www.iwa.org.uk | Winter 2014/15 | No. 53 | £4.95

Wales: The heart of the debate?

In the rush to appease Scottish and English public opinion will ’ voice be heard?

+ Gwyneth Lewis | Dai Smith | Helen Molyneux | | Rachel Trezise | Calvin Jones | Roger Scully | Gillian Clarke | Dylan Moore | The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and the Waterloo Foundation.

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For Wales, see… UK. Indeed, in one area we can be sure to see double standards – that of referenda. The limited powers over Income set out by the Editors: Lee Waters and Jessica Blair UK Government for Wales can only be drawn down if there is yet another referendum (the Culture Editor: Dylan Moore fourth in less than 40 years). But there is no mention of further devolution to England being Editorial Board: Geraint Talfan Davies, predicated on a referendum. Gerry Holtham, Marcus Longley, Not only is Wales being largely left out of Clare Critchley, Rhea Stevens the debate, but we are being held to a higher Political Cartoonist: burden of proof of public support than other Mal Humphries (Mumph) parts of the UK. Design: Once again an expedient response to [email protected] pressure will produce a ‘settlement’ that will not Proofreader: Rhobat Bryn Jones last. Just as in the 1950s a Scottish Covenant movement, and a mass petition for a Parliament To advertise, tel: 02920 484 387 for Wales, was defused with conceding some The publisher acknowledges the change – a Cabinet Minister for Wales in our financial support of the Welsh September 18th is turning out to be a highly case – so the pressure for a Parliament for Books Council. significant date in the constitutional history of , and aversion to a ‘democratic deficit’ Institute of Welsh Affairs these islands. It was on Thursday September in Wales, produced a modest devolution 56 James Street, , 18th 1997 that Wales voted to establish its settlement in the late 1990s. Cardiff, CF10 5EZ Tel: 02920 484 387 first ever democratic Assembly, and it was on Short-term tactics are not successful in Email: [email protected] the same date in 2014, that Scotland voted to stabilising the Union, in fact they have brought www.iwa.org.uk reject Independence. the Union to the brink of collapse. To survive, as Charity number: 1078435 recognised the morning after The IWA is an independent think tank Indeed, you could argue that it is the Scots the Scottish vote, the Union has to be fair and and charity dedicated to promoting have done the most to secure powers balanced to everyone. And that will need our economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. for Wales. Had it not been for Scotland voting leaders to take the long view. Yes to devolution in 1997 one week before the The IWA hopes to help generate a debate To become a member and receive benefits such as copies of the welsh Welsh referendum, it is highly unlikely that the about what kind of settlement would work agenda, discounts on events, weekly majority of just 6,721 would have been secured for Wales by hosting an online ‘Constitutional newsletters and free publications, for just £45 a year, please call Jess Blair for a Welsh Assembly. Convention’. I set out in more detail what we on 02920 484 387. Fast forward 17 years and it seems that, have in mind in my article in this issue of agenda. again, it is votes cast in Scotland that will set Funding this project, and the other work Branches the pace for Welsh devolution. The ‘Vow’ made of the IWA, remains one of our biggest North Wales Secretariat to Scottish voters to persuade them to stick challenges. As Gerry Holtham, himself a c/o Huw Lewis with the Union in the last week of the Scottish former Director of the leading think- 6 Maes yr Haul, Mold, Flintshire, Independence campaign is likely to result in tank the IPPR, says in his tribute to Geraint CH7 1NS Tel: 01352 758311 extra powers flowing to Wales too. Talfan Davies in this issue, “As any think-tank Which powers? We simply don’t director knows, the money is erratic and Gwent Secretariat know. Wales has not been included in the uncertain. The whole operation, impressive as c/o Rob Southall University of Wales, Newport, debate about the future of the UK. The UK its output has been, lives hand to mouth”. Caerleon Campus, Government’s Wales Bill is currently going That has never been more true. As the PO Box 179, Newport, NP18 3YG through Parliament and will deliver some of the constitutional flux once again shows, Wales Tel: 01633 432005 Silk Commission’s recommendations, but not needs an independent voice to help articulate Cardigan Bay Secretariat all. And the rush to be seen to be responding to and organising our thinking. But without c/o Meilyr Ceredig Scottish and English feeling may well overtake additional help and funding, the IWA’s ability to 4 Science Park the thoughtful report of the Silk Commissioners. meet this need cannot be taken for granted. Aberystwyth SY23 3AH History suggests that Whitehall will not be Tel: 01970 636412 overly worried about producing a settlement Lee Waters, Bay Secretariat that is consistently applied to all parts of the Director, IWA c/o Delith Thorpe 38 Southlands Drive, Swansea, SA3 5RA Tel: 01792 404315 the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 1 22 45 contents 4 Lessons from Scotland 14 Debate: 22 Arts in an age of 31 The IWA Papers Roger Scully draws some Gender equality: endless austerity We look at the first two conclusions following the Claiming back the Geraint Talfan Davies Senedd Papers, the IWA’s Scottish referendum. ‘lost decade’ looks at the state of publication series, which Joy Kent examines the arts in Wales in a aims to promote new 6 Did Scotland say no, the drive for gender challenging financial ideas to policy makers. or just not yet? balance among the climate. Eberhard Bort says decision-makers in a post- 33 Devolving to change for the union devolution Wales. 26 Those in greatest need English Cities must be forthcoming or at the front of the queue. David Waite examines the No vote on the 18th 15 Putting a price on At the IWA’s annual health decentralisation September will be nothing gender inequality conference, IWA Director, across England and its more than a reprieve. Helen Molyneux says Lee Waters, and Health implications for Wales. companies should be Minister Mark Drakeford sat 8 England awakens penalised for not having down to discuss the notion 36 North Wales, a region Michael Kenny says women on their boards. of ‘prudent healthcare’, the without a city? English votes for English ’s ‘big David B. Jones asks where Laws doesn’t just pose 16 It’s time to wake up idea’ to address the severe a City Region agenda problems for Labour. and smell the coffee: challenges facing the NHS for South Wales and the poor places stay poor in Wales. North West of England 11 How can Wales be at because of rich places leaves the north of Wales. the heart of the debate? Professor Calvin Jones 29 Debate: Lee Waters says empty argues that no place E-cigarettes 38 Debate: reassurances put Wales develops within a vacuum. Let’s find a balance in Will the SEN reforms at risk of being left the e-cigarette debate work for Wales? behind again. 20 Getting Graduates Dr Julie Bishop explains A Raw Deal to Teach First why Public Health Wales Nathan Davies outlines Jennifer Owen-Adams is calling for regulation of why increased divergence looks at the potential e-cigarettes. between special education impact of Teach First needs provision is a raw coming to Wales. 30 Let’s lighten up! deal for Wales. Jamie Insole, a long term smoker describes the 39 More than a cynical effect that vaping has had name change on his habit. Mike O’Neill says that #53 additional learning needs reform has the potential to Winter make a positive difference 14 /15 in his work.

2 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org 61 50 Reviews 60 Books Round-up A towering achievement Dylan Moore finds Dai Smith poignancy in a collection of reminiscences, vivid 52 Managing meetings imagery in an ultimately Phil Morris frustrating memoir and inspiration in an anthology 53 A centenary curiosity of interviews. Kathryn Gray 61 Man of words 54 More than a mystery Gerald Holtham looks Rachel Trezise back at Geraint Talfan Davies’ contribution as 55 Novelise Tryweryn Chair of the IWA. 40 English nationalism – 45 Culture Section Linda Christmas Friend or Foe? Velvet Coalmine 63 Fishlock’s File Simon Brooks, Institute Rhian E. Jones revisits 56 A key figure Letters that shrank of Welsh Affairs Annual Blackwood for a festival Aled Eurig the century Lecture, Llanelli National of literature and music Trevor Fishlock tells of Eisteddfod, 2014. rooted in history, politics 57 Standards over the letters written by and the resurgence of structures his Grandfather on the 42 Crisis? What Crisis? . Rajvi Glasbrook-Griffiths western front. Professor Gareth Rees questions the 48 ‘Dragons, tigers 58 Why 1930s history 64 Last word perception that the and football-playing matters in modern Floundering Welsh education system vampires’: Welsh Politics Peter Stead is under-performing. children’s literature Nick Powell in modern Wales Penny Thomas outlines the early successes of a series that All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval brings fun to the heart of the system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recorded or otherwise without the permission of the publisher, the Institute of Welsh Affairs. National Literacy Strategy. ISSN 1464-7613

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“Excellent course...the knowledge is definitely relevant. Great mix of learning and interacting”. Hayley Macnamara, Community Housing Cymru.

TO BOOK PLEASE VISIT IWA.ORG.UK OR CALL JESS BLAIR ON 02920 484 387 18 SEPT 2014 Lessons from Scotland

Roger Scully draws some We have now had three major Opinion Polls are still the best way conclusions following the constitutional referendums in the UK of measuring voting intentions; but they during the current parliament: the find referendums more difficult than most Scottish referendum March 2011 Welsh referendum on elections: The months leading up to enhanced powers for the National September 18th 2014 saw considerable Assembly; the May 2011 referendum criticism of the opinion pollsters. on voting reform; and now Scotland’s Inevitably, much of that criticism came vote. These three referendums had from supporters of the side that the rather few things in common. But polls suggested were behind, Yes. A one thing they all show is quite few suggested that the pollsters were The end came quickly. The Scottish how difficult it is to get people to deliberately skewing their results; independence referendum had been vote for constitutional change. Two some more sensible critics questioned decades in the making. The campaign of the ballots, of course, rejected whether the polls were correctly had lasted nearly three years. But after proposed changes. Yet perhaps Wales’ detecting the grass-roots enthusiasm all that, and despite many expectations referendum, the only one to produce that the Yes campaign was steadily that we could face a long, tense and a Yes vote, illustrates this point best. building. Even some neutral observers uncertain night, it wasn’t like that at In March 2011, Yes had support from were concerned that pollsters whose all. It became clear rather early on that across the political spectrum. They methods had been calibrated against Scotland had voted No. faced – Rachel Banner aside – no normal voter registration and turnout In the end, the final tally gave it to serious opposing campaign at all. levels might struggle in the face of No by 55.3% to 44.7%. Yes won in only Yes also had behind it broad public a voter registration drive that had 4 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities. sympathy, devolution having some brought several hundred thousand Over the months and years ahead, years previously become the settled, Scots back into the electorate. there will be plenty of detailed analyses majority will within Wales. Yet 36.5% In the end, the polls actually did of the patterns of the results, and of of people still voted No. Scotland’s pretty well. The final polls from all the survey data on individual voters, to try experience further reinforces this mainstream pollsters got the final result to uncover in more detail precisely who general lesson. Yes clearly won the within the 3% ‘margin of error’. But voted Yes and No, and why. But here campaign but still came up some way though they were not wrong by very are five immediate conclusions that we short. This lesson might usefully be much, they were all wrong in the same can draw from Scotland’s referendum. born in mind by those keen to foist direction, and not in that suggested Constitutional Referendums Do additional constitutional referendums by their pro-independence critics. Strongly Favour the Status Quo: on people in Wales. This tendency of polls to overestimate

4 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org support for change in constitutional union may ebb with every passing day. society – just as devolution had been referendums is one other thing that has The Most Amazing Thing About so established prior to the 1997 been common to all three major such the Referendum is that the Result referendum. To be confident of success, recent referendums held in the UK. Was Ever in Doubt: The immediate a Yes campaign would need to have Tomorrow Belongs to Yes?: Polls reaction of most Yes supporters to arrived at the point where people were conducted immediately after the the referendum result was, inevitably, not asking the question ‘why should independence referendum have one of deep disappointment. But Scotland be independent?’, but ‘why suggested, as did all those conducted they should, perhaps, reflect that isn’t it independent?’ before the vote, that there were they did extraordinarily well to get A Pyrrhic Victory for No? For the parties that collaborated in the Better But for the future of Scotland the most important Together campaign, the result of the referendum laid to rest one problem – question may be a rather simple one: were these and possibly created several new ones. age-group differences simply an example of life-cycle The initial stated ambition of some on effects, or were they actually generational in nature? the No side was to achieve a crushing victory that would bury the idea of independence permanently, and cause substantial differences between age within 5.3% of victory, given the severe damage to the SNP. They fell groups in voting behaviour. Younger formidable odds against which they well short of those ambitions. The SNP voters were generally more supportive fought. The Yes campaign faced not has come out of its referendum defeat of independence, while older ones – only the general status quo bias of in amazingly good heart, with buoyant particularly those 65 and above – were constitutional referendums, but started opinion polls ratings and a membership much more likely to back the union. off the campaign about 2-1 behind that has trebled in size. Moreover, to Detailed studies will try to unpick in the polls. Most importantly of all, stave off the Yes campaign during the the reasons behind these and other the Yes campaign had behind it too frantic final fortnight, leaders of the differences in how people voted. But narrow a coalition of support. Yes main UK parties were forced to play- for the future of Scotland the most were backed by parties that had won up promises of ‘further powers’ for the important question may be a rather 21% of the Scottish vote in the 2010 . But it is far from simple one: were these age-group general election; No by parties that clear at present that agreement can differences simply an example of had won 78% of the Scottish vote. The or will be found on quite what powers life-cycle effects, or were they actually No campaign also had the support of those will be, and when they will be generational in nature,? That is, were nearly all newspapers, and the fairly- delivered; nor is it at all clear how they the elderly less inclined to vote Yes undisguised sympathies of many of will fit within any wider constitutional primarily because older people are the broadcasters. A Yes vote was also reforms across the rest of the UK. always less willing to embrace radical opposed by most of the trade unions Indeed, with a UK general election changes? Will those who are currently and much of big business, even though looming ever larger on the horizon, young voters in Scotland come to most of Scottish civil society stayed we face the prospect of constitutional adopt similar views and behaviours neutral. Yes built up a vibrant internet reforms being debated in just about in time? Or, are at least some of these presence, and a (mostly) impressive the least suitable context possible. Any differences about older generations grassroots campaign. But it was always backsliding from the unionist parties having grown up at a time when Britain facing a very uphill battle. on delivering their ‘Vow’ may elicit a and its governing institutions were held There are lessons here for any substantial vengeance from the Scottish in an esteem that no longer holds? potential second independence voters. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has As that older generation inevitably referendum. Put simply, to be confident already shown himself very willing to dies out, will a solid block of support of success a Yes campaign would need stir the pot of English resentment. The for the union vanish with them? If to broaden their coalition of support. victory for the No campaign is already the former is the case, then the age- They would need a greater presence in starting to look rather pyrrhic in nature. group differences between older and the mainstream, as well as the on-line, younger voters in the independence media. They would need a greater referendum are probably of no great basis of support in the main political political consequence. If the latter parties. And, perhaps most of all, they Roger Scully is Professor of is true then long-term demographic would need to have established the Political Science at the Wales trends will favour those seeking Scottish idea of independence as ‘common Governance Centre, Cardiff independence, and support for the sense’ across much of Scottish civil University.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 5 18 SEPT 2014 Did Scotland say no, or just not yet?

Eberhard Bort says change for the union must be forthcoming or the No vote on the 18th September will be nothing more than a reprieve.

55.3 to 44.7% – the result of the Labour’s decline,’ Jamie Maxwell Minister’s Questions, just a week after Scottish Independence Referendum warned in the , ‘it is the the referendum, that the SNP had was reasonably decisive. Not quite as deputy first minister.’ now 62,500 members, nearly trebling decisive as it looked for a long time – Labour and the other ‘Westminster its numbers in the wake of the polling the poll of polls in 2012 and 2013 had parties’ are also painfully aware of defeat and thus turning into the third pointed towards a 60:40 split against the pressure they have put upon largest party in the UK. The Socialist independence – but much more themselves with their pledges for more Party and the Greens enjoyed a similar comfortable in the end for Better Together powers for the Scottish Parliament – surge in membership. ‘My own party’s than the final run of polls in September over tax, borrowing and welfare – and youth wing is now bigger than my had suggested. And yet, the mood since the tight time table for delivery they entire party was 5 days ago,’ tweeted then has been astonishing, glum faces have ‘vowed’ to honour in their panic- Patrick Harvie, the convener of the among the alleged winners and some stricken scramble for votes in the final , on 23 September. buoyant if not exuberant losers. week of the campaign. And, as a rally of 3,000 Yes supporters, Immediate elation and relief demonstrating at Holyrood under the on the No side soon gave way to ‘Voice Of The People’ banner on 27 serious concerns, particularly among In the pubs up and September, showed, there is now a . The party that so long mass movement for independence, dominated Scottish politics came out down the country the supported by an array of very diverse, of the campaign bruised and deeply possibilities of a ‘Yes self organised groups. Addressing that worried, having hemorrhaged votes event, SNP MSP Marco Biagi said: in their heartlands to Yes (e.g. all eight Alliance’ contesting ‘True power has not been given back Holyrood constituencies voted the 2015 Westminster to Westminster, it has been lent to them Yes). It took a miraculously revived and one day we will take it back.’ to prevent a total exodus elections is being In the pubs up and down the country of Labour voters – but, according weighed up. the possibilities of a ‘Yes Alliance’ to Lord Ashcroft’s poll, more than a contesting the 2015 Westminster third of Labour voters of 2011 did not elections is being weighed up. ‘The 45’ – follow their leadership and voted Yes. those nearly 45% of Scots who had voted Moreover, long-standing Labour activists Yes, see themselves as the embodiment have left the party; some of them of a campaign that changed Scotland. switched to the SNP, potentially taking In the immediate aftermath of the droves of voters with them. Some took referendum, everybody felt compelled delight in announcing to praise the ‘electrifying’ grassroots his retirement as SNP leader and First True, some Yes supporters still find it campaign, an unprecedented ‘triumph Minister, but , a shoe-in hard to come to terms with the, from of democracy’, with huge numbers for his succession, is a dyed-in-the-wool their point of view, frustrating if not of people participating in the national social democrat. ‘If there is anyone depressing result. But Alex Salmond conversation about Scotland’s future. in the SNP capable of compounding could proudly pronounce at First Hardened cynics were astonished about

6 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org the revival, from city to rural hamlet, of political meetings in parish and town What nobody seemed to have halls, often organised by grassroots groups, some by Better Together, but on the radar while focusing on mostly by the Yes campaign(s). Scotland, is the impact on England and the UK constitution the Scottish What now? The easiest decision coming out of vote is likely to have. the referendum will be to extend the franchise generally to 16- and 17-year- olds, as their participation in the debate and the vote was deemed a resounding success. Everything else is much more complex. As became immediately clear when David Cameron, in his statement on the morning after, linked delivery to the constitutional order since Ireland Silent majority v. majority for change on the ‘Vow’ for Scotland with English broke from the union.’ The silent majority of Scots may have devolution, particularly ‘English votes The SNP has decided to join and defeated the independence cause on for English laws’. This would create two work ‘in good faith’ with Lord Smith 18 September, but about a quarter off classes of MPs at Westminster, and a of the Kelvin Commission which has No voters, according to Lord Ashcroft’s potentially tricky situation for Labour if been tasked by Cameron to coordinate poll, voted No in the expectation of it won the next UK election, but would the proposals and get agreement change and new substantial powers depend on Scottish (or Welsh) MPs for between the SNP, Scottish Labour, the for Holyrood. There is a clear Scottish its majority. It would then not have a Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish majority for change. And if that majority majority for the passing of English laws. Conservatives and Scottish Greens felt that the promised powers were not That is, of course, if Labour can hold on the way forward by 30 November. forthcoming, that what Alex Salmond on to its Scottish seats in 2015 – a big if. Scottish civic organisations and the likes to call a ‘powerhouse parliament’ That these UK reforms had to proceed wider public would, Lord Smith assured, or, quoting Gordon Brown, ‘home rule ‘in tandem’ has since been withdrawn, also get a say on the issue of more … as close to federalism as it can be’, as Scottish commentators immediately powers for the Scottish Parliament. was not materialising, that could give pounced on it as a sign of reneging on Quite apart from the constitutional rise to demands for another referendum. the pledges. But the necessity for change change affecting the power relationship Many in the Yes parties and the wider across the UK has become undeniable. between London and , it independence movement are now only promised at the Labour is to be hoped that In Scotland itself waiting for the ‘Westminster parties’ to conference in Manchester that he would the dynamics of the referendum slip and fail to deliver. If the UK voted ‘axe’ the and create campaign will mean an end of the to leave the European Union, while ‘a new senate of the UK nations and centralisation of power at Holyrood. Scotland voted to stay in, it is difficult to regions’. He also spoke of devolving The island councils, the Scottish cities, see how another Scottish independence power to local government. But it is also and CoSLA’s ‘Strengthening Local referendum could be avoided. On 18 agreed that fundamental constitutional Democracy’ commission have all September, a majority of Scots rejected change, overdue as it is, cannot be done persuasively argued for greater local independence – but for it to be more on the back of a fag packet, nor can it be a autonomy. The last months have shown than a reprieve for the Union, change ‘Westminster stitch-up’ – it will need time. that there are thousands of capable must be radical and forthcoming, What nobody seemed to have on people across Scotland who can take otherwise the referendum No may have the radar while focusing on Scotland, on the responsibilities of running their been no more than a Not Yet. is the impact on England and the UK own communities. There also seems constitution the Scottish vote is likely a growing will to tackle land reform to have. ‘Though the Scots will gain in Scotland – still the country with the significant new powers to add to those most concentrated pattern of private Edinburgh already enjoys,’ Patrick land ownership in the developed world. And there is an emerging consensus that Eberhard ‘Paddy’ Bort is the Smyth observed in the Irish Times, ‘it is Academic Coordinator of the south of the border that the real political legislative power on gender equality should be moved to Holyrood. Institute of Governance and earthquake will happen, potentially the a Lecturer in Politics at the most profound and qualitative changes University of Edinburgh.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 7 18 SEPT 2014 England awakens

Michael Kenny says Labour’s last Conference in the run-up transformation of UKIP into a vehicle for English-votes-for-English-Laws to the General Election was overshadowed English nationalism. But, while Labour doesn’t just pose problems by the movement of the English question is floundering with the idea of English- for Labour. out of the shadows, onto the main political wide devolution, the Conservatives are stage. A number of its English MPs are also facing difficulties with this issue. The aghast at the party leadership’s insensitivity Prime Minister and other senior figures to the danger that Labour comes to be seen who have spoken out most vocally on it, as the party that prioritises Scottish over have at times been muddled about what English voters, and a – now exactly they are advocating. The idea of probably unstoppable – is growing around English-votes-for-English-Laws has been Prime Minister David Cameron’s response the idea of generating a distinctive English advanced as if it is a principle that can to the result of the Scottish Referendum Labour presence and identity. Voices from and should be straightforwardly enacted campaign – in which he set out the case Wales, meanwhile, are wondering why the at Parliament, when there are in fact a for addressing the English question in party was prepared to allow the retention of number of substantively different ways in conjunction with the Scottish one -- has the to become part of the which it might be introduced. injected powerful new territorial dynamics big promise made to Scottish voters just There is a world of difference between into British politics. But, while the initial before the Referendum. some of these ideas. The kind of quasi- political fallout from this announcement It has been increasingly apparent that English parliament idea which has been has worked to damage the Labour party, it the Conservative party would address developed by, for instance, may turn out that he has unleashed forces English grievances once the Scottish – which would involve separate sessions and demands that are harder to manage Referendum had happened, not least of the Commons for English MPs and than he imagines. because of the steady, and inevitable, the prospect of creating a separate English executive authority – has been extensively criticised on the grounds that government at Westminster could well become unworkable if the UK and English executive authorities are led by different parties. This kind of proposal represents a slippery slope towards the creation of The idea of English-votes-for- an English parliament, and the creation of that might well represent the death-knell English-Laws has been advanced of the union. Such thinking is a far cry from the kinds as if it is a principle that can of proposals that the party’s leadership has tended to favour since 2001. These include and should be straightforwardly the more modest reforms sketched out in Ken Clarke’s Democracy Taskforce which enacted at Parliament, when reported before the last election, and the overlapping, but slightly different, idea of there are in fact a number of an English which Sir Malcolm Rifkind has advanced. Cameron substantively different ways in initially conveyed the impression that he was envisaging the first kind of proposal and has which it might be introduced. gradually rowed back towards the kind of

8 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org reforms which Rifkind and Clarke advocated. much devil in the many procedural details and has the capacity and inclination to set Cameron’s team has come to that any of the reforms which have been short-term advantage to one side in the appreciate that advocating radical proposed on this issue imply. There is, for name of statesmanship. constitutional ideas underpinned by a instance, the notoriously tricky question It may well be that there is an even fairly naked transparent partisan interest of how exactly English-only legislation is bigger prize looming in the minds of Tory might well leave the party exposed to the to be delineated, and by whose authority strategists on this issue. This concerns the counter-arguments of both Labour and the that decision gets made. Would a future prospect that the election of 2015 results Lib Dems, and is unlikely to provide the government operating under this system in the formation of a Labour, or Labour- basis for durable and enduring reform. It simply add UK-wide clauses to Bills that led, government which does not hold a makes sense therefore to start by urging focused predominantly on England? And majority of seats in England. Now that the consideration of the proposals set out will the role of the Speaker become even has moved into the in McKay Commission more contentious, if their office is required political spotlight, the potential formation which reported in March 2013, and which to adjudicate on these issues? And, does of a UK wide government which did not argued for enhanced scrutiny powers for trying to address the West Lothian issue in command a majority of English MPs English MPs. These may well turn out to the Commons make sense while leaving the has become a much more fraught and be insufficiently robust for those who want Lords untouched? politically contentious prospect. English-only legislation to be passed only There are other reasons too why the when it has the consent of English MPs. Tories need to tread carefully. Cameron But, tabling discussion on this basis does should, above all, consider whether there not prevent the Tories from insisting that is more to be gained from seeking to other, more robust, options are also tabled. reassure broadly centrist voters – whom Michael Kenny is Professor of Importantly, too, those advocating EVEL he desperately needs to win over if he is Politics, Queen Mary University of (as ‘English votes for English laws’ is often to form a government again in 2015 – that London and Associate Fellow at referred) need to appreciate that there is he is not a patsy for right-wing populists, the IPPR

18 SEPT 2014

How can Wales be at the heart of the debate?

