Leighton Andrews- blatant attack on Labour Assembly election campaign strategy

In an article in the Western Mail this week- www.icwales.co.uk, you could just about see the smoke coming from Leighton Andrews's nose in fury at the failure of his Party's ' Vote Plaid Get Tory' campaign strategy for the forthcoming Assembly election. We all know very well that this strategy is just about scaremongering- of patronizing the once core Labour valleys voters in to believing that the Tories could potentially be the ruling Party after the next election. The Tories who ruined our communities, left thousands jobless and poor... much like the Labour Party today then.

Leighton Andrews's statement is testament to the fact that it is he and the Unionists in the Labour Party in Wales that have been spearheading the 'Vote Plaid Get Tory' strategy from the word go. They know full well that this strategy has the ability to 'scare' their supporters to vote, although those who are left of the grass roots Labour movement might just well stay at home.

But the recent dealings over the Assembly budget has left Leighton Andrews, Huw Lewis and the like kicking and screaming like children who don't get sweets after dinner for being 'naughty boys'. What! Plaid negotiation with Labour on the budget! What! Liberal Democrats and the Tories fail to broker a deal with Plaid! This cannot be, we hear them cry. But yes, Leighton, this can be. Plaid negotiating with Labour does not mean that we advocate coalition, it merely points to the fact that Plaid wanted and got core demands from the negotiating table- such as more money for schools and a refuge for women who have suffered domestic violence to name but a few.
Far from selling out, it shows that we were considering the budget clearly and methodically. For the Tories to have sought to dictate events by hinting at coalitions with Plaid at every given opportunity for their own benefit was naive. It conveys the fact that they are not to be trusted, and that power is their only game.

Leighton Andrews's comments in the Western Mail are a direct challenge to Rhodri Morgan's leadership. Where once their Tory/ Plaid line held water with the media and constituents alike, this strategy is now dead in the water. He knows this, and is telling Rhodri Morgan that he must act now or risk losing votes in May. His 'nightmare' scenario of being dictated to by election results in May to work with the Lib dems or Plaid are emphasised, and Labour's growing inability to communicate effectively with the people of Wales are highlighted in his remarks.

These comments smack of desperation and of a split in Labour. Many Labour AM's would be quite happy working with Plaid I am sure- the likes of Carwyn Jones and Edwina Hart. But for Andrews and the Huw Lewis's of this world such an outcome is unheard of.

The run up to the Assembly elections and the change in Labour strategy will be something to keep an eye open for. They are tired, out of steam, out of ideas... Perhaps they'll choose to stick to the child poverty line. I can't think of what else they'll be able to pass as success stories since coming to power. Let's see.