Aneurin Glyndwr may be on an Easter break but its writers must have choked on their chocolate egg this morning when they opened the Western Mail and found this article advocating a long-term strategic partnership between Labour and Plaid Cymru.
Two Labour activists, Nick Davies and Darren Williams have published a book called ‘Clear Red Water: Devolution and Socialist Policies’ in which they argue that Labour and Plaid should extend their coalition deal beyond the 2011 Assembly elections, forming joint policy groups to develop a long-term socialist programme for Wales.
Such an idea will both delight and revolt the likes of Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins who have been trying to take their party to the left but who cannot stand the thought of being in the same bed as New Labour for a minute longer than they have to.
It will almost certainly alienate those Tory Dragons who remain members of Plaid Cymru in Gwynedd and other parts of rural Wales, and who have been resisting the concept of an independent socialist republic.
What it means in practical terms is quite interesting. It would involve Labour and Plaid Cymru going to the polls in 2011 with a joint manifesto, possibly with an electoral pact in place as well. It would link Plaid Cymru closely to the unpopular Gordon Brown Government at the forthcoming European and General Elections.
It may eventually see a merger between the two parties in which those on the left of Plaid join with Welsh Labour to form a Welsh Socialist Party whilst the rump of both parties go off to seek alliances elsewhere – nationalists to an expanded Llais Gwynedd, Social Democrats to the Liberal Democrats or even the Tories.
It is an interesting concept and one from which the leadership of both parties will do everything they can to distance themselves in weeks to come.
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