Lee Waters says empty David Cameron’s statement the morning wee small hours – they were weighed reassurances put Wales at risk of after the Scottish referendum result was carefully, and the subject of much being left behind again. significant: “There are proposals to give the discussion. , the new Welsh Government and Assembly more Welsh Secretary, made it known that he powers. And I want Wales to be at the had made representations to ensure that heart of the debate on how to make our Wales was mentioned, and our attention work for all our nations”. was drawn to the importance of the Prime It is worth re-reading because these Minister’s words: “I want Wales to be at words were not thrown together in the the heart of the debate”.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 11 These are the well-used tactics of already opened up. But as he announced the UK Government last spring. The PM may statesmen and politicians through the a Commission to implement ‘The Pledge’ have over-reached with his charge that ‘Offa’s ages, grand statements which appear made by Gordon Brown in the final days Dyke has become the line between life and to say everything, while, in fact, saying of the campaign in Scotland, and an death’, but there’s life left yet in the narrative. nothing. Perhaps the more significant announcement of a Cabinet Committee However, the charge would lose its potency part of the statement was the sentence to address the English question, both to if David Cameron was simultaneously “There are proposals to give the Welsh report by January, Wales got a holding proposing to send more powers to Wales. Government and Assembly more powers”. position – a pedestrian, “There are And thirdly, the PM is fighting on too Yes, of course there are – the Prime proposals to give the Welsh Government many fronts as it is, why open another Minister commissioned them from Paul and Assembly more powers”. one? The case for dealing with the Silk and his committee. The Deputy Prime Why so non committal? Well, there constitutional questions in a joined up way is powerful. However, as Gerald Holtham told the IWA conference held a week We want to follow the example of Scotland in before the Scottish vote, “Mathematicians will tell you if you have a complex series of the 1980s following in the wake of the 1979 interrelated problems the optimal solution referendum where the trade unions, churches consists of looking at it all together and and voluntary organisations came together to solving the set of simultaneous equations. In practice, in politics it never works that fashion a way forward. way. Problems can only be managed when they are compartmentalised”. Minister quickly committed his party to are a number of reasons. Firstly, why not? Politicians are always frustrated by implementing the second part of the Silk What would the reason be to give Wales academics, they feel that they simply don’t report within days of its publication back more powers? There is hardly a clamour understand the pragmatic judgments in March. In contrast David Cameron to implement the full report of the Silk leaders have to face. In this case, the idea of was non-committal. In his defence, he Commission. simultaneously tackling reform of the House had tricky politics to deal with. His then Labour has pledged to introduce yet of Lords, a written constitution with a Bill Secretary of State for Wales, David another Government of Wales Act to move of Rights within a Federal structure without Jones, was profoundly opposed to further the devolution settlement onto the Reserved consensus within or between the parties devolution. When Mr Jones was sacked Powers model. This would mean that rather is not realistic. “They will try and ease the in the July reshuffle the well-connected than listing the things the National Assembly shoe where it pinches next. They will try Conservative commentator Iain Dale said can pass laws on, as is currently the case, and solve them one at a time, sequentially, he was ‘told’ it was because “Cameron Parliament would draw up a list of subjects according to urgency not importance thought he was too gobby in Cabinet”. that are ‘reserved’ to Westminster, defence because in politics the urgent always His successor, Stephen Crabb, has for example, and anything not listed would dominates the important” Holtham noted. also been hostile to devolution but says be assumed to be the responsibility of the For all these reasons, and more, there the majority in the 2011 referendum was Assembly. This would end the unseemly is unlikely to be much movement this side a ‘ game changer’ for him: “There’s a clear cases before the Supreme Court where of the General Election. And that’s not direction of travel there and that’s something judges have been deciding where the necessarily a bad thing, it gives us time that we need to be sensitive to and work lines should be drawn – and incidentally to figure out what we really want. The with” he told his first press conference. moving towards a de facto Reserved Powers current uncertainty is not lost on London The leader of the Conservatives in model in any case. But Labour has not yet observers. Sir Simon Jenkins, Guardian the Assembly, Andrew RT Davies, has committed to many of the Silk Commission columnist and Chair of the National Trust, long since abandoned his opposition to recommendations beyond that, so the offered this view from centre to the IWA further devolution. He was bold in facing political pressure on Mr Cameron from the conference delegates: down his internal critics in calling for the Opposition is not intense, and his own party UK Government to offer more flexible tax is divided (as is Labour). “I think the real problem is that nobody powers to Wales earlier this year and is Secondly, the political strategy of knows what Wales really wants; you now justifiably smug that the Government attacking Labour’s performance in Wales knew that the end game in Scotland has changed its position. in order to undermine the case for voting was independence, you either get it So, as David Cameron stepped out into for Ed Miliband in May’s General Election or you don’t. In Wales I get no sense Downing St on the morning of September is still in play. The Conservative inspired of there being anything. I really don’t 19th to announce a new “balanced ‘War on Wales’, as Carwyn Jones tried to know what it is that’s wanted…If you settlement” his internal political space had characterise it, generated some traction for want a convention, have a convention,

12 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org stop waiting for someone to give you people together to debate policy changes. Wales’ voice isn’t lost in this process. And a convention. What’s the matter with We gathered experts from around the crucially that it’s a conversation that goes you, have a convention, decide what country online over a 6 week period at the beyond the political classes. it is you want to do and then present end of last year to discuss the practicalities We need help to make this work. We it to London and just at this particular involved in devolving powers over policing need you to take part in the debate, but moment in time you’ll just about get it”. and justice. We plan to build on that to to get there we need your help to get it up generate a wide ranging conversation with and running. We have launched a crowd- So that’s what the IWA is going to do; people across Wales, and beyond, about funding initiative to enable us to get this we’re going to hold our own Constitutional creating a stable constitutional settlement. exciting project off the ground. Please help Convention, with a twist. We don’t have a fully worked out us make sure Wales’ voice is heard by Drawing on the example of the Icelandic model, we want to develop this approach making a donation here: experience in citizen involvement, as well as we go along with your input. We want as the Scottish Constitutional Convention to follow the example of Scotland in the www.indiegogo.com/projects/iwa-s- that mobilised support for a Parliament 1980s following in the wake of the 1979 constitutional-convention in the 80s & 90s, and the more recent referendum where the trade unions, experience in Ireland, the Institute of Welsh churches and voluntary organisations “There are proposals to give the Welsh Affairs intends to bring a group of civil came together to fashion a way forward. Government and Assembly more powers”. society figures and organisations together Our first step is to gather some of the key Now lets get some engagement with the in the coming weeks to plan a digitally-led stakeholders together to design a citizen people who will be affected to make this Constitutional Convention. focused on-line Constitutional Convention. debate meaningful The IWA has already trialled this David Cameron has set-out a approach on a smaller scale to form some of timetable for plotting initial proposals for our evidence to the Silk Commission. We’ve Scotland and England by January, with Lee Waters is Director piloted an approach using the web to ‘crowd- Parliament taking action after next May’s of the IWA. source’ policy development by bringing General Election. We want to make sure Debate Gender equality: Claiming back the ‘lost decade’

Joy Kent examines the drive for gender balance among the decision-makers in a post-devolution Wales. 50: It’s been more than 10 years since Wales could first boast of National Assembly Presiding Officer, Dame Rosemary Butler equal numbers of female and male members in the National AM asked us to mentor 12 women for roles in public life we Assembly, and a majority of women in the Cabinet. had nearly 200 applications from women who want to play The post-devolution enthusiasm that Wales could their part in civil society. lead the way in rectifying gender imbalance among senior So the challenge must be to send a powerful and decision-makers in the public and private sectors has waned. consistent message to women that they are wanted, needed The recent ‘Who Runs Wales?’ report from the Equalities and welcomed in all senior decision-making fora. and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) revealed that a mere When it comes to board appointments, the law forbids 2% of chief executives of Wales’ 100 leading companies were positive discrimination but, provided selection is made on women and only one in six of senior civil servants and local merit, it is perfectly legal to; ‘address disproportionately authority chief executives. low participation on boards by enabling or encouraging Even in the NHS, where nearly 80% of staff are female, applications from a particular gender.’ only 10% of health board and health trust chief executives Everyone involved in the process of search, selection were women. The picture wasn’t much better in the media, and appointment needs to take steps to ensure that, women where just one in five newspaper editors were female, and are fully in the frame when board vacancies are being filled, even in the third sector, only one in three top post holders particularly where they are under-represented at present. were women. This won’t just happen naturally. Unconscious bias means The EHRC report described the years since 2003 as a we look for people like ourselves when we recruit, so, where ‘Lost Decade’ which put us back to where important decisions one group or gender dominates a board, this will become self- affecting all of our lives are still being made by a largely perpetuating unless action taken to reverse it. Also, current homogeneous group of middle-aged, middle class white men. representation gives men more opportunities to promote The lack of logic here is illustrated by the fact that, while themselves and we know from research that men are more company boardrooms are currently male-dominated, 70% likely to put themselves forward for roles that will stretch - 80% of those making household purchasing decisions – ie them. Conversely women tend to apply only for roles they’re the companies’ customers - are female. confident they can already do. There’s ample research showing that diverse boards make We need to change the culture which type-casts women in better judgments because they apply more perspectives and secondary roles. Journalists for instance can make pledges not consider wider options. This is true whether they are company to refer to women’s age, appearance, marital or parental status directors, school governors, local councillors, trustees, unless it is specifically relevant to the story. Retailers can do a lot politicians or others. more to ditch gender stereotypical labelling from toys. There’s certainly no shortage of female talent to fill these To achieve real change, all of us need to challenge our roles. For example, at Chwarae Teg, we’ve been helping thinking and play a part. Gender balance at the top will come housing associations to find women for their boards and many from gender balance at many other levels in society. excellent candidates are coming through. Moreover, when

Joy Kent is chief executive of Chwarae Teg, which is among the lead partners in the current 50:50 by 2020 campaign to achieve gender balance on Wales’ senior decision-making boards.

14 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org Debate Putting a price on gender inequality

Helen Molyneux says companies should be penalised for 50 not having women on their boards. I recently floated an idea to the audience at the Business I think we should take issue with the assumption Breakfast club in Cardiff about how we could increase that to justify their position on a board, women have female representation on boards. I have a natural to enhance performance. It sets the bar for women’s hesitancy about quotas – borne entirely from the fact entry to the board room too high. We have to add that having achieved board status myself, I believe that demonstrable value, over and above that contributed anything which could label women on boards as ‘tokens’ by the men. But why should women have to persuade or quota fillers will make us all second class board the markets that they will boost the share price before members. Instead, how about charging an extra 0.01% they are considered worthy? Isn’t it enough that they corporation tax to those PLCs that don’t have women are as good as – or even just no worse than - the male making up 30% of their board members? board members? Companies do well when they have The problem, as I see it, is the way in which the a broad range of skills and expertise available to them. debate is framed. It’s very difficult to prove that having Good board level talent is hard to come by at the best of women on boards – either as executives or non-execs times – so why limit your business to half the available – makes any difference to the performance of the talent pool. companies concerned, but this is often the argument that So, is a penalty better than a quota? In my view it is advanced. There have been numerous studies over would simply shift the burden of proof. Women wouldn’t the years, and the statistics can be made to say pretty have to prove they are better; instead, the businesses much whatever you want. There are plenty of reports would have to persuade their shareholders that having that support the view that more diverse boards perform mostly men was so much better for business that it better – but even when the statistics are supportive, the actually covered the cost of the tax penalty. It puts a findings are often caveated in a way which casts doubt on price on gender inequality – something which all good the true contribution of the women involved. There’s the business people understand the true value of. study that confirmed that companies with more women on the board do better but questioned whether that was simply because those companies are just generally more enlightened, creative etc – a compliment to the ‘good men’ running the business who allowed the women to take part, not to the impact the women had. Then there’s the research (by Credit Suisse Research Institute) that says companies with women on the board do better during recessions – well obviously, because women are so good at housekeeping and keeping to a budget – but they’re not creative and risk taking like the men.

Helen Molyneux is the Chair of the Institute of Welsh Affairs and Chief Executive of NewLaw Solictors.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 15 It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee: poor places stay poor because of rich places

the lid only opened to admit or excrete a and volatility of Latin America. In the Professor Calvin Jones argues that few traded goods; some migrant labour; windswept deserts of North Africa, soils no place develops within a vacuum. perhaps a soupcon of aid or welfare and an ruined by Roman grain. In the vast tea occasional healthy dose of inward flowing (and once opium) plantations of India, capital. We shake the jar, and put it back the world centre of textile exports until on the bottom shelf. the Brits got there. And in the hanging, The problem with this approach is that brooding slag heaps of South Wales. Economists live in a vacuum. By that I don’t we are always looking for explanations If all this matters, if yesterday shapes mean we’ve all recently been blasted off for the prosperity gap within poor places. , and today shapes tomorrow, then to live on the International Space Station Not enough skills? Not enough roads? we must re-evaluate how we think about (though the world can dream), but rather Uncompetitive wages? As is if solving places and prosperity. The Economics of that our theories and approaches are bereft these thorny problems will somehow Place is the Economics of Empire, then and of any wider context. The economics we catapult Wales, Sicily, or the Democratic now. And this particular spatial applecart use almost wholly a-historical, a-political Republic of the Congo to the top (or is not just solidly tethered, but increasingly and a-social. Our laws apply everywhere at least middle) of the domestic or cemented in place. We can look around and nowhere. This problem is currently international economic league. This for some sketchy, indicative evidence. For sending a slow shock through the blinkered approach ignores a reality example the ‘problem regions’ of 1930s profession, generated largely from outside obvious to most non-specialists. No place Britain are largely the ‘problem regions’ of the learned professoriate, and taking issue develops in a vacuum. today – eighty years of economic history, with the way the economists have failed The reality is that for places, a World War, fundamental industrial to come to terms with the implications development, prosperity and the transformation and the death of an empire of the credit crunch, and the extent to fundamental wellbeing of their people is has done precisely nothing to rearrange which socio-economic inequality is contingent. Contingent on the relationship the hierarchy of places in Britain – undoing the manifest material successes of they have with neighbouring and related although regions move apart or sometime industrialised rent-capitalism. places. And what matters most is power squeeze together a bit (as we know and Economists’ understanding of and politics, not economics and exports. obsess over). No regional policy or social prosperity and place is, with a few noted For example, almost every place outside intervention, be this from Westminster- exceptions, just as narrow. Economists Eurasia bears a colonial stamp; a history Whitehall or the regions themselves, has – and by extension public policymakers – of uneven power politics running through done one whit to knock the South East from seek to diagnose, analyse and ameliorate their societies like words through a its perch, move the Midlands from their the problems of poor places as if they were stick of Blackpool rock. We can see this comfortable mediocrity or drag the North hermetically sealed in vacuum jars, with in the strident economic nationalism and Wales up by their bootstraps to some

16 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org the resource-rich but economically poor If all this matters, if yesterday shapes today locality. And the character of capital in the periphery is problematic, at least in terms and today shapes tomorrow, then we must of its use. Social capital in a rural backwater re-evaluate how we think about places may lead to the creation of a community enterprise that struggles against inflexible and prosperity. structures to make headway in creating assets for community renewal. If capital, resources and money are like this: hard to find in poor places, unwilling to move there, and in even the best case, leaving quickly via the nearest Tesco, the semblance of decent economic functioning. enterprising youngsters, eventually giving implications for regional and local economic The cynical, spatially oriented post- them back older, less productive and often policy are stark. Traditional economic Marxist (there are one or two) might considerably grumpier. policy, whether of left or right stripe, is suggest that this is because the objective All this may well be an accident of unlikely to work, at least in delivering of regional policy is precisely not to upset history; a natural tendency of social the needed economic transformation the applecart. Such policies have, in the organisms to self-organise in interesting or rationale. A fundamental change in UK, supported regional employment ways. When the first joint stock political relationships is needed to generate through the allocation of public service adventurers set out from the Thames economic success relative to the core. And activities; through subsidy-support for for points Oriental in the 17th century, no, Silk will not suffice. Indeed, arguably, firms in problem regions; and through cementing the primacy of the South East under this hegemonic reading, full political preferential terms for foreign inward over the regions was probably not foremost independence for a small European country investment. It has salved the balm of in their minds. Neither was it the concern of might only see a reordering of relationships economic ‘uselessness’ through generous Hooke, Wren and Newton as they debated with the new capital at the top and with unemployment benefits, universal health and created the Royal Society in the new a political elite still skimming off the rest. care and free education (up to a point); coffee houses of the 17th Century City of Complicated stuff. these latter nominal social policies that London. And today, there are (probably) no I feel the ghosts of future are also de facto regional interventions. nefarious meetings between fat plutocrats commentators queuing up already. Typical What it has not done is moved any in smoke filled, oak panelled London clubs, whinging Taff, excusing failure. The word genuine control or autonomy from the arranging regional prospects like chess ‘socialist’ may also be bandied (although core to the periphery. The North East pieces. This does not detract from the key I think that the State, at all spatial scales, gets Work and Pensions, Wales gets implication of these real relationships, a is very much part of the problem, not a the ONS, but Sir Humphrey and his pet fact that is un-discussed in mainstream solution). The words ‘his, ‘on’, ‘shoulder’ ministers stay resolutely on the Thames. economic literature and development and ‘chip’ may be rearranged. Well, maybe. Regions get ‘innovation systems’ and policy: capital behaves differently in But I’m going to put my time where my ‘knowledge transfer partnerships’. The different places. It is not only less abundant mouth is. Over the next year I’ll be doing ‘Golden Triangle’ of London and the South in poor places (a well known fact) but it, some statistical digging to see whether East gets the bulk of defence and research and its benefits, are less ‘anchored’ to poor places ever do claw their way up regional spending and a frankly staggering level places, being constantly drawn by the rich league tables, and if so, whether this is of infrastructure development including, core. This is true of financial capital that due to political or economic shock. I’ll be in the last decade alone the Olympics, arises in rich regions, which is far less likely getting out to talk to people, businesses Crossrail, Terminal 5 and HS2 (which than neo-classical theory suggests to be and organisations in poor but interesting interestingly, although posited as an invested in poor, low-cost regions. It is places to find out how they see prosperity emancipatory tool for the Midlands true of human capital that is born in poor and development, and assessing how this and North, starts construction at, yes, places; much more likely to move, innovate fits with what governments say these the London end). This kind of regional and commercialise in neighbouring or far places ‘need’. I’ll be trying to find out imbalance masquerading as regional flung rich places than the reverse. It is true whether the economics of place really is policy does nothing but embed existing of natural capital, which in many cases the economics of empire. power relationships and economic cannot be moved, but where pre-existing dependencies still further. Meanwhile, regulatory, wealth and ownership structures > London keeps welcoming our skilled and still deposit the benefit largely outside

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 17 Comments > 3 Calvin says: 1 John Winterson Richards says: @john The obvious truth that local economies do not exist in a An interesting point, but assumes that the populations vacuum has been well-documented since Adam Smith. of places control, and can trade, their own products That is of course why trade is the engine of prosperity. for their own benefit (trade in services is largely The ‘poor’ – both people and areas – are those who, irrelevant here I think). For 95% of places and 95% of for whatever reason, are not offering goods and services history that has not been the case. The Incas did not that others want or need to buy. Looking at it for a moment ‘trade’ their silver to the Conquistadors. Wales does in brutal, purely economic terms, leaving the question of not ‘trade’ its wind or water with England. morality aside temporarily, their existence makes relatively Even where this is the case, trade is free but little difference to those others: those others would still exist not fair – cf. the huge agricultural subsidies paid by rich world governments to their farmers, rendering if those who provide no goods and services did not. If, on the development-by-export incredibly difficult for poor, other hand, those who provide goods and services did not rural countries. exist, everyone would be worse off. So it is not true that ‘the The point of my article is that there is no level poor’ are poor because others are rich. If anything they are playing field for places that aspire to join the club of poor because they like to think they are poor because others the prosperous. are rich. Instead of directing their thoughts and energies towards trying to provide goods and services others might @Tredwyn want or need, they prefer to sit back and blame others, i.e. Indeed. One of the themes of my research will be those who are providing goods and services. There is no around whether places that have a ‘credible threat’ shortage of unscrupulous politicians willing to encourage to be disruptive to the status quo – e.g. Jacobite or and exploit that desire to blame someone else. Nationalist Scotland, centuries apart – can drive a Bringing morality back into the equation, it should be better economic bargain with the core. clear that the right thing to do is to help and encourage those who are currently not providing goods and services that others want and need to aspire to do so. It should 4 John Winterson Richards says: be stressed that there are no guarantees of success Mr Tredwyn, your statement that “the implication that but those who try are bound to do better than those you always get what you deserve in a capitalist society who sit back and blame others. Like most truths, this is is sentimental nonsense” is of course absolutely not a popular thing to say in a democracy – too many correct: indeed, the contrary was never implied in the prefer politicians who make excuses of their behalf – but previous comment. The overused and oft-misused anyone who is serious about ending absolute poverty word “deserve” is generally best avoided in rational and dependency culture must begin with it. discussion of economics. The real implication here is that we need to be hard-headed if we are to give the viable hope. 2 R .Tredwyn says: Calvin, with respect, the first paragraph of your It’s not quite true that the pecking order of British comment is a good example of how discussion of regions has not changed. In the 1950s the West the Welsh economy tends to focus too much on (1) Midlands was one of the most prosperous areas in natural resources and (2) past injustices, both real the UK. Now it is among the poorer ones. Scotland and imagined. We can spend our time brooding or has moved up in the rankings. The first was caused we can say, “We are where we are – so where do we by the collapse of low-skill metal-bashing and the go from here?” We are now in the 21st Century. The domestic car industry. Foreign car companies set up exploitation of natural resources is now less likely elsewhere. Scotland found oil but also rode the financial to be the basis of a prosperous economy that the services boom. Wales has suffered from the loss of exploitation of knowledge. The challenge for Wales is the industries that led the population to be here in the to build an enterprise culture that can take advantage first place. With devolution we have at least some of of that – not easy but definitely possible. the power to do something about it but the vision, There is, however, no argument with the last two energy and understanding have been lacking among paragraphs of your comment. A level playing field our political class. The Welsh electorate is at fault would certainly be highly desirable all round – but we for not demanding more. There is a lot to be said for should not make our plans on the assumption that JWR’s bracing view, though the implication that you one is likely to be provided in the immediate future! always get what you deserve in a capitalist society is sentimental nonsense. Power counts. Both views are true: yes the game is rigged but yes there’s no point whingeing, we have to get on and make the best of it.

