Hopes Dashed

I hear that Plaid Cymru are backing down over the Government'sFinal Budget. Sure, Ieuan is trying to make lot of distracting noise in the chamber at the moment. But I am hearing rumours that the reality is that Plaid are going to issue a statement later today, stating that a coalition to replace Rhodri Morgan is 'not realistic'. This would be a gigantic U-turn. This would be letting Labour completely off the hook. This would be letting the people of Wales down. Threats are no use unless there is a spike of steel to back it up.

If opposition parties do not accept the Government's Final Budget, they must have thhe courage of their convictions and follow it through and vote the Government down - even if this means the resignation of Labour and forming a Government in its place. At midday today, Ieuan was leading a group of leaders telling us this was what they were going to do. A few hours later and if what I hear turns out to be true it will be the fastest retreat since the poor sap who last faced Amir Khan.

Bang goes my chance of being a Minister. No huge Ministerial salary. No Ministerial car. No huge staff to prepare my speeches etc. etc. etc.