Brexit, Trump and left in disarray. Time to reopen 'Wot's Left' blog after several years neglect. Meanwhile life goes on, mine and others that matter just as much to those who live, love and often fear for them. The left as I understand it is a broad spectrum from liberal through socialist, communist, anarchist and of course Green, the relatively new kid on the old reddish block. I say spectrum, because these definitions are quite arbitrary and in theory and practice overlap, some stronger here others there... Horses for courses, but more in common than apart in the human race,

PRISON VISIT

Heard on BBC this morning that prison officers were out in England and Wales. Then went out for routine bloodtest at Singleton. Parking space free near Phlebotomy door, my number already up on the little screen when I pulled my yellow ticket out...So much for waiting lists, so I took a turn down Oystermouth Road to see what was doing outside the jail

Heart sinks when I pass that place on my free bus-pass. Strange how what was once a seaside holiday promenade has become a last resort for the unworking class. No Oysters or even cockles on Oystermouth, but lots of benefit BNBs and full board for deserving cases at HMP.

Outside the heavy front gate, but inside a forecourt fence, a cheeerful posse of some 40 officers. Most were in uniform, a mix of what looked to me like older men and younger women. The 'guard' on the gate seemed reluctant to let me in and reluctant to talk to me himself, though he did say he'd worked at a London prison I knew from visiting a friend inside.

'Do you get the same mix of prisoners in here?'

'Just a cross section.. ' and why did I want to know?

I said I'd been curious, passing by in the bus,. Now that they were out seemed a good time to ask what brought them out..

'Union policy, it's there in the press.'

'So what's in like for officers and inmates here?'

'The government decides and we do what we're told.'

'Can I talk to some of the others in there?'

'I suppose so,' he said and let me by through the forecourt gate. Everyone seemed busy talking to each other. When a young woman turned and looked my way, I said:

'I was wondering what it's like in here....' She seemed nonplussed, but not unfriendly.

Is there anyone who could talk to me?'

'Him over there,' she said.

'The big man by the door?' She and others laughed, and I walked over to him. He and a colleague with him were only a little more forthcoming than the man on the outer gate. But yes, most of the prisoners here were short term, and more likely to be young. The problem was the shortage of staff. I asked about numbers of staff and prisoners, but he could not tell me that.

'What's the ratio of prisoners to staff?'

'About 30 to one, I think.'

'Like kids and teachers at school, ' I ventured and he smiled. 'Except that you have them round the clock.'

I asked if they had problems with drugs and drones,

That as well. You cant get away from it in a city... Cant stop them getting in.'

'So what about health and safety?'

'We haven't the staff to follow regulations.'

I didn't ask about self-harm and suicides, or attacks on officers.Instead I asked if they had time to let prisoners out for exercise and education, and to my surprise he said ' No, they're out most of the time.'

Then he cut me off. 'We've got a meeting now,' he said. And I was obviously not expected to attend..

As the meeting was just inside the prison courtyard, not in public space, I left it there. I'm not surprised they didn't want to talk. Who was I ? Would anything they said be used against them? At the same time I was sad that people didn't feel able to speak for themselves. Instead they took shelter behind higher authority, the government, the union, even the press..

The last 'open' union meeting I had to leave was in Algiers 1967, when Israel had just begun its Six Day war around Palestine. I cared about Algeria and the Middle East, but I could understand that. As Reuters man in Algiers, I would surely be for Israel. But I was glad that the union man who led me out put his arm round my shoulder, sorry it had to be like that.

More recently, just before and after the Brexit vote, I found similar unwillingness to talk among leave-voters when I questioned people in the park or street. I asked quite neutral questions and was quite ready to understand... My accent may have soken for itself, and so-called hardworking people dont ask questions. 

No wonder the pollsters got it wrong in both US and UK...If they bring back the double decker 224 bus in Swansea next year, I'll sit upstairs and see if I can get a peep over the prison wall.

From the gospel of St Wikipedia:

Swansea is a Category B/C prison for adult males remanded into custody from the local courts, as well as convicted and sentenced prisoners.

Prisoners are employed in the prisons workshops, kitchen and recycling units. Full and part-time education is also provided. Other features include a Prisoner And Liaison Support Scheme, a Swansea City A.F.C. Social inclusion officer scheme, Prisoner elected councils, Job Centre Plus, Housing Officers and Community Chaplaincy.

In the early 1980s, Swansea started the Samaritans trained 'Prisoner Listener Scheme', that has now been developed in most prisons in the UK.

See also this film by South Wales fireman with colleagues in Palestine and Israel. 'Firefighters in Palestine' was shown at Swansea Cinema Co last week. Worth seeing and we could do with more inside views of working life in hard times:

Film: Firefighters Under Occupation - Palestine Solidarity Campaign