Things we do

Just thought I'd put up a few photos of some of the odd things that have been happening in my life - that's when I'm not hanging around hospitals, which I'm doing too much of at the moment. Occasionally I go Chinook spotting on Pany-y-Brialli Hill. Over the last few days there have been 4 of the terrifying beasts flying around Montgomeryshire. Here's two of them taking off on Friday.
Also on Friday I helped launch a new footpath/cycle track alongside the old Montgomery Canal from Abermule to Newtown. Great scheme - fitness, environment and economy. Wynne mentioned a few blokes who cycle from Newtown to Abermule for a few beers at the Waterloo Arms before cycling back. I wonder how long it will be!!
And who would have thought that Welshpool would have its own troupe of Irish Dancers! Well, here they are performing at Gungrog Infant School's Fete - which I officially opened on Friday Evening. Its another of these little events that I went to last year which I'm trying to go to this year as well. They asked me when I was just a candidate, so I like to go along now that I'm the local MP.
And here's the Rambling Rector - a truly magnificent specimen, climbing through a flowering cherry near our house. Its will never be this good again, because Mrs D wants it cut back after its flowered. I did say that you shouldn't castrate a rector, but she was without sympathy, having known a rector that should have been castrated!

The killing of babies.

If this post by Guido is as it appears, how can anyone claim that an abortion at 24 weeks is not murder?

Letting you know where I've been

Been out of action for the last few days, a reluctant guest at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. This post is to scotch any rumours there might be of an early by-election in Montgomeryshire.

Truth is, the engine hasn't been running too smoothly for best part of a year - short of breath, urinary infections and occasionally conking out completely. I suppose the night of the General Election was an example of 'hitting a wall'. Several people have told me I looked a bit 'zonked'. Anyway, decided to call on Dr Ryan in Welshpool last Monday afternoon. It was all I could do to stop him ordering a 'blue light' to rush me to Shrewsbury as an emergency. Pleaded with him that I'd never live it down. In fact I had to tell a little white lie by letting him think Mrs D was going to drive me in.

It seems that long term severe infections can have a nasty impact on the heart, and mine was thundering along like a steam train off the rails - fast and erratic. I'd been expecting a box of pills and home. No way. Couldn't believe it. I was first up at PMQs on Wed, and had planned my maiden speech. Instead I would by on my back, with a drip in my arm pumping antibiotics and glucose into my system. I pleaded that I could come back on Thursday. Consultant said "Of course you can self-discharge if you want Mr Davies, but I strongly advise against it, and you will be taking a big risk with your life". A grown men weeping is not a pretty sight. Don't suppose I will ever come up in PMQs again.

I was allowed out earlier today. Hopefully the infection has been annihilated by the deluge of antibiotics. I'm on a few weeks of Warfarin to prepare me for being plugged into a power source of some sort to jump start my heart in the proper rhythm. Told them I've probably got a tin of Warfarin somewhere in a shed on the farm. I used it as a rat poison. Very effective until Montgomeryshire rats developed an immunity and were so sexually rampant that by today, most of the British rat population is immune. Won't be back on four cylinders until the shock treatment's done, but feeling more sparky than I have for months.

I could have said nothing of course. But the RSH is full of people I know, and if I'd said nothing, there would have been rumours of a by-election by the weekend. Even the nurse that pushed me from my ward to the heart scanning machine turned out to the daughter of a good friend of mine. Really nice to be home.

Sabre rattling - or did he mean it?

Tonight, I was going to post about the interview that George Osborne gave Andrew Marr on the BBC this morning. It would have been very complimentary about the Chancellor, and about ex Labour MP, John Hutton who has agreed to prepare a report for the Government about how to deal with the unsustainable cost of public sector pensions. But with my recent record of dropping career damaging 'love bombs' I'm going to resist the temptation.

Instead, I'm going to post on comments given to the BBC's 'Politics Show' by Roger Williams, Parliamentary leader of the Lib Dems in Wales. Roger has informed us that he would not support any increase in VAT, if such an increase were to be proposed in the budget next Tuesday. I wonder what he meant by that. Did he just mean that he would not like it. Well I, and a lot of my friends would not like it either. Or did he mean that he would vote against the budget if it included an increase in VAT - even an increase of say 1%. That's what it looks like.

During the General Election campaign, I responded to questions by saying that I hoped a Conservative Government would not have to raise taxes at all. I also said that I hoped there would be reductions in business taxes - to stimulate the private sector to create new business. It followed that I accepted that there would have to be significant reductions in public spending. Circumstances have led me to slightly modify my position. Over the last few weeks I've accepted that there should be limited and selective increases in CGT to avoid blatant tax dodges. I support the Osborne approach that around 80% of the deficit reduction proposals should involve less public spending.

Now I don't expect to get all that I want next Tuesday. No budget has ever done that. But I expect to hear the Chancellor explain to us the reasons for any changes he proposes. I hope and expect his arguments are strong. To just say, two days before the budget that I would not vote for my Government's budget if he did something I disapproved of would have the Whips on the phone within the hour - quite rightly too. But that seems to be what Roger Williams did this morning. I wonder what Deputy PM, Nick Clegg thinks of it.

Huhne on song.

Bit of a mixed week for me at Westminster. Health wasn't great for the first half, but was eating again by today - which was fortunate because I was entertained to a very fine lunch in the House of Commons Press Gallery. Received my invite as a guest of Sunita Patel of the Shropshire Star. These lunches are rather special occasions. Today's speaker was Chris Hulne, Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment and Climate Change. Must admit that I hadn't thought he was 'great shakes' at the Despatch Box, but he was very impressive today - under the sort of hostile questioning you would expect from the press pack. And he was equally impressive on Question Time tonight. Certainly made former Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain look petty and partisan.

Anyway he made a very good joke - which may well have been around a while - but not heard by me before...... following a dispute many years ago, the department responsible for energy issues accepted that a claim from a complainant was reasonable on the grounds that "he may have been charged for the gas which escaped and blew up his house."

Lord Elis Thomas stirring the pot again.

So Lord Elis Thomas, the National Assembly for Wales' Presiding Officer has suggested that the referendum on Assembly powers should be held in Autumn 2011. This does not surprise me at all. A few weeks ago I read a piece by Martin Shipton in the Western Mail, postulating the same date. Perhaps Martin had written his piece uninstigated, but my immediate thought was that a very senior and very cunning politician had been involved somewhere behind the curtains.

I'll go further. October 2011 may have been the preferred date all along - by very senior and very cunning politicians that is. Lets look at the circumstantial evidence. It was May 2007 when Plaid Cymru and Labour formally agreed that the referendum should take place on or before the May 2011 Assembly Election. What followed was an exercise in pointless procrastination of epic proportions, that delayed the vote by which AMs formally asked the Secretary of State for Wales to hold this referendum until February 2010. Legal advice (which remained private) fell into my hands at the time pointing out how difficult it would be to meet an October/November 2010 deadline. Despite that advice, First Minister, Carwyn Jones, delayed sending on the AM's 'request' for over a week, and Peter Hain, the SoS then left the letter lie on his desk. We suspect this because of the false vociferousness of his protestations. So when Cheryl Gillan took over in May, it was too late to hold the referendum this year, before winter sets in. Again we can tell this was a pre-planned stunt because of the orchestrated protests both in Cardiff and Westminster - which I notice have died down now that the Assembly's latest legal advice has been made public. No-one seemed to have told Welsh Labour MPs before PMQs last Wed. though. They did sound daft.

So what are the choices before us. 1) We could try to hold the referendum in the late autumn/early spring - when the weather is decidedly suspect. 2) We could hold it on the same day as the Assembly Election - a stunt which would lead to inevitable defeat (in my opinion). 3) We could do as his Lordship has suggested today. I know where my money's going. What would be odd is if the Secretary of State called a referendum earlier than the Labour/Plaid Coalition actually wanted it.

Was it the Jabulani!

