Wales

Welsh first minister supports Starmer, expresses concern over Mandelson scandal

Eluned Morgan expressed her “full confidence” to the Senedd, while also voicing concerns regarding the administration led by Sir Keir.

Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has expressed her support for Sir Keir Starmer to remain in his position as prime minister, citing the need for stability during uncertain times.

A woman with brown hair and a beige suit, Eluned Morgan, walks alongside a man with short grey hair, glasses, and a navy suit, Keir Starmer. — Eluned Morgan has failed to support Sir Keir Starmer in previous interviews

However, Morgan has also voiced concerns regarding the Lord Mandelson scandal, describing it as "deeply troubling" and highlighting the lack of attention given to the voices of women and girls.

Morgan's comments come after Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for Sir Keir's resignation, prompting criticism aimed at Morgan for her initial silence on the matter as Sir Keir worked to maintain his position.

In response to Sarwar's call, several UK cabinet ministers, including Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens, have publicly backed Sir Keir, demonstrating their support for the prime minister.

On Tuesday, Morgan stated that she supports Sir Keir in his role, while also outlining her concerns about his leadership and the need for stability.

Morgan noted that she had initial reservations about Peter Mandelson's suitability for public office due to his associations, and recent revelations have only strengthened these concerns.

The failure to acknowledge and address the concerns of women regarding Lord Mandelson's appointment must be confronted, according to Morgan.

Morgan emphasized that the prime minister needs to take concrete actions to benefit Wales, including addressing the cost of living, investing in the economy and infrastructure, and committing to greater devolution.

During a session in the Senedd, Conservative leader Darren Millar criticized Morgan for not calling for Sir Keir's resignation the previous day, questioning her courage to take a stand.

Millar asked Morgan if she had full confidence in the prime minister, to which she responded affirmatively.

Morgan confirmed that she had spoken with Sir Keir before his meeting with Labour MPs on Monday evening and expressed her support for him to remain in his position.

Morgan believes that the frequent changes in prime ministers over the past few years have been detrimental and that stability is now necessary.

When asked by Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth why she did not publicly address the Mandelson scandal earlier, Morgan replied that her primary focus as first minister is to improve the lives of people in Wales, rather than comment on Westminster politics.

Ap Iorwerth accused Morgan of being overly loyal to Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and implied that Labour MPs were dictating her actions, suggesting that her loyalty had not yielded any benefits.

Morgan responded by stating that she does not feel compelled to immediately respond to every issue that arises in Westminster.

Morgan criticized opposition leaders for treating the office of the first minister as if it were a platform for commentary rather than a position of governance.

She reminded ap Iorwerth, a former journalist, that the Senedd is a place for governing, not a television studio.

Following the exchange, Millar described Morgan's support for the prime minister as vague and lacking conviction.

Reform UK leader Dan Thomas commented that Morgan's actions demonstrate that she is more of a follower than a leader.

Morgan had previously declined to express her support for the prime minister in two separate BBC interviews.

Keir Starmer walks out of the door to Number 10 Downing Street. He has short grey hair, glasses, and is wearing a navy suit and blue tie. — Sir Keir has said he will "never walk away from the country that I love" after calls for him to quit

Anas Sarwar's call for Sir Keir's resignation had sparked speculation that Morgan might follow suit, but sources indicated that this was unlikely due to Sir Keir's support among Welsh MPs.

The same sources suggested that Morgan's decision was influenced by the fact that most Welsh MPs are part of the UK government and support Sir Keir.

With the Senedd election scheduled for 7 May, Morgan faces a challenging situation, as opinion polls suggest that Labour might lose control of the Welsh government for the first time.

According to Gareth Lewis, BBC Wales political editor, the situation is complex and multifaceted.

Eluned Morgan's support for Sir Keir Starmer can be characterized as cautious, with notable caveats and implications that the issues surrounding Lord Mandelson's appointment have not been fully addressed.

Morgan's "ultimate" test for the prime minister is his ability to deliver for Wales, which may lead to further questions and potential contradictions in the future.

