Wow! Looks as if I'm in for a rough time - and at the hands of a lady too. She's certainly ripped into Lembit Opik like a Caribbean tornado. Time to stand back. Heledd Fychan is in the building. According to this week's edition of the Montgomeryshire County Times, our local weekly newspaper, Plaid Cymru's candidate in the coming General Election is Heledd. You'll find her on my blogroll. Actually, she tells me that its not official yet - but I did predict that it might be she a few weeks ago. She might be my opposition - but she's a Llanbrynmair girl. So she can't be all bad.
Anyway, back to today's article in the County Times. Heledd has sunk her teeth deep into Lembit's neck, and may well have hit the jugular. It does make me feel like a floppy wimp. Several people have raised the issue with me, but I've let it go. Didn't want to seem too harsh I suppose. The implication of this article is that Lembit Opik has been benefiting financially from using his position as an MP to support the Segway Personal Transporter. Not so much 'Cash for Questions' as 'Early Day Motions for a Segway discount.
I don't suppose Lembit needs any advice from me, but I reckon his best course is to be entirely open about any benefits he's received. And its not good enough just stating in the Register of Member's Interests that he was loaned a Segway Personal Transporter , and then purchased it at a 'preferential rate'. We know that a Segway costs around £4,500, and people want to know what he paid for it. That could mean anything fro £1 to £4499. And they also want to know of any other costs the Segway people might have covered. I don't suppose people will be that bothered if he has benefited, but they will be big-time bothered if he doesn't tell them, and it leaks out. Get in first Lembit. So far, his response has been to lay into Heledd Fychan, accusing her of being anti-green - which sounds divertingly ridiculous. Anyway, I've taken note. Heledd Fychan seems not to be one to mess with. Better be careful. She sounds like one tough lady to me.
14 comments:
Thanks God! At long last someone has spoken out about this buffoon Lembit Opik. And so say all of us. Which rather begs the question, Glyn, why the hell have you not had the guts to criticise this NO 1 embarrassment to Montgomeryshire? About time someone voiced the opinions we all hold about him. Good on Heledd Fychan. She'll get my vote. Softly softly is not what's required when our MP is gaga and no longer cares about his reputation or the reputation of Mid Wales
Glyn> well isn't it time to reel out the inconsistent positions of Plaid Cymru on so so many issues - nuke powered power stations for starters. Plaid's leader takes one position - against the policy of his own party which 'he leads'.
I've met the 'odd' PC member - one actually died on me - well, not quite, but pretty soon after I met him, I think you know who I am talking about. He had Plaid's economic brief. I visited him at his office at the Welsh Assembly. He essentially told me that protecting Welsh IP was not 'sexy enough' for Plaid. He told me this on the way out of the building - I was impressed that he wanted to walk with me - I figured he didn't want the other person in his office noting what he wanted to say to me. I like a man that is straight, and he was being straight with me, Plaid did not think Welsh IP was 'sexy enough' to be bothered with.
I think you'll find that Heledd Fychan is simply voicing what a lot of people think. You could take a leaf from her book.
It's about time the digging started as regards Lembit.
It's a beautiful story. I can't believe any MP would put their credibility on the line for such a small financial gain. At least if he was receiving brown envelopes stuffed with cash I could understand. But 75% (or whatever) off a scooter that doesn't have a seat is laughable.
A true embarassment.
Anon (11:22:00 PM)> What do you call a party that has a leader who campaigns against his own party's policies? Plaid of course.
Plaid/10cc:
I don't like a poor Welsh economy oh no
I love it
Anon 1 - Nothing to do with 'guts'. But you make a fair point. Its just that I decided at the start that my campaign was going to be about what we can do for Montgomeryshire, and was not going to be defined by a high profile opponent. People can see the sort of stuff in the post without my help.
NSE - I'm surprised that Dr Phil said that. I had a lot of time for him and would have thought IP to be right up his street.
Anon 2 - See anon 1
Anon 3 - Being paid is not the problem, irrespective of the amount. Only time I've been critical is when he is employed as the political columnist of the soft porn newspaper, the Daily Sport. That brings shame on Montgomeryshire.
Glyn> he was interested, but it was clear he was not that interested - as evidenced by the simple fact he didn't do anything of substance after I showed him the stats on how poorly universities in Wales were doing on protecting Welsh IP(with the exception of the Medical School, now merged with Cardiff Uni); if memory serves the Medical School had around 38 US registered patents when I met him. He basically told me as we walked through the building that other politicians were unlikely to take an interest, it was just not sexy enough.
I don't know much about the individual in question, but don't let him leave you with a sour feeling about the Segway. It's a wonderful, innovative machine unlike anything else out there. Naysayers have obviously never ridden one. Once you ride a Segway, you'll know why people buy them. They are amazing transportation alternatives!
Anon - You make a fair point. I certainly have nothing against the Segway, but it has become something of a joke in the UK because of its associations.
Glyn> to the extent that you can share, what's your view on Plaid's chances of beating you at the next general election?
PS When are we going to read about Lembit Opik finding love on a Segway? Any ideas?
The sad fact s that Lembit Opik puts his credibility o the line time after time and makes a mockery of the role of MP. This is not just a bout a small financial gain, but also about using parlimentary recources to promote himself. Yet again. And when you add this "small financial gain" to the salary he gets for "writing" his column in the porno rag, the monies he'll receive for doing his kiss and tell in the Mail on Sunday (having lambasted Sian Lloyd for daring to open up her heart ) and also there's the little matter of renting out his flat whilst living with said fiancee. When all these things are added together, graspingness does seem to emerge as a consistent pattern. As does hypocrisy. And yet you choose not to go for any of this stuff??
Anon 1 - I would be surprised if Plaid were to win the next election in Montgomeryshire. David Thomas, the headmaster at Llanwddyn School did a great job as their candidate at the last election, and yet didn't make much of an impact. But its certainly possible that a strong Plaid vote could stuff my chances of winning - or perhaps take enough votes from the Lib dems to let me through. Your guess is as good as mine.
Anon 2 - but why do I need to 'go for ' these things. People know about them already and can make their judgement. If I joined in, it would be a case of 'He would wouldn't he' and people would be much less inclined to believe it. The only issue I have been critical of is the Daily Sport column. I do not want the MP for Montgomeryshire to be writing for a soft porn newspaper.
Is it true that the Lib Dems are withdrawing Lembit from Montgomeryshire for the next election because of them being concerned he has damaged the "safe seat" with all this ridiculous behaviour?
I'm afraid the LDs are making a mockery of this old county both in Cardiff and London. When can we get a serious politician who will campaign properly for the region?
Caws - Not that I know of. I did hear that it was being considered a year or so ago, but not recently.
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