the welsh agenda

North by Northeast Ken Skates talks to Rhea Stevens

Grahame Davies, Hannah Blythyn, Llyr Gruffydd & Darren Millar on connecting North East Wales Exclusive Fiction: Dai Smith, Rachel Trezise, Rhian Elizabeth

Plus • Gill Morgan on How Change Happens • Ruth Hussey on Health and Social Care • Philip Dixon on Successful Futures

Winter 2017 | No. 59 | £4.95 www.iwa.wales Cover Photo: John Briggs The Institute of Welsh Affairs gratefully acknowledges funding support from the Jane Hodge Foundation, the Welsh Books Council, the Friends Provident Foundation, and the Polden Puckham Charitable Foundation.

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the welsh agenda

Editor: Dylan Moore Editorial Manager: Rhea Stevens editorial Editorial Board: Clare Critchley, Geraint Talfan Davies, Gerry Holtham, Marcus As we live through an ever-evolving present Cardiff Arms Park on the morning of the death of Longley, Auriol Miller and face an uncertain future, it is sometimes Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dai Smith’s story Cover Photographer: tempting to think that our own times of ‘Passing(it)On’, narrated by a woman whose John Briggs tumultuous change are unprecedented. But the world is dying with her, the stories together paint Design: flurry of anniversaries this year – not least our a picture of a south Wales that has both changed [email protected] own – are a reminder that Wales, and the world, irrevocably but also – in some senses, and for To advertise, tel: 029 2048 4387 for better or worse, are constantly in flux; such is some people – stagnated in the thirty years since the nature of history. the IWA was created and in the twenty years The publisher acknowledges the If we think that this has been an apocalyptic since Wales said Yes to devolution. financial support of the Welsh Books Council. autumn – hurricanes battering the Caribbean; If the three Rhondda-born writers of test missiles flying haphazardly across the Sea fiction suggest a south Wales bias that many Institute of Welsh Affairs of Japan; a Nobel Peace Prize laureate seemingly have suspected of devolution itself, then our 56 James Street, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff, CF10 5EZ turning a blind eye to ethnic cleansing – then other major series this issue, focusing on the Tel: 02920 484 387 we only need to cast our minds back a century oft-neglected region of north east Wales is an to find an autumn which included the Battle of attempt at counterbalance. Rhea Stevens talks to Charity number: 1078435 Passchendaele, the Russian Revolution and the Ken Skates about growing up in the region and The IWA is an independent think Balfour Declaration. its economic prospects, Grahame Davies offers tank and charity dedicated to promoting the economic, social, It can sometimes seem that we are trapped a personal reflection on his Welsh-speaking environmental and cultural well- in an endless cycle of jubilees, but if nothing Wrexham identity, Hannah Blythyn outlines the being of Wales. else they can provide a sense of perspective potential for cross-border working contained To become a member and receive to our current challenges. At this year’s IWA within the nascent Mersey Dee Alliance, while benefits such as copies of the summer party, we were pleased to introduce Darren Millar and Llyr Gruffydd each offer their welsh agenda, early-bird notice some of The Next Thirty, individuals profiled in take on the future of the north. of events, regular newsletters and free publications, from £30 a year, the last issue of the welsh agenda who we think Twenty years on, questions remain about please call Laura Knight on are worth watching in the years ahead. Writer the nature and extent of a devolution dividend. 029 2048 4387. Rhian Elizabeth commented that Wales excels Just what difference has the National Assembly at remembering its past but is perhaps not so made to the lives of the people of Wales? Networks focused on shaping the present, citing the recent Whatever progress has been made on the North Wales centenaries of Dylan Thomas and Roald Dahl structures of governance in Wales, it is lives like Network Coordinator: as examples of a country that celebrates the those depicted in this issue’s fiction (and those in Andrew Parry achievements of its long-gone great and good at articles like Vanessa Webb’s on young carers), to Cardigan Bay the expense of emerging talents. which we need to be paying very close attention Network Coordinator: As a continuation of our thirtieth as we continue the task of bending history in the Meilyr Ceredig anniversary celebration, we are pleased to direction of justice, building a Welsh society that Swansea Bay have given Rhian the opportunity to write a works for everyone. That’s why the work of the Network Coordinator: contemporary story as part of an exclusive IWA matters, and why we are ever grateful for Delith Thorpe fiction series. ‘The Difference between a Terrorist your support. and a Hero’ depicts three Welsh teenagers en Through the welsh agenda and the IWA websites, the IWA provides a platform for route to London in the aftermath of the awful debate, discussion and the exploration fire at Grenfell Tower. Following Rachel Trezise’s Auriol Miller, of ideas. The ideas contained in the independently produced articles and story set against the backdrop of a demolished IWA Director papers we publish are those of the writers and contributors and do not, therefore, necessarily reflect the views of the IWA, its members and Board.

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 1 10

#59 Winter 17

14 31 4 A report card: North east Wales Wales – will do better Connections Kevin Gardiner offers a candid assessment of where Wales 26 North east Wales: is at, and advice on how the Unfamiliar Complexities nation might go forward Grahame Davies is proud

to claim an overlooked, 6 Fiction – misunderstood identity Passing (It) On: Dai Smith 28 Future of the North Zig-Ah Zig-Ah Llyr Gruffydd argues that Rachel Trezise investment in north-east Wales is vital; Darren Millar The Difference between emphasises the importance a Terrorist and a Hero of infrastructure, and calls Rhian Elizabeth for greater devolution to 35 the region 14  Ken Skates: people, place and politics 31 Laying down the Rhea Stevens meets Ken drawbridge Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Hannah Blythyn welcomes Economy and Infrastructure the opportunities of cross- and finds a man rooted in border collaboration and formative experiences in his innovation provided by a native north east Wales Mersey Dee Alliance

17 Are we building a successful future? 33 The Hussey Report: Solving Wales’ most Dr Philip Dixon provides urgent and intractable a detailed assessment policy conundrum of progress on schools’ Prof Marcus Longley meets 50 curriculum reform Dr Ruth Hussey between her team’s interim and final 23 How can change reports on Health and Social happen? Care in Wales Gill Morgan argues that barriers to change in public 35 Brexit and agriculture: services are bound up in the What next for Welsh failure of policy makers to farming? involve the front line staff Dr Nicholas Fenwick argues charged with delivery that agricultural economic modelling highlights the need for a sensible Brexit timescale

2 | www.iwa.wales 39 Faith in Focus: R17 special 60 Reviews 68 Last Word A glimpse of the future? Mike Jenkins Jim Stewart considers the rich 50 ‘We don’t have to Why Wales Never Was: tapestry of stories that have catastrophise’ the Failure of Welsh brought Christians from more Ahead of the opening of Nationalism All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a than one hundred countries to P.A.R.A.D.E., a reimagining Simon Brooks of the 1917 ballet that birthed retrieval system or transmitted in any form now largely secular Wales Rebel Sun or by any means, electronic, mechanical, a cultural revolution, Dylan recorded or otherwise without the Moore meets Marc Rees Sophie McKeand permission of the publisher, the Institute of 42 The robots are coming… and Caroline Finn Women who blow on knots Welsh Affairs. ISSN 1464-7613 Professor Julie Lydon Ece Temelkuran considers how Wales can seize the opportunity to 53 How Red Was Quest and Odyssey: My Valley? increase productivity and Stories of journeys from Dr Ben Curtis gives an sustain our communities around Europe from the assessment of the historical Aarhus 39 significance of the Communist Ed. Daniel Hahn 46 Earning Potential: Party within the south Wales What Welsh graduates Hinterland: can expect coalfield Ceredigion Landscapes Dafydd Trystan and Hugh David Wilson, Ed Talfan Jones provide an analysis 56 Who cares for young and Ed Thomas of new data linking carers? Vanessa Webb calls for university courses to Into the wind: the life of a joined up approach median graduate salaries Carwyn James Alun Gibbard The gravitational pull of rising global A report card: prosperity and widened horizons is too strong for even the most Wales – insular establishment will do better to withstand

Kevin Gardiner offers a candid longer-established and far-reaching globally, and the June result may have assessment of where Wales is at, change, however, is a constructive one: as been a case of ‘sticking it to the man’ (as and advice on how the nation might people have become better off – even in it were). October 2017’s anniversary may go forward from here Wales, and even if they don’t acknowledge remind us who the real reactionaries are. it – their attitudes and priorities have So what practical and positive advice

shifted. As technology has brought so might we offer the Welsh establishment We have grown sentimental in London many more experiences within reach, their – Plaid Labour? – if it wants to retain its Over things that we smiled at in Wales horizons have lifted too. grip? Assuming, of course, that it deserves ‘London Welsh’, Idris Davies The Welsh establishment has either to do so. overlooked or ignored the progress made, Not always: distance can bring perspective. and may now draw the wrong conclusion First, accept that things are not that grim, May I offer some constructive criticism, from from June’s Westminster election result. acknowledge the last three decades’ the personal viewpoint of a London-based, There may be no collectivist resurgence at progress, and embrace the future more Cardiff-born economist and author – one hand: instead, the long-term tide may still positively. flattered to have been asked to participate at be running in the other direction – towards Because contrary to the impression the margins of Welsh public affairs? the individual, and towards prosperity. conveyed by a sensationalist media, global In contrast to Westminster, and much It doesn’t feel like that just now. capitalism is not in crisis, but thriving. of the rest of the developed world, the Having snatched near-defeat from History suggests this will not be reversed. left is the establishment in Wales. But the jaws of victory, the Westminster Venezuela is just the latest in a long line it is radical in name only. In practice it is government is poised to tack towards the of predictably sad endings to supposed conservative with a small ‘c’, clinging to an centre in response. The wilder Brexiteers alternatives. The evidence is compelling: it unambitious, suppliant outlook in which seem determined to remind us why the is simply the least bad system there is for people know their place – geographically Conservative Party used to be known as managing human affairs. Deal with it. as well as socially. Love it to bits, but it ‘the stupid party’. This means placing current issues could do better. But who knows why people vote as (fiscal austerity, Brexit, Trump) in context. It needs to, because the world has they do on the day? Students are no more Globally, the average person has never moved on. Most visibly and unattractively, immune from self-interest, or protest, been better fed, housed or clothed, nor of course, there has been a hardening of than older voters worried about taxes and less exposed to violent crime, conflict or attitudes to immigration. A more subtle, immigration. Collectivism is still retreating disease. The UK economy is twice as big

4 | www.iwa.wales as it was when we said Mrs Thatcher was Wales has lagged behind Finally, be more inclusive. This is the destroying it, and four-fifths larger on a per for sure, but to read really sensitive one, so apologies for any capita basis. Unemployment and inflation much local commentary offence. But in south east Wales at least are much lower, industrial relations there seems to be some resentment at and corporate profitability have been you’d think things have the heavy-handed way in which Welsh transformed. Life expectancy has risen. actually gone backwards. culture is being protected – and not just Meanwhile, in our hip pockets we routinely They haven’t because of the embarrassing, indulgent carry more computing power than a 1970s and unsustainable waste of resources university, a two-way video connection (protecting future generations by printing to the world, and a large portion of the our intentions on twice as much paper artistic canon. as necessary?). Why make people feel Wales has lagged behind for sure, but excluded if you don’t have to? to read much local commentary you’d think Let’s be honest: when the definitive things have actually gone backwards. They accounts of modern times are written, they haven’t. And the journey is not over yet. are unlikely to conclude that the world Why does this matter? Because you would have been a better place if only need the support of the better-off majority enabling approach be better? As Deng there’d been more nationalism. There can to help the people who are struggling, and Xiaoping said, it doesn’t matter what be a fine line between nationalism and you can’t credibly ask for it if you don’t colour a cat is, as long as it catches mice. chauvinism. The rise of the SNP has not acknowledge it’s there to be given. We seem always to be looking for exactly been the left’s finest hour. And it is one-stop solutions, killer policy apps. not the middle classes who might pay to Second, ditch the kitsch. There is nothing But has Wales really been held back by place our ‘otherness’ ahead of employment. wrong with passion in public affairs. But a missing development bank, myopic Conclusion? The Westminster election emotion flowing too freely and in the wrong pension funds, an absent Mittelstand, an result might seem to suggest that the place can become kitsch. The default unambitious entrepreneurial community – Welsh establishment can relax. I think this setting for much local ‘analysis’ is a garishly or do we just not make enough things (or would be a mistake. maudlin, nostalgic sentimentality – which provide services) that people want to buy? The long-term challenge to the left permeates even some economic writing. Perhaps fewer institutions might be in Wales comes not from UKIP – it never Kitsch can win votes short term. better – could there simply be too many did – but from economic progress. The The celebrity dancing gambit is political Welsh local authorities, too many ineffective gravitational pull of rising global prosperity genius. ‘A new sort of politics’ is today’s politicians, too many reports? The Welsh and widened horizons is too strong for Youkali. But pandering to easy emotion Government itself needs to guard against even the most insular establishment to only takes you so far. Ironically, it was a complacency: the margin in favour of withstand. Which, ultimately, has to be Welsh politician who coined the phrase devolved government was smaller than that good news for Welsh people, whoever ‘emotional spasm’ – he knew what he was for Brexit, and its leaders have been all but governs them. Wales will do better. talking about. invisible as ambassadors for Wales. Some Sentiment doesn’t foster literacy, recent AMs seem to have used Wales to numeracy, oracy and ambition in parentally- kick-start failing careers elsewhere. challenged schools. It can’t diagnose Democracy is not perfectible. Kevin Gardiner is a City- problems in an exhausted health service. Economies are not optimisable. Life is based economist educated It cuts little ice with employers asking why surely about muddling through, finding an at Glan Ely Comprehensive they should expand or relocate. acceptable solution – satisficing – and then (Cardiff), UWC Atlantic College We need less barracking and getting on with things. In the management (St Donats), the LSE and cheerleading, and more objective analysis. jargon: JFDI. Germany did not become Cambridge. He is a governor And in Wales that includes a more honest an economic powerhouse because its at Atlantic College, a member appreciation of the economic challenges government picked winners, its banks lent of the Welsh Government‘s posed by physical geography. more or the euro was cheap, but because advisory panel for Financial and And for goodness’ sake, stop squabbling. it gets basic education right, works hard Professional Services, Chair of and makes good stuff. It’s that easy – or the programme board at Wales Third, focus on outcomes. There is a difficult. We do of course have successful Public Services 2025, and was tendency to look for high-altitude answers Welsh (and British) businesses quietly a member of Cardiff Council’s to Wales’ lagging performance. Are they doing just this, just as we have world- Growth and Competitiveness really best sought at an institutional, class university research and a cluster of Commission which reported in prescriptive level, or might a bottom-up, innovative public sector agencies. December 2016

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 5 FICTION Series—Dai Smith

‘Something must be done’ Thirty Years. Three Stories.

As the IWA marks its thirtieth anniversary, and Wales itself celebrates twenty years since ‘Wales Said Yes’ to devolution, we invited three of the country’s foremost writers of fiction to offer short stories that capture moments in our national story. Dai Smith (born Rhondda, 1945) has set his story ‘Passing(It)On’ in 1987; Rachel Trezise (born Rhondda, 1978) takes up the baton in 1997 and Rhian Elizabeth (born Rhondda, 1988) brings us right up to date with a story set earlier this year, in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire in London. Read together, the stories offer snapshots of lived experience in Wales over the last thirty years, revealing aspects of social change, whole worlds that have disappeared, and the human drama of individual lives pitted, for better or worse, against a Wales and a Britain that is as riven by class and pocked by disadvantage as it was when Edward VIII uttered those famous words. Illustrations: Dan Peterson

the end, and yet all different somehow, and that old death rattle at the last. Not a proper rattle, really, more like pebbles, but hollow ones, bumping and grinding against each other, everything gurgling up from the chest, blocking the airways, flooding the passages, gasping life out. Years ago people generally Passing (It) On died in the beds they were born in, or at least 1987 in the beds they lay in for most of their lives. DAI SMITH Passed on they were, like this one, with the lilies hand carved into the pine headboard, and the irons to hold the base with, for years and years an old lumpy tick mattress on top, though I have chucked that out now. It was Mam and Dad’s bed before me, passed down to me and Alec after their time, and we were glad to have it. Don’t suppose she’ll ‘What dreadful people. Only, see, I hope I don’t linger. Better to have any looks on it, or anything else I’ll go sudden, isn’t it. In any case, I wouldn’t leave, not clothes for sure, so they can all go We are really wasting our like to think of her having to listen to my to charity. A bit of my china maybe, or that time. What is the point of all death rattle. Nice kid she is, willing to do nice ivory bangle I had from my Bopa Lel. I’ll your efforts if they appreciate anything for me, love her. Bit wild I know, ask. I’ve had the bed from the summer my but still time for her to change given half a mother died in it, fifty years ago, the year the them so little.’ chance. She won’t have heard anyone die King abdicated. That was in the December, yet, will she. Not so likely these days what Edward the Eighth he was going to be, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher speaking with people dying more out of the way, in the month before, as Prince of Wales, he to Nicholas Edwards, her Secretary of hospitals mostly, those geriatric wards. came to South Wales to see for himself he State for Wales, 1979 to 1987, after a vocal Ach y fi. But I’ve always had a feeling, daft said, and he said after that something must demonstration against her appearance in really I suppose, that I’ll pass away in this be done. Only, then he went, didn’t he. I saw South Wales. bed. ’Course I’ve seen and heard dozens him close up in Dunraven Street, in his car I and dozens dying myself, sitting with them, mean, when he passed through Pandy, and waiting for them to slip away, not always you know what, he had makeup on. Never easy that, and washing them after, and laying seen makeup on a man before, but he did, them out too, for neighbours to come and honest. A sort of orangey face powder it pay their respects. Paid work that was, mind. was, quite thick, and his hand kept rising up The way it was, then. And not very nice for to flick his bowler so he seemed almost like a young woman as I was. All the same at a mechanical thing, a tiny one all scrunched

6 | www.iwa.wales up in a big black overcoat against the cold stuck-up buggers as a live-in maid, hands The General Election of and damp. I told Alec when I got home. He all over you if they could, then after I was said that he had better things to do than married, later on, travelling to the munitions June 11 has brought about to gawp at royal wankers. Only he didn’t of factories during the war, your hands going a change of personnel at the course, not then. Something must be done yellow with the sulphur, making you cough top in the Welsh Office,with my arse, was what Alec said. And when the and splutter, some of the girls actually killed war came and he got back in the pit, good in explosions, stomachs blown open, all Mrs Thatcher’s appointment wages underground for a bit, it was too much hushed over at the time of course. And when of Peter Walker as the for him after all that time out of work and people could afford to buy wallpaper there new Secretary of State for he went a surfaceman which he never liked, was paper-hanging, which lots of women did with all his butties as colliers, and after the in houses in the valleys, front-rooms for best Wales set to usher in a new war he was on the council, sweeping the or bedrooms perhaps, come in early in the initiative: the Programme for streets or on the ash lorries to empty the morning, set up a foldaway trestle table and bins. Not much of a life was it, and if I’m cut to size wallpaper lengths and slather on the Valleys. Mr Walker, who honest, now that he’s long gone too, I don’t thick, cold, globby paste, and then onto the believes the provision of major think, looking back, that he was ever fully wall, with a cloth to flatten it, and do two or tourism and arts centres to himself after the first war. So many boys three rooms in a day, all on my own, word of dead in that one, and others terribly crippled mouth reputation bringing in the work, with be vital to his plans for urban for life, some with no arms or no legs and women being neater perhaps than men, and renewal, said: ‘In the case you’d see them, for years after, on crutches besides not all men being handy about the of the proposed Rhondda or on homemade bogeys with little iron house at all, so it was good pocket money, wheels, mooching about, just going up and especially when Alec was out of work or Heritage Park, I consider this down the street or on the road, waiting at the on short time. She listened to all this, a bit to be an extremely exciting corner or outside a pub. Pitiful it was, to see bored I could tell, so then I said, all casual project which epitomises them, and in Alec’s case it was there, too, like, that oh and there was that other time but more in his head, what he’d seen, what when we were right on our uppers, desperate many of my aspirations for had been done, and he was only seventeen for a couple of bob, and I’d catch the bus to the valleys. Based on the when he went, different entire when he Cardiff, all dolled up. Fitted right in, I told came home. We’d been sparking a bit, not her. You never, she said. Only once or twice, industrial heritage of the valley proper courting, when the war had started, I said. Alec never cottoned on, so no harm communities, it will transform and after it we got engaged but years before was it, I said. Well,you should have seen her a derelict site with its symbols we could manage to marry, and I do think face, I’m telling you, and I kept mine straight that even then it was as if a light had gone as a die, see, for ages and ages until I had to of former glories into an out in him, one that never really, not fully, burst out laughing. You cow, she said, you attractive heritage park and came back on, ever. Lovely feller, everybody old cow, laughing with me now. I would have so help to change many of the said, your Alec. And he was, I know, but still liked to have had a daughter like her, even if we both had to settle for less than anyone she’s too sassy sometimes for her own good. unwarranted perceptions that should have to do. I told her that once and I tell her I like to think my Mary Ellen would still exist about valley life.’ what d’you mean she said and I said curiosity have been like her, if she’d lived. She says, killed the cat, my girl, and that there are oh go on, but it’s true and I think she likes Associated News Reports, June 12 1987 some things which are for me to know and to me to say it because she always looks again keep to myself. Though she is persistent that at the snap, fading brown it is, I have in that one, won’t let go, so I had to tell her that we little slate frame on the wicker table by the weren’t all born behind a gooseberry bush bed. Only three she was when she got the back then, though I made her laugh when Dip, I tell her. She didn’t know what diptheria I just don’t see where all the furniture will go I told her about what we called courting, was, another killer of our kind that is gone, to when I’m gone. Too heavy, too dark, most going out together seriously, and she said it thank God, I say, like a lot of things we had of it, for youngsters today. I have found it sounded dull, so I said, hoy madam, I’ve seen to fight against. I tell her good things don’t hard to part with any of it, each piece saying a bit more of life than you might think. Oh, happen by accident. She says that so far as something to me, the only one left now, that she said, hard to believe that, and she was she is concerned nothing good ever happens would mean nothing to anyone else. I tell her grinning, cheeky with it now, because if it around here anymore. Nothing happens at though, all the same, whenever she pops in isn’t on TV or happening outside the valley, all, she says, but it comes out more like a to see me. I tell her how proud my mother for all her generation I think, it just isn’t question in her voice, cos it’s all over and was to put blue-and-white china on that tall happening at all, is it, and I told her straight done with round here, she says, and I have no pine dresser we bought from Twissler’s in the that I hadn’t always been stuck at home, answers for her, not really, only more stories first war when, for a time, there was good had had lots of different jobs to do, places I’d to tell her. money to be earned, and pianos, though we been to, over the years, cleaning big houses never had one, put in lots of front rooms, in the city before I was married, serving for show mostly so never played, their tops

