Plaid: a local party for local people
Monday, March 19, 2007

Who'd have thought independents rather than independence would define the Plaid Cymru grassroots campaign? Taking as a platform the success of single-issue independent candidates, Plaid are planning to register slogans about sensitive local issues on ballot papers in certain targeted seats.

So, in Aberconwy, Plaid will appear as 'Plaid Cymru - Save Llandudno Hospital', much to the joy of conservative candidate Dylan Jones-Evans, I'm sure.

This tactic raises questions as to what a vote for a constituency candidate in a national election actually means. Are parties standing on nationwide manifesto promises, or simply exploiting issues which may gain them seats at a local level? Moreover, does this narrow focus misrepresent what a vote for a particular party will mean in reality?

If, at the moment of putting a cross next to a name, you are swayed by an emotive campaign to save a local hospital, are you paying enough critical attention to the other facets of that party's policy?

Plaid candidates would be the first to argue that their campaign offers a far-reaching alternative vision for Wales after May 3rd. But could some voters get more than they bargained for?

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posted by Blamerbell @ 1:26 pm,

17 Comments:

At 2:21 pm, Blogger Deleted said...

I did cringe when I heard about the tag lines. The Electoral Commission should probably nip that one in the bud.

I remember in some of the 80s by-elections there was someone standing for "Tactical voting eliminates Bennites and Tatchellites"

I'd hate to see every party having a tag-line. The xxxx Party - creating excellence in government. Pass me my army service revolver.

I assume there are limits to what you can do.

John Smith (Independent - Half price car servicing throughout April, Stryd Fawr, Penybyd) :-)

 
At 3:00 pm, Blogger cymrumark said...

When the manifesto is published you will see how these things link together.

Whats wrong with a bit of emotion in politics?

 
At 3:16 pm, Blogger Ian James Johnson said...

I see the Liberal Democrat Focus Team think that a tag line is a "gimmick" ;)

 
At 3:18 pm, Blogger Ian James Johnson said...

By the way, is Jenny Willott the only MP who represents 'Liberal Democrats - Standing Up For Cardiff' ?

 
At 5:01 pm, Blogger Glyn Davies said...

I feel a bit like Peter Hain's new friend, Victor Meldrew when I say that I do not like this 'demeaning' of our voting system. I just hope that it doesn't work. How awful it would be if all other parties have to follow suit.

 
At 5:52 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"All politics are local!" I believe the late "Tip" O Neill (Speaker of the US House of representatives for years) was the author of that. I wonder if he had Plaid Cymru he had in mind when he said that?

 
At 7:24 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

"When the manifesto is published you will see how these things link together."

Hmm, how can you link a single issue local campaign slogan with a national commitment to a referendum on further devolution, £5,000 for first time buyers and free laptops?

Should be good reading.

"By the way, is Jenny Willott the only MP who represents 'Liberal Democrats - Standing Up For Cardiff' ?

As the only Lib Dem MP in Cardiff, I'd guess so! Must be a nightmare for the old calf muscles.

"How awful it would be if all other parties have to follow suit."

If what Helen Mary said on the politics show yesterday was correct, then the Tories will indeed be following suit very soon.
You should know:)

 
At 9:09 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why are you discussing the Tories in Aberconwy? They came in a poor third last time.

Labour are holding the seat and Denise Idris Jones has secured vital services at the hospital, as I am sure the electorate will appreciate.

Certainly, they will see through Plaid's blatant attempt to hijack what has been a very successful local campaign which has been supported by Denise.

As for CymruMark, were you at work for your public sector employer when you posted your email or taking time off for your political campaign?

We are watching!

 
At 9:54 pm, Blogger Ian said...

Denise supporting the local hospital! It was her party in coalition with the Fib Dems that created the NHS mess in Wales in the first place.

It is the very nature of Labour to centralise and their efforts to do the same to the Welsh NHS can hardly be a surprise. Any candidate who can challenge that has got to be worth consideration, particularly in the case of Gareth Jones.

Good luck to him and good luck to Plaid. It appears that they have upset the applecart of the London parties-now that can't be a bad thing.

 
At 10:31 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"We are watching!"

What was your previous job? Working for Ceaucescu's Securitate! Tovarich!

 
At 10:32 pm, Blogger hafod said...

As for CymruMark, were you at work for your public sector employer when you posted your email or taking time off for your political campaign?

We are watching!

It was the Tories who were called the nasty party. Now Labour seems to have stolen that mantle along with all their policies... funny old world.

Such is the bankruptcy of Labour in Wales that they are reduced to hollow threats and intimidation against their political opponents. No policies, no politics, just corruption, sleaze and lies (Denise Idiot Jones will pay the price in May, not just losing her seat but coming a distant *third*, unheard of for a sitting AM)

 
At 10:39 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

"Anonymous said...

We are watching!"

Is that going to be an election slogan then? Gives me the creeps.

"Labour are holding the seat and Denise Idris Jones has secured vital services at the hospital, as I am sure the electorate will appreciate."

Vee have vays of making them vote...

 
At 10:58 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Electoral Commission rules mean that political parties can only register a certain number of names.

For Lab, Con and LD they need to spread their names around the UK. Plaid get to use their's just in Wales.

It's no great new ruse on their part, its been done to an eternity before. Surprised to see Plaid going Monolingual though, hope that manifesto deson't call for extensions in the welsh language act.

 
At 9:08 am, Blogger Ian James Johnson said...

Surely Plaid is bilingual enough all on its own... even if it does mean something different in English and Welsh ;)

 
At 12:02 pm, Blogger cymrumark said...

Anonymous is badly informed and should have the cojones to publish their name if he thinks I work in the public sector.

The discriptions for the ballot paper are of course registered bi lingually

 
At 12:46 pm, Blogger hafod said...

Priceless, not only are Labour's Stasi tactics sinister and desperate... they're also inaccurate!

The NHS is Labour's achilles heel - even Cameron is able to claim the issue as his own, the hypocrite. In Wales, the Tories won't be fooled because we know at heart they're for private medicine and privatised health. The difference now is that so is Labour.

 
At 9:44 pm, Blogger Huw Thomas said...

I think it's a great idea. The other parties are blatantly jealous they didn't think about doing it first!

 

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