Nick Bourne says that Plaid are playing second fiddle, or even third fiddle to the Labour party at the Assembly. Well, as a musician, and as someone who understands the positions within an Orchestra, as do many others, ( but as Nick Bourne obviously does not), the second violin section has a hugely important role to play. An Orchestra would fall apart without the harmony of the second violin section, so too would a choir without its altos. We could go on. My point being therefore that far from us propping up Labour, we are playing a pro active role within the Government, we have Ministers in the Cabinet implementing the One Wales document, and who are putting Plaid's policies in to practise. Our AM's are working on a grass roots level, communicating the work of Plaid as a party of Government. There is no denying our involvement in Government, but it is far from being a secondary role.
It is very easy to be a party in opposition, we all know that. Taking responsibility for actions will be challenging, without a doubt, but the way in which the Tories in Wales are trying to push Plaid in to a corner, and dismiss us as irrelevant is utterly unsustainable as an argument.
Believe me, if Plaid were to be 'propping up Labour', then we would not be part of the Government here in Wales. We have not taken this decision lightly as a party. I am passionate about the fact that we can now show the people of Wales how we can deliver for them, and to encourage them to show this in their support for us in future elections.
Just because we are not part of the Rainbow coalition, or the largest party as part of the coalition does not mean that we are suddenly Rhodri's poodles and that we have no individual opinion! It is too easy for Bourne to say such things at this point in time, as he is grappling to come up with ideas as to how to undermine the One Wales Government. Their desperate attempts at finding debates for opposition day slots at the Assembly is a clear example of this. Far from wanting to discuss issues for the sake of finding policy outcomes, their only concern is to try and implement a 'jolly ho' Westminster style of bantering, with no substance.
On Bourne's attempt to woo Plaid voters, well, this is nothing new, and I would have thought that they would have gone by now if they had so wished, and if they had seen a clear future for the Tories in Wales!
Glyn Davies has been applying the strategy for years, it is no suprise to read, and Bourne is trying to replicate this in his attempt to brand the Tories as a 'Welsh' party, with 'Welsh' interests at heart. Ask Cameron, their leader in London about any of the issues that really concern his colleagues in Wales, such as LCO's and more devolution, however, and you are left on deaf ears. Tory MPs such as David Davies have also been quite vocal on the issue of devolution also, which contradicts the cultural wing of the Tories in Wales.
Let's not be naive about this, this re -branding exercise isn't to do with the fact that the Tories have had a sea change of opinion towards devolution overnight. It's all to do with winning votes, and if they can try and do this by chipping away at Plaid votes, then that's what they will do.
I'd like to think that we would be intelligent enough to realise this, and to dismiss their opportunistic strategies.
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