The question remains whether the prime minister's delivery for Wales is more important than the Mandelson scandal, and whether Morgan believes he is meeting her expectations.

This is the third instance in recent weeks where Morgan has not given Sir Keir her full support, and the situation is now more critical with the Senedd election approaching.

The upcoming Senedd election, now less than three months away, adds to the complexity of the situation, and Morgan's support for Sir Keir may be subject to further scrutiny.

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Wedi ymweliad ag unig fwyty yng Nghymru â dwy seren Michelin, cododd arolygwyr bryderon am bryfed, offer a dorwyd a llawr budr.

Ers 2022, mae bwyty Ynyshir wedi cael dwy seren Michelin, sef y safon uchaf ym myd coginio.

Yn dilyn ymweliad arolygwyr â'r bwyty hwnig yng Nghymru sydd â dwy seren Michelin, canfyddwyd nifer o bryderon, gan gynnwys pryfed, offer wedi torri a llawr budr.

Prif gogydd bwyty Ynyshir, ger Machynlleth, sydd wedi bod yn rhedeg y bwyty ers 2013, dywed nad yw'n teimlo cywilydd ar ôl derbyn sgôr hylendid bwyd o un allan o bump.

Adroddiad llawn yr arolygwyr, a gafodd ei rhyddhau yn dilyn cais rhyddid gwybodaeth, yn cynnwys gorchymyn i beidio gweini cimwch amrwd ac yn nodi bod pryfed, byw a marw, a chyllell fudr wedi eu canfod yn y bwyty.

Ymatebodd Ynyshir drwy nodi bod yr adroddiad wedi canfod "nifer fach o faterion sy'n arferol mewn cegin broffesiynol yng nghefn gwlad Cymru wledig" ac y byddent yn gweithredu ar unwaith i ddatrys y materion hynny.

Mae'r bwyty hefyd yn awgrymu bod rhannau o'r adroddiad yn "ffeithiol anghywir" ac bod gan adran iechyd yr amgylchedd Cyngor Ceredigion "ddiffyg dealltwriaeth o'u prosesau arbenigol".

Yn ymateb, dywedodd Cyngor Ceredigion eu bod "cefnogi barn broffesiynol a chanfyddiadau ein staff wrth weithredu safonau hylendid bwyd".

Nododd yr adroddiad fod pryfed yn peri "risg sylweddol i ddiogelwch bwyd" oherwydd eu gallu cario bacteria niweidiol fel E. coli a Salmonela.

Canfyddwyd bod darn o dâp gludiog mewn ystafell paratoi bwyd yn cynnwys nifer o bryfed marw.

Yn ogystal â hyn, tynwyd sylw at lawr budr, cyfleusterau golchi dwylo annigonol mewn rhai ardaloedd ac offer oedd wedi torri.

Sgôr hylendid bwyd o un allan o bump yn golygu bod angen "gwelliant mawr" i ddiogelwch bwyd.

Nododd yr adroddiad hefyd bod angen gwelliant mawr yn y ffordd y mae diogelwch bwyd yn cael ei reoli, yn ogystal â glendid a chyflwr y cyfleusterau.

Gareth Ward, prif gogydd Ynyshir, sydd wedi bod yn rhedeg y bwyty ers 2013, dywedodd nad yw'n teimlo cywilydd ar ôl derbyn sgôr hylendid bwyd o un allan o bump.

Yn y adroddiad, nodwyd bod cig cimwch yn cael ei weini yn amrwd ac "nad oedd peryglon microbiolegol wedi eu amlygu a'u rheoli yn llawn".

Gorchymynodd yr adrolygwyr i Ynyshir stopio gweini cimwch amrwd ar unwaith, neu bydd camau pellach yn cael eu cymryd.

Nid oedd trefniant wedi ei ddogfennu ar gyfer storio cimwch byw na threfniadau o ran trin a rheoli safon y dŵr.

Gofynnodd swyddogion i weld y fwydlen gyfredol, ond bu rhaid iddynt wneud sawl cais cyn i'r ddogfen gael ei darparu.

