When Simon Thomas was an MP he suggested that Plaid should aim for an independent Wales by 2050, because I am already well into my sixth decade, voting for a party that promises independence by 2050, would be an altruistic act for me, the chances of my living until 2050 are minimal. In an article on Wales Home Adam Price suggests 2036 as the date that the party should advocate for its long term policy, when I may be a sprightly 77 years old.
Plaid Cymru has seen generations of activists shuffle off this mortal coil knowing that they would never live in an independent Wales, why should I expect better? Shouldn't I too campaign for independence as a long term aim that will benefit my children and my grandchildren after I am gone?
Possibly, but probably not!
I am a realist, I know that Independence has hovered around the 10% +3 -3 margine of error in opinion polls for the last 30 years, so there isn't a great appetite for Independence in Wales at the moment. One of the reasons for this stagnation is that nobody has made the case for independence. And therein lays the problem of kicking independence into the long grass. If we see independence as a long term issue that can be ignored for another 20 30, 50 years, Wales will never be independent!
For either Adam or Simon to be right, for independence to be achieved in 2036 or 2050 we must campaign for Independence Today. Ignoring the issue as something for the long term just puts off making the case for independence until 2036 or 2050 or 2075 or 2974 or 3465 or for eternity!
If there is a case for Welsh independence it should be made today by all who believe in the cause. Postponing the argument as something for the long term is both duplicitous and dishonest!
Showing posts with label Adam Price. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Adam Price. Show all posts
22/09/2009
OOPS! I touched a raw nerve!
I am told that my musings about a female successor to Adam price has touched a raw nerve in the Plaid camp.
Mr Price, apparently, had a male heir all lined up and in situ to take over the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr nomination by default.
An heir who, I understand, is now spitting blood because somebody who is not even a f***ing party member has suggested that Price's successor should be a woman and is spoiling his f***ing chances with feminist crap!
Oops! Sorry! I was just thinking out loud about Plaid policy, rather than trying to scupper any bloke's chances!
Mr Price, apparently, had a male heir all lined up and in situ to take over the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr nomination by default.
An heir who, I understand, is now spitting blood because somebody who is not even a f***ing party member has suggested that Price's successor should be a woman and is spoiling his f***ing chances with feminist crap!
Oops! Sorry! I was just thinking out loud about Plaid policy, rather than trying to scupper any bloke's chances!
21/09/2009
No Mabon for Carmarthen
Following the comments published on this blog and elsewhere about potential successors to Adam Price as Plaid hopeful in the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr constituency Mabon ap Gwynfor has asked me to publish this statement:
Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr - Mabon ap Gwynfor
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru Co-ordinator for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Ceredigion and former Parliamentary Candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire has announced that he will not be putting his name forward as a candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, following Adam Price MP’s decision to stand down at the next general election.
Mabon said:
“It’s an honour and a privilege to have been named as a possible candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, but I will not be putting my name forward for nomination. Having seen the other names that have been mentioned as possible candidates it is obvious that the party has no shortage of quality politicians in the waiting, and I know that whoever gets nominated to follow Adam will be an excellent candidate.
“If there will be any role for me in Welsh National politics in the future then I would like it to be in Cardiff Bay. But my focus is on raising my family, and ensuring a successful election result for both Elfyn Llwyd in Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Penri James in Ceredigion.”
Mabon added, “I must take this opportunity to wish Adam the best of luck in the U.S. , and hope that we will see him serving the people of Wales again soon, but next time in Cardiff Bay!”
Ends
Plaid Cymru, Carmarthen East and Dinefwr - Mabon ap Gwynfor
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru Co-ordinator for Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Ceredigion and former Parliamentary Candidate for Brecon and Radnorshire has announced that he will not be putting his name forward as a candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, following Adam Price MP’s decision to stand down at the next general election.
Mabon said:
“It’s an honour and a privilege to have been named as a possible candidate for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, but I will not be putting my name forward for nomination. Having seen the other names that have been mentioned as possible candidates it is obvious that the party has no shortage of quality politicians in the waiting, and I know that whoever gets nominated to follow Adam will be an excellent candidate.
“If there will be any role for me in Welsh National politics in the future then I would like it to be in Cardiff Bay. But my focus is on raising my family, and ensuring a successful election result for both Elfyn Llwyd in Dwyfor Meirionnydd and Penri James in Ceredigion.”
Mabon added, “I must take this opportunity to wish Adam the best of luck in the U.S. , and hope that we will see him serving the people of Wales again soon, but next time in Cardiff Bay!”
Ends
20/09/2009
Adam and Eve
There has been much speculation on who will replace Adam Price as the MP for Carmarthen and Dinefwr, most of the names bandied about have been the names of men, John Dixon, Dafydd Wigley, Llŷr Hughes Griffiths, Mabon ap Gwynfor, Peter Hughes Griffiths et all. But, as I noted in a comment to a post by Vaughan, there will be a lot of pressure on Plaid to put up a female candidate as successor to Price. Plaid prides itself as a party that believes in gender equality, but all nine of the MPs that the party has sent to London so far have been men. Llanelli, an outside bet for a Plaid victory, is the only seat in the party's top ten hopes that has a female candidate.
I doubt if Plaid will introduce an all women shortlist for the constituency, and local branches can be fiercely independent, so I wouldn't go as far as to say that a female candidate for the seat will be inevitable, but there will definitely be pressure from certain influential quarters of the party for the successor to be a woman.
But who are the likely candidates?
From a national perspective one would have to pick Gwenllian Lansdown as a potentially good MP, but she has no local connections. 12 months ago Siân Caiach might have been a name to listen out for. Two other possibilities are the AM's Bethan Jenkins and NerysHughes Evans, but for Plaid AM's to be seen as moving from Cardiff to Westminster might give the wrong impression, especially given the narrative of Plaid's big guns, Dafydd Wigley, DET and Cynog Dafis choosing Cardiff Bay as their natural home, and Adam himself as well as Elfyn Llwyd making similar noises.