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 7 FICTION Series—Dai Smith

covered by crimson velvet cloth with tassels with changing trains and waiting, with Mam and carrots and leeks, and all chatting, with hanging down the side. I still have that and my older sister Gwen carrying a suitcase more Welsh than English being spoken, so marble topped washstand upstairs and its each, walking over the railway bridge up the it did not seem a strange place to us, not at creamy yellow bowl and pitcher, not that we main road into Tonypandy, then up Dunraven all. I was just gone eight years of age then, used it except from time to time, all of us Street, all the way to the Square, a crossroads in 1908, younger than my cousins, Mam’s washing in the bosh in the kitchen, with a really, and suddenly Dada was there, still sister Ellen’s boy Davy John and daughter bath in the tin tub in front of the fire once a blackfaced from the pit, and I squirmed Sarah, the four of us to share a bed until we week, us girls first, Davy John after. Sounds when he went to kiss me, his moustache all found a house to rent, later to buy. So every primitive she says, especially now there’s bristly and wettened with beer, smudging year since then, I tell her, I can mark off by indoor lavs and baths, but she can see it was coaldust all over my face so that I wriggled the things which came to surround us. A deal fun too, all of us more together then, and and pulled away, and he laughed and threw table, wooden curved back kitchen chairs, a neighbours walking in and out without let me in the air. We hadn’t seen him for almost horsehair sofa eventually, and then another or hindrance. In my mind now I keep going a year after he’d left to join his brother Tom, one with button backed chairs to match for back, with those early things, big and small, working as colliers in Clydach Vale. I had the front room, which was only for visitors of all crowding in and jumbled up higgledy- never seen so many people milling about, course. And on the mantelpiece there, when piggledy, like the very first time I got out of much more than in Blaenau Ffestiniog, all Dada retired as choirmaster from Eglwys the train in Trealaw, six hours we’d been what filling up the pavements and spilling onto Dewi Sant, all from the north they were like the road, the stench of horse manure strong us, we put the brass faced clock in its walnut and the shops open though it was almost case they clubbed together to give him, with night time proper with the electric arc lamps its big brass key to wind it up and make it tawny bright in the gloom as rain began chime on the hour every hour. I still have to slant in broken lines across their light, most of it all, but whenever I look at all the women and bigger girls out shopping on a bits and pieces that are left I don’t really see Friday night, pay day, aprons and shawls over them as, you know, stuff. I see their faces, their dresses and some of the older women hear their voices, smell mothballs and polish, wearing men’s dai caps on their buns, as if all was new again. Only, the bigger wicker baskets full with spuds and onions things, more important things I suppose from what telly makes of what happened to us, riots on the Square, strikes and lockouts and war, though I do remember all that all right, except only all that seems old and finished, and I feel sometimes that nobody seems to know, or wants to know, that we laughed a lot, and cried, yes, and, how can I tell her,

8 | www.iwa.wales dared, that’s it,we dared to be giddy. I think She grins at me, but a bit awkward. We don’t I was jealous of my Gran because she was dying she’ll understand that. And it’s the same, usually talk like this, us two, but I go on, won’t and I wanted to. She, with a healthy appetite and you know, as later, when we could go on HP, leave it there, tell her she will have to find out a house full of possessions and a lifetime of riveting and we rushed out to buy washing machines for herself, that things always change, but one stories… And me, me with not even a thought and vacuum cleaners, and had fitted carpets sign of it is when things are closed down and in my head, was living. Just didn’t seem right… instead of that icy cold linoleum and that people are fixed by it, not allowed to grow, She told me I had first pick of her wardrobe, and rough and dusty coconut matting. That was not released to be different from what went she told me I could have her sewing machine… who we were and wanted to be, too, from before, as we once were in this place, and did. (but) she gave me more… She gave me treasured new TV sets and the wireless before, and And you can do it again, I say. Fat chance, stories and examples and standards to live by, going to the Pictures, all of it a proper mark she laughs. No way, she says. Find a way, I reasons to fight my way to where I want to go… of us, and nothing to regret or be ashamed tell her. This won’t be now forever, I tell her. She equipped me with everything I would need to of as if we were selling out after all we had It never is I want to say, and that I can see begin a new forceful life of my own making. The coped with. No, I think, in a way it was why most of all that was and really mattered has strongest woman I have ever known handed out to we were there in the first place, isn’t it, you already gone, or is going, being tidied away, me her gift-wrapped strength… Imagination tells know, moving there for work and wages, maybe soon forgotten. There is so much to me someday soon something amazing will happen and a better life we hoped. Same the world tell, and I worry that she will not be ready for to me. over, then as now, and will be. Staying put what is facing us, coming for her I mean, if Rachel Tresize, Rhondda Valley, when it wasn’t, better I mean, that’s different, we just disappear, as if nothing that mattered December 1996 and harder to explain, though lots left most ever was. She says I try too hard, can’t keep didn’t, and I think it was, in part anyway, up with everything at my age, should let go, because we had come to belong, one to the stop banging on about 1985 as if the world other, and to the place in a funny way. She had ended, only here maybe, not out there, says she hates it here. I tell her we are not she says. Get a life, she tells me. That makes cemented down, so stay or go, as you please, me laugh, and we smile together. I ask her if and what matters is what you keep with you she remembered to pop my postal vote in the or take with you which is of us, as we made box, first time for me like that and last, too, I ourselves into something more, together suppose. She says, to stop me, yeah yeah, and I mean, more perhaps than at times we that she’ll vote when the time comes, for my realised. I tell her that I know this is true, and sake, she says, no other reason. It’s a start, I I mean it but I can’t prove it, and it’s for her told her. Anyway, I have decided to leave her to find out. Look, I say, let me put it another the clock, the one that chimes on the hour way, I’m not political or anything like that, every hour, but only if you wind it I will have but I say, I always vote, always have since to tell her. She’ll need to know that, too, for women could vote equally with the men, only the years to come. I’ll say that if she wants, in since 1929 I say, and that’s because I know, her heart I mean, I can still be there for her, if from living and being here, what counts and she wants, over the years to come, the years what’s what. And what’s that then she says, without me, her time. all cocky with me. Knowing your enemy, who and what and why, I say and can see she is surprised at how serious I am being.

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 9 FICTION Series—Rachel Trezise

rolls; the meat inside soft and pink and salty. I was wearing a red dress, a hand-me- down from my ten-year-old cousin. My Zig-Ah Zig-Ah cousin was there too that afternoon. We were playing musical chairs to a Shakin’ RACHEL TREZISE Stevens cassette playing on the Griffiths’ ghetto blaster. When my cousin got bored of playing she’d told Nicole Griffiths that ‘The sun makes1997 people mental, that’s what the till. I noticed something about the front she’d given me the dress I was wearing my mother says.’ pages of the newspapers; big writing, no because I didn’t have any clothes of my Rhian Elizabeth Six Pounds Eight Ounces pictures. They all shared the same words. own. Nicole’d called me a tramp. I marched ‘Diana’ and ‘Dead.’ over to the Griffiths’ path where my cousin ‘Is true,’ the boy said, nodding. ‘She’s was standing, fists clenched so tightly my He dropped me where he’d found me; off dead.’ Without thinking I opened the can fingernails bit into my palms. ‘Go on then,’ the Despenser Gardens at the corner of of cola and drank, the bubbles spasmodic my cousin said when I got to her. ‘What are Beauchamp. The passenger door of the against my lips. ‘You see she sleep with you going to do?’ I’d turned and stomped hatchback squealed as I threw it closed Fayed,’ the boy said. ‘So murder!’ He back to the buffet to the scraping sounds of behind me. The men had already started pretended not to look at my neck again. their laughter, stupefied with humiliation. In work across the river, or they’d been there ‘The mother of the king of England with an my head I vowed never to accept a single working all night, the site machinery Egyptian Muslim? Cannot be.’ second hand item ever again. grumbling softly. All the girls came here ‘Bollocks,’ came a voice. There was As I thought about it I realised that these days, even the Custom House beat; someone behind the rotating confectionary I hadn’t and I almost smiled. Despite looking for business with the demolition display, a Yorkshire terrier on a lead. everything, I’d kept that promise to myself workers. There was no-one here now though. ‘Paparazzi’s what’s killed her. Persecuted her for sixteen years. I walked full tilt, tottering It was Sunday, seven in the morning, late in to the death.’ on wedged heels, the stale taste of cigarettes August. The sky behind the cranes was a ‘Christ on a bike,’ I said, more shocked clinging in the crevasses between my teeth. pure, perfect blue. I didn’t want to go near at the stranger’s interjection than the news I paused at a side street overlooking the the main road but the first quaver of the itself. ‘Paparazzi on bikes,’ the voice said. ‘No city’s railway sheds and quaffed the dregs delirium tremens was developing in a cavity word of a lie.’ of the warm coke. ‘Diana’s dead,’ I said to in my heart and at that time of day sugar was It seemed hotter on the street when myself, wondering what to make of it. Then the only option. The Pakistani teenager at the I stepped out, as if the sun was breathing I caught sight of my face in the wing mirror counter of the newsagents on Ninian Park in my face. I couldn’t help thinking: John of the clumsily-parked car next to me; the Road pretended not to notice the bruising on Street, Pentre, 1981. A street party on the hair in my butterfly clips knotted, the red my neck. The aluminium cans were so cold afternoon of the Royal Wedding. I must have finger-shaped weals on my neck turned it was painful to carry one from the fridge to been eight. Trestle tables stretched from an incredible mauve. I wouldn’t be able to the allotments at the top of the street to the hide these bruises; not from Goat, not from Christmas tree factory at the other end. Tin anyone. I should have known the most foil platters of sausage rolls. Proper sausage unremarkable-looking bloke in Cardiff would

10 | www.iwa.wales turn out to be a raging sado. It was obvious, the brouhaha of steam and reeling infants I accepting, stealing was alright. I whipped wasn’t it? Because he’d taken me to an actual slipped into a cubicle and pulled the curtain. the curtain aside to see a cleaner, stood flat with an actual bed and he’d been willing Outside the mother’s were talking. Ordinary within touching distance, a hose in her hand. to pay full price and use a condom. I could conversations about everyday things but a ‘Oh my God!’ she said. She was blocking still feel the pain behind my eyeballs where revelation to me. ‘Only the north stand’s left the fire exit so I ran the other way, into the he’d choked me so hard he’d almost popped now. Can’t wait ‘til it’s down, I can’t. Town’s swimming pool area. It must have been them out. A hot cramp like a streak of solder lookin’ like a bomb site.’ around half past eight now; another three being laid around the edge of the socket. The boy who’d been naked was slapping hours until the off licences opened. I was I couldn’t go back to my room on Moira at the tampon vending machine and wailing, hotter than I’d ever been before, eyelids Terrace. Goat was going to batter me. And ‘I want sweets, Mummy. Put some money in. perspiring. The splashing in the pool waned worse he’d take every penny of my hard-won Get the sweets out!’ as the kids began to notice me. The cleaner sixty quid. ‘But I wonders what the new stadium’ll appeared again in the doorway behind me. The sky was still brilliant blue, as if look like, Trace. Could be worse off in the There was nowhere to go but the water. God hadn’t realised yet that Princess Diana long run. You turns around one day and iss was dead. It seemed to be getting hotter all different. Wales is changing. Things is every minute. I kept walking west, away changing fast.’ from Adamsdown. The Spice Girls were on the radio and The small indoor swimming pool someone raised their voice to sing Zig-Ah behind Fitzalan High School was open; Zig-Ah. ‘See that boy on the desk out there? I parents arriving with little packs of kiddies. goes to ‘im, ‘you’re oright, innew?’ As I neared the building a fire exit opened I didn’t know many women because I suddenly revealing a four-year-old boy stood thought myself cheap and undeserving of stark naked, a tiny pig’s tail of a penis. In friends. I thought briefly about my cousin a second the child’s mother appeared and and then stopped and lobbed her image back nimbly pulled him back into the depths of into the seldom-visited memory-bank with the changing room. But nobody closed the everything else from Pentre and John Street. door. I reckoned I could hide out there for ‘Aber-fucking-nowhere’ is what Goat liked to a while, maybe even get a shower. Amid call it. After a while the voices disappeared and I started to think about leaving the cubicle. There’d be belongings left on the benches out there, chlorine-steeped-towels, maybe a few handbags. Stealing wasn’t

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 11 FICTION Series—Rhian Elizabeth

The Difference between a Terrorist and a Hero

2017RHIAN ELIZABETH Johnny was wearing the red t-shirt he’d had Johnny never did well at school but he shut him up. ‘Stop talking so loud, will you?’ printed off eBay. On the front it said For The wasn’t stupid. He knew a lot of things. He I was worried about the two guys in Many, Not The Few. And on the backseats of could roll a spliff standing on his head with suits down the front of the bus, and hidden that Megabus, he had something to say, as his eyes closed but he could also tell you cameras and microphones and other things he always did. the name of a political party and what their the government use to track you everywhere ‘It can’t go on like this. Something has to policies were and how many votes they got you go, so from then on we spoke in whispers. be done.’ in the last election. Johnny knew how the ‘Lives ruined and lives lost,’ Johnny world worked. Johnny knew it all. hissed, ‘all because the rich people living Dicky’s real name is Geraint but he got opposite that tower didn’t want their nice the nickname Thicky Dicky from Johnny in view spoiled. So the council covered the Primary School. Because he didn’t pick up building in all those cheap panels that went his times tables as quick as other kids, or up in flames. You can’t polish a turd but perhaps because he would do whatever you they tried – and look what happened. And told him to do, however stupid of an idea it they’re covering it all up now, like they cover was. Dicky came along for the ride because everything up.’ he had nothing else to do. Even in whispers, Johnny’s voice was I’m Sal, and I’m one of the lads. If you intimidating. He was on about Grenfell saw the photograph they took of me on Tower. He hadn’t stopped getting angry my first day of Comp, you’d never believe about it since it happened and he had you were looking at the same girl. My once convinced me that I should be angry about blonde locks have been shaved to a skinhead it, too. He could convince me of pretty much and that innocent, curious smile has turned anything because I love him. I’ve loved him to an almost constant scowl. Back in school since Primary School. Dicky didn’t have a I used to want to be a forensic scientist but clue what either of us were talking about. He I hate everyone and everything now, apart drifted in and out of sleep as Johnny went on from Johnny. and on. He opened a can of cider, taking in ‘You should care more than most, Sal. It the view of the water beneath the Severn could’ve been you.’ Bridge as the bus crossed over it. He was I live on the top floor of a council block. still talking, about taxes and bankers, about Not that the council give a shit about me. Saudi Arabia and benefits and his own unfair I’ve had to take care of my mental bitch of sanction from the Job Centre, when I tried to a mother since I was eight years old. Try

12 | www.iwa.wales going to school, or getting a job, when your you. Like one of those Christian nutters who sizes. The straws were stripy and pink. He mother is constantly calling you, telling you stop you to tell you all about God and Jesus, had taken them from the condiment stand that she’s going to kill herself, or that the only he’d stop you to tell you how the Tories in McDonalds on the way out after another crack dealer downstairs is trying to kill her, had destroyed the Valleys way back when unsuccessful job interview, seconds after he or that she’s going to kill you if you aren’t at and that they didn’t give a toss about the punched the cardboard Ronald McDonald in her mercy twenty-four seven. I should’ve poor or the disabled and that if all of this the face. He closed his eyes and the others been taken into care years ago, but they left went on any longer, then we’d all be even did the same, and as if he was shuffling a me there to rot, in that shithole riddled with more fucked than we already were. deck of cards he shifted and swapped and damp and broken lifts and crack dealers. We hadn’t decided who was going to do rolled the straws about in his hands. He held Johnny said that’s the way it was. No one it. Johnny was the obvious candidate. He was them out and each of them picked one. cared about us. No one cared about me. tough and had already had a spell in a young ‘They will say we are terrorists,’ I said. Not the government or my counsellor or my offenders’ place as a kid and he fought all the ‘No they won’t,’ Johnny answered. mother. No one. Only Johnny. And it was, time. Johnny fought for revenge but he also ‘They’ll say we’re heroes.’ he reckoned, only a matter of time before fought for fun. I’m tough, too. I cut myself all I pondered that for a bit while I downed my own block of flats goes up in flames if the time so if I could hurt myself then surely the dregs of my cider. something isn’t done. I’d have no problem hurting someone else. ‘So what’s the difference between a I got up and went to the toilet to calm Dicky would do it as well, just because you terrorist and a hero?’ down. I have a habit of punching things, told him to. Johnny explained: ‘Terrorists kill innocent and Johnny was telling me not to kick off The decision was left to the straws. people. Heroes kill the bad guys.’ on the bus and risk getting us all chucked Johnny had clipped them to three different off, even though it was Johnny himself who was talking about my mother. The toilet was disgusting. Piss swamping around my trainers and shit stains in the bowl, but I didn’t care. I took my piece of glass out of my jeans pocket and dug it into my arm. Slowly skin gave way to sharp silver and blood dripped out, fast and thick like the piss. ‘You shouldn’t do that, Sal,’ Johnny said when I got back. ‘It’s not cool.’ I’m covered in scars. Most of them I’ve done myself, but not all. Johnny’s covered, too. He’s like a walking tree, his body a trunk, his scars living proof of all his enemies. Like lumberjacks over the years they’d taken swipes at him with their axes, or fists or crowbars. People got fed up of him talking. See him anywhere, down the pub or walking down the street, and he’d stop and talk to

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 13 North east Wales Special Interview

Ken Skates: people, place and politics

Rhea Stevens meets Ken Skates, No matter where I go, I am always Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure and finds a man rooted pulled back to [North east Wales] in formative experiences in his native north east Wales

‘My best friends are still the best friends what drove me, that’s what ignited my fire proudly alongside a signed Wrexham FC I had when I was 3, 4, 5 years old,’ says and my passion to do something that would shirt in his office, ready to go at a moment’s Ken Skates when we meet on the 5th enable all people, no matter where they’re notice. It’s clear this is a man who puts floor of Ty Hywel. ‘I grew up against the from, what background, to get the best out great value on getting out of Cathays backdrop of high unemployment, recession of life, to have the opportunity to succeed’. Park. When talking about the future of and also a political drive, centrally to Success has a wider definition than the North East Wales economy, Skates promote individual material wealth and income for Skates, who grew up in a small points to discussions he’s held with Metro individual gain over community and societal village just outside of Mold. Wellbeing Mayors, local enterprise partnerships, improvement, and so that certainly shaped and community cohesion seem equally council leaders, Northern Power House not so much my political thinking at that as important as income for the man representatives, and many others as early age, but my values.’ now charged with delivering economic evidence of his belief that ‘there are huge Values and loyalty, including political prosperity for Wales. ‘During the period opportunities to grow the economy and loyalty, are strong themes during our of Reaganism and Thatcherism, where to enhance people’s lives by working in discussion. Skates isn’t from a political family, we were being encouraged to judge our a collaborative way across the England/ but there’s a sense he’s been politically success by how new the car was that sits Wales border.’ shaped by his experiences from a young age. on the drive, or how big your house was, or We meet in early September, ahead He grew up with the Shotton Steelworks what label was on your jacket, there was of the Assembly returning from recess closure, ‘the single biggest loss of jobs in a a loss of community spirit. People cared and before Prosperity for All is published. single day in modern European history. for one another a little less and cared for This was widely expected to be the Welsh He explains: ‘People were just trying material items more’. Government’s economic strategy for Wales, to get by. People didn’t lose ambition, I’m quietly amused to see the ever- but in reality was a cross-cutting strategic or aspiration, or hope, but people were present hi-vis jacket and hard hat Skates is vision for the entire Welsh Government struggling for opportunity. I think that’s so often photographed wearing, hanging programme. Dashed expectations led to

14 | www.iwa.wales criticism across the Assembly chamber, and muted disappointment across the policy community still waiting for the detail on delivery. When I asked Skates what he hoped his economic strategy would deliver for north Wales, he set out a vision of the region as a ‘centre of excellence’ in advanced manufacturing and energy, as well as taking full advantage of the region’s growing visitor economy. ‘In 20 years time, I’d like to be able to look back and identify the investments that enabled us to transition to the economy of tomorrow and to the investments that improved our transport connectivity, not just within north Wales but to the rest of the UK.’ Skates is putting great value on the opportunities to strengthen the north east Wales economy by building on gains across the border in neighbouring English regions: ‘culturally, socially, economically, there’s a huge amount to be gained from stronger cross-border collaboration’. Whilst acknowledging the ‘political tensions in cross-border collaboration in the age of devolution,’ he points to Scandinavia, the Pyrenees, parts of Germany and Estonia as strong European examples of cross-border collaboration at a regional level. There’s a clear vision that is driving Skates’ thinking, and he paints a positive picture, however at present the ideas exist as generalities of what good might look like; the specific objectives, policy actions and measurable targets to judge progress, thought to be delivered in an economic action plan, are yet to come at the time of writing.

