Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Absence of integrity

The Liberal Democrats in Montgomeryshire are currently distributing a 'newspaper' which they call 'Montgomeryshire Mail'. Normally, I don't read other party's promotional material, but I was advised to read this. I was both surprised and disappointed by what I read. This 'newspaper' has been written without any sense of political integrity, or even decency. It is based on an attempt to deceive the reader.

The Montgomeryshire Conservatives are just about to begin distribution of a major promotional 'magazine' of our own. I've been involved in approving the text and photographs. Standard policy for us is not to include any photograph without the express permission of every individual in it. Several good photographs were ruled out. The Montgomeryshire Lib Dems totally ignore this basic principle. There's even a photograph of me in it! Two thirds of the front page is taken up with a photograph of a march in Llanidloes, where the local MP and AM are portraying themselves as leading what was a locally organised campaign. There are perhaps 100 local Llanidloes campaigners who have been used as political extras. I've talked to Llanidloes people who resent this. It may be legal, but its just not right.

The other third of the front page is based on comments by Shrewsbury's Conservative MP, Daniel Kawczynski concerning flood control in the Severn Valley. I've no argument with this, if they want to base their campaigning on attacking others. But the article includes the words "Kawczynski, a good friend of the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Montgomeryshire, said....described the farmland as mere scrubland." The clear intent is to create the impression that I take the same opinion as that credited to Daniel, who was quite upset when I let him know what had been written. The Lib Dems know this not to be true. They have used words that are not 'lying' but are deliberately designed to deceive. Those who wrote it, and approved it are deceitful people.

Over the page there is another headline which reads 'Assembly EID sheep-tagging DISGRACE'. Its important to understand the background. Every political party in the National Assembly opposed EID, a new electronic tagging system for identifying sheep. All worked together, with the farming unions to resist this crazy system. The Plaid Minister, Elin Jones has fought extremely hard. But the EU has been totally intransigent. In the end there was no alternative but for the Minister to agree. The farming unions understood this. Even the UK representative of Livestock Markets, who opened the new Livestock Market at Welshpool last Friday accepted the inevitability in his speech. In considering this issue, all Assembly Members know that the EU has the power to stop the Single Farm Payment. Mick Bates would have been involved in every discussion. He knows all this. He knows that in the National Assembly, no-one did more than Elin Jones, the Minister or Conservative AM, Brynle Williams. Yet, this 'newspaper' seeks to create the impression that it was only the Lib Dems who opposed EID. Again, there are no outright lies - just an attempt to deceive. Those who wrote this article, and those who approved it are deceitful people.

This particular issue of the Montgomeryshire Mail is an example of the very worst sort of politics - the sort that abandons decency and integrity. In my opinion it debases politics. Please someone tell me if I ever descend into behaving in anything like this deceitful way.

44 comments:

CVaughan said...

I have just seen the Montgomeryshire Mail. I was very very angry on reading page 2 to see Opik stating "saving jobs in Montgomeryshire is my number one priority". It's a very short time ago he stood on the main street in Machynlleth with a minority group imploring residents to sign a petition against the Tesco planning application thereby costing Machynlleth 140 jobs - unbelievable.
It was only when I read the report on page 1 "Top Tory tries to flood Montgomeryshire Farmland" that I realised it was a LibDem rag. How deceitful. Needless to say it has now been consigned to the recycle bin!!

Anonymous said...

http://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/79465/lib-dems-unhappy-as-eid-scheme-waved-through-assembly.aspx

Erm, they seem to be right on that one Glyn...

Glyn Davies said...

CV - Annd thats what it was fit for.

Anon - The report in the County Times was based on a press release issued by Lib Dem AM, Mick Bates, which was another attempt by the Lib Dems to deliberately deceive.

Anonymous said...

gloves off glyn and about time tyo

alitu said...

The level of incredulous indeceny at "House Lib-Dem" would be surprising if we hadn't seen it before.

No need to tell us about it Glyn!

