Farrell Perks

Wales

Independent Political Journalist at Freelance

🗳️ Political Journalist | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Member @Plaid_Cymru | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Contributor @BylinesCymru | 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Welsh convert!

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Articles

Parity Is a Ceiling, Not a Goal

1 week ago | farrellperks.substack.com | Farrell Perks

There’s been a lot of noise lately about Wales reaching “parity” with Scotland. Devolution, powers, control over our economy, our justice system, our media. And sure, on the face of it, who could argue? Scotland has more powers than Wales. Always has. So it stands to reason, some say, that Wales should simply be brought up to their level. But here’s the problem with that framing. It assumes that Scotland is the bar to aspire to, not the fellow traveller on the road to something far bigger.
Too Little, Too Unionist

2 weeks ago | farrellperks.substack.com | Farrell Perks

There was a time, not too long ago, when the Welsh Liberal Democrats mattered. Never at the top, mind you, but they were at least part of the national conversation. A couple of Senedd seats, a smattering of MPs, a sense of progressive credibility. But that time is over. And after this week’s full-throated rejection of Welsh independence from their lone Senedd member, it’s hard to see them doing anything but fading quietly into political irrelevance.
Fresh coat of paint

2 weeks ago | farrellperks.substack.com | Farrell Perks

It's been a hot minute since I've posted here on Substack. There's been a plethora of reasons for this, but the most pressing are that I began a new job and also became something of a father. Both of those alongside the fact that I have become much more politically active of late (I'm hoping to stand in the upcoming Senedd election) have meant that Substack has fallen a little bit by the wayside, unfortunately.
Rescue mission launched to save popular Welsh language bookshop

2 months ago | nation.cymru | Farrell Perks

News 15 Mar 2025 Jon GowerThe only Welsh language bookshop in the county of Conwy may be set for a new lease of life if a community effort to buy it is successful. Bys a Bawd has long been a very popular shop in the centre of the village of Llanrwst and celebrates its 70th birthday this year. After the present owner decided to retire, the place was put on the market in 2023, but there were no takers for the business and the two flats which are also part of the building.
Residents renew calls for old miners hall to be put to use again

2 months ago | nation.cymru | Farrell Perks

News 15 Mar 2025 Anthony Lewis, Local democracy reporterCalls have been made for something to be done with an old Miners Hall in a town centre which has been empty for decades. The building is in Church Street, Merthyr Tydfil, and speaking at a recent meeting of the council’s regeneration, housing and public protection committee, Councillor Clive Jones said it had been empty for at least the last 30 odd years.
Ukraine peacekeeping plans entering ‘operational phase’, says PM

2 months ago | wp.me | Farrell Perks

News 15 Mar 2025 Planning for a peacekeeping force for Ukraine will move to an “operational phase”, the Prime Minister has said after a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Saturday. Sir Keir Starmer said military chiefs would meet in London on Thursday to “put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine’s future security”.
Starmer hosts talks on Ukraine peacekeeping force as Putin warned not to play games

2 months ago | nation.cymru | Farrell Perks

News 15 Mar 2025 Sir Keir Starmer will host further talks on a peacekeeping force for Ukraine on Saturday after warning Vladimir Putin not to play games with a proposed ceasefire. The Prime Minister is expected to hold a video call with as many as 25 potential members of the “coalition of the willing”, nations that could take part in any peacekeeping operation.
Four people charged with the murder of Joanne Penney

2 months ago | wp.me | Farrell Perks

News 15 Mar 2025 Four people have been charged with the murder of a woman who was shot dead in what may be a case of mistaken identity. Marcus Huntley, 20, from St Mellons, Cardiff; Melissa Dashpre Quiley, 39, from Leicester; Joshua Gordon, 27, from Oadby, Leicestershire; and Tony Porter, 68, from Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, have all been charged with the murder of Joanne Penney.
Tories to attempt to increase earnings threshold for migrants and partners

2 months ago | nation.cymru | Farrell Perks

News 10 Mar 2025 Migrants will have to earn more to qualify for a work visa and will not be able to bring partners to the UK unless they have been married for two years, under proposals tabled by the Conservative Party. In amendments to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that is making its way through the House of Commons, the party has suggested migrants will have to earn £38,700 in order to secure permission to live and work in the UK.
‘People are hurting’, says Michael Sheen in documentary where he writes off debt

2 months ago | nation.cymru | Farrell Perks

News 10 Mar 2025 Welsh actor Michael Sheen became emotional as he said the people in his local community were “hurting” in a new documentary where he writes off £1 million of consumer debt with his own money. The Good Omens actor, 56, uses £100,000 to buy approximately 900 personal debts – amounting to £1 million – for people living in South Wales, in the Channel 4 programme.