Wales Act 2006 was passed, I warned that it is 'a constitutional crisis waiting to happen'. In order to limit this danger, I wanted the Assembly Government to avoid submitting contentious proposals to Westminster for power transfer to the Assembly - at least until the new system of power transfer was well bedded in. Any contentious proposal would inevitably undermine trust and lead to a constitutional stand-off between the National Assembly and the Welsh Affairs Committee of the House of Commons. This was why I strongly criticised the submission of an Assembly Government proposal which would enable the suspension of right-to-buy by the Assembly. It was like scattering gunpowder on the floor of the 'smoking room'. This sort of interview was inevitable.

The Presiding Officer is wholly correct in his interpretation of the Act. But that's not the point. If the Act is to work well, there has to be a measure of pragmatiism, common sense, and mutual trust. This proposed Legislative Competence Order was provocative (perhaps deliberately so) and the opposite of an attempt to build trust. I'm not going to accuse the Deputy Minister who proposed it of trying to provoke a row in order to demonstrate that the current act is not working - ergo everyone will demand full law making powers immediately. But there will be plenty who will so accuse. The consequence may not be quite so predictable. Problem is that when a fire takes hold, there's no knowing where the winds of change may take it. This issue is damaging the relationship between The UK Parliament and the National Assembly. Its going to take some very cool heads with strong water hoses to put this particular fire out.

Late October Colour

This week's garden post is my response to a Valley's Mam comment last week about lack of colour in the borders. I've been out with my camera this afternoon - 17th Oct.. First up is a white variety of cimicifuga. Its only about two feet tall and is a prefect white, no matter what the weather. It will carry on stunning until mid November. This specimen isn't very big because I divided heavily in the spring, and now have several plants. I also grow the much taller 'purperea' but its nothing like as showy. I'm told that 'cimicifuga' means 'bedbug repeller', and some varieties are reputed to bring medical relief to menstrual tension sufferers.
Rudbeckias are still striking, after about two months of flowering. These have to be just about the easiest border plant - but they are very shallow rooted and need a drop of water if there's a drought. We drift plant them. They are the backbone of our hot border from early Sept til the first frosts. You can see a late variety of red hot poker back right.
And this variety of alsteomeria is still going strong with its second flush. We still have several varieties of the brilliant and versitile Peruvian Lily lighting up our borders.
I'm not that keen on the Kaffir Lily (Schizostylis coccinea) because it has an untidy habit. But it does give good colour in late October. I really ought to grow a big clump to see if it works better that way. Something for next year. But best colour at the moment are the leaves - which will be next weekend's gardening post.

Change of tone.

Must admit that I'm relieved that David Cameron has launched into Gordon Brown's contribution to the financial turbulence that's swirling around our heads. In general, I believe that opposition parties should oppose. Its the British way of testing the strength of Government policy. Sometimes the threat to our country is such that normal British politics is suspended, as we all support efforts by the Government to deal with it. Most obvious is war. Recently, my party decided that the threat represented by the recent financial crisis justified supporting the Government in its efforts to stem the flow of blood. Today, David Cameron decided it was time to change tone, to point out to the British people that Gordon Brown carries a heavy responsibility for the problems we face. That he is the fireman, striving to put out the fire which he helped start. That he is the captain striving to keep the ship afloat, after he forgot to maintain its seaworthiness.

Every interview I've seen involving a Government Minister, the dominant 'spin' is that the crisis is wholly outside the Government's control. I've been surprised by how this bait has been so comprehensively swallowed by commentators and interviewers. I don't think they have been doing their job. Perhaps this is the inevitable consequence of an opposition suspending its traditional role. Perhaps its not the media's fault. Perhaps the media needs an opposition to create the environment for effective challenge to the Government. Whatever, I'm pleased that this artificial position is over. It was a relief to watch Justine Greening demolish Government Minister, Ian Pearson on Newsnight tonight. Pity we had to put up with the cringe-worthy Nick Clegg criticising David Cameron. I distinctly recall him saying there would come a time when opposition had to return to the causes of the crisis. Perhaps he was just miffed that Vince Cable has been a bit slow realising its time to return to 'holding the Government to account'. Just watch him change his tune tomorrow.

I've no idea whether today's speech, and today's different tone will be electorally beneficial. What matters is that its right.

Best way to influence?

I've just approved a comment on an old post which described me as being like Mick Bates, the Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire. Some people know how to stick the knife in! I suppose that we're both white, male, heterosexual (as far as I know) men of a certain age. But we are certainly not alike in the way that this particular comment implied. It suggested that we are as one in terms of our attitude towards wind turbines. In fact, it was sufficienty incorrect to render it rather a silly comment. But a general point of interest has been raised.

Mick is genuinely supportive of on-shore wind farms. In fact, I've never known anyone so supportive. I'm not supportive of on shore wind farms at all. Over the last ten years I've been one of the foremost opponents of wind farms in Welsh politics. I still believe that the damage they inflict on our landscapes, and pathetic cost-effectiveness render them undesirable. So what's the issue you may ask. The issue is that I'm prepared to speak with developers - or to 'sup with the devil' as I've previously described it.

If my only concern was protection of the landscape, I could afford to take a principled decision against wind turbines, and leave it at that. But I'm a politician as well, who wants to best represent the interests of Montgomeryshire. I accept that the Assembly Government has ignored every plea that I've made over the last decade not to despoil our landscape. As a believer in the democratic process, I accept that the Coalition Government has won, by public vote, the right to impose upon me that which I disagree with. I still don't support the transformation of large tracts of the uplands of Wales into wind farm landscapes - but I do not want to exclude myself from discussion about how this iniquitous policy can be beneficially changed.

I played some part in diverting traffic from the streets of Montgomery by pressing a developer to transport all traffic except the turbines themselves (concrete etc) away from the town. This was very welcome news in Montgomery. I want to maximise the amount of community benefit that developers contribute to the local community. I'm very keen to persuade developers to look seriously at limiting landscape damage themselves in order to win some public goodwill. I want to stay a player in the debate, so that I can argue for the reinstatement of 'cumulative impact' as a planning consideration. OK, if I refuse to talk to developers at all, I could fly my flag of purity with gay abandon - and with glorious impotence. I certainly would not be doing my best for the people I want to represent. Discuss.

Visiting a Hospitium

Over 600 years ago, the Knights Hospitallers built the Llanwddyn Hospitium. These Knights Hospitallers were a fighting order of monks, a military monastic order of St John of Jerusalem. They were established in the 12th century to care for the sick and poor, and their first base in Britain was established at Clerkenwell, Nr London in 1140. When the Knights Templar were suppressed in the 14th century, they spread across the land and eventually reached mid Wales. The Lanwddyn Hospitium was closely linked to another at Gwanas, near Dolgellau. Two of my favourite views in all the world are Lake Vyrvwy (from the Hotel) and Gwanas (as emerging from the A470 pass immediately to the South). Both fell within the lands of hospitiums. These Hospitallers would have made good estate agents. They realised that location is all, when it comes to property.

You may wonder why this blog has veered so far from its normal track. Its because I have been up to visit the Lanwddyn Hospitium today, where hooligans driving 4x4s are also veering from the proper track. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is threatened by these hooligans driving around in an irresponsible way. There are only ruins there now, but there is a superb little bridge which may well have been there since the 15th century. Today the whole area is owned by Severn Trent Water Authority, having passed through the hands of the Liverpool Corporation (which built Lake Vyrnwy, various Earls of Powis, and a few other private owners.

I can almost hear you ask "What is a hospitium". Well, even though they were sometimes hospitals, the name actually derives from their being hospices, the original meaning of which was 'places of refuge'. There were quite a few of us there today, 400 metres up, on top of a mountain. Its a bleak place, but a wondrous place. I do hope that we can find a way of persuading the trespassers to go elsewhere for their fun.

Dragon's Eye tonight.

