Latest news with #JulieJames
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wales' future discussed in Cardiff by politicians and local leaders
The future of Wales was debated by politicians, business leaders, and grassroots activists in a 'Big Debate' run by the Big Issue in Cardiff. The Welsh Government, represented by the Senedd's Minister for Delivery and General Counsel, Julie James MS, faced heavy criticism from the panel and audience. Leading local journalist Will Hayward condemned Welsh Labour as "defined by very good intentions but very slow delivery." Ms James responded to the criticism by highlighting the pressures placed on her government by "14 years of austerity." Julie James at the Big Issue Big Debate. Credit: Exposure Photo Agency She also acknowledged a growing rift between Labour in Wales and the UK Government, admitting: "There have definitely been decisions that we as Welsh Labour wouldn't have made." "There are some things we fundamentally disagree with because in Welsh Labour we are different – our politics are further to the left than it is in England," Ms James told the panel. However, her comments were met with anger by one audience member, James Mapstone, who told the debate panel that he doesn't "believe in Labour anymore." "The Senedd has failed," the carer from Cardiff said. "They failed the people. "And it's the most vulnerable people in society. "There's some very serious issues going on in this country – and the young people, the elderly, in particular, and the disabled are being targeted like they've never been before." The panel also included the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Derek Walker, Welsh Children's Commissioner Rocio Cifuentes, local entrepreneur Dylan Jones-Evans, and the Big Issue's founder Lord John Bird. Credit: Exposure Photo Agency Children's Commissioner for Wales Rocio Cifuentes criticised the "lack of clear measurable targets [which] mean we struggle to hold the Welsh Government to account", insisting Wales must "measure what we treasure". The Big Issue is calling for governments to set statutory poverty reduction targets, which would legally hold politicians to account on taking long-term, preventative action on poverty. Lord Bird argued for creating wealth and growth to boost communities and lift people out of poverty. He said: "My plan before I leave this earth is to resocialise capitalism."
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Wales Online
Welsh Government won't ditch gender neutral spaces
Welsh Government won't ditch gender neutral spaces The Welsh Government says the Supreme Court's ruling will not impact gender neutral spaces Julie James MS had a one-word answer when asked a question about gender-neutral spaces in schools (Image: Welsh Government/Matt Horwood ) The Welsh Government has no plans to remove gender neutral places, such as toilets in schools, after a Supreme Court ruling where judges unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law. The result came at the end of a long-running legal battle which could have major implications for how sex-based rights apply across Scotland, England and Wales. During questions at the twice-weekly plenary session in the Senedd on May 13, Julie James, the counsel general, was asked by Conservative MS Tom Giffard what the Welsh Government would do to bring the ruling into place in Wales. She told him she would "not indulge in a culture war" with him, replying: "The Welsh Government believes in the rule of law, and we will consider the judgment carefully and take any steps required to meet our obligations under the Equality Act 2010, as interpreted by the court." For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here Mr Giffard then said: "You've had a month to consider that ruling, but some of that work has already been done for you. "The Equality and Human Rights Commission provided an interim update on the practical implications of the Supreme Court judgment, which stated that schools in England and Wales must provide separate single-sex toilets for boys and girls over the age of eight, and it is also compulsory for them to provide single-sex changing facilities for boys and girls over the age of 11. "I visited many schools across Wales, and one in particular had installed a brand-new gender-neutral toilet within the last 18 months or so. To comply with that ruling, that will now need to be looked at again. Article continues below "Will you commit to providing funding and further guidance to schools and local authorities to ensure that these gender-neutral spaces are removed?" Ms James said the answer was simply "no". "The Supreme Court judgment very clearly sets out, Tom, as you well know, that trans people are also protected under the Equality Act. "All they're doing is pointing out that, for the purposes of single-sex spaces, the biological sex matters. But the removal of gender-neutral spaces is not specified, and we will not be looking at it," she said. She told Mr Giffard: " I am not going to indulge in the kind of culture war that you clearly want me to. Providing single-sex spaces will be necessary, I'm sure, under the new interpretation of the Equality Act. "That does not require the removal of gender-neutral spaces in any way. If you read the judgment, you will see for yourself that the court goes out of its way to say that this is not a triumph of one group over another. I suggest you take that in the spirit in which it was intended." Article continues below First Minister Eluned Morgan has said that the recent Supreme Court ruling on a woman being defined by biological sex under equalities law will have "significant implications for public services". You can read her comments here. More than 1,000 people took part in a protest in Cardiff after the ruling.
Cambrian News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Cambrian News
Welsh Government outlines plans for new laws
Julie James, who is counsel general, the Welsh Government's chief legal adviser, updated the Senedd on ministers' plans for new laws with only a year to go until the next election.
BBC News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Senedd reform: Voters to be able to expel misbehaving politicians
Voters will be able to eject politicians from the Welsh Parliament for misbehaviour after the next Senedd Welsh government has agreed to pass legislation to introduce a recall process as soon as possible, saying "public trust in politics is hard-won, but easily lost, and it's our duty to safeguard it".But ministers suggested it may not be not come into force in time for the beginning of the new Senedd, in May if Senedd members are found to have broken the rules they can be suspended for a period of time but, unlike at Westminster, cannot be removed from the parliament altogether. The Standards of Conduct Committee has proposed a system giving electors the opportunity to vote to remove a misbehaving politician, but unlike in Westminster they will not be able to choose their a Senedd member breaks the rules in a way serious enough to warrant a recall process, voters in their constituency would then have a vote to either keep the existing politician or remove them and replace with the next member on the party chair Hannah Blythyn said the changes would help build "trust and transparency in our processes, in our politicians and in our politics".She pressed the Welsh government to introduce the new system in time for the next Senedd term "so that all members elected to that Senedd will be held to a consistent standard from the start".Although Counsel General Julie James agreed to introduce legislation before the next election, she warned "time is tight".She suggested work on agreeing guidelines on what level of offence or suspension from the Welsh Parliament would trigger the recall process will not happen until after the is agreement across the parties of a need to change the system and according to James "public trust in politics is hard-won, but easily lost, and it's our duty to safeguard it"."People rightly expect high standards from their elected representatives, and when those standards aren't met, they expect consequences," she said."And that's why we need a fair, transparent system that allows voters, the very people who put us here, to have the final say."
