Llais Dyfed?

I am grateful to Peter Black AM for pointing out that Cllr Alex Williams is not the only blogger to have commented on Plaid sacking Siân Caiach as I noted in my last post. Peter notes that the issue was raised on the Welsh Lib Dem joint blog Freedom Central on Saturday.

What is interesting about the post on FC is that it contains links back to a related story that I was unaware of. Another story that would have spread like wildfire through the Welsh blogosphere if it had involved a Labour or Tory party member.

Apparently Siân Caiach's daughter Arianwen Caiach- Taylor was expelled from the party last March for having the audacity to send an e-mail to Ieuan Wyn Jones accusing him of being a traitor over the top-up fees issue.

If Plaid is going to expel every young person (and parent of young persons) who feel betrayed by Plaid's u-turn on top up fees the party will have to kick out a hell of a lot of members. If they add those who are unhappy about Plaid's other U-turns Ieuan might find himself in a one person party!

The attitudes of Plaid and John Dixon that come through in these stories is very reminiscent of the breakdown in trust betwen the party hierarchy and ordinary Plaid members that caused the formation of Llais Gwynedd to challenge Plaid Cymru in its north western heartland.

If John and his cronies continue to give Plaid Cymru such a bad press I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a Llais Dyfed being formed to challenge the authoritarians in Plaid's south western heartlands too!

Conservative MP Parks Illegally in Disabled Bay

This is a picture of a Conservative MP's car parked illegally in a disabled parking bay!

What do Plaid Cymru bloggers and supporters think about this abuse of a disabled parking space?

Do they think that there were extenuating circumstances that allowed the MP to park there?

Do they think that the person who took the picture is a fat arsed bastard with an axe to grind?

Do they think that those who complained about the abuse of the disabled parking place should worry about more important things?

Or are these pathetic excuses only used when a senior member of Plaid Cymru is caught with his pants down?

Put your differences behind you - Vote Plaid

I can understand why people voted for Llais Gwynedd and for Peoples Voice in last May's council elections. I can understand why they are disappointed with Plaid Cymru.

I know, more than most, how cruel Plaid can be to ex supporters, but at the end of the day there is only one way to secure a voice for Wales in Europe and that is by voting Plaid Cymru on June 4th.

Gwylym, Gethin, Seimon, Alwyn - please don't throw the baby out with the bath water, encourage your supporters to go out and vote Plaid, rather than stay in and allow the anti Welsh to win!

PLEASE

Iain Dale causes Plague of the Cornflakes!

Last year if you wanted to see your blog name in Print you would have to pay out a whopping £15 for a copy of Iain Dale's Guide to political blogging.

This year, if you have attended the Liberal Party Conference or the TUC you will already have been given one gratis. Something for those who are about to attend the Labour and Tory conferences to look forward to.

Those of you who attend other conferences (Plaid, SNP, MK, etc) and us sad souls who don't do conferencing need not despair. The publication is available as a PDF for free HERE.

The publication contains many more lists of the best than were published on Iain's blog. For instance the top 30 blogs by councillors, which has two Welsh entrants:

Blog Dogfael, a Plaid Councillor on Aberystwyth Parish Council at number 14 - Llongyfarchiadau Dogfael.

And at 29 Gwilym Euros Roberts who is also described by the guide as a Plaid Cymru Councillor .

Look out for multiple by-elections in Gwynedd, as half the council members choke to death on their cornflakes by the news that Gwilym is a Plaid Councillor. It's difficult to work out which party will suffer the most from the plague of the cornflakes, Plaid or Llais!

Iain Dale's ignorance of Gwynedd politics may have a lot to answer for!

Unlucky for some

Many people believe that the number 13 is an unlucky number.

Llais Gwynedd has just won it's 13th member on Gwynedd Council, by virtue of the election of Dafydd Lloyd Hughes as the representative for the Bodwydd a Rhiw ward in a by election today.

Does this signify bad luck for Llais or its Plaid opponents? We will have to wait and see!

It's probably not the politically correct term, but I believe that Dafydd is the first black person ever to be elected to this very white council.

So Llongyfarchiadau Mawr on both counts, Daf.

Dafydd Iwan Out?

Although not confirmed yet, apparently Dafydd Iwan, Plaid's President and Richard Parry the leader of Plaid on Gwynedd council have both lost their seats on Gwynedd council haven being beaten by Llais Gwynedd candidates.

Congratulations Gethin

A quick note to congratulate my nephew Gethin Williams, who I hear has won the Dolgellau rural seat for Llais Gwynedd. Gwilym Euros has also made a gain for Llais Gwynedd in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area, Llais have also won another seat in Meironnydd but I don't know which yet

Blog Gethin

I mentioned in an earlier post that my nephew in law, Gethin Williams, is standing as a Llais Gwynedd candidate in the forthcoming council elections.

He has a campaign blog to support his candiadature HERE.

All the best with the campaign and the blog Gethin.

Hwyl Wncl Alwyn!

Vote for Wales or Vote Gwynedd / Lloegr?

Since I began commenting on-line about political issues, many years before blogs were invented, I have supported Plaid Cymru during election periods and opposed Plaid's lack of commitment to what I see as purist Welsh Nationalism in between elections.

I find myself in a conundrum with the forthcoming County Council elections.

My nephew in law, Gethin Williams, is standing for Llais Gwynedd as the candidate for the Llanelltyd, Brithdir ac Islaw'r Dref ward of Gwynedd Council. If elected he will be a bloody good councillor for his ward. I say this from knowing the boy rather than the relation or the party rep. I hope that he is elected.

There are others on the Llais Gwynedd list that I know and respect:

Owain Gwynys, Seimon Glyn, Alwyn Gruffudd, people who have suffered for being nationalists rather than party hacks, the sort of nationalist that I support. People who have shown that they put the national cause before personal enhancement and have served the national cause well over many years, people who I want to see elected.

A council with individual members like Gethin, Alwyn, Seimon and Now would be a council and a half.

BUT - they are not Llais Gwynedd. Llais Gwynedd is a party of one issue people who don’t want local schools to change. And from what I've heard, some of the opponents of school changes oppose on the basis that it will force more Welsh on their kids. The idea that those at the heart of true Welsh Nationalism could coalesce with those who oppose the very existence of our language, just in order to save a school or two, turns my stomach.

I support Plaid Cymru during election periods, for the simple reason that it is the only nationalist party that we have. I would love to see a credible alternative nationalist party. Llais Gwynedd doesn’t provide that alternative!

The only way to vote for Wales in Gwynedd next May is to vote for the Plaid Cymru Candidate. (Unless you live in the Dolgellau Rural District, where you should vote for Gethin Williams)!