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.