Tories Cook up a storm
Monday, June 11, 2007
You all scoffed last week when I hinted the Conservatives might try and bring down the government over lack of movement on a new Welsh language act.
But with travel agent Thomas Cook appearing stubbornly monoglot in its unwillingness to embrace the Welsh language, the Tories made the first move.
They are calling for a review of the Welsh language act. You'll remember that Labour's legislative proposals stopped short of it, though it's a big deal in the proposed rainbow coalition programme for government.
Plaid have since chipped in with their own calls for increased Welsh language legislation. Well, they do everything together these days, don't they?
Labour's masterplan is to exclude the Conservatives from the consensus they have been seeking. They are trying to raise issues which isolate the Tories. But the men in blue are attempting quite the reverse and on today's form, seem to be having some success.
UPDATE:
Q: What's the worst thing you can do when you're embroiled in a storm about the Welsh language?A: Put up a bi-lingual sign which butchers it.
Even Jade Goody would do a better job of public relations than that.
Labels: National Assembly for Wales, Plaid Cymru, politics, Tories, Welsh Labour, Welsh language
posted by Blamerbell @ 3:22 pm,
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Four days to go and...
Monday, April 30, 2007
Lib Dem leader Mike German is in Aberystwyth again. He might as well buy a second home there. That'll please Elin Jones. Still, he might need somewhere to lie low on election night. Can you really see Plaid making the same mistake twice?
Labour say it's all about partnership. Peter Hain and Rhodri Morgan are going to comb each other's hair for the press sometime this afternoon. Activists will be choking on their clear red water.
Plaid Cymru have finally persuaded some chap called Eurfyl ap Gwilym to come down from London to take the flak over their finance programme. Expect Labour and the Tories to sling the mud with venom. I fear for poor Eurfyl it's going to be like trying to volley it away with a tennis racket - much of it is going to splatter over the brave little soldier's face. And why do Plaid need to 'call in' an expert anyway? Can't any of their AMs do sums?
And the Tories have brought in a notorious vote winner to help them with the final push. Unfortunately, he wasn't available so they've got Michael Howard instead.
1540 UPDATE: Just one measly sentence on the Welsh elections in the Guardian today. "Polls in Wales suggest Labour will remain the largest party but it is struggling to maintain its majority in the assembly." One measly sentence, and even that is bollocks.
Also, further proof that it's more exciting in Scotland. The Web 2.0 generation has politicised facebook by changing profile pictures to election slogans and writing political graffiti on friends' walls. More from Luke Pollard.
Labels: Elin Jones, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Peter Hain, Plaid Cymru, Rhodri Morgan, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:48 am,
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The facts about the Tories and devolution
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Conservative Mid & West Wales candidate Glyn Davies has had an epiphany. You can be a Tory and pro-devolution. Moreover, you can be a Tory and an advocate of even more devolution.
Glyn wants full law-making powers for the national assembly. But while considered something of a maverick, he is still standing on a Conservative Party ticket in the forthcoming elections. So where does the Tory party stand on devolution?
Well, they led the No campaign in 1997 and their 1999 assembly election manifesto was laced with bitterness and pessimism. Smack bang at the top of the document, then leader Rod Richards wrote this: "The transfer of further powers from Westminster to the Assembly would lead to the fragmentation of Britain making European federalism easier for the government to achieve."
Eight years on, the Tories still aren't sure. And it's difficult to find the hype surrounding the big Welsh strides they might make this time around reflected in the manifesto. True, the Tories call for more powers, but they call for more powers in order to:
• seek to establish St. David’s Day as a national holiday;
• introduce a Welsh symbol on car number plates;
• ensure that a separate Welsh option appears on census forms together with a question on the use of Welsh;
• petition the Queen to establish a Welsh order of chivalry.
Not quite a nationalist's wet dream:)
This debate must surely have come up during the manifesto negotiations. I can only presume that the other Tory AMs don't share Glyn's enthusiasm while there are still ultra-Unionists in the ranks.
