Who'll be in the Labour government cabinet?
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
When Rhodri Morgan announces his cabinet tomorrow, Labour will be left with as many or fewer rank and file assembly members than any of the other political parties except for Trish Law and the six independents formerly known as the Lib Dems.
Quite simply, Labour's twelve backbenchers (I'm not counting the DPO) are going to be stretched. From now on, the assembly isn't a glorified council chamber, it's a would-be government. That means more responsibility for ministers and non-ministers alike.
Tomorrow, Rhodri will form a government of all the talents. And after he's done that, he'll make up the numbers to fill the remaining posts.
I'm not going to go through them one by one, because frankly the Welsh cabinet is much of a muchness with a few notable exceptions. The key questions are:
(1) What will he do with health?
Easy. He sends Brian Gibbons back to Sesame Street and puts a big name in to try and sort it out. This chalice won't just be filled with poison, it will be brimming with all the shit Plaid and the Tories can squeeze into it in an attempt to engineer some 'no confidence' in advance of a rainbow coalition coup. With hospital reconfiguration top of the agenda, this requires careful handling, so expect it to go to
(2) How to deal with the plotters from the valleys?
Hug them close and strangle them with one of Helen Mary Jones' scarves. Huw Lewis for Social Justice Minister and Leighton Andrews for Deputy Somethingorother.
(3) Who will be the token North Walian?
Decided by a Big Brother style contest. Lock them all in a committee room with basic supplies and rolling footage of the Urdd Eisteddfod. See who starts dancing first and give him or her the Culture portfolio. In the meantime, maybe we could help him out with another quick opinion poll:
Labels: National Assembly for Wales, opinion poll, Rhodri Morgan, Welsh Labour cabinet
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:53 am,
55 Comments:
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At 2:16 am,
said...
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How do you know he is announcing the cabinet tomorrow?
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At 7:17 am,
ganesh family said...
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This comment has been removed by the author.
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At 7:20 am,
ganesh family said...
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The Funky Gibbon was given a raw deal.
He was badly advised by the SPADS and the civil servants.
Having met him on a number of occasions he understands health issues and has shown a willingness to listen.
Labour will go ahead with their health reforms - as work has gone on and things are done and dusted except for a shame public consultation too take place in the autumn - I know I’ve been to meetings. -
At 10:11 am,
Robbie Clifton said...
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Whatever you think of the man, Huw Lewis is a man with ideas and an intellect sorely missing from the cabinet - just look at the Child Poverty stuff. The shame is that Rodri will most likely pack the cabinet with his old mates, along with the obligatory token Northerner. With such a paucity of talent, it seems very, very strange to ignore such obvious talent. Perhaps he should start his new direction of 'reaching out' by doing that to large sections of his own Party, and putting the differences of the past to one side.
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At 10:23 am,
said...
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Huw Lewis-intellect?
Are you taking the urine?
The man has the intellectual ability of a baked bean. He would certainly be entertaining as a Minister and might even see some light beyond his blinkers, but if that's the best that Labour have to offer, then they are in bigger trouble than I thought. -
At 10:27 am,
said...
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Quiet day in the Plaid Group office, anon? Your keyboards still wet with tears after Ieuan royally fucked things up? Why don;t you go back to sticking pins in your Mike German voodo doll and leave the politics to the grown ups?
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At 10:54 am,
said...
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Glyn Davies was way ahead of you on this one Blammer -read what he and the comments predict, it’s interesting.
Also pack in the new toy polls two in two days too much.
Brian Gibbons is a good man I agree with Dowlais twp but really too naive for health
Huw Lewis was a biology teacher so may be he could have health.
I agree he is not thick , but some common sense and realisation that he has to represent all of his constituents, not just one small sement would be an advance. -
At 11:03 am,
said...
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Agree with dowlais twp (which is always worrying) about Brian Gibbons - he had to pick up the pieces of Hutt's six years of blatant iudiocy, and has made a better fist of things than he is given credit for.
Robbie makes some very good points which will, I fear, be ignored by Rhodri. If you've got a very talented by slightly stroppy player in your squad, you work with him to get the best out of him, not get rid of him to a lower league side on a fvree transfer. -
At 11:12 am,
said...
