The Welsh Government's announcement of its intentions to run a Universal Basic Income trial has raised Wales's profile around the world with UBI enthusiasts and raised a fair few eyebrows domestically as we try to understand what form it will take, how the Welsh Government will run the pilot and whether it even has the capacity to do so. To discuss, we are joined by Jonathan Rhys Williams of UBI Lab Wales and Coryn Barclay of the Scottish Citizens Basic Income Feasibility Steering Group. You can...
May 28, 2021•35 min
A short message from the Hiraeth team to mark one year since our first podcast. Matt: https://twitter.com/hexter101 Ceri: https://twitter.com/ceritheviking Richard: https://twitter.com/mimosacymru Drop us a line if you have suggestions or feedback here: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog As always, if you're enjoying the pod, please do subscribe in your podcast app of choice to receive the next episode automatically.
May 26, 2021•1 min
With the Senedd election firmly in the rear view mirror and a new government and cabinet in place, what are the big challenges ahead and who are the rising stars of the Sixth Senedd? To discuss, Ceri and Matt are joined by: Dafydd Trystan (Chair of Wales’ Active Travel Board, Board member of Sports Wales and Former Plaid Cymru Chair): https://twitter.com/DafyddTrystan Eluned Parrott (Head of Wales at the Institute of Physics and former Member of the Senedd between 2011 and 2016): https://twitter...
May 21, 2021•56 min
Stephen Bush of the New Statesman joins us to discuss the contrasting fortunes of the Labour Parties of Britain. Recorded in the week after the Welsh party has enhanced its reputation as a serial winner by increasing its representation in the Senedd while Keir Starmer's party struggles east of Offa's Dyke and Anas Sawar finds his party with a mountain to climb in Scotland once again. You can find Stephen on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/stephenkb And listen to the NS crew on their excellent ...
May 15, 2021•40 min
Following the truly extraordinary 2021 Senedd election Labour have found themselves unexpectedly able to govern alone, the Conservatives have failed to replicate their success in England, Plaid Cymru have lost their taliswoman in the valleys, and the Lib Dems have dodged what appeared to be political extinction. We take a look at the results and what this means for Wales. Team Hiraeth are: Matt: https://twitter.com/hexter101 Ceri: https://twitter.com/ceritheviking Richard: https://twitter.com/mi...
May 08, 2021•40 min
In our final podcast before the Senedd election results are known, we speak to the directors of leading public affairs agency Deryn, Cathy Owens and Nerys Evans. We discuss the campaigns and the strategies behind them, the performance of the leaders and, yes, potential for parties to work together for stable government after the election. You can find our guests on Twitter... Cathy: https://twitter.com/cathy_owens Nerys: https://twitter.com/NerysEvans And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/Hira...
May 05, 2021•59 min
In the last of our deep dives into the policy challenges facing the new Welsh Government after May's election we take a look at the big beast of the portfolios - health. Responsible for half of the Welsh budget and facing the unenviable task of rebuilding day-to-day services after the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it will surely dominate much of the next Senedd term. Joining us on this episode are: Dr Dai Samuel - Consultant at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital: https://twitter.com/docdai Helen Wh...
May 03, 2021•57 min
With the election almost upon us, we take a deep dive into the party manifestos with special guests Mark Hooper of Plaid Cymru, Bob Lloyd of Welsh Labour and Emma Wilde Hale who was until recently a Welsh Conservative. We take a long look at Labour, Plaid Cymru, Conservative and Green Party manifestos and expose some manifesto-based trivia from elections present and past. You can find our guests on Twitter here: Mark: https://twitter.com/markjhooper Emma: https://twitter.com/RealWilde Bob: https...
Apr 30, 2021•1 hr 13 min
Continuing our series of interviews with political leaders in the run up to the Senedd election, we speak to the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds. You can find Jane on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/DoddsJane And the Welsh Lib Dems here: https://twitter.com/WelshLibDems And, of course, us here: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying the Hiraeth pod, please subscribe in your podcast app of choice to receive the next episode automatically.
Apr 25, 2021•20 min
The Senedd remains one of the few European parliaments never to have a Green Party parliamentarian. Leading the charge to put an end to that record is Anthony Slaughter, leader of the Wales Green Party. With the Senedd election just around the corner we spoke with Anthony to find out more about his journey from apartheid-era South Africa to ambitions for an independent, green future for Wales. You can find Anthony here: https://twitter.com/as_penarth The Wales Green Party here: https://twitter.c...