So England managed to scrape a draw against the US tonight. "Fantastic" I say - through gritted teeth. The American's equaliser was one of the worst blunders in world cup history. The ball was trundling towards the English goal with about as much venom as a Bangladeshi 'slower ball'. Little Ffion could have stopped it. But the West Ham keeper, Robert Green just let it roll on by. Perhaps he's read so much about the way the Jabulani swerves and swings that he was completely taken aback when it just rolled straight up to him. Adidas reckon the Jabulani is the 'roundest ball' ever made with a 'grip and groove' texture that gives it unmatched flight characteristics. Tell Robert Green that.

Pleased to see that Wayne Rooney stayed on the pitch. It seems that there's a crackdown on profane language at this world cup, and our Wayne is reputed to curse like an Irish jockey with a thistle in his pants. Read somewhere that the referees have been mugging up on English swear words, hoping to catch Wayne out. But do they know what these words sound like in Liverpudlian? Perhaps Wayne has learned to do his cursing in Welsh, though this is not guaranteed to be successful. When Malaysian negotiaters needed to communicate with each other during peace discussions with Indonesia in the 1960s, they completely fooled the eavesdroppers by speaking to each other in Welsh. They had both been students at Aberystwyth. The Brazilian referee tonight might easily have been an ex-Aber man.

I'm overcome with uncertainty about what attitude to strike when watching England play in South Africa. Normally its quite straight forward for any Celt. We just back whoever's playing England. Nothing to do with not liking the English. Its always been like that - a 'Big Brother' thing. Bit like the Milibands I suppose. Anyway this time, David Cameron has stuck an English flag up in Downing St. and told us all to back England. I almost choked on my bara brith. Well OK, but on one condition. If Wales reach the semis of the rugby world cup next year, and the other home nations are out, I want the Welsh flag up on No 10. Deal?

The mountain to climb just got higher.

New Zealand 66 - Ireland 28. - with the All Blacks switching to cruise mode for the second half. Best of luck to the Welsh boys next week. But I suppose that since I managed an unlikely 13.2% swing against the Lib Dems at the General Election last month, there's no reason why Gatling's team can't pull off an equally unlikely victory in New Zealand. I sense that we're going to surprise them. Wales to win by 5 points.

Hope of some common sense on wind farms

This blog hasn't visited the issue of onshore wind farms in Montgomeryshire for a while - mainly because there's been a hiatus when nothing much is happening. Perhaps things are about to change. Whatever, here's a few random comments.

Firstly, there is still no announcement about the location of the National Grid sub-station in Montgomeryshire. This announcement was expected six months ago. Rumours suggest it will be in either the Abermule or Llandinam area - which indicates that the 400kw cable will run 40 miles down the Severn Valley from Ironbridge. Just like slashing a Picasso. Final confirmation will be a huge media story, but in this post I'm just considering the impact of delay. The completion date for the line was supposed to be end of 2015 - when the sub-station announcement was expected before last Xmas. Is this delay going to mean that this date will be postponed again? Is it possible that I see wind turbines disappearing into the distance?

Secondly, I hear that there's to be a 'trial run' of lorries that carry turbines through Montgomeryshire during the next two or three weeks. I rather approve of this - along the trunk roads. But I cannot see how this can happen on the narrower 'county' roads. Lots of road widening, ditch filling and verge removing will be needed before these lorries can use 'county' roads. They're going to make one hell of a mess, and get stuck, if the lorries follow the routes before the improvements have been made. And the whole exercise will prove nothing. I'm hoping to try to cadge a lift in one of the lorries if its a Monday or Friday. Just to see the problems first hand.

Thirdly, I'm hearing more involved people mentioning 'cumulative impact' as a serious planninmg consideration. And so it should be. When the Assembly Government first embarked on its idiotic TAN 8 journey in 2005, 'cumulative impact' was ruled out as a material consideration. Now it's not. Great news. More onshore turbines disappearing over the horizon I think. OK, so these wind farms don't make much of a contribution to our energy needs, but I can live with the odd few turbines. What's frightening in its horror is the transformation of Montgomeryshire's special landscapes into hideous turbine parks - as Assembly Minsiters have decreed.

For years I've been depressed by the blinkered idiocy of Assembly Government renewable energy policy. But some shafts of light seem to be filtering into the dark thinking that has dominated this policy area for years.

Maiden Speech material

I suppose I should express fulsome thanks to the former MP for Montgomeryshire, Lembit Opik. Firstly, his high profile defeat on May 6th ensured that I began my Parliamentary career in a conflagration of publicity. So much so that fellow newcomer to the House of Commons, Simon Hart MP was heard to observe that the people of Montgomeryshire had pulled off the incredible achievement of electing as its new MP an even bigger 'media tart' that the previous one. I think it was a comment meant to amuse.

Anyway, I'm hoping to make my maiden speech on Tuesday (if I can catch Mr Speaker's eye that is) and will need to follow the convention of paying tribute to my predecessor - and wish him well in whatever career he chooses to follow. Never has a maiden speaker had so much material. Not only has Lembit already launched a career as a 'stand-up comic' but has also become a ventriloquist, using a talking shoe as his prop. And he's started writing a column for my local weekly newspaper, advising his successor (me) how to do the job.

Not all new MPs pay tribute to their predecessors of course. Here's an extract from John McDonnell's maiden speech (courtesy of the Government Gazette) "...Despite my respect for the conventions of the House, I shall not perjure myself by praising my immediate predecessor. Many saw him as a Tory buffoon....He was a stain on the character of this House, the Conservative Party which harboured him and the good name of my constituency. He brought shame on the political process of this country....He demeaned the House by his presence.....Thankfully, my constituents can now say good riddance to this malignant creature."

Lateral logic.

Just read one of those silly little emails which amuse me. Message is that if you find reading about how much damage drinking does to your health, its best to stop reading. My favorite of this 'genre' (a word that seems to have slipped out of fashion) is about the foursome of roughish county lads expressing their frustration on the 18th green in vivid Ramsey-esque terms. The 18th was immediately below the clubhouse terrace, which happened to be occupied this day by several delicate ladies, taking tea from equally delicate cups. They felt there was no option but to complain to the club 'committee' - which considered the matter carefully, before coming to the only reasonable conclusion. They banned ladies from the terrace.

Re-united with a Legend.

There he was, resplendently decked out in a sharp new dark blue suit - awaiting my arrival in the Great Hall at Westminster. Bang on time as befits a well organised man. Phill Carlick has arrived in the House of Commons to manage my office. I was relieved to see him. Felt a bit like someone with an excruciating pain espying the anaesthetist arriving on the scene. At last I have someone who can get to grips with the mountain of correspondence on my desk, and the hundreds of emails in my parliamentary inbox.

Actually its not officially my desk. The point is it,s not anyone's desk. A few days ago, when I found a door unlocked in the Palace of Westminster, and an unoccupied desk behind it, I just moved in. Welcome to the weird world of a newly elected Member of Parliament. It seems that the first rule in this place is that possession is everything, whether it be a seat or a desk. Hope I don't get a call from the 'whips' office tomorrow.

Anyway Phill was my PA during my 8 years at the National Assembly. We suit each other. Like DC and NC. Or Laurel and Hardy. He's organised and I'm not. He's an IT whizzo and I'm not. So that's Phill in London, Jan at Welshpool (shortly to be moving to Newtown) and Pam working part-time from the Association Office at Welshpool. Capello and I announced our final squads on the same day.

Only problem is that Phill hasn't got a desk either. So he's using mine (to the extent that I can call it mine that is). Which means that I have to decamp to work in Portcullis House, the Terrace, or the Member's Tearoom to work - where its a job to avoid the Miliband brothers rushing around putting themselves about. Been here almost a month, and starting to feel in control. My predecessor reckons it took him 8 years.

Well meant advice?

