Interested to read the report in this morning’s Western Mail about the selection of a Labour Candidate for Llanelli in the Assembly Elections who will be 70 at the time of the election.
In particular, Helen Mary Jones’ comment troubles me:
“I look forward to an interesting campaign with Keith Davies as the Labour candidate, but I am somewhat surprised that he should want to take this challenge on at this time. This selection comes on the heels of the Labour Party suffering very badly in the council elections last year, and may indicate they are having difficulty finding candidates.”
Why on earth does it matter that he will be 70? Helen Mary has always struck me as a thoroughly decent person and politician so it is doubly tragic that she has resorted to plain and simple ageism in response to the internal politics of another party.
There is more than enough to attack Labour for at the moment, without the need for petty nastiness.
I am sure that her words may come back to haunt her when campaigning for re-election amongst her older constituents.
Related posts:
Not strictly comparable, I know, but I note that the Daily Post reports that a 93-year-old has just enrolled in a Spanish course, after having learned German and taken up salsa.
As much as it will go against your aims of attacking Plaid I would suggest Helen Mary is noting that it is odd that someone who is 70 would be preparing to stand for the first time. It is more a reflection on the lack of young talent for Labour in West Wales.
I suggest you take note of Comment 1 above. There is something very wrong with society if we believe that it is “odd” or “a surprise” that someone old may want to try something new.
My main thrust is that it seems strange for Helen Mary to choose a petty attack on someone’s age when there is more than enough to criticise Labour for at the moment based on policy and politics, which incidently is the sort of debate the public want and value.
Well i guess her comments were spesific to her reaction to Keith Davies as candidate. Personally I do find it a bit odd that the candidate put forward for one of the few Labour seats in Mid and West Wales that they have even a remote chance of winning is a 70 year old first time candidate who has recently lost a council seat in his home village to plaid cymru. To me that resume doesn’t sound like someone who is particularly dynamic or likly to oust HMJ
Her comments were her comments and are in writing now and I think she will come to regret them.
Being old does not mean someone can not be dynamic.
HMJ doesn’t mention his age, rather she refers to Labour’s (and Mr Davies’) council losses.
The only person mentioning his age here is you, Mr Hannigan.
Any regrets?
I suggest you read the story as a whole because it seems you have not yet.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/04/28/an-age-old-problem-for-labour-man-91466-23487566/
Or are you saying that actually she means it is strange to have a candidate who recently lost their council seat? Hmmmmm – Have a look at the following link and check out the fourth result from the bottom.
http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=9027
Sorry, should read fifth result from bottom
I have to say Dominic I have read the article which does refer to Keith Davies age but certainly there is no mention of his age by Helen Mary Jones? Seems to me you have mislead on this. A simply mistake no doubt but I think you should make a correction.
Spinning in the wind!!!! Hehe!
Seems pretty clear to me, she was asked about his age and described it as surprising “that he would want to take it on at this time”
Clear ageism. The article doesn’t “refer” to his age, it is ABOUT his age.
Stop spinning on HMJ’s behalf, she is supposedly Plaid’s director of communications so I am sure she can do it herself.
Or are you saying that actually she means it is strange to have a candidate who recently lost their council seat? Hmmmmm – Have a look at the following link and check out the fourth result from the bottom.Penri James was a siting councillor when he was selected as the Plaid Candidate for Ceredigion, not one who had recently lost his seat
“There is something very wrong with society if we believe that it is “odd” or “a surprise” that someone old may want to try something new.”
Is it only now you’re finding out that there’s something wrong with society? Bless.
Never mind how old he is just as long as he is honest, doesnt trough expenses and does his job
a misleading article that is typical of a low standard red-top journalist. Spin and an attempt at sleaze is the order of the day to undermine HMJ. She did not mention his age, Your pro labour politics shine through. Dominic Hannigan had you been a broad sheet journalist your article would be fair and balanced not skewed.