Communication is essential, and I think looking back and reflecting on the ring, I think that should have been conducted more thoroughly

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 15 North east Wales Special Interview

Skates, already a Labour party member by I serve one purpose, and that’s to 1997, actively campaigned for devolution and described being ‘ecstatic when the final make sure that this Government, result was announced’. Rather than hang out at the local campaign HQ, he went led by Carwyn Jones, is a success back to his parents’ house, with those same friends he’s had since his earliest years, to watch the count late into the night. Reflecting on the region’s relationship with devolution over the past twenty years. Skates now characterises the relationship as ‘far less tense’. ‘To begin with, whether real or perceived, there was a belief that devolution could lead to tensions in the East-West/North-South this context wasn’t communicated clearly: campaigners as a positive step to challenge relationship. But I think over time those ‘communication is essential, and I think stigma, and it’s clear this experience has tensions have eased, and people recognise looking back and reflecting on the ring, I left behind a passion for improving mental that devolution actually gives north east think that should have been conducted health provision, and a focus on wellbeing Wales an opportunity to capitalise from more thoroughly’. more broadly. Years on, and after successful decisions that can be made in Wales that It’s clear the controversy has been a treatment, Skates still feels the same pull to can be different to those that are being significant challenge, but he’s determined north Wales, to the place, and the people made in Westminster.’ to get it right. He doesn’t perceive any he calls his ‘anchor point’: ‘No matter where Speaking of decisions, when I ask tension in his extremely wide brief, insisting I go, I am always pulled back to that part of about the recent controversy surrounding ‘There are no tensions between examining the world’. the iron ring sculpture proposed for Flint and exploring history, and using history It’s a combination of place, people and Castle, Skates is reflective. ‘Sometimes it for economic benefit. I think provided you wellbeing which Skates presents as the can be difficult to make the right decisions. tell the story and capture culture in the underpinning principles of his approach Nonetheless you have to have confidence right context, you can capitalise on it for to the economy. He sees this as requiring in reaching those decisions, and confidence economic growth and economic benefits’. a ‘new economic contract between the comes from being well informed’. Following Towards the end of our discussion government and business, between local the decision not to pursue the sculpture, I reflect that Skates’ name consistently government and national government, Skates has commenced a local engagement comes up when people discuss potential between the individual and government’. project, and is keen to stress that ‘the town successors to Carwyn Jones. On this Reflecting on his relationship with his close council, the county councillors, stakeholders matter he gives a perfectly politically friends at home, he says ‘None of us have locally... are all leading on the project… I’ve polished answer, that expresses only had opportunities put in front of us on a been very clear, that whatever emerges is loyalty to the man he sees as ‘head and plate, we’ve all had to work hard. At times for Flint from Flint’. shoulders above anyone else in that we’ve really had to support one another… The controversy over the iron ring chamber’: ‘I serve one purpose, and that’s and that’s what’s society’s about. It’s about causes Skates to muse on the complexity to make sure that this Government, led by making sure that everybody can be the best of Welsh history, identity, and reading Carwyn Jones, is a success’. person they can be by hard work themselves, public opinion on deeply cultural issues. Trying another tack, I ask if there’s but also by getting the right support from Alongside Shakespearean text carved into any other area of Government policy he is friends, family, and government’. the ring, ‘it also would have captured the particularly passionate about and at which views and opinions of people in Flint about he would fancy trying his hand. ‘Health, what it is to be Welsh, about how they see and in particular mental health,’ is the their history, the history of their town’. He immediate, direct response. Skates’ honesty saw the ring as a memorial to lives lost and about his experience of Generalised people displaced, but also a testament to Anxiety Disorder at university, and the Rhea Stevens is Policy, endurance and symbol that the ‘future of successful treatment he received, has Projects and External Affairs the castle is in our hands’. He acknowledges rightly been celebrated by mental health Manager at the IWA

16 | www.iwa.wales Are we building a successful future?

Dr Philip Dixon provides a detailed assessment of progress on schools’ curriculum reform, and urges debate to ensure Successful Futures is given chance to fulfil its ambition

On 12th March 2014 Huw Lewis, the then Education Minister, inaugurated the biggest shakeup of education since the advent of devolution, and arguably the biggest change in education policy since the war, by announcing a full scale reform of the curriculum and assessment regime in Welsh schools. The veteran Scottish educationalist, Graham Donaldson, was commissioned to undertake a review of the current arrangements and produce a report on the best way forward. Successful Futures, published in February 2015, outlined a fundamental change in approach. Donaldson summed up the curriculum as ‘all of the learning experiences and It seems somewhat valued members of society’. assessment activities planned in pursuit of odd that the building of In a radical departure from the 1988 agreed purposes of education’. He stated National Curriculum, and indeed from most that the ‘purposes of the curriculum in Wales a new curriculum fit to curricula since the nineteenth century, should be that children and young people prepare youngsters for but following some international trends, develop as ‘ambitious, capable learners, ready this new world… has Donaldson proposed scrapping traditional to learn throughout their lives; enterprising, been entrusted almost subjects in favour of a curriculum creative contributors, ready to play a full part completely to those who structured around ‘six Areas of Learning in life and work; ethical, informed citizens are largely people of and Experience: Expressive arts; Health of Wales and the world; healthy, confident and wellbeing; Humanities; Languages, individuals, ready to lead fulfilling lives as one career literacy and communication; Mathematics and numeracy; Science and technology’.

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 17 To further break down the silos that a of the main players together to discuss Curriculum for Excellence was first mooted subject-based structure had allegedly progress and next steps. A rather shaky in 2002, and began its roll out over 6 years brought Donaldson also proposed ‘three performance from Qualifications Wales ago in 2010 -11, this is a further warning that Cross-curriculum Responsibilities that at least gave reassurance that they are curriculum reform cannot be rushed. The should be the responsibility of all teachers: now thinking about the implications of the original timescale envisioned by Huw Lewis, literacy; numeracy; and digital competence’. reforms for public examinations. Six reports which would have seen first teaching in 2018, of very variable quality were published by was wishful thinking at best. Progress so far the groups developing the six Areas of A second concern is deeper and The sheer scope of the reform now under Learning and Experience. Probably the most concerns the model of reform itself. There way makes one blink. Up for grabs are encouraging sign of all has been the praise is a superficial attractiveness in putting obviously curriculum and assessment, but heaped upon the new Digital Competence the teaching profession in charge of the also Initial Teacher Education and Continual Framework from within Wales and outside. development of the curriculum. They, after Professional Development for staff who will all, are the ones with professional expertise have to deliver the new regime. Changes Key concerns in teaching and learning, and they are the to curriculum and assessment obviously But there remain some major concerns. ones who will have to deliver the new have huge implications for the future The first inevitably concerns curriculum in the future. In his blog of July shape of qualifications which could render implementation. Not even its most ardent 4th this year, Donaldson claimed that Wales the current GCSEs otiose. And in July the supporters could claim that the Welsh was almost unique in rejecting a top down Cabinet Secretary for Education, Kirsty Government’s Department for Education approach to curriculum reform in favour of Williams, announced a rapid review of and Skills has a reassuring track record in working from the classroom up. Whether Estyn, the school inspectorate. It’s almost this area. Several independent reports have or not that claim is justified is contestable; as if a sign has appeared in the window of noted this as the Achilles’ heel of many after all, the Curriculum for Excellence our entire school system - ‘Closing down well-intentioned reforms, and the history of emphasised teacher autonomy, but even if sale, everything must go’. education since devolution is littered with true this is not a guarantee of success. A network of ‘Pioneer Schools’ has examples of botched implementation. If the curriculum is ‘all of the learning been tasked with the development of In a damning investigation into major experiences and assessment activities the new curriculum and culture. These failures around the Scottish Curriculum for planned in pursuit of agreed purposes of will ‘play a key role as pathfinders for Excellence (which has a very similar pedigree, education’ then it needs to be constructed the new curriculum, supporting, leading philosophy, and structure to Successful by a broader range of interests and not and embedding realisation of the new Futures) the Education and Skills Committee restricted to school staff. However much curriculum framework both locally and of the Scottish Parliament identified some of the unions might wish the contrary nationally’. A two day conference in implementation as the weakest link in the we simply no longer live in a world where Llandudno earlier this year brought many whole endeavour. Given the fact that the it is accepted that ‘Teacher knows best’. Teachers know an awful lot, especially about how and why children learn. Their engagement is absolutely essential. Their relative absence from the 1988 National Curriculum sowed the seeds for its demise. They are a necessary but not sufficient cause for success. We need input from industry, the big public services such as health, social care, and local government, and the arts, tourism and sport as to what they need their future workforce to know and do. It has become something of truism that there are no longer any jobs for life and that a youngster entering the labour market will have a number of careers in front of them. It seems somewhat odd then that the building of a new curriculum fit to prepare youngsters for this new world has been entrusted almost completely to those who are largely people of one career.

18 | www.iwa.wales The third concern is deeper still and the groups developing the new Areas Most of the machinery of modern language perhaps flows in some way from the of Learning and Experience are of very is labour-saving machinery; and it saves second: why has there been so little debate varying quality there are some signs mental labour very much more than it about any of this? Given the scope of the that there is now a realisation that more ought… It is a good exercise to try for once reforms and the fact that they go to the outside help is needed to create a broad in a way to express any opinions one may very core of what we believe education to and balanced curriculum. The Expressive hold in words of one syllable. If you say “The be it is puzzling that there has not been a Arts group realised the need to include social utility of the indeterminate sentence lot more discussion. There are big questions the Arts Council Wales, FE and HE in its is recognised by all criminologists as a part here about what it is to be educated, what future deliberations while the Health and of our sociological evolution towards a more are the expectations and limitations of Well-Being group specifically mentioned humane and scientific view of punishment,” Public Health Wales as one of its preferred you can go on talking like that for hours with There will obviously be dancing partners. The success of the hardly a movement in the grey matter inside differences of opinion… Digital Competency Framework was partly your skull. But if you begin “I wish Jones to go but the important thing is because engagement of those outside the to gaol and Brown to stay when Jones shall profession took place from the word go. It come out”, you will discover, with a thrill of that debate is taking place is not too late for this sort of engagement horror, that you are obliged to think. The long about the content and to occur elsewhere. The CBI and FSB words are not the hard words, it is the short scope of the curriculum. have both done some innovative work words that are the hard words. And it’s taking place in the about curriculum in recent years as have a public domain number of other groups. This is very true of the jargon of education. Finally, the main ray of hope is that We can sleepily agree with Successful debate is finally beginning about the Futures that ‘Exposure to literature extends content of the new curriculum. Earlier in children and young people’s understanding schooling, what we think youngsters should the summer Rajvi Glasbrook attracted of the power of language. It can stimulate know at 16, and what we think they should a fair amount of media attention with imagination, challenge thinking and introduce be able to do. I suspect there is no easy her plea that all youngsters should new ideas’. But if you argue, as Glasbrook has consensus on these issues and so more study English Literature until they were done, that all children should study English argument should be expected. 16. As well as pointing out the implied Literature to GCSE (see also Mike Jenkins’ elitism in restricting the study of English Last Word, p68) I suspect that we will wake Encouraging signs Literature to the chosen few in a school, up and argue. Similarly we can all nod in However, there are some encouraging Glasbrook also argued passionately that agreement with Successful Futures that ‘RE can signs that these concerns are now being ‘discussing these books in a classroom and should provide valuable experiences for acknowledged and addressed. with a teacher and peers opens new ways children and young people that contribute to Firstly, Kirsty Williams has been of thinking, and brings awareness of the each of the purposes of education.’ But does dropping very heavy hints that the inventiveness of language’. A few weeks this mean that religious assemblies should timetable for implementation announced later two feisty school girls from Ysgol Glan remain the norm? Once we wake up I suspect by her predecessor, Huw Lewis, is far from Hafren petitioned the Assembly to end this will be a hotly contested area. set in stone. ‘This is such an important the requirement for compulsory collective None of this is to undermine the general piece of work we don’t want to risk it worship. There will obviously be differences thrust of Successful Futures. It usefully for the sake of sticking to a timetable.’ of opinion about both these issues but the brought together current thought and Formidable when in opposition Williams important thing is that debate is taking practice about the curriculum in Wales and realises that her lasting legacy as a place about the content and scope of the beyond. It provided a high level contribution Minister depends on getting these reforms curriculum. And it’s taking place in the to an ongoing debate about what, how, and right. There are no prizes for speed. It’s public domain. why our children should learn. As we move also interesting to note that some of the We should welcome concrete debates into implementation however the detail human obstacles within the department to about what should youngsters should will need far more expansion. We need effective implementation have gone or are know and what they should be able to to see in Wales some of the debates that going. If the timetable is slowed down the do. I suspect that there has been little have been had elsewhere. One thinks of the resulting breathing space is not a hiatus controversy so far because the discussion impassioned arguments in England, and the but rather a golden opportunity to firm up has been too abstract. The great English deep debates about the role of knowledge some of the high level ideas developed in writer, G.K. Chesterton, cautioned against sparked by the works of educationalists the Areas of Learning and Experience into this tendency over a hundred years ago: such as E.D. Hirsch. more recognisable content. These debates are not arcane. They go Secondly, although the reports from to the heart of what it is to be educated,

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 19 There are signs of realism and progress but as far as I can see we have still one fundamental question to address: how will we know if Successful Futures has actually been a success?

and to how we can ensure that our children shock that the Scots are now experiencing We shall not cease from exploration gain the widest possible access to a common that Wales was not world leading. We And the end of all our exploring culture which stretches across time as well need accurate, comprehensive, and helpful Will be to arrive where we started as across geography. They also disrupt facile comparisons. Perhaps we need other And know the place for the first time. Left-Right dichotomies. Leighton Andrews, in international benchmarks such as PERLS his book about his time in office, approvingly and TIMMS to balance the insight of PISA. Exploration requires skills but these are not notes that Hirsch claims that the great doyen We need to give much more prominence to an end in themselves. Even the knowledge of the European Left, Gramsci, believed that the OECD’s judgement about the wellbeing that accrues is not our ultimate aim. The ‘political progressivism required educational of our children which showed that Wales wisdom that comes from them both is the conservatism’. They raise the most profound was ahead of England in that regard. As well real gift that we would wish for our children. questions of all, such as ‘What is education as GCSE and A level results we should look for?’ and ‘Is it for anything other than itself?’ at the destinations of students. There are These debates cannot be confined to schools probably several other elements we will want as they touch on our very understanding of to add to the mix. But we will need to make what society should be. judgements and these will need to be based on hard evidence not wishful thinking. We will Measurement of Success? be world leading not when we believe we are Dr Philip Dixon has written So there are signs of realism and progress but when we can show we are. extensively about Welsh but as far as I can see we have still one education and published his fundamental question to address: how will Challenge acclaimed book Testing Times: we know if Successful Futures has actually These are exciting times to be engaged in Success, Failure and Fiasco been a success? How will we judge it? What education in Wales. We are embarking on a in Education Policy in Wales measures will we use? At a recent conference great journey which will decide not just our Since Devolution last year. about Successful Futures in reply to just this children’s futures but also our own. Until He was born in the Rhondda question one of the panel urged us to move we have more detail we do not yet know and educated at Treorchy away from the ‘bean counting’ of PISA and whether we will have engaged in an Aeneid Comprehensive School. He GCSE results. There is a lot in that. We should taking us to a new world, or an Odyssey then read Politics, Philosophy not see our schools as exam factories. ‘Bean bringing us back to where we started. and Economics at Oxford counting’, as Alban Berg’s opera Wozzeck Even if it is the latter that eventually and later gained his PhD from vividly shows, can drive you mad. We need characterises what we are doing then as Cambridge. Philip was Director qualitative as well as quantitative judgments. long as we remain intellectually curious of the Association of Teachers But judgments we need. Some bean counting and foster that curiosity in our children we and Lecturers for over ten years, has its place. PISA woke us out of the self- will have made great progress. As T. S. Eliot and is currently working on a deceiving torpor of The Learning Country puts it so vividly: number of projects in education and made us realise with the same sort of and the arts

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outcomes. It leads to frustration, with Teachers, nurses, doctors How can politicians blaming the civil service for their [and] police officers are failure to deliver and the front line for being disengaged from political change resistant to change; civil servants criticising politicians for poorly thought out ideas; and managerial processes managers believing neither has any idea and just get on with their happen? about the reality of change in large, public- day job facing delivery organisation; and front-line Gill Morgan argues that barriers staff being convinced it is all about money. to change in public services are Delivering desired and sustained bound up in the failure of policy change in any large organisation is complex, makers to involve the front line time-consuming and difficult. Public staff charged with delivery organisations do not have a clear bottom reforms). The policy objectives of getting line. They deliver a mix of services with decisions made closer to patients, reducing ambiguous and often conflicting objectives costs and freeing up the service to be more and are staffed by experts who have innovative and flexible to meet the needs been trained and socialised to behave in of an ageing population were laudable. certain ways. Staff have multiple loyalties: Delivery required different approaches Fifteen years ago I was invited by the to the public they serve, their profession, to the delivery of clinical care that could Cabinet Secretary, to discuss ‘why won’t the organisation they work for and the only happen with the commitment of the front line do as it is told’ with a group community. Loyalty to Government is very clinicians. However, the only lever seen to of senior civil servants, reflecting the low down the hierarchy. Policy makers deliver rapid change was organisational irritation of policy makers with service deliver nothing. At their best they create restructuring which took time and energy deliverers. I was asked to cover health, policy which is transformational. At their from the people needed to deliver the education and the police. This was easier worse they tinker with subcomponents necessary changes to patient care. It than anticipated as the problems of getting of complex adaptive systems without became so complex that no one could policy delivered transcended organisational fully appreciating the complexity and fully predict the exact impact of any single differences. Government legitimately sets interrelationships. This results in policy that component and led to the people working direction where large sums of public money delivers very little or can even cause harm. in the NHS being unclear about the are involved but policy implementation An example is the Health and Social purpose. Conspiracy theories of ‘wholesale often fails to deliver the desired political Care Act in England (aka the Lansley privatisation’ abounded. The general

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 23 opposition was dealt with by asking a group change is expressed as criticism rather than lists. It can be done but just exhorting the of stakeholders to suggest improvements the need to deal with new challenges and system to do it without understanding the in a piecemeal way. Individual components appears hostile or ill-informed to the front challenge will not deliver at pace as small were changed or deleted without any line. Effective change engages the front line changes must be made and sustained by understanding of how these would impact in identifying how to deliver what is needed many people. on the whole. The spectre of large numbers but practitioners are involved late if at all. Poorly designed incentives can act of redundancies and their associated costs The actions prescribed are never owned by as a block to change. Incentives result in led to further fudges. The outcome has the people who need to deliver, and thus fail. individuals behaving in the way that is most been the antithesis of the political desire; favourable to them and their organisation, fragmentation, loss of grip, local inertia and not in the desired way. This is seen in every more central monitoring and regulation. public and private organisation. It leads Reorganisation is a beloved policy tool Effective change engages to the current wave of academic fraud as as it looks activist and gives the appearance the front line in identifying individuals and institutions are rewarded of grip. The NHS has been subject to a for publication; to teachers sharing exam minimum of twenty reorganisations since how to deliver what is papers as exam success is used to judge 1974. The evidence that this improves needed but practitioners performance. In the NHS it leads to patients the things citizens and staff want is sadly are involved late if at all being kept in ambulances when A&E is lacking. Public services are complex and busy so that the hospital’s target of 4 are delivered on a day by day basis by hours is not breached, despite the negative professional staff, the majority of whom impact on the ambulance service’s own (whether teachers, nurses, doctors or police targets and on patients. Properly designed officers) are disengaged from political and incentives would reduce gaming of the managerial processes and just get on with system but are usually developed centrally their day job. without involvement from the frontline staff Change can be delivered but it needs a who understand the perverse impact of a clear and understood purpose that is shared poorly designed measure. and resonates with the people who are Finally, change requires time. For every required to behave in different ways. This month spent in developing a policy three or can be difficult as policy makers are often more months are needed for delivery. Yet unclear about exactly what difference they all too often the time available is exactly want to make and may have simultaneous, the converse. Organisations are given an conflicting desires. Every civil servant has Few politicians have ever worked in unrealistic timescale which leads to poor a story of a political discussion where two large complex organisations. There is decisions and corners being cut. There is opposing objectives are desired. Framing an assumption that failure to change is rarely proper piloting, adequate time, or clear and unambiguous outcomes in an due to weak management, intransigence double-running to ensure success before increasingly complex world is hard. It takes or political opposition. The increasing previously used mechanisms are discarded. time, discussion and debate. And, for the managerialism often comes with a lack Mrs Thatcher famously remarked that most complex issues it takes time beyond of respect for experts and a failure to the war was won in less time than it took the normal electoral cycle of four or five recognise that some apparently simple to change the NHS. A clear example years and may require a plural, cross-party things are complex in reality. For example, of how rapidly people can respond to a approach and negotiation. This means it is sensible to require every orthopaedic clear, unambiguous and supported policy. that really wicked problems that only surgeon to use the hip prosthesis proven to Perhaps policy makers should use the Government can sort, such as social care be safest and cheapest in scientific studies. observation to question the policy rather reform, do not get tackled. It is clearly nonsense for over ten types than blame the deliverers! Simultaneously policy makers have of prosthesis with a threefold variation in become more interested in the means and cost to be routinely used. But moving to mechanisms of delivery which, superficially, implementation is not simple. Surgeons appear easier and quicker to prescribe and need experience and training in using the monitor. Thus policy focuses on the type prosthesis as it can feel different in practice. of school, its governance and structure Operations are likely to take longer initially rather than what is desired – great teachers and there will be more complications. Gill Morgan is semi-retired, after who drive and stimulate better educational Theatre staff may need retraining and new a career in the health service as standards in pupils leading to higher instruments may be needed. All without a clinician and manager and as a standards in school leavers. The purpose for reducing productivity and affecting waiting civil servant