So the question is who are the local ladies who might throw their hats into the ring?
Does any reader have any local insight?
The other question being raised since Adam's announcement is where he will stand in 2011? Given the tight timetable involved in his academic sabbatical to Harvard, the answer might be nowhere. Indeed he might be wise to see how the dust settles in Wales after a Conservative Westminster victory and hold off re-entering the electoral fray until 2015.
Correction I apologies to Nerys Evans AM for mixing her name up with that of the Rhyl superstar and brilliant actress Nerys Hughes. I'm sure that both would make exceptional MPs.
I doubt if Plaid will introduce an all women shortlist for the constituency, and local branches can be fiercely independent, so I wouldn't go as far as to say that a female candidate for the seat will be inevitable, but there will definitely be pressure from certain influential quarters of the party for the successor to be a woman.
But who are the likely candidates?
From a national perspective one would have to pick Gwenllian Lansdown as a potentially good MP, but she has no local connections. 12 months ago Siân Caiach might have been a name to listen out for. Two other possibilities are the AM's Bethan Jenkins and Nerys
So the question is who are the local ladies who might throw their hats into the ring?
Does any reader have any local insight?
The other question being raised since Adam's announcement is where he will stand in 2011? Given the tight timetable involved in his academic sabbatical to Harvard, the answer might be nowhere. Indeed he might be wise to see how the dust settles in Wales after a Conservative Westminster victory and hold off re-entering the electoral fray until 2015.
Correction I apologies to Nerys Evans AM for mixing her name up with that of the Rhyl superstar and brilliant actress Nerys Hughes. I'm sure that both would make exceptional MPs.
12/09/2009
Plaid Conference
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Adam Price MPs address to the Plaid Cymru Conference this afternoon. Agree with what he has to say or not, nobody can deny that the boy is an exceptional orator, who knows how to hold and entertain an audience.
I was particularly pleased with Adam's comment that there is room in Plaid for "small C conservatives. That was some concession coming from the big beast of the party's left wing, and perhaps the beginning of an acknowledgement that the continuous over emphasis on creating a hard left image is harming the party in some quarters.
Most of Adam's speech was dedicated to an attack on the big C Conservatives. I was surprised that the political commentators, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Richard Wyn Jones, couldn't understand why Adam should do this. They thought it was odd, because all of Plaid's main challenges are either in Labour seats (Anglesey, Aberconwy and Llanelli) or a Liberal seat (Ceredigion). However it seemed perfectly obvious that Adam wasn't trying to win over Conservative voters in his speech, but that he was trying to appeal to peeved Labour supporters.
Elfyn Llwyd's speech earlier in the day didn't quite hit the mark. I couldn't understand the point of his comments about what a Plaid Cymru (Westminster) government would not have done. There never ever will be a Plaid government in Westminster and I wouldn't have thought that the party had aspirations to form one. Given Ieuan Wyn's earlier concession to the traditional supporters of the party that Plaid no longer needs to be embarrassed by its aspirations for independence it might have made much more sense If Elfyn had said that an independent Welsh government wouldn't do things such as send troops to Iraq.
I had hoped to pop into the conference for a couple of hours today as an observer but circumstances got the better of my plans. All I saw of the conference "in the flesh" was about five minutes on Friday night when I went into the Venue box office to pick up some tickets for a show next month. Still I had a chance to say a quick hello to Elfyn Llwyd and Angus Robinson, and to wave to the remnants of the old Hydro group who were enjoying the sunshine and an al fresco bottle of wine.
However from what I have seen on the telly and read on the blogs Plaid appears to have had a fairly successful conference on the whole.
I was particularly pleased with Adam's comment that there is room in Plaid for "small C conservatives. That was some concession coming from the big beast of the party's left wing, and perhaps the beginning of an acknowledgement that the continuous over emphasis on creating a hard left image is harming the party in some quarters.
Most of Adam's speech was dedicated to an attack on the big C Conservatives. I was surprised that the political commentators, Rhun ap Iorwerth and Richard Wyn Jones, couldn't understand why Adam should do this. They thought it was odd, because all of Plaid's main challenges are either in Labour seats (Anglesey, Aberconwy and Llanelli) or a Liberal seat (Ceredigion). However it seemed perfectly obvious that Adam wasn't trying to win over Conservative voters in his speech, but that he was trying to appeal to peeved Labour supporters.
Elfyn Llwyd's speech earlier in the day didn't quite hit the mark. I couldn't understand the point of his comments about what a Plaid Cymru (Westminster) government would not have done. There never ever will be a Plaid government in Westminster and I wouldn't have thought that the party had aspirations to form one. Given Ieuan Wyn's earlier concession to the traditional supporters of the party that Plaid no longer needs to be embarrassed by its aspirations for independence it might have made much more sense If Elfyn had said that an independent Welsh government wouldn't do things such as send troops to Iraq.
I had hoped to pop into the conference for a couple of hours today as an observer but circumstances got the better of my plans. All I saw of the conference "in the flesh" was about five minutes on Friday night when I went into the Venue box office to pick up some tickets for a show next month. Still I had a chance to say a quick hello to Elfyn Llwyd and Angus Robinson, and to wave to the remnants of the old Hydro group who were enjoying the sunshine and an al fresco bottle of wine.
However from what I have seen on the telly and read on the blogs Plaid appears to have had a fairly successful conference on the whole.
18/08/2009
Plaid Top poll, Labour in third place!
As far as I'm aware only three Welsh MPs blog, and all three have been placed in the top 10 MPs at the Total Politics blog awards. Adam Price is at no 7, David Jones is at no 9 and Paul Flynn at no 10.
Could this result be seen as a mini opinion poll of voting intentions at the next Westminster election? Plaid topping the poll, with the Conservatives pushing Labour into third place? :-)
Congratulations to all three MPs.
