Julie Morgan MP

Blogging FAQ

Blogging is still a relatively new phenomenon, and there are only a few blogging MPs. But the trend is catching on - particularly in local government, among our elected councillors - and the medium can only prove to be of use in communicating better with constituents. That's what I hope to achieve with this site.

Here are the answers to some of the questions which may be uppermost in your mind if you're new to the world of blogs:

• What is a blog? "Blog" is short for "weblog". A weblog is a type of website where entries are made as in a journal or a diary. They often provide commentary or news and information on a particular subject, or they may function as personal online diaries. Blogs grew out of other online communities such as e-mail lists and internet forums where subjects would be discussed by a number of people in ongoing "threads" - a method of online conversation which blogs emulate in the comments section after every post.
• I've seen something on your site I want to comment on. How do I do that? Look at the bottom of the post you're interested in - there'll be a "Comments" link. Click on the link, enter your name and an e-mail address, type your message and click on "Post".
• Are comments checked for rude/abusive content? Comments are not moderated politically. If someone posts a comment which disagrees with my politics, that's not to be deleted - it's to be welcomed and engaged with. But malicious and abusive content - be it sexist, racist, homophobic or any other undesirable prejudice - will be deleted and the person posting will be prevented from commenting on the site further.
• Can I get my own blog? There are plenty of blog providers online. This blog is hosted by Typepad; others include Blogger and Blogdrive.

Confused about some terms you've seen on the site? Here are some definitions:

Permalink: You've probably seen this after each post, next to the "comments" link. The permalink is the individual link to the particular post you're reading on the blog. If you want to link to a particular post from your own website, it's the permalink that you use.

Blogroll: This is the list of websites which my blog links to. Check out the "Labour Bloggers" list on this page, down the left hand side, for an example.

Trackback: A method of communication between blogs. If a blogger writes an entry referring to an entry found on another blog, they can send a trackback (or "ping") the blog they're referencing. The post being referenced will record the fact that it's been pinged and list the sites which are referring to it.

Liveblogging: Blogging about an event as it happens.

Thought of another term that needs defining, or a question that should be in the FAQ? Let me know in the comments below.

About Cardiff North

Cardiff is a modern city with over 320,000 inhabitants, established on the incredible wealth of a vast coal empire. The city, through imaginative redevelopment, is fast becoming one of Europe's finest maritime cities, and the rapid development is giving the city a new cosmopolitan feel. The city has the added attraction of being surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain. Cardiff North is one of four parliamentary seats in the capital city of Wales, three of which are currently held by Labour.

The constituency was created in its existing form in 1983 from the old Cardiff North-West constituency, which included part of Barry (now in the Vale of Glamorgan seat). The seat has some of Cardiff's most popular residential areas and is predominantly middle-class. It has a large number of detached homes and a prosperous feel. The seat has the highest rate of home ownership in Wales at 83.3%, well above the UK average of 68.3%.

Cardiff is recognised for its quality of life, featuring among the best of British cities. Residents of Cardiff North live in pleasant suburbs yet are only 10 or 15 minutes from the city centre, by private or public transport. Many of the suburbs still offer the pleasure of a village atmosphere.

Major employers in Cardiff North include the Inland Revenue, Companies House and the University Hospital of Wales (the largest teaching hospital in Wales). The overall air of prosperity is borne out by the unemployment statistics, which in January 2005 have the rate of unemployment in Cardiff North as the lowest in Wales, at only 1.7%.

The constituency has a sizeable student population commuting to Cardiff University nearby. It boasts the largest school in Wales (Whitchurch High School) with around 2,500 pupils, and the largest student halls of residence, Llys Talybont (2,200 inhabitants).

The M4 runs across the upper reaches of the constituency, and the A470 slices through on its way to Llandudno. The Taff Trail cycle road (part of National Cycle Route 8) meanders through the western border, alongside the river Taff. Other notable features are Castell Coch in Tongwynlais, Cefn Onn Country Park in Lisvane and the Forest Farm Nature Reserve in Whitchurch.

(Adapted from Dod's Parliamentary Companion, 2005.)

About Julie

Julie Morgan was elected as Member of Parliament for Cardiff North on 1 May 1997 as part of the historic landslide that swept the Conservative Party from office.

At the time of her election, Julie was the first woman Member of Parliament to represent a part of Cardiff. She was also one of our four Welsh Labour MPs who were women. Julie originally contested the seat in 1991. She was returned at the General Elections in 2001 and 2005.

Julie was born in Cardiff on 2 November 1944. She was educated at Dinas Powys Primary School and Howell's School in Llandaff. She studied at King's College, London, where she took her BA in English in 1965.

Julie also studied at Manchester University, and holds a postgraduate diploma in Social Administration (CQSW) from Cardiff University. Before she became an MP, Julie was a social worker with Barry Social Services, and an Assistant Director of Barnardo's. She sat on South Glamorgan Council between 1985 and 1997 and was a Cardiff Councillor from 1995.

Julie made her maiden speech in Parliament on 22 May 1997 in the debate on the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Bill, when she said:

"We no longer want the people of Wales to have to put up with a standard of living that is 17% below the British average. We no longer want the incidence of heart disease and breast cancer to be greater in Wales than in the rest of Britain. We no longer want the poverty of aspiration that affects so many people in Wales."

Julie is a member of the Constitutional Affairs and Public Administration Select Committees, is the chair of the Welsh Group of Labour MPs, the hon. Treasurer of the Parliamentary Labour Party's Women's Group and is the secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Human Rights. She is chair of the APPG Children in Wales, working with children's voluntary groups across Wales, and also chairs the APPG Sex Equality (working with the Equal Opportunities Commission), the APPG Global TB and the Family Courts Group.

She is a member of the Transport and General Workers Union and was a founder member of the Welsh Refugee Council. She was also a founder member of the Women's Arts Association and is the chair of Cardiff's Domestic Violence Forum.

Julie was unanimously re-selected as the Labour Party's candidate for Cardiff North in 2005 and is currently serving her third term as an MP.

Welcome to the website of Julie Morgan MP

This is the website of Julie Morgan, the Member of Parliament for Cardiff North.

Cardiff North covers the wards of Gabalfa, Heath, Lisvane, Llandaff North, Llanishen, Pontprennau and Old St Mellons, Rhiwbina and Whitchurch and Tongwynlais. The constituency boundaries include Thornhill, Pantmawr, Mynachdy and Maindy.

• If you are unsure if you live in Julie's constituency, go to the Constituency Locata and enter your postcode to find out who your MP is.

Julie is here to help you with all matters for which the UK Government is responsible.

• If you have a problem of an issue you would like to raise, go here first to find out about the role of an MP and what Julie can do for you.

Some matters, such as education and health, are devolved to the National Assembly for Wales. The Assembly Member for Cardiff North is Sue Essex, whose website is here. Have an issue that you'd like to bring to the attention of your local councillor? See a list of Cardiff County Councillors by ward here. Think that your problem is one which your Member of the European Parliament can help you with? Here are your MEPs.

This website aims to provide a comprehensive service to residents in Cardiff North as well as visitors from outside the constituency. You can find out about events in Cardiff North, follow Julie's work in Westminster, discuss and debate issues and legislation and more.

Questions? Suggestions? Find a broken link? Leave a comment via the 'Comments' link at the bottom of this post . . . and enjoy the site!