Paul Bevan
@bevanpaul.bsky.social
Education changes the world (sometimes Higher and sometimes Further). Sustainable Transport. North Wales. Newid yw arferol.
All views are my own. Not retweets, obviously
All views are my own. Not retweets, obviously
To say that the NE Wales changes proposed by the Metro will be transformational is to undersell it.
Enhanced connectivity will bring the people, jobs, housing, and resources of NW England and NE Wales even closer together and perhaps Cardiff even further away?
Enhanced connectivity will bring the people, jobs, housing, and resources of NW England and NE Wales even closer together and perhaps Cardiff even further away?
Plans for an “integrated, high-frequency public transport network” for north Wales, including a metro service between Wrexham and Liverpool, have been revealed by the Welsh Government
Plans for north Wales metro service unveiled
Plans for an “integrated, high-frequency public transport network” for north Wales, including a metro service between Wrexham and Liverpool, have been revealed by the Welsh Government. More rail and b...
nation.cymru
May 22, 2025 at 12:54 PM
To say that the NE Wales changes proposed by the Metro will be transformational is to undersell it.
Enhanced connectivity will bring the people, jobs, housing, and resources of NW England and NE Wales even closer together and perhaps Cardiff even further away?
Enhanced connectivity will bring the people, jobs, housing, and resources of NW England and NE Wales even closer together and perhaps Cardiff even further away?
Even though I’m not sure I agree entirely about the level of ‘joy debt’, this thread is outstanding and well worth a read for anyone.
There's a huge 17 year plus debt of joy in the UK. Culture isn't just cultural industries, it's everything from street lamps to places to eat (to go full Crosland). There's poverty of income, and there's poverty of joy. Nice things to do, see, take part in, think about, that's yer engine for growth
Telegraph here suggesting the culture department may be axed – as reported in @theneweuropean.bsky.social’s diary this week.
Culture is a (rare) British success story, and a huge UK export. It needs gov support and connection. And yet, it’s facing the axe.
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
Culture is a (rare) British success story, and a huge UK export. It needs gov support and connection. And yet, it’s facing the axe.
www.theneweuropean.co.uk/rats-in-a-sa...
May 17, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Even though I’m not sure I agree entirely about the level of ‘joy debt’, this thread is outstanding and well worth a read for anyone.
Fel bob tro, nid bwriad y neges yw’r peth (er bod problemau sylweddol gyda hynny hefyd…) ond y ffaith nad oedd Cymru hyd yn oed wedi croesi meddyliau'r rhai sy'n gyfrifol ar lefel y DU.
Welsh was spoken across Britain before English even existed. But now the PM says it’s the only *official* language of the UK State. Here’s why he’s wrong. ✍️Owen Williams
buff.ly
May 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Fel bob tro, nid bwriad y neges yw’r peth (er bod problemau sylweddol gyda hynny hefyd…) ond y ffaith nad oedd Cymru hyd yn oed wedi croesi meddyliau'r rhai sy'n gyfrifol ar lefel y DU.
I’ve yet to hear a coherent argument that flying from, say, Edinburgh to London City, is morally justifiable.
May 13, 2025 at 4:56 PM
I’ve yet to hear a coherent argument that flying from, say, Edinburgh to London City, is morally justifiable.
One of the points that strikes me in these stats is how the argument that an increased numbers would give a bigger pool to pick ministers doesn’t really fly when you have splits like this.
What would this mean in terms of seats?
Modelling indicates:
- Plaid Cymru would emerge as the largest party with approximately 35 seats
-Followed closely by Reform UK with 30 seats
- Labour would secure 19
- The Conservatives would hold 9
- The Liberal Democrats 3
Modelling indicates:
- Plaid Cymru would emerge as the largest party with approximately 35 seats
-Followed closely by Reform UK with 30 seats
- Labour would secure 19
- The Conservatives would hold 9
- The Liberal Democrats 3
May 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
One of the points that strikes me in these stats is how the argument that an increased numbers would give a bigger pool to pick ministers doesn’t really fly when you have splits like this.
