Third sector is an extension of Labour
IT seems that in recent weeks the third sector has felt the need to defend itself. Presumably in an effort to help, the Western Mail ran a big piece on March 8 quoting Ruth Marks, Wales Council for Voluntary Action CEO; and then on the 16th we had a full-page article by Anna Nicholl, Director of Strategy and Sector Development at the WCVA.
This later article was accompanied by a big picture of a mother and child picking up litter, as an example of the “voluntary groups” the WCVA claims to represent, and on which “Welsh life depends”, according to Ms Nicholl. The picture was cute, but misleading.
I have criticised the third sector over many years, principally on my blog, Jac o’ the North, but I have never criticised voluntary groups, nor charities with an obvious purpose such as the RNLI. My criticism has been reserved for what can only be described as selfserving, third sector businesses.
Many of which get millions of pounds in public funding every year, with most of the money going in salaries. And a hefty chunk of that salary funding going to the CEO, who is invariably a Labour Party member or supporter, and often from outside of Wales.
As if that isn’t bad enough, we have the duplication to consider. In a recent FoI response from the “Welsh” Government I was told that there are 48 bodies in Wales dealing with homelessness. That’s 48 in a country of three million people.
Having identified an “issue” to exploit it then becomes imperative for third sector bodies to have a steady supply of “clients” in order to ensure the continuation of the generous funding. To meet this need often means importing undesirables from outside of Wales.
One Cardiff-based housing association is currently wreaking havoc in Lampeter with the drug dealers and others it’s housing in that hitherto peaceful town and it has applied to Ceredigion council for permission to convert more buildings to one-bed flats in order to bring in more misfits! And remember - this is being paid for from the Welsh public purse!
How can we explain this apparent idiocy? The answer lies in the fact that the third sector is, as I’ve suggested, an extension of the Labour Party.
On one level, the third sector is
pure cronyism in that it provides thousands of jobs for Labour supporters. On another level, the size of the third sector is used to indicate how poor Wales is, and of course it’s always someone else’s fault - so “Vote Labour”!
Which means that the third sector exploits and entrenches Wales’ poverty for the benefit of those working in it and for the electoral advantage of the Labour Party.
If the hundreds of millions of pounds poured into the third sector every year was used to encourage entrepreneurship and invite investment Wales would be much better off, but would also be less likely to vote Labour.
All of which means that the unnecessary, crony-filled and duplicating third sector bodies I’m dealing with have nothing in common whatsoever with mothers and children picking up litter in their local park.
Royston Jones Tywyn