Aneurin Glyndwr

Beeb take their eye off the ball

So what is dominating the lives of BBC hacks? The improved employment figures last Wednesday? The end of the recession? Anything that has a distant relevance to ordinary hardworking Welsh people? Errrrr.... No. Those who casually smear and spread cynicism as a lazy substitute for journalism are busy casting stones: the Labour party is raising funds from its supporters. In an election year!

Labour is rightly proud of having a leading figure from Welsh sport encourage others to put their hands in their pockets to keep the Tories out. Fair play, Betsan, what is the alternative to fundraising in this way to fight the Ashcroft millions? Are you suggesting that political parties should be lavishly funded by the public purse...... like one or two hacks we know...?

Bethan get back to your Plaid spin school

Well, La Jenkins is having an adolescent strop. As for the work Peter Hain has been doing with individuals and groups from Visteon, the Harriet Potter of Welsh politics rants:

'I can only conclude that he’d rather see them without me, for reasons I will leave to you readers.'

Well, yes Ms Jenkins, because you persist in playing on their worst fears and using hardworking people as a political football. You have done nothing to further anyone's interests but your own. So cut the petulant teenage posing and get back to whichever Plaid spin school you recently emerged from. The true chronology follows. These are the facts.

23 November Peter Hain fights to secure pensions of Visteon workers and makes written reps to DWP.

16 December DWP send detailed explanation of scheme to protect pensions, to Peter Hain.

18 December La Jenkins BEGINS her attempt to make political capital out of workers' fears by writing to Peter Hain, demanding that she be allowed to 'represent' people quite capable of representing themselves in their contact with a Secretary of State - who was ALREADY engaged on their behalf. Have some humility Bethan, stop worrying hardworking Welsh people, and stick to peddling rubbish about how Wales could survive cut off from the rest of the UK.

Grow up.

BBC Witchunt

Don't miss John Rentoul's superb review of Thursday night's Question Time shenanigans.

David Shambles-on

What a start to the New Year, the Tories at Westminster at war with themselves  (senior old hacks do not appreciate being told how to think by Steve Hilton) and David Shambles-on is putting his PR foot in it.

 Do the Tories want to give tax breaks to their chums? Yes- see how much Cheryl Gillan and the shadow cabinet would benefit from Inheritance Tax breaks....

 Do they feel caught out by Labour's attack on their maths? Yes- see today's u-turn on Married Couple's Tax allowance. Three positions in one day, how many more Tory pledges will be ones that they 'er...hopefully promise to er...' carry through. Hope-less more like.

Put pretty boy Dave under the slightest pressure and watch him crumble. These Eton chaps really don't like a ruck.