Why are women loosing the fight to be politicians?

The IWA has warned that the current tally of 28 women AMs is poised to fall to 20 or fewer at the next election. Already labour have chosen men to replace two retiring women. The near-50% number of female Assembly Members could drop below 30% in 2011 amid retirements and changes in party selection procedures. There are also a few women in very marginal seats.
IWA Women group chair Professor Laura McAllister said Wales was "in danger of retreating to its traditional male dominance of politics and public life as a result of many assuming the battle is won on gender equality". She added: "There is an underbelly of discrimination in all aspects of Welsh public life as regards gender, amongst other things."The figures for Wales and the National Assembly actually belie some pretty awful statistics in other fields."Only eight of our 40 MPs are women and half of those were selected through all-women shortlists."Only a quarter of our local councillors are women, 90% of our council leaders are men: "This idea that there's a meritocracy is quite abject nonsense." Stern words indeed
But what’s happening, are the women not coming forward, no say the parties, but the ones who are being pushed are party hacks and constituencies are not having it. That fair enough, remember Maggie Jones, hey she got her reward she is now in the Lords
What do the high profile women do to encourage other women, very little that I can see? When was the last time Lady Kinnock, or Elin Jones or Angela Burns or Kirsty Williams visited constituencies and rousted the troops .....Ummmmmm
Having worked with Joan Ruddock et al to ensure training and mentoring was available for women when I was in the Labour party, I didn’t see much of that move out of the South East of England.
It is not a level playing field and we have to ask ourselves why this is a never-ending story. May be like the fairy tale we need the Orin to help us out and see why half the populations fails to get half the seats to run the place. May be it needs changing from male club to a modern place of business, national business. How quaint would that be? And its not about buildings its about mindset and realising the need to mobilise the talent and skills women have
I quote Kirsty Williams -She said the Lib Dems had "rejected any form of positive action for women" and were "taking softer measures" to encourage gender balance. "We've established a diversity fund, which helps women financially if finance is a barrier to seeking selection as well as looking at individual mentoring schemes and we've changed our selection process by which people are approved as candidates...[to make it] very much skills-based rather than experience-based," Any evidence this is succeeding ?

Want to play

you have to write just one word answers I have been tagged by FFF
1. Where is your cell phone? Office
2. Your hair? Unkempt
3. Your mother? dead
4. Your father? Heroic
5. Your favourite food? Ribeye
6. Your dream last night? Forgotten
7. Your favourite drink? Gin
8. Your dream/goal? Peace
9. What room are you in? study
10. Your hobby? Books
11. Your fear? Snakes
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Breathing
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Thifty
15. Muffins? Yuk
16. Wish list item? Greenhouse
17. Where did you grow up? Wales
18. Last thing you did? Crossword
19. What are you wearing? Frown
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? Sleeping
22. Friends? Fundamental
23. Your life? Good
24. Your mood? Ambivulent
25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Jag
27. Something you're not wearing? Bra
28. Your favourite store? Candlelight
29. Your favourite colour? Purple
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Yesterday
32. Your best friend? Faithful
33. One place that I go to over and over? Memories
34. One person who emails me regularly? Work
35. Favourite place to eat? Italian
And now to pass on to any one you feel will play ! No pressure!

Sad news for Powys and jobs

Powys County Council’s Economic and Community Regeneration Services department, which currently employs 60 staff, will be streamlined in a bid to improve efficiency and reduce overall running costs, in the local authority.
Last month a special session of the county council’s board was told it faced a £33 million budget deficit over the next five financial years, although this figure has since been provisionally revised to £26 million.
A two-month consultation period between staff and the council began last week. The council did not say which jobs would be affected but added it was hopeful that some staff would be redeployed.
Wynne Jones, the council’s board member for regeneration, said: "Regeneration services and the way they are managed have changed dramatically in recent years. We must have a service that is flexible and capable of responding quickly and professionally to different emerging priorities as set by national government and European directives."
The council said that in recent years, the service had reduced the number of tourist information centres it runs. It used to manage 16 visitor centres, but now only runs one such centre, in the Brecon Beacons.Is this a good move for a location such as Powys
In March, the council also lost the contract to manage Business Eye, a Welsh Assembly Government-funded service that offered business advice.The group that took it over apparently declined the contract as it was not pssible to run it on the money in the pot

Need Some Quotes ------------- Some good uns here

"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure."
- Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary."
- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway).
'Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?' - Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner)
"Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I'll waste no time reading it."
- Moses Hadas
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend.... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill
"Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second... if there is one." - Winston Churchill, in response.
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." - Paul Keating
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?" - Mark Twain
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)
'He has Van Gogh's ear for music.' - Billy Wilder
A member of Parliament to Disraeli: "Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease."
"That depends, Sir," said Disraeli, "whether I embrace your policies or your mistress."

Swine Flu is it a Conspiracy ?

Was sent this by a friend today
Dr La Dra Rauni - Conspiracy re swine flu Dr La Dra Rauni is the retired head of Ministry of Health in Finland.

Lembit goes in for product placement

The Montgomeryshire MP and Wales’ least eligible bachelor,our Lembit was pictured this week with underwear model Katie Green at a party celebrating the 80th birthday of condom manufacturers Durex.The pair took full advantage of the the hospitality, and the freebies before moving on to London’s Movida club, clutching their Durex goody bag.Glad to see he is practising safe sex.He will do anything to get his face in a paper or a magazine.
Kirsty Williams must be at her wits end with this stupid man

Time to pause for thought

Remembering my dad who fought in Burma,My uncle Bob who was a medic and was one of the first into Changi, Uncle Bill who was in Normandy and my Uncle Tom who died aged 20 .None were professional soldiers they were just conscripted The stories were heroic and horrific.
And we have learned nothing.War is not a solution to anything.
That doesnt detract from the men on the front line who fight,I would like to bring  them home

Would you invite a convicted rapist to visit

Well I would like to know who invited Mike Tyson to come to Merthyr
He presented flowers and talked to members of Johnny Owen’s family, before also paying tribute at the statue of Howard Winstone.
“This is an awesome experience,” he said. “I’ve been to Wales before, but this has really blown me away. It’s worth so much more to me than doing anything I get paid for. It’s a huge thrill to be here.” Well it wasn't a thrill for me, I am disgusted at the fuss made over this man,why was he here ,what was the point
Not everyone was happy with  occasional heckle and protest .
Those who were unhappy at the visit included Huw Lewis, the AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, who said Tyson’s personality was in stark contrast to the man he was honouring.
“I think anyone who knows their boxing, and anyone who knows anything about people, would tell you that Mike Tyson isn’t fit to lace the gloves of a man like Johnny Owen.“Owen was a champion boxer, his phenomenal training regimes are still talked about with quiet awe, but he was a champion human being as well. His quiet and generous spirit contrasts rather sharply with that of his latest fan.”
Apparently he is at the CIA tomorrow earning mega bucks, unlike those women he abused