Latest news with #PaulMiller
2 days ago
- Politics
Paul Miller survives no-confidence vote over Welsh-medium education comments
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL'S deputy leader, Cllr Paul Miller, has survived a vote of no-confidence brought over controversial remarks about Welsh-medium education. Survived: Cllr Paul Miller At a special meeting held on Monday (June 2), councillors voted 28 against, 16 in favour, and 11 abstained, rejecting the motion tabled by the council's Independent Political Group. The motion followed comments made by Cllr Miller at a Cabinet meeting in April and again at the Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee in May, where he stated that 'mums he spoke to in Neyland didn't give a toss' whether their children were taught in Welsh or English, suggesting that some parents chose Ysgol Caer Elen for its facilities rather than its language policy. Calls for accountability Introducing the motion, Cllr Huw Murphy said the remarks were 'unacceptable in 2025' and risked undermining equality in the delivery of Welsh-medium education. He criticised Cllr Miller for proposing to gather data from parents on their language choices, despite being told that such a move fell outside the remit of the school admissions code. He added that the Deputy Leader had ignored advice from senior officers, the Welsh Language Commissioner, and even his own party's former First Minister, Mark Drakeford. Cabinet shift and apology In response, Cllr Miller said he was repeating what had been told to him by local parents and insisted he had not intended to offend. He admitted his wording had been clumsy and apologised for any upset caused. The Deputy Leader also pointed to a revised Cabinet decision made at an extraordinary meeting on May 21, which broadened the proposed parental survey to include all schools and all languages, rather than focusing solely on Welsh-medium settings. Cllr Miller maintained that the initial motion had been mischaracterised and accused political opponents of seeking to 'sow division' over a non-issue. Mixed reactions from councillors Council Chair Cllr Delme Harries reminded members that enabling choice in education was a core responsibility and stressed the need for respectful dialogue. He said: 'How we respond to being incorrect is important. The Welsh language is a living language and deserves our respect.' Some councillors, including Conservative Cllr Aled Thomas and Plaid Cymru's Cllr Michael Williams, acknowledged that the comments had been ill-judged but stopped short of supporting a motion of no-confidence. Others, including Cllr Jamie Adams and former Leader Cllr John Davies, said senior councillors must use discretion when amplifying public opinions. Conservative Group Leader Cllr Di Clements said the Cabinet had already changed course and called the motion unnecessary, citing the £2,000 cost of holding the extraordinary meeting. 'That money would be better spent filling the black hole in the local authority's finances,' she said. Public response and political tension The incident has sparked wider debate about the promotion of Welsh-medium education, with strong reactions on both sides. Prominent journalist Hefin Wyn criticised the council's leadership for downplaying the issue and called the remarks an affront to the principle of language equality. His comments are due to be published in full in Friday's edition of The Pembrokeshire Herald. The council's revised position means parents of all school applicants may now be asked why they choose a particular setting. The final shape and cost of this data-gathering exercise have yet to be confirmed.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Pembrokeshire deputy council leader survives no confidence vote
A deputy leader in a council has survived a vote of no confidence after a row about Welsh medium education in the Miller, deputy leader of Pembrokeshire council, previously said that parents "couldn't give a toss" if their children went to a Welsh-language school in a town in south-west councillors supported the motion by Independent group leader, Huw Murphy, with 28 voting against and 11 leader Jon Harvey accused Cllr Murphy of "political opportunism at its worse." Former council leader Jamie Adams said Miller gave the impression that he "knew better than everybody else" and called on him to apologise for the language used during the cabinet response, Miller said it was "sensible to collect data" about the school choices made by parents, adding that Murphy was creating also said Pembrokeshire had delivered the largest percentage growth in Welsh medium education of all the group leader Di Clements criticised the decision to hold the meeting in the first said the councillors would have been better off "finding ways of dealing with the huge financial black hole" rather than seeing who "has the biggest ego in the chamber." It comes after the Welsh government passed a major new bill to boost the number of pupils studying in Welsh Language and Education (Wales) Bill aims to close the gap in Welsh speaking ability among pupils from different Language Secretary Mark Drakeford described the bill as "historic" adding that schools do not currently get enough from the investment made to teach Welsh in English-medium bill aims to make progress towards the 2050 target of a million Welsh speakers by strengthening the role of the language in education.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen drivers enter 100 deadliest days, risk of fatal crashes increased
Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the '100 Deadliest Days' for teen drivers, a period that sees a significant increase in fatal car crashes involving teenagers. This dangerous stretch lasts until Labor Day, with teenagers aged 16-17 being three times more likely to die in a car crash compared to adults, according to AAA. McDowell celebrates 10 students embarking on military careers Between 2019 and 2023, more than 13,000 people were killed in crashes involving teen drivers. In 2023 alone, nearly 3,000 people died in crashes involving teen drivers, with 860 of those deaths occurring during the '100 Deadliest Days.' In 2023 alone, nearly 3,000 people died in crashes involving teen drivers, with 860 of those deaths occurring during the '100 Deadliest Days.' Most of these crashes are attributed to speeding and distracted driving, such as using a cell phone, eating, or being distracted by friends. Erie law enforcement express importance of new Paul Miller law Data shows that a 16 or 17-year-old driver's risk of being killed in a crash increases with more young passengers. The risk doubles with two passengers under 21 and quadruples with three or more. Derek MacArthur, owner of Transportation Solutions, emphasized the importance of regulations on the number of underage passengers a junior driver can have, noting that more passengers can be a huge distraction. Lynda Lambert also highlighted that more than 50 percent of teenagers killed in crashes are not buckled up, and many crashes occur during nighttime hours due to inexperience. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The '100 Deadliest Days' serve as a reminder for parents to discuss safe driving practices with their teenagers, emphasizing the importance of seat belts and minimizing distractions while driving. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