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North east Wales Connections Grahame Davies

North east Wales: Unfamiliar Complexities

Grahame Davies is proud to claim an overlooked, misunderstood identity

One of the most satisfying aspects about I have lost count of the This was by now becoming more than giving a poetry reading is getting feedback a little irritating. My identity was being from the audience immediately afterwards. number of times that I denied to my face. After all, anyone who believes their words have had to explain that At this point, the woman’s husband are worth publishing and delivering on a slid into view. He had the look of a man public stage must have at least a degree of I come from the north who had to wait for his chance to get a egotism, and I would be lying if I denied that Wales coalfield word in, and who was going to make the getting a response is always gratifying. most of it when he could. Or almost always. On the occasion ‘I’m going to annoy him even more I have in mind, I had just finished a now,’ he said, with a sly smile. reading on the Glanfa stage at the Wales The use of the third person, was, I Millennium Centre – I was the Welsh- would have to say, pretty depersonalising. language half of a bilingual reading – when He edged a little closer. I was approached by an elderly couple. ‘Wrexham isn’t even in Wales, is it?’ The lady had an interrogative air. She Clearly, the simple truth of my personal Looking well satisfied, he melted back demanded from me the Welsh equivalent history was an inconvenient one. She into his wife’s shadow again. of identity papers – she asked me that seemed to think I was falsifying my Hard though it may be to believe, this question familiar to all of Welsh descent: biography. I decided that mere assertion man was himself a fluent Welsh speaker, ‘Where are you from?’ would not suffice; it was time to call invoke from Gwynedd. Surely he must have ‘Well, I’ve lived in Cardiff for many some facts. Like many culturally-conscious known that Wrexham was in Wales. Why, years,’ I answered, ‘But I’m originally from Welsh speakers, I have census figures at from their two separate perspectives, the Wrexham area in north east Wales.’ my fingertips, like some kind of secular were this couple at such pains to exclude She looked puzzled, and, if I was not catechism. I adopted what I hoped was someone from their approved view of mistaken, distinctly annoyed. a tone of reasonableness: ‘Well actually, what their country should be? This was ‘But nobody speaks Welsh in according to the 2011 census, 11 per cent one occasion where feedback was less Wrexham,’ she said impatiently. of people in the Wrexham county borough than affirming. ‘Well, I was born and brought up in area can speak Welsh. That’s more than Coming from the borderland of Wrexham,’ I said – pleasantly, I hoped. ‘And 10,000 people. And in some areas of north east Wales, you get used to being I speak Welsh, and so do all my family.’ the borough, like the Ceiriog Valley, the mis-labelled. I was born in the village of This was clearly not the answer she proportions are as high as 40 per cent.’ Coedpoeth a few miles west of Wrexham, wanted. Her irritation became more marked. That should have settled it. and some nine miles west of the border ‘Well I worked in the hospital there for It didn’t. Irritation became indignation. with England. The eighth-century three years, and nobody speaks Welsh.’ ‘But NO-ONE speaks Welsh there!’ earthwork of Offa’s Dyke formed the she said. border to one side of the village in an area

26 | www.iwa.wales still known as Adwy’r Clawdd, ‘The Gap 11 per cent of people furnaces onto the bank. This was industry in the Dyke’, denoting the point where the as heavy as anything in south Wales: hard, A525 road, the former drovers’ pathway, in the Wrexham county extensive and significant. But strangely, cuts through King Offa’s barrier. borough area can speak this reality seems to be weightless It was a symbolic border, a when it comes to the collective psyche, topographical border – on one side of the Welsh. That’s more than whether within Wales or beyond, allowing village was the escarpment of the Berwyn 10,000 people one’s identity to be conscripted by more mountains; on the other the immense powerful stereotypes. distances of the Cheshire plain – and, of This is human nature of course: ‘... course, it was a cultural and linguistic humankind / Cannot bear very much border too. I grew up speaking both reality’, said Eliot. We do not readily languages: Welsh to some relatives and accommodate unfamiliar complexities. This English to others. My espousal of Welsh anglicised accent, I have always spoken is nobody’s fault. I cannot be responsible became a conscious choice rather than the language and cannot claim the credit for other people’s assumptions. All I can an accident of birth when I was in sixth of having travelled the hard road of a do, when the occasion arises, is to own form college, when I made it the language newcomer to the ancient tongue. the ambiguity of my identity – the two of my first literary work. However, despite Sometimes, I wonder if it wouldn’t halves that make one whole – without that commitment, I never felt the need to just be easier to conform to people’s simplification or disguise. And I can hope retrofit a Cymraeg identity to my personal expectations. I have lost count of the that others who do not fit pre-existing history, to my name, or, for that matter, to number of times that I have had to explain identity stereotypes – an increasing number, my accent, which in English still carries the that I come from the north Wales coalfield. surely, as geography ceases to be such a distinctive compressed vowel sounds of Both my grandfathers worked down coal defining factor, and identities become more Merseyside, and in Welsh retains the kind mines. One of them was working down fluid – will find a growing acceptance that of dipthongs which are more characteristic an adjacent pit when the explosion at complexity can be just as authentically of English. I have been mistaken for a Gresford colliery claimed the lives of 266 Welsh as simplicity. So if anyone asks, I’m Liverpudlian by Liverpudlians; ‘Nice to victims in 1934 – the last such disaster on from a former coal-mining community in see another Scouser here!’ said one of that scale in Britain. My great grandfather north east Wales; it is a part of the world that great city’s diaspora after I had read was the miners’ agent for north Wales. My like no other, overlooked, misunderstood, a lesson in church one day. On another mother and grandmother both worked at and resistant to classification – and it is an occasion, I was introduced grandiloquently Brymbo steelworks, as secretary and cook identity that I will always be proud to claim. to a group of Welsh speakers by a beaming respectively. I grew up to the sound of the acquaintance: ‘Friends, this is Grahame rolling mill rumbling through the night, Davies. He has learned Welsh!’ I was later and the sight of the sky lighting up as Grahame Davies is a poet and able to gently explain that despite my the burning slag was tipped out from the author of Real Wrexham

the welshthe welsh agenda agenda spring/summer winter 17— issue16— issue59 | 56 27 | 5 North east Wales Connections Llyr Gruffydd

Future of the North Llyr Gruffydd argues that investment in north east Wales is vital if the region is to maintain its historic place in the Welsh national story

The late and much-lamented Welsh of local aeronautical or other advanced with a Welsh add-on) means that further historian John Davies gave a lecture in 2007 engineering firms in the area. The decline transport spending is likely to benefit towns about the importance of the north east of of Shotton Steelworks, once home to over the border more than those in Wales. Wales. It concludes with these words: ‘I 13,000 workers, has seen the rise of If we are to ensure that the north east began preparing this talk in the belief that the Deeside Enterprise Park and hi-tech doesn’t just become a commuter belt without the north-east, Wales would have manufacturing remains an important driver for Cheshire, Liverpool and Manchester been a much poorer place. While working for the economy. Having this cutting-edge (where house prices are significantly more on the theme, I came to the conclusion expertise means the north east is well expensive), then the Welsh Government that, without the north-east, Wales, in any placed for the next industrial revolution. has to provide far more than a glorified meaningful sense, would not exist at all.’ When it comes to Welsh identity, bus and train network to get to those Dr Davies lamented the fact that the north east has also been a pioneer. commuter destinations. the north-east has missed out on much It was home to the first Welsh-medium The north east isn’t asking for more of Wales’s nation building – no part in secondary school at Ysgol Glan Clwyd and than its fair share. When we see ministers, the University of Wales, no broadcasting demand continues to outstrip supply in some of whom represent constituencies headquarters, no national museum and local Welsh-medium schools in areas such here in the north east, advocating huge precious few national institutions of note. as Wrexham. infrastructure investment in some parts of Despite this, the north east has been an This is despite significant numbers of the country to the detriment of others, it historically significant part of Wales – home the population being more familiar with does make you wonder whether they have to Owain Glyndwˆr and significant pioneering news and events in Manchester, Liverpool lost sight of the region. events in the Industrial Revolution. The or Birmingham than their own country There is a very real danger, as first trade union organisation in Wales due to the inadequate TV transmissions things stand, that the north east will was formed up here, for example. The from Welsh broadcasters. Why should we be an afterthought to both the Welsh Football Association of Wales was created tolerate a situation where people in north Government’s South Wales City Regions and in Wrexham with all our early football east Wales are still denied access to BBC the UK Government’s Northern Powerhouse. internationals played in the area. Wales, S4C and other terrestrial channels Are we destined to be marginal to both? Or The north east has always been which the rest of us take for granted? does the north east, as part of a resurgent an industrial powerhouse – pioneering Transport links similarly make it far North Wales economic region, look to once significant changes in the iron industry and easier to get to Manchester, Liverpool or again be a pioneering and dynamic region in having a diverse economic base and skilled Birmingham than other parts of Wales. its own right? workforce. That expertise and skill is a Labour’s so-called north east Wales That sense of a no-man’s land in base upon which we can build a stronger metro (in reality a Merseyside concept terms of government priority is echoed economy, linked to better research and development facilities, supported by our excellent education institutions at Wrexham Glyndwˆr University and Coleg This mustn’t become a debate about whether Cambria. The North Wales Economic regional prosperity would benefit from strong cross- Ambition Board is playing a key role in bringing everyone together to make this border working... it’s about strengthening the region’s a reality, striving for equitable investment economy in its own right and reinforcing [its] Welsh and prosperity across all of north Wales. In the north east we can develop the national identity – cementing its affinity with the rest next generation of workers to feed the hub of Wales

28 | www.iwa.wales Darren Millar

in terms of a clear sense of identity. We overlooked a skilled workforce in the north Darren Millar emphasises the need a frank discussion about the region’s east in favour of a site just a few miles importance of infrastructure, economic and cultural future. One that is outside of Cardiff. and calls for greater devolution firmly underpinned by a strong sense of No wonder that the perception that to the region Welsh nationhood, looking confidently ‘everything goes to Cardiff’ has never outwards to build alliances that bring been stronger. Like many people in my constituency, I mutual benefit. Not the emerging sense of In contrast to the plethora of major moved from the north west of England being cast adrift from the rest of Wales, sporting and entertainment hubs in into north Wales in my childhood. I was clinging on to a Mersey Dee cross-border the south east, many of which have born in Manchester, brought up in Towyn, construct in the hope of a few capital benefitted from public investment, the attended local schools in Abergele, and projects. Begging for crumbs from the oldest international football stadium in the went to the local technical college in Rhos top table is not an economic strategy of a world – the Racecourse ground – is now on Sea before taking my first job in an confident nation. deemed by the Football Association of accountancy practice in Rhyl. If the Well-being of Future Wales as being not fit for matches at that This migration between north Wales Generations Act means anything, then the level. Warm words by successive ministers and England, and vice versa, is common emerging well-being plans should at the about funding the ‘Millennium Stadium in this part of the world and is one of very least start to tease out some of these of the north’ have come to nothing – the reasons for the deep connection and issues. This is particularly true in terms of something that urgently needs redressing. affection that people on both sides of the our cultural identity and the north-east’s The Racecourse stadium has the potential border have for one another – but these sense of place. to be a modern sporting, conference and connections are far from familial and social. This mustn’t become a debate entertainments complex. Many thousands of people cross the about whether regional prosperity would Add to it an eighth Welsh national border, in both directions, to get to work, benefit from strong cross-border working; museum (and a first for the north east) to access health services, to catch a flight, of course it would. Rather, it’s about with a National Football Museum for or to attend places of education each day. strengthening the region’s economy in Wales, based at its spiritual home and you This isn’t going to change, and nor should its own right and reinforcing the region’s would have a strong and visible statement it; in fact, the people of north Wales get Welsh national identity – cementing its of Welsh national identity that is in the very upset when politicians in south Wales affinity with the rest of Wales. heart of the north’s largest town. overlook these links or, worse still, seek to This Government has failed to do As Dr John Davies reminded us, break them. that. As Dr John Davies lamented, where we mustn’t settle for north east Wales These cross border links are are our national institutions in north east being an adjunct of Merseyside, rather sometimes viewed as a problem by civil Wales? What do we have that signals to an integral part of the Welsh nation. servants and political masters in Cardiff our people that we are an integral and More than ever before, we need a Welsh Bay, but the reality is that they ought to be valued part of Wales? Government that puts the whole of our seen as an opportunity. We could have had the Welsh country at the heart of its programme of One of the keys to unlocking the Revenue Authority based here as part of a government and recognises in particular economic potential of north Wales is wider strategy to develop Wrexham as a the distinct needs of this part of Wales. the forging of better transport links financial hub for Wales. The skills are here. with successful metropolitan centres Wrexham’s large HMRC office with its in the north west of England, such as 300 experienced tax inspectors is closing Llyr Gruffydd is a Plaid Cymru Manchester and Liverpool. Yet Welsh due to UK Government centralisation. regional Assembly Member for Labour can’t seem to see beyond the Faced with this opportunity, Labour north Wales M4 and the Valleys when it comes to

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 29 Darren Millar

Future of the North

take longer than they should. west will only go so far. It cannot be right that it Rail services between north and south North Wales also needs to ensure takes longer to get from Wales have improved. Services are, in the that it is able to benefit from a strategic Kinmel Bay to Cardiff Bay main, reliable and frequent, but it cannot plan which the UK Government, the be right that it takes longer to get from Welsh Government, the public and private on the train than it does Kinmel Bay to Cardiff Bay on the train than sectors can agree to work together to to get from Kinmel Bay to it does to get from Kinmel Bay to London implement. Such plans have already been or, via road and a short flight, to Paris, developed for the Cardiff City Region and London or, via road and Brussels, Dublin, Belfast and Edinburgh. the Swansea Bay City Region; and thanks a short flight, to Paris, North-South transport links also to the leadership and drive of the UK Brussels, Dublin, Belfast desperately need to improve. The A470 Government, a North Wales Growth Deal and the A483 do not lend themselves will soon follow. and Edinburgh to the development of a modern vibrant A Growth Deal could transform the economy between north and south Wales. region, rebalance the Welsh economy, and It’s no wonder that the two regions feel ensure that our proximity to the Northern so disconnected. It is fair to say that Powerhouse over the border is something investment in the transport infrastructure. devolution has only served to magnify which can be used to our advantage. While Ministers plan to invest the perceived divide between north and However, effective delivery hinges upon around £1 billion into a solution to south Wales, and successive Labour-led the Welsh Government doing what it has congestion between Newport and Cardiff, administrations in Cardiff Bay have failed so far proven unwilling or incapable of precious little is being invested to solve to tackle the geographical distance by during its 18 years in power; relinquishing longstanding congestion problems on improving transport links for the masses. the levers of power upon which such a our vital transport artery, the A55 trunk The Welsh Government has sought deal will rely. road in north Wales. This lack of action to improve links between north and south Local decision-makers are best is literally choking the life from the north Wales by spending millions in taxpayer placed to plan and deliver the economic Wales economy; not only is it a major subsidies on an air link between Anglesey development and key transport projects inconvenience for everyone who lives in and Cardiff. While this has been very that the region needs – the Welsh north east Wales, but it is also a deterrent welcome for the few public sector workers, Government should give them the powers to businesses wanting to invest and grow, civil servants and Assembly Members and resources to attract investment and and to visitors who come to enjoy all that using the service, it is of little value to most make it happen. the region affords. people in north Wales, the overwhelming A failure to devolve powers and Thankfully, there has been some majority of whom would be better served resources to the region will only serve to improvement in terms of rail connectivity by a more accessible airlink to Broughton, reinforce the regional divide between north in recent years. The UK Government have Liverpool or Manchester. Such a link and south Wales; conversely, devolution to given the green light to upgrading the would be less costly for the taxpayer, more the region would help to heal it. Halton Curve, a little known piece of rail commercially viable, and provide a link with infrastructure which will allow for direct rail international airports which help to connect links between north Wales and Liverpool; Wales to the wider world. and there are more direct rail services to But such improvements in our Manchester Airport, a major international transport infrastructure, including greater Darren Millar is Conservative hub, from north Wales than ever before, connections to our friends in the south and Assembly Member for although they are far too infrequent and vibrant metropolitan centres in the north Clwyd West

30 | www.iwa.wales Hannah Blythyn

Laying down the drawbridge Hannah Blythyn welcomes the opportunities of cross-border collaboration and innovation provided by a Mersey Dee Alliance

One of the landmark attractions of the north had a large number of employees who are Wales borderlands found itself the focus domiciled in Wales and to this day notable The GVA of the of heated debate during the summer. Flint Welsh anchor company Airbus sees Mersey Dee is more Castle, built in 1277, was the first of Edward people travel from far and wide to work I’s castles in his campaign to conquer just this side of the border. than the GVA of Wales, the site chosen because of its In north east Wales we’re historically, proximity to England. Whilst the foundations physically and economically connected Cardiff, Newport and of Flint Castle were formed to impose to our near neighbours in the north west Swansea combined the oppression of the Welsh by English of England – the value of the M56-A55 aggressors, fast forward eight hundred corridor economy is £35bn and over two years to a far more mutually beneficial million people live within a thirty minute cross-border relationship that collectively commute of Deeside Industrial Park. contributes £22bn to the UK economy. Investment in infrastructure is key to Today, the region may not bear witness us being in a position to prosper from our to an invading force; instead each day an pivotal location. Upgrades to the ‘gateway army of workers crosses the border. In to north Wales’ – the key arterial routes both directions. 22,800 commute from of the A55, A494 and A43 – are not just north Wales daily into the north west crucial to physically accessing work and of England whilst 30,700 travel in the business, but also serve as an enabler to a opposite direction to work in north Wales. dynamic, regional economy and our visitor This is not a new phenomenon; it has offer. Around 37,000 people are employed real difference not only to people’s ability been going on for decades, centuries even. within the tourism sector in north Wales, to reach work, but also for investment At the height of north east Wales’ proud generating £1.8m each year, and many of and for visitors to reach us. Yes, the new industrial past, workers bridged the Dee our attractions in north east Wales are a Wales and Borders franchise needs to to join their Welsh counterparts at the stone’s throw from the A55 corridor. address the well-rehearsed difficulties in likes of Shotton Steelworks, Courtaulds, An integrated transport system that travelling north to south and vice-versa – the Point of Ayr Colliery and Mostyn better connects us not just within the difficulties that often serve to magnify the Ironworks. Over in Cheshire West, region and the country but beyond into perceived disconnect with our devolved Vauxhall Motors in Ellesmere Port has long the north west of England would make a democracy – but we also need to ensure

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 31 Hannah Blythyn a more seamless experience that sees a For people to be able a greater chance of success than the single ticketing system and fare parity on other City Deals that often garner greater cross-border public transport. to access decent work attention. The Mersey Dee Alliance is an For people to be able to access decent closer to home and to initiative rooted in both cross border and work closer to home and to provide a cross sector partnership, with strategic further driver for businesses to invest and provide a further driver partners including local authorities and expand, we need improved accessibility for businesses to invest educational institutions from both sides of to workplaces via public transport. New the border, Welsh Government, business stations at both Deeside Industrial Park and expand, we need representatives and transport in the form and Broughton (for Airbus and the new improved accessibility of Mersey Travel. Advanced Manufacturing Institute) have to workplaces via public Clearly, by its very nature cross- already been proposed, but I would argue border working brings with it a unique set that an additional station is needed further transport of challenges but it also provides a unique west in Flintshire at Greenfield Holt in set of opportunities and possibilities for order to enable opportunities to reach the future. skilled work alongside opening up supply In its publication Mersey Dee: Our chain opportunities. facility that has benefited from over £2m of unique city region, unlocking our true The station would also sit at a key Welsh Government funding and Glyndwˆr potential the Mersey Dee alliance outlines strategic point, nearby to the port of Mostyn University emphasises the employability the ambition to double the economy of the which links the advanced manufacturing success of its learners, striving to shift to a Mersey Dee area from the present £22bn sector of north east Wales to the energy point where all of its courses incorporate to £44bn by 2040, creating a minimum sector of north west Wales, shipping the work placements and links. of 50,000 jobs and constructing up to A380 wings from the Broughton site to This should start one step earlier, 25,000 homes. Toulouse, and in recent years becoming embracing the new curriculum planned The Welsh Labour Government one of the main centres in Europe for the for Wales to raise awareness of emerging recognises the potential of north east assembly and installation of turbines in the sectors and opportunities and the related Wales and that is why it has outlined plans offshore renewable energy sector. skills, and to offer school students ‘tasters’ to invest in the A55 gateway, a north east Energy is a high-value economic sector of different career paths as part of a Wales Metro, the Advanced Manufacturing of the future for the north of Wales, with package of decent, quality work experience. Institute and why it will base the new the chance to exploit opportunities as a To unlock the real economic Development Bank for Wales in the region. result of Wylfa Newydd, offshore wind, potential of north east Wales, Welsh Prior to and since being elected, I’ve been biomass and tidal energy projects. To do Government and politicians in the region clear on the need to be a strong voice for this successfully, we will need to take full need to continue meaningful work with my constituency of Delyn but also for north advantage of connections with educational stakeholders such as the north Wales east Wales as whole. It is in that vein that institutions and research centres, not just Economic Ambition Board, Mersey Dee I’ve established and now Chair the north in Wales but over the border in the north Alliance and other partners to deliver an Wales and Mersey Dee Alliance Cross Party west of England. This sector also has a ambitious and achievable growth deal for Assembly Group to provide a collective clear potential to open up cross-border north Wales. means of making sure that our agenda is on supply chain opportunities. The Mersey Dee area is made up of our National Assembly’s agenda. The advanced manufacturing sector is north east Wales, west Cheshire and Now is the time to make sure that the cornerstone of our regional and wider the Wirral and whilst resting either side the political and economic levers that wealth, from the manufacturing might of a national boundary, the Mersey Dee devolution puts at our disposal pay greater of Airbus to the industrial and business forms a significant economic sub region. dividends for our region. For north east parks of Wrexham, St Asaph, Chester, To put this into perspective, the GVA of Wales and the north west of England the Deeside and the new Northern Gateway. the Mersey Dee is more than the GVA of border need not be a boundary in unlocking To drive this forward, young people and Cardiff, Newport and Swansea combined our economic potential as we lay down adults in the region need to be equipped – it’s a GVA equal to half the Welsh the drawbridge towards a contemporary with the skills that not only meet labour economy and with a total population of partnership of equal prosperity. market demand but, more importantly, 940,000 people – double that of Cardiff – offer a personal passport to decent and the area could be considered a city region sustainable employment. Links between in all but name. FE, HE, business and the labour market are Arguably, any north east Wales/ Hannah Blythyn is Labour growing: Coleg Cambria has an aerospace Mersey Dee Alliance Growth Deal has Assembly Member for Delyn

