So the deal is done. Plaid Cymru have thrown in their lot with Labour. A Plaid/Labour Government will take over the Government of Wales before the summer recess. In theory, both of these new lovers have to consult their families before final consummation can take place. But, in reality, its a bit like asking parents for permission to marry when the lady is already six months pregnant. The crucial bit of business has been done.
Readers of this blog will know of the despair which this occurrence has visited upon the writer. OK, so the Tories become the 'official' opposition. Big bloody deal that is. Opposition is opposition - no matter what sort it is. Still hard to accept though - especially since we know that a 'Rainbow Government' including Plaid, the Tories and the Lib Dems would have been in place weeks ago if the Lib Dems hadn't blown up the whole shoooting match at that bizarre meeting of their Executive Committee at Llandrindod Wells. On such small things do great decisions sometimes turn.
In passing, I have to say that Mike German's official response to today's deal was utterly preposterous. It said "trust in Plaid Cymru is at its lowest ebb". Can you believe the brass neck of it. I strongly suspect that the main reason that Plaid kicked the 'crock of dreams' into the Bay, was that they didn't trust the Lib Dems not to do it themselves at some later date, when the going got tough. And then there's the line telling us that Mike German has "sent a note to Rhodri Morgan indicating that I would be prepared to talk to him if he wanted to discuss arrangements for stable government in the National Assembly". Just how ridiculous can a party leader make himself look?
I thought Nick Bourne's response to the deal was spot on. Resisted any temptation to vent his anger and frustration. There must be a few thousand former Plaid supporters who are as upset about this deal as I am. Many of them will be 'conservative' in general outlook. Let the message go out that they will be welcome in the Welsh Conservative Party. I've mentioned my Nain on this blog before and her response to any disaster. "Its probably all for the best", she'd say. Its now our job to make the best of this bad job.
16 comments:
Another excellent post Glyn, getting to the core of todays disappointing decsiosn. As a natural plaid supporter I don't see they have a choice after the lib dem dallying post the election? Mike German today has been unbelievable!! What a disaster for the lib dems, a historic decision surely to have rejected Government?
I am naturally conservative as you suggest but with all the baggage the Tories have I can't go there, can you not be tempted the other way, or how about like as a councillor, go independent?
IWJ has just stated on BBC News that a rainbow deal was scuppered due to the forever changing position of the Lib Dems. I also agree that the Welsh Conservatives can hold their heads up high after what has gone on throughout this 'excitement'. You may not think it now, but one consolation for you will be their effectiveness as the official opposition - God help the 'One Wales' coalition if they fail to deliver in any area.
It looks like everyone looks to the quotes of their Nans these days - you've even got Seneddwr doing it now. We all love our Nans!
IWJ basically blamed the Lib Dems for the death of the rainbow five minutes ago on Wales Today.
It is a sad and weasel reaction indeed to basically blame anyone if you think you have got the deal on the table that your Group really, really want. (Or do they?)
In my book that spells sheer churlishness plus a potential lack of commitment to the deal achieved.
Together these two things add up to a real absence of leadership.
Lisa Francis
don't be sad Glyn, the Conservatives are now the only alternative voice in Wales, the Lib Dems were a spent force long ago.
Whatever happens the conservatives should be in a really strong position, for all elections to come up until 2011 and beyond.
Glyn - its not over yet....
http://www.seneddwr.com/2007/06/it-aint-over-til-its-over.html
Sorry mabon - Tory (Welsh) to the core.
christopher - nains have seen it all before and should be listened to.
sanddef - I guessed as much
lisa - Yup. Leadership has been lacking
anon - but we'll still need an accommodation to rule.
seneddwr - Agreed. Say 95% done. I hear rumours of much Labour unhappiness. We need to watch the union votes. But I can't see the Rainbow now. The 5% in a Lib Lab deal.
Glyn
There is now the opportunity to develop the type of Welsh Conservative party we have discussed on a number of occasions and we need to work hard to ensure that individuals such as Mabon can come to see us as a viable alternative to a Plaid Cymru that has now swung firmly to the left.
This conviction by members of the 'Brown' alliance that Wales outside of the Valleys is socialist is a fantasy and we now have the opportunity to create a new centrist Welsh alternative.
We start with the council elections next year and then the general election in 2009/2010.
With the Lib-Dems in meltdown and Plaid hand in hand with Labour, you watch those rural seats fall.
Dylan - so mabon is the target! I wonder how many mabons there are in Wales. A lot in Aberconwy who are feeling hacked off. Out with the baggage.
All this will do is keep politics in it's usual Cardiff centric location with a bit more emphasis on North Wales.
Mid Wales, and particualrly Montgomeryshire, will lose out again. At least with a Rainbow Coalition we could have held our AMs accountable.
Not sure it's fair to mention members of staff who are just doing their jobs.
Sorry Gareth. Will delete name. It looked to be part of the release to me - but this blog seeks not to cause offence to those who do not deserve it.
There will be Plaid members who go over to the Tories. Plaid were destined to lose members whichever choice they made.
I can confirm that the Lib Dems were the prime reason why the rainbow coalition became untenable for many in Plaid, who had previously supported it (such as myself). There are still two initial hurdles to cross on the 6th and 7th which should not be taken for granted and many more for Plaid after that date if the red/green goes ahead.
The Tories are indeed in a strong position for 2011 and as a nationalist I actually welcome the Tories becoming a more genuinely Welsh party. If they continue to support a Parliament then that can only be a good thing for Wales. This attitude of wiping them off the map is a ridiculous concept as they have never dropped below 20% of support and represent an important voice in our nation's politics-even if it is one I don't agree with.
As for the Lib Dems, well they deserve all the contempt they get.
What is it about the Tories that you so disagree with? Just interested!
I believe that in a society, there is a role of both state and individuals. My experiences of Government from both Labour and the Tories is that the former is fundamentally centralist in nature and unjustifiably distrusting of the individual and the latter dis-trustful of Government and happy for an ever increasing gap between individual have and have nots. Of course the irony is that the present Labour Government has actually increased that gap but then again, it's not what you would call a socialist government, is it?
I am keen for Wales to break way from the UK mould of politics and try to put Wales at the centre of all priorities (issues such as the environment etc being an exception). This is why I was so disappointed at the rainbow coalition not working out. On the positive side, coalition politics is here to stay and that can only ensure that Labour's dominance is gone forever. The red/green option might actually be the safer one in terms of confirming this, in that if the rainbow had collapsed due to Lib Dem antics then Labour could well have swept back in under the 'I told you so' notion. This would have been a strong possibility as we still lack confidence as a nation.
So in conclusion, actually answering your question and to quote my late mam, 'I find that Conservatives primarly believe that charity begins at home.' I'm afraid that this notion sits uncomforably with me. Having said that, some of my best mates are Tories (but curiously, no Lib Dems)
I bet you wish you hadn't asked now!
anon - pleased I asked because you are clearly not a lost cause. I admit that I tend towards the individual rather than the state - but its only a matter of degree and, in reality, its at the margin. And anyway, as you rightly point out, the wealth gap has increased more under Labour than under the Tory Governments that Labour declare so fervently that they hate!!
I do think that 'Charity begins at home' is a sound principle - but it does tend to suggest a non-selfish gene which so often leads to concern for the wider community. From your comment, I would suggest to you that you might feel comfortable in today's Welsh Conservative Party.
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