Nerys Going For It All

Nerys Evans, the Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, announced earlier that she hopes to change seats. The 30 year old who has sat in the Assembly since 2007 said on Twitter that she’s put her name forward for nomination in the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seat .

“have put my name forward for the #plaidcymru nomination for Carms West and South Pembs for the Assembly election.”

This isn’t the first high profile potential constituency swap at the next Assembly election – remember that attack by Alun Davies on Blaenau Gwent AM Trish Law? Its over a year now since he announced his intention to run for her seat. Interestingly 50% of the Mid and West Wales regional AMs are now contesting other seats in the 2011 election. I wonder if there’s something in the water...

This isn’t the start of a mass exodus of regional AMs challenging for constituency seats – Peter Black has already ruled out standing in Swansea West for example. But it may be an indication that AMs who are looking to climb the party ladder feel that being a constituency AM gives them more legitimacy.

So what are Nerys Evans’ chances in Carms West and South Pembs? Well in the last two Assembly elections Plaid Cymru have not been that far behind there. In 2007 Angela Burns won the seat with only 250 more votes than Plaid Cymru’s John Dixon. But Plaid Cymru came third. With the 2007 vote being such a close race - two parties on 29% and one on 30% - anything is possible.

Angela Burns should still feel quite confident however given that the Conservatives had a 9.8% swing to them in Carmarthen West last time around. It makes even better reading for the Conservatives if you look at the Westminster election results there. Plaid Cymru nowhere near the top spot – fighting it out with the Lib Dems for third place.

So why take the risk? As the top name on Plaid's Mid and West list Nerys Evans is pretty much guaranteed to hold onto her seat in 2011. If Nerys Evans was moving to a safe Plaid constituency you could understand – but Carmarthen West? Am I perhaps being too cynical about politics? Could it be that as a local girl Nerys Evans just wants to fight for the chance to represent her local area?

Whatever the rationale behind it this is a big gamble by Nerys Evans. If it pays off it may give her more credibility as she moves up the Plaid ranks. But if it doesn’t - one of Plaid Cymru’s rising stars will be out in the cold this time next year.

Dewi Un

P.S Nerys Evans has yet to win the nomination –she has simply put herself forward.

A Dewi Meets Dai Lloyd

Following our interview with Mohammad Asghar.

Dewi Un sat down with Dai Lloyd to find out Plaid Cymru's response to his colleague's defection to the Welsh Conservatives.



Y Dewis

Today of all days

It’s been a busy day down the Senedd today; after the morning winds had calmed down we took some time out, had a cup of tea, and reflected on the day’s events.

Today was supposed to be all about Rhodri’s last question time and his last moments as First Minister and in all honesty it was. That’s what the record books will remember and by the close of play today that’s what was on the minds of those still milling around.

However the Welsh Conservatives did upset the applecart a little earlier with their shock announcement that caught all of us, including Plaid Cymru, off guard.

So why today? Considering the party had managed to keep the whole thing such a secret for some time the decision to announce this morning was obviously calculated. I assumed initially, and still believe, that this was a plan to steal some headlines and air time away from Rhodri and the Labour party. Think about it, the Conservatives must be fed up of all the coverage the Labour party have had over the past few months what with the election campaign and all. This was a great opportunity to share some of the limelight.

However whilst a defection is good news for the Conservatives, given the unresolved issues surrounding the defection (staffing issues e.t.c) and Oscar’s ability (or lack of) to communicate to camera, were the Conservatives were actually trying to bury the news a touch? After all instead of a full 3 minute piece on the news you were now more likely to simply get a 30 second clip...

It doesn’t really matter what their motives were I suppose the facts remain the same – but I thought it an interesting consideration and one you may like to ponder over a cup of tea yourselves.

Dewi Un

"The people of the South Wales region did not want a second Tory AM"

Here's Plaid's response (in full) to Mohammad Asghar's defection:

The Leader of Plaid Cymru Ieuan Wyn Jones AM has responded with surprise and disappointment to the news that Mohammad Asghar, the Assembly Member for South Wales East has left Plaid Cymru to join the Conservative group in the Assembly.

