It is a shame that the GPEW has not seen fit to issue a statement along these lines. I endorse it fully. Andy Chyba.

Speaking on behalf of the Greens/Europe Free Alliance MEP group at the European Parliament, this is a translation (by Green Left’s Nicole Haydock) of Michele Rivasi ‘s statement on the recent terrorist attacks in France.

“ One does not protect Human Rights by negating them; one cannot protect freedom with less freedom”

Mr President and dear colleagues,

My sympathy, our sympathy, goes to the 17 victims, artists and journalists, police officers, Jews , Christians, Atheists and Muslims, their families and their nearest and dearest.

My thoughts go to those millions of citizens in France, Europe and in the World who have expressed their sadness and support and who have reminded us again only yesterday that fear and hatred has not won.

And yet, following these terrorist attacks, when this huge awakening jolt in France and in Europe has taken place, we must be vigilant not to fall into a double trap:

The trap set by fanatics responsible for those dreadful terrorist attacks, but also the trap laid down by demagogues of all types who consider these recent events as a declaration of war against Islam in the rest of the planet. Just as we will not accept the idea of a war of civilisations, we will not accept either sickening conflations, such as those adopted by nationalists and those stoking the fire of a nationality identity crisis across Europe.

A second trap is also looming: that of seeing our freedom drowned under a new security arsenal invoked under the pretext of fighting against terrorism.

The “Patriot Act” voted on in the US in response to 11th September has led to the scandal of state sponsored illegal imprisonments and the CIA violating the rights of individuals to privacy. This has put in danger European citizens’ rights and freedoms too.

Let’s not fall into this trap: one does not protect Human Rights by negating them; one does not protect freedom with less freedom.

Let’s take action against the stigmatisation and discrimination towards the children of Europe because of their religion, their names and their origins or because of the neighbourhood they come from.

Let’s stop this spiralling downwards trend where failing our young people turns into despair for all of them and hatred and barbarism from a few of them.

And since we are preparing for a European investment plan, let’s use this opportunity to give priority to education, training and public services for those millions of young people.

Let’s give to the children of Europe “ More love and less hatred” as illustrated only a few days ago on the cover of Charlie Hebdo newspaper.

Tout est pardonee = All is forgiven

Dear Andy, Should the Prime Minister be allowed to sign up the UK to TTIP without MPs even having a say on what’s in it? That’s the current situation, but this Thursday, MPs will vote on a motion demanding proper input on the final agreement. That gives each of us 48 hours to push our MP to support it. [1] The TTIP trade deal between the EU and US will affect us all. It could give US corporations new powers to sue our government in secret courts, and could threaten further privatisation of public services. [2] It’s outrageous that the Prime Minister could sign us up without MPs even having a say on what’s in the deal. We don’t have long, but if thousands of us write to our MPs, they’ll see that we won’t accept a deal that rides roughshod over our democracy. Please can you take two minutes to email your MP and ask them to vote for a say on TTIP this Thursday, 15th January? [3] https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-uk-vote-2 Giving parliament the final say over whether the UK signs up to TTIP would force MPs to start taking some responsibility. They won’t want to put their names to something that could threaten our NHS and see big businesses holding the government to ransom. When you send your email, copies will also be sent to the people standing to be your MP at the next election. Your MP won’t want to be caught on the wrong side of the argument in front of their opponents! [4] https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-uk-vote-2 Together we’ve already done so much to fight this trade deal. 38 Degrees members have signed petitions, written to their MEPs and taken to the streets to tell the public about the deal. We’re having an impact – the more that people hear about TTIP, the less they like it! [5] But right now our Prime Minister says he wants to put “rocket boosters” under the deal. [6] We’ve got a real problem if he’s able to ignore everyone and sign us up without MPs having a say on what’s in the deal. So let’s turn up the pressure on MPs, and make sure they realise their voters expect them to take some responsibility for ensuring TTIP can’t be waved through. Please email your MP now: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/ttip-uk-vote-2 Thanks for being involved, Megan, Nat, Blanche and the 38 Degrees team PS: The debate this Thursday is a backbench business debate. It’s been put forward by Geraint Davies MP. While the vote won’t be legally binding, if all MPs support parliament having a final say on the deal, it will be harder for that right to be denied to us when negotiations for TTIP are over. PPS: TTIP is a far-reaching deal that won’t just affect our NHS. To read more about it click here: http://www.waronwant.org/attachments/HILARY_LONDON_FINAL_WEB.pdf http://www.waronwant.org/attachments/TTIP%20mythbuster,%20Sept%202014.pdf NOTES [1] BBC: Week ahead: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30777749 [2] Independent: What is TTIP? And six reasons why the answer should scare you: http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/what-is-ttip-and-six-reasons-why-the-answer-should-scare-you-9779688.html [3] Parliament: parliamentary business for Thursday 15 January 2015: http://services.parliament.uk/calendar/#!/calendar/Commons/MainChamber/2015/1/15/events.html [4] When you send your email, it will be copied to the candidates that the 38 Degrees office team is aware of in your constituency. If none have been announced, your email will just go to your MP. These candidates, along with your MP, will then have your email address. If you know of candidates in your constituency that are not on the list, please email their details to ttipaction [5] 38 Degrees: Vince Cable: fix or scrap TTIP: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/petition-ttip 38 Degrees: TTIP: EU consultation: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/07/10/ttip-eu-consultation/ 38 Degrees: TTIP: day of action: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/09/02/ttip-day-of-action-2/ 38 Degrees: European day of action: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2014/10/03/ttip-european-day-of-action/ [6] BBC: TTIP: Cameron pledges support for EU-US trade deal: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30073357