Could this result be seen as a mini opinion poll of voting intentions at the next Westminster election? Plaid topping the poll, with the Conservatives pushing Labour into third place? :-)
Congratulations to all three MPs.
07/08/2009
Stop the Bus – Some Want to Get Off!
Whenever I discuss Plaid Cymru’s policies (which I always do from a supportive, if sometimes critical, viewpoint) I can guarantee a defensive comment in support of Plaid Orthodoxy from Rhydian Fôn of Plaid Bontnewydd. I was quite shocked, therefore, to see Rhydian slapped down by one of his heroes this week.
Adam Price is peeved that Rhydian has suggested that the end of universal bus passes for the elderly might be a good idea. This puts me in a difficult position. I enjoy upsetting them both so much I don’t know who to support and who to oppose:-)
Logically I support Rhydian. Universal benefits always mean that those who have no need gain extras that they can well afford out of their own income.
During the Welsh Festival Season a regular thing that pisses me off is that rich pensioners get concessionary entry into Llangollen, the Royal Welsh and the Eisteddfod, but a hard working bloke on a minimum wage has to pay full price for himself, his wife and his 2.5 kids which often means that visiting these iconic festivals is well beyond the means of working class families.
Practically I agree with Adam. Means testing is bad! Unlike Rhydian or Adam I am old enough to remember means testing at its worst. The official from the social coming round to measure poverty in the most disgusting of ways. Your eldest daughter is over weight for a poor girl, your youngest is under weight – you don’t need help you need to balance portions more accurately! That was how means were tested forty odd years ago!
The problem with means testing, even in a less cruel world, isn’t with the people at the rich end of the scale – the millionaires who have free passes and prescriptions (which in all honesty they are unlikely to use) but on the borderline cases.
My grandfather paid into a superannuation fund which left his widow 6d a week too rich to get any state help for anything. My mother in law – just 15 years ago - was 50p a week too rich to get any state help because her late husband had a company pension paying half rates to his widow. So my grandfather and my father-in-law paid to make their widows poorer!
That is a means test trap that is bad for the economy. I will not risk paying into a pension fund that may put my widow into a similar situation. Because I won’t take that risk I put a greater burden on the state - my wife and I could both live to be 110 without a penny of self provision!
A guarantee of universal benefits for older people makes paying into a pension fund a worthwhile exercise, an exercise that will reduce the overall burden of age on the state!
Of course ideologically I disagree with both Adam and Rhydian. A strong capitalist Welsh economy would enable more Welsh pensioners to enjoy the riches of old age without the need for state intervention at all!
Adam Price is peeved that Rhydian has suggested that the end of universal bus passes for the elderly might be a good idea. This puts me in a difficult position. I enjoy upsetting them both so much I don’t know who to support and who to oppose:-)
Logically I support Rhydian. Universal benefits always mean that those who have no need gain extras that they can well afford out of their own income.
During the Welsh Festival Season a regular thing that pisses me off is that rich pensioners get concessionary entry into Llangollen, the Royal Welsh and the Eisteddfod, but a hard working bloke on a minimum wage has to pay full price for himself, his wife and his 2.5 kids which often means that visiting these iconic festivals is well beyond the means of working class families.
Practically I agree with Adam. Means testing is bad! Unlike Rhydian or Adam I am old enough to remember means testing at its worst. The official from the social coming round to measure poverty in the most disgusting of ways. Your eldest daughter is over weight for a poor girl, your youngest is under weight – you don’t need help you need to balance portions more accurately! That was how means were tested forty odd years ago!
The problem with means testing, even in a less cruel world, isn’t with the people at the rich end of the scale – the millionaires who have free passes and prescriptions (which in all honesty they are unlikely to use) but on the borderline cases.
My grandfather paid into a superannuation fund which left his widow 6d a week too rich to get any state help for anything. My mother in law – just 15 years ago - was 50p a week too rich to get any state help because her late husband had a company pension paying half rates to his widow. So my grandfather and my father-in-law paid to make their widows poorer!
That is a means test trap that is bad for the economy. I will not risk paying into a pension fund that may put my widow into a similar situation. Because I won’t take that risk I put a greater burden on the state - my wife and I could both live to be 110 without a penny of self provision!
A guarantee of universal benefits for older people makes paying into a pension fund a worthwhile exercise, an exercise that will reduce the overall burden of age on the state!
Of course ideologically I disagree with both Adam and Rhydian. A strong capitalist Welsh economy would enable more Welsh pensioners to enjoy the riches of old age without the need for state intervention at all!
11/02/2009
Ta! Ta! Syr Emyr?
Adam Price MP suggests that Sir Emyr Jones Parry may not be able to continue with his role as boss of the Committee for Delaying Welsh Democracy for much longer.
Adam also suggests that Sir Em should be replaced!
I would prefer that the committee be abolished. I can't see the point of its existence.
The whole point of the committee is just pointless. Its job is to advise the Assembly about whether or when a referendum should be held on further powers for the Assembly - a political decision!
Don't we elect and pay politicians to make political decisions?
If the Assembly can't be arsed to make such a simple decision for itself, without outside help, what's the point of the Assembly's existence?
Adam suggests that as Lord Ivor Richards was an UN Permanent Representative and a European Commissioner, before he presented his report; and Sir Emyr is a diplomat of vast experience - we need another experienced diplomat to continue the job!
Adam suggests Hywel Ceri Jones, a former Director-General at the European Commission!
This might be a shock to Adam, but Wales isn't Gaza, Wales isn't Afganhistan, Wales isn't Sri Lanka, Rwanda or Tibet!
There are rare disagreements about devolution in Wales, which can get heated - but not so heated that a good barmaid can't cool them. We don't need a High Profile International Diplomat to sort them out for F**k sake!
What we need are politicians who believe in devolution and who are willing to take the bull by the horns and start campaigning for a yes vote NOW!
