Welsh Liberal blogs

  The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused the Welsh Conservatives of failing to use their influence in Westminster to protect Welsh farmers in the wake the of Conservative Government’s post-Brexit trade policy. The Welsh Liberal Democrats comments come after the UK Government announced that it will not publish a Wales-specific impact assessment of the Australian trade deal. Critics of the deal, and the subsequent deal with New Zealand claim the trade agreements will disproportionately hit Welsh farmers and rural communities in Wales. Both the Australia and New Zealand trade deals have sparked concerns among farmers, unions such as NFU Cymru and FUW and those in the food processing industry. Concerns have focused on the risk that the zero-tariff and zero-quota access deals will allow lower standard and cheap meat to flood UK markets and push Welsh farmers out of business. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “The news that the Conservative Governme...

    The Welsh Liberal Democrats have accused Welsh Conservative MP’s of ‘blatantly ignoring’ the issue of river pollution. The accusation comes as MPs voted for legalisation designed to tackle river pollution on October 20. The Lords Amendment 45 to the Environment Bill would have placed a legal duty on water companies in England and Wales “to make improvements to their sewerage systems and demonstrate progressive reductions in the harm caused by discharges of untreated sewage.”   The Amendment was rejected after 265 Conservative MPs voted against it, including ten Welsh Conservative MPs, including David T C Davies, despite the fact the River Wye, which has reported serious pollution problems in recent years, travels through his Constituency. Likewise, Brecon and Radnorshire’s MP Fay Jones did not register a vote, meaning she either abstained or did not attend the vote. Again despite the fact that the River Wye originates and travels through her Constituency. ...

 Report Wales Poc Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay kept suspended by CoA senior assembly member arrested on New Year's Day but released without charge remains suspended from the Conservatives as the party continues its investigations. Nick Ramsay is thought to be taking legal advice over the arrest. Party sources claim there have been several occasions when his behaviour after drinking led to complaints. Friends reject claims he has been spoken to about allegations relating to alcohol. They say the suspension process may be open to legal challenge. Mr Ramsay's friends also defended him and suggested he was the victim of a campaign against him by some in his local party in Monmouth. That claim is denied by the local party chairman, Nick Hackett-Pain. The Welsh Conservatives say an "investigation is underway". The party did not explain what the investigation is looking into. Mr Ramsay, a frontbench Tory spokesman in the assembly and...

Conservative MP Jamie Wallis worked in the same office that ran a "sugar daddy" dating website, two former employees have told BBC Wales. The newly-elected Bridgend MP has distanced himself from Sugar-Daddy.net. A Labour MP has said this was "clearly" contradicted by company records. James Cleverly told Sky News' Sophy Ridge On Sunday it was not his job as the chairman of the Conservative Party to investigate any claims linked to "business arrangements". One ex-staffer said he "was aware" the site was being run from the office, while another said his denial "totally lacks credibility". BBC Wales tried to contact Mr Wallis for comment but was told "he's not available". Sugar-Daddy.net offered introductions to wealthy individuals, saying: "We can introduce you to your very own sugar daddy and solve your money worries. "Whether you're a boy, girl, straight or gay, the...

Boris Johnson can "deliver for Wales" because of his time as Mayor of London, according to the Conservative leader in the Welsh Assembly. Paul Davies is backing the former foreign secretary to become the next prime minister. The assembly Tory leader said Mr Johnson, who once stood as a candidate in Wales, "understands devolution". He would the best candidate to "keep Jeremy Corbyn out of Downing Street", Mr Davies sai d. Mr Johnson is widely seen as the frontrunner to win the ballot for the Tory leadership of about 160,000 party members against his opponent, Jeremy Hunt. The two contenders are taking part in 15 hustings across the UK with the result expected on 23 July. Pushed three times to say what plans Mr Johnson had for Wales, Mr Davies refused to give details. He insisted that private conversations between the two should not be made public but that "we had a very positive conversation about infrastructure here in ...

A by-election to choose an MP for Brecon and Radnorshire will be held on 1 August. Tory chief whip Julian Smith moved the writ in the Commons to trigger the contest after Conservative MP Chris Davies was unseated by a petition. More than 10,000 people signed the recall petition following Mr Davies's conviction for a false expenses claim. He had been the area's MP since 2015, when he ousted incumbent Liberal Democrat Roger Williams. His majority then was 5,102, which he increased to 8,038 at the 2017 general election. Mr Davies has been re-selected for the contest. He will face Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, and Labour's Tom Davies in the election. The Brexit Party is also expected to stand. Plaid Cymru has been considering whether it should agree to a pact with other pro-EU parties and not take part in the poll. The count will take place at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwed. By-elections take place betwee...