I, Andy Chyba, am now going to use the principle of freedom of speech to embark on some heartfelt observations that will be far from universally accepted, and that some will choose to find offensive. Tough! But first, let me make clear that I too was shocked by the nature of this crime and the direct attack, on principles we hold dear, that it represented. Despite never having heard of any of the victims before, they and their magazine clearly represent an attitude to religion that I relate to. As such I do mourn their loss and hope they would endorse what I am about to say. Just about everything I have read so far about this atrocity has gone on about it being an attack on ‘freedom of speech’. This is fine as far as it goes (although there is a debate to be had about the extent to which we actually have freedom of speech), but I tend to find such comments a bit condescending and patronising much of the time (even when I make them myself). It is almost as if people are saying “You are talking a load of rubbish, but feel free to carry on saying it, you idiot”. Some of the comments about Charlie Hebdo have been close to this, but I also think that there is another dimension to this that people are loathe to articulate, and that is to defend and endorse what Charlie Hebdo has actually been saying, not just about Islam, but religion in general, i.e. religion is ridiculous and it should be ridiculed. One of my main reasons for saying this may seem untenable at first, given the events in Paris. Ridiculing all religion in general is possibly the best way we have of ridding the world of the scourge of religious fundamentalist extremists. Extremities of any sort are the far-flung elements at the periphery of the more substantial main body. That is the same for fingers and toes, as it is for leaves and twigs. You can remove extremities and the main body will survive easily enough, and their is always the potential for regrowth of the extremities. Take the main body away from the extremities and they simply cannot survive – they just shrivel away to nothing. It is the main body that generates and sustains the extremities. Rationality alone is not enough to rid people of deeply ingrained and indoctrinated religious beliefs. Scientists with religious beliefs are not common, but far from unknown. Highly intellectual clergy apply their intelligence to trying to solve the inevitable riddles of their irrational beliefs. But constant challenging, and yes, repeated ridiculing, does get through to people eventually. When everyone around you points out your stupidity, you may get defensive at first, but all but the most stupid will start evaluating their position. I therefore contend that rather than politely respecting religious beliefs, especially those of the mild-mannered middle ground, we owe it to humanity as a whole to do our best to consign these ancient and primitive creeds, focussed on supernatural nonsense, to the dustbin of history. ‘Doing our best’ will never involve guns, bombs or violence of any sort. Violence is never a rational response to any problem. ‘Doing our best’ will never involve unduly picking on one set of religious beliefs in particular. We do not discriminate – they are all ridiculous. ‘Doing our best’ does not involve banning anything, or denying people anything. ‘Doing our best’ does involve using the power of the spoken and written word to keep on pointing out the idiocy of it all. Let them be offended. Let them be indignant. These are the responses of people losing the rational arguments and having nothing else to defend themselves with. But beware – these people are the ones that then give up on words and turn to violence – never to avenge their (non-existent) gods, but as the last resort to shut up the people they can’t stand seeing and hearing highlight their stupidity. They are losers, and when they are all gone we may finally achieve some semblance of a sane world.      

