Election info badgers wales

[galanthus]

Downloads

Information here regarding May election. Pembs Against the Cull have issued political leaflet on who has voted for the cull and who hasn't , helps anyone interested in the badger cull issue to express concern via their vote Covers relevant parts of wales.

[loripo]

Thanks for that - mailed it to my daughter who now lives near Cardigan and this was just the info she wanted.

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by loripo

Thanks for that - mailed it to my daughter who now lives near Cardigan and this was just the info she wanted.

Fantastic

[GavinWheeler]

We also have a webpage just about what the candidates have told us about their views on the cull. Welsh Assembly Candidates' views

If you look on the home page you'll see that the Badger Trust has taken the first step in launching a Judicial Review of the cull, sending what is called a "letter before action" that basically sets out the grounds on which we think we can challenge the cull.

You can find our Youtube video (and part 2) about last year's cull, where you can see yours truly being arrested. That arrest has now been declared unlawful by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, by the way - although Dyfed-Powys Police have yet to admit that and delete my police record.

[Paul mabbott]

Any indication of what the changed face of the Assembly will have for badgers? Looks like Labour could have overall control?

[GavinWheeler]

Final results: only 30 seats (50% exactly) for Labour.

So another coalition, probably.

Labour/Lib Dem coalition would probably mean no cull, Labour/Plaid Coalition would likely mean another Judicial Review fight.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by GavinWheeler

Final results: only 30 seats (50% exactly) for Labour.

So another coalition, probably.

Labour/Lib Dem coalition would probably mean no cull, Labour/Plaid Coalition would likely mean another Judicial Review fight.

Well, Labour won't com to a deal with the tories so there's likely to be straightforward opposition to a cull I would think? Or am I being overoptimistic?

[GavinWheeler]

I think:

Labour/Lib-Dem
Labour alone

would be likely to drop a cull, probably in favour of vaccination.

A Labour/Plaid coalition would probably require Labour to support a cull, like the last coalition's 'one Wales' agreement. We might even end up with Elin Jones as rural affairs minister again!

[Paul mabbott]

I don't know how they do things out west but is a coalition proper necessary? If this were a large English authority, the leading party might just carry on single-handed taking each issue at a time. The only time when a prior commitment (with hidden wheeler-dealing!) is needed is in passing the budget! Often it is better to take items one by one and make it clear exactly who is supporting an action for its own sake, rather than because they've swapped one promise for another! In this case, therefore, Labour could easily plod on halting the cull knowing that the Libs are committed to supporting them? Under those circumstances, some Plaid members will follow?

[GavinWheeler]

A coalition isn't absolutely necessary, but with only 30 Labour seats out of 60, it remains a definite possibility as it would make life easier for the government in many ways. It is also perfectly possible for Labour to go it alone, but then one absent or dissenting Labour AM could leave them with a minority, and a united opposition on any issue would mean deadlock. Or they can 'go it alone' but make arrangements with another party (or other parties) on a less formal basis than an outright coalition, possibly on a case-be-case basis for different issues.

I've seen it suggested that Labour could have a 1 vote majority by picking a Presiding Officer (a post akin to the Speaker for parliament) from one of the opposition parties, but I'm not quite sure how that works, or even if it does. Does the presiding officer not vote, or is it just assumed that he/she would have to vote with the government despite being a LibDem/Con/Plaid AM? Neither seem likely to me, but I'm no expert.

Edit: According to Peter Black:

1. Putting an opposition member into the role of Presiding Officer will not give Labour a one seat majority. That is because standing orders say that if the opposition supply the PO then the Government must supply the Deputy Presiding Officer, who also does not have a vote. The effect therefore will be neutral.