Leaders' Debate: Joe Public's Verdict

Clearly Nick Clegg won the debate in Manchester. He looked at the camera, which Brown and Cameron didn't too often, and was able to aim a good few digs at the two "old parties".
The exposure for the Liberal Democrats was great for them but will it gain them any more seats? Only time will tell.
Clegg will face a more difficult second debate because he won't be able to continue using the "old parties" line. He also cleverly ignored Gordon Brown's efforts to get him to gang up on David Cameron.
David Cameron for someone who normally looks so assured was clearly nervous and tried to avoid being drawn into a policy debate with Gordon Brown, who took too long to make his point. He proved he's not great behind the camera although did put some pressure on the Tories after a uncertain start on immigration - Labour has been in government since 1997 but is now only just getting to grips with it.
David Cameron and Gordon Brown weren't pressed hard about why we need a Trident system in a post-Cold War world and spend an absolute fortune on it when things are so tough.
There wasn't much in this debate for us in Wales or those in Scotland - questions about the NHS or education service didn't mean a row of beans to us in Wales because those functions are devolved to the Welsh Assembly. Both countries were really ignored and that is not good enough.

Auditor General Goes: Good News For Staff

Jeremy Colman,the Auditor General for Wales, quit suddenly yesterday. Speculation over the reasons for his departure was detailed in the media today.
But his resignation must lead to a complete change in the culture of the Wales Audit Office.
Over the last two of three years relations between staff and some managers have been frankly appalling. There have been a series of employment disputes, complaints about bullying and pay-outs to staff using public money. And those departing with pay-offs have had to sign confidentiality clauses preventing them from telling the terrible truth about life in the Wales Audit Office.
Really, the full story about staff-management relations needs to come out - it should not be buried because it is embarrassing.
Jeremy Colman, as the man in charge,failed to tackle the issue and did not crackdown hard on the perpetrators.
Scrutiny is needed of the scrutiniser of public bodies and that has not really happened until now. Many politicians have appeared reluctant to take up this issue.It's time Members of the Assembly's Public Accounts Committee showed their mettle because staff should not be expected to work in such a hostile environment.
Late last year former Finance Minister Andrew Davies revealed that he had successfully sought an amendment to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill which would give the Assembly the powers to introduce new governance arrangements for the Wales Audit Office. They paralleled the powers the UK Parliament had sought in relation to the National Audit Office. It is hoped the Assembly will be use those powers as soon as possible.

Tories attack on breakfasts for children

A total of 1,000 schools in Wales have now signed up to the Welsh Assembly Government's free breakfast programme, started six years ago.
It was launched to make sure the poorest children did not start the school day hungry and in the last year cost more than £8m.
But the Conservatives say that money could be better spent on the education budget because parents should be responsible for feeding their own children.
In an ideal world, yes. But we are far from in an ideal world.
Some parents, sadly do not look after their children well enough, for a variety of reasons - perhaps because of poverty, poor parenting skills, drug or alcohol problems. The reasons are numerous and varied.
A full stomach will undoubtedly help those children, who would otherwise get little or nothing at home, concentrate and learn at school.
It's a scheme which should be expanded not scrapped. It does prove that it really is the same only Tories.