A number of bloggers and commentators have suggested that Labour should try to form a grand alliance with the Lib Dems, the Ulster parties and the Nationalists. I think that such an idea is absolutely stupid, unsustainable and reeks of desperation to hold / gain power for power's sake. Such a deal would be heavily punished in the ballot box in the next election.
As I noted a few days ago the only really sustainable deal that the Celtic Block could offer would be a supply and confidence agreement to a Conservative minority Government based on abstaining from English only issues with an agreement that the knock on effects of such issues would not impinge on Welsh/Scottish/NI consequentials.
The maths is there for such an agreement, and it wouldn't involve jumping into bed with the Hairy Arsed Tory Monster, just agreeing not to disagree on English Votes for English Issues, if they contained a Celtic caveat.
Of course such an agreement would allow some policies on Education or Health etc that we find objectionable to be passed for England – but England voted Tory so So What?!
England voted Conservative by a fair majority, the best option for the Celtic Block is to agree to enable the Conservatives to govern England, in exchange for a deal that is beneficial to Wales, Scotland and NI!
If I was one of the big guns in Plaid the DUP or the SNP I would be on the phone offering such a deal to Cameron, before a Lib /Con deal was brokered!
Showing posts with label Election 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Election 2010. Show all posts
07/05/2010
Worst posible result for Plaid avoided
Plaid has held on / won Arfon. Whew! A moment of relief at least Plaid's representation won't go down (I hope)
Bad night for the Nationalists?
I'ts looking like the worst night possible for Plaid – failed to win Ynys Mon, Aberconwy, Ceredigion o'r Llanelli and things looking a bit iffy in Arfon.
Winning / holding (depends how you look at it) Arfon looks like it could be Plaid's best hope.
From what I hear from Scotland things are looking grim there too, SNP to lose some seats?
Winning / holding (depends how you look at it) Arfon looks like it could be Plaid's best hope.
From what I hear from Scotland things are looking grim there too, SNP to lose some seats?
06/05/2010
A pedant writes....
A bit of pedantry for those media outlets who insist on using a picture of a noose to create scare stories about a balanced parliament.
Criminals are HANGED
Pretty things like pictures are HUNG! This is what a hung parliament would look like:
Criminals are HANGED
Pretty things like pictures are HUNG! This is what a hung parliament would look like:
05/05/2010
Expected Welsh Declaration Times
I am grateful to Vaughan Roderick for pointing me in the direction of the PA's list of declaration times for the result of the election. All of the Welsh seats are declaring in the early hours of Friday morning below are the expected times. (Baring recounts and other unforeseen events).
Between 1:00am and 1:30am
Bridgend
Ogmore
Vale of Clwyd
Ynys Mon
1:30-2:00
Arfon
Islwyn
2:00-2:30
Brecon & Radnorshire
Montgomeryshire
Torfaen
Wrexham
2:30-3:00
Aberconwy
Blaenau Gwent
Cardiff Central
Cardiff North
Cardiff South & Penarth
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney
Newport East
Newport West
Preseli Pembrokeshire
Vale of Glamorgan
3:00-3:30
Caerphilly
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr
Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South
Cardiff West
Ceredigion
Clwyd South
Clwyd West
Cynon Valley
Gower
Llanelli
Monmouth
Pontypridd
Rhondda
Swansea East
Swansea West
3:30-4:00
Aberavon
Alyn & Deeside
Delyn
Neath
Between 1:00am and 1:30am
Bridgend
Ogmore
Vale of Clwyd
Ynys Mon
1:30-2:00
Arfon
Islwyn
2:00-2:30
Brecon & Radnorshire
Montgomeryshire
Torfaen
Wrexham
2:30-3:00
Aberconwy
Blaenau Gwent
Cardiff Central
Cardiff North
Cardiff South & Penarth
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney
Newport East
Newport West
Preseli Pembrokeshire
Vale of Glamorgan
3:00-3:30
Caerphilly
Carmarthen East & Dinefwr
Carmarthen West & Pembrokeshire South
Cardiff West
Ceredigion
Clwyd South
Clwyd West
Cynon Valley
Gower
Llanelli
Monmouth
Pontypridd
Rhondda
Swansea East
Swansea West
3:30-4:00
Aberavon
Alyn & Deeside
Delyn
Neath
Agreeing to Abstain in a Balanced Parliament?
