tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post4062737531046317079..comments2024-03-26T09:38:39.888+00:00Comments on Borthlas: Big Ideas and RhetoricJohn Dixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-37953071164507566592011-01-07T10:54:31.233+00:002011-01-07T10:54:31.233+00:00CoP,
I think it's more serious than that. Ev...CoP,<br /><br />I think it's more serious than that. Even if there were to be a real possibility of a change of government in May, to what extent would that actually lead to any significant change in policy? The sub-title to your own blog sort of sums it up - a change of government needs to be more than just a change of personnel in order to offer a real choice.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-19829189231293926082011-01-07T10:27:40.804+00:002011-01-07T10:27:40.804+00:00Victoria,
I didn't for one moment think that ...Victoria,<br /><br />I didn't for one moment think that you did support the 'Big Society'; apologies if I in any way gave the impression that I did think that.John Dixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447224248021209852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-39237062441426072292011-01-07T00:10:54.385+00:002011-01-07T00:10:54.385+00:00I find this problem while trying to develop polici...I find this problem while trying to develop policies in my day job. Trying to think of workable policies can be a nightmare and this is due to the complex nature of the Assembly powers. What the WAG can and can't do? Any lobbyist such as myself try and feed into all party manifestos with our own policies. This is a good thing to develop new ideas. The powers of the Assembly as is stifles growth of ideas. <br /><br />One example of this is to do with a policy which we developed regarding business rates. After two years, the WAG is still not sure if it is possible. Even Cardiff Law School was unsure if the WAG had the power over this certain area of business rates. our London office don't have as much of a problem in developing policy. <br /><br />In addition to this, organisations don't have the resources to employ a policy person in Wales. In the FSB, we are lucky as we are a big enough organisation to have two people to develop policies specifically for Wales, but in other organisations, they will only have a part time policy person, if at all. Most UK wide organisation will develop policies in England and then change them a little bit to be used in the devolved countries. This does not make for good policy development. Unfortunately, this is the nature of the beast as organisations have not devolved enough internally and this means that ideas are developed in London, mostly.<br /><br />As a result, there is an over-reliance on political parties to develop ideas by themselves. Most of the consultation which will take place between political parties and organisations while developing policies and manifestos will be re-hashed London based ones. It should be the case that political parties can steal policies from organisations....at the end of the day, I like it when political parties use our policies as it helps my work, but also helps businesses and political parties themselves. The more ideas the better.<br /><br />There is a need for better policy development from organisations as this will help all involved. Political parties should not be expected to come up with all the ideas when there are people, specialists and organisations far more qualified who can do that and feed into manifestos.<br /><br />I spend my working life developing policies which are good for Welsh business, which is much more time than any policy person in any of the parties can afford. Policy development in Wales and specific to Wales is still in its infancy, but there are good ideas out there. Hopefully this will develop after this years referendum.Nia Daviesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-66399664920249110242011-01-06T22:06:02.597+00:002011-01-06T22:06:02.597+00:00Thank you for your supportive words - just to make...Thank you for your supportive words - just to make clear I absolutely don't support a Cameron style Big Society as you can see from my presentation to the WCVA conference which is here http://www.bevanfoundation.org/13.html and also from my blog posts on thisismytruth.org<br /><br />CheersVictoria Wincklernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4411161795798360588.post-81736325882800908592011-01-06T21:01:59.505+00:002011-01-06T21:01:59.505+00:00is it about big or new ideas because there are ide...is it about big or new ideas because there are ideas around, what is missing is leaders with the will to take them on board and drive the change.<br /><br />But its more than that, the main problem is that the main premise of a democratic system, the possible change of government of whatever stripe to replace the present Government of whatever stripe is lacking in Welsh politics, does anyone seriously expect there not to be a Labour or Labour led Government after May's elections? <br /><br />That is what creates much of the statemate/consensus but its unlikely to change any time soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com