Mae bwydlen Ynyshir yn cynnwys tua 30 o gyrsiau, sy'n cael eu gweini dros gyfnod o rai oriau, am gost o bron i £500 y pen.

Dywedodd Gareth Ward fod ei fwyty "yn gweithio ar y safon uchaf yn y byd".

Nododd yr adroddiad bod sawl bwlch yn y gwaith papur sy'n ymwneud â dadansoddi peryglon posibl.

Roedd pryderon am ddiffyg cofnodion o ran tymereddau rhewi pysgod, y broses o storio hwyaid a cholomennod, a darnau o bysgod sydd i fod i gael eu bwyta yn amrwd.

Y casgliad oedd bod angen i Ynyshir "adolygu ei system rheoli diogelwch bwyd fel cyfanwaith".

Yn ymateb i'r adroddiad, dywedodd Ynyshir fod ganddynt "sawl blwyddyn o brofiadau gydag adran iechyd yr amgylchedd Cyngor Ceredigion" ac y byddent yn parhau i adolygu ac addasu eu gwaith papur.

Nododd y bwyty eu bod wedi addasu eu systemau, wedi ehangu eu gwaith papur ac wedi trafod gydag arbenigwyr diogelwch bwyd allanol.

Byddant yn parhau i adolygu ac addasu eu gwaith papur i adlewyrchu'r datblygiad o fewn y bwyty.

Roedd yn siomedig bod eu gwaith wrth baratoi rhai prydau wedi eu cwestiynu, rhywbeth a arweiniodd at orfod talu yn ddrud am brofion biolegol ychwanegol.

Gadarnhaodd y profion hynny bod eu technegau yn ddiogel, yn addas ac yn cyd-fynd â'r canllawiau.

Awgrymodd Ynyshir bod rhannau o'r adroddiad yn "ffeithiol anghywir", gan gynnwys y cyfeiriad at y "gyllell fudr".

Nododd y bwyty eu bod wedi dechrau glanhau'r gyllell ar y pryd, ac felly roedd yn ymddangos yn fudr yn ystod yr ymchwiliad.

Mae Ynyshir yn cyflogi bron i 30 o bobl leol ac yn cael ei gydnabod am ei gyfraniad i letygarwch a thwristiaeth yng Nghymru.

Mae Gareth Ward, Amelia a'r holl dîm yn Ynyshir yn gwbl ymroddedig i gynnal safonau diogelwch bwyd, proffesiynoldeb a thryloywder.

Dywedodd Cyngor Ceredigion eu bod "cefnogi barn broffesiynol a chanfyddiadau ein staff wrth weithredu safonau hylendid bwyd y DU".

Mae arolygiadau yn cael eu cynnal yn unol â safonau cenedlaethol a osodwyd gan yr Asiantaeth Safonau Bwyd.

Rhwng mis Ebrill a mis Rhagfyr 2025, fe wnaeth 90% o'r safleoedd a gafodd eu harolygu yng Ngheredigion gyflawni sgôr hylendid bwyd o 3-5 allan o bump.

Dilynwch Cymru Fyw ar Facebook, dolen allanol, X, dolen allanol, Instagram, dolen allanol neu TikTok, dolen allanol.

Anfonwch unrhyw syniadau am straeon i cymrufyw@bbc.co.uk, dolen allanol neu cysylltwch drwy WhatsApp ar 07709850033.

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Cyngor Gwynedd wedi cadarnhau eu bwriadau i gynllunio cau’r ysgol gynradd lleiaf yn y sir, sef Ysgol Y Garreg.

Ysgol Y Garreg yn Llanfrothen sydd â dwy disgybl yn mynychu'r ysgol ar hyn o bryd, sef y nifer isaf yn y sir.

Mae Cyngor Gwynedd wedi cadarnhau eu bwriadau i gau ysgol gynradd lleiaf y sir, gan ddatgelu eu cynlluniau i fynd â'r broses ymlaen.

