Reasons to disagree on first day back at the office
Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Rhodri Morgan today unveils the Labour manifesto his government's legislative programme, with the emphasis on CONSENSUS.

So committed is he to this cause, he failed to take part in a televised debate with the leaders of the other parties to explain to the people of Wales what this might actually mean in practice.

If the intention was damage limitation, the effect was quite the opposite; the other leaders spent almost the entire programme reminding viewers of the first minister's absence.

Never mind, Carwyn Jones was deputising and, as ever, sounded like someone from a self-help tape. He managed to tell those agitated nurses to bugger off in really the most relaxing way.

Anyway, the point that the would-be rainbow coup leaders made repeatedly was that the assembly is today being presented with a legislative programme, and yet there was no consultation with the other parties in advance. Labour seem to be saying take it or leave it.

Mike German got as close as possible to facial expression number 3: visibly annoyed. And the others didn't seem too happy either.

I gather the front page (or thereabouts) of the Western Mail will report Ieuan Wyn Jones saying the government has six weeks to deliver or face being kicked out by him and his triple alliance lieutenants. He denied that on television. Apparently he said there would be a 50:50 chance of a putsch vote of no confidence within that time frame.

As I said right back when the Lib Dems finally got their knickers out of Alex Carlile's twist, people will expect the rainbow to move quickly if it is to move at all.

The six weeks figure is a calculated move from Plaid to give Rhodri the spooks. It's playing politics again. But this game is getting a little tiring, so it'll be interesting to see if there's any disagreement today.

Labour are expected to put forward the same bunch of policies they previewed so enthusiastically during the election campaign. For the other parties, there's not much to get worked up about except, perhaps, the issue of the Welsh language.

If Labour go with the legislation they proposed back in April, they will set in motion the process of appointing a Dyfarnydd, falling well short of the new Welsh Language Act demanded by the opposition parties and a number of lobbying organisations. Carwyn Jones tried to prepare the ground for this last week. But it went down as well as a vomit smoothie.

This could well be the first sticking point for the new consensus-building regime. And if there's no agreement - what then? Do the Tories topple Labour because there aren't enough rights for the Welsh language? Or can a government only be brought down over something a bit more life and death?

All the signs are that there'll be a lot of huffing and puffing in the next few weeks, but not much blowing the house down.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 12:34 am, ,


Virgin voters
Thursday, November 23, 2006

The Isle of Man makes political history today by becoming the first place to allow 16 year-olds to vote. It was also the first place in the world to give women the vote. Truly a groundbreaking bunch.

When I was 16 I'd have given a puny, pubescent arm and a leg to vote. I had 10 GCSEs - of course *I* was clever enough.

Now, I'm not so sure. 16 year-olds have sex and get pissed, some even get hitched, but that doesn't mean they're mature.

At least the Isle of Man has opened a debate on the subject. What we need to do in the UK is have a proper discussion about the appropriate 'coming of age age' and normalise alocohol, sex, marriage and voting legislation.

Then, teenagers can have one fantastically boozy night and wake up with a hangover, a wife, a civil partner, a driving licence and a vote.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 8:37 am, ,