Its quite staggering that Labour are still living in cloud cuckoo land when it comes to failing to recognise the disasterous result of the local council elections. Every interview that I have seen with a Labour cabinet member has been a cardboard cutout of the next. People have not voted Labour because they are 'feeling the pinch' on their personal finances. That's it. Nothing to do with Gordon Brown's dithering, or policy u-turns, or lack of leadership! Once they've sorted out the credit crisis and the fuel problems, then everyone will be happy and return to Labour, they seem to suggest. Perhaps if they were a little less arrogant this clear anti Labour election result wouldn't have materialised, but the way that they have spun this election result is a sign, again, that they are out of touch with reality.
I'm not sure where they go from here. Another Labour leadership contest would be far from appealing. Whether this result will reflect on their standing in any General election is questionable, but they do need to sit down and ask themselves who they are trying to represent and what they are going to do.
One thing that I can be sure about is that if Labour lose the next General election, fighting for more powers for the National Assembly for Wales should become far more appealing to them. I doubt that going cap in hand to a Tory Government in Westminster would be an attractive thought for Labour AMs.
Plaid has done really well across the board, making gains in places like Wrexham, Torfaen, RCT and Caerphilly. We are also the largest party now in Camarthernshire. Nevertheless, we still have a lot of work to do in many areas such as Merthyr Tydfil and Bridgend. The loss of Gwynedd is obviously disappointing. Llais Gwynedd should now be given the education portfolio to act on their aspirations for the County. Plaid will be more than willing to work with them in this instance.
Oh, and Boris winning the London Mayoral election, don't get me started. I refuse to enter a serious political debate about a buffoon which is Boris Johnson.
6 comments:
Great efforts are required to have any effect on voting patterns in Swansea, which along with Bridgend and Port Talbot are disappointing for Plaid. However, Carmarthen and Llanelli have undergone a major transformation since the win by Helen Mary, and the colours have changed from red to green. Many comments during canvassing, saying "I'll never again vote Labour!"
What I can't understand about Swansea, and perhaps you can enlighten me, is what happened in Cockett where the Plaid grouping dropped to third behind the Labour 3?
Bethan said....
Oh, and Boris winning the London Mayoral election, don't get me started. I refuse to enter a serious political debate about a buffoon which is Boris Johnson.
johnny says....
Buffoon eh?
Scholarship to Eton, MP, Spectator Editor and now Mayor of London. Some buffoon, IMHO.
Does this mean that the clear majority of voters in the London Mayoral Election are of the same opinion? I hardly think so.
They have voted for a fundamental change from the stale old Party Hacks and can at least look forward to a Mayor that is prepared to look outside the confines of Party Dogma.
I have every confidence in Boris's abilities and you can be assured that he will be a vast improvement on Ken Livingstone and his dodgy dealings.
Your pal.
johnny.
PS. No response required, you have made your position quite clear. I wonder what other important political matters you choose to ignore.
Just for fun, have a look on my blog for another nationally important matter that will probably earn your displeasure and avoidance. jf.
Further to my note of confidence in the election of Boris as Mayor of London, I would respectfully refer you to Iain Dale's blog, under the heading: 'Boris appoints a Modern Day Hero as Deputy.'
Hardly the action of a buffoon, I venture to suggest.
Your pal.
johnny.
Does this mean that the clear majority of voters in the London Mayoral Election are of the same opinion? I hardly think so.
I'm not so sure. I was talking to my boss yesterday and he said he would have voted for Boris. I quoted Paul Merton on Have I Got News for you last Friday that he was a f***ing idiot. My boss agreed, but said he found the guy likeable.
Johnny, you can dress it up however you like, he may be a genius in some ways, but in day to day terms he's a bumbling idiot. His achievement to date is to run a small right wing magazine. Big deal.
The Tories had better keep a close eye on Boris. He's got plenty of time to screw up big time, and then we can use it as an example of how a Cameron run government will look.
I won't look at your blog thanks. Life really is too short :-)
Bethan.
Just as a footnote: Boris has just appointed Guto Harri as his Director of Communications. I would suggest that this is a shrewd move, given Guto's credibility.
I really don't think that Guto would resign from his highly paid position with Fleishman Hillard in order to work for an alleged buffoon.
In Guto's own words:
"I genuinely feel Kevin Bell and his team have been very good towards me. I was very happy there and they have been fantastic about me going. It was a bit of a shock and I had certainly not expected to leave after such a short time. I am deeply embarrassed at one level about moving on so swiftly. It was only because this job is such a unique opportunity that I decided to do it. It will be a fantastic experience to work for such a brilliant guy who has really caught the imagination of Londoners.
I've been to San Diego and Washington DC and have just spent four weeks advising Morgan Tsvangirai - a real rollercoaster of an experience. If I can handle Zimbabwean politics I should be able to handle Boris Johnson!"
'Big Hat-tip to Iain Dale's Diary'
Please reserve your judgement on Boris for the time being. Give the boy a chance to prove you wrong.
Your pal.
johnny.
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