Honest John: Morgan calls for referendum on new powers
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Jonathan Morgan is stepping down from a comfortable regional seat to fight Cardiff North for the Tories. He's tried twice before, and failed. If he fails this time, he's out of a job.Jonathan, then, has more reasons than most to watch his back. But he's still the first politician to get his Honest John answers in. The challenge: to be as upfront as possible.
So here it is, and there's some interesting stuff. Despite not having a favourite album (what kind of person doesn't have a favourite album?) Jonathan hits out at the media and finds common ground yet again with Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats: he'd like a referendum on Scottish-style powers for the assembly.
Introducing, You versus Jonathan Morgan...
What have you done as a party or an individual to help engage young people in politics? (Marcus Warner)
In 1999 we had the youngest group in the Assembly. We have a young team of county councillors and candidates. Young people get on in our party.
Are alcoholism and drug dependency offences that should be punishable or illnesses that should be cured? (Sion Gwilym)
Clearly treatment is important. Drug dependency leads in many cases to dealing drugs and theft to fund the habit. This cannot be ignored by the criminal justice system.
What is your favourite album of all time? (Marcus Warner)
I don't have one.
What are you going to do to encourage a more comprehensive coverage of Welsh politics in the media? (Sanddef)
Nothing. It's up to the media to decide what to print or broadcast. I am fed up with being told that it's our job to get the voters out, especially when ITV/BBC put their Assembly programmes on so late at night that only bored shift workers get to see them!
Do many of the 'older' Tories feel a bit confused by the direction that David Cameron is taking? Many (not you) seem to disagree with his 'direction' but are happy to bask in his new media glory and I wonder if that is a problem? (Marcus Warner)
No problem at all. Overwhelming numbers know that we needed to change, however difficult that change is.
Is it true, as suggested by Dr Non Gwilym of StrataMatrix in Y Cymro last week, that you are seriously worried that you'll lose crucial votes to Sir Dai? (Sanddef)
No. I don't know where Non got her information from but there is no sign of UKIP. The anti-Assembly feeling is not an issue as it has been in the past.
Do you believe that the Welsh language should be given official status in Wales? (Hedd)
Yes.
Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the Right to Services in Welsh? (Hedd)
Yes, although as someone who lives in the real world there would be huge implications for how this could be achieved.
Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the right to work through the medium of Welsh? (Hedd)
Where possible yes, although I can imagine a series of examples of where this would not be practical.
Who is your political hero and why? (Marcus Warner)
Churchill, for being the best of British! A great leader who approached life with vigour.
How would you like to see the assembly develop in the future? (der)
I would like to see a referendum after 2011. Four years of the new Assembly measures should give ample opportunity to see if the new system works. I would campaign for a yes vote for Scottish-style powers in a referendum.
So, how does he do? Are you jumping up and down in the corridors of your depraved imaginations, exalting with joy at actually getting a politician to answer some of your questions? Or is it just the same old story?
Labels: honest john, Jonathan Morgan, Welsh Assembly Election 2007, Welsh Conservatives
posted by Blamerbell @ 11:03 am,
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It's a spin free zone, so go get 'em
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Four plucky politicians have stepped up to the brink and agreed to take part in Blamerbell's first 'Honest John' feature.They know that people are sick of spin and soundbites. And in keeping with the spirit of the blogosphere, they've agreed to give frank and honest answers to your questions.
So, if you want an upfront response from Huw Lewis (Labour), Leanne Wood (Plaid), Jonathan Morgan (Tory) or Mick Bates (Lib Dem) then post your question in the comments section.*
Maybe you want to know what Mick eats for breakfast, or what Leanne thinks of a coalition with the Tories. Whatever.
I'll put the best to the politicians (along with a few of my own) and publish the results. Let's see if they play ball or if they're beaten yet again by the tired old urge to equivocate.
Go for it.
*Anonymous or offensive questions will be ignored.
Labels: Blamerbell, blogging, honest john, Huw Lewis, Jonathan Morgan, Leanne Wood, Mick Bates, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:02 am,
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Conservative Assembly Members Exposed
Saturday, February 10, 2007
There's something very contrived about the way the Conservatives' website tries to portray Tory Assembly Members. The top line of each bio reeks of the sort of false chumminess more commonly heard on Saturday night TV.