Must admit that I was disappointed by the Ieuan Wyn Jones interview on tonight's programme. I hadn't expected much though. There's cannot be much room for manoeuvre since the Assembly budget has already raided reserves as far as responsibility allows. Business experts, Brian Morgan and DJE were restrained but deeply critical of the longstanding 'freebie' driven policies of successive Assembly Governments. Putting electoral advantage before economic development carries a price which eventually has to be paid. But we are where we are. I really don't want to be too critical, because the problems are so large and there are no obvious answers.

The one surprise to me was IWJ'S statement that the Assembly Government is going to be giving Government owned land away for affordable housing. Not sure how this is going to work. The Government won't have any money to build houses itself on any significant scale. Are they really going to be giving land to the private sector to build affordable housing. Doubt it somehow. Looking forward to finding out more about this.

I enjoyed the evasive answers about the discussions that Ieuan has supposedly held with the Treasury about the Plaid election promise to cut Corporation Tax. His readjustment of words every time he answered a question on this suggested to me that no such discussions have taken place. Perhaps I'm wrong of course. I well recall Plaid Cymru running this line at the last Assembly Election. Thought it was disingenuous then - and nothings been said since to change that opinion.

The Miliband interview was worth watching, but only for the two withering looks he gave Adrian Masters when asked about his leadership ambitions. Its the look most people reserve for their shoe when they've trodden in something unpleasant.

Try sorting out the planning system Rhodri.

I watched Rhodri Morgan addressing the world's media (Well Lucy Owen of BBC Wales) earlier tonight. I'll watch him again on Dragon's Eye. The First Minister was informing the world what had been decided at today's Welsh Economic Summit, which had been called to discuss ways of putting the Welsh economy back into forward gear.

He told us that the National Assembly for Wales intends to pay its bills a bit quicker. Odd this. I seem to remember being told a few years ago that this was going to happen. He also told us that his Government intends to secure maximum benefit from European funding. Odd this too. Weren't we doing that yesterday! And then there's the creation of a 'forum' for banking and the financial sector. Fair enough. But what does Finance Wales do? Anyway its just the sort of thing that the WDA used to do so well - before the First Minister abolished it. Rhodri Morgan's Government is also going to co-operate closely with the other devolved Governments in Scotland and N Ireland - something else we all thought was already being done. This is all sensible stuff. Nothing wrong with it, but it hardly warrants the First Minister's hubristic statements, describing the summit as 'remarkable' and Wales as 'stepping up to the plate'.

The one feature of the 'communique' which did catch my approving eye was a commitment to bring forward Assembly construction programmes. This is interesting, but means nothing of course, unless its backed up by an increased budget. Must admit that I'm a touch surprised by this aspect of the package (but pleasantly so) because I thought that the budget cupboard was bare. This is a key area. I do think that freeing up opportunities for the construction industry could make a real difference. Which is why its so unacceptable that everyone involved in the construction process, certainly in Powys (and probably elsewhere) is tearing their hair out because of the problems faced in securing planning permission. I'm told that there are millions of pounds worth of construction just sitting in the 'in trays' of the Planning Department. I believe the construction industry is putting together a dossier of complaint with the intention of forwarding it to Ieuan Wyn Jones. Now this is an area where the summit, and future summits can make a real difference.

Come on the Reds.

Regular readers will know that this blog maintains a crusade against the horrid grey squirrel. I much prefer rats, which they resemble. The basis of my antipathy is the destruction that the greys inflict on what is the loveliest of all British wild creatures, the indescribably beautiful red squirrel. Now just look at this BBC video clip, and you will immediately feel the need to acquire a gun licence. You too will want to play your part in controlling these grey, pox-ridden vermin.

There is hope though. Today's Telegraph reports on page 10 that our red squirrels may be developing resistance to the squirrel pox virus, carried by the greys, which has wiped them out in most of Britain. Eight red squirrels have been found with antibodies, indicating that they have come into contact with the disease, and survived. First time this has happened. If this turns out to be true, my campaign to cull every grey squirrel in the United Kingdom will be replaced by a campaign for peaceful co-existence. Too early for a change of policy yet though.

Rats and Cuts.

There are bound to be more rats in Powys next year. I've just been catching up on my emails, and came upon one from Darren Millar, Conservative AM for Clwyd West exposing to the world a massive increase in the number of rat and mice infestations over the last year. Almost incredibly, Darren tells us that there were 45,000 such incidents in Flintshire, Swansea and Cardiff alone last year. He puts the blame on Council cuts. Well, after today's National Assembly announcement of next year's grant to Local Authorities, there are going to be plenty more cuts - so plenty more rats.

The increase in the Powys grant is just 1.5%, the lowest in Wales for the second year running. This is bound to be lower than inflation, though we can only guess at what level inflation will be in 2008-09. Today, headline inflation is 5.2%, while real inflation for a rural authority like Powys, where food and fuel are such significant factors is probably about 10%. Some forecasters are suggesting that inflation may fall to about 1-2% next year. Anyway, it looks a really bum deal for Powys at the moment. Looks as if we're in for more cuts - more school closures, less bus services, more rats and less street lighting. At least we will not be able to see the extra rats if all the street lights are turned off. I'm told that councillors are going to be cutting themselves as well - from 73 down to anything from 50-60. That should save a bit, unless its used as an excuse to raise the pay of those left - because of the extra workload you understand.

Now back to these extra rats. Perhaps we should promote 'ratting' as a new 'country sport'. When I was a young lad on the farm, 'ratting' was common. Usually we used air guns and catapults. But we did employ some seriously uncivilised, dirty tricks as well. In those days cattle feed was not stored in rat proof bins, but just dumped in sheds. Booby traps were set. Every orifice but one of the store was securely blocked - and the idea was to sneak up as silently as a barn owl on the hunt, and block the one remaining escape route - before turning on the lights and creating a mass rat panic. There could be 100 of them, which were dispatched by young men armed with hockey sticks and rounders bats. And I knew one man named Monty, (whose wife I saw at last nights Royal Navy Presentation), who used to stick his hand down rat holes and pull them out. His party trick was to hurl them at the ceiling, so that there still writhing bodies would drop on the heads of unsuspecting neighbours. Hard to believe today. I'm told that rats are an increasingly popular and lovable pet.

My Day at a Care Conference.

I find day visits to Cardiff a bit of a trial. But this is the way it is, now that we've let our gorgeous flat in the Bay. But today's visit was really worth the trip. The Millennium Stadium was an exciting venue in which to hold the Annual Care Conference for Wales 2008. This subject area is a big interest since I became involved with care provider, EuropeanCare, and an Oxford based 'not for profit' research operation named RESEC (Research into Specialist Elderly Care). RESEC Cymru is a spin off. There were some big hitters in the Welsh 'Care' field on the platform. Learned a lot about the Commissioner for Older People in Wales, and about the regulation of care systems.

The lunchtime session on Care Villages was particularly good. In Room 28 with photographs of Triple Crown winners plastered all over the walls. The idea is that people reaching 'downsizing' age move into a 'village' environment, leasing a two bedroom property, and accessing a range of facilities supported by a service charge - on the same site as a hotel-style block which offers higher dependency care. I'm planning on a visit to the Gibraltar Care Village in Monmouth, at the invitation of session leader, Preyen Dewani.

There was a good session on the impact of the 'Credit Crunch'. Best question of the day was to Howard Crackle, speaking on behalf of The Royal Bank of Scotland. Would RBS be encouraged to lend more favourably to the care sector as a result of having new NEDs appointed by the Government, following this week's partial nationalisation of the banks. No, said Mr Crackle, but not because it would be a very dangerous precedent if banks were pressurised into lending more freely in support of policies favoured by the government of the day. His reason was that RBS is already the biggest lender to the care sector, and thus immune. Did strike me as the triumph of hope over reason. He added that he thought other banks would probably be so pressured. Hmmmm. No wonder Barclay's declined the Government's largess.

