What Ieuan wants
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

No decision yesterday in Plaid's group meeting, so that means the future governance of Wales is likely to hinge on next Tuesday's weekly get-together.

Some people have already been speculating about the way Plaid AMs will vote, with almost everyone agreeing that Ieuan Wyn Jones is in the Rainbow camp.

Of course, he would just say he wants whatever's best for Wales, which is a bit like that ruthless lady from the Apprentice saying she wants what's best for Alan Sugar.

His own personal political inflections (and ambitions) must inevitably be playing a huge part in his thinking. It's just that he hasn't bothered sharing them with the rest of us. The BBC reports that he'll be meeting party members across Wales shortly to "explain the choice he believes Plaid should make." I'd wager he'll be doing a lot more tergiversating (love that word) than explaining, given that the details of the Red-Green pact have yet to be revealed.

IWJ is a very shrewd politician, even if there is something Yorkshire Terrieresque about his television appearances. And you can bet that whichever way the group votes next Tuesday (if indeed it is next Tuesday), it will subsequently appear to be the option Ieuan has 'preferred' for some time. If you like, he has hard-boiled the egg before it has had a chance to splatter all over his face.

But in the meantime, he can influence that decision. In the end, whether we advance towards a Rainbow or a Red-Green government comes down to the fancy of fifteen Plaid AMs. Ieuan need only convince seven of them and history is his (although a few of them need no convincing).

There is, however, one problem: the deal the negotiating team have been working on feverishly with Labour. What if that document ends up matching the All-Wales Accord on most issues, and trumping it on the key issues of the Welsh language and a referendum on further powers? After all, Adam Price is involved again, and we all know what he wants.

If that were the case, the Rainbow might become very difficult to defend and some of its advocates may be forced to recognise that perhaps one of its attractions was getting closer to the Tories all along.

What Ieuan wants may not necessarily be what he gets. Either way, though, he won't let on.

1414 UPDATE: In one minute I will be respecting a moment of contemplation and support for BBC journalist Alan Johnston (left) who has now been missing for 100 days. You can sign the petition and read more about the BBC's campaign for his release HERE.

On an altogether different note, everyone's favourite dog-handling, vest-wearing bald guy has written his idyosyncratic take on the world of Welsh blogging, which you can read HERE.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 1:54 pm,

15 Comments:

At 2:19 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This was left on Huw Lewis site as a question - if this doesnt raise doubts what would it take
Not strictly a comment on this piece but in light of today’s latest news I think Huw can no longer dodge this issue:

“I’ve spoken to a number of party figures today, including members, AMs and other senior elected representatives who are just as livid as I am regarding this cowardly briefing. Given that the nationalists have spent the last Assembly term trying to frustrate two key projects I work on as Deputy Minister - Communities First and the Child Poverty Agenda - I would consider the notion that we would enter into coalition with a party that puts independence before social justice is simply off the wall.”

Quote from Huw Lewis campaign blog - 24/4/07

So now Huw, will you answer the question that you dismissed as ‘not an issue’ back in April.

Will you resign your ministerial position if your party agrees this deal with Plaid?

 
At 2:26 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Will you resign your ministerial position if your party agrees this deal with Plaid?"

Its a big IF though.

Plaid could be left out in the cold. Why shouldnt Plaid be the only party with two options for conference??

 
At 2:50 pm, Blogger Christopher Glamorgan said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 2:51 pm, Blogger Christopher Glamorgan said...

I expect that Huw will resign. He should be used to it by now, and it will save Rhodri having to disappoint yet another DM in order to free-up a DM positions for Plaid.

IWJ is shrewd as Blamerbell has said and I've actually grown to admire (perhaps too strong a word) him in recent months. Is someone working him from behind the scenes and pulling his strings, or was I sleeping before this year's events?

 
At 3:36 pm, Blogger View from the Glen said...

Funny how there are no posts for April on his site.

Regretting those words i bet!

 
At 4:42 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Huw Lewis is incapable of admitting that having a Parliament gives Wales a far greater opportunity to tackle child poverty than the present set up; waiting on his London colleagues to throw us tit-bits.

 
At 5:40 pm, Blogger View from the Glen said...

Would Huw Lewis be Mike TV in Charlie and the chocolate factory?

 
At 8:05 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

I doubt Huw Lewis will resign. In fact, I suspect he is a closet Welsh nationalist and will be relieved to finally have the opportunity to express it.

 
At 8:51 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Blamerbell said...
"I doubt Huw Lewis will resign. In fact, I suspect he is a closet Welsh nationalist and will be relieved to finally have the opportunity to express it. "



Like clear ap water?
;-)

 
At 9:26 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

Quite.

Neil Kinnock. There's another one:)

 
At 11:06 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

blamerbelle said:

"Neil Kinnock. There's another one:) "


whatdyaknow.
If we look close enough do you think we might find some tories who are really closet plaid?

Such a serene existence :D

 
At 10:27 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I expect that Huw will resign

Hahaha. You must be bloody joking. Huw has been given charge of the Heads of the Valleys programme, the local party are absolutely delighted by that: no way would they let him even if he wanted to let go of that. Rhodri, Peter Hain and others are on the record saying they won't go into coalition with the nats, and Plaid threatened to sue Labour because of the claims that they would put Tory ministers in the government. A bit of perspective and realism required people!

 
At 11:25 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

RhymneyRocks said...
"Hahaha. You must be bloody joking. Huw has been given charge of the Heads of the Valleys programme, the local party are absolutely delighted by that: no way would they let him even if he wanted to let go of that. Rhodri, Peter Hain and others are on the record saying they won't go into coalition with the nats, and Plaid threatened to sue Labour because of the claims that they would put Tory ministers in the government. A bit of perspective and realism required people! "


Ha! Welcome out of hibernation.

Have a look around, there's been an election and things have changed a bit.

 
At 1:39 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Firstly I have not been in hibernation, I have not contributed to this blog before. Secondly, yes things have changed a bit thats kind of what I said.

 
At 2:04 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

RhymneyRocks said...
"Firstly I have not been in hibernation, I have not contributed to this blog before. Secondly, yes things have changed a bit thats kind of what I said. "

I'm not picking on you RhymneyRocks. Hope you post again, lots. Things that were "on the record" have gone out through the window these last few weeks.

 

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