McDowell celebrates 10 students embarking on military careers
McDowell High School celebrated its first Military Signing Day, honoring 10 students for their commitment to serve in the military. The event took place in McDowell's North gym, traditionally used for athletic recognitions, but this time it was dedicated to students embarking on military careers. The ceremony included traditional elements such as the color guard and the national anthem, underscoring the significance of the students' decision to serve their country. Erie law enforcement express importance of new Paul Miller law 'It means a lot because I haven't really gotten recognized much for my commitment,' said Josh Fairfield, who enlisted in the United States Air Force. 'People tell me congratulations, but this really brings it over the top. I appreciate this a lot.' Megan Boesch, a school counselor at McDowell High School, highlighted the diverse interests of the students, noting, 'They all have different jobs that they're interested in too, and it's fun, kind of highlighting the things that they're good at.' Korasch Weitzer, who enlisted in the Army National Guard, shared her motivation, saying, 'My grandfather served in the Army during Vietnam and I am one of the very few women in my family who have served in the military. I wanted to make a statement and show others that you can be a leader while going to school and earning a degree.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Among the honored students, Ayden Kinnear signed on to be in the United States Army Infantry, expressing his desire to make a tangible difference. 'I felt like with the infantry I'd be causing a tangible difference and I feel like I'd feel proud of it,' he said. The ceremony not only celebrated the students' commitment but also their future roles in the military, with some pursuing specialized careers such as engineering and the medical field. The event marked a significant moment for the students and their families, as they were recognized for their dedication and readiness to serve their country. Presque Isle beaches named among most underrated in the US The Military Signing Day at McDowell High School highlighted the dedication of young individuals ready to serve their country, reflecting their diverse interests and future aspirations within the military. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WJET/WFXP. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WJET/WFXP staff before being published. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Age
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
This Liberal talk about aspiration is code for something else
To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@ Please include your home address and telephone number below your letter. No attachments. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. POLITICS The repeated and predictable mea culpa of 'we need to listen more' from Liberal politicians during the ABC's Four Corners report Decimated on Monday night was wholly unconvincing. The Liberals had three years 'to listen more' after being rolled in 2022. Instead, they chose a cheap Trumpian-style campaign approach for the 2025 election, replete with the requisite display of political spin gymnastics. Despite the effort to paint Peter Dutton as a swell kind of guy, his heavily tattooed leopard spots of reputation preceded him in spades. So maybe here's some possible redeeming starting points. Get rid of the spin about being the party representing aspirational Australian values. This sounds like it's supporting dog-eat-dog self-interest where we know which aspirants in the socio-economic scale the Liberals will prioritise. Get out of the blokey right-wing echo chambers and start delivering policies that have evidence-based substance. Paul Miller, Box Hill South Values? We want vision On Four Corners assorted Liberal folk talked at length about 'our values' and 'what we stand for'. They don't get that the Enlightenment values, which are their core, are no longer their exclusive preserve. Voters would rather hear about the Liberal Party's ideas, vision, policies – values as action in the real world of our complex, multicultural society and environment under siege. They are not going to be moved by whingeing about wokeism, or unsupported guesses about what the 'quiet people' – whoever they are – might want. George Brandis seems to get it, but frankly many others don't. Michael Read, Carnegie Misleading names Liberal once meant being willing to respect or accept behaviour or opinions different from one's own; to be open to new ideas. In a political sense, it meant favouring policies that were socially progressive and promoted social welfare. Conservative meant being averse to change or innovation and holding traditional values. In a political sense it meant favouring free enterprise, private ownership and socially traditional ideas. To this extent the current Australian Liberal Party is at best conservative rather than liberal. In recent years the Liberal Party seems to have adopted the approach whereby any proposal or policy suggestion put forward by the Labor Party – whether on electric vehicles, tax, or the Indigenous referendum – is automatically regarded as completely wrong and thus must be opposed with facile slogans and ridicule. I'll be watching with interest what comes of the current off again-on again discussions between that party and the equally quaintly misnamed National Party. John MacInnes, Warrnambool Climate wedge In Cathy Wilcox's cartoon (Letters, 27/5) the Nationals' David Littleproud checks the weather extremes of the climate crisis, finding no problem. Littleproud is wedged politically between the Liberals who believe in net zero, but do little about it, and the likes of Matt Canavan, who deny climate change with recent comments like, 'there's just not credible evidence that droughts or floods are getting worse in this country'. John Hughes, Mentone Nuclear dump Without exactly saying it and with little fanfair, the Nationals have dumped their nuclear policy. David Littleproud's announcement that a nuclear roll-out would not be contemplated unless it was financed by the private sector (' Liberals and Nationals closer on Coalition fix, spotlight moves to Littleproud leadership ', 23/5) is the death knoll for any future nuclear plans. Additionally, no Senate in its present makeup would lift the existing ban. THE FORUM
