Farcembly?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Today's twist: Labour MPs have told Rhodri to cut out his after dark soirees with Adam Price and IWJ and snuggle up to Mike German and the Lib Dems instead.
The Western Mail's Tomos Livingstone is now predicting a Rainbow coalition will rise from the ashes of the Red-Green talks, while Peter Black says everyone should get a move on.
Quite right. With more waffle than a Birdseye potato processing factory flying through the air in Cardiff Bay, little actual work has been going on. There are still no committees, for instance, so Thursdays are just used for filing fan mail and eating subsidised lunches.
Those in the Welsh political bubble think this is all just fine. These are exciting times. This is the new politics. And other such guff.
But outside, in the real world, it doesn't look quite so groundbreaking. People are simply wondering why they aren't getting on with it.
At the outset, every new twist seemed to offer endless intrigue and interest. But now, 'developments' are treading over old ground. Labour + the Lib Dems? We've been there before.
How many times, I wonder, can this cycle repeat itself before the whole thing descends into farce?
Labels: National Assembly for Wales, politics, Rainbow Coalition, red-green coalition, Rhodri Morgan
posted by Blamerbell @ 1:12 pm,
33 Comments:
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At 1:58 pm,
View from the Glen said...
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Welsh Labour MP's have shown their colours. Rhodder's went crawing to them and he has been sent on his way, to do their biddig!
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At 2:03 pm,
Carwyn Edwards said...
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What, it's not a farce already!
I think in years to come, Russian Grand Master chess players will be studying Welsh politicans moves in special seminars for!!
Your there to lead Wales to a better future not "Let see how can I get the best job for myself". -
At 2:06 pm,
said...
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So Labour could be in opposition for the next four years?
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At 2:15 pm,
said...
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What a waste of time and money - I have been trying to see my AM for weeks. I have not even had a reply from him - they cannot say they are busy. So whats the excuse
I guess with mine he is too busy Nat Bashing. -
At 2:16 pm,
Christopher Glamorgan said...
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Blamerbell, you are being so unfair on these poor Assembly Members - you know they don't deserve it (big smile). Don't forget that they have put an Assembly Commission in place and also the first committee on Subordinate Legislation (yesterday). You are forgetting that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither was Cardiff Bay. :>D
At this rate, they could start earning their salary by next year! -
At 2:19 pm,
said...
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valleys mam said:
"guess with mine he is too busy Nat Bashing. "
and reading blogs :D -
At 2:34 pm,
said...
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It seems that the Labour party is so short of money that it is charging £25 for visitor's tickets to the special conference.
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At 3:00 pm,
Normal Mouth said...
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"But now, 'developments' are treading over old ground. Labour + the Lib Dems? We've been there before."
This ain't about providing you with novel developments to report. It's about settling Wales's Government for the next few years.
In any case, we haven't been at Lib-Lab talks in the context of a possible Lab-Nat deal. -
At 3:33 pm,
said...
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I once called it the Welsh National Parish Council.... Little could I have imagined that a parish council could seem like the model of productive governance in comparison.
I think a lot of the key players in the game need to be forced to explain their actions, not to Wales or their respective parties but to their constituents, they have put party before people as "valleys mam's" comment illustrates. -
At 4:13 pm,
said...
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Can't see the Lib Dems that much interested in Labour after the way Gordon Brown has made Ming the incomptent look like a fool.
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At 4:16 pm,
said...
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I disagree and think that the present process is a healthy one. Decades of prejudice, bitterness and distrust are being taken out of storage and displayed for all to see. Basing their opinions on prejudice will have to be defended by politicians and it will force them to face how baseless some of their views are.
The Assembly will be a far better place for this process and if it takes a few more weeks to set on track a truly historic Welsh Government, then so be it.
Welsh politics is being forced to grow up before our very eyes and from a personal perspective, I find it fascinating. -
At 4:32 pm,
said...
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only now you think its descending in to farce :)
the whole thing is about as edifying as watching two bald men fighting over a comb. -
At 4:40 pm,
said...
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Anonymous said...
"Can't see the Lib Dems that much interested in Labour after the way Gordon Brown has made Ming the incomptent look like a fool. "
I think New Labour can see the natural political progression of the Lib Dems into their party. It's nearly 30 years since the SDP broke away from Labour and then progressed to the Alliance with the Liberals. They changed name to call themselvres Liberal Democrats. Since Blair came into office ten years ago he has implemented policies almost exactly those of the original SDP party. So you can see how the present day Lib Dems could easily be swallowed up with this now very established New Labour Party. Political suicide for them but an acceptance of the wider support for NuLabour. -
At 4:48 pm,
said...
