Am off work sick but hear that the leader of the Welsh Tories has called for Nation Cymru’s funding to be pulled. If there was ever an advertisement to subscribe to us to see us hold politicians like him to account, this is absolutely it. Cheers Andrew. 🥰
🚙 Our other ad van touring South Wales today.
🚨 The Welsh Conservatives are taking the fight against Labour and Plaid's blanket 20mph speed limit - it must be scrapped!
👉 You can take part in our new 20mph survey here - .
During FMQs today Mark Drakeford said he hasn't been able to explain the 20mph policy as 'eloquently' as others. Instead he quoted what had been said by a Tory MS during a previous debate on the new speed limit.
Comedian Joe Lycett has so far raised over £20k in just half a day for homeless charities following Suella Braverman’s announcement of plans to restrict tents for rough sleepers which she says is a ‘lifestyle choice’.
My old friend
@SuellaBraverman
has described rough sleeping as a 'lifestyle choice' I always thought lifestyle choices were things such as cargo pants, fishing and decorating your bathroom with a bowl of potpourri.
I want to see if this image I found on google described as…
Utter stress. My daughter is a pupil at one of the locked down schools following the serious assault that took place in Aberfan today. Just want to go get her but am told not to come near.
Update on Andrew RT Davies re GB News comments. A well placed Welsh Conservative source tells me: "All call for change, all for a sense of direction but none can find the balls to do what’s needed and get rid of him as leader"
I wanted to test the Welsh Conservatives 20mph speed limit petition to see if signatories were being validated.
These were the details I used. My signature was still recorded. I was also able to sign the petition more than once.
The Welsh Conservatives have been accused of playing 'grubby little games' with a 20mph speed limit petition which they've launched on their own website
Interesting find when I was monitoring an anti-20mph FB group. That’s right folks, us epileptics don’t ride alongside family, use buses or taxis so road regulations have no effect on us! The real truth is, we use unicorns and fly to our destinations.🦄🌈
The Little People Big Dreams series includes inspiring stories of people who changed the world through grit and determination like Marie Curie and Rosa Parks. Now the series includes King Charles. That’s right kids, you can be king if you try hard enough 🙄
How utterly appalling to make a comment like this given the tragedy of the Aberfan disaster and more recent events which saw a pregnant woman stabbed leaving the community in shock yet again.
Thank you
@MonmouthCA
and
@DavidTCDavies
@WelshConserv
for the warm welcome to Usk tonight.
Labour’s failure in Wales is endless: on the NHS, falling teacher numbers free school meals and failed road and rail investment.
Vote
@Conservatives
in Wales!
Can confirm subscriptions rolling in off the back of the Tory leader’s attack on a news outlet that dares to write about him. He’s merely demonstrated he doesn’t want to be scrutinised. Thanks for the support everyone. 🗞️♥️
Journalists absolutely have a right to craft opinion columns. This is done after carefully studying reliable information. For anyone who missed it, here’s the fantastic article that’s rattled the Welsh Tory leader so much.
The Welsh Government has today confirmed dangerous concrete has been found in two schools in Wales. Interestingly, WG say they only received details of RAAC risks and management from UK Gov yesterday evening - despite ‘repeated requests’.
A small number of unaccompanied migrant children who have been in the care of a local authority will be entitled to the basic income pilot. The scheme offers £1,600 a month for 2 years to ALL eligible young people leaving the care system in Wales.
In 2014 the EU awarded S Wales £2bn.
👉🏻£960m from the European Regional Development Fund
👉🏻£642m from European Social Fund.
👉🏻W Wales and the Valleys received £1.6bn, including funds for VoG to support jobs /apprenticeships / business start-ups.
It was spread across 7yrs.
Some of the most deprived parts of the UK are in Barry.
Yet in the EU, it was ineligible for funding.
It’s now getting much needed Levelling Up cash for a marina 💪
Labour’s economy minister thinks this vital regeneration project is “unforgivable” 😡
BREAKING: Llyr Gruffydd has been appointed interim leader of Plaid Cymru after the resignation of Adam Price
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube
I’m excited to announce I’ve accepted a position with
@NationCymru
as their news editor working alongside a fantastic team of Welsh journalists.✍️
#NewJob
#journalist
❌ The Welsh Tories have had another complaint against Nation Cymru rejected by the press regulator.
❌ In Feb, IPSO rejected a separate complaint from the Welsh Cons about an article I had written.
🗑️ Another attempt to gag us binned.
To the guy running Andrew’s Twitter: Context is important. Unaccompanied migrant children who have been in the care of a local authority will be entitled to the pilot. It offers £1.6k a month to ALL eligible young people leaving the care system in Wales.
People of Wales 🏴
Do you think the public should swear their allegiance to Charles as he is crowned King?
I’d love to hear the reason for your answer in the comments.
🐄 There’s a lot in the news at the moment about unrest amongst farming communities over proposed reforms to farming subsidies in Wales.