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Each ministry in important and should be allocated according to the skills of the AM or minister in waiting. I too hope that we do not get the old gang back and that Mr Morgan will look further his circle of friends.
I am most concerned with the economic and business portfolio – we have had so little activity from the former WDA since it was taken into the Assembly. Wales need the lifeblood of economic regeneration and wealth creation. We are just not competitive
Dylan JE published document and a report on just how far behind we are
“Understanding productivity variations between Wales and the rest of the UK”, it is worth reading.
Speculation on tokenism etc is not helpful; geography should not come into it.
But what is clear from the pool that Rhodri has to fish in is the lack of skills, level of understanding of key issues and experience he has in his group. -
At 11:36 am,
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Just watching said...
//Huw Lewis was a biology teacher so may be he could have health.//
LOLOLOL!
Oh for goodness' sake, let's make sure we vote for quality candidates next time. There are plenty of talented people as candidates. Professionals, used to making big descisions. The local parties have a duty to the country to select the right type.
Biology teacher? Only Labour would think that good enough for Health. LOL -
At 11:36 am,
said...
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What's a 'North Walian'?
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At 11:42 am,
said...
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Biology teacher? Only Labour would think that good enough for Health. LOL
dont you think this was tongue in cheek! -
At 11:48 am,
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Anonymous said...
//dont you think this was tongue in cheek! //
Nothing would surprise me. Now we are focusing on who Rhodri might choose, well he does not have have a lot to work with compared with Plaid for instance. -
At 12:17 pm,
said...
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Anon 11:48
//he does not have have a lot to work with compared with Plaid for instance.//
You honsetly think that Plaid is brimming with talent? Have you looked at their benches recently - a few crap new student politician types, a useless leader and lazy deputy, a couple of Gwynedd councillor types and HMJ?
This shower would be incapable of running a small town council, never mind a suposed legislature.
They couldn't even manage their own negotiations over the coalition - they had to draft Adam Price in to do it for them. That's how brimming in talent they are! -
At 12:56 pm,
said...
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Depressing, depressing, depressing. No sacking for Hutt. Jane Davidson still tricking people who should know into thinking she's a bloody socialist. And SANDY FECKING MEWIES tipped for the cabinet on other blogs. Has it really come to this? And still people urge Rhodri to avoid people with talent because they might upset Plaid. God help us all. At least people would know what Huw Lewis at all sttod for, even if they disagreed with it. After 8 years, what the hell does Hutt, or Carwyn, or most of the Cabinet beleieve in? What are their politcal outlooks? No idea? Me neither.
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At 1:05 pm,
ganesh family said...
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Huw Lewis as a minister!!!
Didn’t he throw his toys out of the pram a few years ago and resign as a junior minister or as tea boy or what ever he was pretending to be?
Go on make him a minister – could do with a good laugh. -
At 1:36 pm,
Che Grav-ara said...
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I have blogged that Huw Lewis may be given some sort of position...if not just to keep his naive ambition for the leadership under wraps. However, if he gets one or not...one thing for certain he is certainly not good enough. The man has an unashamed blinkered tribal view of politics. He has no idea what it means to work with others and would be a disaster for a Labour minority administration that have to rely on compromise! And the absurd comment that because he was formally a biology teacher he should be given the health portfolio is quite frankly unbelievable! Is that really the measure of what it takes to become a minister!
P.S
Sorry blamer but im with just watching...the polls are rather desperate!! -
At 1:44 pm,
Robbie Clifton said...
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Dowlais Twp
Loathe as I am to engage with somebody who (a) so clearly has an axe to grind and (b) does so from behind pseudonym, you are talking utter claptrap here.
Huw Lewis is many things - including occasionally intemperate and Labour to the core. These might be huge 'black marks' in some people's books - I see them as good for vibrant debate.
He has resigned as a Minister before, over plans to burn infected foot and mouth cattle in Merthyr I think. If you view that as 'throwing toys out of the pram', then I would respectfully suggest that you are somewhat misguided. Resignation on a point of principle is surely a sign that he is willing to put local issues – and people – above personal advancement?