Mr Asghar was elected to represent the South Wales East region on behalf of Plaid Cymru in 2007. The Plaid Leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

“We very much regret Mohammad Asghar’s decision and it comes as a shock to members both of the Plaid Cymru group and the wider party. We were particularly surprised to hear of this news from the media. We were very proud of the fact that in campaigning hard for Mohammad Asghar’s election in 2007 that Plaid Cymru ensured the first ever Assembly Member from the black minority ethnic community. It is has come as a shock that he has now decided that he shares the same values as those held by the Conservative and Unionist party.”

The Chair of the Plaid Cymru group Dai Lloyd said:

“We now call on Mohammad Asghar to take the honourable decision to resign his seat as a Plaid Cymru AM. The people of the South Wales region did not want a second Tory AM to represent the area – they elected a Plaid Cymru AM. Mr Asghar does not have the political mandate to sit in the Assembly as a Conservative member for the South East.”

Dewi Tri

Mohammad Asghar Crosses the Floor!

The lobby were in for a huge surprise at this morning's Tory briefing.

The entire Tory group (led by Nick Bourne and Cheryl Gillan) packed out the media room too announce that Plaid Cymru AM Mohammad Asghar would be joining their group for the remainder of the Assembly.

He says his feelings jar more and more with his Plaid party who selected him as a list member for the 2007 Assembly Election in South East Wales...

He hasn't told Ieuan Wyn Jones yet.

Expect a day of high drama in Cardiff Bay...

Dewi Tri

ADD: Believe it or not even though Mohammad Asghar is a list member for Plaid Cymru in South East Wales he is allowed to switch parties.

Once a member is elected, he or she is elected but if he was to stand down Plaid would be allowed to nominate the successor to that seat.

On an interesting note, apparently Nick Ramsey was spotted moving out of his office late last night possibly to make way for their party’s latest addition...

Carmarthen East and Dinefwr - not in the bag?

So we now know pretty much who the runners and riders are not only in the Labour leadership race, but in the race for selection in Carmarthenshire East and Dinefwr. What is seen by many as a safe Plaid seat (I’ll come on to this later) sounds like an ideal place for a Plaid candidate to stand.

The big guns to watch out for: Angharad Mair and Jonathan Edwards, I expect the race to effectively come down to these two, and I expect the winner to be pretty pleased. How often does a safe seat come up for grabs months before an election? Or is it a safe seat?

The facts are that Adam Price managed to take the traditionally Labour seat in 2001 and extended his majority from 2,590 to 6,718 in 2005. Adam Price is a local boy who went to school locally and whose parents live locally. Given the boundary changes in 1997 this local link becomes far more important. Why’s that then? Well now Ammanford and Llandeilo are the two biggest towns / population centres in the constituency and both are fairly intimate places – where mostly everyone knows pretty much everyone else, so local links and empathy for local issues become very important here. An absence of this cost the Labour campaign dearly in 2005 where the candidate was seen to have been parachuted in from London.

The constituency has a strong Labour tradition, Plaid managed to win the seat in 2001 because of a combination of a message that was more left wing than the Labour Party and a candidate with strong local roots who was brought up in the area (plus aforementioned boundary changes).

Coming from Glanamman myself I’ve spent some time talking to locals gathering their opinions. My findings are: There is not necessarily a loyalty to Plaid Cymru here, there is however a loyalty to Adam Price.

My point is - this is not Meirionnydd. There is no definite / concrete affiliation with Plaid Cymru here.

All of which means that Carmarthen East and Dinefwr could be up for grabs - making the selection of a candidate for Plaid Cymru all the more important. Angharad Mair, I am told, may well alienate the voters who feel, just as they did with Ross Hendry in 2005, that she has been parachuted in.

However with Labour’s inner party workings in Wales a mess, and their election coffers bare, it may be that they just don’t have the cash to support a push out West – which makes this entire article rather academic – so I suppose in classic Politics Cymru style, we shall have to wait and see....

Dewi Un

Plaid's Stance on Nuclear?

Lord Elis-Thomas opened the new storage facility at Trawsfynydd today.

He used the occasion to throw his support behind a new reactor for Wylfa B on Anglesey – which is also causing his Plaid colleague Ieuan Wyn Jones a headache or two because according to Plaid’s 2005 manifesto the party "does not support new nuclear power stations, particularly as civil nuclear power fuels nuclear weapons development; is heavily subsidised; and cannot safely dispose of the highly toxic waste".

