A Splendid Cardigan Show!

It's been a great day.

I've spent the day at Cardigan Agricultural Show and in the many years that I have attended the show, it has probably been the best that I can recall.

It was the 157th Cardigan Show since it was formed in 1854 and in its day it was I gather the biggest one day show in Wales. My grandfather J.R.Lewis I'm told was a previous President of the Show and was an avid competitor. Over the years my family have continued our proud association by competing regularly with our Shire Horses in his memory. It was therefore a great personal privelage for me to be the Patron of the Show two years ago in 2009 when I was the Mayor of Cardigan.

It remains a big event and today I felt was the best that I have experienced.

Traditionally held on the last Wednesday in July, the sun was shining today and we had a wonderful view looking down from our high vantage point towards the estuary and Cardigan Island. There was a great crowd to visit a large number of stalls, the exhibitions and of course to watch the competitions. I was attending today as the Vice-Chair of Ceredigion County Council and was therefore invited for the second time to have lunch with the President -this year, local insurance broker Delwyn Griffiths. I also spent time accompanying Mark Williams MP around the show and in the afternoon, my Alyson joined us! We called in to see my mum who was in charge of the CADAMM (Cardigan and District Agricultural and Maritime Museum) stand - it's always felt like a family affair to me such is our association with the show!

When I was Mayor in 2009, we had to contend with heavy and muddy ground after torrential rain on the eve of the show - to such an extent that many vehcicles had to be towed out! Not today however as the sun shone down on us righteous people of Cardigan and district and helped ensure that the atmosphere throughout was positive and enthusiastic.

A big well done and thanks to the Show Committee for planning, co-ordinating and executing a fine event once more.

Roll on Cardigan Show 2012!

Milford Haven Coastguard Centre is Saved

Excellent news this afternoon from London as the UK Government have announced a much welcome u-turn in its original decision to close Milford Haven and Holyhead Coastguard Stations.

The original plans were widely condemned as 11 of the 18 UK-wide bases were earmarked for closure under extreme measures to cut down on costs with only 3 remaining open 24 hours a day. But now, 11 will remain open and all of them will be open 24 hours a day.

A large campaign to save our station here in west Wales has proved successful as this BBC News article states. Holyhead will also remain open in north Wales to ensure that this part of the union is well guarded but the bad news is that Swansea station which was to be downgraded is now to be closed all together under these revised plans.

For us here on the fringes of the Welsh coast however, it is vindication of the campaign to ensure that we are not forgotten here in rural west Wales.

Local Pressure
The centre of the campaign to save Milford Haven was of course concentrated in Pembrokeshire itself but here in Ceredigion, we more than did our bit. Mark Williams MP wrote to the Government calling on it to change its decision as did Ceredigion County Council. We even sent a strongly felt and worded letter from Cardigan Town Council to the same end.

It's therefore very gratifying to see that public pressure and concern has been listen too by the powers that be and that this essential resource is to remain open and will allow the invaluable service that it helps provide to go unimpeded in the years ahead.

After 8 long years...Cardigan's Tesco Junction is...OPEN!

Yes folks, for the first time since it was closed 'temporarily' to south bound traffic in 2003, Cardigan's 'Tesco' Junction at the northern end of the town's by-pass is open at long last.


At the Junction with Mark Williams MP
and Town Councillor Nicky Charlton-Lewis

After years of procrastinating by successive Welsh Assembly Governments, it has quietly been opened today by the contractors with no fanfare, 2 months later than planned. It has re-opened with traffic lights which whilst it wasn't my ideal solution of a roundabout, it's certainly a lot better than the lego set of blocks that have been stationed there for the best part of a decade.

To the 1,500 + people who signed my 'Open Our Junction' petition in 2008 and which I personally delivered to the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, thank you.

The entire community deserves great praise for showing its fighting spirit when faced against the odds of an intrasigent Welsh Assembly Government on this issue. The Town Council, the County Council, the local Chamber of Trade, local AMs, our local MP Mark Williams and most importantly, local residents have battled and battled to win the day and today, we've done it!

Cardigan's northern-most entrance is open for business once more and in being so, so is Cardigan's local economy.

I'll say it one more time. Cardigan's Tesco Junction is open.

