S4C: Ex-Labour politician Delyth Evans to chair Welsh broadcaster
Announcing Evans as her preferred candidate for the job, UK government Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Delyth began her career as a broadcast journalist, and her vision for S4C's future reflects a deep understanding of the Welsh cultural and media landscape, as well as an enduring commitment to public service."
Before politics Delyth Evans was a journalist at ITV-broadcaster HTV Wales, working on current affairs programme Y Byd ar Bedwar for S4C.She later worked as a reporter for the World at One and PM for BBC Radio 4.After her stint in the Assembly she was chief executive of Smart Works, a women's employment charity, and is currently a board member at Sport Wales, and a trustee of the Urdd.Evans will appear before the Welsh Affairs Select Committee for a pre-appointment hearing on 23 April.
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Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fears new Labour property tax will hit the hardest workers, as Rachel Reeves's minister refuses to rule out controversial new levy to replace stamp duty
faced a furious backlash yesterday over a possible and highly controversial shake-up of property levies. The Chancellor was warned that proposals to replace stamp duty with an annual charge on homes worth more than £500,000 would damage the market as well as punish people who have worked hard to own their houses. And one of her Treasury ministers refused to rule out the possibility of her introducing the radical change in the Budget as she seeks to fill a £50 billion black hole in the public finances. Labour vowed before the last election that it would 'not increase taxes on working people', ruling out rises in National Insurance, income tax or VAT. But that language seemed to soften yesterday. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride said: 'Labour can equivocate all they like, but we know they are drawing up plans to raise taxes yet again at the Autumn Budget. ' Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves promised not to raise taxes on working people, then introduced a £25 billion Jobs Tax – which will leave the average working household £3,500 worse off. 'Now, after their botched welfare reforms and economic mismanagement, they are clearly gearing up to do it all over again this autumn. 'The British public simply cannot afford Labour. Only the Conservatives believe in sound money and low taxes.' As part of her efforts to fill the Government's coffers and boost economic growth, Ms Reeves is understood to have asked officials to look at a potential overhaul of property taxes. She has already been called on by economists to scrap the current system in which buyers having to pay thousands of pounds in stamp duty on house sales, which they say deters people from moving. The Guardian reported that owners of houses worth more than £500,000 could have to pay a 'proportional property tax' based on the value of their properties when they sell up. However, sources played down the claims that Treasury officials are looking at this proposal or threshold. Sources also moved away from suggestions that civil servants are drawing on the findings of a report published last year by think-tank Onward, which proposed that only future owners could pay an annual tax based on the value of the property instead of stamp duty. Under the plan put forward by economist Professor Tim Leunig, current homeowners would not be hit by the charge but if they do sell up in future, their buyers would pay the levy each year instead of stamp duty at the point of purchase. Kirstie Allsopp, the TV presenter who fronts Location, Location, Location, led a furious backlash over the reported plans It is intended to open up the property market by making it less expensive to move and encouraging those in large homes to downsize. TV presenter Kirstie Allsopp warned the Chancellor not to risk destabilising the market by 'flying kites' about potential new property taxes, telling Times Radio: 'It's not Rachel's to go after because it's their homes. 'It's the roof over their head. And this Government seems to want to punish people for making the sacrifices they've made to buy their own homes.' James Browne, senior economic policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute, said: 'While replacing stamp duty with a new annual property levy on homes worth more than £500,000 is economically sensible, it would be politically challenging. 'Either long-standing homeowners who are asset-rich but cash-poor would be hit with much larger bills or, if it only applied after a property changed hands, would discourage moving just as much as stamp duty does at the moment.' Treasury minister Torsten Bell told Sky News: 'Tax decisions are made by the Chancellor. I'm not going to start speculating on individual taxes.' Last night a Treasury spokesman said: 'We are protecting payslips for working people by keeping our promise to not raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, employee National Insurance or VAT.' What are the plans for a 'national property tax'? What is being proposed? The Treasury is said to be considering plans for a national property tax on the sale of homes worth more than £500,000. What would this replace? This tax would replace stamp duty on owner-occupied homes. Buyers pay stamp duty under the existing framework, if they purchase property worth more than £125,000. How would the new tax work? The new levy would be paid by owner-occupiers on houses worth more than £500,000 when they sell their home, with the amount due determined by the value of the property and a rate set by the Government. What figures could be involved? This has not been confirmed. But a report by think tank Onward last year suggested replacing stamp duty with an annual 'national proportional property tax' levied on homeowners of houses with a value above £500,000, at a rate of 0.54% - plus a 0.278% supplement on values over £1million. A separate local property tax set at 0.44% of the house value up to £500,000 and with a minimum of £800 per household per year could replace council tax. What are current stamp duty rates? Stamp duty rates for buying a single property are currently 2% from £125,000; 5% from £250,001; 10% from £925,001; and 12% from £1.5million.