But tell the good people of Montgomeryshire.

Since the 'Montgomeryshire Mail' speaks to the constituency covered by the current Lib-Dem MP Lembit Opik it is fair that he answer to this 'promotional material'/pack of brown stuff.

I would be inclined to just blame him for it Glyn - muck sticks to muck after all.

Anonymous said...

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/farming-north-wales/farming-news/2009/10/01/eid-tag-surrender-adopted-by-wales-55578-24823416/

And what about this one Glyn? Mick Bates is hardly likely to tip off a paper outside his own constituency

Glyn Davies said...

Anon - No its not gloves off. Just a concern about the sheer dishonesty that underpins this particular promotional leaflet. It has plumbed new depths.

Alitu - I do not know who is behind it, but whoever it is, they should be ashamed of themselves. They are reducing politics to the level of the sewer. However I do know that no leaflet would go out from the Montgomeryshire Conservative office with my name on it that I hadn't cleared mtself. Make what you will of that.

Anon 2 - Sorry, but you do not know how he works. He is the 'spokesman' on behalf of the Lib Dems in Wales, and his press release would have been issued to all Welsh media, and perhaps outside of Wales as well. No matter how many media outlets picked it up, it was still a deliberate strategy to deceive. You give the impression of being a troll who wants to defend this sort of behaviour.

nizeso said...

"plumbed new depths" ...

what, beyond what the Lib-Dems are doing to Bute Park and Rhymney Rec ground?

LDS - "Lib-Dems-Suck"

After you said...

"They (Lib-Dems) are reducing politics to the level of the sewer."

I hope you are not placing the Lib-Dems above the morals of a sewer rat; a sewer rat is born into the life of a sewer, the Lib-Dems responsible for the 'Montgomeryshire Mail' article are into bacterial territory - E. coli variety. I write this is a former microbiologist.

PS I agree with the former poster, LDS!

Helen said...

This Lib Dem trash,which they had the nerve to call'Montgomeryshire Mail' was distributed weeks ago,and as you so rightly said it is a blatant attempt to deceive the reader. The sad thing is Glyn that a lot of rather gullible people will believe them, so I hope that you will be making sure that your views, based on honest facts will be appearing in the 'County Times'.
These people wouldn't recognise honesty and integrity if it was to hit them in one of their many faces!

Anonymous said...

Why am I not surprised! This is 'Rennardism' at its worst and unfortunately we have to suffer it in Ceredigion as well. It only demonstrates that campaigning techniques are more important to Lib Dems than achieving something of substance. It is superficial, vacuous and misleading and I can only give you this advice “You may fool all the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.” The electorate are wiser and will not suffer this Lib Dem drivel much longer.

Glyn Davies said...

Helen - I cannot allow myself to be drawn into the same disreputable behaviour. I thought long before I published this post. I wrote it last night, but delayed publishing it until tonight - to be sure I wanted to publish it. But my disgust led me to press the 'publish' button. I do not think that the local press any longer swallow the stuff they put out. I know that Lembit Opik telephones personally to complain that coverage is not as good as he wants. The people have sussed them, and it follows that the local media reflect what people think.

Anonymous said...

your making too much fuss. all politicians slag each other off.

LDS said...

It's Really True, we really do suck.

Glyn Davies said...

Anon - No they do not. During my period as a politician in Montgomeryshire, it has only been the Liberal Democrats, of the mainstream parties that have behaved in this way. I accept that Labour have behaved even worse at a national level. Even at the national level, I have no experience of Plaid Cymru being deliberately deceiving. I have not known Labour or Plaid Cymru produce anything in Montgomeryshire which compares with this.

Anonymous said...

Glyn, you make the point that no politicians slag each other off, yet as we all know, you approve every comment that goes on your blog, and you seem to approve a lot that slag off other politicians. Surely if you don't approve of this so called slagging off then why do you publish these comments. Slagging by proxy?