Labels: devolution, Glyn Davies, law-making powers, manifesto, Rod Richards, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007, Welsh Conservatives
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:36 am,
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Ieuan Wyn Jones is a 'weak daffodil'
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Labour's press people revealed today that they aren't just au fait with YouTube, they're a whizz at photoshop too.So, they've turned Ieuan Wyn Jones into a sort of Tory tree monster, intended to symbolise the fact that Plaid have apparently voted over 400 times with the Conservatives in the Assembly.
This is the latest attempt by Labour to re-ignite the 'Vote Plaid get Tory' mantra, despite recent assertions by the nationalists that they hoped would not only have knocked the nail on its head, but knocked it right through into the eyes of any opportunistic Tories.
But Labour remain undeterred, if slightly lacking in imagination. The line is supposed to be that 'Ieuan Wyn Jones is a weak daffodil', whatever that is. But given Plaid's new image, surely 'floppy poppy' would have made for a more resonant metaphor. At the very best they've made him look like one of those tree people from Lord of the Rings.
Plaid start their conference tomorrow and have the opportunity to kill the VPGT rumours once and for all. If they dare.
Labels: attack ad, Ieuan Wyn Jones, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Rainbow Coalition, Tories, weak daffodil
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:37 am,
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Tory TV: the Welsh dimension
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Find out what David Cameron thinks about devolution.
See the Tories squirm on coalition talk.
Heck! Tune in just to get another glimpse of the effervescent Glyn Davies.
Yes, it's the story of the simmering debates the Tories kept miles from the conference floor on the weekend.
And you can see it on 18 Doughty Street (if they can read the video format).
Cheryl Gillan will be on to respond.
9pm (I think).
http://18doughtystreet.com
Labels: 18 Doughty Street, Cheryl Gillan, David Cameron, Glyn Davies, Tories, Welsh Conservative Conference
posted by Blamerbell @ 1:52 pm,
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Ted Jones v Tories
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Welcome to the first 'Handbag Watch' post. In this exciting new feature, I'll be scouring the blogs for the cattiest remarks as we build up to the assembly election on May 3rd.Here Plaid blogger Ted Jones takes on his pet hate, the Tories:
"The big problem that the leadership of the Tories face in the Assembly is that their Welsh based MPs are decidedly off message... Their Westminster group if anything are rebelling against the Assembly group – intent on maintaining the nasty right wing, little Englander approach which we all know is the core of the Tories anyway."
Handbag rating: 5
Scores poorly for using only one negative adjective, and even that's quite gentle. Not a bad first attempt. May wish to sharpen the knives before the Tory conference.
Labels: attack, handbags, Plaid Cymru, politics, Ted Jones, Tories
posted by Blamerbell @ 8:40 am,
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New Labour, New Media, Old Arguments
Thursday, March 01, 2007
The Tories are 'too offensive for TV'. That's what Labour are saying by launching a savage attack on the Tories exclusively on YouTube (follow this link to see the video).
The ad reminds voters of the 'failures' of the Tory years and features such popular politicians as John Redwood, Margaret Thatcher and Edwina Curry**.
Of course, attacking another party's record in government is nothing new, even if we are now looking back a generation. But putting it up online is a fresh American-style development for Welsh politics.
Will the Tories now respond? After all, there's plenty of Rhodri Morgan gaffes to choose from, although THIS video has already been doing the rounds.
So much for positive politics.
**See comments for clarification.
Labels: attack ad, politics, Rhodri Morgan, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007, Welsh Labour, YouTube
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:53 am,
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It's election time: these are our two 1st priorities
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Tories are playing a very clever trick in the run up to May's elections. Whatever issue is currently hot is suddenly their new first priority. The electorate, after all, has a short memory.
21 October 2006, Party leader Nick Bourne: "Welsh Conservatives will back our NHS. It is our priority above all else. It's as simple and straightforward as that."
Hang on a second!
12 February 2007, Environment spokesman Brynle Williams: "Tackling climate change is our first priority. Wales must do its part to help Britain show global leadership on climate change."