Adroddiad diweddar sy'n argymell cau Ysgol Y Garreg cyn mis Medi 2026, gan fod dim ond dau ddisgybl yn mynychu'r ysgol yn Llanfrothen.

Ar ôl cyfarfod y cabinet ddydd Mawrth, mae Cyngor Gwynedd wedi cyhoeddi hysbysiad statudol 28 diwrnod i gau'r ysgol ar 31 Awst, 2026, fel rhan o'u cynlluniau.

Os bydd y cau yn mynd yn eu blaen, bydd disgyblion o'r ardal yn mynychu Ysgol Cefn Coch ym Mhenrhyndeudraeth, sydd oddi wrth Ysgol Y Garreg tua dwy filltir.

Mae trafodaethau yn parhau yng Ngwynedd ynglŷn â chau ysgol gynradd sydd â dwy disgybl yn mynychu.

Yn ôl dogfennau Cyngor Gwynedd, roedd 22 o ddisgyblion yn mynychu Ysgol Y Garreg yn 2021, a 17 o ddisgyblion yn Ionawr 2025, ond ers hynny mae niferoedd wedi gostwng yn sylweddol.

Ar hyn o bryd, mae pennaeth dros dro yn rhannu dyletswyddau rhwng Ysgol Y Garreg ac ysgol arall drwy drefniant anffurfiol, i geisio delio â'r sefyllfa bresennol.

Yn ogystal, mae un athro a chymhorthydd rhan-amser yn gweithio yn Ysgol Y Garreg, gan geisio darparu addysg o safon i'r disgyblion sy'n mynychu.

Y cost fesul dysgwr yn Ysgol Y Garreg yw £14,621, sy'n uwch na'r cyfartaledd sirol o £5,780, gan godi cwestiynau am y cynaliadwyedd ariannol.

Dywedodd cynghorydd fod y ddau ddisgybl yn blwyddyn chwech ac yn paratoi i symud i'r ysgol uwchradd ym mis Medi 2026, gan greu sefyllfa newydd i'r ysgol.

Yn ôl y Cynghorydd Dewi Jones, aelod cabinet dros addysg, "Nid yw hyn yn rhywbeth newydd i ni yng Ngwynedd, ond mae'n adlewyrchu newidiadau mawr yn demograffeg y sir dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf."

"Rhyw 10 mlynedd yn ôl, roedd tua 1,500 o blant yn llai yn yr ystod 0-15 oed, a hynny wedi cael effaith ar ein hysgolion a'n cymunedau," meddai y Cynghorydd Jones.

Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, gostyngodd y gyfradd enedigaethau yn y sir, a hynny wedi cael effaith ar niferoedd ysgolion.

Yn 2012, ganwyd tua 1,300 o blant yn y sir, ond erbyn 2022 roedd y ffigwr wedi gostwng i 997, gan ddangos y newid sylweddol yn demograffeg y sir.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Jones fod y ddau ddisgybl yn blwyddyn chwech ac nad oes unrhyw blentyn wedi'i gofrestru ar gyfer y dosbarth derbyn, gan greu sefyllfa anghyflawn.

"Erbyn mis Medi, ni fydd unrhyw blant yn mynychu'r ysgol o gwbl," meddai y Cynghorydd Jones, gan tanlinellu'r sefyllfa bresennol.

"Mae hyn yn sefyllfa trist, ond y cynnig yw cau Ysgol Y Garreg, sydd wedi gwasanaethu'r gymuned am flynyddoedd lawer," meddai y Cynghorydd Jones.

"Mae staff Ysgol Y Garreg wedi gwneud eu gorau i ddarparu addysg o safon i'r disgyblion, a hoffwn ddiolch iddyn nhw am eu gwasanaeth," meddai y Cynghorydd Jones.

Dywedodd Gwern ap Rhisiart, pennaeth addysg y sir, fod ymgysylltu wedi digwydd gyda'r gymuned, a bod cyfle i bobl fynegi eu barn neu wrthwynebu'r cynlluniau.

