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Will the peace talks lead to lasting peace in Ukraine? Journalist Irina Matviyishyn will give us the latest from Ukraine. Jose Peralta from Hybu Cig Cymru is with us to defend HCCs posts about agricultural emissions and Rory Francis from the Snowdonia Society explains why it's important to be scientific about climate change. After an unannounced inspection of Parc Prison found that drugs are widely available there, Vanessa Frake-Harris tells us how she cut down on drug use at Wormwood Scrubs during her time there as governor. And following the Pope's funeral, Papal knight Lord Don Touhig and practising Roman Catholic Delyth Jewell MS mourn his passing.Jess Blair from the Electoral Reform Society and Plaid Cymru group leader on Vale of Glamorgan council review the papers.
There are few people that have been at the centre of Welsh national politics for as long as Mark Drakeford. As a councillor, special advisor, Assembly Member, Cabinet Secretary, Minister, and First Minister - as well as leader of Welsh Labour - his experience is unrivalled. In this session recorded at Labour Party conference Mark is interviewed by friend of the pod Jess Blair (of the Electoral Reform Society) about his thoughts on Welsh democracy past, present, and future, the key debates around redesigning the electoral system for the Senedd in 2026 and beyond and some of the big challenges he faced bringing the legislation through both our national parliament and the Labour Party itself. Mark also takes questions from the floor about widening representation in the Senedd, republicanism, House of Lords reform, and expanding the franchise. You can follow our speakers here: - Mark Drakeford MS: https://x.com/MarkDrakeford - Jess Blair: https://x.com/JessBlair7 - ERS Cymru: https://x.com/ERScymru As always, you can find the latest from us on the socials @hiraethpod, including BlueSky here: https://bsky.app/profile/hiraethpod.bsky.social We hope you find this podcast interesting and useful. Please do send feedback, it's always great to hear what our audience thinks. Thank you for listening to the podcast. If you have enjoyed it, please leave us a nice rating or comment on your podcast app or on YouTube and, if you are able to do so, please consider supporting our work from just £3/month on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hiraethpod
James Williams explores the potential impact on Wales of a second Trump presidency with economic advisor Eurfyl ap Gwilym and the Electoral Reform Society's campaign to convince local authorities to adopt proportional representation ahead of the next council elections with Jess Blair of ERS Cymru
In this pod, our first live podcast recording, we discuss the state of the relationships between UK and Welsh/Scottish governments and the effect Brexit and the personalities of successive UK administrations has had on the effectiveness of government. We hosted this live event on the week that Gordon Brown produced his proposals for reforming the governance of the UK, so we discuss those proposals and how the Welsh dimension is addressed (or not). We also discuss the interim report from the Welsh Government's Independent Commission of the Constitutional Future of Wales and its decision to focus on three alternative visions for Wales: entrenched devolution, federalism, and independence. Ceri and Matt are joined by Prof Richard Wyn Jones of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre to discuss and answer questions from the audience, as well as reflect on our previous podcast on the Welsh and Scottish independence campaigns with Gerry Hassan, Will Hayward, and Jess Blair. Our pod on the Welsh/Scottish Independence Campaigns: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-independence-debate-what-is-happening-in-scotland/id1515800534?i=1000591625130 The Gordon Brown Report: https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Commission-on-the-UKs-Future.pdf The Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales interim report: https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2022-12/independent-commission-the-constitutional-future-of-wales-interim-report-december-2022.pdf The Welsh Budget Outlook from the Wales Governance Centre: https://youtu.be/3fxye_kun08 Our guest, Prof Richard Wyn Jones: https://twitter.com/RWynJones This episode is also available as a video here: https://youtu.be/9U4nF364uKc And follow us on your platform of choice for the latest news: https://twitter.com/HiraethPod If enjoy this podcast please subscribe, rate, and review in your podcast app of choice. If you are able to do so, please also consider joining our Patreon, from just £3/month.