So which is it - NHS or tackling climate change? Both noble causes indeed, but by definition only one can be a first priority.
And yet, three days later...
15 February 2007, Party leader Nick Bourne: "I have made it quite clear that the Welsh Conservatives’ number one priority is our cherished NHS."
Yes, about as clear as the murky sea water that will surely rise to wash away the palm trees on the all new climate change enhanced Welsh riviera.
Labels: Brynle Williams, climate change, Conservative party, election promises, NHS, Nick Bourne, politics, priority, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 1:10 pm,
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A Valentine's message to Rhodri Morgan from the Conservative Party
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Tory MP David Jones has come out as a closet fan of the First Minister Rhodri Morgan.
While the official Conservative line is to brand him the 'Clown Prince of Wales', Mr Jones blogs rather more honestly about his views on the man known affectionately by his first name, Rhodri.
"I have to admit that I rather like Rhodri Morgan. I know he’s on the other side of the fence and all that, but he contributes immensely to the gaiety of national life," he writes.
Mr Jones couldn't resist, however, a quick swipe at the First Minister's infamous comments on the benefits of climate change. But he still concludes that, despite it all, Rhodri ain't so bad.
"Rhodri Morgan is a nice man. In his own way, he has meant well and, from time to time, he has succeeded in entertaining us."
So, what do the Tories really think of Rhodri Morgan: Clown Prince or nice guy? I suspect they'll be emphasising the former rather than the latter in the run up to May's elections. Unless, of course, they surprise us all with a uniquely positive campaign which proposes to flatter their opponents into defeat.
Labels: climate change, David Jones MP, politics, Rhodri Morgan, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 1:05 pm,
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Should David Melding be reaching for his P45?
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
A strong Conservative performance in May's Assembly election could spell the end of David Melding's political career.I've had the Excel spreadsheets out again and it seems that if the Tories gain Cardiff North and the Vale of Glamorgan, Melding's days are numbered - he's relying on occupying the top berth in the South Wales Central regional list in order to get elected.
But even if the Tories gain only Cardiff North, the best dressed man in the Assembly could be making for the exit if the Lib Dems put in a slightly improved performance in the regional vote.
Intriguingly, a strong Tory performance could most benefit Plaid Cymru. Presuming the Conservatives take the Vale and Cardiff North and then calculating the distribution of regional seats using average votes won in 1999 and 2003, Plaid would win three of the four regional seats in South Wales Central.
These figures may be distorted, however, by Plaid's abnormally good performance in 1999. Using only the 2003 figures in this scenario would see Plaid win two and Labour and the Lib Dems win one top-up seat each.Either way, the Tories are likely to cancel out every seat they win in the South Wales Central region. And this must give encouragement to Labour, who could pinch a regional seat here and in Mid & West Wales, thereby putting a gloss on what is likely to be an otherwise drab performance.
Labels: Conservative party, David Melding, Regional list, South Wales Central, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 7:50 am,
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Tories must come clean on Tax
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Welsh Conservatives have been snarling at Labour over council tax for some time. Today, they revealed the full scale of the outrage that followed the controversial revaluation of homes in 2003. There were upwards of 30,000 appeals in total, with almost 20,000 resulting in a band change.Council tax in Wales has risen a whopping 186% since 1993 - outpacing the increase in house prices by 7%. In England, meanwhile, council tax has risen only 121%.
It's an issue the Tories would be silly not to use to their advantage. But, sooner or later people will start demanding an alternative. And that's where the Conservatives could falter.
Let's take a look at their website. Not a word on alternative policies there. In fact, you have to go back to the 2005 election manifesto for a clear position:
The way in which a government allocates taxpayers' money demonstrates its values. By going to war on waste and ending ineffective public spending programmes, we will achieve these aims.
Is that still the case? If so, which public services would they cut?
Let them have their cake and eat it. Or give us another cake.