Glyn Davies said...

anon - I do not approve every comment. I try to draw the line at what is gratuitously offensive. I also allow comments which criticise myself - and try to respond to them. I accept there is a judgement to be made about what is allowable, and its my judgement, because its my blog. Perhaps I get it wrong sometimes. I try not to. I notice that I take some stick on other blogs, about which I do not complain.

Anonymous said...

I cannot believe , Glyn, that you dismiss the gloves off thing. It is HIGH time that your campaign kicked off. You've kept us waiting long enough. Even now, with this disgusting piece of drivel landing on people's doormats, you will not get real and address the fact that you have to FIGHT this election!
You have been warned countless times that the Lib Dems fight in a filthy way, and yet you refuse to fight fire with fire. Lembit Grope-it's campaign team are streets ahead of yours. When will YOU get real about the GE? All very well to talk about behaving in a gentlemanly fashion etc etc, but this is a fight and the Libs are running scared. When will YOU join in this fight and speak out against their revolting methods? Posting a blog is nothing. The bulk of the voteres will not see it. You should be shouting from the rooftops about this horrible deception. Stop kidding yourself. Your campaign is a non campaign. Wake up and go get LO and the rest of those saddos!

Unknown said...

Just out of interest, was this scurrilous leaflet printed in Welsh, the language of the people of Wales, as well as in English?
If not, it was supposed to be....

Anonymous said...

Here’s a start for you all of which is a matter of public record.


2/12/2008 Opik lays down Two EDMs in Parliament in support of the Segway Transporter

3/12/2008 Opik registers Gift of Segway Transporter

17/12/2008 Opik changes designation of Gift to Loan

14/1/2009 Opik changes designation of Loan to Discount

1/2/2009 Opik lays down a third EDM supporting the Segway

17/6/2009 Opik lays down a fourth EDM supporting the Segway

23/10/2009 Newtown becomes Mobility (Segway) Capital of Wales (see link)



http://www.montgomery.libdems.org/news/000565/newtown_to_become_mobility_capital_of_wales__pik.html



Opik says he’s ‘delighted to be working with Border Mobility to finally release the product in Wales.’

Glyn Davies said...

Anon - I accept what yu say. Several of my supporters feel the same way. They are really pleased that I published this post. But I cannot change my style of politics for several reasons. Firsly because I think that the Lib Dem approach (which is akin to US type desructive campaigning) demeans our politics. Secondly, because there is such a large majority to overcome, my only chance of winning is to take a different approach from that which politicians normally take. And thirdly, it just isn't my way of doing things. Remember that if you wrestle with a chimney sweep, you will get dirty yourself - not that I have anything against chimney sweeps!

Alan - It was a well produced fully bilingaul 'newspaper. There was no mention of the Liberal Democrats on the front page at all - continueing the theme of deception. Several Lib Dem leaflets over recent years have been in English only and full of spelling mistakes - but this was a cold calculated production, fully approved by the party leadership in my view - which is what makes the tone and deceiving nature of it so concerning to all decent people.

Richie said...

On the point about Shrewsbury's conservative MP, DK did describe parts of Montgomeryshire farmland as mere srcub.

I think this is an importnat issue, when the Tories do come to power will it be policy to back EA plans and flood importnat parts of Montgomeryshire, not only disrubting valuable farmland but also putting people property at risk.

DK said this on the same day he suggested that patients from montgomeryshire are a finacial drain on RSH.

I think you need to take this more seriously Glyn.

Anonymous said...

EID - But the Conservative Group in the Assembly voted FOR EiID just recently!
Come on Glyn, now who o is being deceitful - YOU! But then that was your usual practise when chair of the WDA wasn't it?

Anonymous said...

Would there perhaps be cause to complain to the electoral comission? This "paper" is a travesty and hugely deceptive. One assumes that you will take it up in the local newspapaer?

Glyn Davies said...

