I don't often blog about Tories. Its a risky business. A word out of place, and the kitchen sink would be heading my way. Its a lot safer blogging about Lib Dems and Plaid Cymru - and easier to find examples of bizarre behavior. Better leave the Tory stuff to Hazlewood's press releases. But here I go with an exception.
I remember my first meeting with Darren Millar, Clwyd West AM. Fellow bloggers had been portraying him in a very negative way, and had been asking me what I thought. When I met the man himself, I realised how ridiculously wrong my fellow bloggers had been. Darran defeated former Minister, Alun Pugh to win Clwyd West and I could immediately see why. He's reasonable, thoughtful, polite, amusing and principled. And what I really like is that he is not prepared to be pushed around- in a working environment where sycophancy has become almost an art form. I predict that Darren Millar has a long and successful career in the Conservative Party ahead of him. Anyway I recommend a reading of his speech EWhich can be accessed in the record of proceedings) which he delivered (and wrote himself) in the Assembly this week. Check out the second line about the definition of 'rubbish' - and the coining of the phrase 'The Slate Curtain' as Plaid Cymru speak for Offa's Dyke.
11 comments:
I have known of Darren Millar for some time through his former position as a church pastor. He has been able to read through things like funeral services in Welsh for some time, but even during May's election's his command of Welsh in political interviews was very limited.
I was pleasantly surprised to see how well he did in an interview on CF99 last Wednesday, his Welsh has improved a tremendous amount since May - so da iawn Darren.
Shame that a certain ex Tory AM seems to have given up blogging in Welsh though.
Your link does not appear to link to his speach, rather to yahoo mail.
Comes to some thing when we have to rave over a speach he "wrote himself" as if that is some kind of rarity in our party.
Our is it unique to the arsembly as another welsh blogger calls it?
alwyn - Sorry about the Welsh Language blog - but it was taking me too long. I am trying to learn to write in Welsh and intend to recommennce Welsh blogging when I've speeded up a bit. My aim is when I've reached 1000 posts on this blog - probably about May.
anon - Sorry about that. I thouhght I was copying an email, but it appears I was opening up my private emails. Will delete the link immediately. Thanks. Bloody technology.
I'll try to sort out the link tomorrow when daughter Sally, my IT advisor is home.
wtf is a slate curtain?
anon - the 'Slate Curtain' is a Welsh thing, which might not be more widely understood. Its a play on the phrase 'Iron Curtain' and it draws attention to the desire of Plaid Cymru, the self styled Party of Wales to seperate my nation from the rest of the UK. The degree of seperation desired does rather depend on who in the party you happen to be talking to!
not a hugely imaginative turn of phrase, is it?
anon - Don't agree. I think its rather good.
probably because you're not hugely imaginative either
I had to re-read this article to beleive it. Darren is the most oppertunistic politician I think I have ever come across.
Only last week in the chamber he Committed himself and his party to weekly bin collections and condemned any council that did not do the same. This is amazing when you remember that one of the first things he did upon being elected a Conwy Councillor as part of the leading group was to vote to scrap them. The decision has not been reversed.
As environment spokesman he has waxed lyrical about his support for renewable energy only to oppose every individual application (pandering to nimby’s in his own patch)
I would also like to point out that I am not aware of Darren ever being a church pastor. He did however work for a charity that distributed bibles abroad.
anon - we know a different man. I know nothing of the weekly bin collection issue or his CXhurch activities - but I think his position on renewable energuy is ok.. He is, very sensibly not in favour of wind farms because they are ineffective. Next time we have a chat, I discuss your comment with him. I'm a big fan.
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