How does that work then?

They’re facing a problem because these sites are massive employers in the local areas, particularly Wylfa which is situated on an island short of good news stories as far as jobs are concerned of late.

Plaid, in short, are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Dewi Tri

Making a Difference

At this point I would like to reiterate that Politics Cymru is an impartial and non partisan blog that tells things as we see them. We have no agenda to push and no ego’s to massage, but as bloggers, commentators and journalists we just sometimes have to give credit where credit’s due.

The conference season is upon us and being unable to join Politics Cymru’s North Wales correspondent Dewi Tri up in Llandudno I’m casting an eagle eye over proceedings from afar (via Twitter, bloggers, insiders and other social networking sites).

So here it is, this video by Plaid Cymru shows just how far ahead they are (of the other parties) in terms of thinking outside the traditional box of electioneering. Regardless of whether you agree with the message contained within the video itself (which can be picked apart) you surely must agree with me that stylistically it’s spot on. Compare that with most of the tripe that other parties put out there as propaganda it’s in a class of its own. Clearly Plaid Cymru has spent a considerable amount of time (and probably money) on this. It impressed me from its use of camera shots, its use of music and the evident care taken in post production. It almost doesn’t look like a political video (which is an achievement in its own right).

The question we here at Politics Cymru have been asking for ages is when will the other parties make at least some attempt to try and catch up? I’m not suggesting that the upcoming General Election will be won or lost because of one posh video, but I am saying that Plaid are clearly more in touch with the new methods of vote winning that could sway a fairly sizeable portion of the Welsh electorate. Given that the Welsh battleground is particularly close that could make the difference between 3 MPs and (as Ron Davies suggested) 8 MPs.

So what have the others been doing? To be fair it looks as if their at least trying. This video by Welsh Labour is quite nice if a bit dull, if you want to watch all of Cameron Direct in Rhyl (I’m sure someone does) then you can do so here at the conservative site and for Lib Dem TV click here. However do you also get the feeling that the others aren’t taking this quite as seriously as Plaid?

It may be that videos like this have no impact whatsoever on the elections outcome. Because at the end of the day the vast majority will decide who they vote for based on the issues. However a lot of those people are often torn between two parties who are particularly close on certain issues and so it could be that a video like this one might just make a difference (I couldn’t help myself).

Dewi Un

(Just saying what I see)

Plaid look north

It’s good to be back! And as Dewi Un blogged earlier I’m now up north – away from the goings on in Cardiff Bay.

Luckily this week the politics has come to me! Across the corridor from where Venue Cymru are launching this year’s pantomime season (and where I had a very strange lunch complete with Christmas trees and mince pies), Plaid Cymru are holding their annual conference.

In the politics panto, Plaid were setting themselves up this morning as the hero of the piece while the Tories are the evil stepmother and Labour takes the role of the bumbling Buttons…

Picking Llandudno for their conference, its clear Plaid’s sights this week are set on grabbing hold of voters disillusioned with the mainstream and looking for something different!

They’ve traditionally had a stronghold in the North West, now they’re looking for a foothold in the North East…

Helen Mary Jones told a press conference this morning that the most dangerous thing right now for the Welsh health service would be a Conservative administration in Westminster – because, she says, the Assembly is so dependent upon how much the Westminster administration spends to determine their own budget (tax raising powers in Wales would also help!).

Later in the day former Labour SoS Ron Davies told Plaid members that the birth of New Labour had meant the death of Old Labour values and that the time was nigh for another party to step in and become THE party of Wales.

It’s shaping up to be an interesting conference so far…the speeches start tomorrow!

Dewi Tri

Plaid’s dissolution motion fails

340 MPs voted against the joint Plaid and SNP bid to try and force Gordon Brown into calling an ‘early’ election; with 268 in support. Watching the debate today it was plain to see that it had come a few days too late. Despite the presence of some big hitting backbenchers there was a distinct lack of any party leaders - leaving Peter Hain, William Hague and Lembit Opik as the foremost members from each of the major parties at the debate.

Had convention allowed for the debate to be held in the midst of the reshuffle and the not so coup d’etat then perhaps it’s significance would have been greater, but as it was - with Gordon Brown now on a surer footing and the rebels putting away their knifes, the appetite for cross bench voting had diminished.