PS. While standing by my comments above, I have been made aware of some debatably racist stuff published by Charlie Hebdo. This is, of course, a wholly different matter. Racism is even more indefensible than religion, and has more to say about the people who espouse it than those it is directed at. It therefore should not be banned – the free speech argument again – but needs opposing and ridiculing in itself. So as much as “Je suis Charlie” re religion, they perhaps cannot be granted unconditional solidarity even at this difficult time.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 21,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 8 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

7.00pm Thursday 8th January 2015 at the Railway P.H., Derwen Road, Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan CF31 1LH (one minute from train station and 2 mins from bus station)

ALL WELCOME (Especially new members!)

AGENDA:

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Apologies for Absence
3. Minutes and matters arising
4. Officers Reports – including membership update
5. Councillor feedback
6. Campaigns Update- fracking/bedroom tax
7. Elections – General Election candidates for Bridgend and Ogmore
8. Bridgend Green Party AGM
9. AOB – incl National Conference
10. DoNM

REMINDER – If anyone needs a lift to any of our meetings, let Andy know (andy.chyba) and we will organise it for you.

N.B.
Re Agenda item 7: I am considering my future with the Green Party at the moment and as such have decided to withdraw my candidacy as Bridgend’s PPC for the General Election. Wales Green Party’s aim remains to stand in as many constituencies as possible, and there are rumours of candidates being ‘parachuted’ in if we do not find candidates from among our ranks. Personally, I think this should happen if the Bridgend membership are happy for it to happen. There are other places these ‘volunteer’ candidates could stand if we did not want to contest our constituency, for whatever reason. I have no strong feelings over this at all, one way to the other. GE selection rules attached.

2014 GE selection rules-1.doc

Re Agenda item 8: The AGM will take place on Thursday 5th February – venue to be confirmed. This is going to be a ‘make or break’ AGM for Bridgend Green Party.
I am no longer going to be effectively running the party as chairman, irrespective of whether I remain a member or not. I will, however, be happy enough to advise and assist whoever takes over.
The Elections Officer role has been John Evans’ domain until he resigned his national membership earlier this year and reverted to being just a local member. He is not therefore eligible to continue in this role, which has to be taken by a full national member.
The Treasurers role has been undertaken by Neil Rogers for the last 4 years. I will ascertain whether he is happy to continue, or not, at January’s meeting.
If these roles are not filled at the AGM, the Local Party becomes unconstituted and should be wound up, or merged with another local party. I will be submitting a provisional motion to the AGM to cover this eventuality. Bridgend Local party Constitution attached:

Bridgend Local Party constitution.doc

AGM Provisional Agenda:

• (1) Welcome, Election of chair,
• (2) Minutes,
• (3) Reports from officers and councillor,
• (4) Election of officers,
• (5) Review of year (including campaigning activity and Conference feedback),
• (6) Report on Election campaigns and situation re target wards,
• (7) Motions and BGP constitutional amendments (if any),
• (8) Dates and venues for next 12 months
• (9) A.O.B.

Notes:
OFFICERS
We run on a skeleton executive of three officers at present in order to satisfy National Party and legal requirements.
These consist of:

1. Chairman – acting also as Local Party Contact (and PPERA Second Officer)
2. Elections Officer – acting as Election Agent and Nominating Officer
3. Treasurer

On top of this, there is a need for a Minuting Secretary (currently being done by the Elections Officer) and Blog/Website Officer (currently being done by the Chair). In an ideal world, we also need a Membership Secretary (sort of done by the Chair currently); and, ideally, a Fundraising Co-ordinator.

MOTIONS and/or BGP Constitutional Amendments
If any body wants to propose any, then please do so by email or post by 20th January, so that they can can be distributed for consideration before the AGM itself. They will need proposing and seconding by full members (either at the AGM or via email/post in advance) before they can be put to a vote at the AGM.

clicking on image takes you to the poll proper

I believe the three options given should cover everybody’s position. If not, please add a comment.

Comments supporting your choice would also be welcomed.