32 | www.iwa.wales The Hussey Report: It accounts for more than half of the total Welsh Government budget, it attracts This is about headlines like no other area of public life, redesigning the Solving Wales’ and the talk is of an existential crisis. No wonder, then, that all eyes are now on plane while still most urgent Dr Ruth Hussey and her eight eminent colleagues on the Parliamentary Review flying it and intractable of Health and Social Care in Wales. Their interim report in July rehearsed the policy fiendishly difficult problems facing this set of services; their eagerly-awaited final conundrum report, due by Christmas, will tell us what Medical Officer from 2012 to 2016 she was to do about them. universally regarded as a breath of fresh Their terms of reference are daunting. air – but can any expert panel come up They’ve got a few more weeks left to tell us with a technocratic answer to something ‘what the future... could look like... delivery so complex and intensely political as the models, organisational issues… metrics, problems facing the NHS and social care? Professor Marcus Longley meets systems, governance and the pace of You could hardly imagine the political parties Dr Ruth Hussey between her team’s change, workforce including culture, morale, in Westminster all signing up to a single interim and final reports on Health education and training, rurality… quality and blueprint for the future – will they in Wales? and Social Care in Wales safety... innovation, productivity including ‘I hope so’, she says. ‘It was set up explicitly data and insight’. The only thing missing with cross-party support. It’s crucial that from this terrifying list is how much money there’s at least a shared sense of what the NHS and social care should have. success looks like’. (The term ‘Parliamentary’ When I spoke to Ruth Hussey, my first Review remains a puzzle, by the way: Ruth question was simply: can you do this? There confesses that she’s not sure about the is no doubting her immense capability and origins of the title, other than the fact that it passion for these issues – as Wales’ Chief emphasises its cross-party support.)

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 33 no, there’s no obvious case for change here. You get a sense of her own motivation when she Ruth’s passion for her task is obvious. tells the story of a frail old lady in A&E on a Friday She talks eloquently of the impending crisis in the social care workforce – that small army evening who bursts into tears when told she can of employed and family carers which makes go home, because she’s scared, and there’s no it possible for frail people to remaining living at home. We will need more of them every one at home to care for her year if this whole health and social care edifice is to work, but where will they come from? You get a sense of her own motivation When she was asked to take on this task of services in one part of Wales, supported when she tells the story of a frail old lady in she admitted that she had to ‘sleep on it for by all, which nevertheless took ten years to A&E on a Friday evening who bursts into a few days’ before saying yes, but now her grind through the system. tears when told she can go home, because enthusiasm is palpable. She divides the task Not surprisingly, there are complex she’s scared, and there’s no one at home to into two parts. The first is to set out what issues here. For example, dealing with risk. In care for her. She ends up being admitted to the future could look like; the second, how to health and social care, if change goes wrong, a ward. How can we get in place the support make it a reality. people can suffer and die, and professional she needs to go home? In both parts, paradoxes abound. On reputations can be ruined. Some change will This is not the first such review, of the question of what it could look like many fail, but fear of failure will stop all change. course. Back in 2003, Sir Derek Wanless people told her that Wales lacks a single, One way forward is disarmingly simple: to concluded after a similar review that ‘tough coherent and sufficiently detailed vision of introduce professionals to each other, and to decisions to remove… the unsustainable the future of services – ‘what it will actually design a system which supports teamwork aspects of current provision must be look like in practice, what it will mean across both health and social care. Quite implemented’. His prescription? ‘There for me’. And yet she and the panel were often, a simple lack of mutual understanding should be a long-term strategic adjustment ‘inundated’ by service models which had of roles gets in the way of the sort of trust of services to focus them on prevention and been developed locally across Wales. and support which could actually manage early intervention’. So now the task is to shape this creative that risk better. If this isn’t to be another worthy but energy into something compelling and The interim report calls for new service ultimately fruitless exercise, what does she coherent. They are toying with the idea of models which embody the Triple Aim. But want her final report to achieve? Hussey the ‘Triple Aim’ as this central narrative. hang on, I thought the problem wasn’t lack says that leaders must be optimists as well Developed in the US, it argues that of models, it was lack of pace? And that’s as pragmatists. ‘The simple answer is, be healthcare systems should simultaneously where the debate turns to governance. implemented. The opportunity is to create a pursue improving the quality of care, Echoing last year’s assessment by the OECD, full stop and a new start. Fresh ambition, to improving population health, and reducing the interim report has this carefully-crafted feel inspired to get behind something. The (or at least constraining) the per capita cost prescription: ‘Faster change… needs stronger key issue is, can we marshal the evidence of health care. The first two aims have been national direction and a better balance and frame this report in a way that chimes achieved with some measure of success in across the continuum of national direction enough, with enough people, to say we really Wales, but seldom has the last. and local autonomy’. Now we are getting to want to get on with this now?’ And then there’s the far more difficult the nub of the matter, and I ask Ruth Hussey question of how. If there is some consensus to translate this Delphic sentence. She The Review Panel is seeking feedback on what the future should look like, why do emphasises both a stronger ‘guiding hand’ on its interim report. Contact: parliamentaryreviewhealthandsocialcare@ we still have a problem? ‘If you can stand and a recognition that ‘change happens at wales.gsi.gov.uk back, [the case for change] is compelling,’ the front line’. You square the circle with the Ruth says. She optimistically describes the right mix of ‘drivers and motivations’. But for helpful legislative context in Wales, which what that actually means, we’ll have to wait encourages joined-up working and a focus until Christmas and the final report. on health outcomes and sustainability. She What about the system architecture? praises the many examples around Wales Would we be better off with an internal of services which already embody the market in health, like England? In response, long-term vision. So the question is: ‘How Dr Hussey pointed out that we already have Professor Marcus Longley is do you scale that up and make change with a mixed economy across health and social Chair of the IWA’s Health and pace behind it? This is about redesigning care in Wales, and also that many countries Social Care Policy Group and the plane while still flying it’. She recounts are moving away from markets toward Chair of Cwm Taf University the dispiriting example of a great redesign greater collaboration and cooperation. So, Health Board

34 | www.iwa.wales Computer models have put men on the moon, designed new vaccines for infectious Brexit and agriculture diseases, and are now routinely used in almost every walk of life. In their most fallible form they can cause devastation – as happened in the run up to the financial What next for crash of 2008, when models prioritising profit over risk were a major contributor to financial collapse on a global scale. But without them we are left with little more Welsh farming? than intuition and blind faith. In the world of agriculture, the Rolls- Royce of models is FAPRI, developed by the University of Missouri more than Dr Nicholas Fenwick argues that agricultural economic modelling highlights the need for a sensible Brexit timescale thirty years ago, and adapted by Queen’s University Belfast to analyse the impacts on UK agriculture of various different events. On 16th August the results of the latest FAPRI modelling were published by authors from the UK’s Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute and the University of Missouri – work commissioned by the Welsh Government and the other The quantified devolved regions to look at impacts of predictions bring three Brexit scenarios on agricultural other adjectives prices and production. to mind: ‘positive’, ‘disastrous’, ‘cataclysmic’

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 35 The three scenarios looked at can be ‘radical’ policy has a detrimental impact sheep numbers. described as ‘soft’ – with tariff and quota for all sectors, as cheap imports from all As the FAPRI report points out, the arrangements between the UK, EU and over the world swamp our markets. final outcome of Brexit is likely to be rest of the world remaining similar to For Wales, the figures make particularly somewhere between the three scenarios current arrangements; ‘hard’ - with the UK stark reading; the estimated impact of a looked at, with or without some kind of failing to achieve a trade agreement with ‘hard’ Brexit on the sheep sector, in which transition period, meaning that for the first the EU and defaulting to WTO tariffs and around 80% of Welsh farmers are involved, time Welsh and UK policy makers have quotas for all trade; and ‘radical’ - with is a 30% fall in prices and a 20% fall in figures which help quantify the challenges zero tariffs applied on imports to the UK, Welsh production, highlighting our reliance and opportunities different sectors might but standard tariffs and quotas applied to on lamb exports in particular, while the expect under any final scenario. our exports to the EU and elsewhere. need to make up the current trade deficit As acknowledged by First Minister The impacts for different agricultural in beef and dairy produce leads to 17% Carwyn Jones, the consequences of a bad sectors can be described using the same and 30% increases in beef and dairy prices outcome for Wales would be severe; while adjectives: ‘soft’, ‘hard’, ‘radical’, and the respectively, and a consequential 14% there are some 56,000 working full and predicted trends in prices and production increase in Welsh cattle numbers. And part-time in farming, farms are just a link – are just as the Farmers Union of Wales there are even positive impacts for the albeit a crucial one – in a complex supply (FUW) and others have predicted. But Welsh pig sector, leading to a 20% increase chain, involving upstream businesses the quantified predictions bring other in Welsh pig numbers – although it has to such as vets, feed merchants, mechanics adjectives to mind: ‘positive’, ‘disastrous’ be pointed out that Welsh pig numbers are and contractors, as well as downstream and, potentially, ‘cataclysmic’. extremely low. businesses such as hauliers, markets and The predicted trends follow a general Inevitably, there are no such mixed food businesses. And, of course, agriculture pattern: the impacts of a ‘soft’ Brexit are blessings in the results for the ‘radical’ also plays a key role in so many other modest for all commodities, while the liberalised imports policy, with falls in areas, not least maintaining the landscapes more a sector relies on exports, the greater sheep, beef, dairy and pork prices of 29%, and habitats so cherished by visitors, and the adverse impact of ‘harder’ Brexit 45%, 10% and 12% respectively, leading preserving the Welsh language, particularly scenarios, with the converse being true for to consequential falls in production across in areas where less than half the population sectors producing commodities of which the board – including acute collapses of now use the language, but where the we are net importers. And, of course, the 60% and 18% in Welsh beef cattle and proportion in the farming community

The estimated impact of a ‘hard’ Brexit on the sheep sector, in which around 80% of Welsh farmers are involved, is a 30% fall in prices and a 20% fall in Welsh production

36 | www.iwa.wales While there are some 56,000 working full and flexibility devolved to Wales and Scotland under the current CAP rules – equating part-time in farming, farms are just a link in to an increase in devolved powers which a complex supply chain, involving vets, feed would also risk differences in agricultural merchants, mechanics and contractors, as well policies which were grossly unfair to some producers. And one need not look far to as hauliers, markets and food businesses see the risks – for example, the Scottish administration is a great fan of subsidised production for important and vulnerable remains close to 100%. examine the impacts on tens of thousands sectors, but in England and Wales such With so much at stake, but no of businesses of scores of thousands of subsidies are deeply frowned upon, and knowledge of which of the three FAPRI different options, with the key agreed came to an end in 2004. scenarios the final Brexit deal will most aim of finding policies which minimised Such issues and power struggles are in resemble, it is impossible to make detailed disruption and losses for businesses and turn intertwined with and overshadowed plans for the future. And herein lies an regions of Wales. by the fact that rural spending through added danger: despite the unknown, By contrast, modelling post-Brexit the CAP currently sits outside the Barnett there is no end of individuals and bodies scenarios is far more complex, with many Formula, and that the Barnettisation of who have fallen over themselves to put more possible options and unknown such funding would slash Wales’ budget forward radical, sometimes quite detailed, factors – yet greater than ever is the need by hundreds of millions per annum. post-Brexit alternatives to the Common to thoroughly investigate options, not least With so many layers of issues which Agricultural Policy and its accompanying to ensure superficially attractive, well- need resolving internally, negotiations and legislative framework. meaning proposals are not, in fact, leaps of wranglings between Westminster and the These visions generally focus on faith which will plunge entire communities devolved administrations in many ways narrow objectives which reflect the key and sectors into an economic and social mirror those between the UK Government aims of the body making the proposals, abyss. And if a government wants to and the EU, while also sharing the same while also appealing to most policy pursue a policy which leads to such impossibly short timetable. makers’ deep dislike of farm support, and outcomes, then so be it, but it should at And herein lies both the greatest are often drawn up with little or no regard least do so knowingly. challenge but also the potential solution: for inconvenient truths, such as the need Then there is the question of how much the seventeen months or so we have to trade competitively and in accordance flexibility the Welsh Government should until Brexit is a fraction of what is truly with World Trade Organisation rules. have to take such steps; current policies needed to undertake internal and external But above all else, not one proposal implemented by the Welsh Government negotiations over trade, devolution, made to date has been drawn up with any have to fit within the CAP Regulations finances and common frameworks; certainty as to what trade deals (if any) will agreed by the 28 Member States, which are the drafting and scrutiny of legislative be in place post Brexit, or the estimated aimed at allowing some flexibility when it changes; and the modelling of impacts of quantitative impact of different Brexit comes to rural policies, but also minimising different policies and scenarios. outcomes on each of our major sectors unfair competition within the Common The obvious solution, and one argued – how could they have been, given those Market between, say, a sheep producer in for by the FUW since the 24th of June estimates have only just been published? France and one in Wales. 2016, is to agree a sensible and safe In other words, the documents are Given that the only guaranteed Brexit timetable which allows sufficient better thought of as lobbying instruments common market UK farmers will share time to reach rational agreements that which put forward untested, possibly access to post-Brexit is the one here in the work for Wales, the UK and the EU, and to brilliant, but possibly disastrous, proposals; UK, few disagree that a similar framework properly examine and model the possible useful food for thought, but dangerous if needs to be in place to ensure the consequences of policy proposals – many of they gain purchase and are taken at face approaches in, say, Scotland and Wales, which may turn out to be drafted by those value without proper investigation. do not differ to the extent that they give rushing in where angels fear to tread. So what precedent do we have for massive advantages to certain sectors in such a situation? The obvious answer is one or the other country. ‘none’, but the closest parallel is the Welsh Some in Westminster take the view Dr Nicholas Fenwick is Head Government’s work with stakeholders in that such a UK policy framework should of Policy for the Farmers’ Union preparation for the introduction of a new be decided upon by the UK Government, of Wales. He holds a PhD in CAP in 2015. and the UK Government alone, thereby Theoretical and Computational That work, which took place over undermining devolution, while some in the Statistical Chemistry and has many years leading up to 2015, involved devolved administrations see Brexit as an been working for the FUW detailed mathematical modelling to opportunity to increase the already liberal since 2004

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 37

Faith in focus

A glimpse of the future?

Jim Stewart considers the rich tapestry of stories that have brought Christians from more than one hundred countries to now largely secular Wales

In 2013, a Guinness world record was set in Cardiff by Revd Irfan John of the Methodist Church in Wales for the most multicultural nativity play, with 55 nationalities involved – but even at the time it was known that the number could have been much higher, and it is likely that there are Christians in Wales from over 100 countries. This perhaps surprising fact reflects the clear shift in the centre of gravity of global Christianity over the past century. In 1900, 70% of the world’s Christians were found in Europe; the ‘average’ Christian then could be said to be a white Norwegian man. Today, 61% of the world’s Christians live in Asia, Africa and South America; the A Welsh welcome; City Church Cardiff average Christian now is female, black and living in a Brazilian favela or an African speaking doctors from India; West Indians Wales as their spiritual home and hundreds village. What we are seeing in Wales of the Windrush Generation and their of South Koreans come to Wales every through Majority World Christians is a descendants, and Chinese communities. year on pilgrimage. Others stay longer, and glimpse of the church of the future. Since 2004, the Welsh cities of Newport, there are currently four Korean-speaking ‘Majority World’ is a term that has Cardiff and Swansea and the town of congregations in Wales and two South become increasingly used in recent years, Wrexham have all been dispersal centres Korean leaders of English-language Welsh preferred because of the absence of where asylum seekers have been sent while churches. Cardiff International Church had negative connotations (as contained within their claims are assessed. This has meant its beginning in 2008, when Bridgend- the phrase ‘Third World’, or even ‘Global that Christian refugee communities, as are based South Korean Pastor Gi Jung Song South’). It denotes the parts of the world found among Eritreans and Iranians for began to dedicate time and effort to helping that are not in the West, and so includes example, have begun to develop in Wales 25 North Korean asylum seekers from 11 Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, as elsewhere in the UK. families in practical and spiritual ways. The South America and parts of Oceania. There are some examples, however, church has grown into a truly multicultural In many ways, the composite makeup that are unique to Wales. In 1866, the church in the years since then. Over the of Majority World Christians in Wales Rhayader-born Welsh missionary Robert last nine years, they have had people from is not dissimilar to that which would be Jermain Thomas was martyred in the 91 nations (20 currently) in their services found in other parts of the UK. There are Korean peninsula in his quest to bring – from 26 European nations, 16 African nurses here as elsewhere, for example, from Christianity to the Korean people. Such has nations, 34 Asian nations, 13 nations in the the Philippines; Malayalam and Tamil- been his legacy that Korean Christians see Americas and two nations in Oceania.

