When my thoughts turn to National Assembly matters tonight, its a job to move away from the recently sacked Rhodri Glyn Thomas. I reckon Ieuan Wyn Jones has completely cocked up - as much as Rhodri has. Just don't know what he was thinking about. Perhaps he thought he might look decisive if he fired somebody. To me, he looks more 'wobbly' than ever.
The sickening bit is the retrofit and character assassination that is being spread, probably by the Plaid Press Department. Supposedly there have been concerns about Rhodri's behavior for years. If that's so, why on earth did Ieuan Wyn Jones make him a Minister in the first place. Every report on this issue will make reference to Rhodri Glyn having a penchant for a drink, quickly followed by the qualifier that there is 'nothing wrong with that'. But the implication is clear enough. Rhodri was desperately unlucky to have messed up at the Welsh Book of the Year Awards, which did make him a bit of a joke - but I'm told that it was just that, unlucky and could have happened to anyone. No Ieuan wyn Jones fired his Culture Minister for walking into a pub with a lit cigar in his hand. Remember that when you are smothered in the 'spin' that there was more to it. The Plaid Press Office are desperately trying to bolster the credibility of the Deputy First Minister. Politics is a dirty game.
But there's another game in town. Matt Withers in today's Wales on Sunday, asks whether anyone can stop the Carwyn Jones 'march' to the First Minister's desk. Well, I (and others) don't think so. Carwyn's a good debater, is quick on his feet, has presence - and best of all, he's got a lovely mum. I'd half expected Rhodri Morgan to announce that he was standing down last week - he likes to spring a surprise on the last day of term. I reckon he'll be gone by Christmas, unless Gordon Brown resigns first. So we have Huw Lewis and Carwyn Jones (and perhaps Leighton Andrews) limbering up, and some talk of Andrew Davies as a runner as well. Well, my money's on the Bridgend Boy. Come on Rhodri. Put a bit of spark into Welsh politics. Lets get on with it.
20 comments:
Yes, the strange contradiction that Ieuan Wyn Jones was supposedly concerned about Rhodri Glyn Thomas's behaviour for years, and yet he appoints him as a Minister. Who then is the dafter of the two? Ieuan who appointed Thomas or Thomas for accepting the promotion? Of course Thomas is going to accept the promotion, so we are left wondering about Ieuan's credibility.
Meanwhile, the Welsh education system is failing in key subject areas (re: OECD stats); Wales is at the bottom of the UK economic league tables; and Wales is literally giving away future economic development by a systematic failure to protect its IP (intellectual property) by failing to meaningfully patent important discoveries).
In another 10 years where will Wales be c/o the National Assembly and the WAG? Still at the bottom of the economic league tables - likely yes.
"Carwyn is unstoppable"
Come off it, Glyn! That's utter rot. A good debater he may be, but where in this speech does he give us his vision for a future government? Where is his big idea? This is just a small list of things that Carwyn likes, and a big list of things he doesn't. Most of the issues fall completely outside the Assembly's auspices anyway! It's bland and utterly lacking in substance
Carwyn has been a key part of the Government for the past nine years. He can't absolve himself of blame for the numerous cock-ups that have been the hallmark of the Morgan years with a quick sop to the Unions and Labour's hard left.
Over to you, Huw Lewis...
Carwyn's pitch is very similar to Rhodri Morgan's Glyn, i wrote about it myself and you don't have to be genius to see that some of the policy decisions that WAG has made over the years have done Wales no favours, but im not convinced that any of the others would be much different in policy terms to the First Minister.
I was at the Royal Welsh field today helping set up a stall for friends and all the talk from the farmers of "Shir Gar "is that Rhodri Glyn has had a bad deal and his open attitude, larger than life style was seen as a plus.
Glyn it is a bit sad that you are hear saying Rhodri Glyn should not have resigned yet Nick Bourne immediatly fanned the flames calling on Mr Thomas to consider his position. The Tories can't have it both ways.
there are no big ideas or future vision in this speech, there is nothing about child poverty, support for careers or affordable housing, these are issues that matter to the people of wales.
it is just a load of old cobles waddle if you ask me.
i want to hear ideas for the future, not about what has happened. give me your big idea carwyn!