I will start with a point that will be uncontentious, which is that we are living through a period of political upheaval and turmoil like no other in my lifetime. Things are up for grabs like no other time I have known. From this point on I will not carry everyone with me, I am sure.

The next three years will see whether or not a meaningful change of direction can be achieved through the electoral systems we have in place. We have to hope so, as the alternatives, that will move towards inevitability, will have mass casualties.

When I joined the Green Party, I did so recognising that it would a long hard slog to slowly chip away towards gradual electoral success. Caroline Lucas was elected as the culmination of something like 20 years hard work. Councillors started to be elected in ever-increasing numbers where local activists were prepared to do the careful planning and hard slog of what has become the tried and tested ‘Target To Win’ (TTW) strategy. This remains the most assured way to achieve electoral success, but the last few months have thrown up the prospect of being able to grab some influence and start imposing parts of our agenda sooner than we could have dared hope. But there are all manner of dangers and pitfalls in these opportunities.

The impact of the Scottish Independence Referendum has been quite startling, especially given its outcome. It has injected a much needed dose of vigour into our politics, that has seen the long decline in political party membership overturned and unprecedented surges in membership for the SNP and Green Parties in particular, and renewed growth for Plaid Cymru, Lib Dems (having reached a nadir 2 years ago) and UKIP. It has to be recognised that these collective membership increases are nowhere near as significant as the losses of membership of the Conservatives and Labour parties.

But there is a world of difference between membership numbers, national polling averages and achieving success in elections. FPTP rewards local and regional strength ahead of general popularity. It therefore becomes vital for small parties to target and develop winnable seats (TTW) , and work together with political allies to achieve greater collective successes (alliance building).

This is where sudden surges of new members can become problematic. Two-thirds of Wales Green Party members have been members for less than a year. Half have been members for less than six months. They are full of natural enthusiasm and feel part of a rising tide that they feel has sufficient momentum to sweep all aside to glorious and inevitable glory. How many seats are we going to win next year? At least three? Six I am told regularly. Up to 12 some seem to believe. Of course, not one of those will be in Wales, but we will get most of our 30 odd deposits back, I am assured, even though our best ever Westminster result ever is 3.8%. And all this less than six months before the election and not a single door has been knocked or leaflet delivered.

Not only is TTW not properly understood or being followed anywhere in Wales, but any thought of alliance building seems completely alien to many of the new Greens, and too many of the more influential older Greens. The newbies seem to have joined the Greens thinking our ideals are loftier and more sacrosanct than other parties and that on our current trajectory, we will sweep to power and be able to implement it all soon enough. Just what sort of ‘green’ party are we? Even a party with 90% in common with us is not pure enough for many to touch. This is a recipe for marginalisation and irrelevance. It is also in denial of some of the ‘impure’ campaigning that some Greens are capable of engaging in.

The crucial importance of alliance building in the current political climate is recognised by those intent on grabbing opportunities to get a lever on government and decision-making. The Lib Dems have shown us the pitfalls of coalition, and even more so of making promises that you then too easily bin, but they have had considerable success in getting elements of their manifesto implemented and taken the sharper edges off of some Tory cuts. But the bottom line is that propping up a Tory government is likely to prove unforgivable for many of their previous voters. But with a hung parliament looking a nigh on certainty at this point, these are all useful lessons for us to learn.

So what we have witnessed this week is, I believe, a hugely important opportunity to start doing politics a genuinely different way, and also to start undermining the neoliberal hegemony that has had a stranglehold on Westminster since Thatcher and Blair. I am, of course, talking about this:

The following extracts are from the Green Party website:

Leader of the Green party in England and Wales Natalie Bennett, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood have today stated that all three parties will unite whenever possible to battle the Westminster parties’ obsession with austerity.

During a meeting at Westminster today the three party leaders said that with no end yet in sight to the failed austerity agenda of the Westminster parties, the General Election next May is an opportunity to change UK politics for the better.

Bennett said:

“I am delighted to have the chance to catch up with two other female leaders of anti-austerity parties in the UK. Together, we represent, with the Scottish Green Party, a new way of doing politics, a move away from the business-as-usual model of the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems that no longer represents public opinion.”

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said:

“Plaid Cymru and the SNP provide an alternative to Westminster’s promise of austerity and cuts to public services. As the only parties, together with the Greens, to reject the cuts consensus, it is unjustifiable and undemocratic to exclude our three parties from proposed leaders’ debates during the forthcoming UK elections.”

