I notice a rather intriguing coincidence about Royal events affecting Assembly elections. This year the Royal Story that threatens to overshadow coverage of the election is the April Wedding of Wills and Kate. In April 2007 the Royal story that knocked the election off the front page of the Western Mail was Wills and Kate splitting up.
See what a difference that just one term of a Plaid lead one Wales Government can achieve! Love restored, harmony and reconciliation abound and a happy ending to a Fairy story.
This reconciliation was, of course, one of Plaid's main manifesto policies in 2007 (see page 244) and proves what a Plaid driven Welsh Government can achieve; which is why Plaid is fighting the next Assembly Election under the slogan We are the best lap dogs for Labour.
Showing posts with label Rainbow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rainbow. Show all posts
25/03/2011
24/06/2007
R-G v Rainbow isn't Left v Right
I am amazed by the way that so many from the left seem to have got their knickers in a twist regarding the right-left argument whilst considering the Rainbow v R-G coalition arguments. They claim that a Tory including Rainbow will be some form of extreme right wing government intent on privatising everything in sight, oppressing the working class and giving hand outs to the super rich. A Red-Green deal, on the other hand, will give Wales a progressive socialist government.
Both statements are, of course, absolute rubbish. Those who make such claims are either ignorant of the limitations of the Devolution Settlement for Wales or are deliberately misleading. The fact of the matter is that the limits of the National Assembly's powers give very little room for manoeuvre on the right - left axis. This is why the manifestos of all of the main parties for the last three elections have been broadly similar to each other. Most of the differences between the parties have been based on gimmicks rather than ideology. You can't distinguish left and right because one party wants free bus passes but the other wants free light bulbs, or that one wants to employ more nurse in the NHS but the other favours more doctors.
The National Assembly just doesn't have the authority to introduce either radical socialist policies or radical right wing policies. Even within the little leeway that the Assembly does have, the Government of Wales Act ensures that Westminster has oversight over almost any policy the Assembly makes. With New Labour and Cameroonian Tories converging on the middle ground in Westminster, the overseers are going to stifle anything that the Assembly does that even attempts to move away from the middle ground.
The coalition argument has nothing to do with right v left; it is a much simpler choice. Do we want a Welsh Assembly Government lead by those who have shown such incompetence in exercising the Assembly's limited powers over the last eight years, or do we want to give others the chance to prove that they can do better?
Those on Plaid's left who want Red-Green, because of misplaced socialist ideology, are deluding themselves and letting Wales down. You don't get four years of Socialism from Red-Green - you just get four more years of Labour failure.
Both statements are, of course, absolute rubbish. Those who make such claims are either ignorant of the limitations of the Devolution Settlement for Wales or are deliberately misleading. The fact of the matter is that the limits of the National Assembly's powers give very little room for manoeuvre on the right - left axis. This is why the manifestos of all of the main parties for the last three elections have been broadly similar to each other. Most of the differences between the parties have been based on gimmicks rather than ideology. You can't distinguish left and right because one party wants free bus passes but the other wants free light bulbs, or that one wants to employ more nurse in the NHS but the other favours more doctors.
The National Assembly just doesn't have the authority to introduce either radical socialist policies or radical right wing policies. Even within the little leeway that the Assembly does have, the Government of Wales Act ensures that Westminster has oversight over almost any policy the Assembly makes. With New Labour and Cameroonian Tories converging on the middle ground in Westminster, the overseers are going to stifle anything that the Assembly does that even attempts to move away from the middle ground.
The coalition argument has nothing to do with right v left; it is a much simpler choice. Do we want a Welsh Assembly Government lead by those who have shown such incompetence in exercising the Assembly's limited powers over the last eight years, or do we want to give others the chance to prove that they can do better?
Those on Plaid's left who want Red-Green, because of misplaced socialist ideology, are deluding themselves and letting Wales down. You don't get four years of Socialism from Red-Green - you just get four more years of Labour failure.
21/05/2007
Effective Opposition
AS the discussion about coalitions and agreements go on, AMs are really faced with just two options. To be part of the Government or to be part of the opposition; or to use Bay speak be effective in opposition.
It is almost inevitable though that a multi party opposition will be ineffective because of its nature. You have three different leaders, rather than one leader speaking with the authority of the whole of the opposition. Situations arise were all opposition parties oppose the government but for different reasons, confusing and weakening the opposing argument, and then there are always times when the opposition splits with one party supporting the government, another abstaining leaving just a small rump of the opposition to oppose.
Despite this there were a few occasions in the last Assembly where the opposition parties proved that they could be effective not just by defeating the government but also by gaining valuable concessions from the Government. On these occasions the opposition parties had to work closely together, work out a joint plan and stick together like glue. However if that is what is needed to be an effective opposition wouldn't it make more sense to use that sort of coalition to be in government?
If Rainbow Government comes into being the opposition will be formed by one party that has a history that shows it can be united and disciplined. If the Rainbow Government happens the Assembly could have the new experience of having a truly effective opposition, rather than one that is just occasionally effective, would a government made up of three very different parties be able to govern effectively under the scrutiny of such an effective opposition?