Adam also suggests that Sir Em should be replaced!
I would prefer that the committee be abolished. I can't see the point of its existence.
The whole point of the committee is just pointless. Its job is to advise the Assembly about whether or when a referendum should be held on further powers for the Assembly - a political decision!
Don't we elect and pay politicians to make political decisions?
If the Assembly can't be arsed to make such a simple decision for itself, without outside help, what's the point of the Assembly's existence?
Adam suggests that as Lord Ivor Richards was an UN Permanent Representative and a European Commissioner, before he presented his report; and Sir Emyr is a diplomat of vast experience - we need another experienced diplomat to continue the job!
Adam suggests Hywel Ceri Jones, a former Director-General at the European Commission!
This might be a shock to Adam, but Wales isn't Gaza, Wales isn't Afganhistan, Wales isn't Sri Lanka, Rwanda or Tibet!
There are rare disagreements about devolution in Wales, which can get heated - but not so heated that a good barmaid can't cool them. We don't need a High Profile International Diplomat to sort them out for F**k sake!
What we need are politicians who believe in devolution and who are willing to take the bull by the horns and start campaigning for a yes vote NOW!
04/09/2008
Exclusive: Adam is Edna!
Readers of Welsh blogs will know that Glyn Davies has a whistle blower in Cardiff Bay, who has supplied him with knowledge of all sorts of goings on since he left the institution.
The sweet whisperings of Edna Mopbucket into Glyn's ears have become a regular part of the former AM's blog.
But who is the real Edna?
A clue might be found in an advert for a play in the Shaftesbury Theatre: At these performances the role of Edna will be played by ....... Adam Price!
The sweet whisperings of Edna Mopbucket into Glyn's ears have become a regular part of the former AM's blog.
But who is the real Edna?
A clue might be found in an advert for a play in the Shaftesbury Theatre: At these performances the role of Edna will be played by ....... Adam Price!
18/07/2008
The Best Chance?
Adam Price MP's column in the current edition of Golwg (translation by Ordovicius) makes the case for holding a referendum on further powers for the Assembly on the same date as the 2011 Assembly General Election.
My personal opinion is that a referendum is not needed and that Plaid made a boo-boo by not insisting that the referendum clause in the Government of Wales Act 2006 was dropped as part of the coalition agreement with Labour last year. But that is now water under the bridge, I suppose that we now have to live with the reality of a referendum being held sometime.
Adam makes a fair point about the way in which Alex Salmond's proposed referendum on independence may affect the Welsh referendum campaign:
I agree with this point. But I would say that this is an argument for holding a referendum sooner rather than later. There is little doubt that from the minute that the referendum bill is put before Holyrood that the British media will give "independence" a lot of coverage. Independence will be in the mind of Welsh voters during any post Scottish referendum - and the NO side will make sure it stays there. Because Plaid has failed to make the case for independence over the last 25 years then a Welsh referendum held after the Scots one will be lost.
Adam argues that a good reason for holding the referendum and the Election on the same day is that supporters of devolution (are) more likely to come out to vote in an Assembly election than those who oppose devolution. He is probably right, but I think that this is a poor reason for holding the referendum and the election on the same day for a number of reasons.
In the first instance I doubt that such a tactic would be beneficial to Mr Price's own party. Holding referendum and election on the same day is sure to entice many who oppose devolution into the polling booth for the first time ever during an Assembly election. Having gone to vote No in the referendum they are likely to vote in the election too but not, I suspect, for Plaid Cymru!
Secondly, Plaid has done this before! Swapped support for Labour referendum plans in exchange for some cynical supposed advantages to the Yes cause. In 1979 the trick was to hold the referendum on St David's day. In 1997 it was to hold the referendum in the wake of a huge Scots Yes, a week after Scotland had voted. Both tricks backfired. They highlighted doubts and uncertainty in the Yes camp which were seized upon like Manna from Heaven by the No campaign.
If there are convincing arguments for extending the Assembly's powers then they can and should be made on their merits, without the need for dirty / clever tricks.
Thirdly, if giving the Assembly legislative powers is seen to be an important enough issue to demand a referendum, then it is an important enough issue to justify it's own campaign period where the arguments for and against can be made clearly, rather than being muddled with a general election campaign.
Finally, I can't see how electors can decide who to vote for in the election if they don't know what sort of body the candidate is to be elected to. Will all parties have two manifestos in 2011, one for a legislative parliament (if Yes wins) and another for a consultative Assembly (just in case the vote goes No)? What if I prefer the Tories Assembly Programme but the Lib Dems Parliamentary programme? Before casting my vote I would have to second guess the outcome of the referendum!
Holding the referendum and the election on the same day is bad politics, bad democracy and bad tactics. It is totally unacceptable and should be opposed now, before it becomes the cosy Plaid / Lab consensus!
Cymraeg
My personal opinion is that a referendum is not needed and that Plaid made a boo-boo by not insisting that the referendum clause in the Government of Wales Act 2006 was dropped as part of the coalition agreement with Labour last year. But that is now water under the bridge, I suppose that we now have to live with the reality of a referendum being held sometime.
Adam makes a fair point about the way in which Alex Salmond's proposed referendum on independence may affect the Welsh referendum campaign:
With the Bill being presented in January 2010 it's likely the referendum - on opening independence negotiations - would be in October. Whatever the result is, the Scottish campaign will overshadow the very different question that will be before us in Wales.
I agree with this point. But I would say that this is an argument for holding a referendum sooner rather than later. There is little doubt that from the minute that the referendum bill is put before Holyrood that the British media will give "independence" a lot of coverage. Independence will be in the mind of Welsh voters during any post Scottish referendum - and the NO side will make sure it stays there. Because Plaid has failed to make the case for independence over the last 25 years then a Welsh referendum held after the Scots one will be lost.