At last.

The Deputy Prime Minister - Putting Ceredigion on the Map

Yes, the Deputy Prime Minister came to Ceredigion today.

That is quite possibly the first time that that has been said of a top ranking Government Minister in 90 years since Lloyd George came to Ceredigion in 1921. Certainly, there has been no visit from a Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister in the last 30 years. There was an occasion I'm told when a senior Labour Party leader was heckled whilst driving down Cardigan's High St - was it Harold Wilson or Michael Foot I'm not sure.

But anyway, the point is that the heart of the UK's decision-making process came to Ceredigion today and that's a bloody good thing.

Ceredigion Business Forum
To be precise, Nick Clegg came late this afternoon to Aberaeron on the final leg of his whirlwind tour of Wales. As Elizabeth Evans our Welsh Assembly candidate is an Aberaeron girl, she made it clear that she wanted to bring the Deputy Prime Minister to her home town when the idea of a visited was mentioned a few weeks ago!

He arrived slightly earlier than planned at 4pm by helicopter and we were relieved when we heard that he'd landed as there was a sea mist hanging over the town making the landing that bit more challenging! On touch down, he was welcomed by our local Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams and our Welsh Assembly candidate Elizabeth Evans. He had come to speak to local business people about the local economy - to listen to their concerns and to to take back to the heart of Government, the hopes and fears of rural Wales.

We had only had 48 hours to organise the event having finally been given clearance by special branch on Wednesday so I was delighted that even in such a short time-frame we managed to get business people from across Ceredigion to the event. Traders from Cardigan, Lampeter, New Quay, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth all came along to meet the Deputy Prime Minister and to put their case to him and to Elizabeth, our prospective Assembly Member for Ceredigion.

Issues raised ranged from the banking crisis, to business rates, to unecessary red tape, to the housing market. Nick answered the questions alongside Elizabeth in what was an informal set-up and there was enough time for traders from New Quay, Lampeter, Cardigan, Aberaeron and Aberystwyth to get their questions in.


The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg with
Elizabeth Evans and Mark Williams MP

After the forum finished, Nick and Elizabeth answered questions from the press in The Hive's great outside eating area overlooking Aberaeron Harbour. I'd been tasked with ensuring that the local media were all informed and the local papers were well represented with the editor of the Tivy Side, Sue Lewis present as well as the local Aberaeron reporter Hannah Smith from the Cambrian News and David from the Carmarthen Journal. They were given much more time with Nick than I think they expected and they got some Welsh Cakes too!

ITV Wales and BBC Wales were also present with their cameras so the visit was screened tonight on the Welsh news as seen briefly here - the ITV Wales coverage of it can be see here http://www.itv.com/wales/cleggs-wales-visit87171/.

After some final photos and an ice cream (and a call in French with an African President!), Nick was gone and the stress of helping to organise a high-level Government visit with the security that went with it, had quite literally, flown away!

Putting Ceredigion on the Map
We've had high profile visits before over recent years. Ashdown and Kennedy all came here as Liberal Democrat leaders and I was personally proud as punch to lead Menzies Campbell around Cardigan when he visited as party leader back in 2007

But there's nothing like welcoming a Liberal Democrat Government Minister to our county. Because under previous Conservative and Labour governments, Ceredigion has been ignored. The Liberal Democrats however put that right and I'm proud that Nick, as the Deputy Prime Minister, came to speak to local business people on their turf and on their terms.

Elizabeth Evans Launches Her Assembly Campaign in Style!

Elizabeth Evans launched her Welsh Assembly campaign as Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate last night in great style!

A packed campaign launch event in Aberaeron heard fantastic, stirring speeches from Mark Williams MP and from Elizabeth herself and the buzz in the room from the young and the young at heart alike was electric!

It's going to be a busy 5 weeks of campaigning but in Elizabeth, as I previously blogged here, we have a fantastic candidate.

It's time for a change in Ceredigion - it's time for Elizabeth Evans!

Elizabeth Evans calls on Chancellor to Axe Planned Budget Fuel Duty Rise

Ceredigion’s Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Candidate Elizabeth Evans has welcomed her party president's call for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to axe a planned fuel duty rise in his budget this month.

