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.

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posted by Blamerbell @ 12:02 am,

33 Comments:

At 12:20 am, Blogger Glyn Davies said...

This really has got to be a 'joke' blog. I've never heard Mick Bates give a comprehensible answer, let alone a frank and honest one !

 
At 12:24 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To: Leanne Wood

Please explain, in detail, how Plaid Cymru would fund, in an Independent Wales, all the current services provided by the Welsh Assembly Government at current and projected spending levels PLUS the welfare state, pensions, defence (something Dai Lloyd has yet to be able to give me an answer to via the letters page of the Western Mail), policing and security, foreign affairs, international trade relations, S4C and Broadcasting in general, and all other reserved matters.

 
At 12:51 am, Blogger Tegwared ap Seion said...

To all:

Are alcoholism and drug dependency offences that should be punishable or illnesses that should be cured?

Sion Gwilym

 
At 1:06 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Question to Huw Lewis,

Would he be prepared to PUBLICLY have his fingerprints and DNA taken for his new ID Card, before the election.

 
At 8:33 am, Blogger Blamerbell said...

"This really has got to be a 'joke' blog. I've never heard Mick Bates give a comprehensible answer, let alone a frank and honest one !"

Let's wait and see. I have faith

Cheers all for the input so far. Keep them coming.

 
At 8:37 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Martyn Williams said...
To: Leanne Wood

"Please explain, in detail, how Plaid Cymru would fund, in an Independent Wales, all the current services provided by the Welsh Assembly Government at current and projected spending levels PLUS the welfare state, pensions, defence (something Dai Lloyd has yet to be able to give me an answer to via the letters page of the Western Mail), policing and security, foreign affairs, international trade relations, S4C and Broadcasting in general, and all other reserved matters."

Havn't you asked this one before? I believe it was answered at leaste twice in the Western Mail where the question was first published.....and by the way, try and grow some sort of back-bone and so that you if future will not portray us Welsh as a spineless bunch of spongers.

PS A reply to M Williams' letter may also be found on the Welsh Indpendence Blog

 
At 8:43 am, Blogger Der said...

To Huw Lewis,

There's a housing crisis in many parts of Wales. What would he do to redress it or are market forces above all other considerations?

 
At 9:19 am, Blogger Unknown said...

To Leanne Wood:

Do you believe that taking part, (and getting arrested) in the anti-trident campaign in Scotland has helped the cause of Plaid Cymru?

 
At 9:24 am, Blogger Che Grav-ara said...

To Huw Lewis,

Can you tell me where you stand on the following issues.

1. The decision to go to war in Iraq
2. The decision to renew Trident
3. Cuts to PCS jobs

if you are oppossed to any of the above can you give me your views on Gordon Brown and Tony Blair's decisions?

 
At 9:45 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

"try and grow some sort of back-bone" says someone who wont post under his own name....

Perhaps it’s Plaid Cymru and other Welsh nationalists who need to grow a back-bone and put independence as a manifesto commitment to the people of Wales. That is what you stand for - why not stand for election on it? Scared that people will desert you maybe?

I've asked Dai Lloyd and Plaid Cymru a direct question. They have yet to answer. I don’t consider replies from anyone other than elected politicians an official substantive reply.

 
At 9:49 am, Blogger Marcusian said...

To all the non-labour politicians...

Will any of you reverse the decision to have free prescription for all throughout Wales?

And to Leanne Wood:

Do you think that the potential housing grant that Plaid is offering (which i think is UP TO £5000) is really going to make the difference that will allow first time buyer to actually buy? If the difference was only £5000 then im sure many wouldn't be struggling.

Glyn Davies:

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.

To Huw Lewis:

Where in your opinion does the clear red water lie within your manifesto and london Labour's?

To all:

If you could bring in a law tomorrow into wales, what would it be?

 
At 11:01 am, Blogger Der said...

To Huw Lewis,

How would he like to see the assembly develop in the future?

 
At 11:40 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

to All,

What would you do for villages like Pontypridd and Blaenavon who are being used by the Utility companies as training grounds.

Most streets in both villages have in excess of 400 dig patches each per street.

 
At 11:58 am, Blogger bethan said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

 
At 11:59 am, Blogger bethan said...

whoops I didnt read the italic print sorry ciaran!

 
At 1:35 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Huw Lewis: you've identified yourself with the child poverty initiative, hoping doubtless to garner much profile. Please tell why, given that Labour has just admitted it's failed its own Child povert target this time around, we shoudl believe you this time? Is that why you've been a little silent lately... ?

Dave Rodway

 
At 2:27 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Huw Lewis

Can he explain to the people of Merthyr Tydfil why he bought a house near a so called 'good school' so his child doesn't have to educated in Merthyr. Is there something wrong with the schools in the borough, one of which Huw used to teach in?