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 39 Faith in focus

A barbecue in Bute Park organised by City, Church, Cardiff. Nations represented: Eritrea, Jamaica, Nigeria

Missionaries from the Presbyterian Church ministers from Wales serving in the Welsh Recent years have seen the growth of of Wales were also fruitful in bringing chapels of Chubut. There have also been some excellent multicultural churches in Christianity to tribes in north east India. some Patagonian Christians who have Wales, each telling a unique story. City Christians of Mizoram state, now 87% come to Wales and currently Judith Jones is Church, for example – until 2016 known Christian, see the Presbyterian Church of working in north Wales for the Presbyterian as City Temple – has been a landmark Wales as the ‘mother church’ and pray daily Church of Wales. church in Cardiff since it began in 1934, for Wales. Revd Dr Sangkhuma Hmar came Despite Christianity being the growing out of the worldwide Pentecostal with his wife and family from Mizoram in predominant religion of Wales and the revival of the early 1900s. The diverse 2006 to work for the Presbyterian Church presence of hundreds of churches here, the and multicultural character of the church in Wales, and has been serving faithfully for integration of Majority World Christians began to form in its early days as growing them since that time as Mission Enabler. into Welsh society is not automatic, numbers of Christians from Cardiff’s The link with Patagonia is, of course, owing to linguistic, cultural and other Caribbean community began to attend. also worth mentioning. The Welsh- barriers. Churches and Wales’ Christians, The appointment of Chris Cartwright as Argentinian Christian link has been nevertheless, are playing a pivotal role senior pastor in 1997 further strengthened preserved over the years since the first in helping their brothers and sisters in this, as he had come from a multicultural settlers arrived in 1865. In recent years, faith adapt to life in Wales. The needs of church in London and gave Majority World this has been through missionaries and Majority World Christian communities Christians in the congregation an added in Wales are diverse. Some are perhaps sense of belonging. Today, the church insular through a focus on the employment, has over 40 nationalities represented in educational, health and housing needs of its services and it is not uncommon to their own community. With others, such find an elderly African lady worshipping It is not uncommon to find as Eastern European Roma, trust needs to alongside a student from south east Asia, an elderly African lady be established because of discrimination a businessman from the Valleys or a experienced. At least two Christian homeless person from Cardiff. worshipping alongside a communities are currently looking for Meanwhile in Newport, Bethel student from south east premises that can be used for Sunday Community Church currently has Asia, a businessman from services while the Armenian community around 25 nationalities represented in its the Valleys or a homeless are still seeking closure over the 1915 congregation. Bethel has always been a Armenian Genocide because of Turkey’s lively and vibrant church but after Newport person from Cardiff policy of Armenian genocide denial. became an asylum dispersal area in 2004,

40 | www.iwa.wales Faith in focus

A baptism service at City Church, Cardiff. Nations represented: ‘Eritrea, Iran, Uganda

church work among asylum seekers and refugees developed, strengthening the Religious and ethnic identities are often church’s focus on social inclusion and stronger than national identity, especially in developing a sense of community. A further way that host Christian those parts of Asia and Africa where states communities in Wales have assisted are weak or failing Majority World Christians is through providing buildings or rooms to be used for church services. To highlight a few examples, St Mark’s Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church, both in Cardiff, are used culture has become very secular. With with the groups and individuals who by Tamil Christians, Pantygwydr Baptist the former, religious and ethnic identities contributed with a view to seeing how Church in Swansea and Highfields Church often outweigh national identity, especially this work can be developed, in particular in Cardiff are used by Iranian Christians, in those parts of Asia and Africa where to raise awareness, improve cohesion City Church in Cardiff is used by Eritrean states are weak or failing. This explains the and encourage greater participation in and Ethiopian Christians while Rhiwbina importance attached by Majority World public life. It certainly seems to have Baptist Church in Cardiff is used by the Christian communities to establishing a struck a chord with many Majority World Arabic Church. place of worship. Christians and others, giving a fresh Many Majority World Christians come This summer Evangelical Alliance sense of hope and encouragement. In the from cultures where religiosity is strong, (EA) Wales organised an exhibition at the uncertain times in which we are living, that compared with parts of Europe where Senedd that highlighted the contribution can only be a good thing. to Welsh society of the growing number of Majority World Christians in Wales. Over 100 Welsh Christians whose countries of origin were predominantly in Asia, Africa The average Christian now and Oceania, came together to mark the is female, black and living opening of the work which told the stories and celebrated the achievements of these Jim Stewart is Public Policy in a Brazilian favela or an often remarkable groups of people. In the Officer for Evangelical African village weeks ahead, EA Wales will be consulting Alliance Wales

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 41 The robots are coming… Professor Julie Lydon considers how Wales can seize the opportunity to increase productivity and sustain our communities

Much has been made of Wales’ analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers many jobs look like and involve. distinctiveness, from its unique found that up to 30% of UK jobs could Understanding the scope and impact geographical features to its historic potentially be at high risk of automation by these technological developments will language and culture. This distinctiveness the early 2030s. The same analysis found have on the Welsh workplace is made applies equally to the nation’s economic, that, based on the risk of job automation even harder by the difficulty in predicting employment and skills needs. The risks and the proportion of the workforce, the the exact nature of jobs in the near future. of automation and the oft-mentioned most vulnerable areas are retail trade, Recent work by Microsoft had leading ‘rise of the machines’ have been frequent manufacturing, and administrative technologists consider the jobs of the features in newspapers, articles and support services. future, predicting job titles such as ‘Virtual think pieces over the past few years, These sectors are important parts of the Habitat Designer’ and ‘Biohacker’. and Wales’ response to the challenges Welsh economy, accounting for over half These kinds of jobs may or may not that automation brings will need to be a million jobs in Wales. The proportion of come to pass and the Welsh workforce distinctively Welsh too. employees in these areas in Wales tends has shown that it can adapt to a changing The definition of automation and to be higher than the UK as a whole. The world. However, we must still confront Industry 4.0 has by now been well- risks posed by automation reach far across what these predicted and foreseeable articulated: a future where machines, sectors and job-type. Work by the Institute changes mean for Wales and how we devices and people work alongside each of Public Policy Research predicts that by are to respond to them. Analysis by other, with machines and devices carrying 2025 up to 30% of corporate audits, a PricewaterhouseCoopers found that for out tasks autonomously, making decisions traditionally ‘white collar’ profession, could those educated to GCSE-level or below, and communicating with each other. These be performed by artificial intelligence. And the estimated potential risks of automation fast-coming technological leaps have where jobs themselves aren’t automated, are as high as 46%. This falls to only consequences for Wales’ workforce. Recent automation will fundamentally change what around 12% for those with undergraduate

42 | www.iwa.wales degrees or higher. These findings come against a backdrop of already increasing The workplace is changing, undergoing demand for higher level skills with the what Germany originally called a fourth CBI’s Education and Skills Survey 2016 finding that more than three quarters of industrial revolution businesses in the UK expected to have more job openings for people with higher level skills over the coming year. The 2015 UKCES Employer Skills Survey found that the increase in the number of skills shortage vacancies in Wales outstripped businesses and universities to collaborate, considered to be ‘world leading’ with the overall growth in vacancies. we can also create a greater flow of almost half of it considered to be having a Through this lens, the challenge facing information between the two. This will not transformational effect on society and the Wales, and specifically education providers only highlight what existing skills needs are, economy. in Wales, becomes clearer. Demand but research and innovation by universities The strength of research in Wales helps for higher-level skills is increasing, and and businesses will give shape to the jobs us understand what changes are coming, jobs at graduate level or higher are the of the future, and the skills that will be but this is only a part of the picture. We least at risk to automation. To meet the needed to fill them. must also make sure that the ways in increasing demand, and to enable the Wales is well-placed for this. which we offer higher level skills can reach Welsh workforce to develop future skills Established areas of expertise in Wales those that need them, and that provision is whilst benefitting from automation, Wales such as smart and clean energy, advanced responsive to both the needs of businesses must be able respond flexibly and quickly in materials, cyber security, and compound and individuals. Wales has an ageing providing people with the skills they need. semiconductors are widely seen as core population with increases in life expectancy The challenges to doing this are sectors for the future of both the UK set to continue and the number of people multifaceted. Firstly, how do we identify and global economy. And beyond these over 65 set to increase by 25% over the skills needs and prepare Wales for the areas, research by universities in Wales is next 20 years. future? One important part of this is the diverse and ambitious, the recent Research With this in mind, as well as providing interaction between businesses, people, Excellence Framework exercise found education and training to young people and universities. By facilitating and Wales to have the highest percentage just entering the labour market, it will expanding spaces and opportunities for in the UK of research whose impact is become increasingly important to ensure

The four industrial revolutions: mechanisation, mass production, automation, robotisation

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 43 that those already in the workforce are occupations and technology change. A given the opportunity to upskill and retrain Recent work by strong foundation in cognitive and social as the economy and the workplace enters Microsoft had leading skills will help give people the flexibility and a period of predicted rapid change. For adaptability needed to do so. this, we may need to explore and expand technologists consider The workplace is changing, undergoing different ways of delivery, including ways what Germany originally called a to deliver degrees in the workplace. With the jobs of the future, fourth industrial revolution. For Wales the right structures, universities delivering predicting job titles there are risks, but also opportunities. degrees in the workplace could offer a Universities have an important role: in their choice to those who want to work full-time such as ‘Virtual communities working alongside colleges, while studying, or whose circumstances as education providers, and working with may preclude them from committing to a Habitat Designer’ businesses. This role means they are well- full-time degree. and ‘Biohacker’ placed to not only identify the new jobs And what do we mean when we say taking shape now and in the future, but also skills? There are many components to how best to develop, in collaboration with someone’s ‘skills’. There are the cognitive other education providers and employers, skills such as literacy, numeracy and the skills these jobs will require. problem-solving, social and behavioural skills that enable us to collaborate, to work in teams and form partnerships, and there are technical skills which are Professor Julie Lydon OBE is often occupation specific. In the coming Chair of Universities Wales and decades, many people in Wales will need Vice Chancellor of the University to update and relearn technical skills as of South Wales

44 | www.iwa.wales

Earning Potential: What Welsh graduates can expect

Dafydd Trystan and Hugh Jones it is important to understand the context. scale of difference is significant – and an provide an analysis of new data This is raw data – the earnings data does undoubted challenge to the sector. (It should that paints a detailed picture linking not reflect the students’ prior attainment also be noted that the data shows salaries university courses to median or indeed their chosen location for post- five years after graduation: the comparison graduate salaries university work. The data only include PAYE with Wales-wide average salaries is the best records – individuals who are self-employed available, but has to be treated with caution.) or have more complex tax affairs are not Considering subject based data is included. This is a particular issue for some one approach, but we can also compare degree schemes where mixed patterns of universities and the earnings outcomes. employment are more routine, for example Here the differences are less stark, but in the creative industries. Finally, one should there is a clear pattern. Graduates from be very wary about rushing to judgment Cardiff University are most likely to earn about the comparative quality of universities well after graduation, while Swansea’s in the different nations and regions of Great graduates fare relatively well in the salary Britain. The data may well reflect the range market. The picture is less positive (and of subjects taught at individual universities broadly consistent) for the remainder of or more broadly reflect differences in the Welsh University sector, with Trinity In June 2017 the Longitudinal Education regional wages. Data users need to beware St David graduates’ salaries even falling Outcome (LEO), the first full data set of of drawing simple conclusions. a little below our benchmark average. An earnings data from University courses across Having placed the data in its appropriate initial analysis of these data would suggest the UK, was published. The information context, we begin by comparing subjects that earnings differentials across Wales matches HE data about graduates’ courses across all Welsh universities. have a significant impact on the earnings of with earnings data from PAYE records at It is probably no great surprise that graduates – particularly in those areas with HMRC. As such it provides a powerful Medicine and Dentistry is the most lucrative large numbers of students who stay after comparator of the salaries students at degree course five years after graduating graduation within the locale of the University. different universities studying different – and the gap between that and the rest is Finally, we bring together subjects and courses can expect to achieve. Some indeed significant. There is then a cluster universities and create a weighted table of analysis has been undertaken of the UK-level of subjects where graduates can expect to earnings by subject and university. Wales’ data – most notably by the WonkHE blog earn up to £30,000 including engineering, top 10 courses in terms of earning potential – but so far no specific attention has been architecture and nursing. On the lower are listed in Table One (opposite). accorded to the data for Welsh Universities. earnings side, Creative Arts and Design The data here adds more nuance to the It is also timely given the focus in Wales fares particularly poorly with earnings falling picture already discussed. It is striking that on the implementation of the Diamond below a benchmark Wales-wide average for the subject table isn’t totally dominated proposals and, more broadly, the discussions adults with or without degrees of £20,800. by Cardiff University. Here we find that about student fees across the UK. Now, there may be some high earning artists particular courses have excellent earnings Before considering the data in detail, whose data aren’t included here, but the outcomes, despite the broader picture for

46 | www.iwa.wales Table Two: Facts & Figures Graduate Earnings One-Year, Three years and Five years after graduating

Table One HEI 1 3 5 Wales HEIs: Subjects and Median Graduate Aberystwyth University 14,700 18,500 21,500 Earnings 5 years after graduation Bangor University 15,500 18,700 21,100 Cardiff Metropolitan University 16,000 19,900 22,300 Agriculture & related subjects 19,500 Cardiff University 21,700 26,400 29,700 Architecture Building & Planning 28,600 Glyndwr University 17,500 20,200 21,800 Biological sciences 21,900 Swansea University 18,000 21,200 24,300 Business & administrative studies 25,500 University of South Wales 16,500 19,500 21,600 Computer science 25,100 University of Wales Trinity Saint David 14,500 17,700 20,400 Creative arts & design 17,800 Economics 27,400 Education 21,700 Table 3: The ‘top 10’ subjects / courses in Engineering & Technology 30,200 Wales for earning outcomes English studies 21,900 Historical & philosophical studies 22,000 1 Medicine & Dentistry Cardiff University Languages (excluding English studies) 23,500 2 Engineering & Technology Cardiff University Law 23,100 3 Engineering & Technology Glyndwr University Mass communications & documentation 21,200 4 Subjects allied to medicine Mathematical sciences 26,700 (excluding nursing) Cardiff University Medicine & Dentistry 47,800 5 Mathematical sciences Cardiff University Nursing 28,000 6 Nursing Cardiff University Physical sciences 24,200 7 Architecture, Building & Planning University of South Wales Psychology 21,700 8 Engineering & Technology Swansea University Social studies (excluding economics) 22,500 9 Nursing University of South Wales Subjects allied to medicine (excluding Nursing) 26,200 10 Economics Cardiff University

the host University. A case in point is the common pay structure of the NHS across the bottom three in six others. Only in engineering and technology graduates from the UK but also of the close links between Medicine and Dentistry do Welsh graduates Glyndwˆr who consistently fare better than Schools of Nursing, the Welsh Government have the highest median salary. 95% of other courses. A few moments’ and the Health Boards (the major Neither Scotland nor any of the English reflection leads one to consider the links employers) in Wales. regions have median salaries consistently between Glyndwˆr University and Airbus as low as they are in Wales. The north and the prospects of well-paid graduate Comparisons with Scotland west of England has the lowest in five of 22 employment within the immediate vicinity of and the English regions disciplines; no other region or nation has the University. A different focus comes from In comparison with Scotland and with the more than two. the appearance of several health professions English regions, the data shows that in The chart illustrates graphically this in the top 10. Nursing fares consistently well most disciplines, Wales is ranked lowly. Of position: the red bar for Wales is almost in earnings outcomes from every University the 22 disciplines, median salary for Welsh always near the bottom. course in Wales – a testament to both the graduates is the lowest in 10; and is among

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 47 Table Four Weighted median salaries 5 years after graduation: Wales, Scotland and English regions

£50,000

£45,000

£40,000

£35,000

£30,000

£25,000

£20,000

£15,000

£10,000

£5,000

£0 0 5 10 15 20

Policy conclusions level employment for students who have in much of Wales – and the challenge faced Students will no doubt consider these undertaken a period of work experience by Government,universities and society graduate outcomes data alongside the during their university career. More more broadly in developing the economy. increasing amount of granular data that challengingly, however, there are clear Successfully addressing that key question they can now access about university differences between the impact on local would have a very significant impact indeed courses. We would suggest, however, economies of some courses or subjects. on the earnings potential of students, both that here context is king. Subjects that are Government may wish to consider the currently and in the future. clearly linked to professional outcomes public policy benefit of incentivising students fare well – health professions particularly to choose particular subjects, and for but also engineering and technology. There universities to prioritise those disciplines. are however a number of courses where The related challenge here is that if numbers the graduate premium is less obvious, of prospective students are to be controlled, Dr Dafydd Trystan is Registrar and a challenge to the sector in Wales is then government must be able to direct of the Coleg Cymraeg to improve employability for students on resources to those areas to ensure the Cenedlaethol. Hugh Jones those courses. quality of provision. is a Cardiff-based consultant Other research demonstrates the More broadly however, this data also supporting the higher education significant boost in likelihood of graduate points to the parlous state of the economy sector across the UK

48 | www.iwa.wales

R17

‘We don’t have to catastrophise’ Ahead of the opening of P.A.R.A.D.E., a reimagining of the 1917 ballet that birthed a cultural revolution to match the politics of that fateful year, Dylan Moore meets Marc Rees and Caroline Finn

Caroline Finn. Image: Mark Douet

50 | www.iwa.wales t’s just a peg,’ says Marc Rees, running through a brief history of Wales’ connections with the Russian Revolution being commemorated in the R17 season that takes in Chekhov, Shostakovich and an entire season of Welsh National Opera. ‘Lenin wrote to the South Wales miners, and there was the establishment of Hughesovka, but we’re not exploring that. An anniversary is just a convenient peg to put things on.’ ‘What we are doing,’ chips in Caroline Finn, Artistic Director of National Dance works are being bannered as P.A.R.A.D.E. sesquicentennial of the founding of Y Company Wales, ‘is putting it in the context ‘It’s not even a remix, really. The only thing Wladfa in Patagonia, 2015). So, how does of today. And in some ways it’s a little scary, that’s the same is the music.’ He describes he go about creating a surreal, playful, that in some respects the world hasn’t ‘this extraordinary score by Erik Satie’, which contemporary response to the iconic piece progressed at all… we’re still facing the same uses foghorns, mop and bucket, gunshot, that invented both surrealism and, in some situations and in terms of the essence of and milk bottles, and delights in the fact that respects, the kind of boundary-pushing work the feelings of the people, things have not the BBC National Orchestra of Wales will that he has previously produced? changed much at all.’ be producing a ‘pure’ version of what was Looking out across Cardiff Bay, Rees ‘It’s the cultural revolution that we’re clearly designed to be provocative as well cites the site-specificity of where we are celebrating,’ enthuses Rees, emphasising as surreal. ‘Imagine ballet,’ says Rees, ‘this sitting: the Senedd juxtaposed with the the pivotal importance of the original Parade artform for the crachach – the snobs – and closing-down Dr Who Experience. ‘We’ve (pronounced the French way) that opened in then you’ve got these everyday street things, chosen to clash politics and sci-fi,’ he May 1917 at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris. making this music that drew from ragtime’. explains, referencing Fritz Lang’s Weimar-era In the programme notes, poet Guillaume I observe that Parade’s status as what dystopian film Metropolis, which has its own Apollinaire described the ballet as ‘a sort Marc Rees happily calls ‘a museum piece’ associations with communism, as a major of surrealism’, thus coining a concept that creates a unique set of challenges for the influence on P.A.R.A.D.E. ‘Metropolis has given was to describe much of the art created artists. Rees’ previous work has included us a kind of visual aesthetic, which fits well in Europe in the period that followed. The the madcap adventure of For Mountain, Sand with the second half of the evening.’ Rees remarkable show, which drew on popular and Sea in Barmouth (2010), the cultural explains that Tundra is ‘a freakish, futuristic entertainments of the era – music hall, silent olympiad inside an aeroplane of Adain Avion folk dance’’ film and fairgrounds – blew open the elite (2012) and the multidisciplinary spectacle A major feature of our conversation world of ballet with its experimentalism of {150} to mark another anniversary (the is the artists’ reluctance to be drawn into and ensuing scandals as the critics reacted badly to the provocation the artists obviously delighted in making. Parade was a collaboration between a ‘supergroup’, comprising composer Erik Satie, writer Jean Cocteau, conductor Ernest Ansermet and choreographer Leonide Massine directing Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes. Pablo Picasso designed the costumes in a cubist style that massively restricted the movement of the dancers. This was theatre of the absurd decades before that phrase came in vogue. Marc Rees is quick to insist that P.A.R.A.D.E. is not a cover version. In fact, Rees and Finn’s Parade is just one half of a double bill that also includes Marcos Morau’s piece Tundra; together the two

Image: Mark Douet

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 51 R17

discussing too many specifics about the WMC.’ He pauses and adds: ‘Some of the ever-changing landscape’ and the doom production, perhaps understandably given original artists were imprisoned for being and gloom predicted in the wake of Brexit their primary hope that ‘it will be surprising’. cultural anarchists; people threw oranges at and the election of President Trump doesn’t What I do manage to prise from Marc Rees the orchestra; somebody slapped Erik Satie. necessarily spell the end for progressivism is that ‘it will not be everybody’s cup of We’re honouring how radical Parade was. or Western civilisation. ‘We don’t have to tea’, and from Caroline Finn the idea that We’re focusing on that pioneering ballet. We catastrophise,’ she insists. collaboration has been ‘at the heart of the shouldn’t be afraid of creating something out Her own artform is symbolic of the journey that Marc has been on.’ The creative there. That’s a note to self, by the way.’ fact that ‘we have more possibilities than fusion that has happened is reflected in The collaborative nature of the project we think we do. There’s a universality to the way the two overlap and finish each extends to its connection with dancers from dance, and an ambiguity that is open to others’ sentences, and in the way they laugh grassroots community groups like Dawns interpretation. The beauty of contemporary about having bonded over a mutual love of i Bawb (in North Wales) and Rubicon (in dance is that it’s an incredible tool to be able Caroline’s dog. Cardiff), and just like Parade, P.A.R.A.D.E. has to say something very powerful without As a result, Rees admits that ‘this drawn together a kind of artistic supergroup, having your head chopped off.’ won’t be a typical Marc Rees show – and including the graffiti artist Pure Evil and the It is this positive political message, it certainly won’t be a typical show for the architecture installation artist Jenny Hall. couched in the abstraction of dance, that Students at the Royal Welsh College of Rees ends on too: ‘There is a narrative Music and Drama have been involved in within abstraction that is not didactic. Art creating the costumes. has to be the heart, otherwise, what’s the I ask about whose idea it was to point in anything? That’s what the piece is reimagine Parade in the first place, and trying to say.’ Finn is quick to credit her Rehearsal Director, Lee Johnston. ‘Since we started brainstorming the idea it’s become even more relevant – almost by coincidence,’ Dylan Moore is Editor of the she confides. ‘We tour, we work with welsh agenda. P.A.R.A.D.E. is international artists. 50% of the dancers at the Wales Millennium Centre, are not from the UK, and they’re in a fragile Cardiff (24-25 October) and at situation.’ But Finn is determined that ‘an Pontio, Bangor (28-29 October)

52 | www.iwa.wales R17

In March 1962, the Western Mail published the interwar period. Within this, more a three-part report on the influence of specifically, Communists were able to attain How Red the Communist Party (CP) in the south and retain a degree of prominence within Wales coalfield, particularly within the the South Wales NUM; this remained a long National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) time after the broader influence of the CP Was My there. Although the reports noted that within the coalfield had waned. This short ‘Communism seems largely to have article will offer a brief assessment of this vanished from the valleys where it once remarkable element in the modern political Valley? growled like a tiger’, they nevertheless and industrial history of south Wales. commented that ‘It is as traditional that Support for Communism in the a Communist be president of the South south Wales coalfield grew out of the Dr Ben Curtis gives an assessment Wales NUM as it is that the chairman circumstances in the coal industry in of the historical significance of the [sic] of the Cheltenham Women’s the early years of the twentieth century. Communist Party within the south Institute be a Conservative’. By the eve of the Great War in 1914, the Wales coalfield There was an important element of south Wales miners had already acquired truth in these observations. The south a formidable reputation for radicalism. Wales coalfield was one of the very few Between 1901 and 1913, Welsh miners places in the UK where the CP succeeded were 70 per cent more strike-prone than in establishing a significant long-term the British average and also five-and-a-half presence – and was particularly to times more strike-prone than the British the forefront in the troubled years of average for all workers. A major strike at