Killer image choice here by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
Is it Farage welcoming Wales to the reform fold? Or is it Starmer waving goodbye to a Wales now sailed by Plaid?
Ambiguous enough to feed the reader’s biases, the same recipe used in politics at the moment.
(I just hope it’s real not AI…)
Is it Farage welcoming Wales to the reform fold? Or is it Starmer waving goodbye to a Wales now sailed by Plaid?
Ambiguous enough to feed the reader’s biases, the same recipe used in politics at the moment.
(I just hope it’s real not AI…)
In almost exactly a year we will be waking up in the morning after the votes have been counted in the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) election.
It’s perfectly possible that Labour, who have been the largest party in Wales since 1922, could be third behind Plaid and Reform.
1/3
It’s perfectly possible that Labour, who have been the largest party in Wales since 1922, could be third behind Plaid and Reform.
1/3
May 2, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Killer image choice here by @willhaycardiff.bsky.social
Is it Farage welcoming Wales to the reform fold? Or is it Starmer waving goodbye to a Wales now sailed by Plaid?
Ambiguous enough to feed the reader’s biases, the same recipe used in politics at the moment.
(I just hope it’s real not AI…)
Is it Farage welcoming Wales to the reform fold? Or is it Starmer waving goodbye to a Wales now sailed by Plaid?
Ambiguous enough to feed the reader’s biases, the same recipe used in politics at the moment.
(I just hope it’s real not AI…)
Definitely a ‘naughty kids on the back row vibe to this…
April 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Definitely a ‘naughty kids on the back row vibe to this…
Polls seem to be shuffling about this ‘3 way split’ but I’ll be surprised not to see at least a couple of Greens if only as a “left wing protest” vote. A sort of 28-2-28 split would be a real kingmaker situation if they can ‘anoint’ the biggest group (who govern with a conf & supply with the other)
Seat predictions using our model for 2026 Senedd elections based on the Nation Cymru Beaufort research survey data
Observations below
1/
Observations below
1/
April 18, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Polls seem to be shuffling about this ‘3 way split’ but I’ll be surprised not to see at least a couple of Greens if only as a “left wing protest” vote. A sort of 28-2-28 split would be a real kingmaker situation if they can ‘anoint’ the biggest group (who govern with a conf & supply with the other)
The replacement of the A494 Dee Bridge in Deeside will leave the current bridge unused. With some ambition we could have a linear park just like the Castlefield one but we will probably just demolish it.
April 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
The replacement of the A494 Dee Bridge in Deeside will leave the current bridge unused. With some ambition we could have a linear park just like the Castlefield one but we will probably just demolish it.
Why on earth there hasn’t been a decent bit of work to identify an accessible, multi-modal, efficient electric bus design which we could then just copy/paste is beyond me.
Someone across the world must be doing it right, right?
Someone across the world must be doing it right, right?
I'm not disabled and even I struggled to get a Lime bike in and out of the bus.
They need to change these buses to a standard pedestrian shuttle and get new bike suitable fleets.
They need to change these buses to a standard pedestrian shuttle and get new bike suitable fleets.
April 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Why on earth there hasn’t been a decent bit of work to identify an accessible, multi-modal, efficient electric bus design which we could then just copy/paste is beyond me.
Someone across the world must be doing it right, right?
Someone across the world must be doing it right, right?
This is literally throwing the EV mandate in the bin and, crucially, removes any incentive for the UK-based car industry to invest to innovate.
The UK will be the dumping ground for dirty vehicles that other places have outlawed.
The UK will be the dumping ground for dirty vehicles that other places have outlawed.
Starmer: “Because we're not ideological about how we cut carbon emissions, we're also going to make sure that cleaner, efficient petrol cars sold before 2030 count towards your EV mandate.”
I’m really not convinced by that remark!
