Ian Craig
17.7K posts
@StanVoWales I must have missed the bit in the NCTJ handbook where we have to provide a full list of every holiday we go on.
OPEN LETTER TO THE FIRST MINISTER OF WALES Madam First Minister, Following the 4 March 2026 arrests of three men linked to Welsh Labour advisory circles, serious questions are now being asked about renewable energy lobbying, international partnerships, and supply-chain oversight in Wales. These developments raise matters of clear public interest and require transparency to maintain confidence in Welsh public institutions. Key publicly known facts provide important context: • 2019: The Welsh Government formally declared a Climate Emergency, committing Wales to a rapid expansion of renewable energy infrastructure. • 6 July 2022: The Chinese Ambassador met then-Economy Minister Vaughan Gething, with Chinese state media reporting that discussions included renewable energy cooperation. • Bute Energy, founded in 2018, has since advanced multiple onshore wind developments during a period when planning processes were streamlined under the Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024 and associated reforms designed to accelerate major infrastructure approvals. • Advisory and board links associated with renewable developments include John Uden (partner of Labour Member of the Senedd Jenny Rathbone) and Derek Vaughan, former Labour Member of the European Parliament. • Plaid Cymru has operated under a formal co-operation agreement with the Labour Government since 2021. • Swansea University maintains academic partnerships with institutions in Wuhan, including joint research programmes and a double-PhD initiative launched in 2021. • The city of Swansea has also maintained a formal twinning relationship with Wuhan since 2016. • Welsh authorities maintain ethical procurement and anti-slavery commitments, yet global renewable-energy supply chains—particularly in wind turbines, solar panels, and rare-earth minerals—commonly involve Chinese manufacturing and mineral extraction networks. • Independent Welsh commentator Jac O’ the North (@JacotheNorth) has recently highlighted these connections in an analysis published on 6 March, raising questions about potential vulnerabilities in political, academic, and energy networks linked to Wales. In light of these developments, the public seeks reassurance on several straightforward matters: • What due diligence is undertaken regarding supply chains for renewable energy components and critical minerals used in Welsh infrastructure projects? • What transparency mechanisms exist concerning international partnerships involving Welsh universities and civic institutions? • Will all records, communications, and documentation relating to these matters be preserved in full while public questions are addressed? • Were projects approved under accelerated planning frameworks subjected to robust due-diligence procedures? • Will the Welsh Government now confirm whether a formal review of those procedures will be undertaken? Given the scale of renewable infrastructure now proposed across Wales, public confidence depends upon openness and transparency. If all processes have been properly followed, clear answers will help reassure the public and strengthen trust in Welsh governance. I therefore invite the Welsh Government and the Senedd to provide clarification on these matters. Respectfully, Stan Robinson Defence & Security Analyst Voice of Wales @StanVoWales @StanVoWales @PrifWeinidog @jackotheNorth #Wales #Transparency
The decision by a ‘debating and politics’ society at Bangor University to ban a Member of Parliament from speaking on its premises is a disgrace. In a crowded field, it’s the worst breach of the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 I have ever come across.
🚨SENEDD MEMBERS SAY "MENTAL HEALTH" MEANS THEY CAN'T TELL US WHERE £1.3M NATION OF SANCTUARY CASH WENT🚨 Welsh Government gave two groups almost £1.3million in Nation of Sanctuary funding. But they won't tell us who got the cash, citing "mental health". Disgraceful. (1/5)