Welsh Lobbyist has a good reading on this, Glyn - you should take a look.
Carwyn's speech is really bland stuff- same old, same old. Guess the logic is that if he manages to not offend enough people, he might be allowed to slip into the job un-noticed! I think most Party members are smarter than this, though. And the MPs will be up in bloody arms!
In a nutshell? No vision, no ideas, no flair. At least Rhodri can be funny on occasion...
Did he actually go to the pub or was dipping his lit cigar somewhere inappropriate just an elaborate metaphor for some other misdemeanour?
It was the "straw that broke the camel's back", wasn't it Glyn?
Plaid demands the highest integrity from its members and it is right that any behaviour which falls short of this, and reflects on the image of the party in the eyes of the pulic, cannot and should not be tolerated, even though the transgressions were thought by many to have been of minor significance.
Plaid Cymru does not want to descend to the depths to which Labour and this Labour government has sunk.
Plaid, I'm sure, would like to maintain a clear, bright, and unequivocable image in contrast to the lies, deception and dishonesty which characterises much of today's politics.
Never mind Carwyn Jones, what about Lembit Opik for goodness sake! Just when you thought he couldn't descend even further, he puts us through the farce of this last week. The words publicity and stunt spring to mind. You mightn't be tempted to condemn him, but amongst politicians at Westminster, he is regarded as the biggest joke in the House. You live by the sword etc.......Hope you're enjoying the absurdity of the story as it unfolds, the dysfunctional family, and, like most people, not buying into yesterday's NoW revelations
Anon 1 - agreed.
James - I know nothing about his speech, except that he made it, and its being reported that it was a 'setting out his stall' type of speech. My comment was more general.
Welsh Lobbyist - Don't disagree.
anon 2 - Not surprised that country people are saying this, because its right. Outside the Cardiff Bay village, the whole affair looks ridiculously over the top.
anon 3 - I was speaking on behalf of myself and no-one else. Nick Bourne clearly had his opinion, and no reason why not. I think its fair to say that I would have preferred the Tories not to have waded in - but that's just my opinion.
Gemma and Knight's-tale - As I've said, I have not read Carwyn's speech. It does look as if Huw Lewis has a few supporters in the blogosphere.
Anon 4 - No, that's Rhuannydd and Simon's spin.
Alan - Beware what happens to any political party that claims moral superiority to others. Remember 'Back to Basics'.
Anon - I cannot comment on the political style of my Lib Dem opponent - because I simply cannot think of anything suitable to say. It all leaves me speechless.
I think we're all speechless at the depths he's now reached. Quite frankly, they all deserve one another. It's a circus.....The general consensus, especially after this recent farce, is that the seat is there for the taking, Glyn. And boy do you deserve it.
God, this is small-scale stuff. Here we have Labour imploding at a national level and all you can worry about is who leads them in the Welsh assembly. Nobody cares. What everyone is talking about is whether Gordon Brown is going to survive to 2010. Get national, please.
Lib Dem opponent is in for a hard fall - as predicted, but after a certain time and fashion he will recover ... so the prediction goes, and become one of greatest leaders of our time ... you wait and see. No, I'm not on anything other than black tea. In the intervening period hope is that you will be in mother Parliament - so something good all round.
griff - I can only berate Gordon Brown so much. The site would become too repetitious if I do it all the time.
"anon 3 - I was speaking on behalf of myself and no-one else. Nick Bourne clearly had his opinion, and no reason why not. I think its fair to say that I would have preferred the Tories not to have waded in - but that's just my opinion."
A fair response Glyn thank you. For the record I agree.
Slow, repeitious chipping away wears away a stone.
I was only journalist present at the Arts council Conference recently.
Rhodri made a very fine speech that today. It must be noted in front of a crowd of delegates who were there to promote themselves and organisations.
Rhodri knew this but aimed his speech at Welsh communities and disadvantaged groups. One must respect that.. He was not trying to gain any merit points from the crowd, just what he thought was an ethical arrangement for funding in Wales
rhetoric - Tis only what I would have expected.
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