Hiraeth - Welsh Politics

In this mini-series marking five years since the UK's referendum on EU membership and Wales's surprising vote to join England in voting 'Leave', we speak to three voices with different experiences of that day and the subsequent period of reflection. This episode features Siôn Tomos Owen, presenter of BBC Radio Cymru's 'Beth yw'r ots gennyf i am Brexit?' Siôn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sionmun...

One of the most notable new members of the Senedd following the 2021 election is Sam Kurtz, who represents Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire as a distinctly 'Welsh' Conservative. We speak to Sam about his background, the relationship between Wales and the UK and his new brief as spokesperson for rural affairs and the Welsh language. You can find Sam on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SKurt...

In this episode we catch up with The National’s Chief Political Commentator and good friend of the pod Theo Davies-Lewis to discuss his recent interview with the First Minister and Welsh Labour’s construction of ‘Fortress Wales’. Theo’s Spectator piece: https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/king-of-fortress-wales-an-interview-with-mark-drakeford/ Theo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdavieslewis For...

Wales's footballing profile was sent to new heights during the European Championships in 2016 and, on the cusp of our first appearance at Euro2020, we speak to our guests about the people, politics and culture of the national team. Martin Johnes (Historian and Author of among many other books ‘A history of sport in Wales’): https://twitter.com/martinjohnes Richard Roberts - (Novelist, author of He...

As one of the new Senedd Members who were elected in May, Mabon ap Gwynfor has already begun to make numerous 'ones to watch' lists for exciting and talented parliamentarians. We caught up with him to discuss the experience of becoming an MS, his thoughts on the election and, after being named as Plaid Cymru's spokesperson for Housing, what the key issues are in the rural housing crisis sweeping a...

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 L...

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 episo...

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...

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...

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: h...

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://twitte...

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...

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 o...

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...

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...

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 anal...

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 ministe...

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 Tw...

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/Hi...

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_Podca...

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.c...

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 Twit...

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 di...

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...

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 (Form...