Wednesday, May 05, 2010

Emotional collapse when the final whistle blows.

This is difficult for me to admit. I am emotionally knackered. And for the second time during this election campaign. The first was when I tried to do CF99 on S4/C in Cardiff two weeks ago. A combination of lack of sleep, and a day's pressure followed by a drive to Cardiff did for me. Always thought of myself as completely indestructible. Even cancer was no more than a temporary inconvenience, which did not lead to a day off work. Always been hard for me to accept personal human weakness. Reason I'm emotionally exhausted is that its over, bar the counting. I've held my last meeting of the campaign tonight - at Welshpool Town Hall. I remember playing rugby, and crashing when the final whistle went. That was emotional as well.

As I blog, I have to admit that I really shouldn't feel down. Lucky in so many ways. David Cameron came to Montgomeryshire this afternoon. For those who have worked so hard on my campaign, it was a truly brilliant reward. And we had to be really sharp to make it work for us. Heard he was visiting us at teatime yesterday, and was told he wanted to meet supporters at 2.00 today. We had an hour to put a crowd on the street, and we did it. With a day's notice we could have put 500 on the street. For me it was special that he came to support me, and that his visit was to the Welsh medium primary, Ysgol Dafydd Llwyd. Our next Prime Minister backing me (and in brilliant form) and the language I've grown to love. When you think about it, its no wonder I feel a bit tearful as I put my feelings into words.

No idea how tomorrow is going to go in Montgomeryshire. My ambition is to achieve the best Lib Dem to Tory swing in Britain. I hope its enough to win. We have put together a brilliant campaign. And there's been so much support from Montgomeryshire people. I need a 12% swing, and genuinely believe that I would be the best choice for Montgomeryshire. Lembit Opik does not deserve to win. I would not vote for him, even if I could not vote for myself. If he does win, it will be entirely due to the Clegg surge - and the irony is that Clegg has no time for him at all. He has taken the people of Montgomeryshire for granted big-time. He's let everyone down, including the Liberal Democrat Party. He's a completely discredited politician. Why don't you say what you think Glyn.

Whatever, I'm going to bed. Tomorrow's another day - a big day. I still think I'm in with a chance. Feel the power surging back already. What was that rubbish about emotional weakness. I'm ready to serve. One more day to go.

53 comments:

Tscoah said...

Understandably tired and knackered. I hope the police et al are VERY alert tomorrow for bombs and such like. Tomorrow will be the time for the terrorists to strike.

D Hughes said...

Best of luck tmrow! Wales needs an MP like you, pob lwc Glyn.

senn said...

briliant post, full of emotion
and honesty

Anonymous said...

Hey, wish you'd been talking like this re Lembit Opik from the word go! All the very best to you Glyn. You so deserve to win and rid us the Idiot

Duncan said...

Bad luck mate. Better luck next time.

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

Relax Glyn - ur going to replace Aga Hain.

Savonarola said...

The Clegg surge may be the factor that keeps Mr Opik in place - a big disappointment to you but a real blow for the people of Montgomeryshire.

Because of your personal background and unreserved commitment to your community, I sense that the Clegg factor will be less important.

Your camapaign reminds me of the battle that was the second Lions Test at Loftus. This time the game finishes when O'Gara kicks to touch and the final whistle goes.

Whatever the outcome an outstanding campaign.Good luck.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans said...

Pob lwc yfory Glyn

Anonymous said...

wishing you all the very best Glyn
You would make a much better MP than Lembit, lets hope people vote on that and that the Clegg factor doesn't hit

JB said...

Glyn,

A brilliant campaign, well done. Lets hope we can rid ourselves of opik for ever.

Glyn Davies said...

Blimey. Perhaps I should have been a bit less civil, if the comment reaction is anything to go by.

Anonymous said...

Glyn, you thoroughly deserve to win. You are the best choice for Montgomeryshire by miles. You will bring honesty, decency and respect back to the Monty MP position. Perhaps I agree with others that the more empassioned Glyn is my preferred version, but nevertheless you have run an excellent campaign with a loyal team; and I am confident you will be victorious.

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

Glyn - you were born in 1944 which adds up to 18, which is divisible by 2 to give 9, which is divisible by 3 to give 3, which is a prime number, which means you have a prime chance of winning today!

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

Have the polls just closed?!?! Here's to Glyn Davies!

Anonymous said...

This is one seat in Wales I wouldn't be sorry to see the Conservatives win.

You impressed me with your honesty when an Assembly Member. Westminster needs people of your calibre.

Pob lwc a dymuniadau gorau

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

Not meaning to rush things, but what’ the ETA on Lembit’s concession speech?

Andy Lloyd said...

Congratulations Glyn! A fantastic result for Montgomeryshire...a

Matt Wardman said...

Congratulations.

Unknown said...

Congratulations, and please keep up the blog. Did vote for Heledd and thought she did very well. I'm sure she will keep you under watch.

Gary Price said...

Well done Glyn.

MH said...

Well done, Glyn.

Alwyn ap Huw said...

LLongyfarchiadau Mawr Glyn!

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't trust a man who doesn't even see when a question mark is needed.

If he can't even sort out his sentences, how's he going to sort out his county?

Anonymous said...

Wow, well done Glyn! Brilliant

Peter Williams said...

Brilliant day/night for all Mid-Wales, congratulations to You + Team from Hay-on-Wye Y Gelli . . . Bendigedig !
Peter_W
PS see you, and Suzy, on 06.43 a.m. Henffordd express train to Paddington next week (which has a good bar for such special occasions).

James Dowden said...

Llongyfarchiadau, Glyn! Da iawn chi!

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!

YOU DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!

(My computer packed up and I drove back to work at night to get back on my office machine to get the result - "BBC America" wasn't showing the UK election).

