The Wales on Sunday reports today-
Mid and West Wales Labour AM Alun Davies accused the Plaid six of playing “sixth form politics”, adding:
“It’s time for people to grow up.
“At the end of the day, they have got to decide whether they want to be a serious political party or just a party that tries to score cheap political points with little credibility.'
“If you want to govern a country and be taken seriously you have got to leave the students’ union behind and take difficult decisions.”
While I commend Alun Davies AM for coming out publicly on the issue I do not agree with him. There may be backlash amongst AMs on this one, but that is only to be expected given that it directly affects all of us.
I really don't appreciate the way in which some politicians constantly undermine the worth of Student Union politics ( especially as many of us come from that background!).
I also do not like the way in which some AMs have sought to undermine our stance on this entirely, when we have not made a decision for political gain, or without thinking it through thoroughly. I would like to see Alun Davies say the same as he said to the Wales on Sunday to the Police or the Trade Unions the next time he meets them. I don't think that his argument will hold water.
AMs are working harder, and I know it is hard for politicians of any colour to win the argument on this because of the cynicism that exists. But for the cynicism to go away, then refusing this pay rise would be one way of showing that politicians are not in it for the money.
3 comments:
To accuse your opponents of 'childishness' seems to be a favourite tactic of (in particular) Labour politicians though I've seen Tories and Liberals also use it when they have weak (or no) arguments. It's a tired old cliche and, frankly, far more insulting to the voters than its supposed targets. It's a sign of laziness and arrogance and, in the current circumstances, disgraceful.
I almost feel sorry for Alun Davies... he's trying so hard to win favour with his New Labour buddies but they still don't trust him. Once a nashie, always a nashie.
So Alun has to make ever more extreme and frantic attempts to please Rhodri and distance himself from his Plaid background.
Billy No Mates of the Assembly.
I cannot understand how AMs in other parties see no contradiction between accepting a salary hike four times as much as public sector workers, then shouting for better pay for public sector workers. I make no criticism of AMs not refusing the rise but for Alun Davies to be critical of refusing the rise is incredible.
I can't wait to see him support public sector workers next in public and defend his rise. Thinking about it, it's not something he is often seen doing anyway.
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