I read in this weekend's Montgomeryshire County Times an article written by the former MP, Lembit Opik, advising me what objectives I should set for myself. Interesting thought I, but nothing wrong with that. I've had all sorts of people giving me advice. But the bit that gets me is that he claims he would have achieved these objectives if only he had not lost the election. Lets look at them in turn, and see what you think.

First up is the removal of five sets of traffic lights in Newtown, and the delivery of a new by-pass for the town. I've been involved in campaigning for this by-pass for decades. Its over 20 years since I was told with absolute conviction (when I was Chairman of the Development Board for Rural Wales) that a by-pass would be completed within 10 years! Actually, I do believe that we will see a Newtown By-pass started within five years - mainly because of the seriously unwise decision to allow Tesco the build prematurely, which has caused such traffic chaos. A point I do have to make is that this issue is devolved to the National Assembly, and so does not fall within the MP's power - which is what Lembit found out when he tried to have one of the sets of lights removed. It will be a big issue for me though - but for our 'team' of MP, AM and councillors. I reckon I'm in with a chance on this one.

Second up is to save the jobs at Shop Direct at Newtown. The former MP claims to have helped postpone the job losses until December. Must admit that's at angry variance to what people working at Shop Direct have been telling me. Lembit also tells us that he was 'in negotiations' with buyers for the firm. I shall write to the local Lib Dem office tomorrow to ask for the details of these buyers. No stone can be left unturned. I'm sure he'll be keen to let me have the contacts. I'll keep you posted on this. I will also pass anything promising on to the Assembly Government who are leading the search for a buyer.

Third up is to restore the Montgomery Canal to the national canal network by 2015, which it seems can only happen with the right 'MP input'. I was involved in this project for 15 years before Lembit even moved to Montgomeryshire from the North East of England. Its a worthy objective but has been fraught with frustration and delay over many decades. I'm an enthusiast, and will discuss it when I launch the Dingy Dawdle on the Canal next month - but I do think connecting to the network in 5 years could be too tall an order.

Fourth objective is the restoration of A and E services to our hospitals. He's off on one here. Two points to make. No way can this happen, no matter how brilliant an MP we may have lost - and its not an MP's call anyway. He must have known this when he wrote the words. The best we can hope to see is a better Minor Injuries Unit service. The issue of greater importance (this is a job for the MP, and realistic) is to retain a full A and E service at the Royal Shrewsbury. I'm already well onto this one.

What did surprise me was that there was no mention in this wish list of keeping our secondary schools open, complete with their sixth forms - again not really a job for the MP, except as part of a 'team' including councillors and an AM. I'd have expected this to be at No 1. However I look at things, my predecessor has set me a pretty stiff challenge. Better change my name by deed poll to Glyn 'Hercules' Davies without delay.

Azaleas on fire.

We have around 50 azaleas in our garden - all sorts of colours and sizes. Today they were on fire. Most years we have group visits in June/July - but this year I've been so otherwise occupied that there has been no time to prepare. This dazzler is about 8 feet tall. Should be viewed through dark glasses to protect eyesight.
This deep yellow is one of the most attractive that we grow. We've planted half a dozen of them fairly close together for impact. And it works. This photograph includes two of them.
Pink azaleas are not my favorites, but I've included this one to show the variety of colour available. We also have several white azaleas, but still not big enough to justify inclusion in my choice of four.
I had to include the old fashioned yellow that often grows in the wild. It carries a nice scent, which Mrs D likes - but I cannot pick up myself. We grow lots of these in shady sites under larger trees.

Moving a rubber tree plant.

I was browsing through the ConservativeHome site this afternoon when I came upon its 'Hits and Misses' on the Tory target list for the 2010 General Election. And into the outer recesses of my mind wandered Frank Sinatra's relaxing voice, crooning the line "Everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant". Of course an ant can't, but Frank's message was that the ant should not give up trying. I remember Sunderland beating Leeds in the Cup Final, when Ian Porterfield scored the winner. Sometimes crazy things happen.

If you scroll down, you'll see that I was no 210 on the Tory target list. If our team in Montgomeryshire had known just how hopeless a case we were, we may well have given up. Good job no-one told us how big of an ask it was. No-one else outside the the top 200 targets made it across the winning line. And some people ask me why I looked a bit taken aback to have won! And with a reasonable majority at that. "Woops, there goes another rubber tree plant".

Star of the week.

For the time being, my blogging is probably going to be limited to the weekend. At least until I have a fully functioning office. So choosing a Westminster 'Star of the Week' seems a reasonable idea. Its all subjective of course - and depends on who happens to be speaking when I'm in the chamber. And David Cameron and William Hague don't count - because they would probably win every week.

This week there are joint winners - Peter Lilley and David Laws. The former moved acceptance of the Queen's Speech on Tuesday with great wit and just about the right degree of independent opinion. The latter, responded to an Urgent Question from Alistair Darling about the £6.2 billion of spending reductions that had been announced earlier in the week. OK, so things have not gone smoothly for David since then, but I thought his performance was outstanding.

Here's an extract from Lilley's speech, speaking of his pleasure at being invited by Mr Speaker to be involved in moving the motion "..it is an honour traditionally shared by a genial old codger and an oily young man on the way up. When the Speaker assured me that this year the criteria were different, I assumed he was referring to the fact that I am still mid career, until he added that instead of an oily young man , we have got a Lib Dem"

And another one. "Coalition requires compromise. Neither party can achieve all that it promised in its manifesto and many of us are receiving letters from our constituents upset that measures they voted for are not now in the coalition programme. There is a simple reason for that. The Conservative Party did not receive enough votes or seats to deliver all our manifesto pledges. The solution is to...win more votes next time."

Here's a taste of David Laws "The previous Government were borrowing at the rate of £3billion per week - that is an unsustainable rate. Those huge public debts threaten financial stability and, if left unchecked, would derail the economic recovery."

And here's another - speaking to Alistair Darling "We appreciate he took over the economic position and the Treasury at a difficult time and also had to deal with the difficult circumstances of having a Prime Minister of the type that the last Prime Minister was".

As I post this blog, I do not know where today's revelations about David Laws expenses in the Daily Telegraph will lead. I can only comment that the loss of David Laws from the Coalition Cabinet will be a huge disappointment to me.

UPDATE - Fellow bloggers are reporting that David Laws has resigned. I make no comment about whether this is right or wrong - but it brings nothing but great disappointment to me. In a very short time he has shown us that he is/was an outstandingly good and impressive Minister.

Political Betting.

Matt Withers has written a good piece for today's Wales on Sunday about the contenders for the leadership of the Labour Party. He makes some nice comparisons, which I'd like to share.

1) Matt describes the job of leading the Labour Party as being as attractive as the 'Welsh Rugby Team's jockstrap cleaner'. At least its pleasing to learn that they do have them cleaned. My friend, Edna Mopbucket would probably do the job for nothing. And in passing, Brilliant Blues this afternoon. Makes up for yesterday's other code woes.

2) Matt compares Peter Hain's decision to rule out a bid for the leadership with his own decision to rule out dating Anne Hathaway. I too announce today that I'm ruling out a bid to become the next Dr. Who.

3) Matt dismisses Dianne Abbott's bid as the equivalent of one of those novelty records released at Xmas which don't make the top 40. I see what he means, but personally, I think it could still be good enough to win.

4) Matt reckons Ed Balls' claims to be able to unite the Labour Party as the equivalent of Tony Blair being appointed Middle East peace envoy!! Now, how far fetched is that?

He ends up dismissing the 'Miliband Two' as only having read about working class people in history books - and advises us to place a wager on Andy Burnham. Until this morning I fancied Ed Miliband's chances - but then Lord Kinnock came out for him. Could be worse, I suppose. At least it wasn't Gordon Brown. Speaking of wagers, I met a man yesterday who got 15-1 against me winning the Montgomeryshire seat. Mrs D only had 8-1, while No 1 son, Edward had a mean spirited 5-1. Pity was that my friend only bet £5. Mrs D risked only £25. I risked nothing at all.