And now to read my Telegraph and emails in search of something bizarre to lighten the mood. Not many laughs around whenever I spend the day thinking about how we as a people treat our elderly - not many laughs but much satisfaction.

Where's my invite Toby?

How quickly they forget - these media types. I've looked on Toby Mason, ace political journalist from the totally independent and strictly impartial BBC Wales as a close friend, a sort of 'bosom buddy'. No way would I arrange a party to celebrate Barak Obama's victory in the US Presidential Election on Nov. 4th in Cardiff's Cameo Club without inviting Toby. It follows that I was 'deeply hurt' to note this invite on Guido's blog tonight. Perhaps Guido can get hold of the list of the close and privileged who are to be welcomed into Toby's celebratory embrace. That could be as illuminating as the invitation itself. I'm still upset though. Bet it'll be a good do.

Ah, but what's this? Who is this Alun Davies fellow whose name is joined with that of Toby on th einvitation. Could it be the Labour Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales. Perhaps its a Labour Party function. That would explain why I've been personally snubbed.

The Royal Navy in Welshpool

Just home from a 'presentation' by Commodore Jamie Miller and his team about what today's Royal Navy is and does. The event was in Welshpool Town Hall. There were over 100 of us there. When it was over, and questions were answered, Town Mayor, Councillor Anne Holloway asked me to propose the vote of thanks. It was an honour to do so.

I used not to really appreciate the commitment that the young men and women that join the armed forces make - until I went to the funeral of a young Welshpool soldier killed in Iraq. They put themselves in position where their lives are put at risk on behalf of me. Now that deserves my respect, and it was an honour to be allowed to say that in public tonight. I also said that it was important that our Government made the necessary investment in supporting those who join our armed forces. Tried hard not to make it sound partisan though.

Another reason why tonight in Welshpool Town Hall was special. There was a new lift in operation. But there were 'teething problems'. First time the lift hit the bottom, the door wouldn't open. 5 people stuck inside. Town Clerk was in a hell of a panic. Took a good ten minutes to get the door open out. Must have been quite frightening. Heard someone ask whether we'd seen Joan Collins in 'The Stud'. I didn't understand the point, but I think its a film about people being stuck in a lift.

There are also new men's toilets in the Town Hall. The little ante-room that gives access onto the outside balcony has been converted. At the next General Election, Montgomeryshire's new MP will have climb over the wash basins to reach the people waiting outside to hail him or her. Great care will have to be taken to avoid putting a foot in it, before starting the job.

Must say the Mayor cracked a decent joke as starting things off. After beginning with a comment about the inclement weather for the Royal Navy's visit, she added an aside that a bit of water would probably not bother them. Its all in the timing. All in all, a good night for Welshpool.

Facing up to Kieren

Back to my old school today. And to the Geography room in Caereinion High, where, many years ago, Mr Arthur Jones taught me about our continents and capital cities. I think I was one of his favourites. This time I was facing the Lower Sixth, who are studying the Welsh Baccalaureate which involves an introduction to politics. Sian Hughes, the teacher in charge, and Deputy Head I think, decided they should see a real life specimen who participated in this strange practise of politics. This is where I came in.

Amongst other things, I tried to explain the Legislative Competence Order system to the 40 students seated before me. Not sure whether they thought this system impossible to comprehend, understood it but thought it a crazy way to make law, or thought I was making the whole thing up. If only the latter were true.

Had all sorts of questions. One about the doubting of street lights in Llanfair Town, which is to take place this very evening. As we speak, Watergate Street is in darkness for the first time for many decades. I joined local councillor, Viola Evans for tea afterwards. She told me that Llanfair was the first town in Montgomeryshire to have street lights. When I was a pupil at Llanfair School (which is what we called it then) we had a ditty for uncleaned shoes.
"His shoes, they shine like Llanfair, and Llanfair shines like s***".
Don't know the history of this. But from now on she's not going to shine at all. Collette Hume of the BBC was in town, preparing a clip to go out tomorrow night. Powys County Council had tried to keep this quiet, but Viola and her followers gatecrashed the party. Bet Collette pretends that they weren't there.

Another question was whether I thought any politician knew how to resolve the current crisis in the financial world. I didn't lie. I don't think any of us can be sure where its going. I never thought I'd see the day when most the world's banking system was nationalised. I told them to expect rapidly rising employment, rising taxes and cuts in public services. And then Kieren asked me if I liked Lembit Opik. I said I did, but that we had a very different approach to politics. Kieren seemed to get into his stride then, and was up for a political argument. Not sure that the Welsh Bac is about that, so I didn't bite. He's clearly one to keep an eye on though.

It was the last 5 minutes that worked for me. That's when we started to bridge the disconnect. It was Kieren again. He could not believe that I'm a local farmer. He imagined that because I'm a politician, I'm not as he is. But I am. That's the point. If young people are going to be tempted to vote, those who want their votes must satisfy the test that they are one of them. It was an hour and a half that I really enjoyed.

UPDATE - Its BBC across the UK! At last Powys is on the map.

Appalling Behaviour

Lib Dem Assembly Member and fellow blogger Peter Black is a cool headed man. I'd never describe him as hyper-sensitive. Always thought it would take a bit to upset him. But it seems that Mr Lembit Opik, MP for Montgomeryshire upset him over the weekend. Peter informs us on his blog today that he is supporting Baroness Ros Scott as his choice to becomePresident of the Liberal Democrats. He assures us that this is nothing whatsoever to do with

"Lembit's attitude and demeaner in Welsh Party Conference yesterday, which in my view was appalling".

Wow. Ouch. Understandably, we all want to know what had taken place. Alas, Peter is not prepared to say more than that

"in a private conversation towards me, he was hostile and aggressive, whilst I did not like the tone of some of his speeches. I also dislike his attitude towards the Welsh Party."

Wow again. Ouch again. Just thought I'd share it with you. Wouldn't want you to miss it.

Special Day at Portmeirion.

No blogging yesterday. Left early for Portmeirion, William Clough-Elis's Italianate fantasia built on the estuary of the Dwyryd River, near Porthmadog, in North Wales. Portmeirion is one man's dream, inspired by his love for the Italian village of Portofino and all things Mediterranean, turned into reality. Today, the planning authorities would laugh such a development out of court - as might organisations committed to the protection of rural Wales. Is best known across the world for its role as the film set for 'The Prisoner', and the world famous china which takes its name.

I was there for a birthday party. This year, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales is 80 years old. William Clough-Elis was one of the original founders. Second day in a row we arrive to the clink and sparkle of champagne. And then it was to lunch. To my left was Derec Llwyd Morgan, former lots of important Welsh things in the academic and cultural world. He delivered the first Sir Kyffin Williams memorial lecture. Sir Kyffin left a lot of money in his will to CPRW - because he loved the landscapes he painted. And seated to Derec's left was Lord Elis Thomas, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, another great man of Welsh culture. He delivered a tribute in memory of the much loved Merfyn Williams, former director of CPRW, who died recently. Didn't know until Dafydd El told us that Merfyn was, in his day, an uncompromising wing forward. I knew he was a good man.

To my right was one of the world's greatest opera singers, Bryn Terfyl. He had agreed to unveil our birthday plaque. Photograph's to follow. Bryn is a giant of a Welshman, in so many ways. Despite his world renown, I suspect that he's hardly changed at all since he began singing in the local eisteddfodau in Caernarfon. Suspect only because I didn't know him then. The CPRW feel incredibly fortunate that Bryn has agreed to become a patron. Only downside of his presence was that he ran me a long way in the promise auction as I sought to acquire a Bill Swann work of art that Mrs D had set her heart on. More likely, he knew its value and enjoyed forcing me to pay a decent price.

Stayed overnight in the Portmeirion Hotel, built in the 1850s, and once been known as 'Aber Ia', Welsh for 'Ice Estuary'. Walked around the 'village' this morning and bought the Daily Telegraph from a little shop. Portmeirion is the maddest creation that I've ever seen.