 
At 2:40 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

sorry anon, but you'll have to come out of the shadows if you want me to put that question to him.

 
At 2:40 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

sorry anon, but you'll have to come out of the shadows if you want me to put that question to him.

More questions for Mick Bates please!

 
At 2:58 pm, Blogger Marcusian said...

mick bates:

what one policy will be your priority in getting implemented in any coalition that you may enter into after the elections?

How many seats would represent success for the lib dems in the assembly election?

How closely are you working with your colleagues in westminster? Do you have any clear yellow water/angel delight?

 
At 4:59 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Jonathon Morgan:

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?

 
At 5:14 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ask Mick what he thought of Glyn's pathetic atempt of suggesting he had doctored a photo of the torry candidate in Montgomeryshire?

 
At 5:41 pm, Blogger Bonheddwr said...

To all:

Do you agree that the Welsh language is the native language of Wales?

Do you believe that the Welsh language should be given official status in Wales?

Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the Right to Services in Welsh?

Do you believe that the people of Wales should have the right to work through the medium of Welsh?

Do you believe that the National Assembly should appoint a Welsh Language Commissioner for Wales?

Do you agree that every child/person in Wales of compulsory school age, or who is a student of Further or higher Education in Wales should have the right to receive appropriate education through the medium of Welsh in part or in full according to his or her
wishes?

 
At 5:55 pm, Blogger Der said...

Good questions Hedd. The answers will I am sure be interesting.

 
At 8:43 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

to Huw lewis
how may of the 500 jobs you claimed when the assembly came to merthyr were real jobs ie how many peopled moved up with the assembly and how may jobs were filled from merthry when they arrived and what other than cleaning jobs were they.
Also following on from another post -why did he move his family out of the Valleys

 
At 8:52 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To all:

What are you going to do to encourage a more comprehensive coverage of Welsh politics in the media?

 
At 10:11 pm, Blogger Marcusian said...

To Jonathan Morgan:

Are you willing to apologize for comparing expenses only volunteering in a constituency office to slavery?

Leanne Wood:

Your director of elections, Adam Price, is very keen to talk up Plaid as a socialist party. Would any such desire to be socialist be negated by serving under or in coalition with the tory party? Can you please point to any 'socialist' government that will have conservatives in the cabinet?

Leanne Wood: The NOP poll indicates that the tories would be the leader of any rainbow coalition, should this occur, are you willing to state on the record that you will resign rather than go back on your promise NOT to serve under a tory first minister?

To all:

What have you done as a party or an individual to help engage young people in politics?

What is your favourite album of all time?

Do you own an ipod? and if so what is on it?

Who is your political hero and why?

 
At 11:16 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Huw Lewis:

Why is the first pledge on your election leaflet to make prescriptions free?

Unless I've missed something, they already are!

How about promising to introduce a minimum wage and free bus passes for the elderly while you're at it?

 
At 11:40 pm, Blogger Blamerbell said...

anon, you need to tell us your name if I'm to put that question to him!

 
At 9:51 am, Blogger Der said...

Der said...
"To Huw Lewis,

How would he like to see the assembly develop in the future? "

Sorry, I would like this to be asked to all off them.

 
At 4:11 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Huw Lewis:
Do you not think that the almost pathological ttribalism displayed by people like you has damaged the chances of 1) a progressive consensus across parties, and notably with Plaid, many of whose members and voters are in broad agreement over core areas of policy; and 2) given politics a bad name?
(A third question, how do you feel supporting a party that accepts millions from union-bashing billionaires is one I despair of seeing answred by a Laboru poltician, so I'll leave it out).
I ask these because it was people like you made me give up voting Labour.

PPT Rees

 
At 1:30 pm, Blogger Che Grav-ara said...

To Mike Bates,

Where do you stand on the decision to move adult neurosurgery from Swansea to cardiff.

Do you agree it is hypocritical and misleading for Lib Dem candidates in the South West area to be distributing campaign materials claming to support the retention of adult neurosurgery whilst other members of the Lib Dems voted to move it to cardiff including the Lib Dems health spokesperson at the Assembly

 
At 11:45 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry if I don't go off on one like most posters seem to have done. Cool it, boys!

Can I ask Nick Bates (Lib Dem) if it's true - as I've been told - that in his 2007 conference speech Mike German said:

"They remain a wolf, however many layers of sheep's clothing they put on. And however soft their woolly cloak, Wales will never forget how sharp were the wolf's teeth bite in Wales in the 1980s. Wales has never been a Conservative country. And it never will"

If true, what happened?

 

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