Also the fact that the Human Rights and Equality Commission does not recognise Welsh people as an indigenous people might shock more than a few people. This is something that the Plaid Wrecsam blog noted: "It should not need pointing out that the Welsh are in fact the indigenous people of Wales. Most people would not disagree with that and would probably comment that I am highlighting the blindingly obvious by making such a remark. Yet, the Human Rights and Equality Commission last week gave evidence to the Welsh Assembly stating the opposite. The evidence heard by the Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee from the Commission was that "Welsh people within the UK don't fit as an indigenous grouping" and therefore are not entitled to protection under Human Rights legislation, specifically the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
While it is becoming depressingly obvious to many observers that the Conservative Party in London has not adjusted its attitude to the concept of Devolution (and subsequent developments since 1997) and many other matters one bit will probably not shock many observers at all - however, the Lib Dems have no excuses, having been pro-devolution since the 1960's and before. The happy (or not ) amalgam or effective merger (take your pick) that is the Con Dem Government's performance runs the risk (especially after the 'get on your bike' row that has erupted since Sunday) of repeating the mistakes of the Thatcherite era. Many people won't want to go throw the whole process again, once was enough, which should be more than enough reason to make people wonder why they voted Lib Dem at all...The Plaid Llundain Blog notes that Thatcher`s first years were marked by the inexorable merciless shut down of manufacturing and mining in Wales, and a deterioration of services attended by massive increases in unemployment. Whole communities were condemned and abandoned to a despair which has become ingrained and normalised. This was then, despite Peter Hain's mutterings to the contrary, then repeated as Blair's New Labour`s sucking up to middle England marginalising and abandoning despite UK Labour `s apologists in Wales who are currently reawakening their socialist principles - going through it all once with Mr's T was a destructive enough experience for many of us - going through a similar experience under David ("Call me Dave") Cameron's rule is even less appealing.
Leanne Wood AM/AC blogged on short sentencing noting that: "It was refreshing to hear the Howard League for Penal Reform and the probation officers union, Napo, bring a bit of common sense to the public debate this week on how best to cut the budget deficit. Both suggested abolishing short prison sentences on the basis that they serve no purpose whatsoever." Well said, the whole piece is well worth a read.
The BBC ran an interesting piece on the dangers of re-writing history... and also noted that municipal authorities in Georgia have finally taken down a statue of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin that stood in the central square of Gori, his home town.
And finally an English MP has called for a fresh debate over 'English anthem' . Greg Mulholland a Lib Dem MP said it was "frustrating" to hear fans sing God Save The Queen in South Africa as it was the anthem for the United Kingdom. He told MPs there should be a "properly established" anthem for English teams. Parliament should debate the case for an "English national anthem" that fans can sing at sporting events like the World Cup he said. After Sunday, perhaps Abide With Me might be more appropriate.
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