South Wales Argus
25 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Revisiting some of Hefin David's hilarious Senedd moments
He was intelligent, thoughtful and genuine – a tenacious campaigner on behalf of his Caerphilly constituents who was dedicated to improving people's lives across Wales. But he also had something in spades that few politicians possess: a proper sense of humour. For many people, their abiding memory will be of a kind-hearted family man who had a knack for making people laugh and smile – even at the most trying times. In that spirit, we trawled through the archives to bring you just some of Dr David's very many witty contributions in the Senedd over the years. 'We'll get one off Temu' Often a forward-thinker, he led a debate in February on future flight technology, everything from drones to flying cars, laying down a challenge to economy secretary Rebecca Evans. 'Far from being the stuff of sci-fi, these air vehicles are actually working,' he told the debating chamber. 'I invite the minister to try one – we'll get one off Temu.' Scrutinising the housing minister in June, he asked whether the Welsh Government would give more money if the leader of Caerphilly council called for it. 'Just say, 'yes', and I'll let him know,' he remarked before his colleague could answer. He was known for his sharp sense of humour (Image: Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd Reporter) Dr David was a heckler extraordinaire, often getting a ticking off from the chair. Calling for order in January, Elin Jones, the Senedd's speaker or Llywydd, said: 'Can we listen to the minister's response? She's being heckled by her own backbenches.' He jokingly set the record straight, intervening to point out that he was heckling Plaid Cymru's Cefin Campbell – not his partner Vikki Howells, the higher education minister. 'Don't put that on a leaflet' During a debate about rugby TV rights in July last year, he said he had a lot in common with Rishi Sunak who had bemoaned going without 'lots of things' as a child including Sky TV. 'My dad wouldn't let us have Sky either and we had to listen to it on the radio,' He told the Senedd, stressing that's all he had in common with the former Tory prime minister. Plaid Cymru's Delyth Jewell later joked: 'Who knew you had so much in common with Rishi Sunak? For anyone who missed the beginning of the debate, I'm not going to give context.' Dr David told his political opponent: 'Don't put that on a leaflet!' In February last year, as the Senedd discussed apprenticeships, he thanked colleagues for referencing a report on transitions to employment which he had authored. He said: 'I'd be far too modest to do so myself but now that they have…' 'Wayne David isn't my dad' In mid-November, he paid tribute to the first minister's warmth during a debate on Eluned Morgan's first 100 days in office. He told the Senedd: 'We've known each other a long time now, she's the only first minister who gives me a cwtch every time I see her. I can see Mark Drakeford getting a little worried there – I'm not expecting anything, finance minister.' Dr David had a way of diffusing a fraught situation with humour, as in September 2023, when the Senedd was asked to express no confidence in the then-transport minister over 20mph. He paid credit to the Conservatives: 'They've achieved something today that many have tried and many have failed: they've united two thirds of this chamber around Lee Waters.' Then, he told the Senedd about an email he received from a constituent, saying: 'It may well be you have an ambition to be our representative in Westminster when your dad retires.' He clarified: 'Wayne David isn't my dad, and I think we need to make that absolutely clear.' 'Promoted to the backbenches' He often had Senedd members, including the opposition, in stitches (Image: Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd Reporter) During first minister's questions in July 2022, he struggled to hold it together to ask his question due to a colleague mucking about on the back benches. He said: 'I'm sorry. Alun Davies was being very silly there, he made me laugh.' The speaker joked: 'That statement is now on the record.' On another occasion, he congratulated his Labour colleague on his 'promotion' to the backbenches after he was sacked by then-incoming first minister Mark Drakeford. Following a fiery exchange between the then-first minister and Plaid Cymru's leader at FMQs in December 2022, he lightened the mood as he would often do. 'Last week marked the one-year anniversary of the co-operation agreement, I'm glad to see it's still so healthy,' he said, prompting laughter around the chamber. 