Welsh politics news, political news, Welsh Assembly Government

Former Labour MP Leo Abse dies

Gay rights champion Leo Abse, brother of Cardiff poet Dannie Abse, has died at the age of 91, a family friend said today. Read

Top civil servants earn more than First Minister

THE 30 highest-paid civil servants in the Welsh Assembly Government together earn at least £3.3m, the Western Mail can reveal. Read

‘Gangs hit UK in child benefits scam’

A TORY MP is calling for an investigation into an organised scam involving the claiming of multiple child benefits in the UK by foreign criminals. Read

AM finds dog fouling fines are in a mess

A STROLL across Welsh country parks, beaches or even public footpaths today rarely goes without a warning of the fine that awaits you if you don’t clean up after your dog. Read

Poverty-trap Wales – a grim verdict

THE impact of government policy in reducing poverty in Wales in the past 12 years has been “at best marginal”, a leading anti-poverty adviser has claimed. Read

Years of grant aid – but the Valleys still poverty ridden

SOME Valley communities still have shocking levels of poverty, despite a decade of schemes aimed at making life better, says a leading expert. Read

Tributes to Leo Abse – ‘courageous and principled’

TRIBUTES were paid last night to the prolific social reformer and arch anti-devolution MP Leo Abse, who has died at the age of 91. Read

Colourful Abse a successful social reformer

Chris Moncrieff, the doyen of Westminster correspondents, offers this personal assessment of Abse Read

Conference is the hottest ticket in town thanks to Plaid poll successes

PLAID Cymru faces such high demand for its annual conference that groups are sharing tables in order to be seen there, according to the party’s chief executive. Read

Think-tank says it is time to ditch the dated Census

THE once-a-decade national census is a £500m waste of cash and should be ditched, an influential think-tank claims today. Read

Conference is the hottest ticket in town thanks to Plaid poll successes

PLAID Cymru faces such high demand for its annual conference that groups are sharing tables in order to be seen there, according to the party’s chief executive. Read

Olympic heroes to be honoured

WALES’ Olympic heroes will be honoured at a special reception at the Senedd on Tuesday, it was announced today. Read

Lord Elis-Thomas hits out over MPs’ claims

THE National Assembly’s Presiding Officer has fired a broadside at an all-party group of MPs, accusing them of misrepresenting the facts about the making of new Welsh laws. Read

Lack of support in constituency led to earldom for Lloyd George, says expert

DAVID LLOYD GEORGE – who had opposed the House of Lords throughout his political career – only accepted an earldom because his wish to be elected to the House of Commons unopposed in 1945 could not be guaranteed, it has emerged. Read

Voters will be looking more carefully at David Cameron, says Welsh MP

A SENIOR Welsh Labour MP says he expects David Cameron to come under increased scrutiny in coming months. Read

Who will give an ‘elite corps of benefit claimants’ more powers?

THIS week’s furore over AMs’ expenses was as unfortunate as it was predictable. Read

Seventh time lucky for wannabe MP?

PLAID Cymru council leader Lindsay Whittle has been selected to fight the Caerphilly constituency at the next general election. Read

Two years after the ‘bonfire’ and quango officials still await postings

NEARLY two and a half years after a trio of quangos were “merged” with the Assembly Government, 89 members of staff have still not been allocated permanent jobs. Read