Much thanks to Jeremy ‘the bane of Bala’ Townsend for filling in for me last week. I was either drunk or busy. I forget which.
And it’s Freedom Central’s own Jeremy that I will start by writing about. In case you missed it, and given that it is now the second most read post on this blog, you probably didn’t, Jeremy wrote an extensive post on how to protect, and indeed improve, the Welsh arts sector. He argued that politicians should attempt to stay out of the arguments surrounding the arts, as they “know little about the situation.”
Obviously, this meant a politician had to pile into the argument. Adam Price MP stated that the arms length model outlined in Jeremy’s piece would be “unaccountable and so prone to elitism” before continuing his arguments a few days later arguing that as a party we have now “possibly overtaken the Welsh Conservatives as the most anglicised party in Wales”.
While Jeremy and Adam Price did manage to keep the argument at a reasonably intellectual level (meaning most of it went over my head) Guerrilla Welsh-Fare decided to ignore the point all together and have a nice little rant based upon very little actual substance. He also found a way to attack Peter Black while he was at it. Obviously I wouldn’t expect much else.
Angry Oli Townsend of Cardiff Student Lib Dems also weighed into the argument, sticking up for his big brother (awww), arguing that the term ‘anglo-centric’ distracts from the real political arguments underway.
The other big story of the week, which may be in part due to the summer recess, is those comments by Daniel Hannan MEP. What irks me about this story, is that every party, including our own, has those who are not on message or make stupid comments. Every party is a broad church with members on the left and the right. The Tories are not exempt from this. Yes, Daniel Hannan’s comments were stupid and he should be ashamed. But for people to attempt to represent them as the real view of the Conservative’s (such as Labour site Aneurin Glyndwr) is nothing more than just attempting to mis-represent another party’s position. Many have done it to our party. I remember a Plaid freshers fair leaflet that quoted one backbench MSP on local income tax, and claimed that this meant our entire party didn’t agree with it, which was obviously bollocks. Such claims just dilute real political debate and piss-off the public. We know that a Tory victory would be bad for the NHS, but we don’t need to use Hannan’s comments to make these claims. He will damage the Tories enough, other parties don’t need to then spin that past the truth.
I could write a lot more about the NHS stuff as there is a lot on the blogs this week. But all seem to agree that the NHS is good and FOX News and/or Daniel Hannan are crazy. I’d rather spend more time talking about Wales specific stuff than what is happening in America.
Away from politics, Glyn Davies gives us his thoughts on the upcoming football season. My own predictions are Man United to take the crown, with Burnley, Portsmouth and Wolves relegated. Wolves will be bottom. Promoted will be Newcastle followed by West Brom, although as an Albion fan I hope to be wrong.
I don’t think it is a shock to anyone that Plaid and the Lib Dem’s don’t always see eye to eye, at least according to Daran Hill of Wales Home. Nor is it a shock that the two parties actually have much in common, on a range of policies which you would think would make us natural allies. Personally, I do not see Plaid as the enemy, or at least on nothing more than a ‘can we take votes in this ward’ level. My personal preference would be for a Plaid-led government over a Labour or Tory led one. If it was possible to have a Plaid/Lib Dem coalition in 2007, I firmly believe it could have been a fantastic and progressive government for Wales (second only to a majority Lib Dem one), however this was not a possibility, nor is it likely to be one in the immediate future.
From what I have seen of the way that decisions are taken on what our Assembly Members will be doing in plenary each week, or how press releases will be spun, there is no stated tactic of attacking Plaid. It just so happens that many of the areas where the government is failing the most, like the economy and housing, are the areas where the Plaid Ministers are in charge. Until their departments improve, expect the attacks to continue. But if they do, then do not be surprised when the Welsh Lib Dems move on to other topics and attacking other parties.
I don’t know how Plaid view us, although according to Simon Dyda, it is with a mixture of ‘pity and amusement’. Feel free to underestimate us if you want. It’ll make taking votes from you easier.
Linking to Adam Price MP for the third time in one article, he gives ten effects of a Tory Westminster Government on Wales. While I would agree with the majority of his points, number three amuses me. Apparently a Tory win would mean a delay or possible rejection of a demand for a referendum on further powers, on the grounds of not wanting to split the Conservative Party. This is of course completely different to the Labour party, who are categorically not delaying a referendum to stop a split between the Assembly group and the Westminster group.
Not many subjects covered this week, but tough. There was also a post by the BMA which mentions alcohol pricing, but I’d rather talk about that in an individual post, if I get a chance tomorrow.
Enjoy your week. Or don’t. Up to you really.
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