SO, GOOD old Sandy Blair of Newport Council fame thinks our AMs need a pay rise. I would have thought £50k per annum for a part-time, badly performed non job that you don’t need any qualifications or experience for – just the ability, in most cases, to pin a red rosette on your lapel – is more than adequate. If the people of Wales think a £10k rise will lead to a better class of politician, then they are deluded. The same old dross will be there in five years’ time, just driving more upmarket cars.

Perhaps we should go onto performance-related pay. After all, I have no problem with rewarding success, but as we know, in every area of responsibility that our Cardiff Assembly (I refuse to call it a Welsh Assembly as it has only ever represented the interests of the Welsh capital) has had devolved to it from education, health and economy, statistically we have ended up worse off.

In fact, as Sandy stated, it is just responsibility shifted from MPs to AMs, so I wonder if Newport MPs will be calling for a pay report on their reduced responsibilities. Answers on the back of a postcard.

C Bradley, Caerleon Road, Newport