Liberal Democrat President, Tim Farron MP has written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling on him to axe the planned fuel duty rise in his budget next week.

Labour announced the fuel duty increase in its final budget in power and it will come into force soon.

The average price per litre has now reached 130.03p for unleaded petrol and 135.44p for diesel, a record high. Tax accounts for 63% of the price of fuel at the pump.

Recently the Department for Work and Pensions announced that significantly fewer people than had previously been calculated signed up for Jobseekers Allowance in the early months' of 2011. This news coupled with the higher than expected quarterly tax figures; have meant that the Treasury will have more room for manoeuvre at this month's Budget than was previous thought.

Elizabeth and Tim would like to see the Treasury use this opportunity for some spending in the Budget to axe the proposed fuel duty rise and help hard working people in Ceredigion.

Elizsabeth Evans with Lib Dem President Tim Farron MP
at Tregaron Mart

On a visit to Ceredigion last week, Tim Farron said: "High fuel prices are causing real hardship across the country. I think we need to help hard pressed families and businesses and an easy way of doing that is cutting the cost of fuel. I am calling on the chancellor to use his budget to help us all by doing this",

Elizabeth Evans added: "In rural areas like ours a car is not a luxury it is a necessity. It's therefore crucial that the government seeks to support us by scrapping this planned budgetary fuel rise. Tim is therefore right to call on the Chancellor to do this and I was delighted to meet with him last week and to take him around Tregaron Mart where those concerns were being expressed to us both by farmers and local residents.

"I'm also delighted that our local MP Mark Williams has been fighting our corner by requesting that rural Wales and Ceredigion specifically be included in the Government's rural fuel rebate scheme. The Welsh Office with the support of the Minister David Jones are on-side and it's similarly important that we're successful in this call as the scheme, if implemented, could see a reduction in fuel prices at the pumps in Ceredigion by as much as 5p per litre".

Well said Liz.

Mark Williams MP Champions Rural Fuel Rebate for Ceredigion

I was very pleased to hear Welsh Minister David Jones announce yesterday that he has written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, asking for rural parts of Wales to be included within the rural fuel rebate scheme.

This came after our local MP Mark Williams quizzed the Minister during Welsh Questions.

Mark Williams wrote to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on the issue in January, and has long campaigned for a rural fuel rebate in areas such as Ceredigion, where the price of fuel is often higher despite there being fewer public transport options.

The Government has announced that they will pursue a rebate scheme, which would apply in the Highlands, the Northern Isles, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Islands of the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly. The scheme could see fuel prices at the pumps in these areas be reduced by 5p per litre.

During yesterday's Welsh questions session, Mark Williams pointed out the difficulties many in rural Wales are experiencing due to the current high cost of fuel, and asked for the Wales Office to urge the Treasury to include parts of Wales in the scheme. In response, David Jones confirmed that the Wales Office had written to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

Commenting, Mark Williams said:

Mark Williams MP
- Fighting for Ceredigion 



“The Government should be congratulated on their plans to introduce a scheme to help make rural fuel affordable, when the previous Labour Government claimed this was impossible.

“However, it is important that that help should be available to other similar communities, and I would argue that much of rural Wales would meet the criteria on remoteness and sparseness.

“This is a very good scheme, which is why the Liberal Democrats have been arguing for it for many years, but it needs to apply in all extremely rural and sparsely populated areas, so that we are not paying more for our petrol.”

It's good to know that our local MP is fighting for local, rural residents here in Ceredigion during what are difficult times for the rural economy with the escalating price of oil.

Here's hoping that the Government will agree with the representations made and include rural Wales in this rural fuel rebate scheme.

Wales Can Do Better - A Welsh Liberal Democrat Conference Review

It's been a great weekend in Cardiff at the Welsh Liberal Democrat conference.

I don't say this lightly or flippantly for the sake of it but because I know it to be true - after all, this was my 19th Welsh Liberal Democrat conference out of a possible 20 since my first one back in Llandudno in the spring of 2002. This, on top of my 14 Federal conferences out of a possible 19 since my first one back in Manchester 2002 means I've been to a total of 33 Liberal Democrat conference in all!

