He's never really had the presentational skills of his predecessor. If he had seen the opportunity Gordon Brown's speech yesterday would have finished with him being draped in a Union Jack with red, white and blue ticker tape descending and a rapturous crowd bellowing Land of Hope and Glory.
The UberBrit firmly cemented the New Labour & Unionist Party's place on the right of the political firmament and ensured that whenever the Westminster Election comes along it will be fought as much on the Constitution as on any other issue. He's desperate to give the SNP a kicking in his own backyard and to quell demands for enhanced devolution in Wales by raising the spectre of fragmentation and the loss of everything that is "Great" about Britain.
Plaid's response should be simple. If he wants an election fought on the Constitution, bring it on!
Coupled with the sad rantings of Eluned Morgan today - arguing for Labour in Wales to lurch to the right in order to occupy the "centre ground" - not on the basis of any principle or analysis of Welsh needs, but in order to appeal to an electorate that seems to be deserting them - this should be a fun election for Plaid. Unequivocally the only left of centre party remaining, Plaid's leadership should relish the prospect of an election where they can openly propound a full National Parliament led by a Welsh Socialist Government. And let Eluned and the others flounder in the murky grey water - that once was almost clear red - between UberBrit and Welsh Labour.
Tuesday 25 September 2007
Sunday 23 September 2007
A Coalition for the Future, not Apologists for the Past
Well we’ve lived with coalition government for a week now and the universe hasn’t ground to a halt! Yes I know the coalition was agreed and cabinet announced months ago - but that was just a green light for individual ministers to assume responsibility and to operate within their portfolios. (and during that period Elin Jones has excelled in the unexpected and unwelcome spotlight of foot & mouth). But collective responsibility in Government demands a team approach, and as the cabinet has only just met for the first time, and the Assembly has only just reconvened after a summer hiatus, it is fair to say that it is only now that the coalition exists.
Of course the summer should have given all parties time for reflection on how they behave and position themselves for the new reality. What evidence has there been of such cogitation? Clearly there are elements within the Labour Party who are still struggling with the concept. Heading straight into the conference season has meant that Peter Hain and others have to play to gallery of their own disgruntled members who find it so difficult to accept that we have a Government that actually reflects the will of the electorate. Politics will always attract empty posturing. It's embittered posturing that's dangerous.
Within Plaid there has been some sense of euphoria about being in Government for the first time. Llandudno at times turned into a canonisation of Ieuan Wyn in spite of his undoubted personal preference for the abortive Rainbow deal.
The Tories, meanwhile, are sharpening their swords and revelling in the prospect of being the official opposition. Look out for aggressive (and self righteous) scrutiny of the Government for the next four years.
While the Lib Dems will do nothing until they've resolved their leadership vacuum both in Cardiff and Westminster. And they'll struggle even then.
But early signs of Plaid's behaviour in Government might be a bit disturbing. The readiness of Plaid Mininsters (notably Ieuan) to defend statistics and analyses that were challengable in opposition and remain challengable today does not bode well. Coalition is about a new form of Government that starts from now. There should be no obligation on any Minister to defend that which has gone before. That perpetuates the shallowness of politics. Draw a line in the sand and create a new era in Welsh politics in which Plaid retains its independent critique of what has gone before while setting its stamp on future direction that is a clear distillation of the best of both Labour and Plaid. Display collective responsibility for the present and the future by all means. But please don't insult the people by leaping to the defence of the rejected Labour administration.
Of course the summer should have given all parties time for reflection on how they behave and position themselves for the new reality. What evidence has there been of such cogitation? Clearly there are elements within the Labour Party who are still struggling with the concept. Heading straight into the conference season has meant that Peter Hain and others have to play to gallery of their own disgruntled members who find it so difficult to accept that we have a Government that actually reflects the will of the electorate. Politics will always attract empty posturing. It's embittered posturing that's dangerous.
Within Plaid there has been some sense of euphoria about being in Government for the first time. Llandudno at times turned into a canonisation of Ieuan Wyn in spite of his undoubted personal preference for the abortive Rainbow deal.
The Tories, meanwhile, are sharpening their swords and revelling in the prospect of being the official opposition. Look out for aggressive (and self righteous) scrutiny of the Government for the next four years.
While the Lib Dems will do nothing until they've resolved their leadership vacuum both in Cardiff and Westminster. And they'll struggle even then.
But early signs of Plaid's behaviour in Government might be a bit disturbing. The readiness of Plaid Mininsters (notably Ieuan) to defend statistics and analyses that were challengable in opposition and remain challengable today does not bode well. Coalition is about a new form of Government that starts from now. There should be no obligation on any Minister to defend that which has gone before. That perpetuates the shallowness of politics. Draw a line in the sand and create a new era in Welsh politics in which Plaid retains its independent critique of what has gone before while setting its stamp on future direction that is a clear distillation of the best of both Labour and Plaid. Display collective responsibility for the present and the future by all means. But please don't insult the people by leaping to the defence of the rejected Labour administration.
Thursday 13 September 2007
Plaid Peers?
Interesting to see that Elfyn Llwyd has resurrected the argument about sending Plaid peers to the House of Lords. I wonder if it will generate the same level of rhetoric and emotion as the last time this was debated. In those days the House of Lords was still heavily dominated by hereditary peers and it was pre-assembly. The new debate needs to take account of changed circumstances.
The reform of the House of Lords is very very far from complete. There is still no democratic argument than can support giving someone a seat in a legislative chamber for the rest of their lives. There is still no democratic argument for appointments to that chamber being made by patronage alone. But equally there is no argument for Plaid Cymru to deliberately absent itself from any legislative chamber, however dubious its democratic credentials, if that body has the potential to influence the well being of the people of Wales.
Strangely, in this new era of devolved politics, the argument for a Plaid presence in Westminster's Second Chamber is stronger than ever. The Government of Wales Act has an inbuilt tension between the legislative ambitions of the National Assembly, and the frustrations of Welsh Labour MP's bereft of a meaningful role in so many domestic issues. When those frustrations spill over into blocking Assembly measures - and it is already mooted that this might well occur given the aspirations of Rhodri Glyn for a new Welsh Language Act - the need for alternative strategies, including creative use of the second chamber becomes a necessity rather than a nicety.
And isn't there a wonderful irony in using the least democratic legislative chamber in Western Europe to safeguard the emergent democracy of Wales and strike a blow for meaningful devolution?
The reform of the House of Lords is very very far from complete. There is still no democratic argument than can support giving someone a seat in a legislative chamber for the rest of their lives. There is still no democratic argument for appointments to that chamber being made by patronage alone. But equally there is no argument for Plaid Cymru to deliberately absent itself from any legislative chamber, however dubious its democratic credentials, if that body has the potential to influence the well being of the people of Wales.
Strangely, in this new era of devolved politics, the argument for a Plaid presence in Westminster's Second Chamber is stronger than ever. The Government of Wales Act has an inbuilt tension between the legislative ambitions of the National Assembly, and the frustrations of Welsh Labour MP's bereft of a meaningful role in so many domestic issues. When those frustrations spill over into blocking Assembly measures - and it is already mooted that this might well occur given the aspirations of Rhodri Glyn for a new Welsh Language Act - the need for alternative strategies, including creative use of the second chamber becomes a necessity rather than a nicety.
And isn't there a wonderful irony in using the least democratic legislative chamber in Western Europe to safeguard the emergent democracy of Wales and strike a blow for meaningful devolution?
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