18 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org

Getting Graduates to Teach First

country to a lifetime of unrealised potential. Jennifer Owen-Adams looks at Research shows But it does not have to be this way. the potential impact of Teach First Research shows that truly excellent that truly excellent coming to Wales. teaching in schools is a major change factor teaching in schools in enabling children from low-income backgrounds to succeed. This is especially is a major change true when the local community are at the factor in enabling the heart of local schools - engaged parents and carers play a critical role in the journey children from low of children and young people throughout income backgrounds their formal and informal education. Addressing this challenge is now to succeed. It is no secret that deprivation and rightly a major focus for the Welsh its impact on the attainment gap is a Government and charities like Teach significant problem in Wales. One in First Cymru. Our vision is that no child’s three children is affected by poverty, with educational success is limited by their 17% living in severe poverty - the highest socio-economic background. We believe proportion of any UK nation. inspirational teachers and leaders can Across Wales, pupils who are eligible transform a child’s future and end the for free school meals are 2.5 times less tragedy of educational disadvantage. Graduates are first put through rigorous likely to get five A*-C GCSE grades than The charity recruits, trains and supports and challenging assessment processes their wealthier peers. In south Wales in the best candidates to become inspirational to ensure they have the right skills and particular, the performance of pupils that are teachers in schools serving low income qualities to teach and lead in some of the eligible for free school meals is lower than communities. Having helped to transform most challenging schools. Then, working their wealthier peers at all stages and in all the profile and reputation of teaching in in partnership with Universities and performance measures. It is no coincidence these schools, in England Teach First has schools, they embark on an intensive six that south Wales is a youth unemployment become the largest graduate recruiter since week training programme and commit to ‘hotspot’, with 1 in 4 children not in it was established in 2003. continued training and teaching for at least education, employment or training. We opened Teach First Cymru in 2013 two years. They qualify with a PGCE and Such a deeply ingrained problem is and from this month will begin to recruit are offered the opportunity to study for a one of Wales’ greatest social injustices; and train 2,060 graduates across Wales Master’s degree. Following the two year it perpetuates inequality and confines and ten English local areas – increasing the period, they are able to decide on their thousands of young people across the intake by 44%. future career progression.

20 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org Teach First’s 2014 cohort shows an — 46% have been recruited to work in STEM (science, technology, engineering increasing diversity compared to the and maths) roles to help Britain’s schools foster an adequate supply of home- general teaching workforce: grown skills for the future. — 39% of new trainees are the first in their family to go to university. — 73% attended a Russell Group university. — 26% of recruits were themselves eligible for Free School Meals and or Education Allowance Maintenance. — 14% are from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic backgrounds, compared with 8% in other teacher training routes.

In Wales participants take part in a month of disadvantaged students and where taught and of their teacher. long intensive Summer training programme the current levels of performance of the Data collected so far from around 100 run by the University of Wales Trinity St school has placed them in Bands 3 to 5 secondary pupils taught by participants David, and continue to work with subject of the Welsh Government’s secondary revealed the following: specific tutors throughout the first year. school banding system. They learn from About two-thirds stay in teaching: those experienced teachers in their school through • I respect my teacher’ - 94.3% who go elsewhere remain part of the social professional and subject specific mentoring. • ‘I feel comfortable asking my teacher for movement for change that Teach First has Throughout their first two years individual help about the things we are become, acting as Teach First ambassadors the participants are supported by their learning’ - 88.6% and often working in positions where they university partner and by Teach First Cymru • ‘I believe what I am learning in this class can continue to work to improve the lives of staff, as well as by the schools. Participants is important for my future’ - 88.6% young people; whether it be in business, the also gain experience outside of the schools • ‘The teacher presents lessons in ways third sector or politics. in the communities in which they are placed I understand – 76% In England, Ofsted, the schools to better understand the backgrounds from inspectorate, has judged Teach First to which their pupils come and to support Whilst the new 2014 cohort settles into be an outstanding programme which is them and their families. school life, recruitment for the 2015 cohort making a significant contribution to raising Impact is being measured by close is now underway with a greater emphasis standards in schools facing challenging monitoring of how well the pupils on attracting more home-grown talent to circumstances and providing top quality over the academic year. To do this, Teach join the programme. To support this, Welsh training for the participants. First Cymru collect both academic data has been added as one of the subjects In Wales, the second cohort of 38 new and survey pupils as to their perceptions teachers will teach from 2015 onwards and participants have just started teaching in of themselves, their level of engagement the charity will be moving into north Wales schools where there are high percentages and of the overall content of what is being for 2015. The arrival of Teach First Cymru has been an exciting development for Wales - no education system can exceed the quality of its teachers and Teach First Cymru is dedicated to helping raise attainment In England, Ofsted, the schools in Wales. There are many factors that contribute to overcoming the influence inspectorate, has judged Teach First to of educational inequality; having an be an outstanding programme which is outstanding teacher is one simple tool that can change the status quo. making a significant contribution to raising standards in schools facing challenging  circumstances and providing top quality Jennifer Owen-Adams is Country training for the participants. Director for Teach First Cymru

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 21 Arts in an age of WNO WilliamTell - David Kempster (William Tell) and WNO Chorus. Photo: endless austerity Richard Hubert Smith

Geraint Talfan Davies looks at the state of the arts in Wales in a challenging of the by which the Welsh financial climate. Government is funded. After the 2010 election the coalition government ring-fenced the health service in England. Since health spending is such a dominant factor in Like many people who deliver public you a cuff on your own ear. the Barnett calculation, ring-fencing rather than private goods, the arts are Arguably, the arts have done better health in England ensured that the public struggling to find the right response in Wales in recent years than in England. spending cut in Wales was less than to the current age of austerity. The Expenditure per head, although much expected. When the Welsh Government passionate belief in the value of the lower than in countries like France then decided not to ring fence health on arts to the individual and to society is and Germany, has been higher in its own patch, this meant that the cuts undimmed. The willingness to argue Scotland and Wales than in England, imposed on other departments were the case, however repetitively, is ever simply because it costs more for small considerably lighter than on equivalent present. Yet the severity and endlessness countries to keep their heads above departments in England. of the public spending squeeze has water culturally. And yet it still accounts It was this, partly, that allowed the subdued the more familiar clamour. for less than 0.23 per cent of the Welsh Welsh Government in 2011 to restrict The usual responses to ‘cuts’ don’t seem Government’s total annual expenditure. the cut to the Arts Council of Wales to appropriate any more. We know that the The arts in Wales may have been 4 per cent, while the Arts Council of Oliver Twist reflex to ask for more will helped by the arcane nuances of the England was struggling with a 30 per not only fall on deaf ears, but also earn Barnett formula that governs the size cut. I say partly, because this treatment

22 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org of the arts was not automatic, it also client organisations fell from 103 to 71. Rhondda Cynon Taf, the second largest reflected a wish within government Second, despite ACW’s best efforts, local authority in Wales, announced that to give some protection to the arts. those organisations that survived are still it was cutting the funding of its music The arts do have friends in the Welsh financially stretched. service entirely. This is a service that Cabinet. The argument that savings on Third, the reduction in the Welsh provides tuition and outreach projects the arts are so small that they would be Government’s spending on the arts is to 3,500 young people across the three regarded as almost immaterial within far from the whole story. Cuts in local valleys, sustaining some 20 music the budgets of the health service - a government spending have increased ensembles including a youth orchestra mere rounding - has been effective, the pain for many. Expenditure on and choir, as well as making input into although countered by the argument culture by local authorities has been the curriculum in schools. that no area should be seen to have crucial to sustaining the geographical The Council’s leader defended been excluded from cuts. spread of the arts in Wales, particularly the decision on the grounds that his In September this year – only at the community level. But since this authority had to save £30m per annum. three months after the imposition of has always been a discretionary rather One suspects that in the coming months an in-year arts funding cut - the Welsh than a statutory function, it is now more the RCT Music Service will not be alone. Government’s draft budget for 2015-16 vulnerable than ever. RCT plan to close The irony is that at the very was published. This promised a cut of the Muni theatre in . Cardiff’s same time the Welsh Government’s 3.1% for ACW in 2015-16 and the near Sherman Theatre has lost all its local Education Department and the Arts certainty of a further reduction in 2016- authority funding. Cardiff Council is Council of Wales are assembling an 17. ACW’s chief executive, Nick Capaldi, looking for a new ownership model for implementation plan for an ambitious said this was “extremely challenging”. St David’s Hall and the New Theatre. Arts in Education strategy, to which Context is crucial. First, the Arts Newport Council is doing the same in they have jointly committed £4m per Council of Wales’ portfolio of client relation to its Riverside Theatre. Similar annum for the next five years (£2m from organisations was pruned drastically at situations abound across Wales. the Education department and £2m the time of the post-election spending Only the day after the publication of from the Arts Council’s lottery fund). review. The number of revenue funded the Welsh Government’s draft budget On the face of it, therefore, the RCT Net current service expenditure per person by Unitary Authorities My advice would be not to expect miracles. 2012-13 (IFS) The capacity in Wales for corporate support for

Culture & Leisure (ex Libraries) charitable activities is low. Indigenous businesses tend to be small, with a limited capacity for £ charitable giving. Larger businesses are often Merthyr Tydfil 111 Blaenau Gwent 106 headquartered elsewhere in the UK, or even overseas, leaving local managers with relatively Cardiff 84 low levels of discretionary spend in the corporate Rhondda Cynon Taf 84 Denbighshire 83 social responsibility field. Newport 83

Conwy 77 Caerphilly 74 national curriculum for Wales, since he the permanent staff by 20 per cent, Powys 74 was instrumental in devising Scotland’s from more than 260 to 204. Perhaps we Swansea 74 Curriculum for Excellence, in which should have done it more noisily. Neath Port Talbot 73 creativity loomed large. Alongside this, Even this does not balance the Monmouthshire 72 Estyn, the schools inspectorate, has been books, so we have had no option but to charged with reviewing best practice in embark on a fundamental review of our Ceredigion 64 arts in our schools. business model to ensure sustainability 63 All this has the potential to give Wales and to hedge against further reductions Torfaen 62 a leading edge in this sphere, but one in public funding. The Chancellor’s Bridgend 61 has to ask, to what extent will delivery announcement of cash credits Wrexham 61 be blunted if the capacity represented equivalent to tax credits for commercial by local music services is reduced or touring theatre will help, but are unlikely Flintshire 59 disbanded? The same question will arise to bridge the gap. if the largest arts organisations have to We are, therefore, exploring new Vale of Glamorgan 58 shrink their own powerful outreach markets outside the UK in ways that Carmarthenshire 53 activities that do so much to take the arts also help the Welsh Government’s to disadvantaged communities. inward investment objectives. We are Anglesey 49 One of these is seeking partners to extend the work of Pembrokeshire 47 that has long had a powerful youth and our acclaimed youth and community community department – a recognised department. Our Development leader in participatory work. WNO is one Department has raised more in private of the very few arts organisations to be contributions this year than ever funded by two Arts Councils, Wales and before – more than £2million. But it will England. England pays the lion’s share, be a fight to retain the present scale cut represents a big policy disconnect. but both sides have called it a cross- of operation – a scale that delivers a A similar disconnect can be seen in border bargain. However, funding from quality that this year won the UK’s most the ongoing fight over the funding of both sources has rarely moved in step, prestigious opera prize – the Royal the Royal Welsh College of Music and owing to differing budgetary situations Philharmonic Society award. We have Drama, following the Higher Education and timing differences. no wish to become a part-time company Funding Council’s withdrawal of One simple measure illustrates the and will do everything in our power to ‘premium funding’. scale of the problem that many arts avoid that fate. The Arts in Education initiative organisations face. If our total combined In England many politicians on the could be a game-changer for Welsh grant in 2007-08 had risen in line with right believe that the arts are a private education, getting creativity into the RPI it would now be £2.5m more than good not a public good. They believe heart of the curriculum. Creativity may it currently is. That is what we have had that it is up to private donors whether also be a central theme of Professor to absorb. We have already made cost or not to take up the slack left by Graham Donaldson’s review of the savings of more than £1million, reducing government cuts. In this year’s Welsh

24 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org WNYO Paul Bunyan Ross Scanlon (Slim) Photo: Catherine Ashmore

budget announcement there was a faint fewer than 10 per cent even qualify combined contribution of individuals echo of that sentiment in a decision to for the 40 per cent rate. By contrast, and business to the arts in London provide money to Arts & Business to Scotland has four times the Welsh figure amounted to £412.43m. (85%) with the encourage a bigger contribution from paying the top rate, despite having less rest of England receiving £74.19m (15%) the business sector. than twice Wales’ population. This is - almost precisely in inverse proportion My advice would be not to expect highly significant since the top 50 per to the distribution of the population. In miracles. The capacity in Wales for cent of households account for 92 per terms of contributed income per head of corporate support for charitable cent of all giving. the population, this amounts to £49.64 activities is low. Indigenous businesses Put another way, those resident per head in London as against £1.64 tend to be small, with a limited capacity in Wales, and paying the 45 per cent per head for the remainder of England. for charitable giving. Larger businesses ‘additional rate’, account for only 1.3 These figures are being hotly debated are often headquartered elsewhere in per cent of those paying the additional over the border. the UK, or even overseas, leaving local rate across the UK. London accounts Contrary to the common perception managers with relatively low levels of for 32.7 per cent of them. That is why, in of arts people as a rather unworldly, discretionary spend in the corporate the case of WNO, much of our fund- innumerate crowd, the sector is social responsibility field. Typically, even raising has had to have a London focus. extraordinarily inventive in its search for regional managers of large professional Fund-raising in provincial cities in the survival. Passion breeds resilience. We service companies have to refer to UK is a different proposition from fund- have developed the strongest fingertips headquarters outside Wales for sums in raising within London and the south east in the animal kingdom. That strength excess of £10k. of England, as is evidenced by the survey, should not be taken for granted. The As for private giving, let’s not forget Private investment in arts and culture, abyss below is deep – for everyone. that across the population as a whole, 2011-12, conducted by Arts & Business wage and salary levels in Wales are low, and published in May last year. The with even smaller numbers of ‘high net report dealt solely with England. Arts and worth’ individuals. Remarkably, only a Business Cymru is a separate organisation third of one per cent of Welsh taxpayers and has no comparable data, although Geraint Talfan Davies is – 4,000 people - qualify for the top 45% Wales is not expected to be out of line Chairman of Welsh National rate of income tax, the lowest proportion with other peripheral regions. Opera and a Trustee of the of the four countries in the UK, and The A&B survey concluded that the Shakespeare Schools Festival.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 25 interview—

Those in greatest need at the front of the queue Image: Katie Dalton

floor of the valley yet, let alone coming At the IWA’s annual health conference, IWA Director, Lee Waters, and out of the other side Health Minister Mark Drakeford sat down to discuss the notion of ‘prudent healthcare’, the Welsh Government’s ‘big idea’ to address the severe June Clarke: My background is in challenges facing the NHS in Wales. nursing and health visiting which means a particular focus on prevention. How can you reconcile a commitment to prevention and early intervention Lee Waters: What’s the difference next ten years. One of the things you (particularly among old people) while between “Prudent Healthcare” and could do to try and get those savings at the same time cutting access to rationing? is to suppress or cut pay. How do you certain services? square the circle between having to Mark Drakeford: It’s important to be make those choices whilst motivating a MD: Well absolutely none of this is clear - all healthcare systems ration. workforce to deliver change? easy to do in a time of austerity. But It’s not an easy thing to say on public there is no avoiding the conversation platforms but every single healthcare MD: In an organisation where 65% that we have to have between the user service has ways to match supply or so of your costs are in the cost of and the provider of services because and demand. The difference is that staff, then it is unavoidable that the so much of what the NHS has to deal in prudent healthcare what we are pay bill has to be part of what you with is avoidable harm. If people want talking about is making clinical need scrutinise. My ambition is to keep as the NHS to be able to go on dealing the guiding principle in distinguishing many people as possible working for with unavoidable harm then individuals between different sorts of demand. It the NHS and being members of their are going to have to recognise there means those whose needs are greatest trade unions. But if I can’t do a deal is more that they will have to do. And will be at the front of the queue. with them on pay and conditions then that’s not an easy conversation to have the stark fact is there will be fewer of with people because on the whole the LW: What are the consequences them in future. When you explain to consequences are years away. Now of failure? them that context, they’d rather be in June’s question: ‘how do we do all this a job than not, even if it means some when the budgets that are most under MD: That we will struggle more and painful accommodations. It is in fact pressure are always the prevention more to go on running an unreformed harder to explain in recent weeks than budgets?’ I don’t have any easy answer health system. Because you simply can’t it was a year ago because we are 40% to, but there are some good examples run a health service with consistently of the way through the cuts that have of where by re-calibrating prevention rising demand and consistently been announced already to public services we build up people’s own lowering resources and think that there expenditure in the UK. But people read capacities to deal with things themselves won’t be a point in which those two in their newspaper in the morning that rather than creating a dependency on collide in a pretty nasty way. the economy has turned a corner and the service. And in the field of elderly we’re back in the sunny uplands. But people in particular there is quite a bit LW: We are facing a potential gap in as far as public services are concerned of evidence that providing services of public spending of £2.5bn over the we are not even down the slope to the that sort early on can actually accelerate

26 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org interview—

someone’s dependency rather than would come through the door and need to restore both public institutions arrest it. We’ve got to be smart about he would say ‘What can I do for you but also the values that inspired them. prevention as well. today?’ But now when people come Prudent healthcare must be a people’s through the door he says ‘What are we service, a citizen’s service... LW: In terms of incentives for good going to do to address the issue that has choices and consequences for bad brought you through the door?’ People Duncan McCombie, ones. Cardiff and the Vale now have a used to just pass the problem over Energy Saving Trust: It is recognised scheme that if you smoke or are obese, the table and make him and the NHS that cold and damp homes have you must go on a course before you’re responsible. Now he is inviting people significant impact on health and allowed on a waiting list. Is that a to put the problem in the middle of admissions to hospital. The trouble principle you are looking to build on? the table. This is where the cultural is that housing sits across a number shift for clinicians comes, when they’re of ministerial portfolios. What are MD: I am very keen on doing it. All able to recognise the expertise and real you going to do with your ministerial the tests of opinion show that people contribution that the patient brings with colleagues to stop people in cold damp are supportive of this because the them to solving their own problems. homes ending up in hospital? message is not about not giving people treatment; it’s about saying ‘there is LW: But isn’t there some blame to be MD: One of the fantastic things about no point in offering you this course of shared around here in terms of the the NHS and one of the reasons it is so treatment, until you are in a position expectations created? On the one hand important to us, particularly in Wales is to benefit from it. If your weight is of a certain level then that orthopaedic If we want prudent healthcare principles to work then procedure is simply not going to do there are big shifts in culture for people who work in the what it would do for you otherwise... if you’re smoking at a level that a health service. There is a natural tendency that if we see procedure would be dangerous for somebody in distress our instinct is to reach out to them you, then that treatment is not for you.’ and say ‘don’t worry we’ll look after that for you.’ Now I want to do more of that in Wales Mark Drakeford because one of the core principles of prudent healthcare is that we need to avoid harm and also not do things that do no good. you’re saying ‘look, there’s less money that it’s probably one of the last great around and we’re going to have to democratic forums that we have. More Dewi Evans: I’m a paediatrician. You do things differently’ and on the other and more people only rub shoulders mentioned the role of the patient but hand there was a lovely strategy the with people who are like them, but there is also the responsibility of those other day about neurological services, one place where you see everyone on who work in the NHS... which suggested there would be all an equal plane is when you go into sorts of improvements. Why are you an NHS waiting room. And that great MD: If we want prudent healthcare saying you’re going to do things you sense that the NHS is part of the glue principles to work then there are big can’t afford to do? that still manages to hold together a shifts in culture for people who work society which in so many other ways is in the health service. There is a natural MD: I spend most of my days sadly sharply unequal is part of why it is so tendency that if we see somebody explaining why we are not able to do important to us. in distress our instinct is to reach out the things that we really would like We have to join that up with other to them and say ‘don’t worry we’ll to do. But that cannot be a gospel of services, and it is one of the things look after that for you.’ Although the despair. There are ways in which to about devolution that we ought to motivation is very understandable and redesign services that show what good celebrate. I work on a corridor with honest, the impact of it generally is to prudent healthcare is about. It means many of the Ministers who have disenable people rather than to enable that with the money we do have we a shared interest in what decent them to do more. I was struck very do things better. There still are, even housing conditions would bring for much by a conversation I had with a in really hard times, ways of squeezing our population. I do not have to make GP who said that in the last year or more benefits out of what we have got. special arrangements to see them, I’m so he had very consciously changed Elaine Moore, Shared Lives Cymru: able simply to open the door and talk his very first encounter with a patient. We in Wales are all too conscious of the to them. Now we may not do well For most of his professional life people attrition of the public realm, and the enough and it may not be quite so easy

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to translate those conversations into on innovation... and yet there is a For what it’s worth my own belief joined up activity on the ground but we concern that this approach might end about what is going on in the London have the opportunity to do that through up restricting the NHS’ ability to be media is that it’s all about preparing devolution that is the envy of many innovative in terms of its new medicine. the ground so if the Tories are elected other places. again next year they will move -in MD: I don’t think prudent healthcare England- from covert privatisation, Ed Bridges, Prostate Cancer UK: drives out innovation; I think it’s exactly which is going on all the time, to overt You talked about one of the core the opposite. It does mean I think privatisation. They will do it because principles of prudent health being not that we have to be less mesmerized the public will have been softened up doing things that do no good, but where by the new and more willing to focus by a cascade of stories saying: ‘well it does that leave those patients who are on things that we know are effective. was all rubbish anyway wasn’t it? The terminally ill? Where a decision might The Chief Medical Officer reminds NHS was a busted model in any case.’ be over treatment that could postpone me regularly that process innovation Finally I’d like to return to Ed’s point their death by six weeks ... is more important than product because I think he puts his finger on a innovation. An example of this is really difficult dilemma. Those decisions Peter Evans, Transition Chepstow: lymphodoema services in Wales which have to be, I think, more powerfully There is a loss of expectation and lack have been radically improved in recent informed by lay opinion. We have to, of belief of the NHS in Wales. I feel years by a group of nurses who have in a citizen’s jury type way bring in this, politically, isn’t being effectively process innovated to make them run in lay opinion to help us to make some challenged, there is a great deal of a new way. It treats more patients more of those really hard edged decisions work to be done in terms of perception quickly and more effectively and as it where we’ve got one sum of money of that public spirited and democratic happens it does it at a lower cost, but and a lot more than one call on it. nature of the NHS in Wales... that is a by-product not the intention of the policy. It meets every prudent You can listen to the interview Jeremy Felvus, Pfizer: One of my healthcare principal you can imagine in full on our Audioboom page: concerns is that our industry thrives and it’s innovative in its core. www.audioboom.com/channel/iwa Debate: e-cigarettes Let’s find a balance in the e-cigarette debate

Dr Julie Bishop explains why Public Health Wales is calling for regulation of e-cigarettes.