“If the people of Wales return a strong contingent of Plaid Cymru MPs in May, then Wales will be best placed to secure an outcome to improve the prospects of our people and communities.”

Where does this leave Wales Green Party? Marginalised and irrelevant?

What I am about to say may well be disputed by some, but will be recognised as the truth by many of the longer-standing members. Wales Green Party has long been seen as a slightly embarrassing ‘cousin’ that has a long history of under-achievement and is a source of repeated embarrassment. I do not want to dwell on proving this point to those that doubt it. But I do want to dwell on the opportunity to change this perception that is at hand.

At this point, let me stress that this is not about any bitterness from losing out in the leadership contest. I was more relieved than anything else when I learned the result, as I knew I had bitten off more than I could comfortably chew. This is about laying out my firmly held beliefs about opportunities that need to be grasped, before becoming (happily) marginalised and irrelevant myself.

If we take a realistic look at the state of the parties with regards the 2015 General election, a survey of most recent respectable polls yields the following as my best guesses as to where we are likely find ourselves in May:

2015 General Election predictions

The middle figures in bold are essentially median estimates based on recent polls. They are endlessly debatable, but there are a few points I would like to emphasise that are not dependent on the precise numbers.

Firstly, only the most extreme figures allow for any party (Labour) to have an absolute majority. It is strongly odds-on that we will have a hung parliament.

Secondly, if the median figures are anywhere near accurate, then no two-party coalition will be able to muster a majority either (other than a highly unlikely, if not completely implausible, Con/Lab one).
This, I would suggest, is why the social democrats (left of centre) of the SNP are keen to have allies in the ecosocialists (further left) of the Green Party and Plaid Cymru.

However, if the median figures prove spot on, even the combination of Labour/SNP/PC/Green won’t quite make a majority, falling 5 short (hello Sinn Fein?). It is therefore incumbent on all three of the new ‘allies’ to try and edge their contributions towards the higher end of the possible. However, I expect Labour to ‘bounce’ up a bit in Scotland (maybe +5) (probably partly at SNP expense, say -3), but that does not really alter the equation much for the Greens and PC. If they can both hit their ‘hi’ score, that might just be enough.

This is where is gets uncomfortable for Wales Green Party (WGP).

WGP is currently part of GPEW. Given that GPEW is clearly totally committed to building an ongoing alliance with PC and SNP, because they have the potential to deliver seats that neither Scottish Greens nor WGP can deliver in the foreseeable future, then is it not incumbent on Wales Green Party to do whatever it can to make this ‘dream’ alliance possible? This offers exciting possibilities going forward that, I would suggest, make advances for Welsh Greens much quicker, bigger and more secure into the bargain.

What could this mean in practice?

In return for Wales Green Party stepping aside in PC’s winnable seats next year (the 2 key marginals in particular), what could be offered in return? Some, or all, of the following I would hope:
> Joint regional top-up lists, pretty much guaranteeing seats in Welsh Government in 2016
> Electoral pacts, especially for the local authority elections in 2017, providing a clear run and additional support in target wards in every local authority in Wales
> Financial support from PC and GPEW to make the above a stronger reality, in gratitude for assistance given in 2015
> An overtly ecosocialist profile that will broaden the appeal of both parties and act as a magnet to all other ecosocialists lurking in other parties (Labour/Lib Dems/LU/SWP/TUSC etc)

Remember, alliances are not about joint manifestoes and sacrificing principles or identity. They are about building constructive working relationships to enhance the chances of delivering common objectives. Everyone should be a winner.

Just because the WGP members have rejected my brand of leadership (probably quite wisely), does not, I hope, mean that the vision I share with the three women in the photo needs to be rejected as well.

I would go so far as to say that if Wales Green Party is not prepared to support this vision and be a team player, then it needs to go the whole hog and become fully independent of GPEW. I am 100% sure GPEW will facilitate this asap if desired. Then WGP will be completely free of GPEW policy and can do as it sees fit on everything. It may be the quickest way round all its constitutional messes too as a wholly new constitution would be required.