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 53 R17

vehicle for revolutionary left-wing politics in the country. By 1918, it was clear that the popular culture of the south Wales miners had come to adopt radical socialist tones. An enthusiastic contemporary observer claimed that Marx’s writings had become household words. Similarly, in 1921 a prominent Swansea Liberal lamented that ‘Marx’s Capital has displaced the Bible from the minds of thousands of young Welshmen’. As a reflection of this, the miners’ leaders were also increasingly militant. S.O. Davies, for example, elected Dowlais miners’ agent its energetic work gave it an influence in 1918, was a committed Marxist. A.J. Cook unparalleled elsewhere in British trade described himself as ‘a humble follower of unionism. The election of Arthur Horner Lenin’. Arthur Horner, the future SWMF as president of the SWMF in 1936, a major president, was a long-term Communist Party victory for the CP, is a clear example of this. member and activist. Communist influence was not evenly The 1918–39 period was an extremely spread across the coalfield but tended to collieries in the Rhondda area in 1910–11 difficult one for the south Wales coalfield, be concentrated in particular regions and heralded the emergence of south Wales as characterised by a dramatic decline in also individual colliery branches (known as a ‘storm centre’ of industrial unrest, involved the fortunes of its coal industry and bitter lodges). The main area of CP influence was large-scale and persistent unrest not only industrial unrest. The General Strike and in and around the Rhondda valleys but other during the Tonypandy riots of November miners’ lockout of 1926 proved to be a key areas had strong Communist sympathies 1910 but for months thereafter. turning-point, a disastrous defeat from too – such as the upper Dulais Valley and Support for radical socialist politics was which the labour movement did not recover the village of Bedlinog, near Merthyr Tydfil. encouraged within South Wales Miners’ for a generation. Afterwards, Communists Maerdy, in the upper Rhondda Fach, was Federation (SWMF) – as the miners’ played an important role in the essentially nicknamed ‘Little Moscow’ during the union was then called – by the Unofficial defensive rearguard actions that ensued. 1926 lockout on account of the extent of its Reform Committee (a grouping of rank- The Hunger Marches from south Wales staunch Communism! and-file activists) and their influential and which took place in the late 1920s and Communist influence in the electoral famous pamphlet The Miners’ Next Step early 1930s were largely the work of politics of the coalfield was less apparent (published in 1912), as well as in the coalfield Communist activists and sympathisers. than its role within the SWMF. After more generally by the Plebs’ League (an These paved the way for the much larger 1922 the south Wales coalfield was an organisation which promoted Marxist- anti-unemployment protests of the mid- absolute Labour stronghold, with every oriented adult education classes). In a rules 1930s. In February 1935, about 300,000 constituency electing a Labour MP. Within conference in July 1917, these militants people demonstrated in south Wales against this, though, the CP was certainly the succeeded in rewriting the constitution the government’s unemployment relief main political opposition to Labour in of the SWMF to include the abolition of policies, the biggest demonstration in Welsh the 1930s. By 1935 the CP had a total of capitalism amongst the union’s objectives. history. South Wales coalfield society also sixteen elected councillors in the coalfield, The revolutionary upheavals in Russia gave extensive support to the republican seven of whom were from the Rhondda. in 1917 were greeted with widespread and government during the Spanish Civil War Communist candidates performed strongly enthusiastic support in the south Wales including, most famously, supplying many in various parliamentary elections in the coalfield. Petrograd-style workers’ councils volunteers to the International Brigade who 1930s, principally in the Rhondda area. In appeared in the Rhondda and red flags flew went to fight in Spain. This support was due the 1945 general election, the CP lost by at some pit-heads. When the Communist largely to campaigning by the SWMF, itself only 972 votes in Rhondda East. Overall, Party of Great Britain was formed in 1920 via encouraged and galvanised by Communist though, it should be emphasised that they the merger of several smaller Marxist parties activists. Undoubtedly, the Communist Party remained a long way behind Labour. No and organisations (including the South played an important role in the south Wales Communist was ever elected to parliament Wales Socialist Society), it became the main coalfield in the 1930s. Within the SWMF, from the coalfield and the party made

54 | www.iwa.wales a significant impression only on a few Overall, it is fair to say that the local government bodies. (This influence Communist Party and its supporters lingered in some districts, though. As certainly were a significant factor in the late as 1979, for example, Annie Powell south Wales coalfield in 1920s and 1930s, became Mayor of Rhondda Borough which did then decline in the second half Council – Britain’s only unambiguously of the twentieth century. We must take Communist mayor.) Undoubtedly, Labour care not to exaggerate: at no stage did dominated the politics of the coalfield – a the Communist Party ever dominate the pattern which still essentially continues beginning of this article; many of the union’s politics of the south Wales coalfield as a down to the present day. leaders were Communists. These included whole, nor come remotely close to doing The post-war period saw a decline in Arthur Horner (president, 1936–46), so. Nevertheless, Communism did play a the significance of the Communist Party Will Paynter (president, 1951–9), Will noteworthy and important role in the region, within south Wales as a whole. Partly this Whitehead (president, 1959–66), Dai Dan particularly via the work of its supporters was because circumstances in the coal Evans (general secretary, 1958–63), and within the NUM – and this marks it out as industry were not as dire (until the 1980s) Dai Francis (general secretary, 1963–76). something remarkable and highly distinctive as they had been in the 1930s. No doubt, Furthermore, Communists within the NUM within modern British history. too, the onset of the Cold War made overt were amongst the staunchest advocates of support for Communism more problematic more militant policies regarding wages and and less popular. Even so, Communists opposition to pit closures. These policies continued to play a noteworthy role within resulted in the victorious miners’ strikes of Ben Curtis is a historian of the the South Wales NUM, within local colliery 1972 and 1974, as well as the (ultimately south Wales coalfield and the lodges and the leadership as a whole. unsuccessful) attempt to halt the colliery author of The South Wales There was certainly some basis for the closure programme of the Thatcher Miners, 1964-1985 Western Mail quotation referred to at the government in the 1980s. Who cares for young carers?

Vanessa Webb outlines the outcomes what they do as unusual or meriting the A survey of provision of the stresses and strains on the description ‘young carer’. A survey of provision showed that only lives of young carers, and calls for The negative effects on young people Social Services and the Young Carers national monitoring to ensure a joined in this situation can easily be imagined. Projects delivered support directly. The up approach There is already abundant evidence of projects, managed mostly by third sector the time taken, of the emotional stress, organisations, provide group social of the physical effort and often also the activities, advice and information and unpredictability of the demands. In some emotional support. To achieve this they Young Carers cases this can impact on school work, often provide respite to enable the young I presume that ‘young carer’ is now a fairly damage health or severely limit social and carers to get away and transport to assist familiar concept. The idea of children personal time. Only appropriate and timely them to participate. Social Services and the taking on adult responsibilities for a support can avoid this affecting the rest of projects networks are overstretched and family member with a disability, long- children’s lives. The Welsh Government concerned about their capacity to deal with term condition, mental health issue or recognised this problem and decided on a unmet need. Meanwhile the projects are problem with substance abuse has been cross-policy approach to address this issue, not always financially safe. Responses to widely described by the media and has stating most recently in the Carers Strategy a question on sources of referrals to Social been the subject of academic research 2013-16 that they intended to ‘integrate Services and the projects disclosed that since 1988. The actual number of children young carers and young adult carers fully Health was the poorest source, GPs being under 16 providing unpaid care in Wales into this Carers Strategy for Wales’, unlike the poorest of all, and that very few referrals was estimated in the 2011 Census to be the Scottish Government, which produced came from leisure and youth services. nearly 8,000. The Welsh Government a separate Young Carers Strategy in 2010. itself quoted the figure of 11,000 in The Wales strategy made young carers Interviews with young carers 2011 for young carers aged 5-17. Other one of the priorities and recognised the Interviews with 62 young carers aged 11-16 estimates by researchers have suggested additional issues for young carers aged in projects in Mid and South Wales focused much higher figures since there are many 0-15 and young adult carers aged 16-18. on measurable short-term outcomes that ‘hidden’ young carers. Many families don’t However, a cross-cutting approach had a knock-on long-term impact: literacy, want people to know about their situation, demands a major effort by numerous emotional literacy, performance at school, afraid of the family being broken up, and agencies to understand young carers’ health and social capital. To consider young carers themselves fear shame and issues, to identify them and to learn how to literacy, as a group young carers’ scores ridicule from their peers. It’s also true support them so I wondered how this was were below those of young people their that many young people don’t recognise working out in practice. age in the general population. Individually,

56 | www.iwa.wales although there were some high-scoring individuals, 71% were below their age equivalent in reading and 86% below their age equivalent in spelling. A questionnaire developed with the help of a small group of young carers covered other areas such as performance at school. Between answering questions on attendance, punctuality and completion of homework, comments from participants made it clear that parents and young carers themselves made great efforts. More than one participant said that with homework they just stayed up until it was done. Several said that they were never late nor left homework unfinished, because ‘my mother wouldn’t let me!’ Some anecdotal material revealed that teachers did not always grasp these children’s circumstances – for example, requests for extensions on assignments had been refused. Most concerning is the fact that A cross-cutting approach 44% reported worrying about family whilst demands a major effort at school. These responses raise questions by numerous agencies about the effectiveness of schools in to understand young implementing the recommendations of the Welsh Government, the Children’s carers’ issues, to identify Commissioner and the Princess Royal Trust them and to learn how to on identifying and supporting young carers. support them Results from the emotional literacy test were similar to those from the literacy Stock photo, posed by model

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 57 test. Although some individuals had above section, 19% scored zero for use of public having someone at home with whom they average scores, at a group level the score facilities and a further 15% visited only could share their feelings. This emotional was below that of their age-equivalent one public facility only sometimes. Asked outlet could presumably override economic in the general population. Exploration of about voluntary and paid Saturday jobs, factors. Interestingly, the caring factor young carers’ social and leisure activities 46% had done neither. This degree of most associated with negative outcomes produced much new empirical data in a non-participation could in part explain the was the amount of time spent in providing relatively unexplored area. Data about lack of responses from social organisations emotional support for the cared for person. young carers’ lives outside caring and to requests for participants during the A strong correlation was found outside school form an important part of recruitment phase of the study. between outcomes in emotional literacy, the foundation of later outcomes. These The questionnaire enabled data performance at school, health and social activities enable young people to build collection of biographical details and the capital, supporting the case for the Welsh social capital. Familiarising themselves with caring profile. 51% of this group were Government’s cross-cutting approach. the adult world, and the world outside their providing more than five hours care per day, However, there are indications that the immediate family, prepares young people some saying ‘all the time available’. Some sectors concerning young carers named in to participate in adult life. The potential had been in a caring role ‘as long as they the Carers’ Strategy – health; social services; of caring responsibilities to interfere with could remember’. Only 39% were having education; transport; social and leisure age-specific development is therefore help from an external source, i.e. Social activities – may not yet be fully aware of significant, especially where the formal Services or a voluntary organisation. 66% the difficulties young carers experience and education route to employability and had not had or could not remember having therefore identifying and supporting them engagement with wider society may have training for their caring tasks and 58% appropriately. The cross-cutting approach been affected. had no information on their entitlements. will only succeed where all agencies are contributing equally. In a previous article for the welsh agenda (Spring/Summer 2012), I had There was a strong association recommended a specific Young Carers Strategy. Further down the line, armed between positive outcomes and with the results from this research, in the absence of a Young Carers’ Strategy, having someone at home with whom I believe that the Welsh Government should consider designating responsibility they could share their feelings at national level for monitoring provision across the board – schools, health agencies, leisure and youth agencies – following up with further research on outcomes in order to ensure a good future for young carers.

Questions covered group activities Nevertheless, every one of the participants and individual activities outside school reported feeling satisfaction at some hours and participation at community level. level at helping their family member. The In each of these categories, there were majority rated their own health as fairly or some who scored nil. For 10 of the 62, the very good and a few individuals managed only group activity was the local Young the energy and drive to pursue an amazing Carers Project. Between questions, many number of leisure activities. comments were made to the interviewer Prompted to look for associations Vanessa Webb worked in the about the value and importance to them of between outcomes and factors in their third sector and then completed what the Young Carer Project offered them. situation, surprisingly no association an MSc in Social Research. She 61% never used a local library, 53% never appeared between outcomes and socio- has just completed a doctorate used a leisure centre and 74% never used economic status but there was a strong in Social Studies at Swansea a community centre. In this ‘community’ association between positive outcomes and University

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Review Section

ReviewsWhy Wales Never Was: The Failure of Welsh Nationalism | Rebel Sun | Women who Blow on Knots | Aarhus 39 | Hinterland – Ceredigion Landscapes | Into the Wind: the life of Carwyn James

of Welsh history since the mid-nineteenth a conscious part in the active denigration of century which has focused on the growth the Welsh language and culture, although of liberalism and the rise of Labour, and he does not persuade this reviewer that instead suggests that Wales’ seduction by learning English necessarily meant forgetting universalist liberalism was deleterious to the the Welsh language. His argument, whilst Welsh language and culture and prevented the superficially persuasive in placing Wales growth of Welsh nationalism. Whilst Victorian within the continental context, underestimates industrial Wales was arguably the most the difficulty of creating a viable nationalist modern society in the world, its middle class movement at a time when Wales’ economic believed in laissez-faire liberalism rather than development was so closely tied with that of ethnically-based nationalism. England and Empire. His refreshing perspective Brooks contends that Welsh nationalism on the mid-nineteenth century’s growth failed because it gave English liberalism of European ethno-nationalism colours his its unconditional support. He presents a attitude towards the cultural and political Why Wales Never Was: conservative critique of the progressive reality of Wales’ absorption into the Empire. the Failure of Welsh politics of the time, and emphasises how it His analysis dwells on the rural rather than Nationalism is the tendency of liberalism to promote the industrial and lacks a consideration of the social Simon Brooks dominant, whilst claiming neutrality. His case impact of the growth of the coalfield, which University of Wales Press, 2017 rests on the basis of his study of Wales in changed south Wales radically by the end of the context of the growth of nationalism in the nineteenth century. the mid-nineteenth century and those small His synoptic approach provides an original Aled Eirug nations within the Habsburg Empire who perspective on a subject that is too often mired clamoured for political independence and in received wisdoms and dogma. My main I declare an interest: I know and like the author. recognition of identity and language. Why quibble is Brooks’ inability to empathise with I work with him in the new Rhodri Morgan didn’t the same happen in Wales ? those he berates for their inability to foresee the Academy based in Swansea University. He is He believes that the failure of nationalism impact of their political choice, which failed to one of the few academics in Wales today able in Wales is the ‘failure of ideas’. He blames give sufficient priority to Wales’s political future to combine a knowledge of social and cultural the Welsh establishment of the time, and and most crucially the needs of its language. history, literary theory and political thought. specifically the liberal ‘radical’ Nonconformists, To read Samuel Roberts bitter denunciation of He is also a rare academic in combining his who believed in assimilation rather than the oppressive regime by which the Williams active ‘praxis’ as a councillor in Porthmadog retaining distinctiveness. They subsumed Wynn family of Wynnstay abused their in Gwynedd with his original and thought- Welsh nationalism within the liberal ethos tenants and forced hundreds to leave for a provoking theoretical work. of universalism and British liberalism’s view better life in the United States should remind This volume is a wonderfully provocative of Celtic nationalism as marginal and better us that the right to the vote and land rights and stimulating account of the failure of Welsh subsumed within the greater needs of Empire. had more salience than nationalist aspirations nationalism, and Brooks’ confident thesis is The paragons of Liberalism he castigates in mid-nineteenth century Wales. The author reflected in his stirring – and controversial are those in the pantheon of saintly radicals, criticises Gwilym Hiraethog’s campaign for – conclusion that ‘the Welsh nation was such as Samuel Roberts, Llanbrynmair, Land Reform and its failure to point out that murdered by its own left wing’. It attempts Gwilym Hiraethog and Lewis Edwards. Brooks’ the injustice meted to the Welsh language by to overturn our conventional understanding judgement is that these individuals played monoglot English landlords was central to the

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issue, rather than ‘merely reflecting a social as that of the Welsh in the nineteenth century, bolsters a considered alternative view of Welsh wrong’. But the extremely well argued historical yet have now become sovereign nations in history that owes more to Saunders Lewis, and theme of this book seems to originate more spite of years of Russian and/or German his concept of Welsh nationalism as a ‘non- in the author’s frustration at what he feels as occupation, including Nazi occupation. Yet anglophone cosmopolitan nationalism’. As the failure in Wales to emulate the nationalists surely this is partly the reason why those Lewis was out of sympathy with the liberal and of central Europe, the Baltic countries and countries clung on to their language and labourist ethos of his age, so Brooks is out of Italy and less so in an understanding of what national identity so passionately: because sympathy with the nineteenth century Welsh motivated men like S.R. and Gwilym Hiraethog. they provided a bulwark against an oppressive radical Nonconformist leaders he berates. It was certainly not simply a desire to please and inhumane state. It may have been better In provoking and challenging the reader in and ‘assimilate’. for Welsh nationalism if England and the equal measure, we should thank him for being Brooks’ heroes are Michael D. Jones Empire had exhibited similar intolerance. prepared to undermine cherished Welsh and Emrys ap Iwan, who fought against the But, as Brooks might think, the liberalism of historical myths. Liberal consensus and championed the Welsh the British state has been too clever for that, language. Jones’ despair at Wales’ lack of and in spite of devolution and the hiccup of desire for nationalism and raising the status Scottish exceptionalism, the continuity of the of the Welsh language led him to opt out of British state is still a cause of wonder. Aled Eirug was BBC Wales’ political life in Wales and create a new self- Brooks has an original and refreshing Head of News and Current governing colony in Patagonia. perspective, and this book constitutes a Affairs from 1992-2003 before Brooks argues that the Welsh were challenge to Welsh historians, cultural and becoming adviser to the wronged because ‘assimilatory liberalism political commentators to raise their game. Presiding Officer of the National had thrown dirt in their eyes’. He instances There are elements that will cause the liberal Assembly from 2006-2011. He other minority nationalities such as the reader to throw it against the wall, since it has also been chair of the Welsh Slovaks, Slovenes and the Baltic peoples, challenges the present dominant Whiggish and Refugee Council and the British where national identities were not as strong Llafurist interpretation of Welsh history and Council in Wales Culture / reviews

Rebel Sun The intensity of language our country – land of brothers, a family of Sophie McKeand pulls you in, and the pace all races and none,’ ending, as ever, with a Parthian, 2017 pull towards the power of language and the carries you along as you natural landscape: ‘we will sow poetry across read about office workers these Welsh mountains and valleys together.’ ‘cavorting with birds in the There is also a series of poems which explore the problems of living in a global sunlight’, but the warning society, such as ‘Community Artistry’, where voice explains: ‘They won’t refugees are forced to ‘snuggle tiny children last. You’ve seen it before onto bright beaches’ whilst others attempt a ‘knitting’ together of community. ‘Paper News’ provides a horrifying list of world

problems, from ‘drones dropping bombs’ to ‘mothers raped’ and ‘gunshots ringing across the playground’, creating a sense of overwhelming helplessness in the face of greed and conflict, and protesting against

the inadequacies of the media. Other poems within her poems, often without the English, touch on apathy, anarchy, prejudice and Rachel Carney although translations are provided at the the need to be aware of how our own lives back of the book. These are poems which impact on the lives of others. The dramatic title and cover artwork of Sophie emphasise the inconsistencies and marvels The book ends with ‘Dharma’, another McKeand’s first full-length collection give a of the language, whilst celebrating its longer piece, depicting an epiphanic strong clue as to the themes covered within. survival and complexity. ‘Eleven Signs you experience on a journey between Varanasi Her poetry is distinctly left-leaning, with are Escaping Insanity’ refers to the letters and Kolkata, questioning the intricacies of references to socialist and Marxist ideologies, of the Welsh alphabet, and the process modern life, and driving towards what the alongside a Welsh nationalist thread and a of learning Welsh, ending with the line whole collection is about: fierce determination to ‘rebel’ against the ‘NG – You accept language is defunct and norm and speak on behalf of the voiceless. hOwl into reality.’ It also links the language Her poems play about with language, of Wales with its natural landscape, as the Your body knows what you need and breaking conventions, experimenting with learner becomes more and more immersed you can either lift your face up to the heavens form and taking poetry to its extremes. There in the realms of ‘water’, ‘mynyddoedd’ and give thanks to the soft rain praising is also a powerful sense of immersion in the (mountains) and ‘trees’. your skin natural world. The first poem begins with Other languages also appear in these or you can hide in brick houses, behind the act of ‘Returning to water’ whereby we poems, most distinctly in ‘Process (in solid doors ‘embrace cloudlikelightness’ and ‘assimilate’ memory)’ which commemorates the Sewol with nature. Ferry Disaster in South Korea. Lines such as This is a collection which centres on The title poem, ‘Rebel Sun’, is a ’I had a dream of swimming in the sea all relationships: between individuals and metaphorical tale of working life in which week’ portray a sense of communal grief and communities, between humans and nature. ordinary situations are transformed into shared experience, while disjointed phrases, There is a sense of being ‘rooted’ in Wales an immense struggle between nature and punctuation and capitalisation evoke an and in the Welsh landscape, but there is humanity. The intensity of language pulls atmosphere of shock and horror: ‘synaptic also frustration: with nationalism, politics, you in, and the pace carries you along as sTutTer//process & form’. globalisation and the ongoing damage we you read about office workers ‘cavorting Poems such as ‘Minimalist Living’, cause to the natural environment. McKeand’s with birds in the sunlight’, but the warning ‘Declutter’ and ‘Fair Trade’ have overt political poetry is instructive and forceful, provocative voice explains: ‘They won’t last. You’ve seen messages, and the book has a strong didactic and tangible, yet it is also complex, with a it before. Socialising with agitators burns feel to it when read as a whole, denouncing subtlety that explores our reliance on language skin to ash.’ It is this edginess of rebellion, materialism, uniting humanity with nature, as a means of expression and communication. combined with bright, surreal imagery, which and bringing people together. Alongside this, sets the tone for the whole collection. there is an exploration of what it means to be McKeand is the current Young People’s Welsh, with an emphasis on reconciliation Rachel Carney is a freelance Laureate for Wales, a fact that comes and embracing difference. Poems such as writer and poet. She blogs at across in her work. She uses Welsh phrases ‘Cymro’ make this very clear: ‘Cymru is createdtoread.com