Day at the races.

Now I understand. All of my life I've wondered what madness gene makes normally sane people risk hard earned money betting on the horses. Biggest such bet I've ever been guilty of is a pound on the Grand National in the family sweepstake. Until today. Mrs D and I were invited to a birthday party in a hospitality suite at Chepstow Races. A new window on the world has been opened up before us.

The big moral issue facing me was how to square my detestation of gambling. We decided on a business plan - with sufficient degree of flexibility to accommodate the anticipated degree of unpredictability. I didn't want to look like a vegetarian at a barbecue - fanning the flames of guilt in others by the light of my righteousness. So we decided to set aside £100 of stake money - what Gordon Brown would call investment. And luckily there was champagne to start the day. Good job I'm not yet an MP or the champagne would be a no-no. Only hair shirts and funereal expressions til the financial crisis is over.

First race, and we decided to go down to the rows of bookmakers at the edge of the course. We chose 'Martin Davies'. After all, there was more chance of him being family than any of the others. We started big and put £20 on - £10 each as £5 each way bets. I had Seymar Lad at 6-1. Walked back up to the suite. When the race started, Seymar Lad had shortened to 4-1 favourite. I felt like a kid as my horse hit the front with two furlongs to go and won by two lengths. £46. It felt like my first bit of pocket money all those years ago. So we stuck with the £5 each way formula. And then I won the third race Warsaw Pact at about 15-1. £78. Like shelling peas. Better than working I thought. And so it went on.

When it was all over, we calculated our budget for the day. We had laid out £140 on the 7 races - and had won £140 between us. Perfect. Our day at the races had not cost us any hard earned cash. And no profit to lead us astray into the desperate downward spiral that would have opened up before us if Bushy Island had just managed to win the last race. The reason I've prattled on a bit has been to avoid having time to post on all the juicy bits of gossip that was floating around the room by the time we left. Bed early tonight. Totally exhausted from all the nervous tension of the day. Don't know whether I will ever feel strong enough to do it again. Wonder when the next Chepstow meet is.

Changes at the Assembly

Just catching up on today's news, and read of two items of news from the Assembly, one pleasing to my eye, and one not.

Not pleased to see Jane Davidson announcing that she's standing down in 2011. She is a competent Minister with a genuine commitment to the environment. Its always a bit cheeky for a politician to create 'competence lists' of opposing party's representatives. But I'm cheeky like that. I never held back from declaring my opinion that Sue Essex was the best Labour AM by a mile (in my opinion that is). After that there are a few others that I reckoned were well up the all-party competence list. Jane was one of them. I hope she's got something else in mind. Perhaps she's going to the Lords to become a duchess.

I was pleased to see Mike German finally announce that he's relinquishing his grip on the leadership of the Liberal Democrats in Wales. Pleased I was nowhere near when it happened. I hate the sound of fingernails scratching the floor as a reluctant human body is dragged kicking and screaming out through the door by his bootlaces. And there's going to be a contest. Jenny Randerson is taking on Ms Williams from Brecon and Radnorshire. In my opinion, Jenny is another high up on the all party competence list. It looks as if Peter Black doesn't agree. He dismisses Jenny in a rather contemptuous way as just 'more of the same'. I suppose he's got more rights that me to have an opinion on this. Lets just hope its a brutal bloodthirsty battle. Just imagine if AMs had the same sort of Communications Allowance' as MPs. They could both spend thousands of taxpayers money posting out the same sort of glossy self promotion that Lembit Opik is currently doing in Montgomeryshire. Just thought I'd mention it.

Day by the Seaside.

Been up to Llandudno today. Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) Annual Conference. I was participating in a panel discussion about blogs, and their influence with Peter Black AM and Lee Waters, Chief Executive of Sustrans, who used to do a bit of blogging himself. Lee made a very good opening speech. Any representative of a political constituency association who happened to be there would have been very impressed! It was all the talk over lunch. Rhun ap Iorwerth of BBC fame chaired the session.

Attending these local council events is a bit like going home for me. Stuffed full of people I know and like, but rarely see. Wyn Evans from Carmarthen, Keith Evans from Ceredigion, Janet Finch-Saunders from Conwy, Bob Parry from Ynys Mon etc. - and a whole tableful from Powys. Stephen Hayes from Montgomery asked Andrew Davies a cracking question about the non-recognition of Mid Wales.

Seemed to be two discussions going on, the first being the fall-out from the Icelandic investments that may never be repaid. Paul Murphy was at the Conference, informing us that since Local Government is devolved, compensation is down to the National Assembly. He was sitting next to Assembly Government Finance Minister, Andrew Davies when he said it. Must have come as a bit of a surprise to Andrew, since I understand he told AMs this week that the Treasury would pick up the tab. I think some councillors were under the impression that Gordon Brown has declared war on Iceland and is treating Icelandic nationals as terrorists. I told them that I didn't think this was true. A lot of tosh being talked about these losses (if that's what they be) having no effect on public serevices or council tax. £4 million in Powys! Of course there'll be an impact. Only question is when it will be felt.

Sir Emyr Jones-Parry, Paul Murphy, and Dafydd Elis Thomas were the panel for an earlier session. Pity I missed it. I'd have enjoyed the squirming. Here we have one of the most able former diplomats in the world, trying to make out that his current non-job is of some significance to the future governance of Wales. I wonder whether Dafydd El or Paul Murphy said they favoured a referendum. Doubt it. I hope Sir Emyr realises what his role is - to create the pretext on which the Assembly Coalition partners can renege on their referendum promise.

I was interested in Lee Water's opinion that the 'Rainbow' coalition is back on the agenda. He reckons that the Assembly Coalition won't survive the retirement of Rhodri Morgan. Personally I think this is unlikely until 2011, but I've always thought it a possibility. Won't happen until the General election is out of the way. Will keep an eye on this. Smart boy, that Lee Waters. Will go far.

Return of Dragon's Eye

Dragon's Eye back with Adrian Masters, a man of gentle demeanor and a probing inquisitor in the Vaughan Roderick mould. Looking forward to seeing him bare his dragon's teeth during the series. Hope its not me or my party he's sinking them into.

To start the new series off, who else but Lord Elis Thomas, Presiding Officer of the National Assembly. He dismissed the two twentieth century Prince of Wales investitures as political stunts, and compared these great historical events with a Royal day at the races. Hard for me to judge, because I've never been to a race meeting. Coincidentally, I'm putting that right on Saturday, when we go to Chepstow Races for a birthday party. Perhaps we had better wear clothes suitable for attending an investiture.

Next up was the impact of the failure of Icelandic banks on councils and other public bodies in Wales. Huge issue - but nothing new. Paul Murphy was on, and he had nothing to say of any significance. Its difficult to find a Welsh angle, when an issue has been all over the network news throughout the day.

And finally there was the row about a 'Team GB' football team in the London Olympics. Nothing new here either. The British Olympic Committee are committed to a GB team, while no-one in Wales wants one. We knew that. Now if Seb Coe had been on, and been asked about what he said when told that we Welsh didn't like the idea, it would have been far more interesting.

How to save £1

This week's Montgomeryshire County Times reports that Powys County Council has decided to withdraw the senior railcard - with immediate effect. Mr Kit Davidson of Llanfyllin will be the last recipient. B*****. About three months ago I collected a concessionary railcard for the first time, and used it just once before I lost it. My fault - so the Council wouldn't supply me with a replacement. While I was in possession, I bought a rail ticket from Newport to Cardiff for £2, instead of the normal price of £3. That was it. Saved myself one pound - enough for a cappuccino at Morrison's!

I understand that the Executive Board found some difficulty dealing with the issue. I understand that there was some embarrassment amongst the councillors about who could vote. I'm told that lady councillors were not keen on admitting whether they had reached the age at which they had to declare a pecuniary interest.

