This week is over, it’s not coming back. It’s dead. This article will stand as a testament as to some of what happened. When history reviews it, historians will probably be confused and slightly disappointed before moving on to some sort of more accurate record instead. Hmm, that’s not a great opener.
Ah sod it, that’ll do.
Has Adam Price MP gone to America already? His blog has been unusually silent recently… In fact silence is a Plaid theme this week. Normally Plaid bloggers love to talk about how their esteemed leader is ‘single handedly saving the world economy’, ’beating the recession in Wales’ and ’12% more amazing than steak’. But this week, the Welsh Assembly’s Finance Committee pointed out that, basically, these claims are complete bollocks. A summary of why they are bollocks is given by Dylan Jones-Evans.
It had to be fairly galling for Plaid. How many times have they had to suck up to Labour Ministers and vote the right way to ensure the collective Government took credit and everyone looks good, particularly the Minister. But this time Plaid tried too hard, the amendments Plaid attempted to submit to the report were a bit too sycophantic and baseless. So Labour turned around and basically said ‘bugger that’, and instead voted through the report despite it being critical of the government. So Plaid have spent the last 18 months supporting Labour, and when they look for support of their own, they end up with the amazing sight of Chris Franks AM sat on his own in committee voting in support of his own leader, while everyone else smirks slightly and votes against him. Well done Plaid, you got such a good deal there.
As recently resurrected Labour bile machine Aneurin Glyndwr points out, much of the committees intolerance came from the fact that these amendments were from Plaid’s spin doctors, rather than their members on the committee. While this kind of activity tends to be common place in the rest of Assembly affairs, committees have retained some form of independence, and this is of course welcome. But obviously as with many things, Plaid don’t think that they deserve the same scrutiny as other parties. Well tough, you’re in government, expect to get it.
And on the subject of Aneurin Glyndwr, it needs pointing out that the site closing down was reported by me on Sunday. A full two days before Betsan Powys of the BBC, followed by Guerrilla Welsh-Fare and Welsh Ramblings. I think Vaughan Roderick blogged on it too but err…..I can’t read Welsh. Sorry.
But yes, I am leading the way in Welsh political journalism right now. I’m going to follow it up with the scoop on how Irene James is in fact a Kangaroo sent by a covert Kangaroo black-ops unit to bring down western civilisation. Snark, the Kangaroo over-lord is slightly disappointed with her performance though and her funding may not be renewed in the next budget round.
This week will finally see the publication of Sir Emyr Jones Parry and the All Wales Convention’s recommendation of whether the government should go for a referendum or not. As Lee Walters of the Bevan Foundation points out, it’s a pretty open secret that he is going to say ‘yes’, in some form or another. Guerrilla Welsh-Fare thinks that “there may be a lot of pressure on the One Wales Government to get the process underway”, an assertion that is probably correct. The question is who will end up unhappier by the government response, Labour MPs or Plaid AMs?
The Institute of Welsh Affairs has published a summary of some of the challenges facing the next First Minister. None are particularly surprising, as these are things that the Welsh Liberal Democrats have been pointing out for months. What we need is some clarity from the Labour leadership candidates on how they will address these issues, and if you saw Dragons Eye on Thursday, you’ll know not to expect that. Politics Cymru has a review of the debate, as well as pointing out that you are sad if you watched it. Which I agree with, and am aware that makes me sad.
But thanks to Simon Dyda we do know that Neil Kinnock will be backing Huw Lewis. Although Welsh Ramblings thinks that this might be ‘a kiss of death’. Apparently, Aneurin Bevan will also be backing Huw, despite being dead 49 years. Meanwhile Carwyn Jones has received backing from several senior trade unionists according to Wales Home. I would take a guess that they are all still alive.
Next week, I will not be reading any blogs. So I won’t be writing an article. If I can find a volunteer/bribe another author/deceive someone else into writing it, expect it to be probably a bit better.
But if you point out how much better it is, I will seek vengeance.
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