Dechreuwyd trafodaethau cyflogaeth gyda staff Ysgol Y Garreg, gan gynnwys y pennaeth dros dro, athro, cymhorthydd, a'r rhai mewn rolau glanhau ac arlwyo.

Yn ôl Gwern ap Rhisiart, nid oedd unrhyw benderfyniad wedi'i wneud eto ynglŷn â defnydd posibl yr adeilad yn y dyfodol, gan adael y drws ar agor i ddilechdid.

Dilynwch Cymru Fyw ar Facebook, neu ar blatfformau cymdeithasol eraill, i gael y diweddaraf o newyddion a straeon.

Anfonwch eich syniadau am straeon i cymrufyw@bbc.co.uk, neu cysylltwch â ni drwy WhatsApp ar 07709850033.

Lawrlwythwch yr ap am y diweddaraf o Gymru ar eich dyfais symudol, i gadw i fyny â'r holl newyddion a straeon.

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Car crash leaves Welsh language speaker unable to communicate

In 2024, Ellis Pears was injured in a vehicle accident, which subsequently led to difficulties in his social interactions and academic performance.

After a car accident, a university student reported feeling like an outsider in his own community due to his sudden loss of Welsh language skills.

A selfie of Ellis Pears in hospital wearing a green neck brace. He has short blond hair and his chest is covered with a white hospital sheet. — Ellis Pears lost the ability to speak the language despite being in Welsh-medium education since nursery

In November 2024, 19-year-old Ellis Pears was involved in a near-miss collision on a country road, which caused his vehicle to flip and left him with a concussion, marking a significant turning point in his life.

Ellis Pears, a law student at Aberystwyth University in Ceredigion, discovered a few days after the accident that he was struggling to express himself in Welsh, a language he had spoken fluently since childhood.

The concussion, according to Ellis, triggered a range of difficulties, including language problems, flashbacks, anxiety, and cognitive impairment.

Having started university just months prior to the incident, Ellis was still adjusting to his new environment when the accident occurred.

While driving to a friend's house near Aberystwyth, Ellis's vehicle was forced off the road by an oncoming 4×4, resulting in a loss of control and a crash.

Ellis recalled the incident, describing how his vehicle spun multiple times before colliding with a bank.

"I was trying to get someone's attention, but there were no houses in sight for miles," Ellis explained.

In a state of distress, Ellis relied on the what3words geocoding app to provide his location to emergency services.

Ellis credited the app with saving his life, as it enabled him to get help quickly, despite being in a remote area with no visible road signs or houses.

Although Ellis's physical injuries were limited to a cut on the back of his head, he underwent a series of medical tests, including CT and MRI scans, at Bronglais Hospital.

It was not until a few days after the accident that Ellis became aware of his difficulties with the Welsh language.

Ellis Pears wearing a tuxedo, with a white shirt and black bow tie. He is stood next to a woman with long wavy blonde hair. There are rows of seats behind them in a hall. — Ellis said he could no longer understand his university lecturers after the crash

He attributes this to the concussion, which, combined with his low mood, made it challenging for him to focus.

As a significant portion of his university course was conducted in Welsh, Ellis felt disconnected from his studies and peers.

The accident had a profound impact on Ellis, who found himself struggling with tasks that were previously manageable, such as writing university essays on human rights law.

The constant use of Welsh by his friends and housemates exacerbated Ellis's feelings of isolation, leading to daily nightmares and panic attacks that further hindered his ability to concentrate.

For a period of four weeks, Ellis avoided attending lectures, preferring to stay in his room, as he found it difficult to cope with the language barrier.

Ellis described feeling overwhelmed by the fact that his flatmates frequently conversed in Welsh, leaving him feeling excluded.

A particularly distressing experience occurred when Ellis was unable to understand a university lecture, highlighting the extent of his language difficulties.

Ellis attempted to communicate with his lecturer in Welsh via email but found it impossible to express himself.

By June 2025, Ellis had noticed significant improvements in both his mood and language abilities.