'She's either staring me out or she's frozen' When Dawn Bowden revealed in a June 2022 meeting that Dr David told her he would hide in the changing rooms to avoid PE at school, he joked: 'That was a confidential conversation!' And, in a remote meeting during the pandemic, he wasn't 100 per cent sure if the then-culture minister was having technical troubles. 'She's either staring me out or she's frozen,' he said. In June 2021, he told the Senedd: 'You won't believe this but I was awful at sport in school,' as he claimed credit for the Senedd rugby side 'absolutely smashing' Westminster's team. 'But, in school, I was not interested in sport because I felt it was a team game,' he said. 'And the chief whip will know I'm not so good at team stuff sometimes.' When a transport chief lost their thread while appearing before a Senedd committee in January 2021, he could hardly resist pointing out: 'You lost your train of thought.' 'One thing I haven't done is upset the Queen' In 2019, Dr David, a child of the 1980s, was chuffed to bits with the title of a committee report about the Welsh Baccalaureate, proclaiming 'Bacc to the future' as one of the best ever. Another time, while trying to pry a clear-cut answer out of his friend and colleague Vaughan Gething, he said: 'I feel like Jeremy Paxman interviewing Michael Howard.' Dr David wasn't afraid to poke fun at himself. When a witness described sixth formers as 'more mature' in 2020, he replied in typical fashion: 'You didn't know me in sixth form, then.' In September 2022, he recalled an encounter with the Queen at the Senedd's official opening after he was first elected in 2016: 'She was looking directly at me. I have to say, Llywydd, I feel uncomfortable when you look directly at me. 'I wasn't sure whether she had a frown on her face. I wasn't sure whether I had upset her, and I was thinking, 'Oh my God, I've upset her – it's probably because I'm wearing a red tie'. 'But … she did actually give me – and I'm not making this up – a reassuring smile. So, I could rest easy… and think, 'One thing I haven't done is upset the Queen'.'
Press and Journal
an hour ago
- Press and Journal
Former Aberdeen charity campaigner fined after racist rant at hotel receptionist
A former Labour MP candidate and Aberdeen community charity champion had admitted to racially abusing a hotel receptionist. Sumon Hoque, 42, flew into a rage with the African woman at The Rox Hotel in the city after she didn't give him a napkin. Aberdeen Sheriff Court heard Hoque – who was dropped by the Labour Party a decade ago when he was convicted of drink-driving – told the woman 'go back to your own country' during the racist rant. Hoque, who also has previous convictions for abusive behaviour and was commended for his charity work with Aberdeen Muslims in 2021, admitted one charge of racial abuse. He is no longer associated with that charity. Fiscal Lindsay Shields said Hoque was known to the staff at the hotel, as he was living there at the time, October 30 last year. Hoque had been using a microwave in the reception area when his outburst occurred. Mr Shields said: 'The female receptionist was checking another guest into the hotel when Hoque approached her, asking for a napkin. 'She told him she did not have any and he became verbally abusive – shouting and swearing at her. 'He said she was 'useless at your job' and told her 'nobody likes you here'.' The court was told Hoque then told the woman to 'go back to your own country' and 'go back to Mozambique', Mr Shields added. The fiscal said Hoque was 'pacing back and forth in front of the reception desk' and the woman was frightened for the safety of not only herself, but the other hotel guests too. Hoque pleaded guilty to acting in a manner which was racially aggravated, repeatedly shouting, swearing and being aggressive, whilst uttering racially offensive remarks towards the female. Speaking on his behalf, John McLeod said his client accepted full responsibility for his behaviour, after a phone recording of the incident was disclosed as evidence. Mr McLeod said Hoque was now living and working in Bolton and was able to pay a financial penalty. Sheriff Graham Buchanan said he would impose a fine, as there may be difficulty in imposing and enforcing an order in England. Sheriff Buchanan did not read out the contents of Hoque's background report, but said: 'Your report has various things to say, but it does not amount to mitigation – although it gives an indication of your frame of mind. 'This was obviously quite an unpleasant incident, and I notice that you have previous convictions for abusive behaviour. 'So far as these circumstances as concerned – a significant fine is required.' Hoque, of Bridgeman Street, Bolton, was fined £640 and ordered to repay it at £100 per month.