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
I’m really not convinced by that remark!
www.mirror.co.uk/news/politic...
Keir Starmer confirms when petrol, diesel and hybrid cars will be banned
Keir Starmer eased rules around new hybrid cars as he warned Donald Trump's tariffs will have a 'profound' impact on the global economy as markets tumbled across the world
www.mirror.co.uk
April 7, 2025 at 5:57 PM
This is literally throwing the EV mandate in the bin and, crucially, removes any incentive for the UK-based car industry to invest to innovate.
The UK will be the dumping ground for dirty vehicles that other places have outlawed.
The UK will be the dumping ground for dirty vehicles that other places have outlawed.
(Totally misleading heading btw)
The change here is that UK car manufacturers can kick the can of change down the road and avoid innovating.
Mortgaging the future for today is never the right choice.
The change here is that UK car manufacturers can kick the can of change down the road and avoid innovating.
Mortgaging the future for today is never the right choice.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants British manufacturers to be at the 'forefront' of the electric vehicle 'revolution', as he confirmed a raft of new reforms to boost manufacturers in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs
Starmer wants Britain at front of electric car ‘revolution’ as reforms unveiled
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants British manufacturers to be at the “forefront” of the electric vehicle “revolution”, as he confirmed a raft of new reforms to boost manufacturers in the wake of US P...
nation.cymru
April 7, 2025 at 6:51 AM
(Totally misleading heading btw)
The change here is that UK car manufacturers can kick the can of change down the road and avoid innovating.
Mortgaging the future for today is never the right choice.
The change here is that UK car manufacturers can kick the can of change down the road and avoid innovating.
Mortgaging the future for today is never the right choice.
(Declaration of Interest: I am a community councillor)
In case you missed the front page splash, @senedd.cymru's Local Gov & Housing Ctte has just published a report on Community & Town Councils. These reports can be dry, but this is drier than most
I can't help but feel it misses the mark.
(1/x)
In case you missed the front page splash, @senedd.cymru's Local Gov & Housing Ctte has just published a report on Community & Town Councils. These reports can be dry, but this is drier than most
I can't help but feel it misses the mark.
(1/x)
senedd.wales
April 2, 2025 at 1:18 PM
(Declaration of Interest: I am a community councillor)
In case you missed the front page splash, @senedd.cymru's Local Gov & Housing Ctte has just published a report on Community & Town Councils. These reports can be dry, but this is drier than most
I can't help but feel it misses the mark.
(1/x)
In case you missed the front page splash, @senedd.cymru's Local Gov & Housing Ctte has just published a report on Community & Town Councils. These reports can be dry, but this is drier than most
I can't help but feel it misses the mark.
(1/x)
The two issues that really seem to be cutting through at the moment are the Crown Estate and HS2. Both speak to a broad sense of Wales getting a bad deal.
Danger that if the plan is for a faux UK-WG Labour feud and victory close to the election the die may have been cast and people’s minds made up.
Danger that if the plan is for a faux UK-WG Labour feud and victory close to the election the die may have been cast and people’s minds made up.
The number of councils that back the devolution of Crown Estate assets to Wales now stands at 19, after Cardiff Council backed the proposal.
Largest council in Wales backs devolution of Crown Estate
The number of councils that back the devolution of Crown Estate assets to Wales now stands at 19, after Cardiff Council backed the proposal. The motion, which was passed by members at a full council m...
nation.cymru
March 29, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The two issues that really seem to be cutting through at the moment are the Crown Estate and HS2. Both speak to a broad sense of Wales getting a bad deal.
Danger that if the plan is for a faux UK-WG Labour feud and victory close to the election the die may have been cast and people’s minds made up.
Danger that if the plan is for a faux UK-WG Labour feud and victory close to the election the die may have been cast and people’s minds made up.
This sort of thinking makes Westminster seem like a cult - as if the power is imbued in the building and not the act of governing.