When the debate focused on the issues (and not descending into pot-shots between Labour and the nationalists) it was interesting to hear the arguments from both sides of the commons. Peter Hain insisting that the lesson from the European election debacle was to focus on governing, the opposition claiming that not calling an election was pure selfishness.

It now looks like Gordon is safe until at least October, I also get the feeling that he’s going to cling on as long as humanly possible in the hope that an economic recovery saves his job. The 29 Welsh MPs will be praying along with him, hoping that an upturn stops the electoral catastrophe that's staring them in the face after Sunday's results.

Dewi Un

Motion for Dissolution of Parliament

“That this House requests the Prime Minister to seek a dissolution of the present Parliament”

That's the motion Plaid and the SNP have put before Westminster today. It's due to be debated in Parliament shortly.

Here's what Plaid's leader in Westminster, Elfyn Llwyd has been saying:

"Plaid Cymru and the SNP are giving Parliament the chance to give the people back their say – and this can only be the beginning of a shake-up in the political system. We need reform of MPs' expenses, the first-past-the-post system, a fully elected House of Lords, a fixed term Parliament, and in Wales, a referendum on full law-making powers."

But will the big man be there? Mr Llwyd's not too sure:

"With such an important debate, I would presume that the Prime Minister would be in attendance, especially given the current amount of interest in Parliament and from the media.

"However, unfortunately the Prime Minister has a record of not being around when the going gets tough - and tomorrow may be no different."

Plaid promise us, "this debate will be a reflection of the extent of concern currently surrounding the state of Parliament as expressed by the public. " Not sure we should be expecting egg-throwing but it should be quite exciting!

We'll keep you up to date here on Politics Cymru and on Twitter.

*Update :15:25

In response to Gordon Brown's statement this morning, Mr Llwyd said:

"The proposed reforms are overdue but at least this is a start and I’m pleased that the impetus is now there to get things moving. We will repeat calls this afternoon for the dissolution of Parliament and a General Election. Reforms need to be implemented but through an inclusive and wider discussion process. "

The Prime Minister announced this morning that a referendum to change the voting system could take place - but only after the next General Election. He also told MPs a debate on legislation regarding MPs' code of conduct in light of recent revelations would also happen.

"Plaid have emphasised the need for a referendum to give the public a say on important democratic issues including: the present voting system, the power of the Whips, the Royal prerogative and calling for a fixed term parliament," said Mr Llwyd.

"Real electoral and expenses reform at Westminster is long overdue, but by addressing these measures we can begin to rebuild the public’s trust," he added.

Predictably the Plaid MP for Dwyfor and Meirionydd has also pre-empted a defeat in the Commons tonight when the Plaid/SNP motion is due to be voted upon:

"Even if we lose the vote tonight, we will have sparked a debate about the wider constitutional issues as Mr Brown has already demonstrated," said Mr Llwyd.

Dewi Dau

Parti Plaid - sgwrs efo IWJ a Jill Evans

Un sedd yn unig gawson nhw ond heddiw roedd byddin y Blaid allan i ddathlu ei llwyddiant yn yr etholiadau Ewropeaidd.

Roedd y baneri allan a Ieuan Wyn Jones yn wen o glust i glust wrth gyflwyno tusw lliwgar iawn o flodau i ASE Plaid Cymru, Jill Evans.

Mi fues i’n siarad efo’r ddau ohonyn nhw wedi i’r dathliad ddod i ben.

Dyma'r sgwrs efo arweinydd Plaid Cymru, Ieuan Wyn Jones. Fe ddechreuais i drwy ofyn iddo am ei ymateb i ganlyniadau'r etholiadau:



A dyma ddywedodd Jill Evans wrtha'i pan ofynais i iddi hithau am ei hymateb:



Dewi Dau

Plaid Cymru's Election Party

The flags were out and so were all the usual suspects. Plaid Cymru had rounded up all the troops for their election party today where Jill Evans MEP was presented with a most impressive bouquet of flowers following her vctory in yesterday's election.

But did the party really have cause for celebration? Should they not have done better given the problems facing the major parties in Westminster at the moment? And what does UKiP's success mean for Wales?

