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South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Extra support for areas with lots of Welsh speakers
This comes after ministers accepted recommendations from a report by the Commission for Welsh Speaking Communities, led by Dr Simon Brooks. The two-year study proposed several measures to protect Welsh as a community language. Welsh Language Secretary Mark Drakeford announced the plans at the Urdd Eisteddfod. The government will provide targeted support to areas with higher concentrations of Welsh speakers, ensure access to Welsh-medium education, and offer more guidance about the language across various policy areas. Recommendations were accepted in several areas, including the economy, housing, community development, and education. The government will work with local authorities and partners to discuss and implement these recommendations. Mr Drakeford said: "Cymraeg belongs to us all, and to every community across Wales. "I am grateful for the commission's hard work on this report, and I hope that by accepting their recommendations, we can strengthen Welsh in all our communities." "We agree in principle that areas of linguistic significance should be designated and will now progress this by working with partners to create tailored policies that respond to the specific needs of Welsh-speaking communities."
Pembrokeshire Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Energy price cut welcome, but charity says ‘bleak winter ahead' for Welsh pensioners
HUW MURPHY, a member of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, has confirmed to The Herald this week (May 25) that the Group has submitted a formal request to the Presiding Officer for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Council. The purpose of the meeting is to debate a motion of No Confidence in Councillor Paul Miller, specifically regarding his roles as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member. The request, which received unanimous support during a recent meeting of the Independent Group, was formally submitted late on Friday afternoon (May 23) and acknowledged by the Council. It will be formally processed on Tuesday (May 27), the next working day. Under the Council's constitution, the Presiding Officer has five working days to respond. The Independent Group has expressed its expectation that the request will be accepted and a date set without delay. Under fire: Cllr Paul Miller (Pic: Herald file) The call for an EGM stems from a number of concerns, which will be fully outlined during the meeting. However, central to the motion is Councillor Miller's handling of matters related to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and his comments at a Cabinet meeting on April 28. During that meeting, Councillor Miller remarked that, in his view, parents send their children to Ysgol Caer Elen for a 'good education' rather than specifically for a Welsh-language education. This statement, the Independent Group argues, conveys a perception of bias against Welsh-medium education. Further controversy arose when Councillor Miller publicly criticised the Welsh Language Commissioner—an independent expert appointed by the First Minister—accusing her of making an 'extraordinary political intervention' after she raised concerns about the legality and implications of his proposal to collect additional data from parents choosing Welsh-medium education. The Commissioner's concerns were grounded in the Welsh Government's Schools Admission Code, which the Commissioner argued would be breached by the proposal. Rather than addressing these concerns or withdrawing the amendment, Councillor Miller accused others of generating negative publicity and failed to accept any personal responsibility. At the Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 14, the issue was further examined, yet Councillor Miller did not retract his original stance. Instead, he revised his amendment at Cabinet on May 21 to apply to both Welsh and English language education—a move viewed by the Independent Group as an attempt to save face without acknowledging fault. Despite widespread concern from the Welsh Language Commissioner, senior council officers, the Welsh Government, and committee members, Councillor Miller has neither apologised nor shown any willingness to reflect on his actions. The Cabinet's decision to adopt his revised amendment, with only six of nine members present at a remote meeting, was also a cause for concern. The Independent Group believes that public trust in elected representatives depends on their ability to recognise mistakes, show humility, and respect expert advice. Councillor Miller's refusal to do so—despite being an experienced politician—has led to this motion of No Confidence.
Pembrokeshire Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Welsh Conservatives slam Labour's council tax reform as ‘failing families'
HUW MURPHY, a member of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, has confirmed to The Herald this week (May 25) that the Group has submitted a formal request to the Presiding Officer for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Council. The purpose of the meeting is to debate a motion of No Confidence in Councillor Paul Miller, specifically regarding his roles as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member. The request, which received unanimous support during a recent meeting of the Independent Group, was formally submitted late on Friday afternoon (May 23) and acknowledged by the Council. It will be formally processed on Tuesday (May 27), the next working day. Under the Council's constitution, the Presiding Officer has five working days to respond. The Independent Group has expressed its expectation that the request will be accepted and a date set without delay. Under fire: Cllr Paul Miller (Pic: Herald file) The call for an EGM stems from a number of concerns, which will be fully outlined during the meeting. However, central to the motion is Councillor Miller's handling of matters related to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and his comments at a Cabinet meeting on April 28. During that meeting, Councillor Miller remarked that, in his view, parents send their children to Ysgol Caer Elen for a 'good education' rather than specifically for a Welsh-language education. This statement, the Independent Group argues, conveys a perception of bias against Welsh-medium education. Further controversy arose when Councillor Miller publicly criticised the Welsh Language Commissioner—an independent expert appointed by the First Minister—accusing her of making an 'extraordinary political intervention' after she raised concerns about the legality and implications of his proposal to collect additional data from parents choosing Welsh-medium education. The Commissioner's concerns were grounded in the Welsh Government's Schools Admission Code, which the Commissioner argued would be breached by the proposal. Rather than addressing these concerns or withdrawing the amendment, Councillor Miller accused others of generating negative publicity and failed to accept any personal responsibility. At the Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 14, the issue was further examined, yet Councillor Miller did not retract his original stance. Instead, he revised his amendment at Cabinet on May 21 to apply to both Welsh and English language education—a move viewed by the Independent Group as an attempt to save face without acknowledging fault. Despite widespread concern from the Welsh Language Commissioner, senior council officers, the Welsh Government, and committee members, Councillor Miller has neither apologised nor shown any willingness to reflect on his actions. The Cabinet's decision to adopt his revised amendment, with only six of nine members present at a remote meeting, was also a cause for concern. The Independent Group believes that public trust in elected representatives depends on their ability to recognise mistakes, show humility, and respect expert advice. Councillor Miller's refusal to do so—despite being an experienced politician—has led to this motion of No Confidence.