The pragmatic politics of wind.

I suppose you could accuse me of supping with the devil. But I rather enjoy the company of this particular 'devil'. He's the 'representative' of a foreign renewable energy business, which is particularly active in Wales - and today, at the Old Station Restaurant in Welshpool, we supped and chatted in highly convivial fashion for over an hour.

Now you might ask what on earth I'm doing engrossed in such deep discussion when I'm very much on the record as seriously unconvinced by the Assembly Government's policy of promoting wind farms. My negativity towards wind farms was a feature of my stint as Conservative spokesman in the National Assembly on environment matters - and is also a feature of my current stint as President of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW). Its all to do with my preparedness to accommodate reality. This is always a tricky business.

I've often recited on this blog that I was opposed to the establishment of the National Assembly. But immediately the decision to create it was irreversible, I turned my attention to what sort of Assembly was best for Wales. Similarly, the decision to drive on full speed with onshore wind farms has been taken by the Assembly Government. I don't like it. But I want to have some influence on how this policy is implemented. Development of wind farms is going to be very significant in Montgomeryshire over the next five years. I have no doubt that the Minister is going to greatly increase the target output from each of the identified SSAs (Strategic Search Areas). Parts of our landscape will be dramatically changed. I really don't think any political candidate can do other than try to limit the damage and maximise the community benefit. Wind farms have to be located on the least damaging sites, and the developers must be forced to provide as much community support as possible to compensate for the imposition of turbines. (reparations of a sort, I suppose). Call it supping with the devil if you like, but to me its pragmatic politics. Pass the long spoon.

Are we Dancing on the head of a pin?

I had decided not to blog yet again on the possibility of a referendum on law making powers for the National Assembly for Wales. But the subject is of passionate interest to me. I promise that this is definitely the last time (until the next time that is). I begin by stating that I have absolutely no idea what is in the 'Roberts Report'. I'm not even any longer totally certain about what I want to be in it. I do know what I want as a final objective in the constitutional position of Wales (until there's another final objective of course!) I want to see a National Assembly with law making powers in all devolved matters. What I'm not so sure about is the best way to reach it. Because the context is constantly changing, I find my personal judgements shifting as well. From my perspective, it looks a very difficult ask for David Cameron to come up with a policy that does not have a degree of flexibility built into it.

Lets look at the alternatives (and again I emphasise that I've no idea what's in the Robert's Report.) Or more accurately, the realistic alternatives. I do not think rowing back from the current Government of Wales Act is realistic. There may well be individuals who favour this, but the only reference to a referendum which would precede change that I've seen, assume that a No vote would mean retaining the status quo. This involves the transfer of power from Westminster to the National Assembly for Wales by means of Legislative Competence Orders. Horribly complex, but likely to accelerate over the next few years.

The only other alternative I believe is realistic is transfer of law making power over all devolved matters in one go - following approval by referendum and passage through the both Houses of Parliament. I have seen reference to transfer of law making powers in respect of matters not currently devolved. This seems to me to be a separate issue. And in any case extension of the list of devolved matters can be achieved by the LCO process - so for the purposes of this post, this aspect of the debate should be ignored.

It seems to me that what we are disagreeing about, at the realistic level, amounts to little more that a question of timing. And how big an issue is that? For quite a while I've been predicting that it will be those opposed to transfer of law making powers who will be calling loudest for a referendum. Those who favour full law making power in all devolved matters are beginning to realise that their objective might be more certainly achieved by not holding any referendum at all. When the Government does not give any leadership, the vacuum creates a changing context. Which is why I'm deeply grateful that I don't have to decide on a long term policy myself.

Welcome Back, David Hunt.

In Wales we know Lord Hunt of the Wirral very well indeed. As David Hunt, he was Secretary of State for Wales for three years - and in my opinion, a very good one. Although he did not represent a Welsh constituency, the Wirral is pretty damn close. The whiff of muckspreaders in action on the Wirral can be detected in North East Wales when the wind is from the East. He's also a genuinely nice man, and he's been a good and loyal friend to me. David is living proof that politicians can be really good guys.

In John Major's government, he was recognised as a man to sort out a problem. Sometimes he was referred to 'Minister for Banana Skins' because of this reputation. He's been given a new challenge by David Cameron - shadowing the 'soon to be ennobled' Lord Peter Mandelson in the House of Lords. He will not be able to spend as much time in his role as Chair of Beachcroft LLP.

David has another contemporary link with Wales - Michael McManus, who has assisted Lord Roberts of Conwy to write the report on the future of Conservative policy in respect of devolution. Michael is another 'good guy'. He was a special advisor to David Hunt when he was Secretary of State for Wales, and still works in the same building - at least he did when I joined him for tea and a chat a few weeks back. This blog wishes David Hunt good luck in his new role.

Icelandic shock for our Councils.

Yesterday, I posted about the possible impact of the financial difficulties being experienced by Iceland's banks on local authorities. I did know of one council with high exposure, but did not want to name it. But I did expect the media to ask various Councils what the position is. It seems that its much, much worse than I thought - or could possibly have imagined. This afternoon, the Conservative Party issued a press release which outlined the impact in the London area - around £140 million at risk. Tomorrow, both the BBC and the Montgomeryshire County Times will be outlining the details of how the crisis effects Powys County Council. I will leave them to divulge the details, which were issued by the Council's Press Office earlier today. It's truly frightening.

I have no criticism of the council's involved. Until the day before yesterday, there was no reason to suspect a problem. The Icelandic banks had been offering a slightly better return, and Councils have been encouraged to secure best value on their temporary investments. But it all changed yesterday morning. Its clear that the highly leveraged Icelandic banks are in big trouble. Two have already been nationalised, including Landsbanki, which I understand has a lot of UK investment. And it seems that the Icelandic Government is favouring the deposits of Icelandic nationals over foreign investors. This equals major problem.

This is a massive issue. We are talking many millions of pounds. Councils must be extremely nervous about the possible implications for local services and Council taxpayers. I do hope there will be a quick response by Government to put our councils and taxpayers mind at rest - like tomorrow.

Pontrobert Friendly Club

This is a post for the Montgomeryshire village of Pontrobert.
When I was a pupil of Llanfair Caereinion High School, I often went by school bus to stay with my Nain and Taid, who lived near Pontrobert (at No 1 Tan-y ffridd cottages). Taid was the local road man. I've got a soft spot for the small village. Not so small these days. There's been lots of new houses built. Anyway I was there this afternoon.

I enjoy comparatively small local events. Today it was a meeting of Pontrobert Friendly Club, about 40 ish over-60s, just out for a get to-gether, celebrating an award of £850 (I think). My photograph is of Powys Council Chair, Viola Evans, the Club Chairman, Ken Tatlow and the 'person-in-charge' (secretary I think), Rita Evans, who is a relative of mine. Pontrobert is a very active community, with strong Merched Y Wawr and Age Concern groups as well. The former came on a trip around our garden earlier this year.

One lady I met was named Gloria Freeman, who has moved to Pontrobert from Nottingham. When she was a young girl named Gloria Chambers she attended the Albert St School, and shared a desk with Ken Clarke. She tells me that he was very studious, and they all expected him to go a long way. They were right. I promised to get in touch with Gloria if Ken makes another visit to Montgomeryshire. Small world.

The impact of Icelandic meltdown.

I take a bit of an interest in Iceland, ever since we spent a very enjoyable holiday in Reykjavik a few years back. Its wet. Its also incredibly interesting. The geological features are like nothing I've seen before. It was fascinating to stand beside Stokkur, a geyser which erupts to a height of anything up to 75 feet approx every 5 minutes - and see the Mid Atlantic Ridge, where the recent movements of tectonic plates are visible on the land surface. I really loved watching the puffins when we were out whale watching - and ate some of them for dinner.