So I could be considered to be a bit of an 'old hack' when it comes to it. But it does give me an insight for one so (reasonably) young at the age of 28 to be able to take a side-ways on perspective of the weekend as I have a decent idea about what I'm talking about!

Biggest Welsh Lib Dem Conference Ever?
As far as the figures go, it was the biggest conference we've ever held. For the second time in 3 years, the Barcelo Angel Hotel in Cardiff hosted us which meant that, as is becoming the norm of late, we were able once more to host the entirety of the conference weekend festivities under one roof which makes it easier for us delegates to get about and see everything that is on offer.

The number of pre-registered delegates were the largest recorded (from what I gather) and for the first time in my memory, the conference dinner was sold out before the weekend had arrived. That meant no tickets available on the day for anyone who was going to chance it.

In my 9 years of conferencing, it really did show itself to be the biggest and best yet.

Security for the Deputy Prime Minister!
We even had on the Friday evening, the almost incredulous sight of security machines in the conference hotel for us to all check through! Why? Because Nick Clegg the federal party leader and now Deputy Prime Minister was to appear at our pre-conference rally.

It certainly feels like a long way forward since those cold and lesser attended conferences in Llandrindod Wells' Coleg Powys!

We've grown as a party and the level of debate has improved as we continue to decide on our party policy as delegates on a 'one member, one vote' basis. We saw that during the course of the weekend as the party agreed policies on education, health, rural affair and transport to name but a few.

We had more training events (something that we never held even up to only a few years ago) to help campaigners for the weeks ahead and there were some fantastic fringe events held by external organisations who were there in good number - again, a much heartier number than I recall in all my years of conferencing.

Media Interest

Chairing conference with my aide, Rhys Jones

We've always been well served by the Welsh media at our spring conferences and this year was no exception. With Nick Clegg addressing us on the Friday and our Welsh leader Kirsty Williams doing the same on the Saturday morning before Vince Cable did so in the later afternoon, there was plenty to talk about.

My weekend was a busy one - particularly on the Saturday - and took in, as it often does, this media element to conference. I chaired conference in the mid-morning, covering the Local Government and Economy debates. It was in part during the morning, broadcast live on S4C.

I then followed that by immediately leading conference in the financial appeal for the first time. It was very much the 'warm-up act' for Kirsty Williams' speech in which I got the crowd laughing and smiling with my inimitable brand of humour whilst doing my best to get as much money out of them as possible for our campaign war chest. It went well and Kirsty then gave a great speech in which she outlined a positive Welsh Liberal Democrat alternative to the failing Labour-Plaid Welsh Assembly Government.

I was straight back onto the nation's TV screens after Kirsty's speech when I did a live sofa-based interview with Dewi Llwyd for S4Cs conference coverage. I did so alongside Gwynoro Jones, a former Labour and SDP MP and former Liberal Democrat member who rejoined the party last May because Nick Clegg 'had the courage to go into Government with the Conservatives to clear up the mess Labour had left behind'.

I've heard of the name before of course and indeed I recall him standing as an Independent candidate on the Mid & West Wales regional list in the Welsh Assembly election in 2007, but I've never met him before and I hadn't realised that he'd re-joined the party (even sporting a Lib Dem bird of freedim tie!). It soon became apparent that his re-joining the party had also evaded the knowledgable Dewi Llwyd's attention and he reacted with some incredulity in the interview by asking Gwynoro how a former Labour MP could re-join the Liberal Democrats for having the guts to go into coalition with the Conservatives! This all meant that my part in the interview was more of a 'bit-part' character than normal but that didn't worry me - it was one of the most amusing interviews I can ever recall participating in!

It can be watched here on S4Cs iPlayer coverage from 1hr 40min.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00fj1sy/Cynhadleddau_Gwanwyn_2011_Y_Democratiaid_Rhyddfrydol/

In the late afternoon, after I'd heard Mark Williams MP propose a 'call to arms' to members to now lead the way in securing a second referendum 'Yes' vote on AV on May 5th after our fantastic success of getting a 'Yes to Wales' referendum victory last Thursday, I took some time out by catching up with colleagues at the conference bar. At this time, some of our younger members from Ceredigion gave an interview to BBC Wales and it can be found here at 1 hr and 50 minutes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00zgvt8/Welsh_Liberal_Democrats_Conference_Spring_Conference_2011_05_03_2011/

Well done to Ollie Duckley, Greg Foster and Hannah Thompson on giving a great performance!