Family Album

Our two grandchildren have not appeared on this blog for a while. Little Darragh, as he is invariably described is a very cheerful young person. No 3 son, Tim and Adrienne are blessed. His mum lifted him up for this photograph. He is just five months old.
And here's Ffion. No I son, Edward and Karen are also blessed - but she's quite a handful. Ffi is two and a half, and does not like to be left out of anything. When I said "lift" for Darragh's photograph, up went her arms in sympathy.
And here's is Edward. At 1300 hours today he opened his birthday presents, which included a flying lesson. I had to take him to the Welshpool - Montgomeryshire Airport myself - in case he refused to get in the plane. Here he is inspecting the vehicle. I heard him asking the tutor what happened if the propeller stopped turning. Tutor laughed - but I thought it was a fair question.
Anyway, the 'hugely brave' Edward finally boarded the plane, and here it is on a fly past. Immediately after this photograph, the pilot pulled his joystick back (if that's what they do) and the plane shot up about 100 feet. When he eventually landed, he claimed to have enjoyed himself.

What on earth is Mr Hain talking about.

Sometimes, its possible to be involved in a 'nonsense' discussion. This is how I felt this morning as I listened to former Secretary of State for Wales, Peter Hain talking about the expected referendum on transferring law making powers to the National Assembly for Wales in those policy areas already devolved. I'd risen early in order to hear him speak on Good Morning Wales at 7.00 am.. I was speaking on the same programme myself at 8.00,along with the Lib Dem AM, Peter Black. As you might expect of new 'coalition' buddies, Peter Black and I were in complete agreement - while it seemed to me that Peter Hain was blustering incoherently as he tried to re-write history.

Lets go back a step. The Assembly Coalition Government (Labour and Plaid Cymru) agreed in 2007 that this referendum should be held before, or on the day of the next Assembly election in May 2011. And it was quickly 'accepted' that the same day would not be appropriate for such a significant decision. We then had several months of pointless time wasting on this issue, before Sir Emyr Jones-Parry (a highly competent retired diplomat) was asked to head an even more pointless time-wasting commission - which eventually told us what we knew in 2007. During this period, some of us were pointing out that the time needed to hold the referendum meant moving much more quickly. Personally, I strongly suspect that neither Labour nor Plaid actually wanted it, but did want to blame a new Conservative Government for refusing it. But Conservative leader, David Cameron fired an Exocet into this plan with his Broughton declaration, which announced that Wales could have its referendum if it were to be asked for. That must have caused a few feathers to fly in the Cardiff coalition hen house as devious plans were shredded. But lets move on.

The National Assembly was eventually asked to vote on the issue in February 2010 - a date so late that this blog (and others) questioned whether my preferred October date could now be met. Even then, it took Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, 10 days to pass on the letter to Peter Hain asking for the referendum. Now we reach a point of disagreement between Peter Hain and his successor, Cheryl Gillan. He tells us that he moved the process on when in office, while during her first five days, she can find no evidence whatsoever of this. Interesting. I hope the Foi questions been submitted. Whatever, we are where we are. The Electoral Commission tell us they need 10 weeks to settle the question which will be put to the people. There are but 7 or 8 weeks before the summer recess. You do the arithmetic. The Parliamentary work needed after the Electoral Commission has finished its work cannot take place until Parliament returns in October. And there will need to be several weeks campaigning before the referendum can actually take place. None of this is news to anyone who has been reading what I (and others) have been writing for years. Personally, I still hope there may be a way around this, but it will have nothing at all to do with Peter Hain, whom I think we should refer to as 'The Great Obstucturist' whenever discussing this matter.

To finish, another couple of points about what Mr Hain has been saying. He insists that the time needed by the Electoral Commission must not be "telescoped". And we know that he has long held the view that the referendum should not be held until after the next Assembly Election anyway. You make your own mind up about what to think of all this. Perhaps 'nonsense' was too kind a word.

Welsh at Westminster

This morning I 'appeared' on a phone-in on BBC Northern Ireland. It seems that I've inspired a new Northern Ireland MP to include a few words of Ulster-Scottish in his maiden speech. Must admit I didn't know there was such a language. One caller claimed it was no more than a dialect. Anyway, let me explain how I arrived in such an odd situation.

Last week, all new MPs joined in a 'familiarisation' session in the House of Commons Chamber. After a few presentations, we were invited to ask questions - as if it was a full blown session. I decided to flex my voice and ask whether I would be allowed to use a couple of sentences of Welsh in my maiden speech. Back came the answer that Mr Speaker might just allow it, if I were to translate any words spoken in the language of heaven into English, the official language of the House of Commons. I intend to give it a go, and hope that Mr Speaker exercises his now legendary generosity in allowing it. I can crawl with the best when needs be! After the meeting, other new MPs told me that they rather liked the idea, and might also try a few words of Yr Iaith Cymraeg. I hope Mr Speaker hasn't had enough of it by the time I deliver my own maiden speech.

So I've been speaking Welsh in three very different formal situations today - two minutes on Irish radio, giving Irish listeners a taste of our language, another three minutes for Newyddion about the Coalition agreement, and taking the oath before Mr Speaker in the house. Several of us did this. The oath has to be taken in English first, in order to make legal the taking of the oath in Welsh. Anyway, it seems I've had a bit of influence on what happens at Westminster already.

Voting with my leader.

Yesterday, along with other Conservative MPs I attended a meeting where David Cameron informed us that a referendum of Conservative MPs was to be held about the constitution of the 1922 Committee. The proposal put to us was that all Conservative MPs, including all those on the Government payroll, would have voting membership of the Committee, which previously had been reserved for backbenchers only. The ballot opened very soon afterwards and continued this morning. 168 of us voted for the proposed change, while 118 voted against it. Must admit I found it a difficult decision, but after much careful thought, I decided to back the proposal. I received quite a bit of advice to vote otherwise.

What concerned me was that we were setting aside 88 years of history, and had very little time to hold discussions which might have helped new parliamentarians come to a considered conclusion. So what to do. Over recent months, I've developed a huge respect for David Cameron, and in the end I decided to give him my support. He wants us to go forward during what may be a very turbulent period in British politic history as 'one party' encompassing the whole parliamentary party - not as two separate groups, backbenchers and frontbenchers. OK, I might feel uncertain when setting aside such a long standing tradition, but I'm pleased that the Prime Minister had his way.

So that's three big meetings of the Parliamentary Party in a matter of days. Firstly, we were consulted on the ongoing discussions with the Liberal Democrats, which led up to a coalition. Secondly, we were all called to meet the Prime Minister soon after he had returned from the Palace after accepting the Queen's invitation to form a Government. And thirdly there was last night's meeting which fundamentally changed the backbenchers 'committee' which had existed for 88 years. And I've only been an MP for two weeks. Its mentally exhausting. Not since the 1940s/50s have new parliamentarians been involved in such meetings.

Resting - not dead

Being elected a Member of Parliament is a very big deal - especially if it was not a foregone conclusion. Simply do not have time to blog. During the last two/three weeks of the campaign I was working at the edge of my personal capacity. And then it was straight down to Westminster to join in the most tumultuous period of modern political history. But I will always be able to say that I was there. Big advance this morning when Jan began working for me - temporarily out of our Welshpool office. Eventually she will be based at a new Newtown office. Off to London now, for a week of 'swearing in' beginning with the Speaker tomorrow - which rumour suggests could be interesting. I'm expecting to be done on Thursday.
Anyway, took a stroll around the garden this afternoon - with my camera. The top photograph is the entrance to Cil Farm. It seems such a short time ago that I planted the horse chestnuts that frame the gateway. Pity all my fancy brickwork is covered up. David Cameron chops logs, and Gladstone cut down trees. I shear sheep and build with bricks. Second photo is one of our earliest Azaleas. By next week they will all be out. Our garden will be at its best. But the election ruled out any visitor groups this year.
This prunus is Edward and Karen's wedding tree - which they gave us as a sort of reverse wedding present.
And last up are our Canada Goose family. There were six babies this year, but one went missing - to where I know not. We try to farm the garden for wild life, and this family have been joining us every spring since we dug out the pond.