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Women Who Blow on Knots three younger women during the course of feels as though she is single-handedly trying Ece Temelkuran the trip, teaching Amira how to dance so that to rewrite history for Muslim women to read, Parthian, 2017 the audience ‘should sink with a desire to be that she is on a mission to empower, inform part of it’ and telling her companions, ‘Love, and entertain. ladies, is a game played with absence. And The translator is the accomplished the more trust that your absence will be felt Alexander Dawe who has enabled the text deeply, the better you play.’ to be as fluid in English as it is in the original

Temelkuran does not romanticise the Turkish. There were places in the book that male characters in her writing and pulls prompted me to think about the role of no punches in her descriptions of Middle translator as editor and I do think a stronger Eastern boys, sometimes brought up to work could have been produced if the believe they have a right to the affection and original Turkish title had been put through

servitude of a host of women. ‘When he puts a tighter editing process. Having said that, his hands on his hips you see that spoiled the whole character of the book is fast and behaviour particular to Middle Eastern men free-wheeling, so perhaps, as a translator, that can be enticing to watch but only causes I’ve naturally subjected every line to an over- pain if you actually love the man... He’ll close reading.

always be forgiven. And if he is ever asked Temelkuran also has a poetry collection for an ounce of love he’ll get terribly bored to her name and her lyrical style provided and restless, and say so and leave.’ some beautiful and memorable moments The four main characters in the book are that co-exist with the women’s more gritty Caroline Stockford Muslim and are portrayed with the exacting memories of the Arab Spring, such as honesty of a woman who is not toeing any Amira’s recollection of being attacked in ‘Once you cross a border you have no idea how patriarchal or political line. Ece Temelkuran Tahir square. ‘Your body feels bigger when many more you keep crossing. But the desert has been an outspoken author and columnist you are being beaten. Not smaller, bigger. you get lost in is the one that finds you...’ in Turkey for many years and this novel is a Till then I didn’t know I had so many places refreshing and bold portrayal of four women for them to hit.’ You may not have read a book quite like this and their secret histories, thrust into testing The book is many things. A female before. It tells the story of four women, led by situations in the desert. We are taken into version of a Mirror for Princes, perhaps. A the enigmatic Madame Lilla, as they embark their confidence and friendship and hear Middle Eastern feminist’s guidebook. It is on a road trip from Tunisia to the Lebanon tales of murder, loss, ambition, longing and not a Thelma and Louise-style road trip, for by chauffeured car, camel and, it appears, motherhood: ‘When men understand that sure. There is violence, war and aggression, no short amount of magic. The title of this women can thrive without them at their but there is also beauty and the strength Turkish bestseller comes from the Fellak verse side, that they can live on that magic... That’s that comes from the characters having to of the Quran which warns of enchantresses, when they begin calling us sorcerers. You persevere in testing situations in strange saying, ‘Keep away from those inauspicious will learn it. You will learn how not to fear lands, where harsh experiences sharpen women who blow on knots’. this magic, learn how life is made of it.’ the prism of self-perception and help them The narrator, who is a journalist from The strands of the many stories in this to see more clearly who they really are and Turkey, is told it is not safe for her to return book are like skeins of wool, sitting on top of where they need to be. home and finds herself taken on a series the carpet loom and waiting for the carpet- of adventures in which she meets desert maker’s hands to select a thread, pull it out revolutionaries, poets, mystics and enemies, of the past and tie this anecdote or that following the indomitable Madame Lilla, who memory firmly alongside the many other Caroline Stockford is a poet, is on a quest to find and take revenge upon knots that will, in time, reveal the bright translator and activist for the love of her life. She tells her fellow- pattern and destiny of the carpet. Voices language rights. She graduated travellers, ‘I wanted to put my heart to the that add to the pattern further, criss-crossing from SOAS with an MA in test in a wild, unknown forest. That’s what time, come in the form of Amira’s lover the History of the Turkish we make of life, there are no coincidences. Muhammed’s letters to her, and the tablets Language and attends the We breathe into life all these signs, magic of Dido, read from the notebook of Meryem, Cunda International Workshop and serendipity.’ who has been researching the Queen of for Translators of Turkish Madame Lilla, former agent with a Carthage in Tunisia. literature. Caroline is Chair of the reputation that precedes her in almost all As Temelkuran pulls in as many Translation and Linguistic Rights encounters, imparts life-wisdom to the references to powerful women as she can, it committee of Wales PEN Cymru

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Quest and Odyssey: Stories Although dressed in a similar jacket, of Journeys from Around Odyssey should not be understood as a Europe from the Aarhus 39 continuation of Quest. From the offset it is clear that this collection targets an older Ed. Daniel Hahn audience. The illustrations are smaller, Alma Books, 2017 the language is distinctly grittier and the journeys here are often voyages of self- discovery covering ground popularly explored Hayley Long in teen fiction - identity, sexuality and a sense of internalised torment. Of these, the Aimed at children (Quest) and young adults most striking is perhaps a story by Endre (Odyssey), these two volumes of short stories Lund Erikson (Norway). ‘Everyone Knows were compiled for the Hay Festival in order Petter’s Gay’ is startling because it gives to celebrate the Danish city of Aarhus being voice to a character who is homophobic, appointed as European Capital of Culture bullying and unpleasant; and yet, in a reversal for 2017. Edited by Daniel Hahn (The Oxford of stereotypical notions of the bully and Companion to Children’s Literature) and the bullied, the reader realises that Petter is comprised of stories written by writers from probably not gay and that the troubled teen all over Europe, the illustrated anthologies are narrator is struggling to process his own entertaining, often surprising and really very homosexual feelings. In a world where so charmingly unique, covering a range of subject much is called out for being problematic, matter and genres that far exceeds most other Erikson creates a complex and challenging short story collections. character who is absolutely un-airbrushed. As stated on the cover of each, the Another Norwegian who explores adolescent common thread which binds together In truth, this volume might work better sexuality is Nina E. Grøntvelte. ‘RMS Titanic’ these otherwise eclectic stories is the if read by parents to their children rather is a touching tale of a high-school crush thematic sense of journey, both literal and than by children themselves. The stories are which ends so sweetly that it must surely metaphorical. In Quest, the reader can also frequently thought-provoking and sometimes prompt a smile. expect that journey to be fantastical too. The demand to be read aloud. One such offering is But not all these stories are so universally volume opens with ‘Beware Low-Flying Girls’, ‘Mr Nobody’ by Laura Dockrill (UK). Dockrill familiar. Themes of asylum and displacement a story from UK writer, Katherine Rundell. writes a breathless, excitable, lyrical gem are also explored. Laura Gallego’s ‘The With the aid of her dead father’s coat, Odile which trips off the tongue and positively Longest Pedestrian Route in the World is able to fly whenever the wind blows. It’s pulsates with warmth and charm. Mr Nobody (translated from Spanish) and ‘What We’ve an enviable skill but also a dangerous one, is an eccentric, devilish whirlwind of energy Lost’ by Sarah Engell (Denmark) are shocking especially in a mountainous world where and Oli’s best friend – which seems easy and powerful depictions of people risking nightmarish Kraiks live high up in the trees enough to get on board with until you realise everything in search of a better life. In these and wait to prey on unusually adventurous that Mr Nobody lives in Oli’s wardrobe and stories, internalised teen angst is noticeably little girls. Fortunately, like all the best Oli’s family are very keen for this friendship absent. Instead, the torment comes from fairytales, good triumphs over evil, a timeless to fade. Even the family pet has doubts about outside and it’s physical and deadly. piece of wisdom is imparted and the young Mr Nobody. In typically exuberant delivery, Oli In summary, Quest provides many magical reader can journey on to the next story tells us, ‘Our dog, Roly Poly, doesn’t like him journeys and Odyssey much more imaginable having experienced nothing darker than a when he’s naughty, and he tries to be a singing ones. But within the pages of both volumes, delicious thrill. canary and tell on Mr Nobody to Mum, but there is surely something to stimulate and Several other stories in Quest have Roly only speaks dog language so Ha. Ha. interest or else challenge or comfort every a similar fairytale feel about them, most Ha.’ One final story in Quest which must be reader. And at the very least, these wonderful notably ‘The Great Book Escape’ by Ӕvar Þór mentioned is ‘Peeva is a Tone-Deaf Cat’ by anthologies are highly entertaining. Benediktsson (Iceland) and Alaine Agirre’s Anna Woltz (Netherlands). Woltz bravely ‘Lady Night’ (translated from the Basque). and adeptly tackles one of the most difficult The former is a riotous romp about unhappy journeys of the volume by gently introducing library books who break free from an over- children to the reality of miscarriage and watchful librarian while the latter – a sweet stillbirth. Tommy’s mum is upset and in story about three sisters who hate going to hospital. Young Eva, our narrator, explains it Hayley Long writes fiction for bed – is likely to delight parents as much as it simply and effectively. ‘Yesterday she still had teenagers. Her latest novel is will delight their children. a baby in her tummy. And today she doesn’t.’ The Nearest Faraway Place

64 | www.iwa.wales Culture / reviews

Hinterland: that hard-to-please miserabilist in your life. Aberaeron shown not in its customary jolly Ceredigion Landscapes We’ve all got one. colours but as a place of quite harsh and David Wilson, Ed Talfan and Ed Thomas The book includes behind-the-scenes sinister shadows (a sensation I’ve long felt Graffeg, 2017 photography from the filming process, there; the vicious forces unleashed recently together with some sparky and thoughtful over racism at the town’s carnival only seem essays by series creators Ed Talfan and Ed to confirm it). Thomas, writer Cynan Jones and David Not so successful though are most Wilson, the photographer commissioned of the other pictures. Too many tip into to evoke the wider spirit of Hinterland in his cliché: the geometric patterns of lobster

black-and-white images of Ceredigion. In his pots and ropes at every seaside stop, or of essay, Wilson makes the point that ‘in many log-piles in forestry; black skies and barbed ways… Ceredigion is hidden and secret’, wire straight out of Hammer Horror, but which sounds like the tritest of tourist board without the knowing camp wink. Most clichés, but actually has quite a serious compromised, for all the fine words that

truth within it. Wales’ three national parks – ‘this was an opportunity to capture one of Pembrokeshire, Snowdonia and the Brecon the grittiest and most authentic landscapes Beacons – surround the county, and tend to in Wales’ (David Wilson), or that this is push it off the radar. Yet there is within its ‘a love letter to a disappearing Wales’ (Ed Thomas), we’ve seen so many of the images

before, countless times. Here once again The wheel has turned, are Ceredigion’s Greatest Hits: Mwnt, Mike Parker Llangrannog, New Quay, Cwmystwyth, for now it is those Borth, that view from Consti over Aber, and very rusty nuggets none of them framed in a way that offers Twenty-five years ago, as I trotted around anything very much different. the country researching the inaugural Rough and post-op scars that Even Devil’s Bridge, the lynchpin of Guide to Wales, there were many surprises, photographers cherish the Hinterland saga that was captured so even in places I thought I knew from gutturally on film, is rendered curiously photographs. The fashion at the time was the most, while the flat here, hovering uneasily between bog to crop out anything that detracted from conventionally cute standard postcard shots and something the prettiest view, a trend that reached an monochrome’n’moody off a millenial’s almost absurdist zenith in the gothic ruins of gets cropped out. It is Instagram feed. The sum total of the book Neath Abbey. I’d seen the photos, which led perhaps the inevitable is that for all the flashes of wonder and me to expect a Tintern in urbis, only to find undoubted moments of art, it takes itself blackened stumps squatting in the middle of imagery for our gloomy very much more seriously than its rather a belching, metal-bashing landscape straight and solipsistic age superficial reality deserves. In that, it is the out of Mad Max. perfect accompaniment to the TV series. The wheel has turned, for now it is those very rusty nuggets and post-op scars that photographers cherish the most, while the conventionally cute gets cropped out. It is perhaps the inevitable imagery for boundaries much of the best of the national our gloomy and solipsistic age. Even areas parks, with a fraction of the footfall. Even not much known as post-industrial like to the county’s name is shrouded in mystery frame themselves in its decaying penumbra; to most, a fact that infuriates local tourism Ceredigion is no exception. A generation professionals. For them, anything that gets ago, it was all bucket-and-spade resorts and Ceredigion more widely known is welcome. Mike Parker is an author and pony trekking; now, thanks to the TV series Y Whether the funereal landscapes in this broadcaster based in mid Gwyll/Hinterland, what was once the land of book will do the job is a moot point. Some Wales. His last book was milk and honey has become our homegrown of the images are magnificent and genuinely The Greasy Poll: Diary of a patch for hand-me-down Scandi Noir. Three feel new: the shapes and textures of Ynyslas controversial election; his series of the TV show have now spawned Boatyard, the spine-shivering cold of Llyn- next will be On the Red Hill; a large and pricey photo-book – evidently yr-oerfa and the Teifi Pools, the sour teats a search for the Queer Rural. intended as the ideal Christmas present for of hills in Cwm Ceulan and Cwm Brefi, or mikeparker.org.uk

the welsh agenda winter 17—issue 59 | 65 Culture / reviews

Into the wind: the life encouraging ‘Free, open rugby, full of style unbelievably – doing early morning shifts of Carwyn James and grace’. But in truth he was a natural reading the sports bulletins on Radio Cymru! Alun Gibbard leader and innovator, not just a coach – a ‘Sensitive’ is the adjective typically used to Y Lolfa, 2017 fascinating sidebar is how he contributed to describe Carwyn James, though all too often the development of coaching as a genre. At it is employed as a euphemism. Alun Gibbard first it was viewed with great suspicion, even confronts the speculation surrounding his as a form of cheating: ‘Boys needed coaching sexuality with a tender deftness. then, not men’. Planning and preparing for The book is a social and cultural account games went against the spirit of the game. of post-war Welsh Wales, successfully But as Alun Gibbard writes, ‘We do drawing out its complex tensions and

Carwyn a disservice by reducing him to being cleavages. It draws widely on the reflections a rugby man above all else. There was much of friends and contemporaries, and is more to him than that, much more’. What is enhanced by its use of poetry and the surprising about this book, given the subject, author’s understanding of his subject’s and author, is that this is not a book about literary influences.

rugby, but a study of a man of many parts. A Its chief weakness in my view is its portrait of a tormented soul, and above all a treatment of Carwyn’s politics. It portrays man ahead of his times in so many ways. him as quintessentially a cultural nationalist,

Lee Waters He dared to be different, and for all of his deep I asked more than 170 A-level students insecurities he had a confidence in his own professional at Llanelli’s Coleg Sir Gaˆr recently if they judgment which was unshakable knew who Carwyn James was, and just one tentative hand was raised; and he wasn’t entirely sure. Even to my generation he is not a fully formed figure. Little more than a rough biographical outline would be familiar: He dared to be different, and for all of albeit one prepared to use his celebrity inspirational Scarlets and Lions coach who his deep insecurities he had a confidence to advance his cause. Gibbard almost didn’t get to manage Wales and died a in his own professional judgment which offhandedly suggests that James was solitary figure, haunted by questions around was unshakable. When confronted with ill-suited to politics without fully exploring his sexuality. the inevitability of having to negotiate team the reasons. But its biggest failure in this Alun Gibbard’s engaging biography is selection for the Welsh squad with the WRU area is not to capture the seriousness with a much needed portrait which succeeds in hierarchy he withdrew his application for the which Labour treated the prospect of his bringing this enigmatic figure to life for a new national coaching job. Though he ached to candidacy in a by-election. Having seen audience. A reworking of the Welsh language add shepherding the Welsh team to his (still majorities in valley heartlands collapse in book he published last autumn, Carwyn - yn unparalleled) success with the Lions and the wake of Plaid’s upsurge in the late 60s, erbyn y Gwynt (Y Lolfa, 2016), Gibbard’s Llanelli, he had the self-belief to walk away. there was genuine fear of the impact that full-length study (428 pages) draws fully on But it came at a price, and the account the celebrated coach of Scarlets could have Carwyn James’ rich cultural hinterland. of the years that followed is a poignant should the elderly James Griffiths not be able The formative influences of Cefneithin one. Gibbard convincingly argues that to finish his term. and the Gwendraeth valley, as well as the his decision to move to Cardiff to pursue That aside, this is a rewarding read. It Ceredigion of Rhydlewis (the hamlet of his journalism removed his ballast. In his most succeeds in being admiring and affectionate, parents upbringing), of the 1940s and 50s creative period he was embedded in rooted without being sentimental or sensational. It are vividly explored. We learn how his love of communities, and nourished by his teaching deserves a wide audience. Welsh literature, that was firmly embedded of literature and his coaching roles. Removed at University in Aberystwyth and given from these he was vulnerable to his demons. full expression in his study in Llandovery The account of his later years is College and later in the lecture rooms of difficult to read. Being unable to refuse an Lee Waters is the Assembly Trinity Carmarthen, ran in parallel with the endless stream of perfunctory speaking Member for the Llanelli development of his poetry on the rugby field. engagements; drinking too much and renting constituency and a Fellow His coaching style is described as a room in a Cardiff shared house, while – of the IWA

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Music Fights Back! Last word Mike Jenkins

Writer and broadcaster Owen Sheers was on The English Language course will pay BBC Wales in September, complaining that lip-service to literature, tackling it merely Educating English Literature was being made optional through extracts, and I doubt poetry will have at GCSE and pupils would suffer greatly as a any place whatsoever. for results result. I was on Radio Wales about a year ago With regard to music, I heard a making the same point. disturbing story of a former peripatetic Of course, the libraries had long ago The response of the Welsh Government teacher, now self-employed, who has to try been taken over by computers ; – Labour, but with a LibDem Education and get individual schools to employ him on in some schools they’d even Minister in Kirsty Williams – was typically an ad hoc basis. His job, and therefore the made a pyre of the old books evasive and disingenuous. They deflected teaching of his instrument, is under threat. including ones on the rise of Hitler. it by saying they’d look into the teaching of Many excellent peris, with great expertise, literature in schools! now ply their trade as music teachers in The writing of poetry was replaced When GCSE results were seen to be Comps and the future of our orchestras looks by comprehensions which could easily deteriorating they responded similarly, by very bleak. Welsh Government’s intention to be assessed, moderated; pupils trained pushing all responsibility onto schools and set up feasibility studies is far too late. in class to pass examinations: claiming that too many pupils were being The way music fights back and sings Plato’s Republic realised at last. entered in Year 10. out loud and proud has been brought home In both instances their policies are to because of my younger daughter’s involvement Music was a fringe pastime blame, just as the austerity-driven agenda of in the Glam Choir and Orchestra. I took great for those with enough money authorities like Labour-controlled RCT have pleasure in attending their musical at the Muni to buy instruments, pay for lessons; failed music services in the poorest parts of in Pontypridd, which told the story of the Glam orchestras dwindled to Chambers this country. through songs, film and narration; a story and then were merely bands. Welsh Government have decreed that which ended in hope and defiance. Literature is optional; it’s not a matter for Then, at St Elvan’s in Aberdare, there was Pupils opted out of literature, schools to contest. It’s no longer a core an orchestral and choral concert involving no longer at the core subject, at the heart of Labour’s highly flawed many former Glam members and those from it was more like a stump scheme of traffic-lighting schools, which the present. Performing there – and at their thrown through the window of a car, amount to league tables. own concert in Pontypridd next day – were left to rot by the roadside. The consequences are already grim: a group of young cellists from southern 40% taking Literature this year, down from Germany, Cellikatessen. It was a breathtaking Drama was for big productions only, 80% two years ago! Many pupils will be and unique performance by 13 cellists and one with Mayor and politicians invited; denied the only opportunity in their lives to double bassist, together with their director, believing their money well-spent read drama, poetry and fiction. Texts like Roman Guggenberger. Playing with no sheet- they returned to Councils and the Bay Blood Brothers, Of Mice and Men and a whole music and in an astonishing variety of styles, to analyse results like business trends. range of poetry (including some by Sheers from jazz to baroque to Catalan folk music no doubt) open up young lives to worlds made famous by Pablo Casals (a song of they wouldn’t otherwise encounter, not to freedom for his nation), they are a symbol of mention key books in world literature by the what could be achieved in Cymru given the likes of Maya Angelou and Arthur Miller. right commitment and investment. My life was changed irrevocably by Sadly, the utilitarian and narrow-minded studying several books for ‘O’ Level, many of policies of our Government make me them non-fiction texts, such as Laurie Lee’s despondent. As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning, Graves’ Goodbye to All That and, amazingly, the account of a south Pacific island by a Mike Jenkins is a poet and colonialist Arthur Grimble, A Pattern of Islands. writer, and former teacher

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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 Auriol Miller on 029 2048 4387

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