Because of unequal devolution in the United Kingdom a number of issues that are devolved to Scotland, Wales and the north of Ireland become English only isssues that continue to be legislated on in Westminster.
Even if there is a hung / balanced parliament on Friday, there is little doubt that there will be a clear Conservative majority of seats in England.
This is an aspect that even the media in Wales and scotland have failed to address whilst asking the Nationalist parties who they will support in the event of a balanced parliament.
To get concessions from a Conservative Minority Government Plaid, the SNP and the northern Irish parties that take their seats, might not need to offer any sort of support to the government, all they have to do is to guarantee to continue to do what they have tended to do in the past parliament – not vote on devolved issues!
Even if there is a hung / balanced parliament on Friday, there is little doubt that there will be a clear Conservative majority of seats in England.
This is an aspect that even the media in Wales and scotland have failed to address whilst asking the Nationalist parties who they will support in the event of a balanced parliament.
To get concessions from a Conservative Minority Government Plaid, the SNP and the northern Irish parties that take their seats, might not need to offer any sort of support to the government, all they have to do is to guarantee to continue to do what they have tended to do in the past parliament – not vote on devolved issues!
04/05/2010
A Nationalist in Ysbyty and a Quisling in Deganwy!
Why did Guto make a point of telling a voter in Ysbyty Ifan that his grandfather was a founding member of Plaid Cymru, but denied that his family had any Plaid connections to a voter in Deganwy?
Shame that Ysbyty and Deganwy voters are siblings, who compared notes and came to the conclusion that Guto is two faced - a nationalist in Ysbyty and a Quisling in Deganwy!
Shame that Ysbyty and Deganwy voters are siblings, who compared notes and came to the conclusion that Guto is two faced - a nationalist in Ysbyty and a Quisling in Deganwy!
03/05/2010
Dave's Tesco Policy illustrated
On a visit to the Delyn Constituency yesterday David Cameron said that the public sector could learn a lot from the supermarket Tesco. Here are some pictures to illustrate what he meant:
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The Welsh Leaders on the BBC
I have to say that I was plesantly suprised by last night's Welsh Leaders debate on the BBC. Unlike the British Prime Ministeraial debates the discussion was free flowing, interesting and one in which all parties had something worth contributing to the discussion.
Rather than feeling that one representative had won my main feeling at the end of the programme was one of pride that Wales is spoiled for choice between such exceptional talent from all four main parties and even from some of the minor parties that had a word in.
Whilst the London media feeds on a frenzy of loss of faith in politicians who are in politics for what they can get out of it, seeing the leaders of the four main Welsh Parties pleading from the heart for us to vote for what is best for Wales was like a breath of fresh air blowing through the putrid current of the present election campaign
Peter Hain had a mountain to climb, it's hard for a rep from the party that has been at the helm for many years to ask for more time to introduce even better results, especially when many of us believe that the country has gone to the dogs under their watch. I felt that Peter succeeded exceptionally well to deliver that message despite the strained circumstances.
Apparently, travel difficulties were responsible for Nick Bourn taking over from Cheryl Gillian as the leader of the Welsh Conservatives last night, not the feeling that she had bombed in the previous two debates. Whatever the reason I suspect that most Welsh Conservatives will be glad that Nick Bourn took her place. He succeeded to translate Conservative Unionist policy into something that was relevant to Wales and Welsh localities with aplomb. Nick turned Cameron's Big Society idea around into an idea of lots of small societies an idea that has more appeal in Wales and is probably what Cameron meant anyway, but failed to articulate as well as Nick did!
In the previous two Welsh debates Kirsty Williams came across as over excitable, squeaky, and too stuck to the script. Last night she had obviously thrown the script away – she was herself, and she came across as a person who passionately believes in Liberal Democracy and the benefits that it could provide for Wales. By speaking from the heart rather than from the script Kirsty was at the top of her game and last night her contribution was the best ever that I have seen from her since she became her party's Welsh leader, she showed elements of a charisma that I didn't think that she possessed.
Ieuan Wyn! Wow! I was bowled over by his performance. He may only be Deputy First Minister but he had the gravitas of a president. He had all the facts at his fingertips, where compromise was needed he compromised, where he needed to stand alone for the sake of righteousness, he justified standing alone with authority, he was electrifying, amazing, fantastic.