YOU WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now for Aga Hain's job!!!!!!!

YOU WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MANY MANY TIMES MANY CONGRATS - YOU WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Savonarola said...

Well done.

bonetired said...

Well ... it was worth it! Congratulations

Frank Little said...

Glyn

Congratulations. Sorry as I am to see a LD loss, and in particular Lembit, I know Montgomery will have a worthy representative. Lembit's flamboyance has tended to overshadow his serious campaigns, like MND and Deepcut, and he will be missed in Parliament.

But you will grace the House.

Best wishes,
Frank Little

Anonymous said...

Mega Hugs xxxxx
You so deserved it and Opik out
You are not my colour politics but you sure are my type of politician

Anonymous said...

Llongyfarchiadau Glyn,

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Glyn!!

Anonymous said...

DA IAWN GLYN
POB LWC YN SAN STEFFAN
AR RHAN TRIGOLION MALDWYN A CYMRU

Unknown said...

Congratulations Glyn on your win, a great victory, no more celebrity MP. Best wishes, Ian

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your excellent result. I didn't personally vote Conservative but your achievement has to be applauded. I'm glad to see Lembit brought to account by the electorate on his behaviour.

I thought you had an excellent opponent in Heledd Fychan and great to see real alternatives on offer for local voters. It's a shame she didn't pick-up more of the votes but I do hope we will see more of her in Montgomeryshire in the future.

We will be watching your first forays into Westminster with interest. For the sake of all the people who voted for you (and everybody else) I do hope you will go about your duties with honesty and integrity and play fair with all involved. Best of luck.

Anonymous said...

Well done Glyn, Montgomeryshire has an excellent MP at last! Your 13.2% swing I believe is the best in the whole of UK! I look forward to seeing you pacing the corridors of power, putting the Montgomeryshire case forward. Congratulations, you deserved it!

Unknown said...

Llongyfarchiadau!
The best man won in Mongomeryshire.

Jeff Jones said...

Congratulations. I'm sure that you will enjoy Parliament and be a first class representative for Montgomeryshire.

JB said...

Glyn,



Many congratulations to you and the whole team, a truly gargantuan and historic achievement. At last we are rid of that dreadful man.



What’s next:



A conservative AM?
A knighthood – Sir Glyn Davies, or
Maybe ermine – Lord Davies of Cil.


Have a glass of Champagne, a good rest, collect your winnings from the bookies and then get to work on that other disgrace to politics, Mandelson.

Jaxxlanders said...

My ambition is to achieve the best Lib Dem to Tory swing in Britain. Mission accomplished. Very impressive and well deserved.

Anonymous said...

Llongyfarchiadau mawr i chi Glyn - roeddech yn urddasol iawn yn y cyfrif. Dwi ddim yn cytuno hefo'ch plaid, ond rydych chi yn bersonol yn haeddu ennill. Pob lwc.

Anonymous said...

Why did you disclose the exit polls to German television ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElA1uVTKdMk

penlan said...

Congratulations-a stunning result but a very well deserved reward for a great deal of hard work.I think readers of your blog of all political persuasions(perhaps bar one)will be delighted.

Matt London said...

This is just to add my congratulations. Well done - having read your blog for some years now I don't doubt that your constituents have made a wise choice. Best of luck at Westminster.

Matt London

Malcolm Tudor said...

Warmest congratulations, Glyn, from me and my family.

I enjoyed our chat on Newtown Broad Street on Tuesday afternoon. I told you that you would win, based on observations of growing local support and the fading of Clegg-mania.

You have been proved completely right in your approach to the issue of Lembit Opik and have gained as a result.

The visit to the town of David Cameron on the eve of poll was the icing on the cake.

A remarkable and well deserved victory!

Hiraeth said...

Well done Glyn Davies, MP! An historic result. You were Aber CF's best speaker while I was there. Men of your calibre are needed in Parliament.

Ian M said...

Sincere congratualations.
My uncle was the Rector at Penstrowed in the 60s and 70s and one of the first results I always look for is Montgomery.

Sitting last night in an in an Ayrshire count, your result cheered me up. Maybe the Welsh Tories can teach the Scottish Tories how to win.

Anonymous said...

Well done Glyn.....I for one will be very glad to have an MP in Montgomeryshire that takes his job seriously...amazing result !!

Gary Price said...

Glyn, Did you see Opik last night on Have I got news for you? He seemed joyful that he was free from politics at last and no longer had to declare his fee for being on the show,what a disgrace, the day after polling day, no wonder he lost.

Paul Williams said...

Congratulations, Glyn! I hope you will keep up this excellent blog even when you are in Westminster.

Dr. Christopher Wood said...

Before we 'get too excited' - keep the obvious in mind:

So we have a hung Parliament. A hung P' is not going to work - not with the UK in hot soup with the markets so the real question is: how much damage will be inflicted on the Lib-Dems come election time. More specifically, how the Lib-Dems/Clegg behave right now will become the controlling factor in the next election. If Clegg or his Party is perceived by the British Public as "trying it on" and/or "overplaying the Lib-Dem hand" then the outcome for the Lib-Dems will not be pretty – essentially it will be “Gazpacho soup time” for the Lib-Dems. Specifically, the Lib-Dems will be CRUSHED come the next election, which will probably come very quickly (probably in less than a year) and 'love them or hate them”, the Conservative Party will be returned to power with the majority they seek.

Are you ready for another election round Glyn? How's your boxing arm?

Anonymous said...

Well done Glyn and for spotting the oppurtunity that LO might overreach himself. Glad to have been an assassin at the hustings, even if the squeeze became a throttle. Jo and I fancy tea in the House one day!
BRUCE LAWSON