Huw Lewis is not everyone's cup of tea, but he is an undoubted talent. As I said earlier, I think that - while Huw would have to start behaving like a Minister full time - Rhodri would be silly to ignore his obvious talents. This is about good Government for Wales, not settling local scores under the cloak of anonymity. -
At 1:47 pm,
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Iolo said...
"What's a 'North Walian'? "
A hunk with curly hair who does his courting up a mountain and says "rwan".... -
At 1:48 pm,
said...
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"Che Grav-ara said...
I have blogged that Huw Lewis may be given some sort of position...if not just to keep his naive ambition for the leadership under wraps. However, if he gets one or not...one thing for certain he is certainly not good enough. The man has an unashamed blinkered tribal view of politics. He has no idea what it means to work with others and would be a disaster for a Labour minority administration that have to rely on compromise! And the absurd comment that because he was formally a biology teacher he should be given the health portfolio is quite frankly unbelievable! Is that really the measure of what it takes to become a minister!"
It's been apparent for some time that you're nothing but a rabidNationalist, Che. Now you've ably demonstrated an inability to detect sarcasm at its most obvious. Coupled with your regular personal attackes on anyone who happens to disagree with you, I'd say you're fairly poorly qualified to offer an opinion on anything. Any chance you might consider fucking off? -
At 1:57 pm,
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Robbie Clifton said...
'Resignation on a point of principle is surely a sign that he is willing to put local issues – and people – above personal advancement? '
Exactly. Fine for Merthyr Council but a selfish hindrance when running a Government in Cardiff. That's what is called political shortsightedness.
Being a good politician is not looking after personal advancement. There are parties who openly say they are better at opposition. Then why does New Labour still put up candidates who are better at waving party banners locally than working in government? -
At 2:56 pm,
ganesh family said...
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Robbie Clifton may well be right that Huw Lewis is a man of man with ideas and an intellect, as a constituent, I have yet to see these being displayed.
If he does become a minister, well done to him, but having resigned once on a point of principle, he did so putting his constituents first and not the Welsh nation, whom he is serving as a cabinet minister.
How do I know that Robbie Clifton is not a pseudonym, me I like being DT. -
At 3:00 pm,
said...
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"as a constituent, I have yet to see these being displayed."
Try getting out of the Plaid Group Office a bit more then you twat. -
At 3:11 pm,
said...
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And the absurd comment that because he was formally a biology teacher he should be given the health portfolio is quite frankly unbelievable! Is that really the measure of what it takes to become a minister!
For gods sake it was a throw away line, a joke , not even tongue in cheek, tongue out and laughing I repeat it was not serious.
Humour byepass alert om here -
At 3:14 pm,
said...
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That's Nats for you - as famed for their sense of humour as their ability to form Governments in Wales.
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At 3:18 pm,
said...
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Try getting out of the Plaid Group Office a bit more then you twat.
Um Plaid doesnt have an office in Merthyr -----but then neither does Huw Lewis. -
At 3:21 pm,
said...
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Welsh Politics back to being as dull as ditch water and just as petty.
who cares who gonna be in the Cabinet, maybe Rhodri can go to IKEA and pick out somthing interesting because nothing will change. -
At 3:22 pm,
Cymro said...
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Tiny Dancer, I think Che made a robust and challengeing post. You just made a rude and idiotic reply. The post regards the merits of possible cabinet members - not an excuse for your pathetic, Nat-bashing drivel.
As far as a cabinet goes, Carwyn Jones would be the best choice for health - at times, you wonder if any other Labour AM has a brain. Andrew Davies will get education and Leighton Andrews gets Enterprise. Huw Lewis gets the deputy health post, in the hope of killing him off. The Gibbon gets social justice. Everyone else stays where they are. -
At 3:23 pm,
ganesh family said...
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sorry to disappoint, but I am apolitical except for a strong dislike of anything Labour.
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At 3:34 pm,
said...
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Cymro said:
"As far as a cabinet goes, Carwyn Jones would be the best choice for health - at times, you wonder if any other Labour AM has a brain. Andrew Davies will get education and Leighton Andrews gets Enterprise. Huw Lewis gets the deputy health post, in the hope of killing him off. The Gibbon gets social justice. Everyone else stays where they are."