It needs to make a bold decision one way or another, and as soon as possible. The clock is ticking.

via BIFF (Britain & Ireland Frack Free)

In a significant break from the pro-austerity consensus of the three main parties, the Green Party of England and Wales, the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru came together today to declare their opposition to austerity.

Leader of the Green Party in England and Wales Natalie Bennett, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood today stated that all three parties will unite whenever possible to battle the Westminster parties’ obsession with austerity.

During a meeting at Westminster the three party leaders said that with no end yet in sight to the failed austerity agenda of the Westminster parties, the General Election next May is an opportunity to change UK politics for the better.

Natalie Bennett said:

I am delighted to have the chance to catch up with two other female leaders of anti-austerity parties in the UK. Together, we represent, with the Scottish Green Party, a new way of doing politics, a move away from the business-as-usual model of the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems that no longer represents public opinion.

We are the voice of real change – a voice that must be represented in the leader debates next year.

The ‘Green surge’ that has seen membership in England and Wales more than double, and Scottish

Green Party membership nearly quadruple in 2014 is a sign of the shifting political landscape.

Collectively the Green parties will be standing in more than 75% of seats in the UK, reflecting the advance of our political philosophy that rejects austerity and believes that everyone should have access to the resources for a decent quality of life, with certainty, without fear, while we all live collectively within the limits of our one planet.

And in thinking about future financial stability, we have to focus on the reason for our current difficulties, the near-collapse of our fraud-ridden, reckless, over-large financial sector.

Green MP Caroline Lucas is an outstanding MP as shown by the numerous awards she has received including the prestigious MP of the year for her work with disadvantaged communities. Electing more Greens next year will help to bring about a peaceful revolution in British politics, towards a government that works for the common good, not just for the few.

First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said:

There is no end in sight to the Westminster cuts that are already hitting Scotland hard – the Autumn Statement earlier this month set out another £15bn of cuts that are coming our way. Not only will these cuts continue to hit hard-working families, women and the vulnerable hardest – they will also put growth and competitiveness at risk.

But despite the deeply damaging impacts of failed austerity, the Tories and Labour have made crystal clear their determination to carry on regardless.

And after four years propping up the Tories, the Lib Dems have no credibility. It is time for a new approach to UK politics – and for our parties to use our influence to bring about progressive change at Westminster.

Following the referendum in Scotland, the political landscape has changed utterly. The SNP is now the third biggest political party in the UK in terms of membership.

Last month we sent this message to the BBC, ITV, Sky and Channel 4 – to exclude the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru from general election TV debates would be to wilfully ignore this new political landscape. Put simply, it is just not on.

Electing a strong group of SNP MPs will ensure that Scotland’s voice is heard at Westminster. Along with Plaid Cymru and the Green Party, we will work to do everything possible to tackle inequality and bring about sustainable economic growth.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said:

Plaid Cymru and the SNP provide an alternative to Westminster’s promise of austerity and cuts to public services. As the only parties, together with the Greens, to reject the cuts consensus, it is unjustifiable and undemocratic to exclude our three parties from proposed leaders’ debates during the forthcoming UK elections. I reiterate my calls for Plaid Cymru’s inclusion in those debates in order to ensure the people can exercise their right to question and scrutinise all major parties.

The people of Wales face a real choice at the election. All three Westminster parties are committed to slash and burn economics. That means cuts for the sake of cuts rather than balancing the books by investment and spreading opportunities. It is likely that there will be another hung parliament after the election. In that scenario, Plaid Cymru could hold the balance of power alongside our colleagues in the SNP. Should that happen, Plaid Cymru will seek a rebalancing of power and wealth in the UK: transferring powers away from London to Wales so more of our fate is in our own hands; spreading investment away from the booming City of London to areas in most need of investment.

If the people of Wales return a strong contingent of Plaid Cymru MPs in May, then Wales will be best placed to secure an outcome to improve the prospects of our people and communities.

The question that remains to be answered is what role Wales Green Party will play in either strengthening or weakening this historic alliance.

This keynote seminar was held at the Angel Hotel this morning and featured a lot of the players and vested interests in the energy sector from across Wales, including delegates from grass roots organisations – including Frack Free Wales (me).

Main points from each contributor:

PETER DAVIES (Commissioner for Sustainable Futures and Chair of Climate Change Commission for Wales)

Stressed the lack of public trust in energy companies and government. Called for much better participative processes and proper support for community renewables initiatives in a bottom up approach to tackling the issues.

