The Professor who shot his own toe

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans is a person for whom I generally have a lot of respect. His contribution to the political debate in this assembly election has been informative and well researched. Even if one doesn’t agree with the Prof's views they are almost always worth listening to. I was disappointed, therefore to read his bitchy partisan blog post about the Llandudno Hospital Rally held yesterday. In his post he says:

Plaid Cymru tried their best to hijack the event again but a number commented to me afterwards that nearly all of their 'supporters' on the day were from outside the constituency.

It is also noticeable how many people have just about had enough of their shenanigans over this non-political community campaign where they have been quick to claim credit for anything involved in it, forgetting the hard work put in by ordinary members of the public who started this campaign.

The future of community hospitals is a political matter. Whether Llandudno hospital remains open or is closed, is downgraded or upgraded will depend on political decisions made in the next Assembly. It is a credit to the individuals who have run the campaigns to save Llandudno and other hospitals that they have managed to gain support from leading politicians, councillors and supporters from all of the parties. The fact that saving these hospitals has become such an important plank in the election campaigns of candidates such as Plaid's Gareth Jones is a credit to the success of the hospital action groups.

The comments about Plaid supporters being outsiders are incredible. There were a large number of Plaid supporters from the constituency there, although all of them were not Llandudno residents. Perhaps Professor Jones-Evans is unaware of the fact that the hospital's catchment goes far beyond the town. Llandudno hospital serves the Conwy Valley, for example. There were quite a few at the rally from Llanrwst, Eglwysbach and other Conwy Valley villages (which are now part of the constituency) - or are the views of those from the Valley who turned up to be dismissed as unimportant because they weren't wearing blue rosettes?

The largest group from outside Aberconwy were those from the campaign to save Blaenau Ffestiniog hospital there to show solidarity with the campaign to save Llandudno hospital. Blaenau Ffestiniog is also in the Llandudno Hospital catchment area and the closure of Blaenau Memorial Hospital will have an adverse effect on the future of Llandudno Hospital. The people from Blaenau had every right to be at the rally and their support should be welcome, not dismissed because they happen to live in a Plaid Cymru constituency.

Dylan Jones-Evans likes to describe himself as the Professor Who Shoots from the Hip. On this occasion he appears to have shot himself in the toe.