From time to time we run live events to debate important aspects of politics, policy, or current affairs from a Welsh perspective. This podcast is a recording of an event co-hosted with our friends at the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University, discussing the independence campaigns both north and west of the border with England, with Jess Blair of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru in the Chair. A video version of this podcast is also available: https://youtu.be/hI5HHCk0gv8 Our panellists are: Will Hayward: https://twitter.com/WillHayCardiff WalesOnline's Welsh Affairs Editor and author of ‘Independent Nation: Should Wales Leave the UK?', available here: https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/independent-nation & Gerry Hassan: https://twitter.com/GerryHassan Writer, Commentator and Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University and author of ‘Scotland Rising: The Case for Independence', available here: https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745347264/scotland-rising/ For all the latest from Hiraeth, follow us here: https://twitter.com/HiraethPod You can find out more about the pod at www.walespolitics.com and, if you are able to do so, please consider supporting us from just £3/month at www.patreon.com/hiraethpod
With the plans now given the Senedd's stamp of approval, we speak with an expert in the form of Jess Blair, Director of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru, in detail about the Labour/Plaid Cymru agreement on Senedd reform and expansion. Is this a genuine step forward for Welsh democracy and are the accusations of the larger parties working in their own interests fair? We address these questions and more. You can find Jess on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/JessBlair7 And ERS Cymru here: https://twitter.com/ERScymru For the latest from Hiraeth, follow us here: https://twitter.com/HiraethPod And finally, if you're enjoying the pod, please leave a rating and review in your podcast app of choice.
We are starting to see greater divergence in the political cultures of Wales and the UK in many ways but one of the most visible is the different directions of travel with regards to elections and voting. Wales (similarly to Scotland) is following a path to greater inclusivity and proportionality while lowering the minimum voting age to 16 while the UK Government is pushing voting restrictions, more 'first past the post' and maintaining votes at 18. We discuss electoral reform in Wales and the UK Government's new Elections Bill with: Jess Blair of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru: https://twitter.com/JessBlair7 (ERS Cymru: https://twitter.com/ERScymru ) and Maddy Dhesi of the 3 Million / Hands Off Our Vote: https://twitter.com/maddydhesi Maddy's campaign to the Scottish Government to oppose Voter ID: https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE1921?s=09 For the latest pods, blogs and videos, follow us: https://twitter.com/HiraethBlog And if you're enjoying the pod, please leave us a review in your podcast app of choice.
The dreaded hangover: we’ve totally been there. So, to help you deal (or stop it in the first place), nutritionist and naturopath Jess Blair discusses everything you need to know about defeating it - fast. WANT MORE FROM JESS? Find out more about Jess via her site, here, or on Instagram @jessblair_. WANT MORE BODY + SOUL? Online: Head to bodyandsoul.com.au for your daily digital dose of health and wellness. On social: Via Instagram at @bodyandsoul_au or Facebook. Got an idea for an episode? DM host Felicity Harley on Instagram @felicityharley. In print: Each Sunday, grab Body+Soul inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), the Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (Tasmania). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
It's Christmas and parties and all things fun, so how do we navigate drinking with our health intact? Nutritionist and naturopath Jess Blair shares her top tips on consuming alcohol the healthy-ish way. WANT MORE FROM JESS? To hear today's full interview, where Jess discusses how to defeat a hangover - fast...search for Extra Healthy-ish wherever you get your pods. Find out more about Jess via her site, here, or on Instagram @jessblair_. WANT MORE BODY + SOUL? Online: Head to bodyandsoul.com.au for your daily digital dose of health and wellness. On social: Via Instagram at @bodyandsoul_au or Facebook. Got an idea for an episode? DM host Felicity Harley on Instagram @felicityharley. In print: Each Sunday, grab Body+Soul inside The Sunday Telegraph (NSW), the Sunday Herald Sun (Victoria), The Sunday Mail (Queensland), Sunday Mail (SA) and Sunday Tasmanian (Tasmania). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode, we continued our retrospective of Disney's 'Dark Era' as we looked back at the studio's 1977 feature The Rescuers. On this recording, Jim McClean was joined by Jess Blair and Victoria Brown,Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
BanterFlix's resident 'Geek Queen' Jess Blair geeks out with Bill Taylor, Pete Sutton and her husband Warren Blair over Disney's The Mandalorian.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
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-election and whether the parties will finally grasp the challenge of building the parliament that Wales needs. You can find the education. support packs that Jess mentions here: - Online resources free to use for the election: https://t.co/SAXjJTXd46 - ProjectVote for a parallel election for 11-15 year olds: https://t.co/pHGAL2Bvif and find our guests on Twitter: ERS Cymru: https://twitter.com/ERScymru Jess Blair: https://twitter.com/JessBlair7 Laura McAllister: https://twitter.com/LauraMcAllister and, of course, us: 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.