A Conference Dinner Success - with help from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales!
After Vince Cable gave another excellent and honest address to conference (the man really is one of the few people I know who makes economics sound interesting), I settled down in my fantastically close-by B&B for a breather before getting back to the Angel by 6.30pm.

One of the best bits about conference for me is the catching-up with old friends from around the country - the more informal kind of 'networking'. Well I had the chance to do that with the likes of Anders Hanson who was down from Sheffield for the weekend (having previously lived in Aberystwyth). It was during the pre-dinner drinks reception with Anders and our local MP Mark Williams, that a BBC National Orchestra of Wales string quartet started playing right alongside us for our pleasure. I can safely say that it was one of the most surreal conference moments of my life! Never can I recall a Liberal Democrat conference entertaining such a treat! But then, what's wrong with adding a bit of class to the proceedings?! I wonder what Peter Black AM would've made of it had he not have taken a rare weekend off from conferencing himself!

The dinner as already reported, was full and former MP Evan Harris gave another great speech to us as he did last Spring (he was that popular we invited him back!). I was even lucky enough to draw the first raffle prize after the dinner which meant I got first pickings at the prizes and I made the most of my good fortune!

Non-suit Sunday
Sunday was as ever a quieter affair after the manic-ness that is the Saturday at conference. With the media having pretty much all packed their cases and left, it meant that the final few hours could be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace as is usually the case. This can usually be seen through the more dressed-down vibe seen around conference and this year was no expception.

I had been put down to lead on a training module alongside good friend Cllr Nick Tregonning from Swansea but whether it was because they all knew it all already or because they had been out too late at the bar the night before, no-one turned up! But not to worry, Nick and I proceeded to chat the hour away by putting the world to rights!

Conference guided itself to a close in the afternoon. Our Ceredigion Assembly candidate Liz Evans proposed and summated on the transport motion before Welsh Party President Christine Humphreys closed the conference with her traditional address.

Onward to the door-steps...
So, it's been another excellent conference and it is fair to say that, whatever the media may say about our electoral hopes and apirations, our conferences are continuing to go from strength to strength.

So it's back to our homesteads and back to campaigning on the door-steps. It's always great to spend a few days in the company of politically like-minded friends and colleagues but it's good to come home too and to put the policies and ideals that we espouse, into action.

As our conference weekend slogan said, Wales Can Do Better. We now need to spread that gospel on as many doorsteps as possible.

Lib Dems in Coalition Government Gives CABs a Crucial Reprieve

I was very pleased to hear this weekend that the Westminster government has found £27m to continue for one more year at least, the excellent support that CABs give with the Financial Inclusion Fund.

I should declare an interest here as I am the Chair of the Cardigan & District CAB and Joint Chair of the Shadow Ceredigion CAB Trustee Board and I can not over-state the amazing work that the volunteers and staff members do to help vulnerable residents in our locality - particularly in what are economically trying times.

But for some time now, a cloud has been hovering over the CAB service because it has seemed that the Financial Inclusion Fund would be axed at the end of this March.

Here in Cardigan, we have used the funding to provide 2 caseworkers who have seen 280 new clients over the past 12 months, but with the sword of damocles hanging above their heads, we have had concerns about the provision of debt advice if the funding is not continued or replaced.

In the last few days before the announcement was made, Ceredigion's MP Mark Williams spoke in a Westminster debate on the availability of debt management advice.

He commented:

“The Government are rightly looking at where cuts can be made to reduce the deficit, but I am concerned that scrapping the Financial Inclusion Fund could be a false economy.

“Many people have benefited from debt management advice, and it has allowed people to manage their debts while staying in work.

“A phone and online advice service is no substitute for face-to-face advice, particularly for vulnerable clients and those with mental health problems, who may find it difficult to understand what can be complex issues over the phone.

“I hope that the Government will rethink this, as it is vital that we have this advice in place during what have been difficult financial times for many.”