Adam argues that a good reason for holding the referendum and the Election on the same day is that supporters of devolution (are) more likely to come out to vote in an Assembly election than those who oppose devolution. He is probably right, but I think that this is a poor reason for holding the referendum and the election on the same day for a number of reasons.
In the first instance I doubt that such a tactic would be beneficial to Mr Price's own party. Holding referendum and election on the same day is sure to entice many who oppose devolution into the polling booth for the first time ever during an Assembly election. Having gone to vote No in the referendum they are likely to vote in the election too but not, I suspect, for Plaid Cymru!
Secondly, Plaid has done this before! Swapped support for Labour referendum plans in exchange for some cynical supposed advantages to the Yes cause. In 1979 the trick was to hold the referendum on St David's day. In 1997 it was to hold the referendum in the wake of a huge Scots Yes, a week after Scotland had voted. Both tricks backfired. They highlighted doubts and uncertainty in the Yes camp which were seized upon like Manna from Heaven by the No campaign.
If there are convincing arguments for extending the Assembly's powers then they can and should be made on their merits, without the need for dirty / clever tricks.
Thirdly, if giving the Assembly legislative powers is seen to be an important enough issue to demand a referendum, then it is an important enough issue to justify it's own campaign period where the arguments for and against can be made clearly, rather than being muddled with a general election campaign.
Finally, I can't see how electors can decide who to vote for in the election if they don't know what sort of body the candidate is to be elected to. Will all parties have two manifestos in 2011, one for a legislative parliament (if Yes wins) and another for a consultative Assembly (just in case the vote goes No)? What if I prefer the Tories Assembly Programme but the Lib Dems Parliamentary programme? Before casting my vote I would have to second guess the outcome of the referendum!
Holding the referendum and the election on the same day is bad politics, bad democracy and bad tactics. It is totally unacceptable and should be opposed now, before it becomes the cosy Plaid / Lab consensus!
Cymraeg
13/02/2008
And they wonder why I hate socialism!
The following quote is from a socialist who wishes to arrange a counter demonstration against the St David's day parade in Cardiff. It is typical of the socialist mindset. Read it and understand why I hate the fact that the likes of Adam Price, Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood have dragged Plaid Cymru into the socialist mire.
Socialism and Nationalism are clearly incompatible ideologies. Plaid must decide either nationalism or socialism it can't be both!
As we know over the last few years the nationalists have stepped up their attempts to impose conformity and their bigoted ideology on our locale, they will be using St David's Day to impose the idea that Wales is a nation cosily united - rich and poor - against English oppression and waving their flags. They will be attempting to construct a 'welsh identity' that never existed and various other ideas that mystify social reality, class division and block the forming of genuine grassroots culture based on solidarity and diy principles.
It's time to organise a class war counter parade stating clearly -
No nations! No borders!
Internationalism and solidarity!
The working class has no country!
Somebody welsh on the minimum wage has more in common with an English or Polish worker than a welsh millionaire!
We will create our own culture from below that is fluid and dynamic not have some fake culture based on nationalism, patriotism and other authoritarian and servile crap forced upon us.
Major Arsehole
Hat Tip: Rhys Wynne
Socialism and Nationalism are clearly incompatible ideologies. Plaid must decide either nationalism or socialism it can't be both!
As we know over the last few years the nationalists have stepped up their attempts to impose conformity and their bigoted ideology on our locale, they will be using St David's Day to impose the idea that Wales is a nation cosily united - rich and poor - against English oppression and waving their flags. They will be attempting to construct a 'welsh identity' that never existed and various other ideas that mystify social reality, class division and block the forming of genuine grassroots culture based on solidarity and diy principles.
It's time to organise a class war counter parade stating clearly -
No nations! No borders!
Internationalism and solidarity!
The working class has no country!
Somebody welsh on the minimum wage has more in common with an English or Polish worker than a welsh millionaire!
We will create our own culture from below that is fluid and dynamic not have some fake culture based on nationalism, patriotism and other authoritarian and servile crap forced upon us.
Major Arsehole
Hat Tip: Rhys Wynne
20/01/2008
Whats in a name?
Blog surfing, again, I came across this interesting post that shows name meanings when they are written in other languages. Amongst them are:
Adam (Arabic) skin (I hope that it is thick skin!)
Alan (Indonesian) comedian (What more can I say?)
Jim (Korean) baggage.
Alwyn is not in the list, but I do happen to know that it is the Anglo-Saxon word for a faithful and trusted friend!
Adam (Arabic) skin (I hope that it is thick skin!)
Alan (Indonesian) comedian (What more can I say?)
Jim (Korean) baggage.
Alwyn is not in the list, but I do happen to know that it is the Anglo-Saxon word for a faithful and trusted friend!
03/01/2008
Well Laid
Adam Price MP thinks that Plaid has lost its virginity by going into government with New Labour in the Assembly.
To lose ones virginity one has to be f**ked. Adam is right, Plaid has been well and truly f**ked by New Labour!
To lose ones virginity one has to be f**ked. Adam is right, Plaid has been well and truly f**ked by New Labour!
27/12/2007
Representation for all #2
In his un liberal and un democratic attack on Dafydd Wigley for daring to raise the issue of Representation For All, Peter Black AM makes the following comment:
On the same day as Mr Black makes his homotrepid comment Pink News (hat tip Iain Dale) lists what it claims are the fifty most influential openly LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) people in British politics. The list contains two Welsh MP's Adam Price and Chris Bryant, and three Members of the Scottish Parliament; but no Member of the National Assembly. Is this because Pink News believes that AMs are not influential or because openly LGB people have no representation in the Senedd?
If the LGB community is not represented in the Assembly, it is an equality issue that needs looking at. If the LGB community is fairly represented, but the Assembly is perceived by that community to be without influence, then the LGB community is a ripe constituency to harvest in support of additional powers in the proposed referendum.
Are we sure for example that we have an equal proportion of Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Transgender people within the Senedd as we do in our communities? Of course not and why should we?