Imagine for a moment that a new the potential benefits to smokers – in being widely advertised, adults do it and product has come to the market and any other circumstances is this a product perhaps of greatest concern – it is widely has achieved very rapid uptake with that would be legally available at all, let touted as being safe. an estimated two million users in the alone without any restrictions on its sale We believe that if e-cigs are regulated UK alone. The product is available or promotion? The answer is clearly and treated as a tobacco product in a number of forms, some of which no; there would be widespread calls to (providing they do not make claims are brightly coloured and flavoured ban it from sale. The only reason that about helping people quit) they should in a way that could easily appeal to we are even considering its availability be legally available. This means that children. The substance they contain is because it is less harmful than a they would be subject to the same sales is highly addictive, there is evidence currently available lethal product. and marketing restrictions as cigarettes that some people can become addicted Unfortunately, at the moment and the same rules on where they can and develop dependency very quickly. the public health/tobacco control be used. This, we believe, would help There are some negative health community seems to be split. One reduce the potential risks and harms of effects to its use, particularly on the group expressing concerns about e-cigs, particularly to the young. For cardiovascular system. The contents the product itself, others only seeing smokers, they would be able to make of the product are poisonous when the potential benefits to current the safer choice if that is their preference consumed in quantity – there is rising smokers. Public Health Wales’ view is – we would advocate it should be a last evidence of consultations with the that it is possible to find a balance, a resort, quitting is still the best option. national poisons service on overdoses compromise position that addresses the They would still be gaining compared – particularly among small children. needs and concerns of both sides. to continuing to use tobacco; they can There are safety concerns that are The ‘precautionary principle’ is well take steps to reduce their risk. They arising on the quality of manufacture established in public health. Where we cannot currently smoke tobacco where of some of the products with reports of have some evidence, for example from and when they choose so it seems injuries or fires arising from their use. theory or basic science or from other illogical to argue that they are somehow There are no restrictions on the use of fields of health, that something may have disadvantaged by not being allowed to this product so it is becoming widely negative health effects, we act on that vape where and when they like. used in public places, including where basis not waiting for conclusive evidence There is a win/win situation possible children and young people are present. of harm. It is true that we don’t have here. It is important that the public It is also being heavily advertised, conclusive evidence that children will health community does not allow including on television. It is being sold take up e-cigs and start vaping in large the considerable vested interests in in a wide range of outlets, crossing numbers but there is sufficient evidence this debate to introduce tensions and traditional product boundaries. to suggest it is a risk. Why wouldn’t they, divisions which ultimately can only Setting aside what we know about they are seeing it all around them, it is harm public health.

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health’ and social-conditioning. However, what is proportionate Whereas the one lends itself to rational can only be properly considered in Let’s debate, the other operates on a mute, the wider context of comparative subliminal level. In way of anecdotal harms. The fact that some Welsh evidence, I point to a friend who Health Trusts are now prepared lighten up! recently remarked “why should I to countenance the suspension of be made to inhale somebody else’s treatment pending the completion of Jamie Insole, a long term smoker breath”? The stakes are high – the 50 a ‘quitters-course’ possibly suggests describes the effect that vaping has or so senior health professionals whose some of what is at stake. Moreover, had on his habit. letter featured in last weeks nationals given the demographics (smoking is estimated that e-ciggs might potentially a class issue!), and peculiar strains save tens of millions of lives world wide. on the Welsh Health Budget, far from Is it not good sense to think that at least attempting to prohibit or control these some of this might benefit Wales? I write this piece as a hardened Granted; besides the welcome tobacco-smoker of eighteen years suspension of nicotine, gelatine and the likely effect of not who has, in the past, smoked anything preservative, it would of course be being able to purchase up to forty Camels per day. Initially desirable to have some certainty as rejecting e-cigs as a bit of frippery, to what it is I am actually inhaling. out-of-hour ‘e-juice’ will my then partner convinced me to However, many of the current be to drive addicts like buy one following the death of her proposals far exceed normal quality friend’s son. Since then, bar for the control. For instance, the suggestion me to the nearest off occasional drunken-accident, I have that access should be restricted to licence to wretch upon clung tightly to my ‘photon-tank’. pharmacies is not only mean but a packet of ten B&H. Significantly, this has nothing to do with frankly ludicrous. Clearly an attempt to any commitment to quitting. Rather, ‘medicalise by association’, the likely it is because I, like many, have quickly effect of not being able to purchase come to prefer the rich flavour vapour out-of-hour ‘e-juice’ will be to drive machines, it is difficult to see why policy to that of smoke. What’s more, a simple addicts like me to the nearest off makers are not insisting that charger- headcount at Cardiff Central would licence to wretch upon a packet of ten points be installed in public places? suggest that I am now in the majority. B&H. From this perspective, policy- So let’s lighten up! Some of us Public health drives are rarely makers might as well recommend have now acquired visible breath, modelled by physicians. Rather they that contraception be returned to the a predicament not uncommon in have become the property of canny chemist’s top-shelf (lest young people Scandinavia. Similarly, the notion that advertising consultants. Whilst seeking be tempted into unprotected sex). mere exhalation carries a personal or to preserve the façade of scientific Similarly, the notion that an secondary risk does not bode well for efficacy, they seek to shock and ‘suggest’ e-cig will ‘normalise’ or ‘glamorise’ joggers, laughers or anybody else who through an established set of referents. tobacco consumption can be easily happens to be engaged to strenuous Often, the statistical probability of refuted through the following simple public activity. developing an unpleasant and ultimately experiment. Next time you are at the On a parting note, if Welsh fatal disease is bound to the suspicion of bar, offer a Lambert full-strength to a Government are serious about tackling foul odours, bad-skin and impotence. friend or stranger who has for the past the major killers of our age, perhaps they Overall, attempts to engineer three months been happily enjoying would like to spend some time focusing aversion have proved broadly vanilla & amaretto. It would be wise on work-related stress? Speaking as a successful. Having grown up in the late to step-away as the effect can easily be trade union organiser and ex-tobacco eighties, when courtesy determined that compared to inviting a polished taster smoker who acquired the addiction as one should only smoke on the top-floor to knock back a can of special brew! a part consequence of ‘performance- of a double-decker bus, I have witnessed As any law undergraduate will management’, bringing dignity to Welsh a gradual but radical shift in perception. attest, rights, far from being inviolable, workplaces would possibly do more to What was once an everyday event has coexist amidst a jumbled range of often save lives than restricting access to an now become widely perceived as an act contradictory categories. Consequently, innovation that has permitted me to at of aggression. my right to free expression is qualified by least mitigate one of the worlds most This is precisely why we need to your right to life, a transaction governed compelling and deadly addictions. draw a distinction between ‘public by the principle of ‘proportionality’.

30 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org The IWA Senedd Papers

A Real Citizen Service for Wales being piloted in Wales this Autumn with We look at the first two Senedd Andy Bevan pupils who have recently completed Papers, the IWA’s publication series, their GCSEs spending two weeks which aims to promote new ideas to In Wales last year 21.4% of 19-24 year away from home taking part in team policy makers. olds were not in employment, education building activities, followed by one or training. Parallel to this is the ongoing week planning a community project problem of an ageing demographic. In then 30-40 hours delivering that project. the very first of the IWA series,the Senedd While this scheme has an element of Papers, Andy Bevan puts forth his solution, community service, Bevan’s system goes a voluntary Citizen Service for Wales, much further than this current model. where unemployed 18-25 year olds would This citizen service is a considered be paid to work with older people. response to long term demographic Bevan’s idea for ‘A real Citizen challenges facing Wales, with young Service for Wales’ focuses on the dual people being part of a solution to the problems of youth unemployment and problems associated with an ageing a population in which one in six is aged population. 65 or over. These dual problems, he Key to this will be the opportunity suggests, could be in part answered by for this system to work for both one simple solution. disadvantaged young people who ‘A real Citizen Service for Wales’ have been challenged in the education outlines a system in which 18-25 year system and those from advantaged olds not in education or employment areas with good attainment levels would give between nine and twelve as a transition to the world of work. months of full-time paid service with a Existing schemes across the world focus on intergenerational support. have shown that success relies on the This would create a new national scheme to provide opportunities for institution, which would be “properly all young people, diverging from jobs paid and properly organized”. As scheme currently in use in Wales, such evidence for the projects potential as Jobs Growth Wales, which do lend This citizen service is a for success, Andy Bevan discusses a themselves to those aged 16-24 with considered response to long system in Germany, which has had a higher attainment levels. term demographic challenges constructive and positive impact on Bevan estimates that a Citizen facing Wales, with young people those involved. Notably a Citizen Service Service for Wales would cost £14.79m, for Wales would be “radically different” but could be up to 50% supported by being part of a solution to the from the English European match-funding. This, Bevan problems associated with an which was on a much shorter time span. believes, is a small cost for forging ageing population. A version of the English scheme is opportunity from a crisis.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 31 Taxation in Wales The blow to the Gerry Holtham higher banded homes currently raises over £1 ¼ could be cushioned billion for local authorities in Wales. by methods such as This makes it by far the biggest tax that will be under Welsh control, even charging a premium after the devolution of such as on second homes, big and . While the devolution of new taxes have seen business for some much discussion as the Wales Bill councils across Wales. passes through Parliament, it is perhaps those powers that we already have that we should be focusing on, according to the author of the second IWA Senedd Paper, financial expert and IWA Fellow, Gerald Holtham. In his Senedd Paper Holtham argues that the reform of council tax could end the current inequitable system. At present the council tax system means higher rate of income tax rates - if that those in lower valued properties income tax was to be devolved. pay far more proportionally than those Yet, political anguish would perhaps in high valued homes. Those paying be the offset of this deal. Those in affluent council tax in the lowest band where areas often live in marginal seats, and properties are worth up to £44,000 an increase in their council tax such as pay nearly 1.9% of their value a year. this would be at the peril of the political This contrasts sharply with those in the party that imposed it. Holtham suggests higher band for properties above that there are other possibilities for £424,000, where the tax is just ameliorating that effect. The blow to over 0.5% of the value annually. “If the higher banded homes could be residential property services were cushioned by methods such as charging a taxed at the same rate of other premium on second homes, big business consumption”, Holtham states “council for some councils across Wales. tax would be over 1% of house values”. As Holtham points out “Up to now According to Holtham, council the Welsh Government has not had tax rates should be linked to inflation, to give any thought to taxation, just thus preventing an annual political spending its block grant”. This, he row about rising rates. Adjusting the argues, is an opportunity for this to base of Council tax to reflect the value change; “Wales has the opportunity to of the property would cut taxes for improve its own tax system and blaze a those in Band A from an average of trail for the rest of the UK”. £851 to £459 annually, while Band I would be raised from £2,860 to £5,565. “If residential property A cut for lower earners would also services were taxed at reduce the Welsh Government’s bill the same rate of other for housing benefit payments.Holtham emphasises that policy-makers need consumption, council to start thinking about tax powers in tax would be over 1% an integrated way. Higher earners hit by his Council Tax changes could be To read the full Senedd Papers, please of house values.” compensated by a reduction in the visit our website www.iwa.org.uk

32 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org Audit Office has noted that changes to the regional development architecture Devolving to have seen funding pots diminish through the recession (even though Growth Deal, from 2015-16, will be roughly the same size as the pots previously English Cities available to the RDAs). In July this year, Ed Miliband upped the ante by suggesting that, where elected, a Labour administration in 2015 will devote £30 billion toward funding ‘combined authorities’, Local Enterprise David Waite examines investment decisions and are willing to Partnerships and individual local decentralisation across England and embrace risk and place ‘skin in the game’. authorities, and will grant greater control its implications for Wales. Following the dissolution of England’s Regional Development over business rates. This sits alongside Agencies (RDAs), established by Labour, George Osborne’s vision of a ‘northern a number of commentators consider powerhouse’ underpinned by high speed that small steps toward effective transport connections between the north’s A consensus has developed that we decentralisation have emerged. Indeed, major city-regions (the detail and funding are, in Ed Miliband’s words, “far too the Coalition Government’s drive for may be made clear in the upcoming centralised a country”. With notions of localism has seen the creation of Local Autumn Statement). The emerging policy a quasi-federalist Britain being touted in Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and contest has been described by one think the wake of the Scottish Referendum, combined authorities along with ‘City tank as a welcome “race to the top” on Westminster politicians are jostling Deals’ and ‘Growth Deals’. city policies. for position with claims about leading City Deals have been the most So what does the thrust towards effective devolution from the centre. striking. Involving bespoke policy devolution entail for Wales? First, the In the Welsh context, devolution and investment packages as agreed powers and capacities of the Welsh takes multiple forms that are important between Whitehall and local actors, Assembly have been examined by the to distinguish. First, devolution from City Deals hinge on the quid pro Silk Commission that recommended the UK Government to the Welsh quo of enhanced local capacity and increased powers including Government; and, second, devolution to accountability with long-term central devolved taxation. How or when local authorities within Wales. To date, government commitments. Deals these recommendations might be focus has more obviously concentrated vary in content across the participant implemented is yet to be established. on the former. With a concern for regional economic development in the UK, the idea that the idea that devolution to local devolution to local authorities is critical for economic rebalancing is now a central authorities is critical for economic policy stance for many. While academic rebalancing is now a central policy evidence to support a link between devolution and economic growth is stance for many. somewhat scarce, Lord Heseltine’s report, No Stone Unturned, and Lord Adonis’ cities, encompassing, for example, Below this level, the extent to which review for the Labour party both accepted incentives and rewards for effective local authorities can be supported will this premise in arguing for emboldened infrastructure investments and targeted depend, to a large degree, on the Welsh local authority roles. labour market interventions. As others Government’s own funding. Ongoing In England, local leaders have have remarked, City Deals are perhaps budgetary tightening points to further long argued that they know their own most encouraging for the policy challenges ahead, however. constituencies rather better than a experimentation they permit. Sub-national economic development top-down Whitehall elite, and are best Reshuffling sub-national economic policy is complex in the Welsh placed to tailor interventions. They want development approaches has drawn context given the varying roles and greater responsibility and freedom to take criticism nevertheless. The National responsibilities of Cardiff Bay and

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 33 The City Deal recently agreed for Glasgow demonstrates that multiple administrative layers can be negotiated to fashion policies and funding settlements for city-regions.

Westminster. Nevertheless, city-regions premised on ‘earn-back’ models, as to round one of the City Deals). have re-emerged on the policy agenda are being implemented in Greater While tussles over the appropriate in Wales. In South East and South West Manchester, for example, have yet to be positions for policy levers will inevitably Wales, city-region advisory boards entertained in Welsh city-regions. rumble on, and are by no means report to the Minister for Economy, The City Deal recently agreed for trivial in terms of effective city-region Science and Transport. Sir Terry Glasgow demonstrates that multiple policy, policymakers will continue to be Matthews has recently been appointed administrative layers can be negotiated challenged to identify, and collaborate to chair the South West Wales region, to fashion policies and funding on, the many other substantive and while Roger Lewis, Chief Executive settlements for city-regions. Based on an procedural matters that city-regionalism of the chairs the infrastructure programme, coupled with brings about. From developing Cardiff Capital Region board. As the multiple labour market interventions to the Metro to considering the inter- work of the city-region boards evolves, tackle deprivation, the deal was made linkages between housing markets, they will continue to interface with possible through matched funding by city-regionalism changes the policy- the policy remits of both Cardiff Bay both the UK and Scottish governments. making calculi. In terms of procedural and Westminster. The running dispute While cynics might argue that the concerns, important questions will between the Welsh Government and “Glasgow and Clyde Valley” deal was emerge, moreover, about the roles of the UK Government over the funding of strongly influenced by pre-referendum civic society and social enterprise groups the Valleys Lines electrification serves to positioning (given the Labour led in forming an inclusive and deliberative illustrate the challenge. administration in Glasgow City), an policy-making context. Such actors may The question of what freedom, agreement between Westminster, have visions for city-region development revenue and spending flexibilities Holyrood and the Glasgow city-region that challenge the orthodoxy in Welsh local authorities or city-regions has nevertheless emerged. important ways. should and will be allowed still lingers, What precedent does this set? Could Finally, and coupled with the close nevertheless. Can city-region policies Cardiff or Swansea seek to replicate scrutiny of democratic accountability, in Wales proceed with the same this? The Treasury’s appetite for further useful aspects of previous sub-national Westminster-Cardiff Bay-local authority deals may be one obstacle, but if Wales’ economic development approaches interactions, or are local hands tied city-regions want a slice of the wider UK – from Welsh spatial planning to the and capacities too constrained? In one decentralisation pie, City Deals is the key functions of the now disbanded Welsh sense, the nature of the advisory boards, game in town. Development Agency – should also with their direct line to the Minister, Further reflecting moves to engage feature in debates concerning the provide a channel for the local voice with UK-wide initiatives, Cardiff Council organisational and policy mandates our that is perhaps shorter and more direct has recently announced an agreement to city-regions require. than in England. This suggests that join Glasgow in the Core Cities network. policy in Wales can already be flexible The Core Cities group provides a and responsive to local conditions, one ‘united voice’ for, in the main, the major of the core rationales for devolution. metropolitan areas in England outside David Waite is a Research However, rolling infrastructure funds London (the same cities that were party Associate at Cardiff University.

34 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org

North Wales, a region without a city?

David B. Jones asks where a City So, where does this leave North to be a City Region; the concern was Region agenda for South Wales and Wales, and what are the threats from to protect one of Wales’ and the UK’s most important and growing economic the North West of England leaves the the North West of England and border sub-regions. More specifically, the north of Wales. City Regions? However wide the net is cast, the concept of a City Region for view was, and still is, that we need to an area broadly covering north Wales, establish a cross-border regional model central & east, together with Chester that explicitly combines economic and into Cheshire doesn’t really make growth and transport planning - similar, sense, or sound right! but different, to the two City Regions Ignoring for a moment the established in south Wales, or to the It is now well over two years since the complexities and political tensions City Region arrangements in England. Haywood report on City Regions was associated with straddling the border Locally there is widespread support presented to the Welsh Government. It of Wales and England, the area in on both sides of the border to support recommended two City Regions - both question consists of a small city (and a the creation of a unique, dynamic in south Wales. The inevitable reaction very small city!), a large town and some cross border economic region. On the from the north of Wales led to Economy significant urban and industrial areas. negative side, a concern is that cross Minister Edwina Hart commissioning Additionally, it is also largely rural and border collaboration of this kind may a further evaluation into the case. But relatively sparse. The region that I’ve lead to an excessive amount of housing when it reported in March 2013 that just described is, however, a genuine development, or to a dilution of our too rejected the case for a City Region and well established socio-economic cultural identity. However, as Ken in the north, and instead presented area, with a relatively strong economy Skates, AM for Clwyd South, said back four recommendations linked to skills built on manufacturing and professional in 2012, “… the reality is that economic development, cross-border operations services. The area is often referred to stagnation and decline are a bigger and partnerships, transport strategy and, as the Mersey-Dee Area, and is an area threat to our region than anything else.” of course, funding! with an innovative, can-do attitude. Across the border, and less The fact remains, however, that Tens of thousands of us move than an hour from Flintshire and Welsh cities currently generate only daily throughout this area for work, Wrexham, City Regions initiatives and around a third of our income as a living and pleasure, regularly crossing regeneration are moving apace. Into country, which is a significantly lower a national border without giving it a Cheshire and the Wirral, and beyond, proportion than all the other UK second’s thought. I believe that the to the established cities which are the nations and regions. Therefore, there concern from stakeholders in the homes to the Greater Manchester and is clearly still a strong rationale for us area in relation to the decision not , Enterprise Zones abound: needing to do more to generate extra to grant “City Region” status was not Sci-Tech Daresbury, Wirral Waters growth from our city and urban areas. about the Mersey-Dee Area wanting and Manchester Airport. Beyond the

36 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org designated City Regions, these are North Wales has given the region the of North West and North East Wales. linked to, and interwoven with, the ability to compete with similar English Anything less transformational is likely to Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) initiatives, and as a further example in be a painful compromise. - Cheshire & Warrington Enterprise, Anglesey this has been a factor in the North East Wales in particular is a Lancashire Enterprise Partnership and Wylfa Newydd project moving towards key deliverer for the Welsh economy, the Marches LEP. becoming a reality. Furthermore, the and the Haywood review clearly Another development, no more formation of the Ministerial Task Force recognised this, stating that “…the than fifteen minutes from Deeside, is for Transport has picked up the baton (MDA) region … is an important the Thornton Science Park – a “High from the Haywood recommendations, functional economic area to both Growth Centre” located at the former and is providing a cohesive influence as Wales and England. There is genuine Shell Technology Centre, which has it finalises its strategy and proposals by potential here, not for a City Region, been bequeathed to Chester University, December 2014. but to develop a powerful economic and supported by investment from the UK Government and the European Regional Development Fund There is a leadership vacuum which prevents (ERDF). So although not all of these the region from becoming a real economic developments are formally linked to City Region status, there is a coherence, power-house that could punch above its and a great deal going on. So should north Wales be weight in Cardiff, Westminster and beyond. concerned and what are we doing? The future success of the Dee region in We don’t need to be called a “City development model, based around the particular depends on it being able to Region” to make these things happen – region’s primacy in key manufacturing identify and market its complementarity business is not that gullible, and makes sectors, which delivers prosperity and to the big city regions nearby, in order its decisions based on more tangible growth by focusing on a number of to compete for private investment benefits such as location, connectivity, strategic priorities”. against international centres like skills and quality of living. Of course Finally, and as another reason Dublin, Stuttgart or Barcelona. We financial incentives help too. to be confident and optimistic, I am need to be doing as much to anchor So all is rosy in the garden then? reminded about what happened last the long-term location of existing global Not quite, and complacency would be year when the Welsh Government and more local businesses, as we do to disastrous. There is much duplication choose to promote the benefits of the secure the relocation of new business. and a lack of coherence. In addition to Deeside Enterprise Zone in billboard This can be done, and in terms of the prime role of Welsh Government advertising at Manchester Airport and relocation, the recent decision by US- in economic development, we still in the city. The simple messages about based Cytori to relocate its European have the involvement of the six local the benefits of Deeside were in place base in Deeside is just one example of authorities, the MDA, the North Wales for a few days before senior executives what can be achieved. Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB), realised what the promotions staff So why did they choose Deeside the North Wales Business Council and had agreed. They then had them all over a wide range of competing others too. There is an urgent need for taken down. As annoying as this was, opportunities elsewhere in the UK a focus and for streamlining, to create a it is another reason to be confident and in mainland Europe? A key issue lean coherence. and optimistic, and to work across the was location, and in particular the There is a leadership vacuum which North Wales and MDA regions - others proximity to Manchester Airport – this prevents the region from becoming recognise and are threatened by what is a major advantage and something a real economic power-house that we have. It must be our priority to work we need to further exploit. Another could punch above its weight in together to turn this into success for reason was Enterprise Zone status in Cardiff, Westminster and beyond. Local North Wales. Deeside, and with it the benefits which Government Reorganisation (LGR) include Enhanced Capital Allowances, is a necessary inevitability and has a the Business Rates Scheme, and a local key role to play to support economic business-led Advanced Manufacturing leadership. It’s a hot and contentious David B. Jones is Principal/ Zone advisory board. The Welsh topic, but I’d prompt for a “two council” Chief Executive of Coleg Government’s decision to establish model, recognising the complementary Cambria & Chair of the three of its seven Enterprise Zones in characteristics, needs and strengths Deeside Enterprise Zone