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Anonymous said...
I disagree and think that the present process is a healthy one. Decades of prejudice, bitterness and distrust are being taken out of storage and displayed for all to see. Basing their opinions on prejudice will have to be defended by politicians and it will force them to face how baseless some of their views are.
The Assembly will be a far better place for this process and if it takes a few more weeks to set on track a truly historic Welsh Government, then so be it.
"Welsh politics is being forced to grow up before our very eyes and from a personal perspective, I find it fascinating. "
Today we have a front page headline on one of the national Tory newspapers saying that "Wealth Divide could lead to Rioting".
This gap did not happen under the Tories, it happened under a Labour government. We do not want the same culprits that let it happen making desicions for us over a government for Wales.
Labour has been very arrogant and ignoring the issues that their policies are causing a new poor. -
At 7:18 pm,
said...
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A Government of all the talents?
That's what Gordon Brown is looking for.
So let's get on with it in Wales. -
At 8:06 pm,
said...
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A friend of mine works for the Government in Scotland and (whilst he is certainly not a nationalist)he told me that there is a palpable sense of "wanting to make things happen quickly" since May - and this was an exhilarating experience that has galvanised a previously tired govt machine and re-invigorated a jaded political environment. He reflected that this excitement was simply the natural consequence of having new people at the helm. This makes me think that it might do us good to have a completely new gang running this country even if it were only for 4 years.
I don't think the current labour adnmin has done too badly but they feel tired and lacklustre - The rainbow could do us a lot of good. -
At 8:21 pm,
said...
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What's happening with Morriston Neurosurgery?
Labour claim to be matching the Rainbow programme, yet there is no comment on saving this service. Does that mean they are determined to close it down? -
At 9:41 pm,
said...
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Can we bit a little more logical about the Labour position:
1. Any deal Rhodri has offered to Plaid will have already been cleared with Gordon Brown.
2. The referendum requires a simple majority of MP's - not Welsh Labour MPs.
3. The vote in the Commons will be whipped. Welsh MPs will not scarifice their Ministerial Posts and long term careers for this. Even if they did, the majority would still be achieved.
4. Plaid knows the Labour MPs would squeal and will not be suprised. In some ways the louder they squeal the more it confirms that Welsh Labour is deadly serious about this.
5. This will be a (manageable) challenge with Welsh Labour supporting it but impossible for the 'rainbow' now or at anytime in the future. Therefore it is Ieuan's best chance of a Welsh Parliament in his remaining time as leader.
6. Plaid's next key milestone is the Parliament, not a puppet first Minister propped up by Tories.
7. Any approach by Mike German to Labour is known to be about nothing other than driving Plaid back to the 'rainbow'.
8. Mike German has no mandate for 7 anyway.
9. Plaid and Labour politicians in the Assembly understand 7 and will treat it with the distain it deserves. -
At 10:45 pm,
said...
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Gosh, what happened to the Labour comments today?
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At 1:45 am,
said...
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A Job Blamer?
With who?
Pray tell good sir? -
At 11:33 am,
said...
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"I have been trying to see my AM for weeks. I have not even had a reply from him - they cannot say they are busy. So whats the excuse
I guess with mine he is too busy Nat Bashing."
If you're talking about who I think you are, I'm sure if you have a genuine issue he can help with, he'll see you at a surgery - he always has with people I've known when they've called him.
On the other hand, if you just want to dish out some abuse, I'm sure you can just write... -
At 11:43 am,
said...
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IWJ shouldn't have even bothered with Labour, there are too many forces in that party that are opposed to Wales, or more fairly are opposed to Wales governing itself.
If we get the All Wales Government, Brown will be coming into office with Labour having lost power across the Celtic fringe. He will be buried and hopefully New Labour will be buried with him.
The new government has to come in now, the process might sound like 'new politics' to us anoraks but after the first few weeks of relative interest and excitement, people are starting to get a bit pissed off with the delays and endless talks. I'm not sure it's viable for Plaid to prop up a Labour government when Plaid has just run a very good election campaign calling for Labour to be kicked into touch. -
At 1:08 pm,
said...
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Before I start yes I am being a bit precious but who cares.
What's with this "Celtic fringe" thing? Is it a style of haircut?