The Strictly Come Politicking marks are high, very high:
Ieuan 9.9
Nick 9.6
Kirsty 9.5
Peter 9.4
Only a hair's breadth between Ieuan in first and Peter in fourth, but the reason why Ieuan doesn't get the perfect 10 is because that accolade goes to Betsan Powys and BBC Wales for producing the most informative, interesting and watchable of all 12 Leaders Debate Programmes – Congratulation to both.
Rather than feeling that one representative had won my main feeling at the end of the programme was one of pride that Wales is spoiled for choice between such exceptional talent from all four main parties and even from some of the minor parties that had a word in.
Whilst the London media feeds on a frenzy of loss of faith in politicians who are in politics for what they can get out of it, seeing the leaders of the four main Welsh Parties pleading from the heart for us to vote for what is best for Wales was like a breath of fresh air blowing through the putrid current of the present election campaign
Peter Hain had a mountain to climb, it's hard for a rep from the party that has been at the helm for many years to ask for more time to introduce even better results, especially when many of us believe that the country has gone to the dogs under their watch. I felt that Peter succeeded exceptionally well to deliver that message despite the strained circumstances.
Apparently, travel difficulties were responsible for Nick Bourn taking over from Cheryl Gillian as the leader of the Welsh Conservatives last night, not the feeling that she had bombed in the previous two debates. Whatever the reason I suspect that most Welsh Conservatives will be glad that Nick Bourn took her place. He succeeded to translate Conservative Unionist policy into something that was relevant to Wales and Welsh localities with aplomb. Nick turned Cameron's Big Society idea around into an idea of lots of small societies an idea that has more appeal in Wales and is probably what Cameron meant anyway, but failed to articulate as well as Nick did!
In the previous two Welsh debates Kirsty Williams came across as over excitable, squeaky, and too stuck to the script. Last night she had obviously thrown the script away – she was herself, and she came across as a person who passionately believes in Liberal Democracy and the benefits that it could provide for Wales. By speaking from the heart rather than from the script Kirsty was at the top of her game and last night her contribution was the best ever that I have seen from her since she became her party's Welsh leader, she showed elements of a charisma that I didn't think that she possessed.
Ieuan Wyn! Wow! I was bowled over by his performance. He may only be Deputy First Minister but he had the gravitas of a president. He had all the facts at his fingertips, where compromise was needed he compromised, where he needed to stand alone for the sake of righteousness, he justified standing alone with authority, he was electrifying, amazing, fantastic.
The Strictly Come Politicking marks are high, very high:
Ieuan 9.9
Nick 9.6
Kirsty 9.5
Peter 9.4
Only a hair's breadth between Ieuan in first and Peter in fourth, but the reason why Ieuan doesn't get the perfect 10 is because that accolade goes to Betsan Powys and BBC Wales for producing the most informative, interesting and watchable of all 12 Leaders Debate Programmes – Congratulation to both.
30/04/2010
Obligatory Post Debate Post.
If the broadcasters decide to do leaders debates at the next Westminster election, I would strongly suggest that they restrict it to one next time.
Tonight's debate was tedious. Nothing new was said, the same old arguments as were used last week and a fortnight ago were reheated. Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown looked knackered and came across as positively peeved at having to go through the same old crap again. I almost expected Brown to do a Bush senior moment and look at his watch to see how much longer he had to suffer the ordeal.
Although repeats of old classics on channels like ITV3 may be fun to revisit, most of us get annoyed at seeing a repeat at prime time within a week of the first broadcast, tonight's programme was worst than a repeat – it was a poor remake of an original non classic that dived.
Being the least tired looking and the only one who tried to put a bit of new oomph into the programme, I call this one for David Cameron, but the scores on the doors are not very complimentary to any:
MOF's Strictly Come Politicking scores for this week are a very miserable
Cameron 4 / 10
Clegg 3 / 10
Brown 1/10
Tonight's debate was tedious. Nothing new was said, the same old arguments as were used last week and a fortnight ago were reheated. Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown looked knackered and came across as positively peeved at having to go through the same old crap again. I almost expected Brown to do a Bush senior moment and look at his watch to see how much longer he had to suffer the ordeal.