Apr 23, 2021•23 min
As the campaign moves up a gear and parties are finally about to be out canvassing, we speak to a selection of candidates to hear their experiences of this unique Senedd election on the doorstep and in the digital domain. In a segment we call 'Owen Rants', we are then joined by social media legend Owen Williams of Siml who casts a critical eye over the different parties' digital campaigns and analyses their impact. Our guests: Luke Fletcher: https://twitter.com/FletcherPlaid Leena Farhat: https:...
Apr 18, 2021•1 hr 14 min
In this episode in our series of analysing the biggest policy portfolios ahead of the Senedd 2021 election, we tackle the education brief. After a particularly tough year for all education providers during the COVID pandemic, what awaits schools and their new curriculum when face to face teaching resumes full time? Will university funding continue to be a thorny issue for whoever fills the ministerial office vacated by Kirsty Williams? To discuss Matt and Ceri are joined by Martin Johnes (Profes...
Apr 11, 2021•53 min
Completing our series of interviews with contenders for the role of First Minister at the 2021 Senedd election is this conversation with Andrew RT Davies. We discuss his recent return to leadership of the Conservative Senedd Group and the party's priorities for the next parliamentary term including Covid response, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and taxation. You can read the latest from Andrew on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/AndrewRTDavies And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog I...
Apr 08, 2021•36 min
Continuing our series of podcast interviews with the three candidates for First Minister at the Senedd election, we speak with Adam Price, leader of Plaid Cymru, about the party's pledges, positioning itself as a challenger to Labour from the left and the salience of the independence debate. You can find Adam on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Adamprice And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying the Hiraeth pod, please like and subscribe in your podcast app of choic...
Apr 05, 2021•24 min
Ahead of the first Senedd election to feature the expanded franchise for 16 & 17 year olds, we speak with Maisy Evans and Poppy Stowell-Evans of the Young, Female and Opinionated podcast, Lloyd Warburton of the CoronavirusCymru.Wales data tracker and Lisa Childs of NUS Wales. You can find our guests on Twitter: Maisy and Poppy's Young, Female and Opinionated Podcast: https://twitter.com/YFO_Podcast Lloyd: https://twitter.com/LloydCymru Lisa: https://twitter.com/LisaCChilds And, of course, us...
Mar 27, 2021•51 min
As campaigns launch for the 2021 Senedd Election, we begin our series of conversations with the party leaders by speaking to current First Minister, Mark Drakeford. We discuss 22 years of Labour-led Government, his party's pledges for the next Senedd term, coalitions and the future of devolution and the UK. Mark is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkDrakeford And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you are enjoying the podcast, please subscribe in your podcast app of choice and l...
Mar 24, 2021•26 min
After the release of their new book "English: The Political Force Transforming Britain" we speak to Professors Ailsa Henderson of the University of Edinburgh and Richard Wyn Jones of Cardiff University about the vexed relationship between Englishness and Britishness. Find the book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/englishness-9780198870784?cc=gb&lang=en& You can find our guests on Twitter: Ailsa Henderson - https://twitter.com/ailsa_henderson Richard Wyn Jones - https://twitt...
Mar 18, 2021•56 min
Continuing our series of pods looking at the big policy challenges facing the parties at the Senedd election, this week we turn to the increasingly fraught subject of housing. Are we building enough homes of the right quality in both private & social housing? What levers does Welsh Government have to improve the planning process and what - if anything - can it do about spiralling rent costs? To discuss we are joined by Dr Steff Evans (Policy and Research Officer at the Bevan Foundation), Tam...
Mar 13, 2021•1 hr
Wales is notoriously under-polled as a polity so we have much to celebrate this week as have had 3 significant polls in the space of just a few days including record-breaking support for Welsh independence and contrasting levels of success (but success nonetheless) projected for the 'most successful electoral force any place ever'. Joining us to chew over the results and give an update on Scottish politics is Dr Jac Larner of the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University. You can follow Jac ...
Mar 06, 2021•37 min
Continuing our series of podcasts looking at the key policy challenges leading into this year's general election, we laser in on the thorny issue of transport. To discuss this key portfolio, especially its four pillars or rail, road, air and active travel. are Stuart Cole (Professor of Transport at the University of South Wales), Christine Boston (Director of Sustrans Cymru) and John Pockett (Former Director for Wales of the Confederation of Passenger Transport). You can find our guests here: Jo...