On the same day as Mr Black makes his homotrepid comment Pink News (hat tip Iain Dale) lists what it claims are the fifty most influential openly LGB (lesbian, gay and bisexual) people in British politics. The list contains two Welsh MP's Adam Price and Chris Bryant, and three Members of the Scottish Parliament; but no Member of the National Assembly. Is this because Pink News believes that AMs are not influential or because openly LGB people have no representation in the Senedd?
If the LGB community is not represented in the Assembly, it is an equality issue that needs looking at. If the LGB community is fairly represented, but the Assembly is perceived by that community to be without influence, then the LGB community is a ripe constituency to harvest in support of additional powers in the proposed referendum.
04/09/2007
Peoples Voice to challenge Plaid?
A few weeks ago Plaid MP Adam Price was canvassing support for an electoral agreement between Plaid Cymru and People's Voice. However Martin Eaglestone draws attention to this story in the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald last month, which suggests that PV may be about to challenge Plaid Cymru councillors in each of the seats the party holds on Gwynedd County Council.
Although the Herald doesn't link what they call a "new party" with Trish Law & Dai Davies' party, all political parties have to register their names and can't use a name that is the same or similar to one which is already on the register. If Aeron Jones' so called new party is part of the Law's older party then I don't think that they pose much of a threat to Plaid in its stronghold. If it isn't linked then Mr Jones' is braking electoral law - not an auspicious beginning for an ambitious new party.
Although the Herald doesn't link what they call a "new party" with Trish Law & Dai Davies' party, all political parties have to register their names and can't use a name that is the same or similar to one which is already on the register. If Aeron Jones' so called new party is part of the Law's older party then I don't think that they pose much of a threat to Plaid in its stronghold. If it isn't linked then Mr Jones' is braking electoral law - not an auspicious beginning for an ambitious new party.
01/09/2007
Adam in Golwg
The p*** taking column in Golwg (which depends heavily on the Welsh blogosphere but never acknowledges any blog as it's source) says that the Western Mail has had so many scoops from the magazine's Adam Price column, that they are now asking for pre release copy!
However the WM doesn't seem very interested in Adam's latest rant, which in my humble opinion is his best. So here is an attempt at a translation:
Welsh athletes need a chance
An independent Wales would be insular and lose its place on the international stage, says the prospective parliamentary candidate Glyn Davies
Watch the international games in Osaka this week and you will see this argument smashed under the shadow of the Union Jack.
Just four Welsh athletes were allowed to travel with the British team to the International Athletics Tournament
Just two of them, Tim Benjamin in the 400m hurdles and Tracy Morris in the marathon are able to compete as individuals. The former junior world champion Christian Malcolm from Cardiff, and David Green from Llanelli, who won the U 23 European championship last month are only part of a relay team, a disappointment for them as individuals and the supporters of Welsh athletics.
There is no room at all for Steven Davies in the 1500 meter or Tim Abeyie in the 200 meters.
The biggest shock was the decision to leave Phillipa Ross, the discus thrower from Neath, out of the team - despite the fact that she is the best thrower in the nations of Britain and despite the fact that she threw the discus a meter further than was needed to secure a place in Osaka
Compare our experience and that of the Republic of Ireland, a nation with more-or-less the same population. Ireland has 17 athletes in Japan this week!
The United Kingdom doesn't give us the opportunity to shine on the world stage, it stifles us.
And this lack of ambition as a nation leads to a lack of ambition for individuals. The success of our national heroes, as we saw last week with our national football team in Bulgaria, breeds the desire to copy them amongst our youth.
Without role models with a Welsh focus there is no way that athletics can compete with football and rugby. There is no wonder, therefore that Welsh Athletics is in a bit of a crisis, with Cardiff Athletic team being relegated to the second division recently.
For athletics - and Wales - to succeed, we need to represent ourselves on the World stage in championships such as those being held in Osaka.
For once we don't have to await Independence to achieve this goal! The IAAF's constitution allows "territories" that rule themselves, without being totally independent, to compete.
The Minister for Sport in our self ruling "territory" is himself a runner - and "One Wales" promises "more support for the development of National Teams in wales"
I wonder who put that clause into the agreement? In forming a government - as in sport - who comes first is not always the be all and end all - just as important is who is taking part!
However the WM doesn't seem very interested in Adam's latest rant, which in my humble opinion is his best. So here is an attempt at a translation:
Welsh athletes need a chance
An independent Wales would be insular and lose its place on the international stage, says the prospective parliamentary candidate Glyn Davies
Watch the international games in Osaka this week and you will see this argument smashed under the shadow of the Union Jack.
Just four Welsh athletes were allowed to travel with the British team to the International Athletics Tournament
Just two of them, Tim Benjamin in the 400m hurdles and Tracy Morris in the marathon are able to compete as individuals. The former junior world champion Christian Malcolm from Cardiff, and David Green from Llanelli, who won the U 23 European championship last month are only part of a relay team, a disappointment for them as individuals and the supporters of Welsh athletics.
There is no room at all for Steven Davies in the 1500 meter or Tim Abeyie in the 200 meters.
The biggest shock was the decision to leave Phillipa Ross, the discus thrower from Neath, out of the team - despite the fact that she is the best thrower in the nations of Britain and despite the fact that she threw the discus a meter further than was needed to secure a place in Osaka
Compare our experience and that of the Republic of Ireland, a nation with more-or-less the same population. Ireland has 17 athletes in Japan this week!
The United Kingdom doesn't give us the opportunity to shine on the world stage, it stifles us.
And this lack of ambition as a nation leads to a lack of ambition for individuals. The success of our national heroes, as we saw last week with our national football team in Bulgaria, breeds the desire to copy them amongst our youth.
Without role models with a Welsh focus there is no way that athletics can compete with football and rugby. There is no wonder, therefore that Welsh Athletics is in a bit of a crisis, with Cardiff Athletic team being relegated to the second division recently.
