Normally, I can depend on my Daily Telegraph to be a Welsh Liberal Democrat free zone - at least if I steer clear of the gossip and celebrity pages! But on page 8 of today's edition, being quoted at length in the Mandrake column, there was fellow blogger, Peter Black AM. And he was talking sense as well.
The issue under report was the rejection by the Advertising Standards Authority of an anonymous Welsh viewer's complaint that a Barclaycard advert was anti-Welsh. Peter welcomed the ruling, as do I, making the rather obvious point that if Welsh people make official complaints every time somebody makes a joke at their expense, everyone else will think that we do not have a sense of humour.
Actually, my only appearance in Hello magazine was when I ridiculed the decision by police to travel from Wales to London in pursuit of Ann Robinson, when she had made some derogatory slight upon my nation. The Telegraph also makes reference to the time when police officers 'were persuaded to feel the collar of Tony Blair' when he referred to "the f***ing Welsh" on a fraught election night. Jokes at our expense do no harm to our standing at all. In fact, its the complaining, and the taking serious notice of these complaints that cause the harm
17 comments:
As you so rightly point out, it's the complaining that causes the harm. If only the Mongomeryshire Lib Dems could bear that in mind when making their petty little attacks on Sian Lloyd's book. She was on Angharad Mair's Wedi Saith tonight and told us in a very sincere and balanced way what her book was all about. (she also told us that she was supporting the campaign against wind farms and the closure of rural post offices - if only out sitting MP had the same comittment! ) I am going to contact Smith's in Newtown to ask her to do a signing. That way the niggled Lib Dems can buy copies and read before they lash out like cornered animals. They have made complete fools of themselves over this book and I think it's about time you commented on their unacceptable behaviour, Glyn
I hope Peter ends up leading the Welsh Lib-Dem Party.
Some things about Peter, he's a very honest hard working politician.
Love him or hate him, Peter's a slugger.
And sluggers tend to do well, even against difficult odds.
All Peter needs, imho, is some momentum; I guess that has to come from his fellow Lib-Dem colleagues.
Hip Hip Hooray for Peter.
Not on topic, so feel free to post elsewhere or not at all
While the Assembly has no powers to vary corporation tax, it does have power to provide relief on empty business properties, and in particular on newly built or refurbished factory/office space.
IcWales reports the scrapping of favourable empty property relief in Wales. I am at a loss why the Assembly thinks this is a good idea - Wales need re-generation.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2008/04/02/developers-warned-over-empty-rate-relief-91466-20704708/
The point about the Barclaycard advert was that the joke wasn't about the Welsh. The joke was on the guy who was so dumb that he thought Hans Schmitt was a Welsh name.
I remember when Not the Nine O'Clock news did "News for the Elderly" with slow patronising language and remarks like "Ooh, it's a bit cold isn't it?" There were floods of complaints. But it was having a dig at the way people talk to the old, not the old themselves.
anon - I don't blame the Lib Dems for trying to make the best of a bad job, but I have been a little disappointed to see the Welsh media swallowing the 'victim' line in such a gullible way.
Christopher - reminds me that we are in for a Welsh Lib Dem leadership election over the next few weeks. Perhaps Peter might throw his hat in the ring.
Other comments are spot on
I'm a montgomeryshire lib dem voter but i'll never vote for them again while opik is their candidate. taking £5000 from the daily star for journalism is the last straw. im disgusted that my mp is writing for a pornographic newspaper. for god sake get rid of him he brings shame on us all.
This is a man who constantly moans abouat media intrusion whilst spending his life appearing on it or writing for it. His hypocrisy knows no bounds. He's also very happy to take money - and lots of it - from the likes of Hello etc. As for the Daily Sport, how dare he.......It's akin to pure pornography. There's liberal and then there's moral anarchy. Lembit Opik has now crossed way too many boundaries
anons - I've not been allowing comments that are critical of my Member of Parliament, because there have been too many of them. However, I must admit that I feel writing for the Daily Sport is a step too far. The newspaper is just not the sort daily newspaper an MP can write for and retain any respect. But the reality is that most Montgomeryshire poeple don't know about it.
Well it's about time they did. I really think you're missing a trick by being so gentlemanly about your opponent. They will employ every dirty tactic in the book to undermine you and don't you forget it. Let's face it, we all know about the Lib Dems and their apalling behaviour record when it comes to elections. You should be out there telling people what's going on with this excuse for an MP. They would not hesitate if it was the other way round. Get real Glyn - this is a fight not a bake off at the local WI
anon - the fact is that the Lib Dems get away with things that I wouldn't. Can you imagine the furore if I wrote a column for the Daily Sport. Yet last week the local newspaper headlines were demanding that Lembit Opik should be left alone. In any case, my opinion is that 'more flies are attracted by honey than vinigar'.
Plenty of tories have appeared in the Sport of the years for the wrong reasons.
let he who has not sinned etc.
However the sport is not fit to wipe his arse on , never mind mine!
I was a little Welsh boy in London (my father was made redundant from the steel works in Wales and moved the whole family to London to search for work); with a strong Welsh accent I was the victim of many an anti-Welsh jibe, some of which, for lack of understanding, I didn't register at the time - so they went over my head so to speak. When I did understand them I learnt to ignore them or reply with humour. Soon as my Welsh accent waned, so did the anti-Welsh baiting.
This is exactly the point. You have to get your act together and make people realise what's going on with their part-time local MP. The fact he's writing for the Daily Sport and being paid five thousand pounds to do so should be broadcast from the rooftops of Newtown and Welshpool. This man is getting away with too much by far. And whilst he's regarded as a laughing stock nationally, the questionable things he does are not being followed up. It's down to you and your colleagues to expose him for what he is
anon - Politicians from all parties have appeared in the Daily Sport, but not many have done it for money!
Christopher - I have a Welsh accent, and I've never noticed any mockery. Not sure what that says.
anon - I agree it should be broadcast, so that all constituents know. I know that some wouldn't mind, even if I do. But I have decided on campaigning in a positive way, rather than allow my campaign to be defined by my oponent.
Oh Glyn> Not meaning to be rude, so if this does sound rude then I apologize in advance.
I don't think you can talk meaningfully about such anti-Welsh treatment unless you have personally experienced it week in week out as a nine/ten year old Welsh child suddenly translocated out of your Welsh world into a strange land far far away (in London) from what you knew and understood as your home. You admit you haven't experienced such a thing.
Blah blah fish cake ...
Christopher - I try to post from my own experience. If anyone wants to comment that their experience is different, even to the extent that they think I'm completely wrong, that's OK by me.
Glyn> *understood*
School children can be very cruel at spotting differences. My difference was evident the moment I opened my mouth. As soon as my strong Welsh accent subsided, the mockery and baiting stopped. But what was suprising was how many adults engaged in the practice, and how we were treated like unwanted carbon deposits on a piston head. To them we were Welsh trash, just emerged from caves, getting used to sunlight, and not entitled to civil treatment.
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