Ritchie - There are instances when I disagree with Daniel K. His comments about funding of NHS patients from Wales were wrong - and sublect of public condemnation on my party. In politics, we all have a responsibility to our constituents, and he represents SAhrewsbury. My objection was not that the Lib Dems in Montg criticised Daniel, it was the devious way they sought to suggest that I took the same view.

Anon - Seems to me that you have not read my post, and are guilty of exactly the same attempt to deceive as Mick Bates has been on this issue.
As I recall, No-one ever accused me of any sort of deception when I was Chair of the DBRW (which I assume you mean). You will have to give me an example of where you think this was the case. I hope my reputation was as a Chair who was willing to take the knocks on behalf of the organisation - and not allow any of the staff to carry the can unfairly.

Anonymous said...

Wo incidentally pays for this dangerous drivel issued by the Liberals? Do we as taxpayers pick up the tab? If so, there is something hugely amiss

amalfiboy said...

It's all very well accusing other politicians of being 'deceitful' Glyn, but the fact remains that the Tories in the Assembly voted for the introduction of the EID system when they had the chance to vote against it and your opponents are quite entitled to point that out.
On the issue of 'deceit', I noticed in an earlier blog that you declare yourself to be a 'eurosceptic', something you have in common with a lot of Tory MPs and candidates. Yet as a farmer you presumably readily accept the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) subsidy cheque that comes through your door every year and does so only because the UK is a member of the EU. Would not the non-deceitful course of action be to refuse to accept that SPS cheque?

Anonymous said...

Glyn, I thought your repuation as chair of DBRW was that you were heading a fraudelent organisation of which you then claimed to know nothing about and then were forced to resign.

That raises two issues, firstly if you did know about it, how could we trust you as an MP?
Secondly, if you didn't know about it, how can we trust you as an MP?

Brian Interested said...

I wonder if you're a Liberal worker anon - I guess so. Why are we diverting from the topic of the blog - the Lib Dems are misleading the people of Montgomeryshire which is a fact.

Amalfiboy - he explains the EID issue above - I suggest you read it.....

Anonymous said...

The deceit of the Lib Dums knows no bounds. It's bad enough that we have to endure an "MP" with his brain in his nether regions, without having to put up with this dreadful nonsense. It says a lot about the way they intend running their campaign and that they ultimately know that this seat is in danger. The publication is as embarrassing as our "MP"....And that's v embarrassing indeed

Anonymous said...

Totally agree with Anon of 12.41am.
This should be a signal to you that the Lib Dems are not to be trusted in the slightest in Montgomeryshire. I also think that you have to get real. They will stop at nothing. They know that this seat is in danger due to the antics of the Idiot. They can quote as many odds as they like and try and mislead the voters as much as they like, but people here know what's going on and the Idiot will lose a lot of support this time round. So many people will refuse to vote for him. Understandable. But you have to put up a lot more of a fight. There are lots of people in Mont who don't even know who you are. Please please please become more proactive and save us from the absurdity of another period of LO as an excuse of an MP

Anonymous said...

So the Tories voted for EID because it was going to happen anyway. Same as they went back on their promise for a vote on Lisbon Treaty.

What a fantastic way to deal with Europe....

Anonymous said...

As someone who spends what seems like his life campaigning against the Lib Dems, there's a lot I could say in response here.
Firstly, don't get mad - get even. By that I don't mean do the same, just use it as a motivation and inspiration to redouble your efforts; don't let them dictate the tone. Whatever you do don't make formal complaints - you'll achieve nothing apart from wasting your time.
Secondly, I'm surprised you haven't had this sort of thing before. It shows how slack they've been, and shows they're now worried.
The saddest thing is that many Lib Dems, and people in other parties, will read a paper such as this and not think there's anything wrong. It's not 'slagging off', not outright lying. But it does, as you say, show an intent to deceive all the way through.
While this style of campaigning isn't unique to Lib Dems, they do seem particularly prone to it. Their whole bar-chart / two horse race stuff is born of the same mind-set. They're not 'dirtier' than other parties, but they do seem more routinely dishonest.
One reason why could be that, in the absence of a real core ideology, the business of electioneering IS politics for them. It's a game to be played, according to rules which they know how to stretch but not break. For other parties, the meat of politics is what goes on in between elections. Actually achieving things. For too many Lib Dems, 'achievement' is measured in column inches and percentage swings.