Seriously though if you take it that "fringe" refers to land mass then:
Wales: 8,023 sq miles
Scotland: 30,414 sq miles
NI: 5,459
= 43,896 sq miles
If you were to include Cornwall: 1,376 + 43,896 = 45,272 sq miles
England (inc. Cornwall)= 50,346 sq miles.
48,970 sq miles vs 45,272 sq miles
That's hardly a fringe is it? By that logic I could refer to the very north west E.U. as the British fringe (geographical not ethnic or cultural). The Daily Mail et al would flip a lid.
Right now I'm off to find something else petty and insignificant to pick on, now where are those FibDems when somebody actually needs them? -
At 1:56 pm,
said...
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Anonymous @ 11:43 AM.
Hmmm. Another typical snide posting from a resident Nat Nonny.
"IWJ shouldn't have even bothered with Labour, there are too many forces in that party that are opposed to Wales, or more fairly are opposed to Wales governing itself."
johnny says....
IWJ is just temporarily benefitting from a protest vote against Labour. Probably something to do with Iraq IMHO.
Unfortunately he has sold his core voters down the river with his proposal to ally with the Tories.
That certainly wasn't on the manifesto, was it.
Nonny 11:43 went on to say....
"I'm not sure it's viable for Plaid to prop up a Labour government when Plaid has just run a very good election campaign calling for Labour to be kicked into touch."
johnny says....
Exactly. Plaid campaigned to "kick Labour into touch". Then they're creeping around the same Labour party with proposals of coalition.
That's all Plaid will ever be. Part of some disparate rag-bag of political chancers totally devoid of any principle. Apart from, of course, Independence by stealth.
Labour has taken a kicking but have learned some lessons in this election yet they remain the largest party.
Let's see what Plaid's core voters have to say at the next elections. They can be assured that their faithlessness in cosying up to the Tories will not be forgotten for a long time.
Plaid may have temporarily increased their share of the vote but at what cost?
The Rainbow is a dead duck. I foresee Lab/Lib for the next four years and then a determined swing to Labour for the benefit of ALL of Wales not just the Nat. few.
Your patient pal.
johnny. -
At 1:58 pm,
View from the Glen said...
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You've forgotten the Isle of Man , which is 221 sq miles.
Therefore, England 48,970 sq miles vs Celtic Lands 45,493 sq miles -
At 2:03 pm,
said...
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"Therefore, England 48,970 sq miles vs Celtic Lands 45,493 sq miles "
Ohmygod!
When is the kick off? -
At 6:00 pm,
said...
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"Ohmygod!
When is the kick off?"
kick off was about 800 years ago mate, England won.
My point is that 47ish% can't be considered a fringe! -
At 8:27 pm,
said...
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"kick off was about 800 years ago mate, England won."
AND WE NEVER FORGAVE THEM... -
At 11:02 pm,
said...
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[rant]
Why are 18 out of 28 (by my count) commentators anonymous?
Aren't these people willing to stand up for their own opinions? Or are they sock puppets?
Blamerbell Briefs is not Iain Dale's Diary.
[/rant] -
At 12:56 am,
said...
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Matt said...
"[rant]
Why are 18 out of 28 (by my count) commentators anonymous?"
It doesn't matter. If you watch closely you can recognise the different contributors. I have a silly google name and anon suits me better.
"Aren't these people willing to stand up for their own opinions? Or are they sock puppets?"
Read what they write then ask the same question again. A lot of the "named" are not real names.
"Blamerbell Briefs is not Iain Dale's Diary."
Of course it isn't. You silly billy. So why the rant? Blamerbell Briefs is a prizewinner and I can't see the need to change it to heavy duty journo stuff just now that the public are getting interested. -
At 1:01 am,
Blamerbell said...
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You think Iain Dale provides heavy duty journo stuff?
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At 12:08 pm,
said...
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Blamerbell said...
"You think Iain Dale provides heavy duty journo stuff? "
Sheesh, no.
Was thinking that MW might be a bit offended that this blog was getting the parties far too friendly. :D -
At 4:42 pm,
said...
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If you're talking about who I think you are, I'm sure if you have a genuine issue he can help with, he'll see you at a surgery - he always has with people I've known when they've called him.
On the other hand, if you just want to dish out some abuse, I'm sure you can just write...
I would only want to see my AM if I had something that was genuine
I don’t do abuse - I do however think that an AM should acknowledge a constituents contact.
What on earth are they there for - if they do not represent all the people in their constituency. Even those of us with no particular political allegiance
