Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Plaid Cymru issued the following press release on Friday -  Plaid Cymru politicians Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM and Jonathan Edwards MP have contacted the Wales Audit Office expressing their concern that Carmarthenshire County Council cannot properly account for how public money is spent. In their letter to the Auditor General for Wales, the Party of Wales duo point out conflicting information they have seen from the council as to how much the Chief Executive was paid for duties as the Returning Officer during last year’s local council elections. Less than a month ago Mr Thomas and Mr Edwards exposed that Carmarthenshire Council’s Chief Executive, Mark James received a £20,000 cash advance for election activities a minimum of five week before the election actually took place. Following this revelation, the Carmarthenshire politicians submitted Freedom of Information requests to all Welsh Councils to find out when council’s paid their Returning Officer. In response, not only did Carmar...

Plaid Cymru’s AM and MP are trying to stop a £60million investment with the creation of around 1,200 jobs in the Tywi and Gwendraeth Valleys, a Carmarthenshire Council press release claims. MP Jonathan Edwards and Rhodri Glyn Thomas AM have asked for the Sainsbury’s planning applications to be called in a move which, it is claimed, now jeopardises developments which mean major investment in Carmarthenshire. Sainsbury's plans to open two new stores – one at Llandeilo and one at Cross Hands, creating up to 600 new jobs. There would also be several hundred jobs created or supported through construction. At Cross Hands, the investment includes the remediation of a derelict and contaminated site providing land for housing, including affordable homes, a new doctor’s surgery, health centre and care home. It will also include significant improvements to Maes yr Yrfa School to drive forward Carmarthenshire County Council’s investment in Welsh medium education in the Gwendraeth Valley. ...

The Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council Cllr Sian Thomas pictured at Drefach Carnival in Felindre with Carnival Queen Cerian Rees and MP Jonathan Edwards.

AM backs Wood's bid for Plaid leadership | This is South Wales A Neath-based AM is one of two Assembly Members to lend her support to Leanne Wood's bid for the Plaid leadership. South Wales West AM Bethan Jenkins and Lindsay Whittle, AM for South Wales East, have voiced their public support today for her challenge. The AMs join Jonathan Edwards, Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, in underlining their support for Ms Wood to take over the running of the party.

Severn Bridge toll 'tax' fury | This is South Wales The new year increase in tolls on the Severn Bridge has been condemned as a "direct tax" on investment in Wales. It now costs £6 for cars, £12.10 for vans and a whopping £18.10 for lorries to use the vital motorway link following the annual January hike. Plaid MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, Jonathan Edwards, said the latest increase in Severn tolls was a barrier to investment.

Plaid tables plan for Wales-only consumer advice body - Wales News - News - WalesOnline Plaid Cymru has launched a bid to transfer powers over consumer rights to the Welsh Government. The move comes in the wake of proposals for the work of Consumer Focus Wales to be taken over by Citizens Advice. Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards has tabled amendments to the Public Bodies Bill which would give ministers in Cardiff Bay powers to legislate in this field.

Well done Jonathan Edwards - A Plaid Cymru MP has written angrily to the Home Secretary about a book review in a national newspaper that describes Welsh as an “appalling and moribund monkey language”. Jonathan Edwards, the MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, described comments made in the Daily Mail review by the Caerphilly-born writer Roger Lewis as “sick” and said they should not be tolerated. Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2011/08/16/mp-damns-disgraceful-slur-on-wales-monkey-language-91466-29241533/#ixzz1VGQTzEA6 MP blasts ‘monkey language’ attack on Welsh - Politics News - Politics - News - WalesOnline

Turnout for the general election in Carmarthenshire was higher than in previous years. In Llanelli, 37,524 people – 67.6 per cent of the 55,637 electorate – turned out to vote, up on the 2005 general election when there was a 63.9 per cent turnout. Winning candidate was Nia Griffith (Labour) with 15,916, followed by Myfanwy Davies (Plaid Cymru) on 11,215, Christopher Salmon (Welsh Conservatives) with 5,381, Myrddin Edwards (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 3,902 and Andrew Marshall (UK Independence Party) 1,047. In Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, the turnout was even higher at 72.7 per cent, with 38,095 of the 52,385 electorate turning out to vote, up on the previous general election of a 72.1 per cent turnout. The winning candidate was Jonathan Edwards (Plaid Cymru) with 13,536 votes, Christine Gwyther (Labour) with 10,065, Andrew Morgan (Welsh Conservatives) 8,506, William Powell (Welsh Liberal Democrats) 4,609 and John Atkinson (UK Independence Party) with 1,285. The count took place at the Se...