Since I lost my Assembly Member position, I have been under much local pressure to consider standing against Lembit Opik in Montgomeryshire, in the next General Election. While I don't really like Lembit's "celebrity" approach to politics, (in fact I detest it) I wasn't sure that my home county shared my distaste. That is, until I looked at last Thursday's voting figures in detail. I haven't done the research yet, but I'm sure nowhere else in Wales produced such an odd result.
This is what happened, in the 'constituency' vote, the Liberal Democrat candidate, Mick Bates, polled around 2,000 more votes than our man, Dan Munford - a great effort by Dan which makes Montgomeryshire a marginal seat. But the 'list' vote was as staggering as its been unnoticed. The Conservative vote surged up to 7,191 while the Lib Dem vote collapsed to just 5,111. We won by 2,080. For the first time ever, we absolutely hammered them.
The reason this matters to me is that the 'list' vote in Montgomeryshire was highly likely to have been a personal vote for me. I really am quite shocked by this - and there is a little voice inside me (which is getting louder by the day) saying that I really should have a crack at the General Election. I was going to take a month out before deciding what, if anything, political I was going to do. I feel this timetable is shortening.
I already know that I can't let it go. I love politics too much. For years I've worked to develop a Centre/Right party in Wales, committed to a successful future for the Welsh Language and everything that makes my dear country of Wales the culturally distinctive heaven that it is. In particular, I love selling this concept to my very 'English' friends. And they almost all buy into it. I don't think I can just let that dream go. I just want to hug people like Helen Mary, Leanne Wood, and the new girl Bethan and squeeze their misguided 'socialism' out of them. Now, that is one unlikely dream. Thinking like this is nuts of course, because I have just lost my seat of influence. But all my life I've lived on dreams - and some of them came to pass.
23 comments:
Go for it Glyn! Your, and many other people's work to develop a Welsh centre-right party 'committed to a successful future for the Welsh Language...' is starting to pay real dividends. However, there is work still to be done and with people like you, our assembly team, DJE, Guto Bebb (have I listed too many yet!!) and, dare I say it, little old me fighting, the only way is up!
One door closes. Another opens. Maybe this is it.
This is an incredibly encouraging post to read. You have no idea how happy people will be to find out you've considered it....
Have you registered Glyn4Montgomeryshire.com yet?
glyn, could you please highlight what my 'misguided socialism' is please? I would like not to be typecast in all of this. After all, I have my own mind.
This is heaven - and a naggy comment from Bethan to really cheer me up - and she's objecting to be called a socialist.
And Trefor - there's Lisa, Dan, Suzy, - and that's only those I have worked very closely with.
Without vision we have no nation. Your dream is a good one. Stick at it.
Provocative post Glyn. Political blogging seems to be getting more interesting post election...
"hug people like Helen Mary, Leanne Wood and the new girl Bethan". you're a better man than most
There are too many to list Glyn- which proves what you are saying is right- we are developing an effective welsh centre-right alternative in Wales.
p.s. sorry to anybody I hadn't named earlier!!
Not to discourage you Glyn...but have a look at B&R. You beat the Libs on the list vote there as well.
Well done Glyn. The whole of Wales will be behind you.
Glyn, good move mate,
Matt Wright
Glyn do you know your posts are so bloody good Write a book
I am no tory but you could persuade me
You have heart and feelling for Wales and where we need to be
Go for it man dont be shy --as if
I would even move up there out of my precious valley to vote for you
Labour's spiteful decision not to allow people to stand for the list and constiuency meant that good people like yuorself Glyn had to choose. Mad. Bad for Welsh politics and Wales (not that Labour cares about that of course).
I think you should go for MP (and I'm not even a member of your party!). As a nationalist though, I'd prefere you were in Cardiff and not a faceless member in London. You could change things in Cardiff - you'll just be cannon-fodder (though of the nicest kind, of course) in London.
As I lifelong non-Tory (and an Englishman to boot - not literally, please!), I'm reappraising my allegiances. You'll get my vote, Mr Davies! Go for it! :)
Bearin gin mind Lembit Grope-it's behaviour, you'll win in Mont. And deserve it
and a naggy comment from Bethan to really cheer me up - and she's objecting to be called a socialist.'
Is that your answer then?! I was merely asking you to tell me how I am so miguided. I am not objecting to being called a socialist at all!
Thanks for your kind words on Radio Wales yesterday! Is this effort still in view of me coming over to the idea of a Tory/ plaid coalition?
Bethan, it could be - but I like your spark as well!
Glyn, You seemed surprised by the high regional vote for Montgomeryshire in your favour but if I can recount my experience perhaps others will see why this is so. To date you remain the only AM or MP who ever replied to a question I posted via e-mail Neither Lembit nor Mick responded. I haven't sent many and perhaps they were not important in the world order but it mattered to me. Your style appears to be constituency first and party politics second and in this new devolved era I am certain that is what people need; especially in our neck of the woods where it is difficult to see the benefits of the assembly at present. As a socialist I still voted for you via the regionals because I believe you care about Mid Wales and can see that the only way to make a difference is to listen first and act second. I would however caution you not to forget that what we need in Westminster is a voice and not a parrot for party leaders, as a previous blogger mentioned would being away in London appeal when a lot of work still needs to be done in the assembly. Finally it would ease my conscience if you'd stand as an independent, other than that I'll allow you your center right views, although Dai Cameron will probably drag you to the left anyway :)
The possiblility of your standing against the dread Lembit was the seconds hottest topic in Dyffryn Banw over the weekend, after Big Sister's sucess. (Actually, the break in at Llanerfyl Garage was more important than all politics but I digress). You would knock Lembit into a cocked hat, take half the Plaid vote and win by a mile. That's what I think and I'm impartial
Mi fydde ti'n weddol saff o ennill yn erbyn Lembit Glyn. Er nad ydw i "ar y dde" rydw i'n gweld hi'n beth iach i gael gwleidydd call fel ti yn rhan o drafodaethau dyfodol ein Cenedl ac felly byddai herio Lembit yn ffordd dra effeithiol o dy gael di yn ol i fywyd cyhoeddus. Pob hwyl.
I didn't know about Gwyndaf's break-in. You hear all the important news on the Blog.
Couldn't be an independent goughey - even if my colleages sometimes describe me as one. The Party is like a family - don't always agree but they are my team, for better or for worse.
The point about Westminster is a good point - and is the only reason I have not yet said that I will try to be selected by Montgomeryshire to fight the seat. Over the next few weeks I'll talk to my Westminster, Montgomeryshire and Wales friends to assess whether I could arrange my life to work for Wales and Montgomeryshire - if I were to be selected and then elected.
"highly likely to be a personal vote for me"
Don't you think that maybe the regional vote was rather a vote against the Liberal Democrat party in general, symbolised by their eminently popular standard bearer in the area, dearest Lembit?
Post a Comment