With the very welcome recent progress on electoral reform in Wales, I invited Jess Blair from the Electoral Reform Society Cymru to join me on Never Mind The Bar Charts.Feedback very welcome, and do share this podcast with others who you think may enjoy it.Show notesHow electoral reform makes government better.The Local Government and Elections (Wales) Bill.STV explained (words).STV explained (animals).Public support for electoral reform.Join the Electoral Reform Society.Jess Blair on Twitter.Music by Hugo Lee.New to listening to podcasts? Here are some tips on how to listen to podcasts.Enjoy the show? Spread the wordFollow the show on Twitter.Like the show on Facebook.Share the show's website, www.NeverMindTheBarCharts.com.
On this episode, Jim handed over the hosting reins of the show to BanterFlix's resident 'Science Queen' Jess Blair as she spoke with biologist, writer and TV presenter Simon Watt about Steven Soderbergh's 2011 thriller Contagion, starring Marion Cotillard, Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Winslet. (as always be warned there are spoilers aplenty).Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
On this episode, Jim was joined by David 'CBG' Campbell, Abi Easton, Jess Blair and Warren Blair as they chatted about Jay and Silent Bob Reboot after a screening last year at Odyssey Cinemas Belfast.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
What will this result mean for Wales? What were the highs and lows of the campaign for the parties? The next Senedd election - how large an effect will this vote have? Joining us is: Jess Blair, Director of the Electoral Reform Society Cymru Mia Rees, Conservative Councillor for Whitchurch and Tongwynlais Oliver Townsend, Policy and External Affairs Manager for Cymorth Cymru and Lib Dem Campaigner Andy Regan, Policy and External Affairs Manager at the Institute of Welsh Affairs (HOST)
For this episode, recorded live at the Strand Cinema after a screening of Nick Castle's The Last Starfighter, Jim was joined by BanterFlix's resident 'Geek Queen' Jess Blair and the Sick Sense's Bill Taylor as they chatted about some of the best and worst video game adaptations to ever grace the big screen.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
Today on the show you'll hear some tips from Jess Blair the nutritionist, and how a fellow employee stole a baby name. Plus talking about fake doctors, and What you do to annoy your Mrs...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On this episode of our podcast, Jim was joined by BanterFlix's Jess Blair and our very own Peter Parker, Warren Blair as we chatted about Support the Girls, Child's Play 2019 and Toy Story 4.This podcast was recorded at the Odeon BelfastSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
On this podcast, Jim was joined by BanterFlix's very own Jess Blair and the Thin Air's Conor Smyth as they reviewed The Kindergarten Teacher and What Men Want.We also chatted about the launch of this year's Belfast Film Festival and Jess chatted her experience at the Dublin Comic Con: Spring Edition.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
On this episode, Jim caught up with local writer Michael Campbell to talk about Luca Guadagnino's new version of Suspiria.He spoke with Ben Wheatley, Sam Riley and Alexandra Maria Lara about Happy New Year, Colin Burstead, which is showing at the QFT on Sunday 02 December.He wrapped up by chatting with BanterFlix's very own Jess Blair and Neil Sedgewick from Films & Faith about Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald in spoilerific detail.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/banterflix)
**Agenda** 1600 - 1605 Welcome and introduction to ‘Our Smart Region’ project * Auriol Miller, Director, Institute of Welsh Affairs 1605 - 1615 Keynote speech - The difference smart technology can make * Alan Fletcher, Business Development and Lab Manager, Knowledge Media Institute, Open University 1615 - 1645 Laying the foundations for a Smart Region * Ann Beynon, Member of the Valleys Taskforce (Chair) * Brian Popperwell, Chief Operating Officer, Next Generation Data * Prof. Paul Harrison, Pro Vice Chancellor Innovation and Dean of Computing, Engineering and Science, University of South Wales * Michael Powell, Rural Programmes Manager, Monmouthshire County Council To include Q&A session 1645 - 1655 Presentation of ‘Our Smart Region’ project report * Keith Watts, Smart Region Project Coordinator, IWA 1655 - 1725 What could a Smart Region look like? * Valerie Livingston, Director, Newsdirect Wales (Chair) * Alan Fletcher, Business Development and Lab Manager, Knowledge Media Institute, Open University * Jess Blair, Director, Electoral Reform Society * Prof. James Lewis, Academic Director, Y Lab To include Q&A session 1725 - 1755 Next steps for the region * Auriol Miller, Director, IWA (Chair) * Kellie Beirne, Programme Director, Cardiff Capital Region City Deal * Peter Fox, Leader, Monmouthshire County Council To include Q&A session 1755 - 1800 Summary and thanks * Auriol Miller, Director, IWA
Chatting with Jess Blair about her journey from fitness model and cover girl to a mum and naturopath with a balanced lifestyle. There are so many take aways to implement into your lifestyle, routine and even mindset from our chat, she's a wealth of knowledge for women everywhere wanting vibrant health. You can check her our at wellnessbyblair.com or follow her IG @wellnessbyblair