We saw many dolphins, playing hide and seek under our boat when we were out in the Atlantic, and shy porpoises and distant whales. Speaking of Wales, and after reading today's stories of economic meltdown of the Iceland economy started me thinking what this would mean if it happened to us in the UK. And then to thinking what impact the collapse of Icelandic banks might have on Wales. Well, none you would think. But that's not what I'm hearing. I'm told that these banks have been offering attractive terms for the temporary deposit of spare funds, and that some Welsh councils have several million invested with Iceland's beleaguered banks. Yesterday, this money was cast iron safe. It doesn't look so safe today. It really would be interesting to know just how much money is involved. There is also very good salmon fishing in Iceland. And the Icelandic Horse is a popular export. It has a unique gait. But it will take a lot of fishermen and horse buyers to put the Icelandic economy back together.

Edna wants a ticket.

Regular visitors will know that a part-time agency cleaner named Edna Mopbucket has taken to telephoning me with bits of gossip. Its not always coincidence that she happens to be in the right place at the right time. Occasionally, I suggest where she might hear something of note, and she has a word with her boss to arrange it.

Yesterday, at my suggestion, she arranged to be cleaning somewhere near the room where the Conservative Assembly Group will be holding their 'annual meeting'. According to David Williamson in the Western Mail, there could be an attempt to oust William Graham from his position as Chair of the Group. David seems to think there is a split in the Group - and William is a bit miffed that we all know that this little set-to is taking place at all. He doesn't seem to realise that this is just the sort of gossipy thing that generates some public interest in Assembly politics. A bit of division never did any harm. Disagreement and democracy are healthy, if they can be managed without blood on the carpet. I still think the leadership contest between David Davis and David Cameron brought great benefit to the Conservative Party - not that I would put the bout between William and Paul Davies quite in this bracket.

Problem for Edna will be the high levels of security being deployed to stop her listening in. She tells me that the Group's 'bouncer', Paul Morris is being put on guard, and that keyholes are going to be taped over. Wouldn't surprise me if the venue is changed at the last minute, or the vote is deferred to a time when there is no danger of Edna listening in. As I said immediately before my cataract operation three years ago "We shall see".

UPDATE - Its clear that there was so much concern about Edna listening in that a compromise was reached beforehand to avoid and discussion leaking out.

Tasers and teasers.

The Western Mail and the BBC have reported on how the police have turned their heavy artillery on a runaway ram in North Wales. At first the headline led me to think that a rugby playing bank manager I used to know from Colwyn Bay had finally been caught - this time fleeing the bed of an armed policeman's wife. But No. It seems that North Wales Police have come up with an alternative past-time to paint-balling - shooting sheep with taser guns. Unlike David Davies MP and North Wales Chief Constable, Richard Brunstom, I have never been tasered, so I don't know how cruel it is. But I do recall sheep handlers being banned from using little electrified 'encouragement sticks' some years ago. So I suspect sheep-tasering won't catch on in a big way.

And that's good news for the lady sheep of North Wales. There would be terrible confusion on the hills if there were both 'taser rams' and 'teaser rams' running around. I should explain for the benefit of the non-shepherds that visit this blog what a 'teaser ram' is. Its a sort of vasectomised ram, which is introduced to the ladies in the run-up to what we sheep farmers know as the 'tupping season' - to 'get them in the mood'. On the appointed day (on my farm it was October 12th), when the ladies have reached the zenith of their preparedness, the real men take over. The non-countryman would be shocked by such promiscuity. A fully charged up (especially if tasered) healthy young Welsh ram can account for dozens of ladies in a single day. Its amazing. The purpose of this practice is to shorten the lambing season in 5 months time, saving the shepherd both time and money.

Grasses in variety

Weather's been unfriendly for gardening over the last few weeks. But its been terrific for gardens and plants that like a drop of water. And grasses like water. We grow a huge range. Today, I've showing off some of the miscanthus - which comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. I'm not sure of the Latin names, but this one is about 3/4 feet tall. We must have ten similar types to this.
This variagated miscanthus (almost white) is around 8 feet tall, just a foot or so shy of the similarly coloured arunda that we grow. Its seems bigger because it spreads more, and is stronger. Judge its size in comparison with the commonly grown purple Verbena bonariensis in the same photograph.Probably the best miscanthus that we grow.
This is a baby of the family, growing no more than 2 feet tall. Its a great 'front of border' grass, and so easy to grow. It will look good until I cut it down to ground level in March.
And finally to the old favourite, miscanthus zebrinus - so named because of its laterally striped leaves. You can buy a zebrinus in nana form these days, which makes a plant more suitable for a smaller garden than ours. But this plant grows big - about 6 feet in height and as much in spread. Its a lovely grass, spoiled only by its ubiquitousness.

The Politics Show.

Today's Politics Show was a must-watch for every Welsh Conservative. The UK section of the programme focused on David Cameron and Boris Johnson. We already knew that David is a class act. And we now know that Boris is as well. He came through a potentially very difficult interview with flying colours, and added some vintage, unique Boris at the end. Only comment I'd make is that its a bit rich for all these people to accuse Boris of 'politicising' the position of Chief Constable of the Met - that's the Chief Constable who's been openly campaigning for the 42 day detention without trial period, and ID Cards. Wrong on both counts, but a big help to Labour

Then in the Welsh section of the programme we had the Nick Bourne 'apology'. Felicity Evens is a feisty customer, but she did go on a bit. I thought Nick acquitted himself pretty well, all things considered. Lets hope that little squall has been put to bed.

But the interview that really struck me was that with recently resigned Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain. It was seriously impactful. He does not want to see law making powers vested in the National Assembly for a decade - at least. He informed us that the Labour Party (MPs, AMs and activists) are opposed to law making powers. He predicted that if there were to be a referendum on law making powers, it would suffer the same sort of defeat as that which befell the 1979 referendum. This was devastating stuff. And he has every intention of repeating all this whenever he's asked. Personally, I've accepted that that any referendum on law making powers for the Assembly before 2011 is a dead duck. Surely the scales have fallen from the eyes of the last believer.

One big question now is whether the Coalition Government will survive intact. Its now becoming clear that Labour never intended to run with it - Peter Hain would have been closely involved at the time. It was just a cunning plan (as Baldrick would say) to dupe Plaid Cymru into propping up Rhodri Morgan and his gang in office. (Can I apologise immediately if this is too offensive to Rhodri) And I daresay a few Plaid Cymru activists are asking themselves, after watching the Hain interview today, whether their own leadership had any genuine commitment to a referendum either - or was it the sniff of the 'ministerial car'. I can see an early meeting between Rhodri Morgan and the new Leader of the Liberal democrats - just to consider the possibilities you understand.

One Year Old.

Our georgeous little granddaughter, Ffion is one year old this weekend. She is a trouble and a joy. Into everything. She's over from Cork for the occasion, and the whole tribe have been home to help her celebrate.

We decided that she should make an early statement about her commitment to the environment, so we bought her a husky on wheels. Actually, it was No 2 son Patrick and Verity who came up with this highly successful birthday present. I'm pleased. If walking with huskies is good enough for David Cameron, its good enough for Ffion.

Congratulations Anoup.

Regular visitors will know of my involvement with a care business called EuropeanCare. Its involved in delivering services for vulnerable people. It owns and manages getting on for a hundred care homes. It also sponsors a 'not-for-profit' organisation (which we hope will become a charity) called RESEC, or Research into Specialist Elderly Care, based at Oxford University. Because this is a sector with so much potential for problems, I spent some time with the owner of the business, Anoup Treon before agreeing to become Chair of its Welsh Advisory Board. I judged him to be an inspirational man, driven by a genuine desire to improve standards of care. The Board has been operating well for just over a year.

Last night, at the London Park Lane Hilton, Anoup Treon was presented with the Lloyd's TSB Jewel Award for Business and Commerce Excellence. It is the 6th year the award has been presented. It is a highly prestigeous award, for entrepreneurs in the Asian Community in Britain. Experience has made me very pleased that I agreed to help Anoup by becoming involved with EuropeanCare. This award only increases that pleasure. Many congratulations Anoup.