Although repeats of old classics on channels like ITV3 may be fun to revisit, most of us get annoyed at seeing a repeat at prime time within a week of the first broadcast, tonight's programme was worst than a repeat – it was a poor remake of an original non classic that dived.
Being the least tired looking and the only one who tried to put a bit of new oomph into the programme, I call this one for David Cameron, but the scores on the doors are not very complimentary to any:
MOF's Strictly Come Politicking scores for this week are a very miserable
Cameron 4 / 10
Clegg 3 / 10
Brown 1/10
29/04/2010
Tories want Plaid help to block PR! Uh?
I don't buy the Financial Times, but according to Wales on Line, yesterday:
The Financial Times reported that Mr Cameron’s campaign team was exploring the possibility of a deal with unionist politicians in Northern Ireland and Scottish and Welsh nationalist MPs.
This was an attempt to avoid Liberal Democrats’ demands for electoral reform, the newspaper said.
There is nothing wrong with the Tories approaching smaller parties to see what sort of deals can be done in case they need a bit of extra support in the event of a balanced parliament, of course, but this story doesn't ring true to me.
I don't know where the northern Irish Unionist parties stand on PR but for as long as I can remember both Plaid and the SNP have been strongly in favour of electoral reform, so if Cameron came knocking on their doors asking for their support in order to avoid Liberal Democrats’ demands for electoral reform I would expect that he would find the doors slammed in his face.
This story is clearly a crock of the proverbial, worrying though that people depend on a paper that produces such fanciful reporting in order to inform their financial investment decisions.
The Financial Times reported that Mr Cameron’s campaign team was exploring the possibility of a deal with unionist politicians in Northern Ireland and Scottish and Welsh nationalist MPs.
This was an attempt to avoid Liberal Democrats’ demands for electoral reform, the newspaper said.
There is nothing wrong with the Tories approaching smaller parties to see what sort of deals can be done in case they need a bit of extra support in the event of a balanced parliament, of course, but this story doesn't ring true to me.
I don't know where the northern Irish Unionist parties stand on PR but for as long as I can remember both Plaid and the SNP have been strongly in favour of electoral reform, so if Cameron came knocking on their doors asking for their support in order to avoid Liberal Democrats’ demands for electoral reform I would expect that he would find the doors slammed in his face.
This story is clearly a crock of the proverbial, worrying though that people depend on a paper that produces such fanciful reporting in order to inform their financial investment decisions.
23/04/2010
SNP & Plaid to take BBC to Court?
Elfyn Llwyd has just announced on the S4C Programme Pawb a'i Farn that Plaid and the SNP are going to take the BBC to court over its decision to exclude the parties from the TV debates following the Trust's decision to reject their complaint about their exclusion.
I haven't seen any official anouncement about this, but I doubt if Elfyn would have said that legal action is to be taken, unless an official decision to go to court had been made by the parties.
I haven't seen any official anouncement about this, but I doubt if Elfyn would have said that legal action is to be taken, unless an official decision to go to court had been made by the parties.
22/04/2010
A debate about consensus
The latest edition of the political X Factor was slightly better than last week's offering. All three leaders seem to have learned some lessons from the mistakes they made last time.
Last week Clegg came top by being the one that wasn't the other two, David Cameron tried a bit too hard to don that mantel but failed miserably. Mr Cameron also made a bit of a mistake in his summing up at the end. It was obvious that his script had been pre prepared and that he was reading it, so when he read "I don't know about you but I think that sounded desperate", it clearly wasn't a retort to what Gordon Brown had just said, it was something he was going to say if Brown sounded desperate or not.
Oh and Wales got a mention this week, just one as an aside by Gordon Brownand he mentioned the Scottish weather too.
Who won? It is more difficult to decide this week they were all pretty equal, especially as there was a lot of consensus on many issues.
So my Strictly Come Politicking scores are:
Brown 7 out of 10
Clegg 6.5 out of 10
Cameron 6. out of 10
Last week Clegg came top by being the one that wasn't the other two, David Cameron tried a bit too hard to don that mantel but failed miserably. Mr Cameron also made a bit of a mistake in his summing up at the end. It was obvious that his script had been pre prepared and that he was reading it, so when he read "I don't know about you but I think that sounded desperate", it clearly wasn't a retort to what Gordon Brown had just said, it was something he was going to say if Brown sounded desperate or not.