You clearly know as much about anything as you Nationalist wank-pal Che. Which, we all know, is bugger all. Any chance of you fecking off too? -
At 3:48 pm,
Cymro said...
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Tiny Dancer, I congratulate you on your intelligent and measured response. Any chance that you are Huw Lewis?
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At 3:53 pm,
Geraint said...
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Carwyn Jones would be the best thing to happen to Welsh Labour if he gets into the leadership, he would move Welsh Labour party forward into the devolution era in Wales and not stuck in the past like Anon 3:29 PM.
And I for one, as a supporterof the Welsh Labour Party will be happy if we get someone like Carwyn in as leader and he moves us into a position of electability in Wales. -
At 4:12 pm,
said...
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Sponge bob can't be north walian, I can understand every word he says, ynde rwan
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At 4:53 pm,
Christopher Glamorgan said...
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Poor Carl Sargeant is always getting a hard time on these blogs - no wonder his entry on Wikipedia is so tiny. Perhaps one of the Labour AM bloggers will be able to suggest a role for him (that's other than voting when told to do so)
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At 5:06 pm,
Cymro said...
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How about Carl gets the job of guarding Huw Lewis; making sure his dungeon is comfortable, he has plenty of water; properly gagged, Hannibal-style; regularly beaten with willow and so forth. Well, it's one option.
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At 5:08 pm,
Che Grav-ara said...
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Tiny Dancer...
When I first read your response to my post I was going to offer a rebuttal. Thankfully you made that unnecessary with your rather childish attacks on others. As such I shall leave it up to others to read through these comments and decide for themselves who has been issuing personal attacks!
Personally, if you had taken the time to read any comments/posts I have done over the past weeks I am sure you will see, and others will note that I have welcomed debate. Many times I have discussed in detail contrasting views. That is the nature of politics more's the pity!) I would suggest that if you can't handle the fact that I do not agree that Huw Lewis has the intellect or capabilities to be a Minister and would not even be considered had it not been for his very outspoken and shamefully self obsessed post election rants, (Which incidentally I am sure contributed to the fact Labour are in a minority government rather than any coalition or deal with the Lib Dems or Plaid), you could politely ignore them rather than resorting to the use of language so familiar to the Unionist wing of the Labour party. -
At 5:10 pm,
Cymro said...
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By the way, just checked the term 'North Walian' in Labour's Official Definition Book:
North Walian - anybody who lives within the confines of Wales, but further than 50 miles north of the M4. -
At 5:12 pm,
said...
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Leighton Andrews for Enterprise- Are you really sure - The only Enterprise he would know anything about is captained by James Kirk.
Are sure Rhodri is going to reward him for his adept and deft handling of the election campaign - he lost three seats.
Does he have more to offer than "We are not the conservatives". Maybe he and Rhodri can get a few more excellent call centre jobs. Maybe he can take Touurism as well since that is going to expand - After all Didn't Rhodri say global warming would be good for us. -
At 5:36 pm,
Cymro said...
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I doubt that such an appointment would consider ability or intelligence. Rhodri is in a pretty vulnerable situation right now - so I think he'll be handing out the sweeties to all potential challengers.
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At 5:40 pm,
said...
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""Um Plaid doesnt have an office in Merthyr -----""
Anyone else wonder why Merthyr features so often here? Is there a Merthyr Tourist Board?
I'm Welsh and I've never been to Merthyr. -
At 5:43 pm,
said...
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Cymro said...
'How about Carl gets the job of guarding Huw Lewis; making sure his dungeon is comfortable, he has plenty of water; properly gagged, Hannibal-style; regularly beaten with willow and so forth. Well, it's one option. '
One of the sights to see when we finally find Merthyr on the map? -
At 6:05 pm,
ganesh family said...
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Huw Lewis is AM for Merthyr & Rhymney, as we slag or praise him also give Merthyr a mention, not a patch on Neath, now thats the capital of Wales.
Huw's "Merthyr" office is on an industrial estate, not far from a medical research company- it must be the medication from there! -
At 6:21 pm,
said...
