Walescast

BBC Radio Wales

5.0 (2)
GOVERNMENT
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Felicity Evans and James Williams present a one-stop shop of what's happening in the world of Welsh politics.

4 DAYS AGO

Crunching the Numbers

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis and Dr Ed Poole of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre to unpick what Rachel Reeves' first Budget - with its tax rises and extra spending on public services and capital projects - means for Wales and the Welsh Government budget in December

40 min
OCT 24

Debating assisted dying, devolution doubts and how a Budget is put together

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC colleague David Deans to look back at the Senedd debate on assisted dying that ultimately saw MSs vote against the idea. Grassroots Welsh Conservative Huw Davies explains why some in the party - himself included - would like to see the party commit to ending devolution. And the former Treasury special advisor Aled Maclean-Jones lifts the lid on what goes on behind the scenes at the Treasury in the run-up to a Budget

44 min
OCT 17

Cross-border NHS co-operation. Plaid's annual conference. 60 years of Welsh Secretaries

James Williams is joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis to discuss the continuing confusion over the increased cross-border NHS co-operation announced by the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens at the Labour Party conference. Newly-elected Plaid Cymru MP Llinos Medi looks back at her party's annual get together. And on the 60th anniversary of the creation of the role of Welsh Secretary, the former Labour post-holder Ron Davies and Anthony Pickles - advisor to four Conservative Secretaries of State - debate the future of the post.

38 min
OCT 10

Taking Council

James Williams convenes Walescast's very own Council of the Nations and Regions to preview the inaugural meeting of the UK government's new vehicle for strengthening its work with the governments of the devolved nations. BBC Scotland's Phil Sim, Jayne McCormack from BBC Northern Ireland and BBC Wales' very own Daniel Davies all squeeze around the table to try and work out what that might mean in practice. Plus Ed Poole of Cardiff University's Wales Governance Centre looks ahead to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves' much-anticipated first Budget at the end of the month

40 min
OCT 3

Steeled for the Future

Felicity Evans and James Williams look back at the Conservative Party conference with the former Welsh Secretary Sir Robert Buckland - one of 175 Tory MPs to lose their seat at the General Election. What does he make of the four candidates still in the running to lead his party? And following the end of traditional steel making in Port Talbot, BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas looks ahead to the future of Tata's massive plant in the town

37 min
SEP 26

It's Party (Conference) Time II...

James Williams hears from Claire Hughes - the newly-elected Labour MP for Bangor Aberconwy - about the mood and messages emanating from her party's get-together in Liverpool. Also in conference last weekend was Reform UK. The party's Welsh spokesperson Oliver Lewis gives his take on proceedings at Birmingham's NEC.

39 min
SEP 20

It's Party (Conference) Time...

Felicity Evans and James Williams look back at the Green Party's recent get together in Manchester with its Welsh leader Anthony Slaughter - and the Liberal Democrats' gathering in Brighton with the party's newly-elected MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick. With both parties returning record numbers of MPs to Westminster in the General Election the mood at their conferences was celebratory. But already their attention is turning to the Senedd elections in 20 months time.

21 min
SEP 19

Getting the Priorities Right

Felicity Evans, James Williams and guests discuss the new First Minister Eluned Morgan's top priorities - as set out in a speech to the Senedd earlier in the week. Former health board chair professor Marcus Longley explains the challenges in delivering improvements to the NHS in Wales; BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas looks at possible approaches to creating jobs within a greener economy; and BBC Wales education correspondent Bethan Lewis explores what the commitment to driving up standards in schools may involve

37 min

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5

out of 5

2 Ratings

Riveting listening

09/22/2022

Delwina

I was listening to the latest podcast “A Difference of Opinion” while chopping carrots. I only meant to chop a few, but was got so involved, that I absentmindedly chopped the whole two pound bag! You don’ t get much higher praise than that!!! Diolch am eich gwaith caled.