In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Syria
All the talk this week has been about whether or not to bomb ISIS in Syria.
If I was an MP, I would have voted alongside fellow Plaid Cymru MPs against the Prime Minister’s proposals to join the bombing campaign.
I fear it will simply lead to more refugees fleeing to Europe while increasing the terrorist threat to the UK.
Why are we interfering in other people’s countries? Haven’t we learned the lessons from the disastrous invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan?
The position in Syria is both complex and in terms of those that might be termed moderate and other extremist elements.
I fail to see how a few British bombs will change things after the bombardment of the airforces of USA, Russia and France and others.
What is needed more than anything is not more bombs but a speeding up of efforts to establish a transitional government in Syria to bring peace to that worn-torn country.
Cancer
During First Minister’s Questions, I raised the issue that the highest cancer mortality rates in Wales are in South Wales East.
It is vital that the Welsh Government has continuing discussions with local health boards to find out how the survival rates can be improved?
I understand that incidences of cancer are highest in nearby Merthyr Tydfil but lowest in Cardigan and I would be interested to find out these reasons for the variances across Wales.
Caerphilly
I’ve got a busy few days ahead with nine visits already penciled in including Christmas fetes around the county borough, a cheese and wine in aid of Save the Children and Penyrheol Community Council’s Christmas concert with the Aber Valley Male Voice Choir and the Seren group.
I’ve already been to six festive events in what is a busy time of the year. I do my best to show my support by attending as many as possible.
As a former Caerphilly Grammar Technical School pupil, I attended the annual old boys’ dinner at the weekend. It is the largest old boys’ organisation in Wales.
I also support the annual Light Up A Life Remembrance Service organised by the St David’s Hospice at St Martin’s Church in Caerphilly. They are always very moving events that give people an opportunity to celebrate the lives of loved ones and remember how they illuminated lives.