A former MP that lost his seat after 10,005 people signed a petition to trigger a by-election has been reselected by his local party. On Sunday, local Conservative members met and decided Mr Davies should be the party's candidate in Brecon and Radnorshire. The recall petition was held after he admitted two charges of making a false expenses claim. The Lib Dems, Labour and the Brexit Party are expected to stand. Mr Davies was convicted of a false expenses claim in March after trying to split the cost of £700 worth of pictures between two office budgets by creating fake invoices, when he could have claimed the amount by other means. He was fined £1,500 and told to carry out 50 hours of community service. 'Second chance' Glyn Davies, the MP for neighbouring Montgomeryshire, gave Mr Davies his backing earlier on Sunday. "He's made a mistake. He's apologised for the mistake," Glyn Davies told BBC Sunday Politics W...

There will be a by-election in Brecon and Radnorshire after a petition to recall Tory MP, Chris Davies, secured enough signatures. Davies pleaded guilty in March to providing false or misleading information on allowances claims. He was fined £1,500 and ordered to carry out unpaid community service. Almost 20% of voters in the constituency signed the petition calling for him to lose his seat. The result was announced on Friday 21 June by Powys County Council, who confirmed the petition was successful. There will now be a by-election in the area. Davies is expected to stand for his seat. 10,005 out of 53,032 signed - 19% of the total Labour called the recall result "another huge blow to Chris Davies" credibility to serve as a Member of Parliament' and said the Conservatives must call an immediate by-election. This is a mess all of his making. The Conservatives must not drag their feet. They should listen to the wishes of the voters of Breco...

  Thursday is the last day voters in Brecon and Radnorshire can sign a petition which could lead to a by-election after Tory MP Chris Davies was convicted for a false expenses claim.  Mr Davies admitted faking invoices, at Southwark Crown Court, in March and faces a recall petition to keep his seat. A by-election will be triggered if 10% of the electorate - 5,303 voters - sign it. The petition closes at 17:00 BST. The verification of the petition and count will take place at 10:00 on Friday at County Hall in Llandrindod Wells, Powys. A petition officer will notify House of Commons Speaker John Bercow of the outcome before the result is made public. Recall petitions are launched when MPs receive a custodial sentence, including suspended sentences, are barred from the Commons for 10 sitting days or are convicted of providing false information about their expenses.

A call for every school pupil in Wales "without exception" to be taught the history of the country will be debated in the Senedd later. Plaid Cymru's Sian Gwenllian said she wants Welsh history to be central to a new curriculum introduced from 2022. Ms Gwenllian and Tory AM Suzy Davies have proposed a motion on the issue. A Welsh Government spokesperson said " learning about the histories of Wales will be essential to achieving the purposes of the curriculum" . Arfon AM Ms Gwenllian, her party's spokesperson on education and the Welsh language, said teaching Welsh history was a "key component of helping the next generation to become informed and engaged citizens of not only Wales but of the world and the new curriculum for Wales is a real opportunity to do just that". "Currently it is history, rather than Welsh history, that is in the list of subjects to be taught under humanities, " she said. ...

ssembly members have backed a call for a new referendum on whatever terms are proposed for Brexit, with the option of staying in the EU on the ballot paper.  Labour AMs supported the successful Plaid Cymru motion against Tory, Brexit Party and UKIP opposition. Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell told the Senedd: "The most democratic thing is to give the people a final say." But Tory Darren Millar said "you cannot call for another vote because you don't like the outcome" of the 2016 poll . he vote on the motion, which is purely symbolic, came as contenders to replace Theresa May as Conservative leader and prime minister set out their Brexit positions, with the UK due to leave the European Union on 31 October. It follows a decision by the Labour Welsh Government to support a further vote, after an EU election result where the party came third in Wales. A total of 36 AMs backed the Plaid motion, versus 16 against. Mrs May ha...

Concerns have been raised about the procedure for managing a recall petition to decide if a Welsh Conservative MP will keep his seat. An ex-clerk to the Commons and a former electoral commissioner said there was a degree of "public confusion" over the process and questioned its fairness . Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies pleaded guilty to two charges of making a false expenses claim in March. The Petition Officer said arrangements fully complied with legislation . The petition has been opened and voters in the constituency will be able to sign the petition until 20 June in six different locations in the area. Under the rules a maximum of 10 stations can be chosen within a constituency for signing in person. A by-election will be held if 10% of the electorate - 5,303 voters in this case - sign. Sir Paul Silk, an ex-clerk to the Commons, and Glyn Mathias, a former electoral commissioner, claim not enough provision has been mad...