Dust beginning to settle.

Can just about see light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing that can be described as 'out of the woods'. But during the day, I've spoken with someone who might run my office at Westminster, and another someone who might start dealing with the mountain of constituency work at home, and have decided where my constituency office will be. All in all, I sense the threat of disorder to be receding. Main problem has been the unexpected media opportunity that came my way in the back-wash of a high profile election win/defeat. Couldn't afford to let such a chance pass by ungrabbed. And today, I was back on my favorite programme of all - Called to Order - though not of course with the late great Patrick Hannan. But fair play, Adrian Masters is doing a decent job of trying to fill those very large shoes.

Big issue today, as its been for days, was the Coalition. All my political life, my main opponents have been the Liberal Democrats - and here I am, climbing into bed with them. And with enthusiasm - though I must admit its a case of 'needs must' bed-sharing rather than a 'starry eyed consummation'. The most serious political issue of our time is Britain's need for a stable government to tackle a financial and economic crisis. Its likely that very unpopular actions will have to be taken. Most sensible people know this - and know that it would have been the case whatever the result of the election. A Conservative minority government could not have carried its programme, and there would have been another election later in the year. The idea of a Labour/Lib Dem/Uncle Tom Cobley coalition would have been rejected as a story line by Hans Christian Anderson as too far fetched. It was time for the holding of noses an doing what had to be done - by Lib Dems as well as Conservatives.

And now its done I can see some local advantage here in Montgomeryshire. Normally, the defeated Lib Dems would have kicked lumps out of the heartless 'Tories' for 'savage, ruthless cuts'. Now of course it will all be a necessary and balanced reassessment of priorities. No wonder Kirsty Williams, the Lib Dem leader in Wales was reported to have left the National Assembly in floods of tears this week - though I must admit this could be no more than an ugly rumour. Please tell me if its true. Now that we are in coalition (though not in Wales as Ms Willliams pointed out when out walking today with new Sec of State, Cheryl Gillan) I must show concern when my new buddies are upset. I hope to post tomorrow on what sort of deal I think the coalition agreement is.

Refections on Election.

I suppose it was the 'Portillo Moment' of the (first?) 2010 General Election. It had all started in May 2007 when I lost my position as a member of the National Assembly for Wales, a surprising and deeply disappointing development - a sort of mini Welsh 'Portillo Moment' in itself. The question was whether I should seek selection as Montgomeryshire's candidate to challenge Lembit Opik. Mrs D was encouraging. So I went for it, knowing that winning would be highly unlikely - but possible if everything went well.

And everything did go well. Ironically, my (which soon became 'our' as the 'team' developed) aim was to provide what I called a 'public service' office, rather than one focused only on winning elections. But winning elections is what we started to do - for the first time in Montgomeryshire. We put up nine Montgomeryshire Conservative candidates in the 2008 Powys Council elections - and won six seats. We have never won a Council seat before! And won the 2009 European Parliament election in Montgomeryshire by a country mile. As we approached the 2010 General Election, it really did feel as though a win was on the cards. And then we had the televised 'Leader's Debates' - which seemed to have given the Liberal Democrats a huge boost. It seemed to me that defeat had been snatched from the jaws of victory. Turned out that there was no Lib Dem boost at all. First suggestion of this was the 'Exit poll' - which I just did not believe. Luckily I did not emulate Iain Dale, and promise to run down Welshpool High Street naked if the Lib Dem implosion turned out to be true. The people of Welshpool had a lucky escape.

Tidy campaign. Got on with all the candidates. Especially liked the Plaid Cymru candidate, Heledd Fychan, who went down well. I probably took a fair number of 'her votes'. I suppose my commitment to the Welsh Language, and to making a success of the National Assembly for Wales, and regular appearances on S4/C must have had an impact. Because we had put together such an effective campaign team, I reckoned that we were destined for a good result. Highlights were the visits of William Hague and David Cameron to Montgomeryshire to support us during the campaign. But a swing of 12% looked beyond us. Lembit tells me the bookies had him 1-25 to win. You'd get better odds on being hit by a meteorite. And as Lee Waters tells me, those of us from farming stock are supposed to be a bit pessimistic. Actually he said 'miserable', but I'm trying to move on from that.

Mrs D and I were just leaving home for the count when I saw Betsan Powys on BBC Wales telling the world that the "result in Montgomeryshire was going to be much closer than we had all been expecting". We set off for the count sensing that we were going to do well, but it still didn't occur to me that we could actually win it. Perhaps if I'd believed the Exit Poll, it would have been different. Anyway, arrived to discover that we were leading, and already in the home straight. Must have been a combination of exhaustion and surprise that hit me for six. Before I'd recovered, the BBC wanted an interview. I know Mark Hannaby, so I agreed. By this time, the sharks could smell blood in the water, and everyone wanted to talk to me. Well they actually wanted Lembit, but he wasn't talking. You know the sort of thing. "Get Opik on. If he won't do it, get the Tory on. What's his name - Jones or Evans or whatever. What you mean 'he looks a bit dazed'. Don't give a damn about him anyway. Its not about him. Its about Opik."

Don't remember much about what happened next. Just remember being up on stage thinking that the Returning Officer needed to improve his Welsh, when I realised that he'd just told the hall that I had been elected MP for Montgomeryshire. Completely forgot that the world was watching. Lembit and I looked at each other, both of us floored by what had happened. I'm told we both accepted the result with graciousness. Seems I'd asked my team not to celebrate excessively - reason being that I've been in the same position as Lembit in the past. I know what that sort of disappointment feels like. And then everyone went home. And now, I cannot finish this post because I have to head off to Westminster to sign in, and meet David Cameron at 6.00 to find out whether we are in Government or not - or at least how the discussions with the Lib Dems are going. Life is going to be a bit different from now on.

Fresh Start.

Have recovered from what has been a very strange few days. Had thought about extending my mini-break from blogging to something much longer, but have decided otherwise. Daughter, Sally is home and she has decided to make some changes to the site tomorrow morning. I suppose it is a bit odd that I'm still glyndaviesam. Whatever, I need one more day to fully recuperate. Being elected an MP will be a bit of a fresh start. I suppose not being elected an MP would have been a fresh start as well. Having to leave lots of much loved things behind. And will have to employ a part-time gardener. And NO - it will not be on expenses. Will do a blog post tomorrow entitled 'Reflections on Elections'. One bit of good news though. Some of you might remember Edna Mopbucket, who used to slip me the odd morsel of juicy gossip. Well, Edna's taken a shine to the straight talking Eric Pickles, and has wangled herself a cleaning job at Westminster. First shift, she reckons that she happened to hear the conversation between David Cameron and Nick Clegg earlier today. No idea what she wanted to tell me but I decided it would be risky for me to make any comment.

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.

Lying on the doorstep is contemptible

There's a lot of talk about a new approach to politics. Hooray for that. We can start by stopping telling straight forward lies about each other's policies. And we should also stop trying to mislead voters about other parties intentions as well. I do my utmost to stick to the truth - no matter what I'm asked. In the long run, I reckon its electorally positive. On the Radio Wales midday phone-in last Monday, I was forced to tell the Montgomeryshire Labour candidate that he was "not telling the truth". If he'd protested I'd have called him a liar. He had just told listeners that the Conservatives were going to abolish free bus passes - which they are not. And he knew they are not. Now, I've been emailed to tell me that my political opponents were out in the Garth Owen area of Newtown yesterday spreading the same sort of lies about the winter fuel allowance. What utterly contemptible people these are. How can their spouses sleep with them - if they have spouses that is.