🌾 Here’s a handy thread of what’s going on - there’s a lot to this…
🧵 1/
🏴 People of Wales, can you help me with another poll? Over 7000 of you voted in my previous poll and retweets are again appreciated as are comments explaining your answer.
👑 Would you vote to keep the monarchy if there was a referendum?
Brilliant op-ed. Andrew RT Davies has stocked a fire that has not only created division and hate - it’s also made his fellow party members completely invisible if they even attempt to work on something they believe in themselves.
It’s important that in Wales we recognise what the likes of Andrew RT Davies are doing and why. Decent Conservatives – those that are left – shouldn’t tolerate the antics of a Poundland Trump'
'✍
@ShiptonMartin
I notice the leader of the opposition has removed his previously pinned video from his X account which featured him giving an interview to Dan Wooton at GB news.
Another ‘Politics and Prejudice’ evening led by Pinocchio himself.
The pilot launched in July 22 and is for all eligible young people leaving care. The inclusion of asylum seeker children was always a factor that had been budgeted for by WG.
The good people of Powys want common sense from politicians.
At Politics and a Pint this evening, people were horrified Labour ministers in the Senedd want to pay illegal immigrants £1,600 a month.
They’re pleased our Conservative Government has blocked this extreme policy.
🏴 People of Wales, I’m still working on an article that takes stock of Welsh attitudes towards the monarchy. The more opinions the better! Tell me what you think below this post. I have a poll running on Twitter so please do vote too. Thanks as always!
Thrilled to have been shortlisted for Political Journalist of the Year at the Wales Media Awards. This is the stuff of dreams for me. Nation Cymru has also been shortlisted for Online News Website of the Year! 👏🏻
As pressure mounts for Gething over his campaign donation, the
@NationCymru
exclusive is now being covered but other news outlets.
Although most have not credited us, this incredible scoop was the work of
@ShiptonMartin
, who has been relentless in his scrutiny of the new FM.
My inboxes have never been so full of abuse. I’ve been mocked for my disability. I’ve had to call other journalists from rival outlets to warn them I’ve seen plans to target them. I walk down the street looking over my shoulder.
The renewed surge in Wales of keyboard warriors hurling abuse at politicians and journalists is depressing and potentially dangerous. We need impassioned debate and scrutiny but there are some pretty raw edges again.
She hasn’t replied because she wrote an article on it already. She can’t fit her answer in a tweet. She has posted her article at the top of her original tweet. She formed her opinion based on research. She writes about politics for a living.
The persistent trolling of my X account yesterday by a Tory councillor merely demonstrates his complete lack of awareness of what’s going on within his own Party
Having heard RT Davies’ comments about the media passing comment on his Twitter posts it’s worth saying that it’s not my job as a journalist to pass an opinion on his ‘style’. It’s my job to ask questions when I smell a rat.
'Is the Tory messaging surrounding the new default speed limit accurate and is the term 'blanket' appropriate? - The short answer is no' ✍️ Emily Price
Firstly, there wasn’t press release - it was written from scratch. Secondly, reverting to the ancient name Bannau Brycheiniog was widely reported on in the Welsh media. Thirdly, if the Welsh Conservatives want to send us press releases or indeed answer any of our requests for…
I noticed again that Nation Cymru has decided to print the press releases of some organisations they like but minimally report the opposition to stories they support. But a twitter storm they don't like is huge news before. How this outfit gets govt funding is disgraceful.
Just a reminder, the inaccurate comments being pushed by Andrew RT Davies regarding £1,600 payments to care leavers was first highlighted by Nation Cymru back in April. You can catch up on the facts here 👇🏻
The Closed List system needs to be kicked to curb. It’s been put in place to benefit Labour hangers on and will offer less independent choice for voters. If Senedd Reform is to happen the Closed List system should not be a part of it.
Elin Jones opened Plenary today by saying that MSs and staff have received abusive and threatening messages regarding the new 20mph limit. She said that those in the chamber have a responsibility to set the tone on how they expect others to express themselves.
🏴 The 'Y Ddraig Goch' was officially recognised as the Welsh national flag on this day in 1959.
🏴 The word 'draig' means dragon, but also 'warrior' or 'leader.
🏴 The red dragon as an emblem has been used since the reign of Cadwaladr King of Gwynedd from around 655AD.
I have temporal lobe epilepsy and will never be allowed to drive because of my seizures. In the past I’ve been told I can’t be a journalist without a car.
Look at me now.
Thanks
@NationCymru
♥️🗞️
#NationalEpilepsyWeek
Often a barrier for people with Epilepsy is finding work and when they do, it can often be at a lower rate of pay. This isn't right or fair!
We need shine a greater spotlight on if we are to improve the services and support for people with the condition 2/2
@epilepsyaction
'117 cronies, party donors and failed politicians stuffed in a corrupt and unelected chamber that seeks to govern this country'
@AlunDaviesMS
during FMQs speaking about David Cameron's appointment as a Lord
The sun is setting behind a flat mountain which was once huge peaks of coal spoil. On the hillside now is a line of white headstones for the children lost in a terrible disaster 57 years ago. Aberfan will never forget the 144 people who died that day.