Unknown said...

You may need to begin publishing a weekly satirical comic magazine entitled " A Day in the Life of Lambert Gropek"....;-)
other approaches are: ignore it completely, or
expose Liberal calumny with a hard-hitting newspaper article in the "Western Mail".

"Chemist" from Wales said...

Without doubt Glyn Davies is what Montgomeryshire needs - many Lib-Dem members, including Kirsty Williams, disapprove of LO and would like to reel him in.

But who can? Not Clegg, the leader of the Lib-Dems - who publically admitted to beding some 30 women and who killed some rare plants by setting fire to a green house that housed said rare plants.

So who can reel in LO?

Answer: the voters of Montgomeryshire come next national election!

Unknown said...

Glyn, there are some good LD candidates out there, particularly in local councils, but LO certainly does not fall into that category. But I can not stomach their repeated their twisting of statistics and blatantly misrepresenting the truth, as represented by the recent rubbish that I recieved through my postbox in Cardiff.

'Only LDs can win here....' Yeah...

Politicians generally do not have a good name at the moment, and the public are going to punish certain individuals at the next election, who have brought politics into such disrepute, and hopefully replace them with more principled individuals such as yourself.

ukiper said...

You're clearly rattled Glyn.

I also note that you mention nationally the Lib Dems, Plaid and NuLab - not mention of the Conservatives own national literature, especially those that have appeared in recent by-elections, some of which has been shocking and almost made it to court (and a legal court not an electoral commission court like someone mentions).

Those conservative leaflets are as much to do with the Cameron’s 'leadership' as you leaflets are, regardless of the content. So before you start having a pop at the national leadership of the Libs and NuLab tell your HQ in London to get their house in order.

Anonymous said...

Lembit Grope-it sees nothing wrong in "writing" a column for a revolting porno rag called the Daily Sport. Are you sruprised that he gives his blessing to this rubbish masquarading as a newspaper in Mont? This is a man with zero moral values. He is the only person who could lose this seat for the Libs. YOU are the only person who could beat him. Start fighting and stop posing as a gentleman! He HAS to go

If You Vote - Vote GD said...

LO is just having a good time - the people of Montgomeryshire will surely vote their belief in him continuing "Carry On Up the Parliament Junction" - who doesn't slobber at the girls he dates, the products (DUREX) he promotes, etc etc etc - Shirley {sic} not!

Anonymous said...

I feel that the Lib Dems are the only real party within Mid Wales that you ever hear about and indeed see out and about.
Is this just not sour grapes on your part Mr Davies ?

Glyn Davies said...

anon - I don't do 'sour grapes' - in the way some politicians don't do 'integrity'. My opinion is that having to systematically deceive the electorate is a price too high to pay for victory.

Anonymous said...

Glyn


You mention that you are about to start distribution of a major promotional magazine in Montgomeryshire. In light of recent controversies over issues such as the Communications Allowance, will you state publicly on your blog whether this magazine, or any aspect of your campaign, has been funded by Lord Ashcroft? If so, will you tell us exactly how much money you have received from Lord Ashcroft?

Anonymous said...

Anon - I'm sure any large donations will show up in the accounts on the website of the Electoral Commission.
Just the same as the 16 grand the Lib Dems centrally threw at Ceredigion in 2005 later appeared there.

Chimney Sweeps Cardiff said...

Hi Glyn,

Thank your for clarifying this statement:

"And thirdly, it just isn't my way of doing things. Remember that if you wrestle with a chimney sweep, you will get dirty yourself - not that I have anything against chimney sweeps!"

Chimney Sweeps is a noble job compared to traditional and corrupt politicians! ;)