Labels: Conservatives, council tax, policy, Tories
posted by Blamerbell @ 1:41 pm,
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LLafur a'r Toriaid yn anwybyddu'r Gymraeg - Labour and Tories ignore the Welsh language
Monday, January 22, 2007
Rhyfedd iawn yw llwytho wefan y pleidiau Llafur neu Ceidwadol a gweld diffyg llwyr defnydd o'r iaith Gymraeg, ac eleni yn blwyddyn etholiad holl bwysig. Tydy pleidleisiau siaradwyr Cymraeg gwerth dim iddyn nhw?Ar safle'r blaid Lafur does dim hyd yn oed opsiwn i lwytho'r tudalen yn y Gymraeg; mae'r holl beth yn Saesneg. Dyw wefan y Ceidwadwyr ddim llawer gwell. Er i Glyn Davies honni mae'r Toriaid yw plaid yr iaith rhagor, dim ond un adran bach ar amcanion y blaid sydd i'w gael yn Gymraeg. Mor belled ac dwi'n gweld does dim modd cyfieithu nodweddion arall y safle chwaith. Dyna agwedd od i 'blaid yr iaith' gweithredu.
Chwarae teg i'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, mae opsiwn ganddyn nhw ar waelod y sgrin i gyfieithu'r holl beth i'r Gymraeg. Serch hynny, y ffordd tecach yw i adael i ddarllenwyr penderfynnu pa iaith sydd orau ganddyn nhw cyn mynd at unrhyw gynnwys. Dyna'r sefyllfa efo Plaid Cymru, sydd a wefan hollol gytbwys (ond plis trowch y fflipin jingl 'na bant!).
Yn y cyfamser, mae pob ymgais gan Llafur a'r Toriaid i ennill pleidleisiau ar sail eu agwedd at faterion yn ymwneud a'r iaith Gymraeg yn hollol rhagrithiol tra eu bod nhw'n cynnal wefannau mor unllygeidiog.
(Dwi'n ymwybodol nad oes llawer o gynnwys Cymraeg ar y blog yma chwaith! Sori, mae mwy i ddod yn yr wythnosau nesaf - ond dyw hon ddim yn blog i Gymry yn unig, ac dyw Cymraeg Blamerbell ddim llawer well na'i Japanese.)
And, for English-speaking readers wondering what the hell is going on... The homepages of both Labour and the Conservatives in Wales contain little or no use of the Welsh language. This despite the Tories' Glyn Davies wanting the party to become the natural choice for Welsh speakers. It's shocking that in an election year, better provisions have not been made.
Labels: Ceidwadwyr, defnydd Cymraeg, Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol, dwy-ieuthog, gwefan, Labour, Llafur, Plaid Cymru, Tories, website, Welsh language
posted by Blamerbell @ 9:26 am,
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Lib dems' education Black spot
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The Sun thought it had the Lib Dems by the balls yesterday after it apparently caught the respective education spokespeople in England and Wales singing from different hymn sheets over extending the school age.Sarah Teather (in Westminster) said, "I welcome this important reform as a constructive proposal from Alan Johnson," while our own Peter Black said, "This sort of compulsion will just cause resentment and disaffection amongst youngsters who are ready to leave school."
The Lib Dem defence was that Sarah and Peter were indeed singing from different hymn sheets, but since hymn sheets are a devolved issue it is perfectly acceptable for different ones to be used in England and Wales.
This is much the same as the Tories' excuse for their divergent views on top-up fees. David Cameron has recently come out as a proponent, while Welsh Tories continue to lead the charge against them.
But a 'devolved matter' is rarely as simple as that. A number of Westminster policies will directly impact Wales, whether or not Wales is drafted as part of the legislation or not. In the case of top-up fees, if David Cameron were to lift the cap as prime minister in 2010, the funding gap between Welsh and English universities would become astronomical and urgent action would be needed here.
