In between the sudden bursts of rain today, Dai Lloyd and myself did a door to door street surgery in Swansea. Lots of issues to pick up on, which can only be a good thing. Obviously many people were out working, so when I did enter conversation with a few people, I braved my way to asking about their views on a coalition:
' Just get on with it, and do the job' said one man.
' It's chaos' another said, without hesitation.
' We need a change from Labour', a middle aged mand confessed( whose dog was trying to play ball with me despite my not so friendly relationship with such animals!)
' I don't really take an interest. I haven't got time.' Bored response.
' Your not thinking of working with the Tories, are you?'............
And that was about it in terms of variety of opinion. It gives you a broad enough idea, but obviously it isn't scientific!
Lets hope that we can make progress tomorrow so that the coalition question is finally answered. With Labour leaks outlining hesitation at a deal with Plaid, I'm not exactly sure what will be put in front of us at Aberystwyth tomorrow in terms of concrete suggestions for Government. Mike German and Rhodri may talk yet, which could put us all back to where we thought we were at the end of the election!
In the meantime, I can imagine that Rhodri Morgan has a lot of people to speak to and to persuade if, and only if, they are serious about working with Plaid.
............................................................................................
Rhwng y cawodydd heddiw, bu Dai Lloyd a minnau yn rhedeg cymorthfeydd drws i ddrws yn Abertawe. Wrth gwrs, roedd llawer o bobl allan yn gweithio, ond pan yr oeddwn yn cael cyfle, gofyn am glymbleidiau a wnes.
' Just get on with it, and do the job' meddai un.
' It's chaos' gan un arall.
' We need a change from Labour', oedd barn dyn cannol oed
' I don't really take an interest. I haven't got time.' meddai un oedd wedi diflasu.
' Your not thinking of working with the Tories, are you?'............
A dyna ehangder y barn - mae'n rhoi syniad o feddylfryd y cyhoedd, er nad yw'n drwyadl.
Fy ngobaith yw y gallwn symud ymlaen ar y cwestiwn o glymbleidio yfory, o'r diwedd. Gyda synnau anfoddhaol o gyfeiriad Llafur, dwi ddim yn sicr beth fydd y dewisidau yn Aberystwyth yfory. Efallai bydd sgwrs rhwng Mike German a Rhodri, a fydd yn ein dychweled i'n sefyllfa wedi'r etholiad.Yn y cyfasmer, mae rhaid i Rhodri Morgan siarad gyda nifer fawr o bol a'r darbwyll o os ydynt o ddifrif am gydweithio gyda Plaid.
6 comments:
Bethan,
The doubters in Labour are a small but disporportionately vocal minority. Their panicky interventions should re assure you that we are serious about this coalition and we will follow through on this historic opportunity for the Welsh left.
Be bold tomorrow and vote for Wales and its Parliament.
"Their panicky interventions should re assure you that we are serious about this coalition"
Hmmm. This is utter tripe. Its impossible to guarantee majority Welsh Labour support for a referendum any time soon. There are areas of agreement. This isnt one. Nor is the language stuff.
We have the majority I assure you. This is all about the progressive left of Plaid holding its nerve and delivering a Parliament for Wales. The other route will be meaningless - A First Minister who doesn't choose most of his own cabinet, looking over his shoulder for Tory support, and the loss of the referendum for a generation. The mutual interest lies with the progressive left.
This is all about the progressive left of Plaid holding its nerve
There's nothing progressive about Plaid's left.
Why not, sanddef? Do you think that the left of the party should be pushed out, so that we can be left with a cultural agenda? I tell you one thing, we wouldn't be winning 15 seats with that sort of strategy!
Unlike the other Welsh parties plaid works on a different time scale. Whereas Lab, Lib Dem's, and the Conservitaves look to the next 5 years takes the longer outlook. To side with Labour has to be the right oppion, to secure a Welsh Parliament at this time has to be the number one priority.
I do worry about working with the Conservitaves, the Thatcher legacy is still there. If Plaid are to become a real force in Wales we should be a left of center party.
The biggest worry has to be that the UK lab party will try and stitch us up. If a Referendum is to be held it must be as soon as possible, next spring would be ideal. Any later would be mere stalling tactics.
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