Free Prescriptions to end ?

Today's News of the World is reporting that the Assembly Government is going to abandon its policy of free prescriptions for all. The report is under the name of Jamie Lyons, who did a stint in the National Assembly before moving to London. In fact it was Jamie who brought to public attention the personally embarrassing story which involved the toxic mix of 'Tory politician without trousers, Welsh farmer, sheep, and police' that I'm sure some visitors will remember. That was a surprisingly big news. But this story will be very big news indeed - unless there's a categorical denial, devoid of weasel words when the First Minister answers questions in the Senedd on Tuesday.

The reasons given for this stunning reversal of the previous Labour Assembly Government's flagship policy is that its cost much more than expected, in part because doctors are prescribing over-the-counter drugs like Vaseline, and that patients from England are registering with Welsh GPs in order to qualify for free prescriptions. All of this was entirely predictable, and I, along with all other Conservative AMs at the time warned about it. We said that while free prescriptions are very nice, they would be an unacceptable drain on the rest of the NHS in Wales.

If this story turns out to be true, there are some interesting political implications. I cannot see Plaid Cymru agreeing to it, bearing in mind the unwavering support they have always given. I don't know what the Conservatives and the Lib Dems would do. Opposing the introduction of free prescriptions for all is not the same thing as reintroducing prescription charges. All I do know is that such a policy reversal would make Rhodri Morgan look a lot sillier than any dossier could possibly do.

Go buy the News of the World.

Edna Mopbucket rang me from Birmingham last Wednesday, straight after the leader's great speech. Full of it she was. She loves Wales, and she reckoned that Wales was being taken really seriously by the Tory leadership. I was a bit surprised after reading some of the smarty pants comments on Welsh media blogs about this. But Edna wasn't having it. "Mr Cameron only had time to attend two area meetings - and Wales was one of those". She was bubbling. In fact I thought she was being a bit disrespectful when she went on "That Dave of yours is a bit tasty". I told her to calm down. But I wanted Edna to do me a favour. So I buttered her up by saying she was the only one who could pull this favour off. Always works.

I wanted her to try to wangle a day's cleaning down at Wapping, and find out the truth behind the claims made in this week's Sun about who's going to be on Celebrity Big Brother, when it starts up again in January - and who's behind the rumours. Well when she rang me tonight, she was on fire. Nothing to do with what I wanted of course. "You really must buy the News of the World tomorrow" said she. "There's a really juicy story and its about Welsh politics and its going to run all week". And do you know what? My Edna would not tell me what this story is. I pleaded. Told her that my blog has no chance of overtaking Iain Dale, Guido and ConservativeHome in the visitor numbers game, unless I have a few gossipy exclusives. She laughed and rang off. Nothing I can do but be down in the village at 7.00 in the morning for my copy of the News of the World. I reckon that it must be juicy for the London based media to be covering Wales. If she rings me later, I'll post again.

Barrel of Fun

Speaking in a language learned in adult life can add greatly to the gaiety of conversation. My growing confidence in using the Welsh Language has already produced some 'howlers'. This week a friend on mine, of an Eastern European background, was expressing satisfaction at having the upper hand in negotiations with a lady - and announced to all that "I had her over a wheelbarrow". I realise that occasionally its a case of 'needs must', but this does sound both uncomfortable and riskily unstable!

The Reshuffle.

So what do we think of the reshuffle. Its difficult to think much at all beyond the Mandelson factor - a truly astonishing decision. I reckon a few Labour MPs will be giving Joe Kinnear a run for his money in the profanity stakes. But what about the Welsh connection. Well, despite much contrary prediction, Paul Murphy is still there. We had been led to expect that he might be put out to grass, and that Scotsman, Jim Murphy would take over both Wales and Scotland. I know Jim Murphy - but only just. He played football for the Westminster team in the annual Parliamentary shield. He was a very good player indeed, and could keep-i-uppy for several minutes. Wonderful ball control. He was so good that our striker, Gareth Davies (ex-Welsh stand off and Post Office Ltd) decided the only way to deal with him was to flatten him and give him a full blooded roughing up. Anyway, Jim has had to make do with Scotland. There's a lot of cross party respect for Paul.

But much more interesting is the elevation of Jan Royall, now Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, to the Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords. I first met her when she was head of the European Office in Wales. She was known in Wales because she had been a special advisor to Neil Kinnock. I do not know Jan well - but well enough to know that I like her. She was the hostess at the Wales Kidney Foundation event in the Lords that I went to a few months back. I would have much preferred someone I don't like to have been given such a huge promotion. I really do wish her well.

Art and History in one.

I know a man who knew Lloyd George - and I was talking to him tonight. It was fascinating listening to Lord Hooson describe chatting to the great man at the National Eisteddfod about the 'Peace in our time' letter that Chamberlain brought home from Munich in 1938. Emlyn also told me that he'd been selected as the Liberal candidate to replace Lloyd George when he stood down - but never fought it because there were boundary changes. Caernarfon's loss and Montgomeryshire's gain. I must find time to read Ffion Hague's book about the Lloyd George love life. Emlyn's read it and recommends that I do the same. And then he started telling me about some of his discussions with Churchill. Amazing.

We were both at a reception at the Oriel Davies Gallery in Newtown. The occasion was to celebrate the Gallery being awarded the Arts Council of Wales Beacon Award 2008-10. The Gallery is the only recipient of the award in Powys. 80,000 visitors are attracted to Oriel Davies every year. It has some very good exhibitions. Last time I was there, the actual Monet painting that starred in The Thomas Crown Affair was there in person. I found it particularly fascinating because I'd just seen the film for the first time the week before.

My enjoyment of these events is linked to who's there. Tonight, it was full of friends. Now I'm home and thinking about it, I imagine that Lloyd George, Churchill and Chamberlain were there as well. That's the wonder of direct contact with history. There's also a nice little restaurant attached to the Gallery. If ever you're in need of a break as you are near Newtown, why not slip into the main car park and have a coffee in the Gallery which is adjacent to it.

I'm Backing Bourne.

There seems to me to be a basic misunderstanding of what 'unity' involves in politics. It does not involve blind loyalty to every policy espoused by the party leadership, or to sycophantic backscratching either. Mutual back-slapping love-ins never win anything. In my opinion, there is not enough serious, considered debate within parties. There is too little disagreement, not too much. Commitment to 'unity' involves not undermining behind the back while pretending to support to the face.

I notice it suggested on one or two blogs that I 'attacked' Nick Bourne in one of yesterday's posts. First thing to say is that, on this issue, my opinion is of little significance. Its just my opinion. I do admit to an element of disagreement over an issue, but its not right to call it 'an attack'. In fact, as far as Nick's leadership of the Assembly Group is concerned, I hope that this particular BBC story is without foundation. Personally, I hope that Nick Bourne is given full backing by the Conservative Group in the Assembly to carry on as leader - if there is any discussion of this issue over the weekend.

Let me , as no more that an occasional commentator on Assembly issues, post what I thought of the issue at the heart of this. Generally, I'm not keen on personal attacks against political opponents, partly because it usually benefits them. So it follows that I wasn't keen on the few words referring to Rhodri Morgan's dress sense, used in an otherwise excellent 39 page dossier of criticism of his record as First Minister. Unfortunately, these few words have totally diverted attention from the remainder of a very good piece of work. My attitude was "Damn it - some you win, some you lose". And because there was some public criticism, I would have felt obliged to give the document my full public support. I also thought that Nick should not have disowned the document on a Radio Wales programme, particularly since he had signed it off himself. But so what. Its no big deal. This is the sort of disagreement that crops up all the time in politics - and everywhere else for that matter. It certainly does not warrant speculation that Nick should be replaced. This is simply a daft reaction.

