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

Former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer MP (pictured above) is to speak at a Labour Party constituency fundraiser in Llanelli. The dinner will also act as a 'Welcome Campaign Dinner' for Labour's new candidate for the Welsh Assembly elections. The constituency party is currently going through the selection process and will be announcing the new AM candidate before the Keir Starmer dinner. The night will consist of dinner followed by Keir's speech and a question & answer session. The date is Thursday 1st October at 7pm and the venue is the Ashburnham Hotel, Pembrey, SA16 0TH. Tickets - £18 per person payable at time of booking by cash or cheque £14 for students/children. Dress code - smart but not black tie Contact Suzy Curry for further details or to book 0756 1566 456 or 01554 757511 or email  suzycurry@btconnect.com If you have already booked can you please send a cheque for the correct amount made out to Llanelli Labour Party to: C/O Suzy Cur...

Former Labour Leader Neil Kinnock will be the guest speaker at the next fundraising dinner for the Labour Party in Llanelli. Baron Kinnock is famous for his passionate speeches. The night will consist of dinner followed by Baron Kinnock's speech and then a question and answer session. The dinner is at the Stradey Park Hotel and will be a four course Welsh-themed menu. It starts at 7pm on Thursday, February 12. The cost is £25 per person payable at time of booking by cash or cheque - £18 for students/children. Anyone interested in attending should contact - Suzy Curry 01554 757511 or 0756 1566 456. About Neil Kinnock: Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock (born 28 March 1942) is a British Labour Party politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995, first for Bedwellty and then for Islwyn. He was the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 until 1992, making him the longest-serving Leader of the Opposition in British poli...

The UK's largest private sector housing landlord, Kevin Green, has warned against a Labour Party proposal to cap rent increases. "Meddling with the free market always leads to fallout in some shape or form," the 50-year-old social entrepreneur said. "I know some people will say, 'Yes, he is bound to argue against rentals caps as he is a landlord.' But it is not all about self-interest. It is about common-sense. "I've built up years of experience in the marketplace in private sector housing - so I know what works and what doesn't work. "Believe you me, this Labour Party idea won't work. "It is a policy that the Labour Party thinks will score them brownie points with the general public. "But I simply don't agree with capping the rent market. "Whenever a free market supply and demand is meddled with, there is always fallout, which will inevitably cost the Government more money. "It makes no commercia...

The Llanelli Constituency Labour Party will be holding a Carvery Dinner at the Ashburnham Hotel, Pembrey, on Thursday, March 21. The guest speaker will be Michael Dugher MP, Shadow Minister without Portfolio, and Vice Chair of the Labour Party. Mr Dugher has been MP for Barnsley East since 2010. He was a Shadow Defence Minister and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ed Miliband before his appointment to the Shadow Cabinet in 2011. He previously worked for the AEEU (now Unite) and was an adviser to the last Labour Government, including at Downing Street. The dinner, starting at 7pm, will feature a  raffle and auction. Price: £15 per ticket, children/students £8. All proceeds go to Llanelli CLP funds Further details from Fundraising Officer Suzy Curry 0756 1566 456.

Llanelli Constituency Labour Party (CLP) will be holding a Quiz Night at the Queen Victoria Club (next door to the MP's office in Queen Victoria Road) on Thursday 31st January, 7pm. £1 per person, groups welcome! Put your thinking caps on, come along and enjoy a good night out and support your CLP - all proceeds go to Llanelli CLP funds. Phone Suzy Curry for further details 0756 1566 456.

A coalition has been formed between the Labour group and Independent councillors in Carmarthenshire. The announcement was made today following discussions which have taken place since the results of the elections were made on May 4. It follows eight years of coalition working between Independents and Labour previously, however the balance of power has now shifted with 21 and 23 county councillors respectively. It means the Labour group will choose the Leader and Cllr Meryl Gravell, currently the longest serving Leader in Wales, will step down after 13 years. The agreement is for a 12-month partnership which will be reviewed after a year. The Labour group will meet tonight to choose a Leader and Deputy Leader, and further announcements on executive board and other positions are expected in the future. Current Labour Leader Cllr Kevin Madge said: “I am delighted that we have formed the new coalition with the Independents. We can carry on the good work done over the last eight years ...

BBC News - Tories question Labour Wales links to Awema charity's boss The Conservatives in Wales have raised concerns about links between Labour and the boss of a charity facing allegations of financial mismanagement. The Welsh government is investigating the All Wales Ethnic Minority Association (Awema) and its chief executive Naz Malik. Pictures on Facebook show Mr Malik on the 2011 campaign trail with First Minister Carwyn Jones. Labour accused the Tories of trying to "muddy the waters with smear".

Busy morning! Good to sit down for a coffee and a chat with Llanelli Assembly member Keith Davies.

Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain pledges higher standards of Labour local government - Wales News - News - WalesOnline Labour’s new generation of councillors will be committed to unprecedented standards of transparency and delivery, Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has pledged.

Press release issued by Carmarthenshire County Labour Party's “Team Carmarthenshire” - The Carmarthenshire County Labour Party “Team Carmarthenshire” have expressed their deep concern at the situation in the County Council regarding pay cuts for county staff. Chair of Team Carmarthenshire Llanelli's Jan Williams said:“I am disgusted at what I am hearing from Council staff concerning massive cuts in pay, and with some staff members being bullied into signing agreements to have their pay reduced. "I am dismayed at the reports we have been receiving at these swingeing cuts being forced on lower paid workers. I am determined to see that Team Carmarthenshire does all it can to give support to Council staff.” Team Carmarthenshire Secretary, Carmarthen Town Councillor Philip Grice said:“We understand that this is both a cross-party issue – and an extremely complicated one. "Accordingly, I have written to Chief Executive Mark James to seek an explanation as to what is happen...

Enjoyable piece by Tom Bodden of the Daily Post yesterday. http://blogs.dailypost.co.uk/goginthebay/2010/02/i-didnt-lay-a-finger-on-him--.html Tom included the Gordon Brown joke - "You know the only thing that I have not been accused of recently is killing Archie Mitchell in Eastenders!"

"Together we'll fight for a prosperous and fair Britain. And most importantly, we'll fight to win"- Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman tries to rally delegates as the conference ends. "We mended the roof when the sun shone - the Tory plans would be like a wrecking ball which would demolish the recovery" - Ms Harman. "When members of this party, even MPs, say that nothing much has changed, that we could use a spell in Opposition - tell them: don't do the Tories' dirty work for them" - Foreign Secretary David Miliband warns Labour critics within the party. "Don't believe that we have run out of steam. We haven't. So let's show the country that we've still got the energy, the ideas, the hunger, the commitment" - Mr Miliband. "Let's start with one simple, undeniable fact. The earth does revolve around the sun - but not the one printed in Wapping" - Mr Miliband takes a dig at The Sun after it dropped its ...

Farewell First Minister . . . but do you remember what he said? Some, much-loved, classics here from the great man. "Do one-legged ducks swim in a circle?" he asked Jeremy Paxman when the Newsnight presenter inquired if he wanted to be First Minister. Paying tribute to Tony Blair: "It's very strange for me to be standing here today talking about a person who shafted me on one occasion but on the other hand, compared to what has happened with Iraq, I think that's pretty small beer to be honest with you. Life is far too short to be bearing grudges of that sort." Contributing to a debate on police reform, for which he won a second Foot in Mouth award for gobbledegook: "The only thing which isn't up for grabs is no change and I think it's fair to say it's all to play for, except for no change." Castigating Tory AM Jonathan Morgan after he criticised the quality of Assembly debates in 2003: "It's like a child shooting both its paren...