Oh and Wales got a mention this week, just one as an aside by Gordon Brownand he mentioned the Scottish weather too.
Who won? It is more difficult to decide this week they were all pretty equal, especially as there was a lot of consensus on many issues.
So my Strictly Come Politicking scores are:
Brown 7 out of 10
Clegg 6.5 out of 10
Cameron 6. out of 10
21/04/2010
NO! I am NOT a Labour Candidate
Every now and again I get plagued by Trolls who believe that they have discovered some huge secret – that my family name is Humphreys. The fools think that I somehow make the fact secret, or that I am ashamed of my family name, or that I try to hide behind a false identity.
The truth is I have used the name Alwyn ap Huw as a public identity for more than thirty five years. Mainly because there is another Alwyn Humphreys, who is much better known than I in Welsh Wales, and I have never wanted to be confused with him.
Since Labour announced the name of their candidate in Dwyfor Meirionnydd I have been inundated with e-mails, letters, phone calls and comments on the street congratulating me / condemning me and commentating on the fact that I have been selected as the Labour Candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
The worst thing is that some of these comments have come from family and friends who should know better!
To get rid of any further confusion I would like to make it perfectly clear that I AM NOT the Alwyn Humphreys Labour candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
I hope that nobody wastes a vote on Labour's Alwyn Humphreys because they think that He is Me!
I'm not quite sure what I would feel if I heard that Alwyn had lost votes because of a similar confusion :-(
The truth is I have used the name Alwyn ap Huw as a public identity for more than thirty five years. Mainly because there is another Alwyn Humphreys, who is much better known than I in Welsh Wales, and I have never wanted to be confused with him.
Since Labour announced the name of their candidate in Dwyfor Meirionnydd I have been inundated with e-mails, letters, phone calls and comments on the street congratulating me / condemning me and commentating on the fact that I have been selected as the Labour Candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
The worst thing is that some of these comments have come from family and friends who should know better!
To get rid of any further confusion I would like to make it perfectly clear that I AM NOT the Alwyn Humphreys Labour candidate for Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
I hope that nobody wastes a vote on Labour's Alwyn Humphreys because they think that He is Me!
I'm not quite sure what I would feel if I heard that Alwyn had lost votes because of a similar confusion :-(
20/04/2010
Shut up Girl! Lembit on Feminism?
The second BBC Wales 2010 Election debates came from from Newtown, Montgomeryshire.
Heledd Fychan the Plaid Cymru candiadate, did well, very well. In a constituency that Plaid is unlikely to win Heledd put her name down as a contender to keep at it and build the Maldwyn vote into a victory for Plaid and/ or to make her a contender for a safer seat in the Assembly.
With the surge in the Liberal Democrats vote, following the leaders debate, the Lib Dems should keep this seat.
I can understand why the Lib Dems have had a surge, and good luck to them. If the Lib Dems have the most votes but the fewest MPs it will aid the democratisation of politics in the UK - it may be a step in the direction of fair votes for all including MK, SNP, Plaid.
My worry is that I don't think that a person who dismisses a female candidate with shut up girl, or who looks at politics through the lens of the Daily Sport, deserves to be an MP for any party, not least a Liberal and Democratic party.
I wish the Lib Dems the best of luck in England, I hope that they do well in those Scottish and Welsh seats that Plaid / SNP haven't got a sniff at, (I hope that MK beats the pants off them in Cornwall).
I would be pleased to see Nick Clegg PM, with that one caveat that the most illiberal and undemocratic embarrassment to the, non partisan, idea of Liberalism and Democracy loses his seat – Ta! Ta! Lembo!
Since 1879 Maldwyn has voted for Traditional Welsh Radical Liberalism, keep that tradition by voting Heledd Fychan the true keeper of that tradition.
Heledd Fychan the Plaid Cymru candiadate, did well, very well. In a constituency that Plaid is unlikely to win Heledd put her name down as a contender to keep at it and build the Maldwyn vote into a victory for Plaid and/ or to make her a contender for a safer seat in the Assembly.
With the surge in the Liberal Democrats vote, following the leaders debate, the Lib Dems should keep this seat.