DAVID TC DAVIES (MP for Monmouth)

Almost as good looking and intelligent as James Delingpole . My guess for what the TC in his name should stand for is not printable. Has form. This review by George Monbiot  of one of his speeches in the Commons will do fine here: “a Conservative MP called David TC Davies, … used his speech to produce a long list of conspiracy theories and zombie myths: claims that have been repeatedly debunked but keep resurfacing. “

SIMON POWER (Arup Director)

There is too much focus on the supply side – we need to do a lot more on the demand side but we are lacking any vision or leadership from Welsh Government.

DAVID JONES (Marine Energy Pembrokeshire)

Massive resource in Wales are being completely untapped. Even a very modest 30MW installation, which could be operational in 3-4 years, would provide 2000 person years of employemnet and £70million GVA.

GERWYN WILLIAMS (UK Onshore Gas Group – incl Coastal Oil & Gas)

Most interesting was our brief discussion beforehand where he revealed his stock market flotation has had difficulties and is a few months behind schedule. His new line of spin was that shale gas should be seen as providing the carbon for lightweight vehicles and the hydrogen for pollution free vehicles.

BEN LEWIS (GVA Director of Planning, Development and Regeneration)

Gave some interesting case studies:

TATA Steel in Port Talbot are building their own gas-fired power station that operates of the gases produced in their production processes, making them self-sufficient in energy.

Glyn Rhonwy, Snowdonia, is the first pumped storage scheme since the 1980s and will provide 99Mw of near instant response hydro electric power to help manage spikes in demand.

Also made the case for small modular nuclear reactors and also the need for more integrated, joined-up planning from Welsh Governmant.

Prof PHILLIP JONES (Cardiff University)

Looked at managing demand side through low carbon built environments and energy efficiency in buildings. Lamented inadequate building regs and lack of commitment to retrofit measures. Slammed WG for the gap between their rhetoric and their delivery.

CARL SARGENT (AM and Minister for Natural Resources)

Gave some more rhetoric about being the best at this and that and trotting out the same old rhetoric about sustainability being at the centre of all policy making. No sense of irony evident in his re-inforcement of Prof Jones point above.

Baroness JENNIFER RANDERSON (Lib Dem peer)

Keen to stress Government duty to ‘keep the lights on’ but introduced the serious dimension of aging infrastructure and historical under-investment in the grid – which was highlighted by a questioner pointing out a community renewables scheme in Mid Wales that has recently been rejected because of lack of grid capacity to accept what they produce (a mere 12mw)

MAXINE FRERK (Ofgem)

Stressed the challenges of trying to make markets work for the consumer and of being able to regulate networks.

SAM WHITE (Miller Research)

Focussed on problems of filling the skills gap and skilled labour shortages for areas like marine energy, lamenting the fact that it is left to companies to train up staff rather than finding mainstream education providing the grounding for these new industries.

Dr JOHN RHYS (Oxford University)

Emphasised need to develop new technologies in energy storage, CCS and control systems. Lamented the high subsidies for fossil fuels while renewables struggle for investment and also lamented the lack of certainty and stability in energy policy to make developing these technologies worthwhile for the private sector.

JONATHAN WILKINSON (Montgomeryshire Against Pylons)

Representative of the local pressure group, with a largely untenable position calling for energy innovation without the eyesore of pylons blotting the landscape. Did however, make the strong and important point about involvement and consultation with local communities being important from the outset – something our groups like FFW are much better at than the developers, I would suggest.

BEN RUSSELL (Horizon Nuclear Power)

One of the main developers of Wylfa Newydd on Anglesey. Outlined stages of plan to get it operational by 2025, with training of the workforce required being a key issue.

Dr IAN REES (Principal Coleg Menai)

Explained how they are rising to the challenge of meeting the needs of Wylfa Newydd in the courses they are developing.

In the final Q&A, I raised the point that a recurring theme of the day had been the inability of markets and incentives to actually deliver what we want and need. I asked if the panel would therefore support moves back towards a nationalised energy industry. There was a general concession that Government had to take a stronger lead in developing and resourcing long term policy objectives to provide the stability and direction that Welsh Government is patently failing to deliver currently.