For athletics - and Wales - to succeed, we need to represent ourselves on the World stage in championships such as those being held in Osaka.
For once we don't have to await Independence to achieve this goal! The IAAF's constitution allows "territories" that rule themselves, without being totally independent, to compete.
The Minister for Sport in our self ruling "territory" is himself a runner - and "One Wales" promises "more support for the development of National Teams in wales"
I wonder who put that clause into the agreement? In forming a government - as in sport - who comes first is not always the be all and end all - just as important is who is taking part!
04/08/2007
Adam Price in Golwg
A number of Blogs refer to Adam Price's column in the Welsh magazine Golwg dated Aug 2nd. Here is a translation of the article:
.................
Towards a Rainbow Government
It was a shock to the system walking through Whitehall last week and happening to come across Wales' Deputy First Minister leaving Gwydir House - a sort of island of Anglo-Welshness in a nondescript house overshadowed by the MoD - which serves as the home to the Wales Office.
The sun shone for a few minutes to note an historic moment: the first nationalist in power to visit London without being beheaded.
Its clear that Peter Hain was not talking about the streets of Whitehall in his semi Churchillian interview; We will fight them on the streets - whilst referring to Plaid. Taking that with the claimed comment by Betty Williams that Plaid are Nazis, one would think that a civil war rather than a coalition was about to begin.
And now a summer offensive has been announced by Major General Hain to sell "the Union" and to condemn independence. The labour party is living a duplicitous life; divorcing Plaid in London whilst still on honeymoon in Cardiff.
But in one sense Peter is right. No one should think for a second that the coalition would extend to Westminster or to County council chambers. On the contrary, in fact. For the sake of Welsh democracy, the hegemony of the Labour party needs to be challenged where they are at their worst: where they are parochial and British.
It is pretty obvious that neither Plaid Cymru – nor any other party – can do this on their own. We need allies, but perhaps not the ones we were talking to in the shadow of the rainbow.
To see the affect of Labourism at its worst on the southern valleys communities, go to Blaenau Gwent. There Peoples Voice will be challenging to take over in the local elections next year.
If we can work together with the Labour Party of every party, why should we not do so with a movement that is popular, forward thinking and truly socialist in deed not just name? After all Plaid was pioneering with this sort of cooperation in the 1992 General Election by going into coalition with the Greens in Gwent and Cardiganshire.
If such an experiment was successful the seats of the triumvirate of arch_Brits David, Touigh and Murphy would start to look very fragile. And the possibilities don't end there. A joint campaign with the Greens in the 2009 Euro-elections could see Labour beaten for the first time ever by gaining the second seat.
And who knows when the 2011 election comes, there may be a rainbow government after all - but this time with more attractive colours.
..............
Blogging responses from: Normal Mouth ... Tomos Livingstone .... Homage to Catatonia
.................
Towards a Rainbow Government
It was a shock to the system walking through Whitehall last week and happening to come across Wales' Deputy First Minister leaving Gwydir House - a sort of island of Anglo-Welshness in a nondescript house overshadowed by the MoD - which serves as the home to the Wales Office.
The sun shone for a few minutes to note an historic moment: the first nationalist in power to visit London without being beheaded.
Its clear that Peter Hain was not talking about the streets of Whitehall in his semi Churchillian interview; We will fight them on the streets - whilst referring to Plaid. Taking that with the claimed comment by Betty Williams that Plaid are Nazis, one would think that a civil war rather than a coalition was about to begin.
And now a summer offensive has been announced by Major General Hain to sell "the Union" and to condemn independence. The labour party is living a duplicitous life; divorcing Plaid in London whilst still on honeymoon in Cardiff.
But in one sense Peter is right. No one should think for a second that the coalition would extend to Westminster or to County council chambers. On the contrary, in fact. For the sake of Welsh democracy, the hegemony of the Labour party needs to be challenged where they are at their worst: where they are parochial and British.
It is pretty obvious that neither Plaid Cymru – nor any other party – can do this on their own. We need allies, but perhaps not the ones we were talking to in the shadow of the rainbow.
To see the affect of Labourism at its worst on the southern valleys communities, go to Blaenau Gwent. There Peoples Voice will be challenging to take over in the local elections next year.
If we can work together with the Labour Party of every party, why should we not do so with a movement that is popular, forward thinking and truly socialist in deed not just name? After all Plaid was pioneering with this sort of cooperation in the 1992 General Election by going into coalition with the Greens in Gwent and Cardiganshire.
If such an experiment was successful the seats of the triumvirate of arch_Brits David, Touigh and Murphy would start to look very fragile. And the possibilities don't end there. A joint campaign with the Greens in the 2009 Euro-elections could see Labour beaten for the first time ever by gaining the second seat.
And who knows when the 2011 election comes, there may be a rainbow government after all - but this time with more attractive colours.
..............
Blogging responses from: Normal Mouth ... Tomos Livingstone .... Homage to Catatonia
29/06/2007
The gloating left and party unity
If Adam Price and Bethan Jenkins expect the whole of Plaid to unite behind the Party's decision to support the Labour coalition, can I suggest that they stop gloating about their socialist victory and stop rubbing the noses of the moderate majority into their left wing mire.
As much as Plaid may need to make gains in the Valleys, the party also needs to consolidate its vote and make gains in rural Wales too. Places such as Anglesey, Aberconwy and Ceredigion cannot be dismissed. There are many people in these areas who are bitterly disappointed by the Labour deal, and who are angry that Plaid has chosen to support what they see as an inherently anti rural Party and and its inherently anti-rural ideology.
Comments such as:
a party who has historically placed ourselves on the left (Bethan)
and
if we are what we say we are, a socialist party, a party of the left, then, all things being equal, when presented with a progressive programmed in alliance with another party of the left or an alternative programmed in alliance with the political Right, then our natural tendency should be to choose left. (Adam)
don't encourage unity, they feed the anger and disapointment of those of us who distrust Labour and dislike socialism. If you want the party to be united behind this deal then show a bit of humility rather than trumpeting it as yet another success for your socialist clique.