I’ve long believed that the only thing which will prompt MPs to *finally* take action and move out of parliament so it can be restored will be:
a/ a major fire
b/ someone being brained by falling masonry.
Both are entirely possible on a daily basis.
a/ a major fire
b/ someone being brained by falling masonry.
Both are entirely possible on a daily basis.
March 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM
This sort of thinking makes Westminster seem like a cult - as if the power is imbued in the building and not the act of governing.
The data set @yougov.co.uk have now allows them to align views on minor celebs with someone’s perspective on the Ship of Theseus.
March 15, 2025 at 7:16 AM
The data set @yougov.co.uk have now allows them to align views on minor celebs with someone’s perspective on the Ship of Theseus.
People routinely underestimate the work involved in ‘just’ merging organisation in to another. Without proper work to change both you end up with ‘two organisations in a trench-coat’ and horrible inefficiency.
Crackdown on quangos part of radical government proposal to reform state
Crackdown on quangos part of radical government proposal to reform state
Exclusive: Thousands of civil service jobs could also be cut under blueprint dubbed ‘project chainsaw’
A radical blueprint for reforming the state is being drawn up by government officials, including a crackdown on quangos and thousands more civil…
www.theguardian.com
March 12, 2025 at 7:56 AM
People routinely underestimate the work involved in ‘just’ merging organisation in to another. Without proper work to change both you end up with ‘two organisations in a trench-coat’ and horrible inefficiency.
This is where we really miss @hiraethpod.bsky.social
Some clear opportunities missed by the boundary commission to go with
BangCoMôn
Fflecsam
Gwyn Wyn
Ceredigilong (obviously)
Some clear opportunities missed by the boundary commission to go with
BangCoMôn
Fflecsam
Gwyn Wyn
Ceredigilong (obviously)
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has today published revised proposals for Wales’ new Senedd constituencies
Revised Senedd constituency proposals published
The Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru has today published revised proposals for Wales’ new Senedd constituencies. The Senedd Cymru (Members and Elections) Act instructs the Commission to make re...
nation.cymru
March 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This is where we really miss @hiraethpod.bsky.social
Some clear opportunities missed by the boundary commission to go with
BangCoMôn
Fflecsam
Gwyn Wyn
Ceredigilong (obviously)
Some clear opportunities missed by the boundary commission to go with
BangCoMôn
Fflecsam
Gwyn Wyn
Ceredigilong (obviously)
Cymraeg!
March 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Cymraeg!
Colled enfawr o ‘bŵer meddal’ ond mae’n iawn - fydd y World Service ar gael… Pam? Beth ydy cost i’r BBC am cael Ifan Jones Evans ar lein yn Awstralia?
Cam sha nôl yn fy marn bach i.
Dim modd gwrando ar Radio Cymru ar BBC Sounds dramor cyn hir www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/ert...
Dim modd gwrando ar Radio Cymru ar BBC Sounds dramor cyn hir www.bbc.com/cymrufyw/ert...
Dim modd gwrando ar Radio Cymru ar BBC Sounds dramor cyn hir
Bydd ap BBC Sounds, sy'n cynnwys holl orsafoedd radio a phodlediadau'r BBC, ond ar gael i wrandwyr yn y DU o ddechrau'r gwanwyn.
www.bbc.com
March 7, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Colled enfawr o ‘bŵer meddal’ ond mae’n iawn - fydd y World Service ar gael… Pam? Beth ydy cost i’r BBC am cael Ifan Jones Evans ar lein yn Awstralia?
Schrödinger’s devolution: support something when not in power in Westminster, against it when you are.
(Not an exclusively Con phenomenon, see HS2, Crown Estate, oh and St David’s Day Bank Hol).
(Not an exclusively Con phenomenon, see HS2, Crown Estate, oh and St David’s Day Bank Hol).