He also wrote to Lib Dem Business Minister Ed Davey MP, urging him to retain the funding. I'm delighted that the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban MP has now made the announcement.

It may only be a one-year reprieve at present but it's great news for the CABs across the UK and most importantly, for the clients who rely on the advice and support given.

Mark Williams MP Calls for Direct Aberystwyth-London Train Service

Ceredigion's Welsh Lib Dem MP Mark Williams has re-iterated his call today for a direct train service between Aberystwyth and London.

It comes on the day that the Wrexham and Shropshire rail service to London closed. The service was reinstated in 2008 after a gap of 41 years, but has been scrapped by Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway (WSMR) after a fall in customer numbers.

A direct Aberystwyth to London service was turned down last year by the Office of Rail Regulation because of the effect it would have on existing routes.

Mark Williams MP said:

“The Wrexham and Shropshire train provided an excellent service, and many of my constituents have benefited from the provision of a direct service to London from Shrewsbury.

“This highlights the need for a direct service to London from Mid Wales, which would be a huge boost to the area, and I hope Arriva Trains Wales will consider submitting a revised bid for a direct Aberystwyth to London service.

“For too long Mid Wales has been left isolated by the lack of rail services, and the demise of the Wrexham and Shropshire service is another blow.”

Mark is right and Arriva need to submit a revised bid for a direct service to properly re-connect Mid-Wales with London now that this route that passes through Shrewsbury has as of today, ceased to operate.

The last direct train from Aberystwyth to London was in 1991. It's been 20 long years and as students and tourists alike will testify, it's been sorely missed. It would be great for our local economy at this time to benefit from this service and as Arriva Trains want it also, the Office of Rail Regulation now need to re-consider and give us here in mid-Wales this extra, much needed life-line.

Ceredigion Launches It's 'Yes to Wales' Campaign

I was very pleased to have been present at the launch of Ceredigion's 'Yes to Wales' campaign in Aberystwyth last night.

In a launch of what will be an energetic campaign, it was great to see a full hall of some 175 or so, ready for the battle ahead.

An All-Party Effort
It was important for the campaign to see figures from the 4 main Welsh political parties at the launch. The evening was presided over in a measured way by the calm hand of former Labour MP, the highly respected cross-bencher Lord Elystan Morgan. We then heard from Ceredigion's Welsh Liberal Democrat MP Mark Williams, Plaid Cymru's Ceredigion AM Elin Jones, and former Conservative AM Lisa Francis.

An All-Community Effort
But it wasn't just a political affair. This March 3rd referendum on securing a much more straightforward and sensible devolution settlement for Wales will be won by the residents of Ceredigion and of the other counties of Wales and not by the politicians that lead them.

So it was great to see businessmen and teachers also speak in favour of a 'Yes' vote. The audience also contributed and showed commitment to the cause as well.

But now we need to lead by example. It's now a matter of going out on the door-steps and delivering leaflets through doors and setting-up street stalls throughout the county. We need to explain why a 'Yes' vote will benefit the residents of Ceredigion.

The work begins here.

Cardigan Magistrates Court Blow

The news is coming through this week that Cardigan Court is set to close under HMRCs rationalisation programme.

This is a real blow to the town after a strong campaign led by local residents, Cardigan Town Council and Ceredigion County Council to keep our court open.

The closure of the court was proposed under the original plans, announced in July, but the Lord Chief Justice recommended that Cardigan, along with a number of other courts in Wales should stay open.

However, the Conservative Courts Minister Jonathan Djanogly confirmed in an oral statement yesterday that Cardigan would be among the courts closing.

Ceredigion’s MP Mark Williams has rightly expressed his dismay at the decision. He has campaigned against the closure, securing a Westminster debate, and making a submission to the consultation.

He said:

“This decision is a huge blow, and I don’t think considerations of the distance to be travelled and poor public transport links have been fully taken into account. People from Cardigan and the surrounding area will not be able to get to the courts in Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest for the start of the morning, and many will be severely inconvenienced.


“The Government are right to be considering where savings can be made in the Courts Estate, but the Lord Chief Justice rightly argued that plans to close the court are unfeasible because of the long distances to the alternatives.


“I fear that access to justice in the south of Ceredigion will be impaired by this decision, and there will be knock-on implications for legal services in Cardigan.