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 37 Debate: Will the SEN reforms work for Wales? #1 A Raw Deal

providing support. The Welsh Government alarming removal of the ability to challenge Nathan Davies outlines why have adopted an unhelpful approach in for parents. This could potentially lead increased divergence between this instance which departs from the all- to Authorities refusing to assess young special education needs provision encompassing features of the Children and people whereby parents would have to is a raw deal for Wales. Families Act. Instead, the Government have accept the decision of the assessing body; a concentrated on introducing new terms remarkable removal of rights. such as ‘additional learning needs’ to replace Overall, if one were to draw a ‘special educational needs’; a purposeless comparison between the legislation in addition to any new legislation. place in England next month and what is In recent weeks, the Welsh Government have What is most concerning is that proposed for Wales, parents in England invited views, as part of a formal consultation Statements of SEN will no longer be created would be far happier with their ability to process, to their proposed changes to the Law under the new proposals. Instead an obtain the best possible provision for their in Wales relating to the support which will ‘Individual Development Plan’ will replace children. Wales will continue to lag behind be given to children and young people with these which, given the proposed changes, with an inadequate and diluted system. special educational needs. This consultation will only seek to weaken the protection It remains unclear as to why the Welsh process has now concluded, although it offered to those who rely upon it. Their Government did not seek to adopt the remains to be seen whether the White Paper description is similar to that of an Individual Children and Families Act 2014 which, issued will be significantly changed from Education Plan (IEP) which has no legal having received substantial input from a its original content following views being force. One cannot expect a parent to have number of influential figures and groups, expressed from a number of organisations faith that their child will have the required represents a marked improvement upon across the country. legal protection with such a document in previous legislation (Education Act 1996) This month, the Children and Families place for them. and indeed the initial White Paper issued by Act 2014 will be introduced in England. This The only positive from the process is the UK Government. is comprehensive legislation which provides that an IDP will now be in place for a young It is feared that Wales may slip a number of key changes to Education Law, person up to the age of 25, thereby doing further behind England in supporting most notably the onus on the respective away with the need for a Learning and young people with learning needs as a Education and Social Care departments of Skills Plan once a transfer to a FE College is result of the dilution of protection that is each Authority and the local Health Boards arranged, for example. The IDP assessment proposed through the White Paper. One to produce a collaborative document to process, however, is extremely vague with can only hope that the input given from ensure the child/young person’s needs are no mention as to which body will bear various groups, including Sinclairslaw, is What is most concerning is that Statements of SEN considered in detail and the legislation amended accordingly. A major concern is will no longer be created under the new proposals. that the final legislative document will not Instead an ‘Individual Development Plan’ will replace contain specific, mandatory duties that an these which, given the proposed changes, will only Authority (for example) must adhere to; seek to weaken the protection offered to those who instead discretion can be utilised thereby limiting challenges as to their decision- rely upon it. making. Without this action, there is a very serious risk that children and young met utilising a holistic approach. This is very responsibility for conducting the same, not people in Wales may not even have the different to what the Welsh Assembly White what the ingredients of the assessment will same protection that they enjoy under the Paper proposes. consist of. The rights of appeal that exist Education Act 1996 (s.324(5)). It is inadequate to concentrate solely in relation to an Authority not conducting on a young person’s educational needs a statutory assessment, or one which is Nathan Davies is Associate when health and social care issues often substandard, that exist at present may also Education Law Solicitor at need to be taken into account when not continue under the IDP procedure; an Sinclairslaw

38 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org Debate: Will the SEN reforms work for Wales? #2 More than a cynical name change

Used properly, there is a clear opportunity This could mean that an IDP is established Mike O’Neill says that additional for the better transfer of knowledge prior to starting school. But I would urge learning needs reform has the between institutions and tangible targets caution that we don’t ‘mis-statement’ potential to make a positive of responsibility for professionals to adhere young people or fail to recognise the difference in his work. to when catering for young people with differing rates of development that young additional learning needs. people exhibit. We should be quick to It is also an important step to move support, but not rush to statement. away from an out dated notion of ‘special My role as Head of English at a PRU educational need’ to one of an inclusive means that the impact of deprivation nature. This is more than a cynical name is acutely felt. My colleagues at school After almost ten years of teaching, holding change. Additional learning need suggests and within ATL welcome moves to close literacy coordinator and Head of English a level of inclusion that will be welcomed by the attainment gap and provide equal roles in mainstream schools and now teachers, young people and parents/carers. opportunity for all. The proposals do seem to Head of English at a Pupil Referral Unit, the Indeed, it is symbolic of the very ethos we support the wider picture of school reform Additional Learning Needs White Paper has want in our schools; pupils of all abilities and the raising of standards. I am pleased the potential to impact greatly on my work. accepting each other and working alongside to see that young people with additional The philosophy behind the legislative one another. This is a positive step for all. learning needs are being considered proposals for additional learning needs is The scope of the proposals does appear alongside ‘mainstream’ pupils. My concern one to be welcomed; overcoming barriers wide-ranging. I particularly welcome the is that we do not make young people simply to opportunity that young people with commitment to develop a Code of Practice numbers on a spreadsheet – learning should be a personalised process and national scales of measurement are not always It is also an important step to move away from appropriate for all. an out dated notion of ‘special educational need’ In summary, the changes do appear to strengthen procedures surrounding those to one of an inclusive nature. This is more than a with ALN, even if it’s too early to assess cynical name change. impact thoroughly. Streamlining paperwork for school staff, young people and their families, as well as the sharing of information is a key positive feature that will need time additional needs often face. All teachers that will also encompass work based to embed. All teachers, particularly those welcome this as they will all have young learning providers. It has too often been like me, whose timetable is predominately people in their charge who face barriers the case that those with additional learning catering for ALN pupils, welcome moves to to realising their potential. The proposal needs are given opportunities to access ensure we can better support them. But we to strengthen working links between stimulating courses only for their needs to be should not lose sight of the very real truth the various agencies that work with missed as these courses are delivered away that money and time spent on improving young people will also be welcomed. In from school and the teachers that may know provision is what changes lives, not simply my experience, teachers often fear that them best. If all stakeholders are involved making it easier to statement young people. the additional needs of young people in and actively catering for the IDP, then we are not always met when they are away greatly improve the prospects for young from school and participating in learning people with additional learning needs. across and from a range of providers. The My colleagues in primary schools may Individual Development Plan does have the be helped by the Code of Practice and its Mike O’Neill is the Head potential to address this concern as it can expectation that colleagues working with of English at the Ty Gwyn form a personal and bespoke route map to young people below compulsory school Education Centre. He is also a achieving the very best for young people. age help identify additional learning needs. Casework Officer for ATL.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 39 to speak English should not receive dole money unless they are willing to learn English English. The Labour Party’s attitude is similar as well. During his period as nationalism – in ’s Government between 2001 and 2004, introduced a number of statutory measures that made it impossible to gain British citizenship Friend without passing a language test. And as we know, the future of the English language is one of UKIP’s main concerns. Who didn’t feel sympathy for Nigel or Farage that the English language was not Foe? to be heard recently on a train journey between London and Kent? Such messages come at us from across Simon Brooks, Institute of Welsh Affairs Annual Lecture, the border, and affect and influence us. Llanelli National Eisteddfod, 2014 This is scarcely a surprise; after all, the London based press is the main source of news for the Welsh people. As a result, opposition exists in parts of Wales to According to the Census, only 72% of integrate newcomers. an imaginary enemy that doesn’t exist, the population of Wales was born in I do not wish to raise concerns namely the immigration of a non-English Wales. This is not necessarily a problem. prematurely, but there is a strong speaking population. In Welsh speaking After all only 63% of the population of possibility that Britain in the future will communities there could in future be a London was born in Britain. But London become a far more English place than it battle between the monolingual rhetoric isn’t Wales. Wales is a poor, marginal has been until now, and it is very possible of the British state and the bilingual country, in a dependent relationship too that Wales will become far more rhetoric of the embryonic Welsh state. We with her next door neighbour, and it Anglicised as well. The dangers attached cannot be certain that the Welsh state will has a minority identity. Such a country to this are intensified by the increasingly win. The Language Commissioner, Meri is far more open to threats to its identity reactionary and anti-multicultural nature Huws, has pennies and smarties to spend as a result of demographic change than of recent definitions of Englishness, at on the fight; theDaily Mail is published majority cultures. least as seen in the growth of political every day. Inevitably the rhetoric of UKIP Of course, there is no direct parties such as UKIP. and English nationalism will undermine relationship between being born in So a painful question for us as a the confidence of the Welsh speaking Wales and empathising or sympathising national minority is whether the recent community to insist that Welsh remains a with Welsh nationhood. There are tens xenophobia displayed by English community language, and it will give new of thousands of people in Wales who nationalism represents the opening of confidence to those who oppose this. were born in England and who speak a new path in the cultural history of What has been the response of the Welsh, and tens of thousands more England, where minorities will face a Welsh establishment to all this? They who consider themselves to be Welsh. I harsher, sharper wind, or is this merely a have buried their heads in the sand! say this sincerely as a lad from London temporary storm? There’s been huge reluctance to get to whose sister is one of the English rugby There is a cross-party consensus grips with the debate at all. team’s greatest fans! Despite this, further in England that immigrants to Britain The reluctance stems from a problem Anglicisation of Wales in terms of the should learn English and that the state in Welsh political ideology. percentage of the population born should promote this. Each one of the four There is a political consensus outside the country will have political main British parties are in favour of an in Wales that we should be civic implications for Welsh identity. unambiguous link between learning the nationalists and this is defined against It is not immigration in itself that is English language and British citizenship. that which is called, incorrectly in my problematic for a stateless nation such The Con-Dem government’s attitude in view, ethnic nationalism. The Welsh as Wales, rather the difficulties that London on this is clear enough, as seen political establishment has put the a minority culture faces in trying to in a recent proposal that those unable Welsh language in the ethnic box,

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although via the creation of a concept of Welsh citizenship it could easily be placed in the civic category. Since they believe that language belongs in the ethnic box, politicians are not willing to tell immigrants to Wales that they are expected to do anything in relation to the Welsh language. Politicians feel that this would not be welcoming, and perhaps it might be unfair too, and that we in Wales stand apart from this sort of politics. Yet it’s false to argue that learning a language is an ethnic imposition. In England, English is taught for civic reasons, in order for the citizen to be able to speak the language of the country and to access civic privileges without being disadvantaged. But the viewpoint in Wales is that the Welsh state cannot place particular statement by the Welsh Government that English speaking immigrants in Wales obligations upon anyone. it would be desirable for people who who wish to take them, yet no classes Though this appears quite tolerant, move to Welsh speaking communities exist that are tailored for immigrants who it is a policy which ignores the reality of to learn Welsh. I do not foresee that wish to learn Welsh in order to qualify for social power. In Britain and Wales, this enforcement would follow this, and in citizenship. This situation must change. always leans heavily in favour of the the case of immigrants from England British citizenship in Wales should not be English language and British identity we could not introduce compulsion a version of English citizenship. It is true and is likely to do so even more heavily even if we wished. However, such a that Welsh for Adults classes exist. But in the future. A policy not to define statement would be of great help in terms these must be paid for, which highlights Welsh citizenship is a laissez-faire policy. of promoting Welsh as a community the inequity still further. The trouble with laissez-faire policies in language in Welsh speaking areas as it To make things worse, it appears as the field of language or nationality, as in would emphasise that learning Welsh if the Welsh Government is placing even was the social expectation, and the less emphasis on this field today than psychological pressure on the indigenous ever before. What other way is there It would be great to have population to turn everything Welsh to interpret the government’s recent bilingual, and everything bilingual announcement that it wishes to cut 15% a simple statement by the English, would be considerably reduced. of the Welsh for Adults’ budget? This Welsh Government that In a perceptive article on citizenship is money that exists, partially at least, it would be desirable for and the Welsh language for the British in order to integrate immigrants who people who move to Welsh Council, Gwennan Higham recently move to Welsh speaking areas. What noted that the debate concerning message is conveyed by the fact that this speaking communities to language in Wales brings to English all expenditure is being reduced at the same learn Welsh. the advantages that stem from being the time that the British State is forcing every language of social inclusion. This in turn immigrant to learn English? rebuffs the right of the Welsh language to the field of economics, is that the strong be a civic language, and downgrades it to are always likely to come out on top. the language of an ethnic group, which Dr Simon Brooks is a Lecturer There is a massive irony in all this. The there is no expectancy of immigrants at the School of Welsh, Cardiff practical outcome of adopting a policy to learn. This unfairness is reflected by University. This is an abridged of not defining Welsh citizenship is to public policy in the field of immigration. version of the lecture he gave do Ukip’s work for it as immigrants will Lessons to learn English as a second for the IWA at the Eisteddfod in be compelled to profess British civic language, English for Speakers of Other Llanelli in August. To read the values alone. Languages, are provided by the Welsh full lecture, please visit the IWA It would be great to have a simple Government free of charge for all non- website: www.iwa.org.uk.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 41 leadership in all areas of the education system, the development of more effective forms of collaboration between schools (to share ‘good practice’), and the improvement of the quality of teachers and their teaching have come to be seen as Crisis? key mechanisms for raising Welsh attainment standards. All of this mirrors rather closely much of the approach What adopted in England (and more widely). Of course, significant differences do Crisis? remain, especially with respect to the organisation of (especially secondary) schooling (there are no academies or free schools and few foundation schools in Wales); the nature of the National Curriculum (most importantly in relation to provision during the early years of primary schooling and ‘core’ subjects at GCSE and, increasingly, GCE A level); and the system of qualifications (especially in relation to GCSEs and A levels, as well as the their peers in other parts of the UK and Welsh Baccalaureate). Nevertheless, Professor Gareth Rees questions the internationally. Somewhat ironically, the overall effect of the educational perception that the Welsh education given the frenetic nature of the political reform programme has been to bring system is under-performing. arguments, the Welsh Government the schools system in Wales into much has itself acknowledged the need for closer alignment with that England. substantial reform. The then Minister Given this significant shift, therefore, responsible for education in the Welsh it is worth asking questions about the Government, Leighton Andrews, in basis for arguing that schools in Wales The state of Welsh education has a speech delivered in February 2011, are underperforming in a major way. become a matter of widespread outlined a 20-point programme of Addressing this issue very soon leads concern in recent years. Certainly, educational reform that he deemed to to the work of an organisation which many of those outside of Wales be necessary to raise the performance most parents, let alone their children, appear to have formed a view of of Welsh schools to acceptable Welsh education that is extremely international standards. unfavourable. For example, following Again somewhat ironically, the many of those a series of well-publicised clashes effect of this reform programme has between representatives of the two been to bring many aspects of Welsh outside of Wales governments, the UK Government educational policy into much closer appear to have has made clear its belief that – as with alignment with the policies being the delivery of other public services – pursued in England. More specifically, formed a view of the Welsh Government’s educational ‘school improvement’ has become the provision is highly unsatisfactory. cornerstone of policy in Wales, with Welsh education Inside Wales too, there has also policies aimed at raising standards that is extremely developed a conventional wisdom of literacy and numeracy for all that the Welsh education system is pupils, using individual data to track unfavourable. under-performing significantly, based pupils’ progress more carefully, and on much the same sorts of evidence as enabling new forms of accountability external critics use. Certainly, the Welsh through a new inspection format media have become highly adept at and the publication of performance delivering the message that Welsh data for schools on an annual basis, schools and their pupils lag behind being prioritised. Similarly, enhanced

42 | www.iwa.org.uk www.clickonwales.org are scarcely aware of: the Organisation and students in schools and of other The benchmark for judging levels of for Economic Co-operation and educational professionals. Its policy educational attainment in Wales has Development (OECD). Hence, the recommendations focus on four areas. been comparison with those in other immediate impetus to the educational Schools should develop the capacity countries. Hence, Welsh educational reforms initiated by Leighton Andrews to meet the learning needs of all their performance has not been judged was provided by what was deemed students, including those at lower primarily by reference to, for example, to be a dramatically poor Welsh attainment levels. Improvements should changes in Welsh attainment levels over performance in the 2009 round of the be made in the recruitment, training time; but rather by comparing levels Programme for International Student and career development of teachers; of attainment in Wales with those in Assessment (PISA). PISA is a sample and good practice should be shared other parts of the UK – and England, survey of the attainment of 15-year-olds between schools. The assessment in particular – and internationally. in reading, mathematics and science, system for students should be made Moreover, the focus on improving conducted every three years in a wide more coherent; and more stringent levels of educational attainment in these comparative terms is justified in terms of a particular orientation towards education’s primary role, we all need to remind ourselves that which is defined essentially in terms of the perceived relationships between high-quality education is about much educational attainment and economic development. more than the sorts of educational In this context, policy-makers would do well to consider that the attainment that currently drive policy relationships between improved levels of development in Wales. qualifications and/or the cognitive skills measured in PISA, on the one hand, and enhanced economic growth, on the other, are in reality highly complex. Increasing ‘human capital’ will lead to improved economic performance only in the long run and, crucially, only if firms and other organisations adapt themselves to make full use of range of countries by the OECD. Wales evaluation of the practices of teaching this resource. Improving productivity participated in its own right in PISA and learning within schools should be and rates of innovation are key to a for the first time in 2006; and PISA applied. A clearer overall strategy for competitive economy; but increasing scores have subsequently become a Welsh schools should be developed, educational attainment levels may be key element in the debate. Indeed, the committing the system to a clearly necessary, but is not sufficient to ensure Welsh Government remains committed articulated set of objectives. that these are achieved. to the target of Wales reaching the top The OECD Report and its Indeed, perhaps we all need to 20 of the PISA rankings by 2015. recommendations were widely remind ourselves that high-quality More recently, the Welsh welcomed, not only by educational education is about much more than Government commissioned the OECD professionals (and their trade unions), the sorts of educational attainment that to carry out a focused analysis of the but also by the Welsh Government, currently drive policy development in current state of schooling in Wales despite the implicit criticism of its Wales (and elsewhere). and how to improve performance, strategic performance. For the present, which was published earlier this however, it remains to be seen how far year. Not surprisingly given its these specific recommendations will reliance on PISA results (from the affect educational policy in concrete 2012 survey), this analysis confirms ways. Nevertheless, more generally, the previously established picture the influence of the OECD and its ideas of underperformance in Wales, have been enormous. Gareth Rees is a Research compared with the other countries In particular, the OECD has Professor at the Wales Institute of the UK and internationally. The shaped the terms in which the of Social and Economic study team also spent four days in public debate about education in Research, Data and Methods Wales collecting the views of teachers Wales (and elsewhere) is framed. (WISERD).

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 43 Photo: Natasha Hirst

What kind of Wales do you want for your children?

Donate to the IWA’s constitutional convention. > https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/iwa-s-constitutional-convention Culture Section

Rhian E. Jones revisits Blackwood for a festival of literature and music rooted in history, politics and the resurgence of Manic Street Preachers

The Welsh as a people have lived by Maxime Cinema of Kieran Evans’ Culture, to the festival, I was there to speak making and remaking themselves in Alienation, Boredom and Despair, a on a panel with the Rhondda novelist and generation after generation, usually magisterial documentary on that other playwright Rachel Trezise, in the slick if against the odds, usually within a British Welsh cultural touchstone, the Manic unlikely surroundings of a Manics-themed context. Wales is an artefact which the Street Preachers. In it, the band recalled bar just off Blackwood’s main street. Both Welsh produce. If they want to. It requires the domination of the image of Wales Trezise and I spoke about having found the an act of choice. in their 80s youth by awareness of the band inspirational in attempting creative – Gwyn A Williams, When Was Wales strike and its aftermath, as well as their and artistic careers of our own, and in (1985) consequent wish to offer an alternative allowing ourselves to become imbued picture, less bleak and hopeless, albeit still with what felt like a distinctly un-Welsh I recently returned to the place I grew up in informed by the political consciousness sense of self-belief and ambition. We order to attend Velvet Coalmine, the first behind the strike. recalled, with equal parts bafflement and occurrence of what will hopefully become Velvet Coalmine’s raison d’etre is worth scepticism, ‘Cool Cymru’ and its late-90s an established music and literature quoting at length for its reflection of the co-option of the Manics, after their years festival for the South Wales Valleys. My sense of history’s weight, and the wish to spent wandering a pre-devolutionary no- journey down from London was spent escape and redefine it, that also fuelled the man’s-land, too Welsh for much more than in anticipation of problems caused by young Manics. Its founder, Blackwood boy ridicule in England and not ‘Welsh’ enough the festival coinciding with the NATO Iain Richards, says the festival aims to allow: for full acclaim in Wales. summit’s occupation of Newport and The room’s enthusiasm for the Manics Cardiff, resulting in roads closed, traffic our cultural heritage and identity to be seemed to take a noticeable dip when slowed, barriers erected, tanks on the lawn expressed on its own terms without discussing their career in the period at Celtic Manor and Cardiff looking, as interference, without suppression and roughly between This Is My Truth Tell one Twitter correspondent reported, like without agenda. The history of the Me Yours and this summer’s almost something out of Children of Men. In the Valleys is littered with exploitation, universally acclaimed Futurology. The end, though, I encountered nothing of this neglect and indifference but has proved phrase ‘ten years of mush’ was used apparent invasion force apart from a lone a birthplace to a myriad of thinkers more than once. For me, it’s been a copper loitering awkwardly in the vestibule and pursuers of social justice and in distressingly long time since a new Manic of the train from Newport to Abergavenny. an era when Old Etonian privilege Street Preachers album had anything My father, however, grumbling at the continues to shape and influence more substantial to say than ‘Hello, shipped-in police presence, said the last decision-making and politics in the here’s another Manic Street Preachers time he’d seen anything like it was the UK, creating an arts festival influenced album’. Even previous release Rewind the Miners’ Strike. by the radicalism of the 1984-85 Film – which, like This Is My Truth, was a It’s not as though nothing of note has miner’s strike and the Centenary of the fundamentally Welsh production full of happened in the Valleys since 1984-5, Senghenydd mining disaster feels both militant melancholia – didn’t altogether hit but the Miners’ Strike remains a cultural timely and appropriate. the spot. Futurology, though, is in many touchstone. Velvet Coalmine opened ways the renaissance and return to their with a screening at Blackwood’s lavish Aside from having lent the name of my roots that previous albums (Journal for

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 45 Culture

by these past battles and injuries is one notable focus of Rewind The Film. Kieran Evans’ video for the title track, a day in the life of Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley, depicts both the dereliction and neglect that still afflicts these communities and the persistence of a working-class radical tradition – in myth and memory, at least. South Wales’ instinctive inclination to socialist republicanism, which the Manics unapologetically uphold, still finds an audience in the shifting political landscape of the coalfield – the Tories still poison, Labour something of a lost hope following its hollowing-out by , and , under Valleys girl , displaying increasingly sharp flashes of left-wing steel, seeking a place for Wales in the world as opposed to Wales against the world. My part of the Valleys now appears at least marginally better-off than the bleaker-than-bleak vortex it seemed in the 90s, when I looked to music and culture to escape the grey post-industrial world in which I found myself immured, and to history to explain why this was so. Velvet Coalmine, with its children’s poetry workshops, dramatic recitals in Wetherspoons, and the climactic sell-out Plague Lovers, Postcards from a Young Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’, ‘Concert for Coal’ in Blackwood Miners’ Man) were vaunted as but weren’t. In which referenced both Wales’ part in the Institute, demonstrates the extent to particular, where previous albums were Spanish Civil War’s anti-fascist resistance which culture, community and art still suffused with aesthetic and sonic bombast and Patagonia’s Welsh colony. ‘The View exist in the coalfield despite its obliterated but had little lyrical heft to back it up, From Stow Hill’, touching on Newport’s industry and economy. This creative seam on Futurology any musical pomp and 1839 Chartist rising, locates this radical runs deeper than the superficialities of ceremony sounds like no less than the tradition closer to home, and the spine- Cool Cymru. It is fitting that the Manic lyrics deserve. tingling stomp of ‘Let’s Go To War’ expands Street Preachers, as perhaps the most Expanding the limited canvas of Rewind it into a contemporary call-to-arms. What significant exponent of Valleys art in the Film, Futurology’s scope is continental, the Manics have always stood for in the recent years, should be an absent presence providing a reminder of the wider currents latter part of their career – an Atticus Finch- throughout, and reassuring that the within which Welsh history drifts. Nicky like insistence on retaining one’s principles band themselves should now be offering Wire has at last emerged from behind while acknowledging one’s relative engagement with the world rather than domestic lines and reengaged lyrically weakness and disadvantage – is performed solipsistic withdrawal. with the world, no matter – or perhaps on Futurology with an unusually vital because of – how distasteful he finds it. defiance and immediacy. The songs here The album reflects Wales’ ability to make take the fight to the enemy, whether the an active contribution to the world rather Coalition government or Mumford & Sons, Rhian E. Jones writes about than to retreat from it in disgust or defeat. rather than giving a resigned sigh from afar. history, politics, popular culture ‘Dreaming a City (Hughesovka)’, through The Miners’ Strike, now receding into and the places where they which the listener learns of the currently retrospective and recuperation, has cast intersect. She is the author of strife-stricken city of Donetsk’s original a long shadow over the south Welsh Clampdown: Pop-Cultural Wars on founding by Merthyr ironworkers, is in coalfield for the three decades following its Class and Gender and co-editor at these terms a companion piece to ‘If You defeat. The geographic and social scars left New Left Project.