Those are a few of the questions I put to Plaid Cymru leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones:



I also spoke to the party's MEP, Jill Evans:



Dewi Dau

Plaid Cymru calls for General Election

So how many of you ticked the "Yes! C'mon Gordon!" box in our recent poll on whether it was time for the PM to call a General Election?

Well those of you did might just get your wish. Next week Plaid Cymru and the SNP are preparing to put David Cameron and Nick Clegg on the spot in a bid to get parliament dissolved.

They plan on using their allotted speaking time in Westminster to force this issue and will look for support on this from Conservative and Liberal forces.

This is what Plaid's Elfyn Llwyd has been saying today - he's got big plans for us all!

“This would be a precursor to a root and branch reform of the political system in Westminster.

“We in Plaid Cymru have long raised the issue of reform of the House of Lords but also reform of the first past the post system to a more democratic means of securing that membership of Parliament better reflects society.

“We also firmly believe that the time has come for fixed parliaments in Westminster and curbing the Royal prerogative. The expenses scandal is merely the boil on the skin of Parliament - much more in depth attention is required.”

In the meantime, the SNP's Angus Robertson says:

"This dissolution motion is about confidence in the whole Westminster political system which has been mired in the expenses scandal.

"The only way to sort this mess out is for Parliament to be dissolved and for the people to have their say in a general election. There can be no argument against the entire House of Commons submitting itself to a vote of the people who elected them.

"This political crisis was created by politicians, and the SNP and Plaid Cymru will give Parliament the chance to give the people their say."

This is of course a line that could well attract widespread support: people across the country (as any of you who watched last night's Pawb a'i Farn will know) are annoyed with the current scandal and would love the chance to tell their elected representatives exactly what they think of them.

But is this really the right thing for Britain's nationalist parties to be calling for? It's difficult to imagine a Tory government - and it remains likely that that is what we would have if a general election took place now - supporting nationalists' calls for further devolution/independence.

Is this merely political point scoring from Plaid and the SNP in the run up to the European elections? Could their strategy backfire spectacularly?

Thoughts?

Dewi Dau

This just in: Twitterview with Jill Evans MEP

For those of you following us on Twitter this lunchtime you'll have seen our Twitterview with Jill Evans MEP! For those of you who missed it - where were you?! But you can read it in full here (and make sure you're following us tomorrow for our Twitterview with Alan Butt-Philip):

Before the Twitterview Dewis 1, 2 and 3 would like to say hello to the regulars! Also @egrommet @Marcuswarner @aledwg @aliguana @huwthomas

Just waiting for Jill then we'll get going with the World's first ever Twitterview...in Wales! about 1 hour ago from web

@politics_cymru Helo - barod i fynd. Hello - ready to go #pctv

@europlaid Siwmae Jill! How has the campaign been going so far? #pctv #plaidcymru about 1 hour ago from web

@politics_cymru #pctv Really good! Lots of support all over the country. Nice to be doing something a bit different today!about 1 hour ago from web

@europlaid Let's crack on then! Thanks to @Marcuswarner: being a minority party in Europe, do you think you lack influence? #pctv about 1 hour ago from web

@politics_cymru #pctv Ha ha! No, we punch above our weight. Euro' funding, EIB, local food, Workers' rights, Welsh lang status and on & onabout 1 hour ago from web

@europlaid So do you really stand a chance of getting a second MEP then? #pctv43 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru #pctv YES!about 1 hour ago from web

@europlaid Even if the turnout's low? #pctv 41 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru I hope turn-out isn't low although I fear it might be. The Labour vote is collapsing. People trust Plaid Cymru #pctv42 minutes ago from web

@europlaid Do people really trust any politicians right now? #pctv36 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru Some have behaved disgracefully. I have campaigned for reform and greater transparency. Hopefully this will now occur #pctv37 minutes ago from web

@europlaid In that case from @PhilBowen how can you regain the trust of the voting public? #pctv30 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru By radically reforming the system, being open and honest and putting people of Wales first #pctv34 minutes ago from web

@europlaid from @aledwg, in fallout of expenses scandal how worried are you about the threat from extremist parties? #pctv28 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru I have faith in the values and traditions of the people of Wales who will shun the lies and racism of the far right #pctv30 minutes ago from web