I can understand why the Lib Dems have had a surge, and good luck to them. If the Lib Dems have the most votes but the fewest MPs it will aid the democratisation of politics in the UK - it may be a step in the direction of fair votes for all including MK, SNP, Plaid.
My worry is that I don't think that a person who dismisses a female candidate with shut up girl, or who looks at politics through the lens of the Daily Sport, deserves to be an MP for any party, not least a Liberal and Democratic party.
I wish the Lib Dems the best of luck in England, I hope that they do well in those Scottish and Welsh seats that Plaid / SNP haven't got a sniff at, (I hope that MK beats the pants off them in Cornwall).
I would be pleased to see Nick Clegg PM, with that one caveat that the most illiberal and undemocratic embarrassment to the, non partisan, idea of Liberalism and Democracy loses his seat – Ta! Ta! Lembo!
Since 1879 Maldwyn has voted for Traditional Welsh Radical Liberalism, keep that tradition by voting Heledd Fychan the true keeper of that tradition.
18/04/2010
MKs' Election Broadcast
Because the BBC doesn't recognise that Cornwall is a country but treats it as an English county, Mebyon Kernow is not permitted a tv slot for an Election Broadcast, as it doesn't put up a sufficient number of candidates in "the rest of England". It will have candidates in all six Cornish seats.
Here is the party's Election Broadcast made for YouTube
Here is the party's Election Broadcast made for YouTube
16/04/2010
The Big Debate - Pigs in Lipstick!
One hour and 40 minutes was much too long.
I am into politics, but even I switched off after just over an hour (I did suffer the rest on Freeview+ after a couple of pints). If the broadcasters and politicians want to do it again in 2015, I would suggest between 45 minutes and an hour max.
It was a debate on domestic ie English issues, so wasn't of much interest to me.
In fairness the presenter did note before most questions this is an issue that is devolved in Scotland, NI, Wales, but it was disappointing that none of the leaders picked up on that with a comment along the lines of and our colleagues in the devolved bodies will also be campaigning for ....." - after all the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish leaders were excluded because it was a British debate – not much of an Union if the other supposed Partners in Union are just airbrushed out of the equation is it?
On two occasions David Cameron didn't spot the questioner and asked him to reveal himself, in order that Dave could address his answer to the questioners personally, bad move.
Firstly it suggested that he wasn't paying attention. It isn't what it looks like in the studio that is important – but what it looks like on the telly in my living room. I saw the blokes asking (there were cameras on them) the fact that Dave didn't see them made him look as if he wasn't paying attention.
Worse still David Cameron was addressing his answers to the questioners rather than to me in my house.
Because I am hard of hearing I lip-read as much as I heard of the debate. That "thing" Mr Brown does with his mouth (not as bad as it use to be) makes him difficult to lip-read, sometimes it lip-reads as unvoiced expletives!
More importantly Nick Clegg voiced his answer to the camera, not to a member of the studio audience; I saw what Nick was saying to me, rather than seeing what Dave was saying to an audience member over an image of his right earlobe.
The other lip-reading issue (and it is not only us hard of hearing, who partially lip read – most adults do) is that both Brown and Cameron appeared to be wearing lipstick; and that distracted from their message.
Every time they spoke I thought of Obama's comment about pigs and lipstick, and those thoughts clouded their message.
The Score:
Clegg 6 out of 10 (could have been 7 if it wasn't for the suit and tie.
Brown 4.5 out of ten.
Cameron 4.4 out of ten – almost a draw, but Dave needs to do better than a draw in order to win.
Alex Salmond Ten out of Ten:
I am into politics, but even I switched off after just over an hour (I did suffer the rest on Freeview+ after a couple of pints). If the broadcasters and politicians want to do it again in 2015, I would suggest between 45 minutes and an hour max.
It was a debate on domestic ie English issues, so wasn't of much interest to me.
In fairness the presenter did note before most questions this is an issue that is devolved in Scotland, NI, Wales, but it was disappointing that none of the leaders picked up on that with a comment along the lines of and our colleagues in the devolved bodies will also be campaigning for ....." - after all the Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish leaders were excluded because it was a British debate – not much of an Union if the other supposed Partners in Union are just airbrushed out of the equation is it?