“If the Government are going to close court buildings, they must give more serious consideration to the Magistrates Association’s suggestion of mobile justice in non-court buildings to give people the opportunity of local justice.”

The arguments that Mark Williams makes are clear. In such a rural area as ours, the closure of our Magistrates Court would threaten the opportunities that local residents have to access their justice system.

Room 101 - Lib Dems & Tuition Fees

My 101st blog post. The Number 101, or in its proper context, Room 101, is of course synonomous with George Orwell's Masterpiece 1984.

Room 101 is a torture chamber in the Ministry of Love in which the Party attempts to subject a prisoner to his or her own worst nightmare, fear or phobia.

The Lib Dems' Room 101 - Tuition Fees
After the last week, it could well be said that the issue of tuition fees has become an issue of torture for the party.

In a blog post here that I wrote last week, preceding the big Thursday vote, I gave my take on how the result would likely pan out...

"...my betting (if I was a gambling man), now that the Ministerial team have all said they will vote in favour, is on a Governmental majority of between 10-15 votes".

On the Lib Dem rebels, I also said: "I'm proud that local Ceredigion MP Mark Williams will be one of those and I hope that more than 20 of our backbenchers follow suit".

The Result
The Governmental majority of 21 in the end was a shade over my estimate and the number of Lib Dem MPs to vote against the Government was 21 - just past my estimate.

In Favour (28 MPs)
Danny Alexander
Norman Baker
Sir Alan Beith
Gordon Birtwistle
Tom Brake
Jeremy Browne
Malcolm Bruce
Paul Burstow
Vincent Cable
Alistair Carmichael
Nick Clegg
Edward Davey
Lynne Featherstone
Don Foster
Stephen Gilbert
Duncan Hames
Nick Harvey
David Heath
John Hemming
Norman Lamb
David Laws
Michael Moore
Andrew Stunell
Jo Swinson
Sarah Teather
David Ward
Steve Webb
Government whip Mark Hunter acted as a teller.

Against (21 MPs)
Annette Brooke
Sir Menzies Campbell
Michael Crockart
Tim Farron
Andrew George
Mike Hancock
Julian Huppert
Charles Kennedy
John Leech
Stephen Lloyd
Greg Mulholland
John Pugh
Alan Reid
Dan Rogerson
Bob Russell
Adrian Sanders
Ian Swales
Mark Williams
Roger Williams
Jenny Willott
Simon Wright

Abstained or Absent (8 MPs)
Lorely Burt
Simon Hughes
Tessa Munt
Sir Robert Smith
John Thurso
Stephen Williams
Chris Huhne (at climate summit in Mexico)
Martin Horwood (at climate summit in Mexico)

There's a lot of discontent in the party at a grass-roots level as a result of the divide but unlike the Labour Party when they were in goverrment, I don't see this become a wider rancour at a Parliamentary level at the party leadership.

The Welsh Dimension
A sub-set addition to this result was that here in Wales, all 3 of the Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the measure. Mark Williams and Roger Williams were joined by Jenny Willott who resigned her Government position to do so.

This is one in the eye for nationalists who argue that the Welsh Liberal Democrats, along with the Welsh Conservatives and Welsh Labour are 'London-led' and that they, Plaid Cymru, are the only party that care about and will look after the interests of Wales. What a load of absolute rubbish.

There are many of us here in Wales who can't stand this close-minded nationalistic rhetoric. No one party has a monopoly on patriotism and this one vote in itself shows that we in the Liberal Democrats are a federal party that operate at that federal level. We'll do what we decide is best in Wales and vote accordingly. Kirsty Williams is our leader in Cardiff and we're proud to lead from her example.

Whilst I'm disappointed that the MPs above voted in favour as they did, I'm proud that the 'Welsh Three' stuck to their guns and voted against. More power to their collective elbows.

A Plea to Lib Dem Backbench MPs - Keep the Pledge and enter the 'No' Lobby tomorrow

A few months ago I gave my clear views on the whole tuition fees debate as stated here in my blog. My position has not changed now we find ourselves on the eve of the big vote.

It must be said that the package which is being voted on tomorrow has some very good elements to it. But there's one significant part of it of course which is causing great distress to Parliamentarians and grass-roots activists alike - the rise in fees.

