What is Ieuan Wyn Jones playing at. Last Thursday he was telling Rhun ap Iorwerth that he would have Welsh Conservative Ministers in his Cabinet - if he were to be First Minister after May 3rd. Today, I read that he's been telling Martin Shipton that he wants Labour to talk to him about forming a coalition. Now, I realise that IWJ hasn't been off the island of Anglesey for a month - but he seems to be losing touch with the real world. I haven't been around the blogs yet - but the first class young Plaid sympathising bloggers that I visit must be finding this a bit hard to square.
UPDATE. I've just caught up with my leaders comments on all this coalition stuff. We are like two peas in a pod.
10 comments:
I think it's very simple. Ieuan is turning Labour's argument on its head by saying to Labour that if they really want to keep the Tories out of government then all they have to do is talk to Plaid. Personally I think he should just leave Labour to lose the elections by themselves.
Mind you, he could have handled it better, and just explained his view clamly instead of looking like he was trying to lay an egg every time Rhun mentioned the word "Tory minister". From the interview and the subsequent "fury" with Labour, I'm beginning to suspect that Ieuan doesn't really like the idea of a rainbow coalition at all. Our politicians obviously still have some way to go before they get used to electoral campaigning in coalition politics, as experienced, say, in Germany.
sanddef, I really do not know where Plaid are on this issue - and parties are punished in the polls for indecision. I've read Ieuan's interview with Matt Withers in today's WoS - and I'm not a bit wiser. I sniff a leadership contest in the air.
I sniff a leadership contest in the air.
He looked a lot calmer on TV today. As for leadership contests, if there was one it would come after May 3, giving Plaid something else in common with Labour. But Plaid will increase their seats so it would be a bit odd for them to pull the rug from under Ieuan after a relatively successful campaign, unless Jones-Evans gets Wigley back in. Time for another poll.
I agree that he did look a bit calmer today. But Plaid are going to come in behind us. Anyway, its only a whiff on the breeze at this stage.
I'm told that Dylan is coming up on the rails in Aberconwy - and that there are a fair number of Plaid 'switchers' hoping to get Wigley back in.
And we do need another poll. It really is a disgrace that so few polls are being carried out.
But Plaid are going to come in behind us.
Now you would say that.
Only 10 days to go. One of us is going to eat words. Have you prepared rebuttal of next Thursday's ITV poll yet. Why doesn't Plaid publish their internal poll first this time - or are they waiting to see if they like the ITV one better?
Losing Aberconwy just won't be enough to get Wigley back in. They need either a huge swing against both Lib Dems and Tories or to lose another seat as well (then Wigley is a sure bet).
Only 10 days to go. One of us is going to eat words
Ah, but I have the luxury of being neither a politician nor a party member, so I won't have any words to eat at all. I'll just blame someone else and make myself look clever.
And you think politicians don't know how to put the blame on other people and look clever !!
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