Cymraeg: Gwrthblaid Effeithiol
It is almost inevitable though that a multi party opposition will be ineffective because of its nature. You have three different leaders, rather than one leader speaking with the authority of the whole of the opposition. Situations arise were all opposition parties oppose the government but for different reasons, confusing and weakening the opposing argument, and then there are always times when the opposition splits with one party supporting the government, another abstaining leaving just a small rump of the opposition to oppose.
Despite this there were a few occasions in the last Assembly where the opposition parties proved that they could be effective not just by defeating the government but also by gaining valuable concessions from the Government. On these occasions the opposition parties had to work closely together, work out a joint plan and stick together like glue. However if that is what is needed to be an effective opposition wouldn't it make more sense to use that sort of coalition to be in government?
If Rainbow Government comes into being the opposition will be formed by one party that has a history that shows it can be united and disciplined. If the Rainbow Government happens the Assembly could have the new experience of having a truly effective opposition, rather than one that is just occasionally effective, would a government made up of three very different parties be able to govern effectively under the scrutiny of such an effective opposition?
Cymraeg: Gwrthblaid Effeithiol
19/05/2007
Don't Bank on the Crock of Gold
There has been a lot of excitement on the Blogosphere since both of Tomos Livingstone's mobile phones rang last night to say that the Liberal Democrats had suspended talks with Labour. (What's the point of having two mobile phones - one for each ear?)
But the Rainbow Coalition isn't a done deal, and may still not come off. Bethan Jenkins a new AM from Plaid's left has already blogged a warning shot over the bows of those in Plaid who are warming to the proposal. On Maes-e some Plaid members are threatening to rip up their membership cards if Plaid gets into bed with those who destroyed their valley community. Even if IWJ is gagging for the First Minister's job there is only a 50/50 chance that his own party officials will let him take it.
More important is the use of the word suspended in Mike German's statement. The Lib-Lab talks aren’t over they have just been put aside for a bit. It's no secret that Mike has had a few internal difficulties over the past few weeks. Suspension could prove the trump card that saves him, the thing that gives him more from a Lib-Lab pact than his critics can refuse. More importantly it could be the trump card that saves Rhodri.
Morgan has had difficulties within his own group in selling a Lib-Lab coalition or a Lab-Plaid understanding to his AM's. What both parties are asking in return for agreement has been too much for some Labour AM's. Faced with the possibility of a Plaid-Led-Tory-Including-Government with Labour in opposition some of the Labour die-hards are going to give ground, giving Mike what he needs to sell a Lib-Lab coalition to his party, or giving Ieuan what he needs to sell a Lab-Plaid understanding to his and giving Rhodri the chance of remaining FM.
I hate the Labour Party with a passion so I hope that a Rainbow Coalition comes off, but I'm not ready to bet real money on it yet - despite the hype.
More about Rainbows:
Genesis 9:13 - Glyn Davies - Martin Egleston - Gareth Wyn - Scottish Futures - 10% - Ted Jones - Welsh Labour Mark - Renewed Labour - The Shooting Prof - Damon Lord - Aberafon & Neath Lib Dems - Blamerbell - Pontygwyndy - Tortoiseshell - Rhys Llwyd - Bratiaith - Glasflog - Vaughan - Our Kingdom
But the Rainbow Coalition isn't a done deal, and may still not come off. Bethan Jenkins a new AM from Plaid's left has already blogged a warning shot over the bows of those in Plaid who are warming to the proposal. On Maes-e some Plaid members are threatening to rip up their membership cards if Plaid gets into bed with those who destroyed their valley community. Even if IWJ is gagging for the First Minister's job there is only a 50/50 chance that his own party officials will let him take it.
More important is the use of the word suspended in Mike German's statement. The Lib-Lab talks aren’t over they have just been put aside for a bit. It's no secret that Mike has had a few internal difficulties over the past few weeks. Suspension could prove the trump card that saves him, the thing that gives him more from a Lib-Lab pact than his critics can refuse. More importantly it could be the trump card that saves Rhodri.
Morgan has had difficulties within his own group in selling a Lib-Lab coalition or a Lab-Plaid understanding to his AM's. What both parties are asking in return for agreement has been too much for some Labour AM's. Faced with the possibility of a Plaid-Led-Tory-Including-Government with Labour in opposition some of the Labour die-hards are going to give ground, giving Mike what he needs to sell a Lib-Lab coalition to his party, or giving Ieuan what he needs to sell a Lab-Plaid understanding to his and giving Rhodri the chance of remaining FM.
I hate the Labour Party with a passion so I hope that a Rainbow Coalition comes off, but I'm not ready to bet real money on it yet - despite the hype.
More about Rainbows:
Genesis 9:13 - Glyn Davies - Martin Egleston - Gareth Wyn - Scottish Futures - 10% - Ted Jones - Welsh Labour Mark - Renewed Labour - The Shooting Prof - Damon Lord - Aberafon & Neath Lib Dems - Blamerbell - Pontygwyndy - Tortoiseshell - Rhys Llwyd - Bratiaith - Glasflog - Vaughan - Our Kingdom
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