On two occasions David Cameron didn't spot the questioner and asked him to reveal himself, in order that Dave could address his answer to the questioners personally, bad move.
Firstly it suggested that he wasn't paying attention. It isn't what it looks like in the studio that is important – but what it looks like on the telly in my living room. I saw the blokes asking (there were cameras on them) the fact that Dave didn't see them made him look as if he wasn't paying attention.
Worse still David Cameron was addressing his answers to the questioners rather than to me in my house.
Because I am hard of hearing I lip-read as much as I heard of the debate. That "thing" Mr Brown does with his mouth (not as bad as it use to be) makes him difficult to lip-read, sometimes it lip-reads as unvoiced expletives!
More importantly Nick Clegg voiced his answer to the camera, not to a member of the studio audience; I saw what Nick was saying to me, rather than seeing what Dave was saying to an audience member over an image of his right earlobe.
The other lip-reading issue (and it is not only us hard of hearing, who partially lip read – most adults do) is that both Brown and Cameron appeared to be wearing lipstick; and that distracted from their message.
Every time they spoke I thought of Obama's comment about pigs and lipstick, and those thoughts clouded their message.
The Score:
Clegg 6 out of 10 (could have been 7 if it wasn't for the suit and tie.
Brown 4.5 out of ten.
Cameron 4.4 out of ten – almost a draw, but Dave needs to do better than a draw in order to win.
Alex Salmond Ten out of Ten:
13/04/2010
BBC Wales Election debate - Delyn
I have just watched a recording of last night's BBC Wales election Debate from Delyn. On the panel were the four main party candidates:
Bill Brereton - Liberal Democrat
David Hanson - Labour
Peter Ryder - Plaid Cymru
Antoinette Sandbach - Conservative
Not included (not even in the audience - which use to happen in the old days) were the two other declared candidates:
Jennifer Griffin - British National Party
Andrew Haigh - UK Independence Party
One of the problems with local hustings, rather than party big guns, taking part in programmes like this is that they can benefit the incumbent. A person who has been a professional politician every working day of his or her life for years, sometimes decades should have a natural advantage in knowledge of the arguments and in ways of presenting the arguments.
Despite having been an MP for some 18 years David Hanson didn't seem to have that edge over the others. This would have been refreshing if it was because the other panel members were particularly strong, but they weren't, they were all pretty weak and uninspiring, for the incumbent not to win hands down in such a situation is a very bad reflection on his ability, especially as he has been a government minister for some time.
Two bad mistakes in the programme:
Whilst discussing crime and law and order Antoinette Sandbach mentioned something that David Cameron had said in Llandudno about the rights of people in England (pause, hesitation, afterthought) ... and Wales. It was only a 1 second pause, if that, but it stood out a mile.
The other bad mistake was by Plaid's Peter Ryder, he had mentioned Plaid's policy of a fuel price regulator, Antoinette retorted that this was a Conservative policy since 2008 and Paid wanted to jump on their band wagon. Peter tried to come back but was stopped by Betsan.
I know what Peter wanted to say. That Plaid had put forward such a scheme in 2005 and 2008 and the Conservatives had voted against it on both occasions. Peter should have got that point in, even if it was in answer to another question.
Bill Bereton was the candidate who was most out of his depth, he used his USP - that he is a former senior policeman, so he knows about law and order - in response to the first question about the economy, when a law and order question came up later in the programme he had nothing new or unique to offer on the subject.
So my Strictly Come Politicking scores are:
Peter Ryder - Plaid Cymru 4.5
Antoinette Sandbach - Conservative 4.25
David Hanson - Labour - 4.25
Bill Brereton - Liberal Democrat 4.00
All could have done better.
With the Experience of Lembit and Glyn, the enthusiasm of Heledd and whatever the Labour candidate can offer lets hope for something more inspiring next week when the debate visits Montgomeryshire.
Bill Brereton - Liberal Democrat
David Hanson - Labour
Peter Ryder - Plaid Cymru
Antoinette Sandbach - Conservative
Not included (not even in the audience - which use to happen in the old days) were the two other declared candidates:
Jennifer Griffin - British National Party
Andrew Haigh - UK Independence Party
One of the problems with local hustings, rather than party big guns, taking part in programmes like this is that they can benefit the incumbent. A person who has been a professional politician every working day of his or her life for years, sometimes decades should have a natural advantage in knowledge of the arguments and in ways of presenting the arguments.
