Capital thoughts

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Opinion

Page 4 – Power Broker: John Osmond looks at the career of Denzil Davies to discover some clues on the future role of Welsh MPs at Westminster.

News

Page 8 – News

Culture and Communication

Page 10 – Cover Story: Capital Thoughts Wales behind: Europe in front
Peter Finch finds delicate light in anonymous Cardiff.

Page 12 – City Reflections
Peter Stead wonders where Welsh urbanity begins and ends.

The Economy

Page 15 – A cuckoo in the nest
David Blackaby and Stephen Drinkwater argue that Cardiff’s growth is increasing economic disparities between east and west Wales.

Politics and Policy

Page 19 – Watershed
Denis Balsom suggests that the 2005 general election will have a lasting impact on Wales.

Page 22 – High hopes
Vernon Bogdanor queries whether Welsh politics have yet ‘come of age’.

Page 24 – An alternative government
Nick Bourne argues that the opposition parties in the National Assembly need to entertain the idea of coalition.

Page 27 – Democratic deficit
Adam Price says that with its permanent majority the Assembly is replicating Westminster’s ‘conformity of indivisible power’.

Page 29 – Seats and votes
John Cox argues for ‘enabling legislation’ to implement Richard and says STV is key to maximising turnout in Assembly elections.

Page 33 – Swimming in clear red water
David Morris explains why Welsh Labour activists have formed a new ‘grassroots’ organisation.

Culture and Communication

Page 36 – Broadcasting barricades
Sue Balsom on Ofcom’s medium term rescue package for ITV1 Wales.

Page 38 – Blogging futures
Tomos Grace looks at the role of the Internet in reinforcing Welsh identity.

Page 40 – Digital divide
Wil Thomas says computers should be located somewhere between the blender and the microwave.

Page 42 – Y filter sqwar
Aled Rowlands reports on an experiment measuring Welsh inter-connectivity.

Page 45 – Build it but don’t toll it
Anthony Beresford examines the arguments surrounding the proposed M4 relief road south of Newport.

Europe

Page 48 – Creu Cyfle – Cultural Explosion
Eluned Haf outlines a project promoting links between Wales and the ten EU Accession States.

Page 50 – Promoting cohesion
Glenys Kinnock argues the EU is about pooling sovreignty for mutual benefit.

Social Policy

Page 53 – Profit and loss in rural Wales
Harold Carter argues that the economic imperatives that drive commercial decisions should not be applied to sparsely populated areas.

Page 56 – Size matters
James Foreman-Peck finds that Welsh secondary schools should not grow any bigger.

Page 59 – Health performance
Marcus Longley and Tony Beddow examine what health professionals really think about the Welsh NHS.

Page 62 – A programme that answers back
Alun Burge reports on progress with Communities First.

Environment

Page 64 – Haunt of the Horse
Charles de Winton reports on Wales’ latest long distance footpath, the Epynt Way.

Page 66 – Greening consumption
Alan Knight says retailers should work with government in producing environmental impact assessments for the products they sell.

Culture and Communication

Page 68 – Cafeteria Catholicism
Harri Pritchard Jones assesses the impact of Benedict XVI on a church that punches above its weight in Wales.

Page 70 – Glanmor Williams 1920-2005
Kenneth O Morgan on the founder of the 20th Century school of Welsh historians.

The Last Word

Page 88 – The Last Word
by Peter Stead