@EuroPlaid But are you doing anything to actively discourage people from turning to the extremists? #pctv 23 minutes ago from web in reply to EuroPlaid

@politics_cymru Yes, by winning the argument year in, year out & promoting our vision 4 Wales.This is who I am and why I'm in politics #pctv 26 minutes ago from web

RT @Plaid_Cymru Jill Twitterweliad / Twitterview : http://www.flickr.com/photo... #pctv 20 minutes ago from web

@europlaid from @annahwt Do you consider the EP to be giving sufficient weight to climate change issues? #pctv19 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru No. Labour and the Tories must stop blocking stronger laws. The EU should be leading the way. Much done but more needed#pctv22 minutes ago from web

@EuroPlaid So will that be a part of your focus over the next 5 years? #pctv14 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru It has been for the last 10 years and will be for the next 5. The climate & economic crises must be tackled together #pctv16 minutes ago from web

@EuroPlaid (that's if you're elected of course) #pctv12 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru Of course #pctv14 minutes ago from web

@europlaid from @aliguana Is Wales respected in Europe as a country, or a region of England? #pctv10 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru Increasingly so but we don't enjoy the benefits of Member-Statehood yet (no. of MEPs, Commissioner, vote @ Council etc #pctv9 minutes ago from web

@europlaid So thanks for your time Jill! Do you think this has been a success? Will we be seeing more ‘Twitterviews’ in the future? #pctv3 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru Thanks for the opportunity...an European first for Plaid again! How about a post-election twitterview? #pctv8 minutes ago from web

@europlaid We look forward to that then! #pctv2 minutes ago from web

@politics_cymru So that's a yes! Hwyl fawr :) #pctv6 minutes ago from web

Thanks to everyone who got involved! Diolch yn fawr iawn! We're doing it all again tomorrow with Lib Dem’s @alanbp so join us at 2pm! Hwyl!half a minute ago from web

Y Tri Dewi

Plaid to Royal Mail: Stop Distributing Illegal BNP Leaflets!

Plaid Cymru has today called on the Royal Mail to stop distributing BNP leaflets.

Research by Plaid Cymru has shown that the BNP “supporters” quoted on their election address are in fact stock photos from istockphoto.com.

The party believes the BNP's leaflets break electoral guidelines and are therefore illegal and this is why Adam Price, the party's Director of Election has called on the Royal Mail to put an end to the distribution of BNP flyers.

The leaflet is in the process of being delivered to millions of homes in the UK. It includes pictures of a doctor, a group of "British" workers and an elderly couple. All the individuals are quoted as giving their support to the BNP.

However, according to Plaid, the doctor - who claims he will be “voting BNP” - is a model. The elderly couple - quoted as saying they want to see pensioners put before asylum seekers - are the parents of photographer, Luca di Fillippo, and it is alleged the “British” workers actually posed for Boone Rodriguez: a photographer based in Portland, Oregon.

So, it appears that none of the photographed individuals are British or supporters of the BNP.

Here's Adam Price:

"On their leaflets they [the BNP] use a series of photos of supposed BNP supporters. However the truth is that the ‘British’ workers in front of the union jack are actually American builders on a site in the USA. The ‘doctor’ who says ‘he’s voting BNP’ is actually a stock photo of an American actor, who probably has never heard of the BNP and I would be very surprised if he was eligible to vote here. The pensioners featured in the leaflet were totally unaware that their photo has been used on this leaflet in such a way.

"It is a sick irony that the people photographed, and indeed the photographers are from other countries - the very people that the BNP seeks to demonize."

Mr Price insists circulation of the leaflet must end:

"These leaflets hideously misrepresent the views of the people photographed. I believe that they have breached the guidelines set out for electoral communications and I call on the Royal Mail to stop their distribution immediately."

We have contacted the BNP for a response to these comments and will post their reaction once we have it! In the meantime, what are your thoughts?

Dewi Dau

p.s. iStock's Content license agreement states that a client may not "use or display any Content that features a model or person in a manner that (i) would lead a reasonable person to think that such person uses or personally endorses any business, product, service, cause, association or other endeavour;"

Plaid Cymru - the party of "poodles"

So Plaid have done it. They've voted strongly in favour of Labour's plans to introduce top-up fees in Wales for Welsh students.