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Culture

‘Dragons, tigers and football-playing vampires’: children’s literature in modern Wales

move initiated by Huw Lewis, then Minister Penny Thomas outlines the early successes of a series that brings fun to the for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, heart of the National Literacy Strategy. the Welsh Books Council was provided with some funds to publish and market a series of ten books for children, to support the Welsh Government’s objective of promoting literacy. Applications were invited for ‘a lively When I told my teenagers that Firefly had the streets of Newport or Llanidloes just and contemporary series of children’s books been given the job of publishing a series of as easily as London, or even Hogsmead or with a strong Welsh focus.’ They were to be five books for 7-9 year olds, set in modern Hobbiton. Wales, we know, has a varied books young readers in Wales could identify Wales, that were funny and that children and very often stunning landscape and with, and intended to encourage children to would want to read in and out of school a culture to match, a long history, vast read for pleasure outside of school. Five were they laughed. ‘That’s not possible,’ they stock of ancient legends and an absorbing to be fiction titles for 7-9 year olds, which added, unnecessarily. and diverse contemporary society. Why should be ‘exciting and fun’ – an element Spurred on, and with four of these wouldn’t you set a story here? of humour being ‘highly encouraged’. Five ‘impossible’ books now published and the Frank Cottrell Boyce, for example, set further non-fiction titles for 9-11 year olds final two forthcoming (yes, that’s one extra his Framed in Snowdonia, and he knows were commissioned, which could focus on for luck), I still wonder why … why did this a thing or two about telling stories. Then individuals such as young sporting heroes, seem such a tall order, even to me? there is the fiction of Catherine Fisher, pop, film and fashion stars, or other high- The truth is it’s a ticklish job to publish Hayley Long, Diana Wynne Jones, Lucy achievers or role models. a book that large numbers of children are Christopher and Heather Dyer, to name The non-fiction series, now called Sparks, going to want to read outside school, set just a few authors. Fisher writes brilliantly went to Atebol Press, based in Ceredigion. anywhere at all, especially if their friends about fantasy worlds from her home in New company Firefly Press, based in Cardiff have never heard of it (peer pressure and Newport. And it’s possible that Wales and Aberystwyth, was lucky enough to be advertising can’t be underestimated). We may have influenced one or two others: JK awarded the fiction series, which we have can all name famous examples that make Rowling spent some of her schooldays near called Dragonfly. Our aim was to curate a it sound easy. Set your masterpiece in a Chepstow (and its castle), and schooldays series that would be dynamic, exciting and chocolate factory, for example, or a castle (and castles) seem to have been important set in places that readers might recognise; full of wizards; add loads of zombie extras. to her. Even Tolkien had a fair inkling of we wanted Welsh children to be able to read Have a great lead character – Horrid Henry, Welsh language, botany (he’d’ve called it about heroes and adventures happening in The Wimpy Kid, a touch of James Bond. herblore) and landscape. And of course, their hometowns, or just around the corner, We all have favourite children’s books, as do who could forget Roald Dahl? rather than having all the fun happening in our children (perhaps not the same ones) But despite this rich heritage, 2012 lands far away, somewhere else. But we were but these favourites will be a tiny handful figures indicated that school literacy and also happy for other, more or less traditional, of the hundreds and thousands written and numeracy levels in Wales were lower than elements to sneak in and delight our readers published every year. Set against this is the those in other UK countries and below too: dragons, tigers and football-playing happy fact that children’s and young adult average for OECD countries. Last year the vampires all ended up making an appearance. (YA) book markets have been growing in Welsh Government introduced the National The Welsh publishing industry is tiny recent years, despite an overall decline in Literacy and Numeracy Framework in a bid compared to the giants of elsewhere – print sales. to help children develop excellent numeracy Penguin Random House, Hachette, the And why not – why shouldn’t a and literacy standards, with assessment Scandinavian-based Bonnier group. But it wonderful book be set in Wales as much as against that framework now underway. is vibrant and often high quality, frequently anywhere else? Young readers will love a Meanwhile, in late December 2012, featuring in UK-wide prize lists. Gomer great book wherever it is set, just as adults there was some very exciting news for has been publishing English and Welsh would; writers can have heroes walking children’s book enthusiasts in Wales. In a language children’s books through its Pont

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imprint for some years, as have others, been hard work, but a fantastic journey, including Atebol, Y Lolfa and Carreg and early sales are looking positive, in Gwalch. Still more - Parthian, Seren, Wales and in England. We’ve been amazed Honno and Candy Jar - have brought out by the support we have received from occasional children’s books, with Honno’s bookshops, schools, librarians, the Welsh Bwgan Wood being one of the publisher’s Books Council, and, vitally, from new best-selling titles. But other than Firefly, to and established authors and illustrators. my knowledge there is no dedicated English Catherine Fisher, Francesca Rhydderch language children’s and YA publisher based and Dan Anthony’s agreement to being in Wales. on our board, and in Dan’s case, our first What is vital to reaching readers is that author, was a turning point. And publishing when we publish a book we do it brilliantly. the likes of Malachy Doyle, Shoo Rayner, A great story, great pictures, great design Wendy Meddour, Heather Dyer and (next and marketing are all equally vital. There is year) Paul Magrs, alongside up and coming vast competition from around the world, talent such as Sharon Tregenza, Sarah Todd and in the shop, in school or online, and Taylor, Kat Ellis and Laura Sheldon, is just wherever it comes from, young readers terrific and hasn’t hurt our profile beyond want the best, the funniest, the most the Severn Bridge at all! exciting, the most wonderfully illustrated Two more Dragonfly books are out and designed books they can find – the bar this autumn – Malachy Doyle’s Pete and is very high and can be very expensive. the Five-A-Side Vampires sees 9-year-old With all these challenges in mind, Pete and his faithful companion Blob the just a little cash in our pocket, and a lot of basset hound out after dark on the mean determination to succeed, Firefly Press came streets of Llani (a fictional Llanidoes), into being in April 2013. We were given while Mr Mahli’s Shed and a ghost named just 18 months to find authors, illustrators, Dylan, by primary school teacher Laura designers, markets and everything else Sheldon, brings us bedlam in a poetry involved in commercial publishing, and get lesson when two friends discover a rather the five Dragonfly books into the shops, all grumpy ghost in a neighbour’s shed near at a price point of £4.99 per book. And they Cwmdonkin Drive, Swansea. The book was were supposed to be funny! launched with Literature Wales as part of We started with a launch at the Hay the Developing Dylan 100 project. We also festival, where there were plenty of adults have seaside adventure in The Shiver Stone but no books at all. A year later we had by award-winning Sharon Tregenza, set in another Hay festival event, this time with a fictional Saundersfoot. In October come children actually reading and enjoying the final two Dragonfly titles: prizewinning our books! By then we had published Arthur and Me by Sarah Todd Taylor, set two Dragonfly titles: Steve’s Dreams by in both Caerleon and , and the Dan Anthony, set just outside Newport, wonderful Dottie Blanket and the Hilltop by (somewhere rather like Malpas), and Wendy Meddour. Snowdonia-based Dragon Gold by Shoo While Firefly may be small, we have Rayner. The other two books happened to great authors and support, and our be set in Aberdovey (The Flying Bedroom by determination is to publish children’s books Heather Dyer) and the mysterious town of from Wales that are as good as those from Blackfin, which may or may not be lurking anywhere else. Playing a role in improving somewhere on the north Wales coast (YA national literacy is an important priority, but thriller Blackfin Sky by Kat Ellis). we also hope for a few future favourites and This autumn we present all five (or six) children’s classics along the way! Dragonfly titles to Ken Skates, the new Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism. We are publishing nine books in Penny Thomas is the publisher at 2014, aimed at children from five to 19. It’s Firefly Press.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 49 Culture / reviews Reviews

A towering achievement his second, a big one entitled Wales in British George was an unwelcome interloper, albeit Dai Smith Politics 1868-1922, came out in the summer of a British and Imperial one, the exception to that year. I saw it first, pristine and intriguing, the established rule. Revenge was at hand on Gareth’s then sparse bookshelves when against this show of Welsh hubris when, we went up to Balliol together from Barry that during question time, some third year Balliol autumn. Now, the following winter, thanks men, led by the son of the Bishop of Exeter to Gareth’s irrepressible patriotism, I was to and abetted by the future Governor of Hong meet Ken Morgan himself, for the first time Kong, lifted from the nearby dining Hall the and in the company of his Swansea post- enormous, gilt framed oil portrait of Herbert graduate student Peter Stead. That night Asquith, Balliol 1870-74 and Prime Minister we felt we were out-gunning if not quite 1908-1916, and placed it prominently and out-numbering the English on their very own intimidatingly behind Lloyd George’s latter Oxonian patch. day champion. Well-bred sniggerers duly The talk was delivered with what sniggered. But nemesis, from Wales for we would soon understand to be his Asquith, was about to strike again. Someone, characteristic combination of lucidity, a Welsh someone - was it Howard Marks scholarship and intellectual force. He made perhaps? - disappeared, only to return with a a coruscatingly effective defence of the silk, red Welsh rugby rosette, no bigger than Revolution to Devolution: Reflections on (then) rather maligned Welsh Liberal leader a small cart wheel, and sellotaped it to the Welsh Democracy who had, after all, ‘won the war’. At the rubicund chops of Squiffy Asquith. In some Kenneth O. Morgan. time, the Oxford History syllabus had three beating undergraduate hearts that night an University of Wales Press, 2014, £19.99 examined courses, divided by dates to 1939, idea, that to be an historian of Wales was no under the rubric of ‘English History’. In this small thing but a large ambition, was planted. closed historiographical world, about to Fifty years later Ken Morgan, doyen of In the Michaelmas term of 1964, Balliol shatter under pressure from other histories all the historians of modern Britain, and of College’s History Society, known after the ‘from below’, including that of Wales, Lloyd course of Wales, now in his 80th year, is still wife of the college’s Scottish founder of 1263, one John de Baliol, as the Devorguilla, had a Welsh secretary. And so it was that the undergraduate historian Gareth W. Williams, Someone, a Welsh someone - was it Howard invited the young lecturer, Marks perhaps? - disappeared, only to return Kenneth O. Morgan, to Oxford to give a talk on that Welsh Prime Minister of the British with a silk, red Welsh rugby rosette, no bigger Empire, David Lloyd George, the rascal than a small cart wheel, and sellotaped it to the who had so unceremoniously deposed his predecessor, that “effortlessly superior” Balliol rubicund chops of Squiffy Asquith. man, H. H. Asquith, in December 1916. Ken Morgan’s first book, a small one on Lloyd George, had appeared from the University of Wales Press, in February 1963;

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or the cautious acceptance of the years after By an astute examination of four 2000. His other repeated contention is that decades of stunning Welsh historical much of what we gather around ourselves, in an institutional and cultural sense today, has research and writing from its sudden its origins and its echo in the ‘golden’ years of Edwardian Liberal hegemony which had emergence in the 1960s, he is able to ushered in the power politics of Lloyd George himself, and brought a National University, assess the actual diapason of Welsh lived a National Museum, a National Library, a experience: its conflict and its consensus Dis-established Church - again, for Wales do not see Scotland - and national sporting across two turbulent, yet civically teams afloat on a euphoric wave of Welsh- based popular culture. He rescues for our evolving, centuries. attention Flintshire’s obscure Liberal MP, John Herbert Lewis, Lloyd George’s loyal if shadowy friend, to emphasise the cultural hinterland so creatively fashioned by such as Lewis in order to give heft and weight to that nascent pre-1914 democracy. The lesson and the leading the way and still planting the seeds. responses to its imperatives. Ken Morgan implication for Wales, here and now, is clear His latest book should be promptly placed in is strong in his faith in the continuing ability and stark. It will be the creative culture of a all our schools and colleges. It should, with a of democratic processes to deal with what historically-evolved society which will define hopeful smile, be put into the hands of all our might be in store for us in Wales. His essays, us as citizens of purpose in Wales. Or not. For, MPs and AMs. It should be made compulsory some of which overlap as befits their original as he concludes: ‘At the start of the twenty- reading for all journalists who pontificate so form as lectures, give us cameo portraits first century the long march of the Welsh glibly on our political life. It should be given, of Henry Richard, Wales’ Apostle of Peace democracy is very far from over’. with a friendly grin, to all Welsh political and Aberdare’s Liberal MP from 1868, that And note that definite article, ‘the’, placed scientists, and any other ideologues who may breakthrough year for democracy in Wales, deliberately in front of ‘Welsh democracy’, be lurking in the formerly objective purlieus and of Lloyd George’s parliamentary genius. for the latter is, for our greatest living of academia. It is a triumphant encapsulation He shows how admired a figure Abraham historian, itself a living, peopled thing not a of his historically nuanced and sophisticated Lincoln was in both Victorian and Edwardian constitutionalised box or a vapid concept. understanding and analysis of Wales and its Wales, and how the strains of internationalism In his Foreword to the book he looks back distinct political trajectory. It is a sheer joy to have affected so much of our intellectual life. over the years and concludes that his first, read: informed and balanced and shrewd, as The huge importance, and effects, of both important book - first amongst the many you would expect, but also committed and world wars on all aspects of life in Wales is superb biographies and governmental passionate, with no punches pulled about underlined in three seminal pieces which histories and sweeping narratives which where and who we are now. Ken Morgan’s also help explain the rise and continuing would after 1963 follow Wales in British Politics dual sense of Cymru Fydd, the one that has hegemony - for Wales do not see Scotland, 1868-1922 from his productive pen - ‘has gone and the one we need, pivots on the here - of . helped to define my career ever since’. As present life of Wales which, as he affirms, But, beyond the nailed-down detail, it one who read it back then, stirred with a should always and ever be our true concern. is the thematic nature of this book that is newly discovered excitement for the history Devolution, he reminds us so cogently, is not most impressive, and most relevant to our of my country, I can truly say and not only the Democracy, only a potential helpmeet of that current travails. By an astute examination of career of Kenneth O. Morgan. His immense most desirable of political fates. four decades of stunning Welsh historical contribution, as historian and as public The book has twelve essays, and a research and writing from its sudden figure, amounts to a towering intellectual ‘Postscript: A Tale of Two Unions’, which emergence in the 1960s, he is able to assess achievement for which his country can be speculates on the kaleidoscopic shifts we the actual diapason of Welsh lived experience: deeply grateful, and of which his people can may yet envisage between the UK, Europe its conflict and its consensus across two be justly proud. Long may it continue. and Wales. Whatever may, or may not, ensue turbulent, yet civically evolving, centuries. in the wake of the Scottish referendum, all - Revolution threatened, yes, whether in the brilliantly delineated in close-ups and surveys 1830s or 1910s, but devolution of power, ranging across two centuries and several democratically conceived, arrived whether Dai Smith is Chair of Arts countries - is rooted in history. And in our via the centralising beneficence of the 1940s Council Wales

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Managing meetings orchestrating and persuading other people’. role as a counter-intuitive thinker within the Phil Morris According to Green, the Chair has the leadership of a group. Green explains that onerous task of reconciling ‘the individual as most people don’t say things like, ‘Let’s and the social elements inherent in the group forget about what we did before’: ‘It’s the and harness both towards the group’s goal’ responsibility of the Chair to guard against and very often has to do so whilst exercising over-familiar or unadventurous patterns of limited executive authority. The requisite thought, and to challenge members to think attributes of the ideal Chair are therefore anew’. He also counsels against individual harder to define than those of the Chief participants of a meeting bolstering their Executive, who as key decision-maker in any arguments ‘with evidence drawn exclusively organisation has a more clearly identifiable from their personal experience’ and set of powers and responsibilities. As Green recommends that an effective Chair should makes clear, Chairs often play an equally direct them to substantiate their points with important leadership role, but the manner broader based evidence instead. in which they serve the interests of their The positive note struck throughout organisations calls upon the so-called ‘soft’ Green’s book, most of which reads as plain- skills of consensus building, tact and clarity spoken common-sense, is that “Chairs are not in communicating a collective sense of born, but made”, which is to say that his five purpose. He likens the Chair to a leader of a groups of key skills and behaviours that a good string quartet that is ‘self-governing and non- Chair should try to master - attentiveness, In the Chair: How to Guide Groups hierarchical,’ who has selected one member empathy, integrity, acumen and leadership - and Manage Meetings of their group to supply ‘the non-verbal cues, can each be acquired through careful study. Andrew Green movements of the head or eye, that bring in In the Chair: How to Guide Groups and Manage Parthian, 2014, £10.99 the other player at the right time’. Meetings would be a good place to start.

The requisite attributes of the ideal Chair are therefore harder to define than Perhaps the most pervasive and widely those of the Chief Executive, who as key decision-maker in any organisation adopted of theoretical systems from the has a more clearly identifiable set of powers and responsibilities. last century - more so than even Marxism, Freudianism and Modernism - has been management theory, in which the In this paradigm, the act of chairing is Green is a very readable writer; his lucid fundamental notion is that individuals can presented as a performance, the success prose is leavened with wit and snippets of be brought together to achieve collective of which is determined as much by the dialogue that offer brief and illuminating goals with optimal efficiency under the attentiveness and empathy of the Chair as examples of good practice. The text is stewardship of supervisory managers who their professional knowledge or specialist accompanied by the quirky illustrations of coordinate the activities of a business or expertise. Green is at his most insightful when Juta Tirona and quotes from a commendably organisation. Management theory has stressing the importance of ‘reading’ non- wide range of sources. Having served as been given a bad name in recent years by verbal communication in a meeting, during Director of Library and Information Services countless self-help type books, retailed in which a good Chair will measure ‘signals that at the University of Wales Swansea, and as airports and train stations the world over, members of a group send out in meetings: Chief Executive of the National Library of which promise to revolutionise your business whether they sit forward or back, where they Wales, Green has a great deal of experience in a few, improbably easy steps. So it is with cast their eyes, whether they hold their bodies and knowledge to impart, and none of considerable relief that one finds in Andrew in an open or closed way, how still or mobile the business-school management speak Green’s In the Chair: How to Guide Groups their hands are’. An amusing account is quoted that might muddle his message. He has and Manage Meetings a pragmatic and from the Chris Mullin ministerial diaries, in also served as Chair of a large number of refreshingly jargon-free introduction to that which continues an interminable voluntary, public sector and official bodies, most opaque of leadership roles, the Chair. rambling speech throughout a fire drill to the including the Board of Coleg Cenedlaethol Green defines a Chair - he wisely avoids increasing tedium of everyone present. Green is Cymru, and this book is highly recommended using the outdated Chairman, or the clunky, acutely aware that organisations are comprised to anyone with thoughts of chairing public politically correct designation of Chairperson of people, and the ability to understand what and third sector organisations in future. - as a leader who doesn’t have the ‘status of motivates and maintains their interest is what a director or chief executive but who uses makes for an effective Chair. Phil Morris is Managing Editor of influence primarily through coordinating, The book is also good on the Chair’s the Wales Arts Review

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A centenary curiosity a passion for poetry and helps him to run by his fellow Greats – with Wordsworth, Kathryn Gray his open-mic nights. When the open-mic wryly, the ringleader. Thomas even plans to collective is invited to enter a float in the defect to the athletes squad in heaven, if he Swansea carnival parade, Jennie resolves to can just get in shape. Meanwhile, Jennie, make quite the impression as an ample muse until now a figure of comedy for the reader, swathed in ‘subtly revealing Grecian robes’ becomes rather more poignant and complex, and ‘performing an Isadora Duncan dance frustrated with Thomas even as he acquaints with all the sexual wiles I could muster’ – her with meaningful human connection, before a collision with another float sends adventure, transatlantic travel (literary her landing in the road. tourism, anyone?) – and Edgar Allan Poe. As Jennie struggles to reconnect Along the way, Lewis, with her trademark with Peter in the aftermath, a somewhat wit, has a lot of fun puncturing poetic convoluted plot development follows – pretension (‘I’ve been reading the Imagists involving ’s death mask, 3-D […] I’m horrified by how under-rated HD animation, and a cameo by the Swansea is. That crystalline talent, her pursuit of photographer Bernard Mitchell – which the pre-feminist orgasm of the mind and results in Jennie being haunted by the great soul. She’s much better than Pound’) and poet himself. Thomas apparently wants a competitiveness (‘it’s no accident that second shot at artistic life; Jennie’s desperate the collective noun for a group of poets for union with Peter. And so a deal is struck is a paranoia’), even as she unobtrusively between the two. She will set down the demonstrates her own elegant lyric talent: Image: Keith Morris words of Dylan redux; he will find a way to It was as if the distance between me and secure her Peter’s love. It makes for a less the world had slightly altered. I was a match Advantages of the Older Man than harmonious partnership, as the odd for the raw wind which had brought out early Gwyneth Lewis Seren, 2014, £7.99 The figure Lewis summons from the grave may be sharply Thomas in some of his less Gwyneth Lewis’s latest fiction offering from Seren, Advantages of the Older Man, is appealing aspects – boisterous, self-obsessed, a breezy and engaging novella – and also sentimental and sometimes crude – but he’s something of a curiosity. Lewis’s heroine, Jennie, is a Bridget also sympathetically drawn. Jones-cum-Georgy Girl, returned to the family home in Swansea following a failed venture to carve out a meaningful life for couple bicker incessantly – teasing out, in snowdrops. My stride lengthened with joy, herself in London. Her post-university the process, some serious ideas surrounding and I felt myself to be a fitting frame through career has come to nought; her romantic literary celebrity, poetic pecking orders, the which to watch the Uplands gardens. life has barely progressed to the point of anxiety of artistic endeavor, and the agonies Surreal, amusing, and with two significant sharing the occasional post-coital breakfast. of the unlived life. And it’s at this point in twists in the tale, Advantages of the Older Man Lost, friendless and parentally oppressed, the narrative that Lewis’s play-it-lite mode, is a welcome antidote to the largely uncritical and despite an avowed dislike of poetry entertaining though that is, gives way to and one-note Dylan centenary year. And (‘[i]t seems to me to have something something altogether more satisfying. I suspect Thomas, for all his perturbation, essentially shaming about it, like acne’) and a The figure Lewis summons from the would have rather approved of that. humiliating childhood memory of performing grave may be sharply Thomas in some of Mrs Ogmore Pritchard in Under Milk Wood, his less appealing aspects – boisterous, self- she lands a job at the Dylan Thomas Art obsessed, sentimental and sometimes crude Gallery. But the position indirectly leads to – but he’s also sympathetically drawn. A the tantalising possibility of love in the shape vulnerable depressive, he questions the value Kathryn Gray is a poet, critic, editor of Peter, a Moleskine-toting poet she meets of his legacy, is fearful of self-repetition, and researcher. Her debut, The on her lunch break, while exploring the beset with writer’s block, and emotionally Never-Never, was shortlisted for the nearby Dylan Thomas Centre. Smitten and and psychologically scarred from an afterlife T S Eliot Prize and the Forward Prize determined to secure her man, she feigns which has seen him perpetually bullied for Best First Collection.

