Hold the front page

Hold the front page. Well, the Western Mail did. Its front page marks the remarkable news that the Lib Dems will enter the next election campaign with at least one policy unchanged from the last.

The party wants to scrap the Welsh Secretary's role in the UK Cabinet, merging it into a new Department of the Nations and Regions.

This is part of an attempt to cut public spending by cutting the cost of government, even if the party's leader in Wales could not say, on the Politics Show yesterday, how much would be saved by the move.

Today, the Tory-bashing mood in Bournemouth continues, with Vincent Cable attacking George Osborne and his party.

Saint Vince, as he is known among the Lib Dems, will say of the Tories: "They pose as tough guys cutting spending sooner and deeper than anyone else" before accusing them of "political cynicism".

The Lib Dems, of course, would never join the rush to pose as tough guys cutting spending. Dr Cable's idea last week for saving £13bn from the defence budget - scrapping the training academy scheduled for St Athan - is now "under review" according to Nick Clegg.

There's euphemistic talk of "robust discussions" between Lib Dems in Wales and Westminster after the storm generated by the idea, although Dr Cable appeared to defend it on the BBC News Channel at the weekend.

Kirsty Williams, kept in the dark by her colleagues, says communication will improve: "We're simply not going to put up with it any more."

That's Vince told, then.

As if he'd never been away.....

It was just like old times at the Wales Office. The "Mandela for President" ANC poster had been restored to its place above the fireplace, although I struggled to spot the Nye Bevan statuette.

Peter Hain had his feet behind the Secretary of State's desk. Staff scurried around with an increased sense of purpose. One civil servant told me Mr Hain did more media interviews in his first week than Paul Murphy did in a year.

The media arrived for what you would have to term a wide-ranging briefing and left, almost an hour later, with notebooks bulging.

Digital Britain? Legislative Competence Orders? the Calman Commission? Labour's Welsh woes? The Neath MP had views on them all.

His views on the latter were rehearsed in today's Western Mail. He argues that Labour is performing worse in Wales than elsewhere - "It's not good enough just to blame it on Westminster and the expenses issue."

I did try to find out who he had in mind, who had been blaming Westminster and the expenses issue? I failed to persuade Mr Hain to name names, although you may have your own ideas.

On the Calman Commission, he suggested the Welsh Assembly could get to keep some tax revenues raised in Wales - the landfill tax and the aggregates levy - if similar powers are devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

On LCOs, he confirmed that the Assembly Government's housing plans were back on the drawing board, but hinted that it could ultimately acquire stronger powers.

As we left, civil servants entered the room carrying platefuls of crisps, nuts and other nibbles.

Had the head of the private office been promoted to butler under the new regime? Alas, not.

Besides the media, the Welsh Secretary was hosting 11 children with cancer and leukaemia from south Wales, for whom the spread was intended.

The children also got the chance to visit the Commons Speaker, Michael Martin, for one of his last engagements before he steps down at the end of this week.

They are currently visiting Downing Street, where the Chancellor's wife, Maggie Darling, is organising a tea party.

The children were marched up Downing Street by Welsh Guards and Queens Dragoon Guards in full ceremonial reds.

Unlike last year the soldiers left their regimental mascot - the goat, Shenkin - behind, sad news for the children although possibly not for the Wales Office cleaners.

The writing on the wall

Last month I revealed, as we say in the trade, that Media Wales plans to adorn the glass internal walls of its new offices with inspirational quotes.

I have now submitted my entry - the prize of a tour of Cardiff Bus Station was too great to resist.

They are:

1. "Y Gwir Erbyn Y Byd" (the truth against the world) - as used by the architect Frank Lloyd Wright in his buildings.

2. "News is something somebody doesn't want printed; all else is advertising."

I think they're pretty good quotes for a news organisation although I could understand why Media Wales might not go for the latter.

If they need a third, there's Alexander Pope's " To wake the soul by tender strokes of art, To raise the genius and to mend the heart", the first half of which is displayed above the stage at Richmond Theatre.

I e-mailed my suggestions to the company but have yet to receive the courtesy of a reply, which probably means it's going to opt for some ghastly management speak culled from the wisdom of David Brent. What a shame.

Quote unquote

Media Wales, the company formerly known as WesternMailnEcho, is trying to create an inspirational environment in what it calls its "new build project".

The company's Simon Farrington takes up the story, in an e-mail: "As part of our new build project, the Premises Working Group is looking to incorporate a design on the glass that separates each open floor plan from the relaxation/food-drink areas.

Architect John Steele believes that using a design based on words would be the most effective way of giving emphasis to the plain glass.

And that's why we need your help. We are looking for the best motivational or inspirational quotes - either famous ones or new ones - that will send out a positive message about our company, both to staff and visitors alike."

I think this challenge should be widened beyond Media Wales staff - perhaps readers could e-mail their favourite warm words, be they from Martin Luther King or Martin Shipton.

This would, as the David Brents of management might put it, ensure the company is ahead of the curve as it seeks to aggregate the content, super-serve its audience and force the issue onto the crowbar.

Simon adds: "There will be prizes for those 'winning' selected quotes; either an exclusive all-expenses-paid guided tour of Cardiff Bus Station (for two), or a bottle of wine from my personal cellar (I'd go for the tour)."

Westernmail'necho!

It's the end of an era. Western Mail & Echo Ltd will shortly be no more. For those of us of a certain age, the very name conjures up images of newspaper sellers in flat caps on the streets of Cardiff.

I think it was Echo legend Dan O'Neill who once suggested the two papers made up one name - westernmail'necho - as hoarsely yelled by those sellers behind their stands around the capital city.

Now the company is to rebrand itself Media Wales Ltd, a change that will be publicly adopted from October 1.

Managing director Keith Dye reminded staff today: "Our goal is to build a multi-platform media business by developing and sustaining strong positions across print and digital."

"In order to communicate this philosophy to our customers and advertising clients, we have decided to rename our business to reflect our entire product portfolio, and our aspirations for the future."

By "customers" I think he means readers although those of us who live in the multi-platform media world cannot be too sure. The company's new online presence will be http://www.mediawales.co.uk/.

Ringing Thomson House - "Western Mail and Echo - can I help you?" - will never be the same again. In fact, the company wants to rename that too and has asked staff for suggestions.

Apparently, the current favourite is Thomson House, keeping the name it was given in the days when the papers were owned by Lord Thomson.

Alternative suggestions are being considered - Owain Glyndwr House and Dragon's Eye are among two of the suggestions from staff, as is Ty Gren Jones.

Perhaps it could be named after some of the media legends to have worked there. Glyn Mathias Towers? Ty John Humphrys? Michael Buerk House? Sue Lawley Buildings?

Welcome to the silly season

Today is the last day of term at Westminster, quite possibly the official start of the silly season.

Or has it already arrived? Here are a few tell-tale signs gleaned from reading, watching and listening during the past week:

The prime minister's preference for a Labour government rather than a coalition with Plaid Cymru is presented as news.

Sunday newspaper columns blatantly lift diary stories from other papers without checking them.
The Western Mail devotes a whole page to the Barnett formula.

Traffic news replaces real news.

Adam Price says he's "demob-happy" on his Facebook profile.

You don't recognise the bylines in newspapers.

I'm blogging about the leadership of the Welsh Lib Dems.

Other tell-tale signs that the silly season is here gratefully received.