Today in the Senedd Peter Black called on the Assembly to reverse its decision to scrap the tuition fees grant.

Only two Plaid AMs voted in favour of Mr. Black's proposal. (No prizes for guessing who they were!)

This goes against what the party's membership had hoped for and asks more questions of Plaid's role in government.

"Compromise" and "pragmatism" - those are the two words Plaid's Chairman, John Dixon has consistently used in debates on this issue. "Propping up a Labour government" is the counter-argument.

Here's Kirsty Williams' response to today's vote:

"We proposed this motion today because we believe access to education is a principle worth fighting for. We know that many Plaid Cymru Assembly Members feel the same and that their supporters voted for them because they promised and end to top-up fees.

"Today was a chance for redemption, for Plaid to say sorry and back Welsh students. Instead they chose to play the poodle, to climb so far into bed with Labour that you wouldn't know there's two different parties playing under the sheets."

Here's what one of the Plaid rebels*, Bethan Jenkins, has to say on the matter:

"I recognise that being in government means making difficult decisions. Although I can see where the Government is coming from in this decision to an extent, I can’t support the ending of the tuition fee grant.

"While I understand that the majority of my fellow Plaid members will accept the constraints, and the need to compromise that comes with being a party in government, I am grateful that the group understands my position and have accepted that two of us will be voting differently on this occasion."

*Is it fair to call a politician who sticks to the party's manifesto and election commitments a rebel? Just a thought.

Dewi Dau

Picture used courtesy of Contadini @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/92305862@N00/422417777/

The two Dafydds 10 years on

This just in from Plaid Cymru's honorary president, Dafydd Wigley:

"10 years ago today was one of the most exciting days in my political career.

For over 70 years Plaid had been campaigning for a Welsh Parliament and despite its weaknesses, which were apparent even then, the prospect of Welsh politicians finally being responsible for the destiny of our nation was truly remarkable.

Of course we all had to wait until the following day for the count to take place but it was possible to sense the silent earthquake that was on its way and everyone knew that Welsh politics would never be the same again."

Lovely stuff. Nice to see a political figure able to forget about partisan divides on a day like today, when all four parties will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Assembly's first elections.

But then the party's actual president, Dafydd Iwan has also had his say:

"I, along with many others who had campaigned for a Welsh parliament for so long, saw 1999 as a great step forward.

But be under no illusion, there are still many vital steps ahead of us until Wales gets what it deserves.

For most of the last ten years, we have had weak Labour governments in Westminster and Cardiff who have failed to deliver for the people of Wales.

We now need real powers for the Assembly to defend us from the whims of future Tory or Labour governments in London."

Never mind, I suppose politics just wouldn't be politics without a bit of politics.

Dewi Dau

A Tale of Two Speeches

Apologies for the delay in posting this, I'm currently sunning myself abroad (slight hint of smugness there) and have had a nightmare with the local internet connection - let's just say it's a bit ropey. So, four days late, here are some of my thoughts on the Plaid spring conference.

There were two moments that stuck in my mind that showed the two sides of Plaid Cymru and when put side by side show an interesting contradiction at the heart of the party.

First we have Simon Wooley. The head of Operation Black Vote strutted on to the stage with a confidence and an aura that I have never witnessed before. He very deliberately adjusted his glass of water before turning to address the crowd. The invitation offered to Mr Woolley to attend the conference shows Plaid's progressive nature, the party eager to be seen working with a key player in the modernisation of politics.

Initially you could sense an anxiety amongst the crowd: here was a cockney, who mispronounced Dafydd Ellis Thomas's name and was insistent that everybod gave people they didn't know a round of applause. You could almost hear the Plaid members think "Ble ma Dafydd Iwan wedi mynd?" - "Where has Dafydd Iwan gone?" (Plaid's president was the previous speaker.)

But then he spoke, and my goodness did he speak. Simon Woolley spoke was so self-assured, he had a passion that commanded not only the stage but the whole room and he soon had the audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Everybody clapped when they should, laughed at appropriate times, nodded in agreement and sat silent when he emphasised the poignancy of his message. Woolley praised Plaid Cymru's efforts to have more ethnic minority members in elected office but he also said that they, along with everyone else, must do more to improve the representation of non-white ethnic groups in politics.