It's the fact that a pledge was signed before the election by each of our 57 MPs to vote against a rise in fees that is causing an understandable unease.

I really don't need to re-iterate what I said in my earlier post - it states the position quite clearly.

But to add to that, I felt that of all the talk in the media in recent days, possibly the most measured and balanced response has come from grandee and former leader Paddy Ashdown.



In this interview a few days ago, the point that registered with me most is this one - "Even if we agree to disagree, there has been no rancour, there's been no public splits about this, people's positions have been respected, so the party comes through it".

This is important because we find ourselves on the verge of a 3 way-split in the party as it votes tomorrow. There is a need to admit as a parliamentary party that not all can be won over to the Coalition cause on this issue - Liberal Democrat policy is clearly holding a greater sway for the rebellelious many than the coalition agreement signed in May.

To those who are looking to walk into the 'No' lobby and in doing so, keep to their pledge, I say this - more power to your elbow.

I'm proud that local Ceredigion MP Mark Williams will be one of those and I hope that more than 20 of our backbenchers follow suit. If a greater handful of Tory MPs do the same, it is possible that the vote could fall. If it had been me in that situation, without a doubt it is what I would do.

But having said that, my betting (if I was a gambling man), now that the Ministerial team have all said they will vote in favour, is on a Governmental majority of between 10-15 votes.

We will see and I will report back on the result and the votes of Liberal Democrat MPs.

A Time for Lib Dem MP's to Rebel

Being in coalition means a need to compromise. When a coalition is required, it means that no one party has won the election outright. It means that no one party can lead a government unimpaired, with an ability to enact their policies as they see fit.

So it is with the Westminster coalition. There are many governmental initiatives that are Tory led which makes a number of us Lib Dems feel queasy. At the same time, watching the Tory conference last week in Birmingham, it's clear that their rank-and-file aren't at all happy at how some of their policies have been watered down to accommodate its more centrist partners. So we must be doing something right.

A joint agreement for government has been agreed by both parties, but that document can not and does not cover every eventuality.

A Fees Disaster
The agreement made in May for example could not account for the detail that was to be unveiled this morning in Lord Browne's review.
The rumours have been doing the rounds for days but we now know the recommendations - that the £3,290 cap on University fees be lifted with potential charges of up to £12,000 a year to be requested from students. The devil is in the detail of course and there are some notable recommendations that would allay some of the concerns - for example the raising of the threshold where repayments must be made from £15,000 to £21,000.

A Pledge is a Pledge
But, say what you like, the Liberal Democrat view on this has been loud and clear for many a year.

Indeed, over 500 Lib Dem parliamentary candidates signed a NUS pledge to vote against an increase in tuition fees for students before the election. There are times, when in government, where we must stand up for our core principles and remind the watching public, that when we say something, we mean it.

It'll be tough for those in the Executive to do any more than abstain, as the coalition agreement allows them to do - we do of course have that constraint of collective responsibility. But the likes of Nick Clegg, who said pre-election that “We will resist, vote against, campaign against, a rise in tuition fees" will have to seriously consider whether he can hold to that coalition agreement when in his own city lies the Universities of Sheffield and Hallam.

Bachench Backlash
For those Lib Dem MP's on the backbenches however, the constraint of collective responsibility holds less water. It will be interesting to see how they respond to the recommendations and the government line on these recommendations, once they are known to us all.

There is no doubt however that this will prove to be the first real test of the coalition's resolve. Whatever happens however, it won't bring the coalition to its knees - anyone who hopes that that may be the case, does not realise the deep sense of purpose that exists within the coalition ranks, of clearing up Labour's mess.

But there will always be tension and this will undoubtedly be one of them. For the sake of our credibilty on those issues in which we have shouted loud and proud, our MPs need to have the courage of their convictions and vote with their conscience.

This may well be an England-only issue in principle, but its impact has UK-wide repercussions.

So I'm pleased to see that our local Lib Dem MP Mark Williams has come out against a rise in fees and he has stated very simply, that he will vote against such a move in Parliament.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-11512604

There's a time and a place for rebellion - particularly in government. This is most certainly one of them.