Time to talk
Tuesday, June 05, 2007

It's 'don't turn up' Tuesday.

First of all, Plaid AMs Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins will give the Queen's official opening of the assembly a miss, then Rhodri Morgan will be the only party leader absent from a Week in Week Out special examining what the hell is going on at the top of Welsh government.

Fresh from gaining Wales' first super-ministry, Carwyn Jones will deputise. A sign of things to come, perhaps? Nevertheless, the first minister's absence does rather undermine the point of the programme.

We want answers, and only Rhodri Morgan truly knows what cocked up went on over the past few weeks. It'll certainly be interesting to see how upfront the leaders of the other parties are willing to be about a timetable for a possible rainbow coalition coup.

What are the bottom line issues? And even then, can the government do anything to save its back?

The reality is, surely, that the opposition parties can keep upping the anti. If Labour put all their eggs in one basket, the rainbow partners can just crack them in their face. Labour may offer concessions over hospital reconfiguration, for example, but if they don't go as far as Ieuan Wyn Jones and his buddies demand, then they could have the rug pulled from beneath them at any time.

Personally, I can't see consensus politics going beyond agreeing that this afternoon's champagne is indeed a very good vintage.

Which brings me back to those dungaree-clad social workers, as some of you have so crassly described them in the comments to what was an otherwise quite interesting debate.

And that is surely the point. We had a debate.

Whether or not you agree with Bethan and Leanne, it is vital that we have the argument about the role of the monarchy from time to time. Unfortunately, there is almost no space for the type of views held by these two politicians in the mainstream media, despite the fact that they are shared by a sizable proportion of the population.

Do we elect our leaders or does the Queen appoint them? Are we subjects or citizens? Who decides whether or not we go to war? And is the Queen really the best person to open our assembly?

These are all questions of fundamental importance. They deserve to be discussed. Regrettably, opportunities to do so are all too rare.

Labels: , , , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 12:43 am, ,


Would Plaid kiss goodbye to Kate?
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

This woman, Kate Middleton, is electoral gold dust. Yesterday, she was voted the most naturally beautiful woman in the world.

As Prince William's girlfriend, she has a huge place in British public life. It would be a brave political party that proposed to get rid of her.

But, we're led to believe, that's exactly what Plaid Cymru would do if elected in May.

Back in August 2006, Plaid's director of elections Adam Price MP said:
"Next year it will be 700 years since Edward I created the title (The Prince of Wales). It has long been a symbol of subjection to the English throne. We must not be burdened by such historic humiliation. I propose we have a referendum to scrap it. The existing Prince of Wales should be the last, and I am sure that the majority of the people of Wales would vote in favour of looking forward confidently."

Since then we've heard nothing more.

Plaid have already announced four of their 7 4 07 key policy ideas for the forthcoming election. I doubt a referendum on the future of the monarchy will feature among the final three.

But with the parties positioned so close together on so many issues, this policy puts Plaid in a truly unique position. The question is, do they really want to be? And how much more will they dare tell us about their plan to ditch the 'world's most beautiful woman'?

Labels: , , , , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 9:15 am, ,