So there we have it. I've been moved to post under the heading of 'I'm Backing Bourne'.

Good and bad news for kangaroos.

Call me an old fashioned prude if you must, but I find men who fart to be rather uncouth. Thank goodness that women seem to be physiologically programmed not to indulge in this unpleasant practice. It appears that kangaroos are the similarly programmed. These creatures give off far less methane than the usual domestic livestock. According to today's Telegraph, their dubious reward for this natural politeness is that Australians are going to start eating them in great numbers. Its yet another initiative in the long term battle to protect our climate from global warming.

We've known for many years that cows in particular cause huge damage to the environment by their methane production. It has led to much academic research and political discussion. Now, Professor Ross Garnaut from the University of New South Wales is taking this research to its logical conclusion by suggesting that Australians should forget the 'Skippy factor' set aside their squeamishness and eat kangaroo instead of lamb and beef. He suggests that by 2020, beef cattle and sheep numbers should fall by 7 million and 36 million respectively, allowing for an extra 34 million kangaroos up to a total of 240 million.

This report extends to 620 pages, and one of its authors describes kangaroo meat as low in fat, high in protein and clean in that the kangaroo is the ultimate free-range animal. It should also help counteract the negative impact that too much Fosters's have on the bodies of Australian men, and make Australia a much more pleasant place to live.

Hey Mr Postman, What's happening?

Been out leafleting in Abermule tonight. I'm going to be 'available' outside the village Post Office on Saturday morning. There is one dominating issue - the future of the local Post Office. Let's recap on the story so far.

As part of its programme to close 2,500 Sub-Post Offices in England and Wales, and create 500 new 'outreach' services in their place, Post Office Ltd has decided to close Abermule Post Office. Its also been decided that this growing village should be one of the 500 that will receive a new 'outreach' service, of which there are four different types. The original consultation proposals suggested that this service should be a 'Mobile Van', linked to a nearby Post Office, probably Newtown. But there's been a problem. There is no place to park the Mobile Van. So we have impasse - and limbo.

Because I like to keep in touch with what's happening in Montgomeryshire, I follow up on these issues. I like to be able to answer Montgomeryshire people's questions. So where are we now? First thing to remember is that Post Office Ltd decided some months ago that they intend to close Abermule Post Office. Over the last month or so Post Office Ltd has been so preoccupied dealing with the fallout from its closure proposals in North Wales proposals that there has been no time to implement this decision and deal with the 'impasse' created in Abermule. But this period of 'limbo' is now coming to an end. Sometime during the next few weeks Post Office Ltd are returning to Abermule to discuss what sort of 'outreach' service is going to be introduced.

I'd still like the decision to close Abermule Post Office to be reconsidered. I know that I may not succeed in winning this argument, but I'll keep on asking for a rethink while there's even a small chance of success. I expect a few people to raise this in response to my leafleting.

All for one and one for all.

When I was a young man, there was a mad Irishman named Willie John McBride leading the British Lions. He was fantastic. No-one in his teams ever took a step backwards - and if there was trouble anywhere on the park, Willie's supporting battalion were on the scene in seconds. Didn't matter who started it. He was a great leader, respected by his men - who would have died for him. His force of personality made him a winner as well. Perhaps its because of the years I spent as a No 7 that I learned the importance of backing when it mattered. Like every openside my job was to be at the breakdown, whenever and wherever. I was often in a spot of bother (and I admit to causing a bit of it myself). As a rugby player, I never remember seeing my captain walking away when there was flak about.

Reason this came to my mind was this silly little story that the BBC has blown up into a silly big story. Now it may well be that I was a touch uncomfortable with a line or two in the 39 page 'Clown Prince of Wales' dossier published by the Conservative Assembly Group last week- but I sniffed a bit of flak coming our way. So I just want to make it clear that I consider the dossier to be an outstanding piece of work, and congratulate those who, with so much effort and skill, prepared such a good comprehensive demolition of Rhodri Morgan's record. And to those who suggest this might have caused a bit of offence to Mr Morgan, let me tell you that he is perfectly capable of looking after himself.

The Speech

I heard most of David Cameron's conference speech today, reclining in the car. I have just read the text of it. In my opinion it was a very good speech indeed. It was the speech of a man who demonstrated that he has the ability to lead Britain as it's Prime Minister. We already knew that he had energy, charm and an inherent ability to engage with people. We now know the Conservative leader has the moral fibre to put our country back on track, after the promiscuous and opportunistic years of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, two men who I believe history will judge to have been amongst Britain's worst ever Prime Ministers.

There was much in the speech that I liked, and very little which I didn't. But what I liked most was his refusal to promise tax and spending changes that his audience would like to have heard. David Cameron refused to promise that which he did not know he would be able to deliver. He knows that he may take over a country in the mother of all messes. He accepted the constraints that this prospect imposes upon him.

"If we win, we will inherit a huge deficit and an economy in a real mess. We will need to do difficult and unpopular things for the long term good of the country."

"So I will be asking all of my shadow ministers to review all over again every spending programme......even that will not be enough"

This man gets it. I don't expect a great surge in the opinion polls tomorrow. I do not think that was his objective. The shambles that is the world's banking crisis will keep a strong focus on Gordon Brown. But it will look different in a few week's time. In my opinion, we witnessed today a decisive step in the development of a man who could well prove to be one of Britain's greatest ever Prime Ministers.

Where's the common sense.

So many people are approaching me about all sorts of issues since I became the Conservative candidate here in Montgomeryshire - more than when I was Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales. When I've been away for a few days, its a job to catch up. I wouldn't mind having Phill back to help. I'm quite surprised by some of the issues. Here's two from today's mail.

First up is the cost of trade refuse disposal. The business concerned wanted to dispose of three domestic sized freezers, one fridge and a grill. The quotation from Powys County Council to collect and dispose of them was £744.50. I had no idea that such huge amounts were being demanded. If I was running a small business, and faced with this sort of expense, I could well be tempted to just leave them somewhere uncollected. What makes it seem so unfair is that the same equipment from a 'domestic' premises are collected and disposed of free of charge. Seems to me that there's quite a large grey area here. Anyone with any suggestions about what advice I should give?

Another issue raised with me today was the need for an Energy Performance Certificate on any property before it can be let - a new requirement from today. This EPC cost £55. Since there is no consequent requirement on the property owner to take any action whatsoever, it seems to me a complete waste of time and money. Anyway, I called in on the letting agent this morning to find out more. I was told that no prospective purchaser had ever asked for sight of any HIPS information or a EPC (which has been reqiuired for a sale for some time) before a property has been sold. We're talking hundredds of sales here. What on earth is the point?

I cannot do anything about either of these issues, except comment on the madness of it all, thus adding in a tiny way to the seething mass of resentment that must surely one day explode and lead to an outbreak of common sense.

A Taste for Voyeurism.

Nasty shock this morning. Received this unbelievably distasteful photograph in my inbox - my Liberal Democrat opponent in Montgomeryshire, wearing a garish, off-the-shoulder, ill-fitting leotard. Decided immediately that it was indeed unbelievable. My instinctive response was that we would not have to wait long for a 'statement' declaring it to be completely untrue, and that the supposed leotard wearer wanted only to be a serious politician, president of his party and hard working MP for Montgomeryshire, who would not dream of doing something so tacky. The whole thing did seem an awfully 'convenient' media opportunity to me. Sure enough........

Celebrity Big Brother is just not my sort of programme. I used to think this type of television was no more than rather dodgy 'voyeurism'. But I have found myself quite gripped by Lisa Forrest's blog in the Daily Telegraph, where she lays out her private traumas for us all to read about. I feel that I know and like Lisa, and want to sort her pathetic husband, Matt who has left her for greener grass elsewhere. So it turns out that I don't mind prying into a private life after all. It appears that what grates with me is the 'celebrity' bit. If Big Brother was based on the first random ten people to walk out of Starbuck's, I'd probably want to watch it myself.