Here's what they have to say about their current crop of AMs. I'm sure we can do better...
Glyn Davies
Tories say: Glyn provides the link between politics and rural Wales.
Blamerbell says: Glyn provides the link between politics and fantasy.
Mark Isherwood
Tories say: Mark brings a new meaning to the phrase 'hard work'.
Blamerbell says: Mark brings a new meaning to the phrase 'nice mustache'.
Laura Anne Jones
Tories say: Laura joined the Welsh Conservative Party in 1996 and from 2000 to 2002 was the Conservative Future area chairman for South Wales East.
Blamerbell says: Laura didn't have a proper job before getting elected.
David Melding
Tories say: David gives politicians a good name.
Blamerbell says: David gives politicians a tekkie name. Melding is computer jargon for a concurrent, object-oriented, dataflow, modular and fault-tolerant language.
Jonathan Morgan
Tories say: Jonathan boasts ability beyond his years.
Blamerbell says: Jonathan doesn't clean behind his ears.
Brynle Williams
Tories say: Brynle is one of those people who has made a name for himself organising a pressure group.
Blamerbell says: Brynle is one of those people who drives his tractor along country roads and refuses to pull over.
Labels: biography, Brynle Williams, David Melding, Glyn Davies, Jonathan Morgan, Laura Anne Jones, Mark Isherwood, spin, website, Welsh Conservatives
posted by Blamerbell @ 9:10 am,
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Welsh Politician of the Year 2007
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Regardless of what happens in the next eleven months, the race for Welsh Politician of the Year should be over.
In 2007, two AMs will give the public reason to believe that politicians aren't just money-guzzling cowboys. Two AMs will show that politicians aren't just in the business of watching their own backs. And two AMs will put a guaranteed spark into an election campaign that may otherwise fail to excite voters.
That's because two AMs have risen to the Labour challenge set down in the Government of Wales Act and will surrender their regional seats in order to fight a constituency from second place.
They are Plaid's Helen Mary Jones and the Conservatives' Jonathan Morgan. Two of the Senedd's finest performers who'll be battling it out in Llanelli and Cardiff North respectively.
It's a huge political risk - one which could put their careers on ice for at least four years. But it gives voters a reason to trust politicians again. That alone may see them back in the Assembly in May and for me, wins them this award hands down.
Labels: Cardiff North, Helen Mary Jones, Jonathan Morgan, Llanelli, Politician of the year, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:04 am,
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Welsh Assembly trivia competition
Monday, January 29, 2007
Things you notice when you browse tedious Welsh political websites on a regular basis:1. Jonathan Morgan AM has more initials than anyone who has ever stood as a candidate for the national assembly - J.B.R.W. Morgan. What on earth do they all stand for?
2. Only one constituency has had the same top three candidates in the previous two assembly elections. Without checking and web searching, can you name it?
3. And why oh why is Owen John Thomas the only AM with 'MA' after his name in the Assembly Members' biography index? Surely he's not the only politician with a half-decent academic record? After all, Nick Bourne's a professor and he's not shouting about it.
Labels: Jonathan Morgan, Owen John Thomas, Trivia, Welsh Assembly, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 11:27 am,
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Welsh politicians are all winners
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Welsh politicians swept the board at last night's Welsh Politician of the Year awards in Cardiff Bay. Funny that.- Peter Hain won the big prize for promoting himself to the rank of Viceroy, err, sorry, for guiding the new Government of Wales Act through parliament.
- Plaid's Adam Price won MP of the year for single-handedly providing the only credible opposition to the government on Iraq.
- Conservative health spokesman, Jonathan Morgan, won AM of the year, for his wonderful dress sense and full head of hair.
- Education minister Jane Davidson won communicator of the year. Not sure how, she still hasn't replied to my email.
- And there were four other awards too, just to make sure that every Welsh politician did, in fact, receive some sort of prize. Briefly, Neil Kinnock won the 'Nearest a ginger person has come to Prime Minister' award; Rhodri Morgan won the 'Politician most often mistaken for a drunk' award; and Plaid's leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, won the Joe Pasquale award for public speaking.
Another great night for Welsh politics.
Labels: Adam Price, Jane Davidson, Jonathan Morgan, Neil Kinnock, Peter Hain, Welsh Assembly
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:40 pm,
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