I have seen a lot of public speakers (I have been to Canada to represent Wales in that very discipline) but I have never in my life been so taken, so drawn to, and so impassioned by a speaker. He was driven to be a "warrior for change" and everyone who saw him speak that day would find it difficult not to be drawn to his message of social justice. He overran by a good five minutes but no one cared (apart from the impressive Plaid machinery based next to Dewi Dau and myself): he got a standing ovation......

And then we had Ieuan.

Where Plaid were progressive with their choice of Simon Woolley, Ieuan Wyn Jones' speech showed the opposite end of the Plaid spectrum.

Tired politics: attack, attack, attack. Plaid Cymru's leader reminded me of a Jack Russel biting at the heels of his owner. He slated Gordon Brown, he slated the Tories, harped back to Thatcher, slated the Liberals and even Plaid's so called partners in Government, Rhodri Morgan's Labour Party.

How can you in one sentence praise the work of the One Wales Government and in the next slag off the Welsh Labour Party? It seems to me that the Deputy First Minister missed an opportunity to be positive and forward-looking, it was almost as if he had decided to take the easy way out.

He may have got several rounds of applause mid-sentence (all started by Helen Mary Jones I might add) and a massive standing ovation, but it didn't feel authentic.

But then he did have quite an act to follow.

Dewi Un

TwoDewis@#plaidconf.cym

Slick, modern, professional, well-organised, fresh.

Those are just a few of the words I had scribbled down in my notepad at Plaid's spring conference yesterday.

There are people across Britain and even here in Wales who view Plaid as a narrow-minded, inward-looking, backward party. Any such perceptions would have been blown way if those same people had been at UWIC yesterday.

Plaid had promised that this conference would be one of the most interactive ever. It's certainly difficult to see how this event could have been any more interactive. There was a compulsive Twitterer - including the father of the blogosphere, Iain Dale - in every corner and each update was pooled into one page using the hashtag (I still don't get this), #plaidconf. As a result anyone wanting to follow events from afar could simply log on to http://www.plaidlive.com/ for a live stream of often humourous updates.

As Adam Price gave his predictably motivational speech, I glanced to my right to find Bethan Jenkins, AM blogging away - offering a live interpretation of the MP's words. In her speech Ms Jenkins confirmed everybody's suspicions, stating quite confidently that Saunders Lewis was never on Twitter or Facebook! But she said this is a party that has never been afraid to try new things and suggested this new interaction between the party and its supporters will encourage transparency and openness.

Everywhere you looked modern technology was being used to excellent effect. Sat at the back close to the team managing the whole operation and led by Plaid's impressive campaigns officer, Morgan Lloyd, Dewi Un and myself were amazed at the organisation and sophistication of the process. There were vision mixers, audio operators and of course an indefatigable Twitterer in amongst them. Jingles were played between items and videos on the big screen introduced speakers.

Dewi Un and I asked a few of the delegates what they thought of this new emphasis on using modern technology and the general consensus was positive for the party. Members told us they recognised the need to embrace these opportunities and saw their advantages, particularly in attracting younger supporters. (Youthful - that's another word I had written down.)

There were a few who still favour the tried and tested formula of knocking on doors mainly because they have no idea about computers. This is something the party will have to be wary of. Plaid can't abandon the old ways and risk losing the support of older members of society. Rather it must look to supplement the old ways with these new exciting opportunties. However as was pointed out (oh, so frequently) yesterday, the web-based formula is also tried and tested. Afterall this is the forumla credited with giving America its first black president.

Peter Hain and Eluned Morgan's infamous Delilah video, was supposed to be Labour's 'Obama moment'. That attempt at using the web was ridiculed at yesterday's conference. And with good reason. If any party has been able to grasp the opportunities offered by the web, it is Plaid and they must be praised for that. Even Iain Dale readily conceded that Plaid Cymru are "streets ahead" in their use of modern technology.

Plaid Cymru may yet look back at this conference as its 'Obama moment' - the moment when perceptions changed and the party was praised for its readiness to change with the times.

Dewi Dau

P.S. Leader of the Plaid group on Cardiff Council, Neil McEvoy also reiterated the party's support to the '.cym' campaign - another example of PC using the web to further their own ambitions.