And now we learn that Ed Balls, a Labour Government Minister is up to the same tricks. How on earth are we going to restore public confidence in our electoral system when we have senior politicians telling bare faced lies in public. Getting things wrong is one thing, but just lying knowingly is not acceptable. Mr Balls, and those who were lying in Newtown yesterday are not very nice people. They deserve to lose - which of course they will on judgement day, if not on May 6th.

Come and join us.

Here's Ffion, our only granddaughter, entering into the election spirit - and in irresistible 'come and join us' pose. Pity she lives in Ireland. We see her only once a month when she comes to visit. She would be a great asset on the doorstep.

Actually, I'm not keen on dragging children into politics. This was just a bit of fun at home. But not yesterday, I was involved in a very nice photo-op at a primary school at Newtown, when one of my opponents began sticking labels on to the children, some of them no older than five or six. Afraid I took a dim view of this. I'm not expecting the local paper to use the photograph until after the election. Lets keep some standards of decency in our democratic process.

Can keeping stolen money be anything but despicable behaviour?

There is nothing quite so nauseating as persons claiming the high moral ground when they have been guilty of even worse behaviour themselves. Same applies to political parties. Over recent years, all political parties have been tarnished by financial mis-doings of one sort or another. But its only the Lib Dems who try to pretend they are somehow whiter than others. Yet, in my opinion, the worst abuse of all was the failure of the Lib Dems to return the £2.4 million pounds donation that came from convicted fraudster Michael Brown. Read about Vince Cable being skewered on the subject today. I accept that it was not unreasonable to accept the money in the first place, but when it was discovered that it had been fraudulently obtained by Mr Brown before he gave it to the Lib Dems, the money should have been returned immediately. This nonsense that it was OK to keep the £2.4 million because the Electoral Commission decided it was received in 'good faith' cuts no ice with me. The money belongs to those whom Michael Brown defrauded, and it should have been given back, when he was convicted. At the very least, the Lib Dems should hang their heads in shame about this, rather than try to pose as better than other parties. Because they are not. And the hypocrisy makes it worse.

Show business in politics.

Pleased to see that Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Mick Bates is still active in the Liberal Democrat election campaign, despite being suspended last week from the Liberal Democrat party. Firstly, I note that it is he who has proposed Lembit Opik as the party's candidate for the coming General Election in Montgomeryshire. Nothing improper about that of course, but I would have thought it a touch unusual for someone so recently suspended from a party to be given such a significant symbolic position. I was proposed by the hugely respected Cllr. Aled Davies, Chairman of the Montgomeryshire Association.

And then there's this report on the BBC today. It seems as if one of Mick's staff has been dressing up in a nurse's uniform for a photo-op with a Lib Dem candidate in Cardiff. Its never what it seems with the Lib Dems. Its all for show business. Now Mick himself has a bit of a reputation for dressing up in fancy dress, having once famously attended a full session of the National Assembly wearing a Santa Claus outfit. And his Montgomeryshire MP colleague (or ex-colleague) once bought on his parliamentary allowances a 'mother of all wigs'. They're an odd lot - the Lib Dems. One thing I'm not sure about is whether Mick Bates is still a Liberal Democrat AM, or an 'Independent' AM as described in the BBC report. If anyone knows, perhaps they would let us know.

Welshpool 'Hustings' tonight.

Montgomeryshire matters it seems. BBC Wales ran a televised 'hustings' meeting in Welshpool Town Hall tonight. Betsan Powys started the night off by announcing the findings of an ITV Wales opinion poll which was published earlier in the day - which was good news for the Lib Dems, and not for the rest of us. The Labour candidate found consolation in that our vote dropped more than Labour's. Clearly a man easily pleased. Biggest surprise to me was the collapse in the Plaid vote. Anyway back to the debate.

Again I was impressed by the leg-biting viciousness (accompanied by a lovely smile) of Heledd Fychan. I disagree with a lot she says, but I'm a real fan. Such fighting spirit. I hope that she finds a way into the National Assembly at some stage. I remember a Labour opponent named Angharad Davies in 1997 who impressed me in just the same way. Could never understand how they let such a political talent lie unfulfilled. I suppose Heledd would inform that she intends to become MP for Montgomeryshire on May 6th. And so do I.

I wasn't impressed with Lembit at all. OK, so he was on a dodgy wicket - but he must have been expecting it. He's supposed to be this great debater, who has appeared on Question Time 14 times. Well, it didn't look like it to me. Looked as if it was his first time in front of an audience. At one stage he actually said to the people "I work harder than the people who criticise me". Honestly he did. The audience laughed like drains. And then he told Heledd not to be 'naughty' when she butted in. Sounded as if he was talking to a three year old. To me it looked as if this little girl had him by the ankles and seriously rattled.

I never watch programmes that I appear in, but Mrs D (who did) tells me that I should try not to speak as if I'm talking to a conference. And others tell me I should adopt a more confrontational. But I decided years ago to keep a tight rein on my aggression (which has only ever led to problems) - attacking only in self defence. My angry face tends frightens the horses - which was fine on the rugby pitch. Whatever, there will be a discussion on this in my office tomorrow. I thought it was an entertaining programme - to watch and appear in. I hope people enjoyed it.

Shadow Minister's Visits

Local media's not covering all high profile Shadow Minister's visits - though William Hague's support last Monday won some good publicity. Anyway, here's Owen Paterson with me dropping in for a coffee at the Market Hall in Newtown and on Ricky Lloyd at his shop in Welshpool. For those of you who have little interest in politics, Owen is the Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, and was Member of Parliament for North Shropshire.

Hosts of lovely Daffodils

Managed a stroll around the garden today - with my camera. Hosts of daffodils providing cheerful colour. Its enough to lift the spirits of a Conservative who has just studied the latest opinion polls!! Added a bit of Tory blue - though its not a daffodil. Science hasn't conquered that one yet.

Strange happenings in Montgomeryshire.

Hey voters, there are candidates out here who want to be your MP. Thousands of us - many been striving to catch your eye for years. Was all this effort of no consequence after all? You really would think so if you were to take today's media at face value. The only thing that counts is 'The Leader's Debate'. The record of delivery, or of probity, or even character of individual candidates is to be set aside. All that matters is a televised debate amongst party leaders. Well, I just don't buy it. And if it is true, we might as well hand selection of our MPs over to the National Lottery.

I watched last night's debate. It was better television than I expected. I thought all three came over quite well - except perhaps Gordon Brown when he tried to focus too much on attacking David Cameron, rather than telling us about his own policies. Nick Clegg seemed the most relaxed. He had not much to lose, and because even he does not think he's going to be the next Prime Minister, can say what he likes. David Cameron and Gordon Brown both believe that they might be Prime Minister, and can say only what they will deliver. Some people seem to think David did badly - but I thought he did really well. And I think he'll do even better next time. I also think Gordon Brown will be better, and Nick Clegg will 'bomb'. Now that we know he's a competent debater, he might be asked to explain some of his policy. His stance on immigration is particularly daft.

Must admit that I was disappointed when it was agreed that these debates would happen. I've always been unhappy with them - mainly because of the danger that they might devalue the worth and effort of individual candidates. But its too late now. These debates will be a dominant feature in all future General Elections. I want the people of Montgomeryshire to decide where to place their mark on the basis of which local candidate they think will represent them well - and the choice includes candidates whose leaders were frozen out of things last night. But I did think it good entertainment, and I'll watch next week.

There's something about politics in Montgomeryshire. Today has been another interesting day. Montgomeryshire's Assembly Member has been told that he will face charges of common assault, and his party has relieved him of the party whip. I suppose that means that today is the first day that Montgomeryshire has not been represented by a Lib Dem AM. And I hear rumours that more news may emerge over the weekend. And to cap it all, I hear that someone has declared that he intends to stand as a National Front candidate (not even BNP) in the General Election. Maybe there is something special in the local water.

Polished up and ready to roar.