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More than a mystery While it does not relinquish the Rachel Trezise traditional happy, all-encompassing ending,(the quiddity of murder mysteries and what the novel initially seemed to promise), what it does offer in conclusion is far more interesting; a bold, unceasing truth.

Significance reproaching the stereotypes created there. generations like a girl’s feet skipping over Jo Mazelis One of the side effects of this unusual hopscotch tiles, landing here, missing there, Seren, 2014, £9.99 machination is the extraordinary number of and then?’ characters for an individual novel. No sooner The result is a profusion of virtually are we introduced to a couple, a detective microscopic details knitted to make a vast Some of the press for Jo Mazelis’ long- inspector and his beautiful assistant, for patchwork whole, reminiscent in some awaited debut novel describes it as a ‘literary example, than we’re introduced to a lone ways of Jon McGregor’s quiet masterstroke murder mystery’ which is to do the book and ageing woman with a penchant for If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things, but a great disservice as it’s actually so much badly-applied mascara and astrology, for with entirely its own agenda and rationale, more. Yes, the novel opens in a thriller- example. In fact the introduction of new Swann’s death a skimming stone pitched and esque manner, pursuing London university characters continues almost to the end of posting surges into the unlikeliest of corners, lecturer Lucy Swann across the Channel the novel, way past the point any creative or at least the places the media never ask on an impulsive holiday to a small town in writing tutor or manual would advise an us to dwell on. Despite its swift change Northern France, stalking her while she tests aspiring writer to stop. Yet Mazelis makes of course a quarter of the way through, out a new guise: peroxide in place of natural each and every one of them seem vital (deliberate of course), the prose retains its dark hair and floaty and feminine dresses and engaging, weaving easily between the stride throughout the entire four-hundred- in place of moss green pullovers. As with finer specifics of each of their fortunes and and-seventy-odd pages, keeping the reader traditional murder mysteries it effortlessly predicaments, adept particularly at locating lured. While it does not relinquish the coerces the reader to the point of Swann’s and voicing what could easily be our own traditional happy, all-encompassing ending, violent but unexplained death, proposing a commonplace wisps of inner monologue, but (the quiddity of murder mysteries and what scattering of pregnant clues as to how, why which become critical in these character’s the novel initially seemed to promise), and at whose hand she may have perished. thoughts, at this particular time: ‘How does what it does offer in conclusion is far more Then, almost imperceptibly, the novel one forget? Is there, in truth, no forgetting? interesting; a bold, unceasing truth. With transforms into something else entirely, the Only the work of the subconscious artfully Significance, Mazelis has set her novel-writing reader slowly becoming aware that the clues spinning reality into the form it desires?’ ‘She bar at a breathtaking height. are not in fact leads to the killer’s identity, but began to consider these … algebraic sums; windows on which to observe the lives of the lust plus time equals love, lust plus sex plus (perhaps) innocent people who surrounded talking multiplied by habit minus fear and Rachel Trezise is a novelist, short- Swann at the time of her death, most of distrust equals love.’ Also she has some story writer and playwright. Her whom she’d never even met, but who, having striking analogies. Worrying about whether work has won the Orange Futures made the particular set of decisions she did, her brother-in-law’s condition will somehow Prize, the Dylan Thomas Prize, she has irreparably impacted. Significance affect her unborn child, Marilyn reflects: the Edge Hill short story Reader’s is a novel that toys with and interrogates ‘Unless whatever was wrong with Aaron Award and the Theatre Critics of the mystery fiction genre itself, often was genetic, could skip over individuals and Wales Best Production Award.

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Novelise Tryweryn Liverpool wants to drown Capel Celyn His style is spare, frugal, Linda Christmas in order to create a reservoir to service the needs of England. This means displacing 70 sober. He must be an residents and destroying 800 acres of land admirer of Hemingway including a school, post office, chapel and and Orwell. cemetery. Drowning parts of Wales in order to provide water for England happened twice before in the 19th century with Vyrnwy and Elan. Yes, that’s right: this was the third time the English snatched Welsh water and then made money out of it by selling it. This novel, then, is one of a fascinating genre in which historical events are brought to life through imaginary characters. In this instance, we have a warring family (already mentioned) and a pair of young lovers whose lives we follow over five years. The satisfied the majority. Instead the disdainful genre also enables past events to be brought way the Welsh were treated resulted in to the attention of a new generation in an renewed interest in the Welsh language accessible fashion. and an increase in demands for self- A Welsh Dawn The English might need to be reminded determination: Plaid Cymru’s leader, Gwynfor Gareth Thomas but the Welsh do not. I finished reading Evans, was at the forefront of the campaign Y Lolfa, 2014, £9.95 the novel during a trip to Aberdovey and to halt the drowning of Tryweryn and he mentioned it during a visit to the pub! became the party’s very first MP, winning the Without prompting I got a speech in favour Carmarthen by-election of 1966. Gareth Thomas is an established actor and of the dam from someone who is a UK- The book needs a decent introduction. director. This is his first novel and like most oriented Welsh speaker and seconds later a Halfway through I resorted to the internet first novels it is partly autobiographical. passionate denunciation. to make sure I had the history clearly in my Thomas, as a young boy in the 1950s, moved, The book is timely; Scotland’s attempt mind. I have recently read Robert Harris’ via his father’s job, from an English-speaking to flex its independence muscle makes the novel on the Dreyfus affair, which is so part of south Wales to a monoglot treatment of Wales all the more brilliantly detailed that no prior knowledge village on the Llyˆn peninsula. From this acute and embarrassing. No one in the is necessary – but then it does run to 600 vantage point Thomas plaits the novel’s twin 1950s listened to Wales screaming NO! pages! An introduction would suffice here rather than more information being filtered through the pages. And while Harris’ book I finished reading the novel during a trip to Aberdovey is at times overwritten, Thomas cannot be and mentioned it during a visit to the pub! Without accused of that. His style is spare, frugal, prompting I got a speech in favour of the dam from sober. He must be an admirer of Hemingway and Orwell. Or perhaps he wished to ape someone who is a UK-oriented Welsh speaker and seconds the austerity of the 1950s, the decade about later a passionate denunciation. which he is writing. In general the book could benefit from more variation in pace and perhaps a less sentimental ending. I see a film in the making. themes, the tussle between Welsh folk who They pretended to: Harold Macmillan and feel that schooling in and constant use of his henchmen smoothed Welsh fears by English is the only route to university and a pretending to listen, all the while ramming ‘better life,’ and those who steep themselves the bill through Parliament. The drowning not just in the language but also the culture of Tryweryn was an unequal fight between Linda Christmas is an English and traditions. This controversy, which is England and Wales. journalist, based in London, with more than enough to ignite a fight inside As an English woman with Welsh blood an interest in Wales. She has been one of the novel’s central families, becomes I found myself asking why Westminster running courses in Arts Journalism engorged when dynamite drops in the form did not state its intentions clearly and do a and reviewing fiction and non- of a dam. decent deal. An honest approach might have fiction for many years.

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A key figure The author, Dr. D. Ben Rees, the financial architecture for the welfare Aled Eurig is a one-man cultural mission. state. He became the Secretary of State for Colonial Affairs for eighteen months in A minister of religion and a 1950-51 during a controversial period that former Labour Parliamentary saw colonies given their freedom but that candidate based in Liverpool, also involved the British Government in he has produced over 30 Malaya adopt a ‘shoot to kill’ policy against books on the topics of history, nationalist rebels. theology, and peace. Throughout the 1950s, in his role as deputy chairman of the Labour party, he had a key role in attempting to maintain the unity of the party, at a time when the issue of nuclear disarmament threatened to cause a split. But his political Indian summer was undoubtedly his role as Secretary of State for Wales after the 1964 Election, and the creation of the . Rees tells how Griffiths fought hard to wrestle power away from Whitehall and to establish the new was that of the colliery, the classroom, the department with more than an advisory role. union and Westminster and his story is the In the late sixties, he was regarded by Cofiant , ‘Arwr Glew y Werin’ epitome of the growing power of the working many young, brash Plaid Cymru supporters D. Ben Rees class and the Labour party in the last century. as one of the irrelevant old guard of Labour Y Lolfa, 2014, £14.95 Rees traces Griffiths’ roots to his placemen. But this admirable biography working class community in Bettws, near should remind us that Jim Griffiths is . He was the son of a blacksmith, possibly the key figure in the 20th century At last, we have a well-researched and and brought up in a cultured Welsh-speaking who ensured that Wales now possesses a passionate biography of Jim Griffiths and Nonconformist family, where education, democratic national institution. that does justice to one of the giants of the chapel and Sunday School, miners’ The author, Dr. D. Ben Rees, is a one-man Wales and the Labour party during the last lodge and council chamber were the key cultural mission. A minister of religion and century. While his contemporary Aneurin influences on his development. Although a former Labour Parliamentary candidate Bevan has been lionised, memorialised he was educated in the Marxist leaning based in Liverpool, he has produced over and mythologised, Griffiths has until now Central Labour College, and was a friend and 30 books on the topics of history, theology, been allowed to fade into obscurity, his contemporary of and Aneurin and peace. This extremely detailed and accomplishments unsung and unrecognised. Bevan, his Nonconformist roots tempered thoroughly researched book is best when it Only his own autobiography, and J. Beverley the fierceness of his politics. described Griffiths’ background and early Smith’s excellent and concise biography have He became President of the South development as a union activist. He pays tribute to Griffiths’ skill to maintain unity Rees traces Griffiths’ roots to his working class community in within the Labour party in the difficult period of the 1950s, but also defends his refusal to Bettws, near Ammanford. He was the son of a blacksmith, work outside the party in order to pursue and brought up in a cultured Welsh-speaking and devolution in the 1950s. I suspect the author Nonconformist family, where education, the chapel and is rather kind about Griffiths’ character and personality as well. Although Rees paints Sunday School, miners’ lodge and council chamber were him as a humble and tolerant man, there the key influences on his development. is little sign of the steel and ruthlessness that Griffiths would surely have needed to survive in the murky world of smoke-filled attempted to capture the significance of Wales Miners’ Federation in 1935, and MP committee rooms. Griffiths’ contribution to the Labour party, to for Llanelli in 1936 until he retired in 1970. Socialism and to Wales in the 20th century. A highlight of his career was as Minister in This book rescues Griffiths’s reputation the post-war Labour Government, when he as one of the most effective Welsh became Minister for , Aled Eurig is Chair of British politicians of the 20th century. His lineage thus working closely with Bevan to create Council Wales.

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Standards over structures curriculum and is certainly filtering through. schools earmarked for direct ground-level Rajvi Glasbrook-Griffiths It also appears to be visibly tightening impact. This is refreshing. Although, and not standards in teaching and learning. As a without some irony, funding is not always the working teacher I welcome this raising of solution. Candid, Andrews admits, ‘spending expectations, with ‘outcomes not output’, and standards are different issues.’ ‘standards over structures’ at core. As Candour is a real strength of the book, Andrews admits, the word ‘standards’ particularly so in the clarity with which did not feature in the 2007 Welsh Labour Andrews describes the workings of ministerial election manifesto. duties and life: ‘I believe individuals as As with all such things, the proof will ministers can make a difference. But context, be in the Test results. The National Reading often, is all.’ The meetings; the people; the and Numeracy Tests will be a benchmark, internal power-jostling; the ‘silo-mentality’ whilst the ultimate marker of gain will remain blocking so much inter-departmental the PISA tests, arguably an overblown communication; lack of corporate memory; preoccupation but undeniably a yardstick by dubious degrees of accountability; initiative which to measure restoration of faith in the compounding initiative within a culture of Welsh education system. cosy consensus in, too often, a ‘quango His third, underpinning, priority is that mentality culture of sweetheart deals with of reducing the impact of poverty and local authorities’: all pitfalls described with deprivation on opportunity and education: vim, humour and self-deprecation. The challenges of shaping of education My philosophy of education was very simple. within a culture of devolved policy making Ministering to Education It was that a child in Maerdy in my Rhondda and public administration, as described, Leighton Andrews constituency, one of the most deprived provide an interesting insight into the more Parthian, 2014, £10.99 communities in Wales, should have the same significant power-struggles at play – those life chances as a child in , one of between a devolved Welsh government the richest parts of Wales. and the UK government. ‘We need more ‘State education served me well. I’m reflection on devolved politics – on what determined that it should serve all Schools performing extraordinarily well has gone well and on what has gone wrong young people well.’ in deprived communities are named and – away from the self-important rhetoric praised. Amongst them are Treorchy in of the Assembly Chamber and the glib This is Leighton Andrews’ driving ideology Andrews’ own Rhondda constituency, simplicities of a TV studio’, Andrews argues. throughout Ministering to Education, and Sandfields in Neath, St. Mary Immaculate in That reflection and dialogue may take many one that permeated his professional purpose Cardiff and Llanwern High in Newport which, forms, but take place it must. as Minister for Education, 2009-2013. under Headteacher Peter Jenkins, was one This sense of purpose is apparent in all the of the two most improved schools for GCSE Within bureaucracies – and you will see excessive initiatives and documentation results in 2013. Inversely, the shock waves this all the time in Welsh local government, pulped, authorities merged, schools and still reverberate from placing Monmouth, a the land of little empires – too often you authorities dragged into special measures, “coasting” LEA, in special measures. find process stifling creativity, slowing grant funding reallocated, teacher training There’s impassioned feeling against down decisions, with power trips preventing boosted, priorities re-examined and pared- socio-economic determinism and Andrews effective collaboration and innovation. I was down priorities formed. derives the term inverse learning law to determined the Education Department would Making him Minister for Education was, describe a situation whereby the educational work speedily, effectively. according to Andrews, a powerful signal opportunities and experiences received from Carwyn Jones that ‘for the education offer themselves in an amount directly Andrews’ references and sources of sector business as usual in Wales was over disproportional to the need for them. inspiration are a respectable and important and transformation would begin.’ The indefensible ‘poor dab’ mentality amalgam of historical and current – Four years on, this transformation cannot has perpetuated this for a while now; a amongst them E.P. Thomson, Christopher have missed the attention and working life dire shame for a country once so proud Hill, , Dai Smith, David of any member of the teaching profession of its culture of autodidacts, Institutes Blunkett, Michael Barber, Michael Fullan in Wales. The Literacy and Numeracy and empowering libraries. The Poverty and Stefan Collini. However, they remain Framework - delivering vehicle of Andrews’ Deprivation Grant and The Communities politically narrow and self-fulfilling. A emphasis on placing Literacy and Numeracy First Pupil Deprivation Match Fund are broader political spectrum would be more at the heart of all learning – has infused the two examples of direct pots of money for admirable, if only to provide Andrews with

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There is, unsurprisingly, a blinkered Why 1930s history matters in modern Welsh Politics. over-regard for all ideals New Labour. Nick Powell If this is surprising in a Labour Minister, it is only because there is some promise of a more academically, broadly informed perspective.

stronger ammunition against things he so of media habits in Wales, he successfully The Fascist Party in Wales? Plaid Cymru, deeply opposes – namely grammar schools, endowed Education a broader appeal through and the Accusation academies being left to market forces Welsh television news. Moreover, Andrews of Fascism. Richard Wyn Jones alone, and educational privilege. There is, personally never seems to be out of the unsurprisingly, a blinkered over-regard for Western Mail. At the time of writing, extracts Know a Hero by his Heroes: Saunders all ideals New Labour. If this is surprising in from Ministering to Education are in press Lewis beyond apologetics. Tim Williams a Labour Minister, it is only because there print. As yet Huw Lewis doesn’t get the same is some promise of a more academically, volume of coverage in the media. It comes Madrid’s Barricades are at the End broadly informed perspective. Jibes against as little surprise that nor does he get much of our Street: Wales and Fascism in Tories as ‘Cereal Killers’ and wagers of a coverage in this book. ‘Reform needs not more Historical Context. supposed ‘War on Wales’ detract from the initiatives but relentless implementation,’ Rob Stradling higher message of the book, and out of date advises Michael Barber. However, steady, pot shots at Thatcher endanger Andrews’ principled reinforcement is not as politically The Fascist Party in Wales? higher ideological ground. sexy. Truman’s words come to mind – ‘It is A critique by David Melding Institution-to-institution cooperation amazing what you can accomplish if you do is a highly viable way forward, to Andrews’ not care who gets the credit.’ As I started to read Richard Wyn Jones’ book mind. This is in increasing operation already, At times the whole text reads like an and these three essays, I wondered if the vast in School Improvement Groups (‘sigs’), extended polemic – the language is rhetorical scholarship on Fascism and the Second World Professional Learning Communties (PLCs), and there is much repetition. All perpetuates War was finally reaching its outer limit, if the Lead Practitioner/Emerging School pairings to feed the query which niggles throughout: barrel of historiography wasn’t being scraped. and amongst a rising culture of mutually why has Andrews written this book at all? Whether such considerable intellectual beneficial working parties sharing practice And, more importantly, why has he chosen firepower should be concentrated on what a between schools. Are the Cooperative to publish it at this point? He is no longer tiny political party did or did not do in reaction schools the Welsh alternative to academies? the Minister for Education and, at the time to global events in the 1930s and early 1940s. Very possibly. Andrews argues that a system of writing this, he was a backbencher. The The answer for me is that such efforts are of federalised Headteachers and governors message is clear: all this reform, and all the fully justified. As the period begins to pass from are in line with a Welsh tradition of mutuality. fruit it will inevitably bear, is Leighton Andrews’ living memory, it is still growing in importance I work in a school significantly committed to handiwork. Lest we attribute credit elsewhere. and securing its central place in popular this ethos and thoroughly believe in the value collective understanding of nationality and class. of this way of working. In his September 2014 party Leighton Andrews’ time as Head of Rajvi Glasbrook-Griffiths is English conference speech, Ed Miliband offered Communications at the BBC has certainly Coordinator at Glan Usk Primary a series of definitions of what it is to be served him well. With his astute awareness School, Newport English, including ‘Englishness: a spirit of

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national life, just as we work for our own nation’. “As the period begins to pass It took Plaid’s leadership six months to forward the message to the Basque government. from living memory, it is still When challenged about the delay, the party’s General Secretary blamed it on a reluctance to growing in importance and get involved in non-Welsh matters. Richard Wyn Jones points out that until securing its central place in October 1937, Labour also had a policy of non-intervention in Spain. Tim Williams popular collective understanding takes him up on this. Unlike Plaid Cymru, Labour is widely recognised as a party whose of nationality and class.” far more numerous membership opposed Franco. However, its leadership were ‘wary of foreign adventures’, writes Williams. The influence of the TUC, rebuilding the union movement after the General Strike internationalism. From those who fought in that there were other views in Plaid Cymru and the depression, ensured that union block the Spanish Civil War to our generosity to at the time. Also that the party had certainly votes supported non-intervention at the 1936 those overseas’. changed, as Gwyn Alf’s decision to join it party conference. Internal opposition led to a The use of verbless sentences is pure confirmed. For good measure she added that reversal of the policy at the 1937 conference. Blair of course but otherwise it’s almost the Labour party had also changed ‘from Although much mightier than Plaid word for word how Miliband’s mentor, Neil the socialist force for good it was then’. In Cymru, Labour was still only an opposition Kinnock, defined Welshness year after year 2009 Andrews and Davies were both deputy party and the National Government at the Labour conference, albeit not from the ministers in the One Wales government. continued to support non-intervention. platform but rather when speaking (before Before us now is not just Richard Wyn Williams also refers to the TUC raising singing Bandiera Rossa) at Welsh Night on Jones’ examination -and for the most money for humanitarian aid for Spain and for the conference fringe. part rejection- of allegations against Plaid Spanish refugees. But what about those who It’s not just that what happened Cymru’s leaders in the 1930s, that they fought in Spain, whose international spirit in politics in the second quarter of the were pro-Fascist, anti-Semitic and at modern Labour leaders invoke? twentieth century still matters; what people the very least far too sanguine about the In the 1930s, it wasn’t Plaid Cymru that think happened matters even more. Hence prospect of a Nazi victory. was challenging Labour in its heartlands; it the shock value of the picture on the cover As well a powerful counter-attack from was the Communist Party. In one of the most of The Fascist Party in Wales?. It shows the Tim Williams, we have David Melding intriguing paragraphs in The Fascist Party in swastika flag of Nazi Germany being raised weighing the evidence and daring to rule Wales?, Richard Wyn Jones writes: over Cardiff City Hall in celebration of the where the verdict is guilty, where it is not ‘Indeed, the roots of the Labour Party’s 1938 Munich Agreement. guilty, where it is unproven. Welsh organisation are (in part) grounded Not that it was anything to do with Rob Stradling gives greater context to in the efforts of the party to counter the Plaid Cymru, 70 years away from a share of this debate. He highlights the influence of vigorous propaganda campaign being waged power in Cardiff’s council cabinet. Still, as Fascism in 1930s Ireland, a country important by Communists in Wales on behalf of the Richard Wyn Jones observes, his anecdotal to Plaid Cymru’s leaders as living proof that [Spanish] Republic!’ experience is that many, if not most, Plaid breaking away from the United Kingdom was Never mind the flourish of an Cymru members believe that their party was possible. He describes the strength of anti- exclamation mark, it was the footnote I influenced by Fascism in the 1930s. Catholic prejudice in Wales at that time and wanted to read. The source is an unpublished One example occurred in 2009 when the centrality of the Spanish Civil War both PhD dissertation. If Plaid Cymru’s policies in Labour AM Leighton Andrews asked the to how people’s views on Fascism at the time the 1930s are a worthy subject, not just for rhetorical question ‘70 years ago, weren’t and to how their views are seen today. academic research but for publication (and Plaid Cymru leaders supporting Franco?’. Richard Wyn Jones refers briefly to a they are), then surely so are Welsh Labour’s The response from one Plaid Cymru AM was resolution passed by Plaid Cymru’s annual origins in a decade which looms as large as ‘Cheap shot Leighton, how long ago is it that conference in August 1937, sympathising with ever in our political consciousness. you were a Lib Dem?’. Leighton Andrews the Basque Country’s resistance to Franco. My then quoted Gwyn Alf Willams on Plaid former HTV colleague Hywel Davies gave the Cymru’s move to the right in the 1930s. wording in The Welsh Nationalist Party 1925-1945: A more substantial response came from ‘The Welsh Nationalist Party desires that the Nick Powell is Head of Politics for the Plaid AM Jocelyn Davies. She argued Basques will have the freedom to live their own ITV Wales

