Little did I think when I drafted a paper on defence at the request of Plaid’s National Executive Committee that I would end up being called everything from “dangerous” to a “nutter” by Labour politicians.
It’s hard to believe that I am under attack for debating defence policy – one of the most important issues we all have to deal with, and St Athan – one of the biggest investments in Wales’s history, but not without controversy.
Plaid will have this debate at our National Council meeting tomorrow (Saturday), and after that we’ll be very happy to continue the debate in public, when I hope the media will continue their interest. My paper was written for the members – putting forward ideas and proposals for us to talk about before making policy decisions. It’s a pity that such documents get leaked to the press and misinterpreted.
It should be no surprise to anyone that Plaid would not be part of NATO or would scrap nuclear weapons. It’s been our policy for years. But in a changing Wales we have to look at our changing defence needs as a small European country. It doesn’t reflect well on the maturity of political debate when some politicians react with such hysteria to a genuine and important discussion.
November 16, 2007 at 5:18 pm |
Well done, Jill. Once again you’ve shown a thoughtful, principled approach to important issues. This is a vital subject and it’s about time it was discussed properly.
November 16, 2007 at 5:45 pm |
Chris Bryant is claiming that 6,000 jobs will be created in St Athan – even the spin doctors only claimed 5,000 and that was before Phase 2 fell by the wayside! It’s now estimated that 40% fewer trainees will come to the Vale, needing 40% fewer training staff. So we can take Bryant’s claims, as usual, with a pinch of salt.
I sincerely hope this motion is passed so that Plaid becomes the first mainstream party to show some principle in opposing the St Athan academy.
November 16, 2007 at 5:49 pm |
Good for you – fight the fight against the Murder Academy. Pro-privatising ex-Tory Y-Fronts Bryant boasted about Welsh troops making up 9% of the British Army. Economic conscription is nothing to boast about.
November 16, 2007 at 7:24 pm |
The ‘nutters’ are the ones who rush headlong into things like this, the ones who believe the unreliable figures bandied about on job totals, the ones who don’t care one little bit about principles.
And no, I don’t vote Plaid – but I will now.
November 17, 2007 at 10:09 am |
Congratulations Jill. Jill is the only politician in Wales with the courage to challenge the privatisation and concentration of military training at St Athan to be delivered by a consortium which includes arms dealers Raytheon associated with the deliver of cluster bombs.
Where did this figure of 5,000 even 6,000 jobs come from? That is pure spin at best or deliberate falsehood! The BBC, Peter Black, Huw Lewis and Bryant are all quoting 5/6,000 jobs at St Athan when they know that most are to be transferred in to St Athan and that the MOD has annouced 1,100 after it dumped half the iniatial plan – or package 2? It will be 1,100 – yes 1,100 and nothing near the 5,000 jobs promised and that Emperor Rhodri Morgan was drinking champagne to celebrate! Most of the ‘high skill’ jobs been transferred in are for instructional officers who are in the main ex-forces with additional training of 5 years on top of that. Not many of those going to Barry job centre will have those qualifications.
PCS, the union that represents many MOD staff says that the number of jobs in scope of package 1 has dropped from 1500 to 1100. These 400 posts are those not directly linked to training delivery. Package 2 has been dumped by the government as it is too expensive.
This contract will be the largest PFI/PPP project ever undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and will be the largest partnering arrangement ever undertaken in the UK. A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) for DTR in simplistic terms means that the winning consortia will effectively own all of the real estate and services for training for the next 25 years. For this they will be paid an annual sum and must, by law, make a profit for their shareholders. The contract is worth £19 billion.
They couldn’t make a privatised railway work so it is pretty unbelievable that we even suggest privatising military training never mind applauding it especially when it is to be delivered by private arms companies that are excluded from any ethical investing country, bank or charity as in Norway and Belgium.
In a recent press release PCS, (Union) welcomed the MoD U-turn on training privatisation and the announcement by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to halt the privatisation of approximately 4,000 staff who train the armed forces in driving armoured vehicles, lorries and jeeps as well as languages. The union hailed the decision to keep one half of defence training in the public sector as a victory for common sense which would ensure world class training for the armed forces whilst providing value for money for the taxpayer.
PCS called on the MoD to see sense and halt the privatisation of the other half of defence training which includes technical and mechanical training. The union warned that pushing ahead with remaining half of defence training would represent poor value for money and lead to a loss of knowledge and experience as staff would refuse to relocate to the new training base in South Wales….
Jill is right that we should stop and take an honest look at what is being proposed for St Athan.
For more information See http://www.cynefinywerin see also our blog http://www.metrixconsortium.blogspot.com
http://www.nomurderacademyatstathans.com/
our briefings on:Qinetiq – http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=286
Raytheon – http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=287
and our cluster bombs press release –
http://www.cynefinywerin.org.uk/index.php?docid=288
Anne Greagsby
coordinator of the campaign against St Athan
Cynefin y Werin
November 19, 2007 at 2:10 pm |
Not that i’d want anyone to go to war, but if i had to pick one it would be Chris Bryant.
Anyway i wouldn’t worry to much about the university of death too much, if the past is anything to go by as soon as all the buildings and roads are built the whole thing will be shelved anyway.
The real nutter’s are the ones from other political parties who are too afraid to even talk about it. One day perhaps Wales can lead the world and show the way, If every county the min of arms it would lead to less war, not more.
December 23, 2007 at 7:29 pm |
Isn’t it strange how the so-called Welsh media has played this?
They hyped up all the Labour war-mongers comments yet point blank lied about Plaid’s real line and then refused to publish balanced responses.
I think we need to be told what links these organisations have with the military-industrial complex.