As much as Plaid may need to make gains in the Valleys, the party also needs to consolidate its vote and make gains in rural Wales too. Places such as Anglesey, Aberconwy and Ceredigion cannot be dismissed. There are many people in these areas who are bitterly disappointed by the Labour deal, and who are angry that Plaid has chosen to support what they see as an inherently anti rural Party and and its inherently anti-rural ideology.
Comments such as:
a party who has historically placed ourselves on the left (Bethan)
and
if we are what we say we are, a socialist party, a party of the left, then, all things being equal, when presented with a progressive programmed in alliance with another party of the left or an alternative programmed in alliance with the political Right, then our natural tendency should be to choose left. (Adam)
don't encourage unity, they feed the anger and disapointment of those of us who distrust Labour and dislike socialism. If you want the party to be united behind this deal then show a bit of humility rather than trumpeting it as yet another success for your socialist clique.
09/06/2007
Adam and the Right
After using his latest blog post to make a bitter personal attack on Sanddef Rhyferys , Adam Price MP then goes on to comment on right wing nationalists in general:
I disagree with a number of comments that Mr Price makes here. Firstly I don't think that Plaid is the broad inter faith community (or broad church, as most would say) that it once was. The party's membership card states unequivocally that the party is a socialist party, so quite clearly there is no room in it for nationalists who believe that socialism has harmed Wales and will continue to harm Wales. Indeed the party has expelled people, such as Guto Bebb, for holding free market economic views. Even Mr Price's comment, which might appear broad and conciliatory on first reading:
can actually be paraphrased as you don't have to be a socialist as long as you pretend to support the socialist views of the majority.
This is of course one of the silly things that happens in Plaid these days, you have people who are clearly not socialists, like Ieuan Wyn Jones, pretending that they are socialist. I find this funny; many potential voters find it duplicitous, dishonest, opportunistic and worst of all off putting. If Plaid is to succeed the party needs to go back to being a broad church that allows people of left, centre and right to support the national cause, that is Plaid's true core value, in an open and honest way.
I have never heard anybody on the right wing of the national cause say that they wish that Adam had joined the Labour party. Most of us, despite disagreeing with his socialist ideology, recognise that he is a great asset to Plaid and is probably the most charismatic and able of the party's elected members. Personally I feel sad that his socialist colleague and contemporary in the Plaid youth movement, Alun Davies, did join the Labour party. The loss of somebody of Alun's calibre was a great blow to Plaid, despite the fact that he has always been a committed leftie.
The criticism that many of us on the right do make about the socialist in Plaid is that they too often take a British Socialist view, rather than a left wing Welsh Nationalist view and that many of them promote the socialist cause instead of rather than as well as Welsh Nationalism (I don't include Adam in this group, incidentally). If all Plaid is about is promoting collectivism, republicanism, pacifism, trade unionism etc then it may as well merge with a British left party. Unless Plaid Cymru is first and foremost a nationalist party that promotes Welsh Independence, there is no point in its existence.
Plaid is, of course, a “broad inter-faith community.” It is itself a political and social coalition whose philosophical glue is the love of Wales, its land and its people. However, if the party is to be relevant, it has to have something to say on the social and economic policy issues of the day and, for the time being at least, the centre of gravity is essentially social-democratic. I have always been completely welcoming of non-socialists in the party who are nevertheless democrats prepared to accept the democratic outcome of debate in the party. What I have never understood is a tendency among some right-wing nationalists that would almost prefer if people like myself had actually joined the Labour Party instead of joining Plaid. This is a bizarre position for people who are ostensibly seeking to win over Labour voters in the south Wales valleys and elsewhere. All that awaits them from the likes of Ordovicus, it seems, is a bucket of well-stirred vitriol
I disagree with a number of comments that Mr Price makes here. Firstly I don't think that Plaid is the broad inter faith community (or broad church, as most would say) that it once was. The party's membership card states unequivocally that the party is a socialist party, so quite clearly there is no room in it for nationalists who believe that socialism has harmed Wales and will continue to harm Wales. Indeed the party has expelled people, such as Guto Bebb, for holding free market economic views. Even Mr Price's comment, which might appear broad and conciliatory on first reading:
I have always been completely welcoming of non-socialists in the party who are nevertheless democrats prepared to accept the democratic outcome of debate in the party
can actually be paraphrased as you don't have to be a socialist as long as you pretend to support the socialist views of the majority.
This is of course one of the silly things that happens in Plaid these days, you have people who are clearly not socialists, like Ieuan Wyn Jones, pretending that they are socialist. I find this funny; many potential voters find it duplicitous, dishonest, opportunistic and worst of all off putting. If Plaid is to succeed the party needs to go back to being a broad church that allows people of left, centre and right to support the national cause, that is Plaid's true core value, in an open and honest way.
I have never heard anybody on the right wing of the national cause say that they wish that Adam had joined the Labour party. Most of us, despite disagreeing with his socialist ideology, recognise that he is a great asset to Plaid and is probably the most charismatic and able of the party's elected members. Personally I feel sad that his socialist colleague and contemporary in the Plaid youth movement, Alun Davies, did join the Labour party. The loss of somebody of Alun's calibre was a great blow to Plaid, despite the fact that he has always been a committed leftie.
The criticism that many of us on the right do make about the socialist in Plaid is that they too often take a British Socialist view, rather than a left wing Welsh Nationalist view and that many of them promote the socialist cause instead of rather than as well as Welsh Nationalism (I don't include Adam in this group, incidentally). If all Plaid is about is promoting collectivism, republicanism, pacifism, trade unionism etc then it may as well merge with a British left party. Unless Plaid Cymru is first and foremost a nationalist party that promotes Welsh Independence, there is no point in its existence.
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