Devolution shouldn't mean the end of complementary politics between England and Wales. There's nothing wrong with singing from different hymn sheets, but singing in the same key would probably help.
hat tip Iain Dale for being bothered to read the Sun
Labels: Education, Lib Dems, School leaving age, top-up fees, Tories
posted by Blamerbell @ 8:57 am,
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The rainbow is a 'growing coalition of nonsense'
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Talk of coalitions just won't go away.
Labour Chair Hazel Blears is in Cardiff today to give the Welsh wing of the party a kick up the backside.
She's going to have a natter for a while on anti-=social behaviour (what else?) before moving on to attack what she calls the "growing coalition of nonsense" developing around Tory, Lib Dem and Plaid tiffs and talks.
Are we to presume, then, that Labour will not enter into coalition after May 3rd?
Labels: Hazel Blears, Labour, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, Rainbow Coalition, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 8:49 am,
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Tory defections a slap in the face
Monday, January 15, 2007
The Welsh Conservatives didn't choose the best day to welcome a former senior Labour councillor into their ranks.
It was supposed to be a kick in the teeth for Labour, as the shadow Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, greeted the Tories' latest convert - Giles Howard (previously a cabinet member for Labour on Monmouthshire county council).
But the event has been somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of two major party figures that they will defect to UKIP unless the Conservatives change their attitude towards Europe.
Stuart Wheeler has thrown money at the Tories in the past, and Lord Kalms is a former party treasurer. Today, they both revealed they'd consider voting UKIP.
It makes little sense for the Tories to trumpet defections in the present climate, as they obviously have no guarantee over the loyalty of their own followers. Just last week two peers, Lord Pearson of Rannoch and Lord Willoughby de Broke, also switched allegiance to UKIP.
Meanwhile, a leading think tank has renewed its calls for a cap on donations to political parties in response to today's events. Director of Unlock Democracy Peter Facey said:
"The implication to the Conservatives of Stuart Wheeler and Lord Kalms switching allegiance is clear: they will lose a major source of income and possibly see a political rival boosted by millions of pounds in extra revenue. This is a transparent attempt by a couple of rich individuals to use their chequebooks to influence the policy of a political party."
Labels: Conservatives, Defections, Lord Kalms, Stuart Wheeler, Tories, UKIP
posted by Blamerbell @ 3:01 pm,
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Tory policy - gimmicks or bananas?
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Welsh Conservative leader Nick Bourne is right to be wary of election time gimmicks. They are rarely what they seem.But are his alternatives weighty enough to get people out of bed on polling day?
For instance, take the Tories' pledge to "draw up a code of practice with supermarkets on devoting floor space to local food."
A worthy cause, perhaps, but there's nothing to stop them lobbying for this in opposition. I presume it would only be voluntary in any case, such is the Conservative mantra.
The ideal pledge is probably somewhere between promising the world and Preseli-grown parsnips. All the parties would do well to be a little more realistic in their promises this time around, since nobody is quite sure yet who will be in government to deliver them.
Labels: Conservatives, gimmicks, policy, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:58 am,
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The Tory and the sheep
Friday, January 12, 2007
I was supposed to be doing something else this evening. But this, from Glyn Davies AM, has to be the best thing a politician has ever written on my blog, and it deserves a post all of its own:
"The reason that I was driving without my trousers on, with a load of sheep, was that I refused to give up after an accident on the farm. When I intend to do something, I am not easily put off."
Thanks for clearing that up, Glyn!
He was actually responding to a rather antagonistic post from another commenter and re-asserting the Tories' tactic going into the Assembly elections - to challenge the Lib Dems and Plaid to consider coalition or otherwise prop up what will most likely be a weakened Labour administration.
Everyone seems to be getting so tetchy about coalitions at the moment that it does rather beg the question - if they can't get on in opposition, how on earth would they run a country together?
Labels: Glyn Davies, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, sheep, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 6:50 pm,
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Conservatives - The Party of Wales
Glyn Davies is undoubtedly a colourful politician and an imaginative thinker... which is probably why he keeps dreaming of rainbow coalitions.