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BLAMERBELL???
WHERE IS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THEN? NOT HERE IS IT? POOR POOR POOR POOR -
At 6:29 pm,
said...
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bemused observer said:
///You honsetly think that Plaid is brimming with talent? Have you looked at their benches recently - a few crap new student politician types, a useless leader and lazy deputy, a couple of Gwynedd councillor types and HMJ? ///
Doctors, Lawyers etc, and a whole army of top brains behind the scenes. Some do work in London as their talents are recognised and rewarded there but their hearts are in Wales. I don't think Plaid wil ever be short of ability to do the job. -
At 6:36 pm,
said...
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Just watching said...
*For gods sake it was a throw away line, a joke , not even tongue in cheek, tongue out and laughing I repeat it was not serious.
Humour byepass alert om here *
So Sorry Just Watching.
Did not notice your tongue out because you forgot to tell in the first post. Missed the joke entirely. Still, split my sides laughing.... -
At 6:45 pm,
Christopher Glamorgan said...
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Surely the announcement must be sometime soon as the first official Cabinet meeting is on Monday...
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At 7:12 pm,
said...
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"Anyone else wonder why Merthyr features so often here? Is there a Merthyr Tourist Board?
I'm Welsh and I've never been to Merthyr."
Merthyr rocks - that's why!
Everyone come to Merthyr, I'll show you the sights! -
At 7:38 pm,
Cymro said...
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Merthyr is great - pity about the AM...
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At 8:32 pm,
said...
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If there was to be a govt of 'all the talents' it would have to feature Rhodri Morgan, Carwyn Jones, Andrew Davies, Jane Davidson, Leighton Andrews, Helen Mary Jones, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, Gareth Jones, and David Melding.
I appreciate that Jane Davidson is boring, but she has got pretty good results. I also appreciate that Leighton is a bully, but he has a brain, too.
I don't think anyone would pretend that a LibDem would be in the Cabinet on merit. Jenny Randerson is competent and her heart is in the right place. And when you've said that you've said it all.
Perhaps we need a rainbow coalition that excludes the LibDems. After all, they're apparently the only party that doesn't want to be in govt. -
At 10:59 pm,
said...
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personally i think Huw will do a great job in Government representing his penarth constituents................oh yes, hmmm, not so socialist. He is poor, so anti nationalist it hurts, why? Fair play he stood down when I think it was fros o fran affected merthyr, but look into the communities first links he has, very dodgy. Prfer him to the very very poor wife he has though, if she gets near the cabinet i'm leaving wales.
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At 11:18 pm,
Blamerbell said...
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"BLAMERBELL???
WHERE IS THIS ANNOUNCEMENT THEN? NOT HERE IS IT? POOR POOR POOR POOR"
I was led to believe it would be tomorrow, which is what I wrote in the post.
Anywyay, I've just been to the opera (Andrew Davies was there too). And it was FAB FAB FAB FAB.
So, lay off:) -
At 11:35 pm,
said...
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ooh look at you all opera and the like!
But was it andrew davies labour or the tory? -
At 11:38 pm,
Blamerbell said...
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Well, opera is a terribly middle class indulgence don't you know. So obviously it was the member for Swansea West.
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At 11:39 am,
Christopher Glamorgan said...
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I'm with Blamerbell - nothing wrong with the opera! It's cheaper than watching most football and rugby, and soon the youth of this nation will be wearing 'white tie' instead of casual sports gear on the streets of Cardiff.
I shall be taking off my bowler and replacing it with a top hat before the week is out :-D -
At 11:44 am,
said...
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How about the new Wrexham AM for a North Wales post? She seems bright and the cabinet could do with some new blood.
The changes should include Leighton Andrews. He might be arrogant and a bit of a Brit, but he is bright and I'm curious to see how he performs. If Rhodri wants to put his party first (which is after all what Labour are good at), then he has to put all future potential leaders in the biggest cabinet posts, to see how they perform; i.e. Davies, Davidson, Andrews, Jones.
Huw Lewis has too often shown a level of narrow mindedness that should preclude him from a senior cabinet post, if Rhodri is serious about working with the other parties.
