'A View from Rural Wales' is
springing back to life. Like those amazing plants which emerge from an arid
landscape following the first rain after a ten year drought. Rather like the
plant, which will normally never be seen, it may be that no-one will be drawn
to read my blog. They used to. I'm returning to this strange activity to
indulge my pleasure of writing for its own sake. It will be a periodic
commentary on Westminster activities and reflection on issues that catch my
attention. So read or not read as you wish. I will not be adulated or
offended, whatever your response.
I feel
an appropriate point to restart this is from 'The Count'. Approaching midnight
on 7th May, the Davies family, including candidate, spouse and four children
set forth from Cil Farm to the desperately non-atmospheric Flash Leisure Centre
in Welshpool to discover what the voters of Montgomeryshire had decided that
day. I'd warned the family this could be a humiliating night. We had seen the
Exit Poll, which I had dismissed as ludicrous. Lord Paddy Ashdown was entirely
justified in promising to eat a marzipan hat! To lose my seat to a Lib Dem when
they were being obliterated across the UK could not be spun as anything but
humiliation. But I also said, I thought "I would be elected, though not
shocked to lose". In fact first time I'd ever gone to a count in
Montgomeryshire with any optimism. The once I'd won came as a total shock!
Arrived
to mixed reactions from my team. Some headshaking from the office pessimist (he
knows who he is) but thumbs up from the remainder. There was a huddle of Lib
Dems sitting to one side looking rather downcast which told the story. Rather
sympathised. I've been there!! Anyway it was soon clear to all that I was
heading to Westminster for another 5 yrs. Did the formalities and some good
photos for the family album on stage. Then a few interviews - before heading up
to the office uptown Welshoool for a quiet celebratory glass.
Then
there was the penis. No commentary on the 'The Count' in Montgomeryshire can be
complete without its inclusion. One voter had drawn an anatomically correct
representation of a penis in the box next to my name. On the basis that it was
completely confined within the box, and more importantly had a 'smiley face'
the Returning Officer adjudged that it should a valid vote cast in my favour.
Just imagine the hoo-hah if I'd won by one vote - which I did when first elected
to Montgomeryshire District Council a long time ago.
I'm
not sure this is a very dignified end to the resurrection of A View from Rural
Wales. But it does establish a style.
