On saturday I found myselfmyself at Ystradgynlais bus station waiting to head for the short listing meeting of Brecon and Radnor Constituency Labour Party. There are six interested candidates and we must create a short list of three. The selection will then take place on Saturday March 30th. I think of Ystradgynlais and District Labour Branch"s AGM held on Tuesday and of the six new members who attended it alongside the usual activists. The branch is expanding as our social media presence expands and we outline both a regular canvas evening and leafletting. I like Councillor Sandra Davies and her husband Graham they tell wonderful tales and memories of Ystradgynlais and Powys politics. It's easy to see the socialust faith that burns behind their eyes undimmed.
At the meeting I was told a lovely story that made me smile. Powys is controlled by a Tory Independent coalition. They have just had their budget rejected by the Council . However it looks as if council tax will rise by 9.5% per cent and with it the rents for social housing. I understand that in the initial budget the price of school meals were to rise, all libraries in Powys to close and breakfast clubs with them. In addition street lighting was to be turned off at night. We are awaiting a new budget meeting on Thursday of this week to see what happens next. Anyway some years ago Powys had a plethora of independent groups . The most interesting of which was the Powys Independent Group. It's an unfortunate name often shortened by it's critics to Pigs. The odd thing was it largely comprised of farmers specialising in the meat industry.As we await budget decisions this week I think of Pink Floyd's album "Animals" and ask the question ..just who are the Pigs, the Dogs and the Sheep?
Many answers flood my mind but I remain quiet upon it. On My Welshpool I read of a Tory Councillor accusing the Labour Group leader of swearing in the Council Chambers. It's a typical Tory approach often used to distract from the real issues....it's used over and over again by the political right. There is no difference between the Independents and the Tories on Powys. It's an inter changable term for the Tory agenda. The seven strong Labour group on Powys are the only reliable opposition to them. And I am very disappointed that the only Green Councillor in Powys and Wales has chosen to form a group with the Liberal Democrats. I would have thought that Plaid or Labour would have been a much wiser bet. It was the Liberal Democrats that supported austerity and benefit cuts that began the sorry plight we find ourselves in with their monstrous coalition of 2010.
I hear also that a member of the Powys Cabinet is going to be away in Australia for some three months. I also unserstand that our great leader of Powys council the great 'R' has no plans to replace them in their absence. I mean after all housing is not that important and our rulers in County Hall have rarely or never been inside social housing...as it is as rumours swirl around Chris Davies MP a fascinating backdrop forms for a Brecon and Radnor by election...
While I speculate and muse on Powys my thoughts turn to Resolven in Neath Port Talbot.. The sad death of the sitting Councillor means a by election there. In 2017 Labour held the seat with a majority of 91 over the "independent" candidate Darren Nichols who was then a staffer of a UKIP AM . In several blogs it has been alleged that our Darren has also been linked to anti Welsh Language and Welsh Schools activity. Just recently Mr Nichols posted on his time line an image of Tony Blair with a noose around his knack. His crime was to be a European "Traitor". Of course Darren made no mention of Tony Blair's role in the Iraq War . I guess it never occurred to Darren. Anyway Darren quickly removed this bad taste image but one of my little birds was quick off the mark with the screen shot. Darren is not the sharpest political strategist or tactician and incidents like this do much to reveal his political id. Darren is ambitious but I am afraid lacks political staying power.. He is also a keen fan of Tommy Robinson and attended a far right freedom rally last Summer. Anyway here is his Blair noose picture. Observing his blog I note very little activity recently and it reveals much about his politics. I felt it essential to let the people of Resolven know about the outlook of a possible contender for Councillor....
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