'The Member for London can cry as many crocodile tears as she likes...'
Here's the exchange between Alun Davies MS and Natasha Asghar MS during FMQs today.
Just reposting this article I wrote back in April. No particular reason for the repost - I just thought it might be a good day to pop it on the timeline again.
I wrote an article about a Welsh place name petition set up by a polite and intelligent university researcher. Daily Mail have now attacked him in another article branding him a ‘Welsh language extremist’. Guess who jumped at the chance to give a statement 🙄
Andrew RT Davies has been accused of ‘turning on his MSs’ as he scrambles ‘to get his house in order’ amid mounting criticism of his conduct from both inside and outside the party✍️.
@EPriceJourno
Had to delete a post about the Welsh language because the amount of trolls it drew in was ridiculous.
It was only an update on what’s happening with HSBC this week.
Engagement with members of the public? Or goading people for a reaction? All these responses taken from one post. One has to wonder if the author of these replies is even taking it seriously anymore.
I’m getting pretty tired of men who think they’re in a position of power sending me emails accusing me of not carrying out my journalism thoroughly.
I am merely spurred on to dig even deeper when I receive correspondence such as this.
The reports that WG is planning to ‘hand out’ £1600 a month to asylum seekers are not entirely accurate to say the least.
Three Welsh ministers were merely seeking clarity on a pilot already in existence regarding young care leavers.
One of the new stations in Merthyr Tydfil which is having its South Wales Metro revamp.
This is Troedyrhiw completely vandalised. Merthyr Vale station has been smashed up also.
We wait years to have something decent and this is how people treat it.
“Wales can do without political stitch-ups of this kind. Gething’s complicity in the exclusion of Miles – and his willingness to turn a blind eye to the clear abuse of process that occurred – confirms for me that he does not deserve to become First Minister”
Stitch-up politics has returned to Wales - and reprehensible though that certainly is, it has livened up what was a dull Labour leadership contest ✍️
@ShiptonMartin
GB News say they invited
@ElinCeredigion
to appear on Nigel Farage’s show to discuss the station being removed from the Senedd’s interval tv system. In this interview, Andrew RT Davies says she was “busy doing her hair no doubt”.
'It is about choices at the end of the day! You don't have to tune into GB News, you don't have to buy a Guardian newspaper, we live in a democracy.'
Leader, Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, discusses the Senedd banning GB News.
📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604
A key staffer who previously worked for an Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party member has been appointed the new head of comms for the Welsh Conservative Senedd group ✍️ Emily Price
When asked by .
@TomGiffard
whether the Welsh Government will commit to axing the 20mph speed limit after thousands signed a Senedd petition calling for the new default to be scrapped, the FM simply said: "No."
Massive thanks to everyone that has helped us pass 1.4 million readers for the first time ever this month. To do it in August of all months is extraordinary.🙏
That’s not what the article says. Far from it actually. It’s about far right groups that are using the 20mph issue to arrange marches alongside normal people who are against the limit. The article does not say everyone who is against 20mph is far right.
Contacted
@natasghar
twice to ask why she is pursing the London mayor job, will she step down from the Senedd and did she tell the Tories she was applying to be a mayor candidate. She did not respond to my requests for statements.
My daughter had to recreate artwork by a Welsh artist for homework.
She used watercolours to paint Britain’s smallest house found in Conwy by
@LesleyPhillipsA
🎨
Here's the moment the transport minister, Lee Waters challenged the leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies on his U-turn for support of the new 20mph speed limit
Fair play to
@LlyrGruffydd
. Pulling no punches with his line of questioning. If you’ve ever been late for work, late home, or left stranded in the cold, seeing rail bosses squirm as this MS grills them on their failures is wholly satisfying.
Andrew RT Davies has been criticised by the Leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth for the Tory opposition to the new speed limit even though the leader of the opposition had previously been pictured holding a '20 is plenty' sign in a press photo.
Want 36 more politicians?
Thought not.
But Labour and Plaid do 😡
They’re spending £120million on more politicians 🤦♂️
Welsh Conservatives want this cash to go to our Welsh NHS!
As a news editor who is disabled and autistic, I am incredibly proud to be working in this role especially after having been brought up in one of the most deprived areas of Wales.
Abuse like this towards me and other journalists like me is not ok.
During a Senedd debate today,
@Plaid_Cymru
called on the Welsh Government to use the powers it has to freeze rents and ban evictions this winter. Here’s a look at what was said. Voting results at the end of thread. 🧵 1/
The Duolingo story has been our most popular this month with tens of thousands of people visiting the Nation Cymru website to read it. The Welsh language course on the learning platform is clearly very important to so many people.
ICYMI Language learning app Duolingo will mothball its Welsh course at the end of this month meaning it will no longer be edited or updated
✍
@EPriceJourno
👉