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 59 to understand poetry and pointing him in Books Round-Up the direction of influential classics - and his girlfriend Monica. Barnie’s description of Monica conjures up not only the girl Dylan Moore finds poignancy in a collection of reminiscences, herself, but also puts one in mind of the vivid imagery in an ultimately frustrating memoir and inspiration great fiction-memoirs of Dannie Abse. John in an anthology of interviews. Barnie’s prose is crisp and his imagery vivid, but the book peters out somewhat as the author’s studies at Birmingham University lead to adventures in academia that only ‘He taught me stuff, did Nigel,’ begins Jon contributors – among them Jenkins’ peers, threaten to get interesting when the author Gower’s essay ‘A Tutelary Spirit’, on the former students, members of the critical moves to Denmark. But here the book ends, death of his great friend Nigel Jenkins. It is community and his own two daughters – mysteriously and abruptly, leaving the reader the final essay in a fragmentary collection almost has the effect of making it seem that with a distinct sense of having merely been of Encounters with Nigel and a fitting tribute for a time the entire Welsh cultural sphere granted access to the prologue. to a poet and performer who was also an revolved around this uncommonly generous, If one of Nigel Jenkins’ many facets encyclopaedist and psychogeographer, fascinating and talented man. While that is was his work as a radical campaigner, he campaigner and teacher and who, by all not quite true, Encounters with Nigel indeed would no doubt have been impressed of the accounts in this volume, was taken exceeds its remit as a collection of tributes, by the latest collection of essays from from the community of writers and culture- beginning as it does to shine a light on a man Honno – the Welsh Women’s Press. The makers in Wales far, far too soon. as well as an artist. volume situates the language campaigning The volume is a tribute also to the One of those paying tribute to Jenkins of Angharad Tomos, imprisoned for her irrepressible efforts of editor Gower is his old friend, and musical-poetic relentless activities to protect and support and publisher Ali Anwar, of the H’mm collaborator John Barnie, the former editor the use of the Welsh language, in a broad Foundation, in bringing such an engaging of Planet, whose ‘Remembering Nigel’ is sweep of ‘Women Changing the World’, and heartfelt set of reminiscences to the an exquisite series of anecdotes, often which indeed is the subtitle to Here We attention of a wider world so soon after hilarious, that culminate in a remembered Stand. Compiled and edited by Helena Earnshaw and Angharad Penrhyn Jones, the book takes the form of a series of in-depth “Why would I dedicate my life to anything else?” interviews with seventeen prominent British women campaigners. Each conversation is as different as the the poet’s passing. Published mere months haiku of Jenkins’ that retains an almost women concerned, as is the range of causes after Jenkins’ funeral at St Mary’s Church, unbearable poignancy now that Jenkins represented, from animal rights to anti- , on the poet’s beloved Gower himself has gone. nuclear, from raising awareness about forced peninsula, the book is nevertheless a fully Barnie has his own book out this autumn: marriages and honour killings to small group formed and coherent whole rather than Footfalls in the Silence (Cinnamon Press). The action against corporate giants like Nestle the rush-job that it might have been given title refers to the poet’s view of memory as and McDonalds. Their methods are diverse lesser lights at the helm; part of this is visual, ‘a gallery of images’ where only rarely – from drawing satirical cartoons through clearly to do with the esteem and yes, love, is silence disturbed. The metaphor serves to endless lobbying to nonviolent direct action with which Nigel – his first name is used introduce a collection of essays and prose - but the thread of absolute, unswerving throughout – was clearly held by so many. fragments that together paint a picture of an commitment to the cause, whatever that Anwar traces his own friendship with Abergavenny adolescence in the 1950s; the might be, runs through all of their stories. Jenkins back to the 1970s; his description of writer’s quiet rebellion against his mother’s The closing line of the entire book is Franny ‘a true friend, an internationalist, a Druid, a Church of England sensibilities and a sexual Armstrong’s question: ‘Why would I limited edition, a one-off’ is one reflected right awakening that runs alongside ‘book raids’ dedicate my life to anything else?’ through 200 pages of fragments, poems, on various border towns. The twin poles of essays and even pictures (David E. Oprava his years at King Henry VIII and Iwan Bala both contribute striking pieces are his English master Wyn - a man in of visual art in memory of their friend). The possession of all the best qualities of a man Dylan Moore is the new Culture contents page, with its illustrious list of in such a role, nurturing the writer’s ability Editor of The Welsh Agenda

More on the web > Read Adam Somerset’s full-length review of by John Campbell at ClickOnWales.org

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Man of words.

sheer quantity of work they were procuring Gerald Holtham looks back at Geraint Talfan Davies’ and turning out on the policy issues facing contribution as Chair of the IWA. Wales. That work had to be accompanied by tireless fundraising, since organisations like IWA depend on donations and subscriptions. And as any think-tank director knows, the money is erratic and Geraint Talfan Davies was instrumental in Geraint succeeded Henry Kroch as IWA uncertain. The whole operation, impressive getting the IWA off the ground. Success chairman in 1992 and in 1996 the IWA as its output has been, lives hand to mouth. has many fathers and a number of appointed its first full time director in John In the almost 20 years since those days, people can claim to have sown important Osmond, thanks to donations from WDA, the IWA has become an indispensable part seeds. The intellectual background to the Hyder Group and Sir Julian Hodge. of the Welsh public scene. It has produced the founding of IWA is well set out in My own first contact with the IWA seminal reports on a range of policies and the ‘history’ section of the IWA website. dates from about that time. I was running its magazine, Agenda, and its web pages David Waterstone, then head of the the IPPR, a think-tank and we collaborated are the first port of call for anyone looking Welsh Development Agency saw clearly on some of the policy issues of the day, for analysis and commentary on the issues the need for a Welsh think tank and notably the plans for devolution being facing Wales, whether social, economic, provided all-important early funding. hatched by the new Labour government in political or cultural. For that Wales owes 1997. I quickly came to have great respect, Geraint and John a prodigious debt. They A clear milestone, though, is the paper indeed admiration, for the work that John can be truly proud of what they have done written by Geraint and Keith James in 1986 and Geraint, as an active chairman, were for the country. setting out the case for a body to provide doing. My staff and budget at the IPPR Not, that it always seemed like that. intellectual challenge in all spheres of were a multiple of those at the disposal of As two strong characters, they had their Welsh life. The IWA was incorporated the the IWA. Knowing that, it was impossible differences, always accommodated in following year in 1987. not to be impressed by the quality and private while presenting a united front to

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 61 On Air Ar yr Awyr for Geraint Talfan Davies

A swirl of fledgeling swallows in the sky Daw cywion adar i chwildroi’n y nen, trying their wings, till one, too young to tell haid ar led ond am un rhy fach ei byd transparencies of glass from air, flies i ddeall nad paen mo’r awyr uwchben into my wide open room, and falls. wrth blymio i’m stafell fyw, yn ei hyd,

Its heart in my hand, I set it free to fly, bird mor llon yn fy llaw. Rhyddhau wnaf y cyw messenger, llatai - to you, man of words, yn gennad, llatai, - at etifedd geiriau on page, stage, wire, satellite, air, ar ddalen, llwyfan, gwifren, lloeren, aer, to bring you cadenza, chorus, opera, prayer, cadenza, corws, gweddi, operâu. that held-breath moment in the stalls, Dal ana’l eiliad yn y seddau crand, a settling before the swallow-rush llonyddu cyn i wenoliaid yn ein mysg of tuning strings, before the hush, byncio’u tannau, cyn gorchymyn ‘ust’, the lifted baton, the first chord, A’r baton ar esgyn, nodyn ar aden before the choir, the aria, the heroine’s fall, cyn y côr, yr aria – cwymp arwres, and all to come on the wings of a singing word. A’r oll achlân ym mhig y gair a gân.

Gillian Clarke Gillian Clarke Troswyd o’r Saesneg gan Menna Elfyn

the world. And sometimes that world did he was also for ten years Controller of BBC If Wales has a “civil society” it is located not respond as they, or any reasonable Wales, responsible for TV and radio and in that membership. The prestige and person, might have hoped. The IWA the national orchestra and chorus, not to importance of the IWA has never been did important work, for example, on a mention acting as Governor of the Welsh higher. Yet the finances are as precarious as Welsh baccalaureate, to which they both College of Music and Drama and serving ever, with a crisis never seeming far away. contributed. A great deal of scholarly and on the Boards of several arts or charitable Perhaps the IWA is like Wales itself, a practical expertise went into drawing organisations. After retirement from the small country on beautiful but peripheral up a real blueprint for reform. Then in BBC he became Chair of the Arts Council of and marginal land with a language culture conversations with civil servants they hit Wales for three years and Chair of the Welsh never used by more than a million or so the “not invented here” phenomenon. National Opera, which he remains. He was people, right up against one of the most “We’re going to have a baccalaureate”, they even involved in the setting up of Welsh expansionary countries and cultures in the were told “but not your baccalaureate!” Water as a not-for-profit company. It really world over the last millennium. It really The resultant half-baked compromise lives does seem that nearly every Welsh artistic should not exist at all and defies the odds to on- just - but is far from what it might and business success of the past quarter do so. On more than one historical occasion have been. Not the least of Geraint’s century has Geraint’s fingerprints on it. Wales has looked to be on the verge of accomplishments – and John’s too – was to He now leaves the IWA in younger extinction. In treading such a precarious path keep faith and press on whatever reverses and vigorous hands with Helen Molyneux and thriving against the odds, the IWA is a might occur. coming in as Chair and Lee Waters having very Welsh organisation. I hope and trust that what Geraint was so instrumental in It really does seem that nearly every Welsh artistic and business helping to found and build, will long survive success of the past quarter century has Geraint’s fingerprints on it. both as a monument to him and his principal colleagues and as a huge asset to Wales.

Now you might think from all that that succeeded John Osmond as director. The  Geraint had made chairmanship of the IWA Institute has some 1,000 members across a full time occupation. However, while he Wales and nearly 100 corporate members Gerald Holtham is a Fellow and a was so deeply engaged with the Institute in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Trustee of the IWA.

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soldiers for an ITV Wales series, Wales and the Great War. Letters that shrank We drew on a project by pupils at Glan Afan school, Port Talbot, who researched the century. the lives of former students named on the school war memorial. They told us the story of Fred Gaen, a talented rugby player Trevor Fishlock tells of the letters written by his Grandfather killed in 1917; and we filmed his name on a on the western front. memorial at Cambrai. We found the site of an airfield near Saint-Omer where the remarkable Ira Jones, from St Clears, was based. He went to France A century ago, Monday 26 October, Road. My father was their first child. in 1915 and became a highly-decorated fighter my grandfather Herbert wrote to my In 1912 Herbert went to Australia ace, shooting down 37 German aircraft in grandmother. ‘A horrible wet night, soaked for some months. It seems this was an three months. We also told the story of the to the skin, bitter cold.’ He was in one of exploration by a restless young man who schooner Miss Morris, sunk by a the squalid trenches of the western front. wanted to escape the coalface and settle U-boat in 1917. The submarine captain, a film He could not, of course, tell his wife where his family in a new life. pioneer, shot extraordinary footage of the ship he was. He thanked her for a parcel of As an army reservist he was called up as its sails collapsed and it slipped beneath tobacco, cigarettes and newspapers. Ever at once when war broke out in August. the waves, a dying swan. romantic and adventurous he told her of My father recalled watching his dad eat We also filmed at Mametz Wood his hopes for the future, his dream. a departure breakfast notable for the two on the Somme, where the 38th Welsh Written in pencil in neat hand the letter eggs on the plate rather than one. On 22 Division so famously fought; and showed was one of five I saw for the first time this year. August Herbert sailed for France with the archive of the last survivors, speaking in I doubt they had been seen for many years. 1st Battalion of the Somerset Light infantry, the 1980s. People don’t forget: the trees in Their impact on me was immediate. They part of the British Expeditionary Force the wood are bright with Welsh flags. shrank the century, as if I were reading over my confronting the advancing German forces The letter my grandfather wrote grandfather’s shoulder his thoughts of home, in Belgium and France. The battalion was from the front on 26 October was, as wife and children. A long silence was broken. soon involved in fighting at Le Cateau. far as I know, his last. He was killed on 9 A once-remote figure was suddenly close: Three times this year I walked November, aged 29. In the letter he wrote through his letters he had a voice, a personality. the landscape and serried stones of of his dream. ‘Well Dear whenever I return The letters reached his home in remembrance along the western front. I went I think I shall try and give the Coalfield a Thurston Road, Pontypridd. A former to battlefields whose names are unfailingly bye, perhaps go to Australia again if you farm worker he became a coal hewer at resonant: Ypres and Cambrai, Arras, are willing.’ We do not know where exactly the nearby Albion colliery in Cilfynydd, Thiepval, Mametz, Mons and Ploegsteert. he was killed. There is no known grave. His one of the thousands of men attracted to On the edge of a field at Mametz Wood I name is among more than 11,000 inscribed the booming coalfield of the early 20th saw a rusted hand grenade, the sort of relic on the Ploegsteert Memorial, seven miles century. In 1905 he married Lily Williams, still unearthed by the plough a century on. south of Ypres. I took my father there in a florist from Nantymoel. Their three sons The first trip was devoted to writing 1976: he was eight when his dad was killed. and a daughter were all born in Thurston and filming, telling the stories of Welsh During my other visits to the western front this year I took my grandchildren to the Ploegsteert Memorial and some of the battlefields. I gave them copies of Herbert’s five letters so that they too can see that he was a man of humour and humanity, a father; more than a statistic. I also gave them a copy of the only photograph of my grandfather. I remember that a framed enlargement of it hung on the wall in my grandmother’s home. She used to listen to the Remembrance Day radio broadcast from the Cenotaph in London, sitting in steadfast silence, never taking her eyes from the picture of Herbert.

the welsh agenda winter 14/15—issue 53 | 63 forces undermining stability. An international looking and reluctant to embrace the economic ethos had been established by the Western and cultural freedoms and responsibilities that pattern, first of trade and then of industry and are explored by the English-speaking world. banking. However in the era of globalisation, The visit of the French President to Newport as the West left manufacturing to others, reminded us that, whilst civilisation may be there was a fragmentation in which banking collapsing, France remained true to itself, locked became divorced from industry and began to inside a Simenon novella. play a far more dangerous game. This process All of which leaves us with those British of surrendering the world to an uncontrolled leaders and the undoubted constitutional economy coincided with a culture that crisis they have brought upon themselves. encouraged self-expression whilst making Even before that one infamous poll suggested Floundering available both the weapons and electronic the Scottish vote might be close, I was Peter Stead technology that allowed identity to be dumbfounded by the position in which we projected stridently and violently. had been landed. Which crazy politician had History may record the names of the conceded this referendum without first calling There are days when the headlines are so few political scientists and economists together a constitutional convention to spell dispiriting that one turns immediately to the who identified this new era but it will have out all the alternatives and likely consequences cartoonists, hoping not only for humour but difficulty in identifying any elected politicians of sudden independence. The age of Blair also for a sharper summing up of the situation who have spoken openly and honestly about and Cameron will go down as one of easy, than anything captured by reporters and the situation and who will take a lead in supposedly ‘soft’, concessions to pressure photographers. A day or two after the Newport suggesting how new patterns of investment groups without any consideration of cultural NATOfest, Gerald Scarfe had Obama in a and employment can be developed. consequences. Superman kit visiting Stonehenge (where at Whatever the complexity of the new I love Scotland for its physical beauty and least the stones are Welsh) and reflecting ‘ international order, there is no way that a the vibrancy of its two great cities. I gave thanks Hmmm - So civilisations can collapse’. generation of failed Western leaders can be then that common-sense prevailed. Mercifully Scarfe had fully reflected my despair on defended. When Lloyd George fell from power the silent majority had saved the day. But we that Sunday morning. A terrorist state had one contemporary spoke of ‘the intellectual are left with much on which to reflect. We still emerged to dominate the Middle East, there pygmies’ taking over. The subsequent do not fully understand how democracy works. was a beheading in North London, ebola was Tory administration was referred to as ‘a The SNP denounced a London Government rampant in West Africa, the Russians were government of the second XI’. Currently we for which ‘they had not voted’ but seemed undermining Ukraine, and the electronic are presented with leaders from the deepest unaware that a ‘Yes’ vote would involve a huge media were reducing culture and society to a recesses of the sub’s bench. number of Scots living in a country they didn’t pantomime by eclipsing all privacy. We clearly need leaders prepared to want. The SNP were essentially and ruthlessly On top of all of this there was a poll explain the fundamental causes of tension and dividing Scotland in two. indicating that the opportunistic Scots who will convene meaningful summits (not Both before and immediately after the vote were seriously contemplating grabbing PR exercises) to negotiate real settlements. we were faced with opportunist politicians independence without any consideration of Already analysts are identifying the Obama fighting for their own survival, but we also had the British constitutional and possibly financial presidency as marking the end of the era of English and Welsh minority politicians with crises that were likely to ensue. On a weekend American dominance. The great orator of wafer-thin mandates claiming new powers without Premiership football there were no 2008 has come to resemble nothing more than without any reference to what citizens as a distractions: I was left to mull over the truth of a basketball coach as he lopes to the podium, whole desire. If you play constitutional games what Scarfe’s Obama had just realised. hands in pocket and chewing (one hopes a it seems as if anyone can join in. The 19th and 20th centuries had witnessed mint rather than gum). ‘What gesture, what If the referendum teaches us anything it wars, tragedies, exploitation and horrors but concession will get us through the weekend’ is that every citizen needs to be considered. overall they did constitute a period of progress seems to be the message. Clearly there has to be a Constitutional in which the majority of people experienced There was a time a couple of generations Convention and one with the imagination to improved living and health standards. In general ago when India, Africa and even the Middle East transcend party. A lesson we are learning is this was a process that was marshalled by offered the prospect of powerful international that constitutions can too easily be a game for the West, by both Europe and the USA who leadership that would break through the rigidity nerds. What people want is wealth creation combined a strong sense of self-interest with of the Cold War. Nothing has taken the place and capital investment...The time has come rational and liberal economic and political of those lost voices. A few decades ago we for opportunities not committees: ‘first XI’ principles. All of which prompts the question began to speak of a new Europe that was based politicians will sense that. of where do we go from here: what will the 21st on a unique pattern of cooperation and which century bring? The prospects do not look good. promised to sit alongside the USA as a global As one searches for something promising economic and ideological force. But Europe (for This is Peter Stead’s last ‘Last Word’ for to build on, one becomes all too aware of the all its physical attractions) has remained inward- the Welsh Agenda.

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The IWA Fellowship has been developed as a special category of membership as a mark of recognition for those who have made, or are making, a significant contribution to the life of Wales. To discuss becoming a fellow of the IWA please call Lee Waters on 02920 484 387.

– Ali Anwar – Mr Elfyn Llwyd – Mr W Tudor John – Cllr Frank Bradfield – Mr Gareth Ioan – Mr Wiard Sterk – Dafydd Iwan – Mr George Crabb – Mr. Owen Gareth Hughes – Dr Carl Iwan Clowes – Mr Geraint Talfan Davies – Mrs Christine Eynon – Dr Christopher Slader – Mr Gerald Holtham – Mrs Frances Beecher – Dr Dai Lloyd – Mr Granville John – Mrs Sioned Bowen – Dr Daniel Cunliffe – Mr Huw Davies – Mrs Sue Balsom – Dr David Lloyd Owen – Mr Huw Edwards – Ms Carole-Anne Davies – Dr Denis Balsom – Mr Huw M Lewis – Ms Caroline Oag – Dr – Mr Huw Roberts – Ms Ceri Doyle – Dr Eurwen Price – Mr Huw Wynne-Griffith – Ms Clare Johnson – Dr Geraint Stanley Jones – Mr Ifan Evans – Ms Deirdre Beddoe – Dr John Burke – Mr John Bryant – Ms Diane McCrea – Dr Julia Magill – Mr John Osmond – Ms Eve Piffaretti – Dr Neil Thompson – Mr John Wyn Thomas – Ms Jenny Rathbone – Dr Ruth Williams – Mr Jonathan Evans – Ms Kirsty Davies – Helen Molyneux – Mr Jonathon Poyner – Ms Menna Richards – Lord Rowe-Beddoe – Mr Keith James – Phil Henfrey – Lord Alex Carlile – Mr Martin Tinney – Prof Gaynor Kavanagh – Lord Brian Griffiths of Fforestfach – Mr Milwyn Jarman – Prof David Marquand – Lord Gwilym Prys-Davies – Mr Ned Thomas – Prof Harold Carter – Lord Kenneth O. Morgan – Mr Nigel Annett – Prof Jane Aaron – Mme Helen Jones – Mr Nigel Bowen-Morris – Prof Judy Hutchings – Mr Alan Francis – Mr Nigel Griffiths – Prof Nickie Charles – Mr Alan Peterson – Mr Paul Davies – Prof Peter Stead – Mr Alastair Milburn – Mr Paul Silk – Prof Phillip John Jones – Mr Andris Taurins – Mr Paul Twamley – Prof Steven Kelly – Mr Aneurin Phillips – Mr Peter L Griffiths – Professor Antony Chapman – Mr Bill Capper – Mr Philip Cooper – Professor Elan Closs Stephens – Mr Chris Jones – Mr R G A Youard – Professor Mark Tewdwr-Jones – Mr Chris Rowlands – Mr Rhys David – Professor Nigel Thomas – Mr D Huw John – Mr Richard Eley – Professor Paul Atkinson – Mr Dafydd Iwan – Mr Robert John – Professor Richard Rawlings – Mr Daran Hill – Mr Robin Evans – Professor Terry Marsden – Mr David Clubb – Mr Roger Geraint Thomas – Reverend Aled Edwards – Mr David Freed – Mr Roger Lewis – Rt Hon Lord Richard – Mr David M Evans – Mr Ron Jones – Rt Hon Lord – Mr David Melding – Mr Simon Baynes – Sir Donald Walters – Mr David Stevens – Mr Steve O’Dea – Sir Richard Lloyd Jones – Mr Dyfrig James – Mr Tom Jones – Sir Roger John – Mr Eilian S Williams – Mr Tony Bagnall Laugharne Thomas