Campaign killers and May the Fourthcasts

This campaign has taken the political manifesto to new levels. We've seen manifestos for absolutely everything: old people, young people, North Wales, South Wales, green stuff, sports stuff... you name it. Any excuse for a photo opportunity.

The four main manifestos were, in all honesty, boring enough. The 20+ supplementary ones were a complete waste of paper. They said absolutely nothing new.

Plaid were churning out manifestos quicker than an East Asian sweatshop churns our Burberry polo shirts. But they were all to blame so I'm not going to take points off any one party in particular.

As for the rest of the campaigns, here's my assessment:

Labour: Talked a lot about what they've already done and even more about who they don't want in power after the election. They didn't talk much about what they'd still like to do if the good people of Wales were to allow them.
Defining moments: 'saving' hospitals only the government could have been in a position to put under threat; imploding after that infamous leak.
Derek says: dark clouds overhead, competing weather fronts could lead to a turbulent period ahead.

Plaid Cymru: Slicker than ever before. Unfortunately, this meant we heard a lot about free laptops, a policy which still screams election gimmick no matter how hard they try and put a socialist-redistributive spin on it. Ahead in the debate on health, undoubtedly the number one issue in this election.
Defining moments: Ieuan Wyn Jones winning over the audience in both leaders debates even though he's as easy on the ear as a four year old's first violin lesson; weathering the storm on finances in the final few days.
Derek says: if the sun doesn't break through the clouds, expect sudden showers and a stark wet wake up call.

Conservatives: Made good use of their leader David Cameron. Whether or not that will have the desired 'effect' remains to be seen. Policy-lite, but sounding conciliatory enough to do the unthinkable and team up with Plaid in a rainbow coalition.
Defining moments: free lightbulbs - whose bright idea was that?; the gay thing - may actually earn them more votes.
Derek says: mild weather will continue, with possibly a few sunny spells in the North and West.

Lib Dems:
Manifesto was late. When it finally arrived it was repetitive and verging on impenetrable. Used the same old tricks on their leaflets and devoted a lot of time and effort to Ceredigion, even though they've no chance of winning it.
Defining moments: the manifesto arriving; tackling hard on Labour's controversial and extraordinarily convenient last minute health pledge.
Derek says: no earthquakes forecast here, but if they team up again with Labour they could really rain on Plaid's parade.

What do you think? Do tell. And feel free to give up on the crappy weather analogies.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 12:07 am,

14 Comments:

At 12:15 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very interesting blog. My wife also thinks Betsan's hair looks much nicer recently!!!

 
At 12:19 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I voted Plaid this time, the first time in 40 years of voting as I truly feel that the party has come of age at last.

Labour is no longer the Party it used to be in Wales, I was an active member for years until New Labour. Nowadays they are closer to the Conservatives. Plaid is the only party that can work with the people of Wales in the way Labour did 50 years ago.

 
At 12:26 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I voted Labour and live in Llanelli simply because the other three parties couldnt organise a piss up! They're all useless but Labour less so. Without them we would not have the great stuff we have today. Plaid will destroy wales if they ever came into power the uselwess fuckwits

 
At 12:39 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
//I voted Labour and live in Llanelli simply because the other three parties couldnt organise a piss up! They're all useless but Labour less so. Without them we would not have the great stuff we have today. Plaid will destroy wales if they ever came into power the uselwess fuckwits //

hi anon,
we were not voting for the best piss up parties.

what great stuff are you talking about? the NHS waiting lists, the soaring council taxes, closing our hospitals (is prince philip on the chopping board?)and the rest?

the party calling themselves labour now are not even coming close to what we used to vote labour back 40 years ago. the leaders of the labour party then (and I met most of them) would be disgusted at how this lot systematically destroyed the NHS, our pension system and just about anything else they mishandled.

we just do not get the quality of politicians now lol

 
At 12:46 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
//I voted Labour and live in Llanelli simply because the other three parties couldnt organise a piss up! They're all useless but Labour less so. Without them we would not have the great stuff we have today. Plaid will destroy wales if they ever came into power the uselwess fuckwits //

hi anon,
we were not voting for the best piss up parties.

what great stuff are you talking about? the NHS waiting lists, the soaring council taxes, closing our hospitals (is prince philip on the chopping board?)and the rest?

the party calling themselves labour now are not even coming close to what we used to vote labour back 40 years ago. the leaders of the labour party then (and I met most of them) would be disgusted at how this lot systematically destroyed the NHS, our pension system and just about anything else they mishandled.

we just do not get the quality of politicians now lol //

Im thinking whoever was in power would not be able to handle the NHS anyway. I feel that it was declining anyway. Regarding the piss up i was inclining that they couldnt organise anything! Which is totally true.
We got Free Prescriptions (I know its recent but still under labour), and as Im a student I am grateful that Labour have scrapped the top-up fees in Wales for me. I study in Swansea Uni and therefore will not have to pay the full £3,000 and I get a grant. Plus I feel the Tories are too old fashioned and would destroy many of the stuff I enjoy.

 
At 12:47 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did anyone MISS Rod Richards' vote?

 
At 12:51 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh pleaase Labour Anon - they did not scrap top-up fees, the others did. Laboru voted for them. What a sorry misinformed vote you've cast.
Well done: youve voted for the pary that 1) introduced top-up fees and 2) tried it sbest to force them through.
fuckwit.
Dr

 
At 12:53 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey I still dont pay Top-up fees and never saw anything wrong with Labour. Just with Plaid and Conservatives. Didnt even consider Lib Dems as I've never seen anything from Lib Dems in Llanelli or Swansea. And I'm proud I voted for Labour and not the other pathetic parties.

 
At 1:01 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

that's fine anon, you keep voting labour, just don't try to tell us their policies are what they obviously aren't.
you're a student? the reason you dont; pay fees is that Plaid, Tories, Lib Dems voted against them. Labour tried their damnnedest to push them through, then attacked the other parties for voting against them. Then they put 'no top-up fees' among their achievements... you obviously boughht that!
That;s fine. You go ahead and vote for them. Be stupid. Peronsally, my view is that if you;re that thick you should be paying fees, if only to help intelligent kids get the free education they deserve.
stay sharp!
DR

 
At 1:04 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Im sorry but anybody (including myself) who chooses to study in SWANSEA are seriously thick. Its the lowest of the low!

 
At 1:06 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

and frankly I cant see any reason to vote for any of the others either mr rodway.

 
At 1:14 am, Blogger sarah said...

RE the comment about Swansea University - your dept may be 'thick', but the one i'm researching is not. I studied my undergrad degree outside of Wales and made the conscious decision to read my postgraduate degrees at Swansea given it's innovative programmes and world-renowned staff. (not many people are as fortunate as i am to have a PhD supervisor who is a Professor respected around the world - and i'm NOT a scientist or geographer!)

 
At 1:44 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Hey hey, what's all this Swansea bashing?

Great university. Crap football team. That's all you need to know:)

 
At 1:59 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wilful misunderstanding re my "thick" comment - i meant of course voting for Laboru because 'they stopped top-up fees". Nothing whatever to do with Swansea, where I happily did my BA.
DR

 

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