The deed has been done. She has experienced her virgin makeover - inside and out. She's been in my ownership for almost three years, has travelled almost 100,000 miles under my guidance (much of it over farmland) and had never been so much as near a car wash until today. Actually it was today and yesterday, because it turned out to be a two day job. I was stunned when I collected it. New tyres on Monday, full valet on Tuesday and Wednesday, and full service on Thursday. Talk about taking the election seriously!!

Congratulations are due to W R Davies of Newtown - and for two reasons. Firstly, they honoured the pledge that I bought from a promise auction over three years ago - and secondly for the amazing transformation they have performed on my car. As out campaigning tonight, it was a recurring pleasure every time I returned to the car - breathing in the sensual aroma which permeated every nook and cranny. I do not know the name of the miracle worker who is discussing his handiwork with me in the photograph, but I am deeply grateful to him. His handiwork may be that little bit extra that pushes me over the winning line on May 6th.

Debunking the Vince Cable myth

Blogfest. Fourth post tonight. Since the Conservatives have been making the running with the proposal not to implement Labour's reprehensible tax on jobs in full, both Labour and the Lib Dems have quite disgracefully sought to claim that a future Conservative Government would raise VAT. As far as I know, this was pure invention, and the media should be equally ashamed for giving such claims any publicity. To make it worse, the media did not believe what it was reporting. But for some reason, if Labour's new bestest friend, Vince Cable says something, no matter that its completely without foundation, its reported as if its fact. No wonder people are disillusioned with politics.

Anyway old twinkle toes has been caught out. Several blogs are reporting his conversation with Jon Sopel in today's Politics Show, in which he informs us that he made the whole thing up. Just imagine the hoohah there would be if George Osborne had done such a thing. Ah, the joys of campaigning without the prospect of actually winning. Well, I'm doing my bit to expose the house of cards that is Vince Cable by linking to the relevant Conservative Home post here. Just read it, and allow the scales to fall from your eyes.

Turning the tables on Spin Doctor.

Third post tonight. And I turn to Spin doctor in the Wales on Sunday. What would the gossipy medic do without Montgomeryshire. I don't think I've ever read a column when my old county didn't appear in some guise - though regular features on local AM, Mick Bates seem to have disappeared lately. As has he. I get the occasional mention myself, even if it is less since I suspended my attempts at humour - until after the election. Today he (if a he it is) had a little snippet about the rumour that Plaid Cymru are to win the celebrity endorsement of Sian Lloyd, and that she might visit Montgomeryshire to campaign. Sian is a good friend of mine, but I do not know whether the bit about endorsing Plaid is true. I wouldn't be at all surprised, since I know she is as proud of her 'Welshness' as I am - and is free of my leanings to the centre/right of politics.

The line that amused me was Spin Doctor's suggestion that Plaid might be "tempted to send her to the constituency of Mr Opik - the sitting MP and the former fiancee she later criticised in her autobiography". Spin Doctor, she lives there, near Aberhafesp, smack in the middle of Montgomeryshire. Plaid Cymru would not have to send her anywhere.

A visit from a fox.

For me, the signal that spring has arrived in when Mrs Canada Goose settles on her eggs on my duck island. They have come every year since I made the pond, (about 8 years ago) and always nest in the same spot at the beginning of April. I expect them to hatch out on election day. I suppose the ducklings being yellow at birth is not much of an omen.

Well, this goose in not going anywhere. I took this photograph this week, as she was lying where she fell - on the house drive. From time to time we see our local fox stalking the geese. He had one last year. Reason I know it was a fox is that Mrs D, who had become attached to a goose on her eggs, was contemplating the dead body though tears, when the fox just strolled up and to finish off his previous night's supper. I left this girl where she was, intending to bury her next day - but Reynard had been to collect. I found the remains down by the bamboo walk this afternoon.

Just thought I'd put this photograph up for all those who think the fox is a nice cuddly little fellow, that means no harm. The fox is a gratuitous killer - as vicious as it is beautiful. Its living proof that its possible to love and hate a living creature at the same time.

Hustings - and the rest of week one.

I'm giving this election a real crack. One of the casualties is this blog. Not enough hours in the day. But it's Sunday night, and there's time to spare. Actually there's been enough time today to catch up with what's happening in the garden, (next post) where I'm intending to spend four hours on May 7th. All I did today was look, and snap.

Much of my time had been spent writing for leaflets and media articles - including another piece for Guardian Comment is Free. And delivering some of them. And walking the streets, meeting people. Lots of interesting discussions. Spoke at length to one man yesterday. Thought I had his vote in the bag. Then he told me he lived in Radnorshire, thought the Lib Dems were for him, and he never voted anyway. Then I met a lady who was in a real state. She'd been waiting for a late train, had been taken short, and had "wet herself" because there were no toilets at the station, and she suffered a bladder complaint. Not sure whether to contact Arriva Trains, the local council or the urology dep't. I thought she had a legitimate point, and its one I'll follow up.

We have a spate of hustings coming up in Montgomeryshire. First one was in the Black Boy in Newtown this week. Main focus was the environment, and there were about 50 there. Ukip and the Independent, Bruce Lawson were not there. Don't know whether they were invited, but seems to me that the Ukip candidate has got a good case for inclusion. In the last big election ( to the European Parliament) Ukip came in second in Montgomeryshire. It was nice to see the Labour candidate finally put in an appearance. He showed himself to be a man of many opinions, most of which were totally contrary to Labour Party policy. I rate Heledd Fychan, the Plaid Cymru candidate. We disagree about a few things, but I feel I can have a discussion about ideas with her. Strange how its possible to disagree with someone, and at the same time have respect for them. Lembit Opik did not impress me at all. Now, I'm as mild mannered as you can get, but even I was forced to intervene on one of his answers. He was trying to claim that he had delivered improvements to the idiotic new traffic light system that has crippled Newtown. Total B******s. It was nothing to do with him at all. It was the work of Newtown's Councillors, and was already in place before the publicity stunt he organised. He was just trying to claim credit for someone else's work - and not for the first time. So I told him so in public.

Should have a bit more time to call by my blog this week, though William Hague is calling by Montgomeryshire tomorrow to give me some support. I'm a big fan, and I'll enjoy that.

Tomorrow on the campaign trail.

Now that we know tomorrow is the day on which the starting gun is going to be fired, I will be using this blog (and my facebook site) to tell helpers and supporters what my plans are for the following day.

Tomorrow morning, I will be calling on commercial properties in Newtown.

Tomorrow afternoon, I will be leafleting and talking to those I meet in Pontrobert, and attending a meeting in the Village Hall at 3,30 (on a non-political matter).

Tomorrow at 5.30, we will be meeting outside our office on Broad St. for a leafleting session at Welshpool. We were going to hit Newtown big on the day the election is called, but we're printing a 'Newtown leaflet' which will not be ready until late afternoon, Wednesday.

On Wednesday, we'll be in Llanfair Caereinion in the morning, and Newtown thereafter.

Anyone interested in joining in - glyndavies8@btinternet.com or 07968082891.

No Referendum in 2010?

It seems that the Secretary of State, Peter Hain may have succeeded in delaying the referendum on transferring all law making powers in devolved policy areas from the Westminster Government to the National Assembly until March 2011. Personally, I believe this to be a mistake, which will make a 'Yes' vote less likely. But then, we know that Mr Hain does not want there to be a referendum at all before the next Assembly election, to be held in May 2011.

The 'right' date would be October - well before the Assembly election in May 2011. Anyone campaigning in a referendum in March is going to have an eye on the Welsh General Election two months later. But it looks as if its not to be. For an October referendum to happen, the enabling legislation must be sorted out before the Summer recess - and for that to happen, the question to be put needed to settled before the General Election. And Peter Hain has refused to deal with it. The request forwarded to him (eventually) from the Assembly First Minister is still lying on his desk. I'm sure Nick Bourne and Cheryl Gillan will tell us that its gathering dust. Its unthinkable that Plaid Cymru and Labour AMs are not party to this. They are playing a very dangerous game.