Despite having been an MP for some 18 years David Hanson didn't seem to have that edge over the others. This would have been refreshing if it was because the other panel members were particularly strong, but they weren't, they were all pretty weak and uninspiring, for the incumbent not to win hands down in such a situation is a very bad reflection on his ability, especially as he has been a government minister for some time.
Two bad mistakes in the programme:
Whilst discussing crime and law and order Antoinette Sandbach mentioned something that David Cameron had said in Llandudno about the rights of people in England (pause, hesitation, afterthought) ... and Wales. It was only a 1 second pause, if that, but it stood out a mile.
The other bad mistake was by Plaid's Peter Ryder, he had mentioned Plaid's policy of a fuel price regulator, Antoinette retorted that this was a Conservative policy since 2008 and Paid wanted to jump on their band wagon. Peter tried to come back but was stopped by Betsan.
I know what Peter wanted to say. That Plaid had put forward such a scheme in 2005 and 2008 and the Conservatives had voted against it on both occasions. Peter should have got that point in, even if it was in answer to another question.
Bill Bereton was the candidate who was most out of his depth, he used his USP - that he is a former senior policeman, so he knows about law and order - in response to the first question about the economy, when a law and order question came up later in the programme he had nothing new or unique to offer on the subject.
So my Strictly Come Politicking scores are:
Peter Ryder - Plaid Cymru 4.5
Antoinette Sandbach - Conservative 4.25
David Hanson - Labour - 4.25
Bill Brereton - Liberal Democrat 4.00
All could have done better.
With the Experience of Lembit and Glyn, the enthusiasm of Heledd and whatever the Labour candidate can offer lets hope for something more inspiring next week when the debate visits Montgomeryshire.
09/04/2010
Ask the Prime Ministers "Why are you frightened of Plaid / SNP?"
Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg will appear head to head in telly debates on April 15th, 22nd and 29th. I'm SO excited I can't wait!
The first chinwag will be under the auspices of ITV when Alastair Stewart will be the referee. The debate will deal with domestic issues.
Sky will host the second debate, international affairs will be the curriculum and Adam Boulton will be the invigilator
The final debate will be hosted by good old Aunty BBC with David Dimbleby in the chair presiding over a debate on economic issues
Any member of the voting public can send a question into the programmes, the theory is that the most asked questions will be put to the three great leaders, but the questions will be dismissed unless they are relevant to the themes of the debate.
If you would like to suggest a question you can do so through the following links:
http://www.itv.com/electiondebate/
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Election/debatequestion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8589502.stm
I doubt if it would be asked, even if it was the most popular question, but what I would ask on the ITV programme is Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating domestic issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP?
I would ask Sky: Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating international issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP?
I would ask the BBC: Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating economic issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP??
I would encourage every Welsh and Scottish Nationalist to post the same questions, and after posting them to announce the fact on their blogs, and their Facebook, Twitter etc accounts.
A two minute protest, that will make a pertinent point if many of us take up the challenge!
The first chinwag will be under the auspices of ITV when Alastair Stewart will be the referee. The debate will deal with domestic issues.
Sky will host the second debate, international affairs will be the curriculum and Adam Boulton will be the invigilator
The final debate will be hosted by good old Aunty BBC with David Dimbleby in the chair presiding over a debate on economic issues
Any member of the voting public can send a question into the programmes, the theory is that the most asked questions will be put to the three great leaders, but the questions will be dismissed unless they are relevant to the themes of the debate.
If you would like to suggest a question you can do so through the following links:
http://www.itv.com/electiondebate/
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Election/debatequestion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8589502.stm
I doubt if it would be asked, even if it was the most popular question, but what I would ask on the ITV programme is Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating domestic issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP?
I would ask Sky: Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating international issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP?
I would ask the BBC: Why are the three representatives of the London Parties frightened of debating economic issues with representatives of Plaid Cymru and the SNP??
I would encourage every Welsh and Scottish Nationalist to post the same questions, and after posting them to announce the fact on their blogs, and their Facebook, Twitter etc accounts.
A two minute protest, that will make a pertinent point if many of us take up the challenge!
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