Pembrokeshire Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Independent Group calls for EGM over no confidence in Deputy Leader
HUW MURPHY, a member of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, has confirmed to The Herald this week (May 25) that the Group has submitted a formal request to the Presiding Officer for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Council. The purpose of the meeting is to debate a motion of No Confidence in Councillor Paul Miller, specifically regarding his roles as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member. The request, which received unanimous support during a recent meeting of the Independent Group, was formally submitted late on Friday afternoon (May 23) and acknowledged by the Council. It will be formally processed on Tuesday (May 27), the next working day. Under the Council's constitution, the Presiding Officer has five working days to respond. The Independent Group has expressed its expectation that the request will be accepted and a date set without delay. Under fire: Cllr Paul Miller (Pic: Herald file) The call for an EGM stems from a number of concerns, which will be fully outlined during the meeting. However, central to the motion is Councillor Miller's handling of matters related to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and his comments at a Cabinet meeting on April 28. During that meeting, Councillor Miller remarked that, in his view, parents send their children to Ysgol Caer Elen for a 'good education' rather than specifically for a Welsh-language education. This statement, the Independent Group argues, conveys a perception of bias against Welsh-medium education. Further controversy arose when Councillor Miller publicly criticised the Welsh Language Commissioner—an independent expert appointed by the First Minister—accusing her of making an 'extraordinary political intervention' after she raised concerns about the legality and implications of his proposal to collect additional data from parents choosing Welsh-medium education. The Commissioner's concerns were grounded in the Welsh Government's Schools Admission Code, which the Commissioner argued would be breached by the proposal. Rather than addressing these concerns or withdrawing the amendment, Councillor Miller accused others of generating negative publicity and failed to accept any personal responsibility. At the Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 14, the issue was further examined, yet Councillor Miller did not retract his original stance. Instead, he revised his amendment at Cabinet on May 21 to apply to both Welsh and English language education—a move viewed by the Independent Group as an attempt to save face without acknowledging fault. Despite widespread concern from the Welsh Language Commissioner, senior council officers, the Welsh Government, and committee members, Councillor Miller has neither apologised nor shown any willingness to reflect on his actions. The Cabinet's decision to adopt his revised amendment, with only six of nine members present at a remote meeting, was also a cause for concern. The Independent Group believes that public trust in elected representatives depends on their ability to recognise mistakes, show humility, and respect expert advice. Councillor Miller's refusal to do so—despite being an experienced politician—has led to this motion of No Confidence.
Pembrokeshire Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Pembrokeshire Herald
DAVIES: ‘First Minister's migration comments dangerously out of touch'
HUW MURPHY, a member of the Independent Group on Pembrokeshire County Council, has confirmed to The Herald this week (May 25) that the Group has submitted a formal request to the Presiding Officer for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the Council. The purpose of the meeting is to debate a motion of No Confidence in Councillor Paul Miller, specifically regarding his roles as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member. The request, which received unanimous support during a recent meeting of the Independent Group, was formally submitted late on Friday afternoon (May 23) and acknowledged by the Council. It will be formally processed on Tuesday (May 27), the next working day. Under the Council's constitution, the Presiding Officer has five working days to respond. The Independent Group has expressed its expectation that the request will be accepted and a date set without delay. Under fire: Cllr Paul Miller (Pic: Herald file) The call for an EGM stems from a number of concerns, which will be fully outlined during the meeting. However, central to the motion is Councillor Miller's handling of matters related to the Welsh in Education Strategic Plan (WESP) and his comments at a Cabinet meeting on April 28. During that meeting, Councillor Miller remarked that, in his view, parents send their children to Ysgol Caer Elen for a 'good education' rather than specifically for a Welsh-language education. This statement, the Independent Group argues, conveys a perception of bias against Welsh-medium education. Further controversy arose when Councillor Miller publicly criticised the Welsh Language Commissioner—an independent expert appointed by the First Minister—accusing her of making an 'extraordinary political intervention' after she raised concerns about the legality and implications of his proposal to collect additional data from parents choosing Welsh-medium education. The Commissioner's concerns were grounded in the Welsh Government's Schools Admission Code, which the Commissioner argued would be breached by the proposal. Rather than addressing these concerns or withdrawing the amendment, Councillor Miller accused others of generating negative publicity and failed to accept any personal responsibility. At the Schools Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on May 14, the issue was further examined, yet Councillor Miller did not retract his original stance. Instead, he revised his amendment at Cabinet on May 21 to apply to both Welsh and English language education—a move viewed by the Independent Group as an attempt to save face without acknowledging fault. Despite widespread concern from the Welsh Language Commissioner, senior council officers, the Welsh Government, and committee members, Councillor Miller has neither apologised nor shown any willingness to reflect on his actions. The Cabinet's decision to adopt his revised amendment, with only six of nine members present at a remote meeting, was also a cause for concern. The Independent Group believes that public trust in elected representatives depends on their ability to recognise mistakes, show humility, and respect expert advice. Councillor Miller's refusal to do so—despite being an experienced politician—has led to this motion of No Confidence.
