Labour candidate concedes defeat, four days early
Monday, April 30, 2007
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it still the official Labour line to say 'we are the only party who can form a majority government'? That's certainly what Rhodri Morgan was banging on about during the leaders debate last night. In fact, I seem to recall him saying it was 'arrogant' of Ieuan Wyn Jones to suggest otherwise.If that is the case, why is Labour's number one candidate on the North Wales regional list predicting they will fall four seats short of a majority?
Writing for the New Statesman online, Ken Skates says: "My forecast is that Labour in Wales will not do as badly as the national polls suggest. We’ll fall to 27 (down two) whereas the Tories will gain a handful."
And it gets worse. Those who follow the party line have no choice but to predict an increase in the Labour vote, since that's the only way they could possibly claw back a majority in the Senedd. Not so Mr Skates, who says "I reckon Carl Sargeant will be the only Labour AM to increase both the size and proportion of Labour’s vote."
Ken has clearly been thinking too much about his own political fortunes. As a list candidate he stands more chance of getting elected if Labour perform poorly in the constituencies. Still, as I'm sure the party's press people would be the first to tell him: you're not supposed to admit that just four days before an election!
UPDATE: After this story somehow came to the attention of the wider Welsh political community, Labour's press people apparently got in touch with Mr Skates and he in turn asked the New Statesman to remove his comments. It's now the top story on New Statesman online.
May 2 UPDATE: This story is now in the Western Mail. Labour are accused of 'control freakery' and refuse to comment.
Labels: Designed for North Wales, Ken Skates, majority, new statesman, Welsh Assembly Election 2007, Welsh Labour
posted by Blamerbell @ 4:42 pm,
3 Comments:
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At 8:43 pm,
said...
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Great teeth, no brain.
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At 11:50 pm,
said...
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Rhodri's still talking about a majority on ITV...
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At 6:49 am,
said...
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he skates on thin ice