Not sure what all the Plaid supporting bloggers think of this. They'll probably find some hook on which to hang their usual 'Blame the Tories' rhetoric. But it won't wash. This is down to one man - Peter Hain. It really is time that he was given a role on Labour's opposition backbenches - well away from anything to do with Wales.

How long does it take an MP to learn the ropes?

This is the second time I've linked to a post by my Plaid Cymru opponent in Mongomeryshire, Heledd Fychan. In part, that's because its another good post. But also because I was goint to blog on the same issue myself. I, too had been sent a copy of this week's Tanat, Cain and Vyrnwy Chronicle, which included submissions from her, me and the incumbent MP, Lembit Opik. Heledd's gone for it in what is becoming typical of her style - which I rather like. Daresay, I'll find myself in the firing line over the next four weeks. My intention was to take issue with one pretty stupid comment included in the piece - a comment which seems to be part of his 2010 pitch to Montgomeryshire voters. Lets nail it now - in the same way that I'll nail it when he raises at the various panels we're on before May 6th.

It seems that our current MP is of the view that it takes eight years before a new MP 'learns the ropes' sufficiently well to become effective. Well Lembit, go tell that to Nick Clegg - who was elected to lead the Liberal Democrats after being an MP for just four years. Or Chris Huhne, who almost beat him, who had also been an MP for only four years. Or David Cameron, who was elected to lead the Conservatives after four years. Or William Hague (who entered the Cabinet at just 34) - or William's political hero, and subject of his first book, William Pitt the Younger, who became Prime Minister aged 24, after less than two years as an MP. Perhaps if Lembit had spent a bit more time on his 'parliamentary' duties, and less time pursuing 'other interests', it wouldn't have taken him quite so long. And another interesting fact is that the average length of time that an MP serves in something less than eight years.

And while I'm at it, there's another comment which rankles - one I've heard before (and which is likely to be used 'spontaneously' on several occasions over the next month). It seems that he does not consider himself 'perfect' (in a self-pitying sort of way) - and that if the voter's want someone perfect, they must await 'the second coming'. No they don't want someone perfect, and they don't have to wait beyond May 6th. Montgomeryshire voters just want someone who will take the job of representing them seriously, and put serving our old county before 'other interests'.

The 'real' world of politics.

David James has written an article for today's Wales on Sunday titled "Politicians say the silliest things". Now, he may be right in principle, but in the real world of politics, he's talking ********. His proposition seems to be that anyone standing for election to one tier of Government, should not express opinions, or campaign on matters that are the responsibility of other tiers. My guess is that since the National Assembly for Wales was established in 1999, no Welsh candidate, at any level, has stuck to this principle. That's because those of us who face actual voters know that 'all politics is local'.

The two politicians David singled out are Maria Caulfield, Conservative parliamentary candidate for Caerphilly, and Nick Smith, who is standing for Labour in Blaenau Gwent. I met Maria at our recent conference in Llandudno, where she spoke in a health debate - and I was much impressed. Very confident and articulate, without a note in sight. I don't know Nick. But what I do know is that the voters of Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent would be seriously unimpressed if either of them did not speak about health and transport issues - and local government, and environment, and education, and..... Very few people have a clear knowledge of where the various responsibilities lie - and they don't care. Perhaps the answer that would lose Maria, Nick or me most votes would be "Sorry, can't answer that - because its devolved".

Most of the issues on which the Montgomeryshire election will be decided are devolved issues. Secondary school reorganisation, Newtown By-pass, access to health and other public services. The Lib Dems realised years ago that pavement politics wins elections - at all levels. And we are sick of losing in Montgomeryshire. When I became the Parliamentary candidate almost three years ago, we established a 'team' approach, involving Conservative candidates across all tiers of Government. Our six Montgomeryshire councillors, Nick Bourne AM and myself discuss issues, and try to find an approach that we can all agree on. Our aim is that we can all respond positively to constituents on all issues. And we'll carry on doing that - which is my advice to Maria Caulfield and Nick Smith.

Disunity amongst the Churches at Easter.

First time for days that I've had time to read my Telegraph, or attend to my blog. While I've been away, its become clear to me that I'm not a suitable person to be appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury. Its a job which requires a politician as well as a theologian, and one who is ultra careful with words - examining every single word with meticulous care before its utterance. My tendency to commit random thoughts to print would probably lead to a return to great wars about religion.

I'm a bit of a fan of Archbishop Rowan Williams. I know he's a 'leftie' but he is Welsh, and he's an intellectual, and he has such a rich, dark brown voice. But he's really put his foot in his mouth this time. And at the Easter weekend. He's told the BBC that an Irish friend had told him that "its quite difficult in some parts of Ireland to go down the street wearing a clerical collar". And he went on to refer to the Catholic Church in Ireland as "an institution so deeply bound into the life of a society, suddenly becoming - suddenly losing all credibility..." I understand that he might have been a bit narked when the Pope Benedict offered unsettled members of the Anglican Church an easy transfer to Catholicism last year. But this was surely going over the top. No apology is going to put the lid back on this one.

This issue has engaged my mind because yesterday, I attended a Good Friday event in Welshpool, where all the Churches marched together behind a wooden cross, in a show of unity. There were several mini sermons and hymns, including 'How great thou art'. There was also a smidgen of disunity about the absence of a Welsh hymn. Easy to find trouble when religion and culture clash. Personally, I do not think the words of Archbishop Rowan Williams were well chosen. Its true that the Catholic Church has handled the paedophile cover ups incredibly badly. But he was just about the last person in the world who should have been pointing it out. Its like Arsene Wenger commenting on Manchester United's performance this afternoon. This row is going to cause one hell of a kerfuffle. Good job that neither the Archbishop or the Pope write a blog.

The High Sheriff.

Yesterday I attended the Shrievalty Service and Declaration Ceremony of Mrs Jennifer Anne Thomas as High Sheriff of Powys. Jenny lives near my village of Berriew, and is a family friend She looked very fine, all kitted out in the proper gear. While I'm a huge fan of the office of High Sheriff, I still look on it as High Sheriff of Montgomeryshire - which means that for me the role exists fully only for one year in three. Radnorshire, and Breconshire do the providing the rest of the time. Three years ago, we ceremonially declared another good friend of mine, James Turner, at an event which was also subject to a blog post.

As usual a High Court judge is present to read the Royal Warrant. This time it was His Honour, Judge Philip Hughes. As is traditional, he gave us a bit of the history. The post of High Sheriff has existed continuously for over 1000 years, and is only beaten by as an office of state for longevity by the Monarchy itself. And of course the Monarchy did have a gap after Charles 1st was executed. Another interesting aspect of this office is that it was an early example of devolution. Up until Henry the Eighth's centralising ways, the office of High Sheriff in Wales had developed in an entirely different way from that in England.

We heard, as we did three years ago, about a previous High Sheriff who, for fund raising purposes, kidnapped all the mistresses of the clergy in his patch, demanding ransoms for their return. Don't know whether he stole mistresses because they commanded a better return than wives. Perhaps stealing mistresses was deemed more morally acceptable. He also told us about another High Sheriff who raised money by combining fund raising events with executions. One invitation sent out inviting guests to a fund raising function read "He drops at 8, breakfast at 9".

Anyway, it was a good do. Berriew Church was full. Quartet from Llanfyllin High School entertained us. (much better than an execution!). And then we all went over to the Lion far a drink and bits afterwards. In three weeks time we have Her Majesty coming to Welshpool for the morning as one of Jenny's first official occasions. They don't come much bigger than that. If Radio Cymru cover the visit I'll probably have another chance to use 'Gwerinllywodraeth', the enunciation of which gave me so much pleasure on my recent appearance on Pawb a'i Farn - when I was the only person in the studio to oppose the idea. Yesterday, there was probably not a single one of the 200 of us who agreed.