Walescast

29:29

Leaning into Pisa

Walescast ·

2023/12/07

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales education correspondent Bethan Lewis and Institute of Fiscal Studies research fellow Luke Sibieta to assess the performance of Welsh pupils in the most recent set of Pisa tests - the international maths, reading and science assessments carried out every three years. The latest results from the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment - and the first since Covid - saw Wales' performance fall to its lowest level ever in all three

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26:24

Airing Differences

Walescast ·

2023/11/30

Daniel Davies and Teleri Glyn Jones are joined by Joseph Carter of Healthy Air Cymru to discuss the Air Quality and Soundscapes Bill, which is awaiting Royal Assent after completing its passage through the Senedd.The legislation - described as "world-leading" by ministers - is designed to cut deaths and illness from toxic air. But what it might mean for motorists and solid fuel users, amongst others?

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32:57

An Ode to the Autumn Statement

Walescast ·

2023/11/23

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis and Guto Ifan of the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University to dig into the details of Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Autumn Statement - and what it means for Wales

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32:37

Getting Down to Brass Tax

Walescast ·

2023/11/16

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by colleague Daniel Davies and David Phillips of the Institute of Fiscal Studies to discuss the Welsh government's plans for council tax reform. Why do ministers think change is necessary? When might it happen? And who will be winners and who will be losers?

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33:36

War in the Middle East and the King's Speech

Walescast ·

2023/11/09

Felicity Evans looks back at the Senedd debate on the conflict in Israel and Gaza with BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis before Sian Jones - a former special advisor to the Conservative cabinet minister Philip Hammond - helps them put the King's Speech in context

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35:06

Tata Steel and Drug Consumption Rooms

Walescast ·

2023/11/02

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales business correspondent Huw Thomas to discuss the future of Tata Steel's Port Talbot plant after the last-minute cancellation of an expected announcement of the closure of its two blast furnaces with the potential loss of 3,000 jobs. And Martin Blakebrough, head of the substance misuse charity Kaleidoscope, explains how he hopes to push ahead with new services for the most vulnerable drug users in Wales after the UK's first Drug Consumption

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33:24

Winter is Coming

Walescast ·

2023/10/26

In the wake of the Welsh Ambulance Service declaring an "extraordinary incident" last weekend, Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales health correspondent Owain Clarke and senior figures from the service to discuss the challenges it faces as winter looms - and what can be done to ease pressures at the hospital front door.

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32:59

It's (Number) Crunch Time

Walescast ·

2023/10/19

Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis and Guto Ifan from the Wales Governance Centre at Cardiff University to crunch the numbers following the unveiling of cuts to parts of the Welsh Government's budget which ministers say are needed to balance the books in the face of inflationary pressures and also put more cash into the NHS and Transport for Wales

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48:19

Conference Pairs

Walescast ·

2023/10/12

Two party conference reviews for the price of one. Felicity and James are joined by BBC Wales Westminster correspondent Shelley Phelps and the shadow cabinet member and Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds to look back at Labour in Liverpool. Plus political correspondent Daniel Davies and Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor on Plaid Cymru's Autumn get-together in Aberystwyth.

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36:49

A Platform for Change?

Walescast ·

2023/10/05

Felicity Evans reviews the Conservative Party conference and that HS2 announcement with the Brecon and Radnorshire MP Fay Jones and BBC Wales Westminster correspondent Catrin Haf Jones - who both spent the week in Manchester. Will Rishi Sunak's speech lead to a revival in his party's fortunes? And business correspondent Huw Thomas reflects on the news that a major employer in the south Wales valleys - UK Windows and Doors - is to close, with the loss of 500 jobs.