Feb 25, 2021•59 min
Following our previous podcasts on the subject of Welsh independence, this podcast presents a very interesting debate organised by Momentum/Welsh Labour Grassroots and The World Transformed that explores whether there is a socialist case for Welsh (& Scots) independence. The debate is chaired by former Hiraeth pod guest Harriet Protheroe-Soltani and features the following speakers; Mick Antoniw MS: https://twitter.com/MickAntoniw1 Mike Hedges MS: https://twitter.com/MikeHedgesAM Ben Gwalchma...
Feb 21, 2021•1 hr 7 min
Continuing our series looking at the big policy challenges facing the parties campaigning to govern after the Senedd 2021 election, this pod tackles one of the biggest portfolios and - arguably - one of the most challenging; the economy. Joining us are Professor Calvin Jones (Professor of Economics and Tourism at Cardiff University, Dr Victoria Winkler (Director of the Bevan Foundation) and Sion Barry (Media Wales business editor). You can find our guests on Twitter here: Calvin: https://twitter...
Feb 19, 2021•59 min
In this pod we're joined by Jess Blair of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru and Professor Laura McAllister of Cardiff University who chaired the 2017 Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform. We discuss the challenges facing the parties as they campaign for an election which may, or may not, happen in May and try to engage with the enlarged electorate which includes 16 and 17 year-olds and qualified foreign nationals for the first time. We also look ahead to the prospects of Senedd reform post...
Feb 11, 2021•41 min
To mark ten years since he joined the House of Lords, we speak to Dafydd Wigley about Plaid Cymru, the post-Brexit landscape for Welsh politics and the economy, the independence movement, and his long career in politics. Do follow us on Twitter for the latest news about pods and blogs: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying the Hiraeth pod, please like and subscribe in your podcast app of choice to receive the next episode automatically.
Feb 06, 2021•59 min
We begin our series of deep dives into the opportunities and challenges facing the ministers of the next Welsh Government with a look at the environment portfolio as Matt & Ceri speak to Jemma Bere of Keep Wales Tidy, Liz Silversmith of Wales Environment Link and energy projects manager Alex Meredith. You can find our guests on Twitter: Jemma: https://twitter.com/JemmaBere Liz: https://twitter.com/lizsilversmith Alex: https://twitter.com/AlexinCardiff And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/...
Feb 05, 2021•1 hr
After a *very* tricky week for the Welsh Conservatives and another unsuccessful foray for the 'Minister for the Union' north of the border, we are joined by Theo Davies-Lewis to analyse where this leaves the Conservatives in Wales and Wales in the union. You can find Theo on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TDaviesLewis Matt here: https://twitter.com/hexter101 Ceri here: https://twitter.com/ceritheviking Richard here: https://twitter.com/mimosacymru and, of course, Hiraeth here: https://twitter...
Jan 31, 2021•56 min
In this episode we discuss the latest political issues with Plaid Cymru MS for South East Wales, Delyth Jewell. We also cover her political history and the tragic circumstances that saw her join the Senedd after the passing of Steffan Lewis. You can find Delyth on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/DelythJewellAM And of course, us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying Hiraeth, please like and subscribe in your podcast app of choice.
Jan 22, 2021•38 min
In the week of the Institute of Welsh Affairs Media Summit, we take a look at the state of new and traditional media in and about Wales with Martin Shipton of the Western Mail, Huw Marshall of The News Wales and Rhian Jones of Red Pepper/Tribune. Find our guests on Twitter here: Martin: https://twitter.com/ShiptonMartin Huw: https://twitter.com/huwmar Rhian: https://twitter.com/RhianEJones And, of course, us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying Hiraeth, please like and subscribe i...
Jan 15, 2021•44 min
Matt, Ceri and Rich take a look at the latest political stories in Wales and review the big themes of the year, including performance of Welsh & English/UK Governments, Brexit, the Internal Market Bill, Labour's travails with further devolution and - yes - even some positive stuff. Matt: https://twitter.com/hexter101 Ceri: https://twitter.com/ceritheviking Rich: https://twitter.com/mimosacymru And, of course, the Hiraeth Pod: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog If you're enjoying the Hiraeth Pod...
Dec 23, 2020•1 hr
Following the UK Government's success in passing the controversial Internal Market Bill through Westminster in the face of opposition in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the future of the UK is again under the microscope. With Scotland nearing the exit and this UK Government seemingly intent on re-centralising power in London, the British Labour Party are launching a constitutional convention, which the Welsh party has been championing for years. Will it lead to anything substantial and cou...
Dec 20, 2020•57 min