He's at it again in today's Western Mail:
Asked about the hostility of some Plaid members to the idea of linking up with the Tories under any circumstances, Mr Davies said, "The challenge is for the Conservatives. At the moment there are a lot of people in Wales who think of the Conservatives as being an English party. They don't think we want to be part of the government of Wales. And we've got to change that perception. There are a lot of people in Plaid Cymru who see the Tories as being beyond the pale. But there are a lot of people in Plaid for whom the Tories are very much the second choice as well."
His optimism is commendable, but that still doesn't take into account the stubborn group of Plaid AMs who would veto a coalition with the Tories under any circumstances. With the Assembly's party groups in such small numbers, this is a sizable and influential obstacle that simply won't be overcome. As I wrote earlier this week, intelligent Tories such as Glyn Davies should be thinking of a Plan B.
Glyn's second goal is even more ambitious. "I'm very clear that I want a party that is clearly Welsh and clearly identifies itself as the party of culture and language and Welsh identity," he says.
Anyone who has seen a typical Welsh Tory voter will know that he has his work cut out. It's no coincidence that the Conservatives' only constituency seat at present is Monmouth - that bastion of Welshness on the English border.
Labels: coalition, Glyn Davies, Plaid Cymru, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:43 am,
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Tories target Labour on tax
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
In the run up to Christmas, Plaid were the party on the receiving end of Tory attacks. But Labour is the party in power; that's where the big gains must come on May 3rd.
And Welsh Tories have an uncanny knack of digging up dirt when it matters. Over the winter break, the other parties sat on their hands watching rubbish TV, but the Conservatives exploited the slow news days to get out a big story on NHS funding in Wales being less than in England.
This time, they've gone for the jugular - tax.
Welsh Conservatives [yesterday] warned that the Labour Assembly Government is plotting to revalue homes every two years in a move which could force council tax bills even higher.
The party has obtained a previously unreported submission by the Labour administration to the Lyons Inquiry into council funding which supports the idea of bi-annual revaluations.
Households across Wales have already been subjected to revaluation as part of council tax re-banding in 2005.
In its submission the Assembly Government argues the case for bi-annual revaluations, admitting that such a move will be seen as “increases in tax revenue being the main driver”.
I suspect the Tories have a few more trumps like this up their sleeves before polling day.
With a rainbow coalition almost certainly off the cards, the big race in Wales is for second place. Both Plaid and the Tories will be looking to set a strong foundation this time around to have a real go at a weakened Labour in 2011.
Labels: council tax, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 10:31 am,
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What's the Tory Plan B?
The Conservatives can hint all they like about ousting Labour in May and governing with Plaid - it will not happen. Frankly, it's more likely that Lembit Opik will become a Benedictine monk.
Too many Plaid AMs are 100% against ANY potential alliance with the Tories. The fallout over the budget was simply the final nail in the rainbow.
So what next? The Tories are in a strategic pickle. They won't go near Labour, and Plaid won't go near them. They're like the clever but socially excluded kid at school - when it's time to pick teams, they are left until last each time.
Will the injustice of it all prove too much? Will they flip and turn nasty again?
I doubt it. Tories are far too friendly these days (though I don't think they'll be inviting Ieuan Wyn Jones over for tea just yet).
Perhaps they'll form a united front with the Lib Dems. Plaid are hardly disguising the fact that they're cosying up to Labour (in part just to sever ties with the Tories), but this could be risky, given Labour's current lack of popularity. Despite this, Plaid are tetchy about being branded 'Labour's little helpers'. Pushing this line will harm the nationalists, but is that really what they want?
At the minute, the only party gaining from coalition speculation and squabbling among the parties is Labour - Tories' enemy number one. If there is a Plan B it must surely take account of that.
UPDATE: I see that Leighton Andrews is still pedalling the Plaid-Tory coalition line, saying "there is a continuing and real threat of Wales stumbling into a Tory-led coalition after May."
Labels: Labour, Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru, Rainbow Coalition, Tories, Welsh Assembly Election 2007
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:15 am,
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