The [Expert Panel on Assembly Electoral Reform](http://www.assembly.wales/en/abthome/about_us-commission_assembly_administration/panel-elec-reform/Pages/Assembly-Electoral-Reform.aspx), the McAllister review, reported in December 2017 and made a series of proposals for using new powers to reform elements of the National Assembly for Wales' electoral system. It was asked to make recommendations which could be implemented in time for the Assembly elections in 2021. Just some of the proposals they made included: * Increasing the number of Assembly Members to at least 80, and more like 90 * Proposing using different systems by which AMs are elected. First choice being STV, and a viable alternative being Flexible List * Lowering the voting age for Assembly elections to 16 year olds * Integrating a gender quota into the electoral system, and allowing AMs to job share Ahead of the debate in the Assembly later, unpicking the issues at play, Rhea Stevens is joined by: * Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru * Natasha Davies, Chwarae Teg’s Policy and Research Lead * Carmen Ria Smith, NUS Wales Deputy President
On the centenary of the first British women to get the vote, the director of Electoral Reform Society Cymru speaks to Martin about the lack of women in politics, and the democratic deficit in Wales. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Huw Irranca Davies, Dai Lloyd and Steffan Evans to discuss the Assembly's debate over whether it should back the Wales Bill, and Theresa May's latest update on Brexit.
Jess Blair is joined by Owen Hathway, Julia McWatt and Daran Hill as they review the events of 2016.
Jess Blair is joined by Mary Van den Heuvel, Robin Hughes and David Jones to discuss the latest Pisa results for Wales, and their implications.
Jess Blair, Owen Hathway, Rhianon Passmore, Mia Rees and Daran Hill discuss Theresa May's first Prime Minister's Questions and Owen Smith's challenge for Labour leadership.
Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Nick Ramsay & Rhianon Passmore to discuss the latest turn of events in Westminster.
Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Owen Hathway & Andrew RT Davies to discuss the results of the EU Referendum.
Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Julia McWatt & Owen Hathway to discuss the new Welsh Cabinet.
Jess Blair is joined by Aaron Hill, Josh Miles and Daran Hill to discuss the end of deadlock and Carwyn Jones' re-election as First Minister.
Jess Blair, Daran Hill and Siobhan McClelland discuss the shock tie between Leanne Wood and Carwyn Jones on the vote for First Minister of Wales.
Jess Blair, Daran Hill, Owen Hathway & Jac Larner discuss the results of the Welsh Assembly Election in the latest IWA Podcast.
Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Professor Roger Scully and Liz Silversmith to discuss the latest poll for the Assembly elections, released just hours before Wales votes.
Daran Hill, Owen Hathaway, Ian Lewis and Jess Blair discuss the winners and losers from the recent debates, ahead of next week's assembly elections.
This week's IWA Podcast looks at the big issues following the publication of the party manifestos ahead of May's election. Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, MD of Positif, and Rhodri Evans of FSB Wales.
The findings of the latest Wales Barometer Poll are discussed in the second election special from the #IWAPodcast. Jess Blair is joined by Daran Hill, Gareth Hughes and Professor Roger Scully.
David Melding AM joins Jess Blair to discuss why he thinks the UK needs a federal model.
Mick Antoniw AM joins Jess Blair to discuss the future of the UK, and whether federalism is the only way forward.
The dust has settled from the Scottish referendum, and new plans have been published by the UK Government for Scotland and for Wales. But what's next for England? Professor Richard Wyn Jones joins Jess Blair to discuss.
Steve Brooks, Director of ERS Cymru, joins Jess Blair as they discuss the new powers offered to Wales over elections and the National Assembly for Wales.
Jess Blair meets Writer and Broadcaster David Torrance to discuss the role of the UK post #Indyref.
As the dust settles, what is the significance of the Euro election? Election expert Prof Roger Scully from Cardiff University joins Lee Waters, Cathy Owens and Jess Blair.