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37:28

Signing Up, Up, Up

Walescast ·

2023/09/28

With the number of signatories to a petition calling on the Welsh Government to rescind its new 20-mph law breaking all records, James Williams and Felicity Evans are joined by the chair of the Senedd's petitions committee, Jack Sargeant MS and Cristina Leston-Bandiera, professor of politics at the University of Leeds, to investigate the value of parliamentary petitions. And fresh from her party conference, the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales, Jane Dodds MS, reflects on her party's

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47:27

Reforming the Senedd and reframing Net Zero

Walescast ·

2023/09/21

The Minister for the Constitution, Mick Antoniw MS, joins James Williams to discuss the Senedd Reform Bill, which paves the way for the enlargement of the Senedd for 60 to 96 members. BBC Wales environment correspondent Steffan Messenger explains what the changes to to the UK government's approach to achieving net zero by 2050 - announced by the Prime Minister - mean for Wales. And Dr Jac Larner of Cardiff University runs through the results of the most recent Welsh opinion polling.

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33:49

Is 20 Plenty?

Walescast ·

2023/09/13

James Williams speaks to the Deputy Minster of Climate Change in Wales, Lee Waters, about the imminent arrival of the default 20mph speed limit. Also, with the help of BBC Wales' Political Editor Gareth Lewis, he analyses the latest Welsh Government announcement about the multi-million pound overspend by NHS Wales.

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31:15

"There may be trouble ahead..."

Walescast ·

2023/08/23

Budget cuts, public sector pay and the road to Net Zero. Felicity Evans and James Williams are joined by a trio of Senedd members - Labour’s Hefin David, Conservative Natasha Ashgar and Luke Fletcher of Plaid Cymru - to discuss the big issues facing their parties as the new political term approaches.

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58:37

When we met Rhun ap Iorwerth at the National Eisteddfod

Walescast ·

2023/08/15

The Plaid Cymru leader and Ynys Mon MS joins Felicity Evans and James Williams at the National Eisteddfod to reflect on a career which spans both journalism, politics and a little bit of showbusiness. In a wide-ranging interview he discusses growing up as the son of a musical collaborator with Dafydd Iwan, the four big decisions he's had to make in his political career - and the records he would take to a desert island.

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55:32

When we met Jeremy Miles at the Gnoll Estate Country...

Walescast ·

2023/08/09

From Ystalyfera comprehensive school to Wales’ education minister via Oxford and the law – the Labour MS for Neath, Jeremy Miles, has an impressive c.v. and skills set. But when Felicity Evans and James Williams met him at the Gnoll Estate Country Park in the heart of his constituency for a wide-ranging interview covering the experiences that have shaped his politics, they discovered how he met his match - in the shape of a former attorney and First Lady, diplomat and US presidential candidate

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52:44

When we met Fay Jones at the Royal Welsh Show

Walescast ·

2023/08/02

The Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire joins Felicity Evans and James Williams at the Royal Welsh Show to reflect on her political career. In a wide-ranging interview she discusses growing up as the daughter of an MP and government minister, why she is confident of retaining her seat at the next General Election and how she approaches representing Wales's largest constituency

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45:09

The Long Road to a General Election

Walescast ·

2023/07/27

Felicity Evans and David Deans look forward to Westminster after the summer break and a general election looming. They are joined by former director of strategy and chief speechwriter to Theresa May, Chris Wilkins and Jim Pickard the deputy political editor at the Financial Times. Felicity and David also speak to BBC Wales environment correspondent Steffan Messenger, who is at the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, where a row over the number of trees farmers will need to plant to access future

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52:56

By-election Blues, Reds and Oranges

Walescast ·

2023/07/21

James Williams analyses the results of the week's three Parliamentary by-elections with the help of the former Welsh Conservative chief of staff, Anthony Pickles and Tom Hamilton, a former head of research for the UK Labour Party. James is also joined by BBC Wales education and family correspondent Bethan Lewis and Laura Doel, director of the National Association of Head Teachers in Wales, to look back at the academic year.

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47:00

End-of-term Senedd reports - and reporters

Walescast ·

2023/07/13

As the Senedd heads into its Summer recess, James Williams and Huw Thomas are joined by political commentator Martin Shipton for an end-of-term report on the parties and their leaders. Harry Thompson of Cynnal Cymru gives his take on the latest Welsh unemployment figures, And the editor of the Caerphilly Observer, Richard Gurner, explains why he will soon be employing a journalist - paid for by public money - to report on the Senedd

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