Chris Davies tried to split the cost of photographs between two office budgets by faking invoices , when he could have claimed the amount by other means. Brecon and Radnorshire voters wanting to sign the petition will be able to do so until Thursday 20 June in six locations in the constituency. A by-election will be held if 10% of the electorate - 5,303 voters - sign. Mr Davies would be able to contest a by-election, if one takes place. House of Commons Speaker John Bercow confirmed the recall petition last month , after Mr Davies was given a community order of 50 hours unpaid work and a £1,500 fine, at Southwark Crown Court. In a statement, Mr Davies has apologised to his constituents for "making such an error", saying he very much hopes to continue serving Brecon and Radnorshire. Constituents can sign the petition at venues in Llandrindod Wells, Brecon, Presteigne, Ysytradgynlais, Hay-on-Wye and Crickhowell. Apart from Spring Bank ...

Vale of Glamorgan council leader John Thomas is set to be ousted as head of the authority by fellow Conservatives. Local party members are backing Vincent Bailey to take over following their annual general meeting last night. For such a change, Councillor Thomas would have to lose a council vote of no confidence or voluntarily step down. The row over the future of Llancarfan Primary School is understood. Several councillors had joined parents in opposition to a decision to relocate pupils to a new school to be built in Rhoose, which they claimed amounted to a closure of Llancarfan. Gordon Kemp was the only cabinet member to object to the plan, and he was later sacked when he joined ten other Conservative councillors in refusing to back last month's council budget . The LDRS is also aware of "serious discontent" with Councillor Thomas among Tory backbenchers over a series of PR blunders, including proposals for new parking charges thro...

A recall petition for a Conservative MP convicted for a false expenses claim will open on 9 May. Chris Davies tried to split the cost of photographs between two office budgets by faking invoices,  when he could have claimed the amount by other means. Voters in Brecon and Radnorshire will have six weeks to sign the petition in six locations across the constituency. If 5,303 eligible voters sign it, 10% of the electorate, a by-election will be held. House of Commons speaker John Bercow confirmed the recall petition on Wednesday , after Mr Davies was given a community order of 50 hours unpaid work and a £1,500 fine, at Southwark Crown Court, the previous day. People registered for postal votes will receive a signing sheet to return if they want to sign the petition .

An MP convicted for a false expenses claim will face a recall petition, House of Commons speaker John Bercow has confirmed. Chris Davies tried to split the cost of photographs between two office budgets by faking invoices, when he could have claimed the amount by other means. If 10% of eligible voters in the constituency sign it a by-election would be held. It comes as Mr Davies' local constituency association backed the MP. Brecon and Radnorshire Tory chairman Peter Weavers said Mr Davies had been caught by an "arcane" law, and said he would be happy to see him run again if a by-election takes place . Mr Bercow confirmed in the Commons on Wednesday that Mr Davies will face a recall petition. The House of Commons Speaker told MPs he will write to the relevant petition officer following Mr Davies' conviction - it will then be up to Powys County Council to organise the exercise. Mr Davies was given a community order of 50 hours unpaid w...

An MP convicted of a false expenses claim has been ordered to complete 50 hours unpaid work and fined £1,500. Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire Chris Davies pleaded guilty to providing false or misleading information for allowances claims and attempting to do so in March. Davies, 51, made an "unreserved apology" following his sentencing at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday. He now faces a recall petition amid calls for his resignation. Davies must complete the community order within 12 months and was also ordered to pay £2,500 in costs. Tom Forster QC, defending , said it was likely Mr Davies's career was in "tatters " Labour and the Liberal Democrats have called for him to resign, but in a statement,   Davies said he wanted to "move on and continue" his role as an MP. "I have accepted today's ruling and want to take this opportunity to make an unreserved apology," he said. "I would li...

Two assembly members have been urged to sever their links with a controversial pastor who claimed homosexuality is a "sin". Yang Tuck Yoong called homosexuality an "abomination" during a sermon. Darren Millar and Russell George are trustees of the Evan Roberts Institute which has financial links with the pastor's Cornerstone Community Church. They say they do not share his views but human rights campaigners are calling for all ties to be cut. The pastor was reported to police in 2013 after giving a sermon entitled " The Sin of Sodom ". He said: " Homosexuality is a sin and it is far more rampant, militant and organised than most of us actually believe it to be . "The battle lines are now drawn and it is time for the Church in Singapore to rise up and make a stand It has emerged the Pentecostal minister and his church in Singapore have strong ties with Welsh charity, The Evan Roberts Institute. Named a...