A crack in the ceiling?

Wales now has its first woman vice chancellor of a university - Julie Lydon has been appointed as Vice Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan.  For all their supposedly progressive credentials, Wales's universities were stubbornly resistant to women entering their higher ranks, so this is good news.  But EHRC's review 'Who Runs Wales' shows that there is still a long long way to go. But still - ever crack in the glass ceiling makes it more likely it will eventually shatter. Roll on!!

Storm in a teacup

The fuss over the likely loss of women AMs following the next election is a storm in a teacup.  The so-called gender balance of the Assembly was trotted out as some great achievement. Meanwhile sweet nothing was being done by WAG to help ordinary women - on equal pay, child care, public transport, decent jobs and the rest. Yes, there was a lot more talk about domestic violence and other 'women's issues' - but action on the ground? No.  The number of women AMs hides the real problems. That is what I am concerned about and not a load of puff.

No welcome for Mike Tyson

The welcome dished out to Mike Tyson on his visit to Wales yesterday hard to believe.  He was mobbed by crowds in Merthyr Tydfil. as he went to pay his respects to Johnny Owen\s family, before going for drinks with Councillors. His visit was given front page coverage on the Western Mail, who only grudgingly acknowledged that he was 'controversial'.

Controversial! This man is a convicted rapist who served 3 years for an assaulting an 18 year old woman. 

It speaks volumes that the public and media are willing to conveniently overlook this while rolling out the red carpet.  The celebration in Wales compares with the protests that greeted his arrival in Belfast, where there was plenty of opposition.  Any illusion that Wales is fair and equal has just shattered.