Creating a St David’s Day bank holiday would be a powerful affirmation of our Welsh culture, language, and heritage. Wales has a rich history and a thriving cultural identity that deserves greater recognition ✍️ Darren Millar MS nation.cymru/opinion/make...
Make St David’s Day a bank holiday, say Welsh Conservatives
Darren Millar MS Darren Millar MS is the Leader of the Welsh Conservatives and has written to the UK Prime Minister to request that the UK Government establishes St David’s Day as a bank holiday in Wa...
nation.cymru
March 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Schrödinger’s devolution: support something when not in power in Westminster, against it when you are.
(Not an exclusively Con phenomenon, see HS2, Crown Estate, oh and St David’s Day Bank Hol).
(Not an exclusively Con phenomenon, see HS2, Crown Estate, oh and St David’s Day Bank Hol).
Not unexpected but sad to see such an effective and passionate MS step down.
"To the electorate of Wrexham, it has been an absolute privilege to represent you as the Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd since 2007 and I look forward to continuing to do so to the best of my ability until the next election. Thank you for your support, your trust and your confidence in me over…
Wrexham’s MS announces “I will not be seeking re-election” next year
Wrexham's MS Lesley Griffiths has announced she will not be restanding at the next Senedd election. After being first returned 18 years ago Griffiths held several Government roles, having been Minister of Health, Minister for Communities, Minister for Rural Affairs and Minister for North Wales - as well as Deputy Minister for Science, Innovation and Skills . In a statement last night she said, "I have today informed Wrexham Constituency Labour Party that I will not be seeking re-election at the 2026 Senedd election.
wrexham.com
February 15, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Not unexpected but sad to see such an effective and passionate MS step down.
I would disagree with several of the criticisms here - there is a marked difference between mergers and just throwing a trenchcoat over three organisations and hoping they work as one.
Since local government reorganisation in 1973 there have been a large number of mergers in the Welsh public sector - but do they work? ✍️ Mike Hedges
Public sector mergers - do they work?
Mike Hedges – MS for Swansea East Since local government reorganisation in 1973 there have been a large number of mergers in the Welsh public sector. There have also been a number of suggestions that…
buff.ly
February 14, 2025 at 7:14 AM
I would disagree with several of the criticisms here - there is a marked difference between mergers and just throwing a trenchcoat over three organisations and hoping they work as one.
With no reference to party politics; a disadvantage of the new system is the loss of the regionals. North Wales has some really engaged regional MSs who give fair time and thought to the whole region.
They’re now going to be confined to their constituencies which I for one feel is a shame.
They’re now going to be confined to their constituencies which I for one feel is a shame.
Rwy'n rhoi fy enw ymlaen fel ymgeisydd ar gyfer etholaeth newydd Clwyd yn etholiad y Senedd y flwyddyn nesaf. Byddai'n anrhydedd sefyll dros Blaid Cymru yng Nghlwyd yn 2026.
@plaidclwyd.bsky.social @plaidcymru.bsky.social
@plaidclwyd.bsky.social @plaidcymru.bsky.social
February 11, 2025 at 6:41 PM
With no reference to party politics; a disadvantage of the new system is the loss of the regionals. North Wales has some really engaged regional MSs who give fair time and thought to the whole region.
They’re now going to be confined to their constituencies which I for one feel is a shame.
They’re now going to be confined to their constituencies which I for one feel is a shame.
This whole series is excellent and valuable for understanding #welshpolitics but this episode reflects a little the view of those who enjoy the cut and thrust of debate and argument.
As a smaller country with a focus on collaboration and community, we do tend towards more subtle influencing.
As a smaller country with a focus on collaboration and community, we do tend towards more subtle influencing.
February 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
This whole series is excellent and valuable for understanding #welshpolitics but this episode reflects a little the view of those who enjoy the cut and thrust of debate and argument.
As a smaller country with a focus on collaboration and community, we do tend towards more subtle influencing.
As a smaller country with a focus on collaboration and community, we do tend towards more subtle influencing.