There is a popular perception that people of differing political opinions hate each others' guts. Despite its popularity the perception is rarely true. Those of us who are interested in politics probably have more in common than those who can't see the point of politics.
The vast majority of people who hold differing political viewpoints are passionate about their beliefs because they want what is best for their country, their district their parish. We are united in wanting the best, we are just divided on what best is.
I would never vote for Martin Eaglestone, I disagree with him on 90% of issues, but I have a lot of respect for him. Martin has fought his corner with vigour and passion for many years. He has stood for Labour in Arfon on four occasions. Each time his head has probably told him that he didn't have a chance but his heart made him hope against hope. But after every defeat he has picked himself up dusted himself down and gone bravely into battle again.
Without people like Martin, who are willing to stand, stand and stand again (for what some might call a hopeless cause) there wouldn't be any democracy in these islands. Democracy is more important than political partisanship, so I am grateful to Martin for his huge contribution to the cause of democracy.
I was sad to read that he has given up his candidacy for Arfon in the next General election. I hope that the changes in his personal life that have forced him to withdraw his candidacy are happy ones and not sad ones. I wish him all the best
Diolch Martin
Showing posts with label Martin Eaglestone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martin Eaglestone. Show all posts
14/10/2008
29/05/2008
Eaglestone's Shame
During the mid eighties, house prices in some of the metropolitan and more affluent areas of the UK soared, whilst prices in the rural areas remained relatively low. One result of this was that a person could sell a house in London, say, move to rural Wales, buy a new house and have a substantial amount of change from the London house sale to invest in a business. Many local people in those rural areas were subsequently priced out of the market and unable to compete on a level playing field with the incomers.
Rather than just complain about the situation 70 or so established business owners in Gwynedd decided to do something practical, they started a not or profit company – Arianrhod. Arianrhod bought shops and other buildings which they then rented to local people. The rents and equity on the properties bought were then reinvested in further properties. This scheme has allowed a number of people in Gwynedd, restaurateurs, jewellers, butchers etc. to start up businesses which they wouldn't have had a hope in hell of starting otherwise.
One would have thought that this sort of scheme would be supported by the Labour Party. It shows a commitment to the community. It has the spirit of the co-operative movement. It enables skilled people from poorer backgrounds to start up their own small enterprises. It has everything that one would expect Labour to hold up as an example of what can be done to help other deprived areas.
But no! Unfortunately the people who set up and run Arianrhod belong to the wrong party, they include Dafydd Iwan Plaid Cymru's president and his brother Alun Ffred the Plaid AM. And a good idea from Plaid people has to be opposed at all costs.
Martin Eaglestone, Labour's serial candidate in Arfon, has done his best to undermine Arianrhod's good works by smear and innuendo in the local press and on his blog over recent months. Some of his friends in Llais Gwynedd have gone even further by making statements about the venture that border on libellous.
Regular readers of this blog know that I am neither Dafydd Iwan or Plaid Cymru's biggest fan in the world, but undermining an organisation dedicated to improving the local economy in Gwynedd for petty part political reasons is just sick.
Rather than just complain about the situation 70 or so established business owners in Gwynedd decided to do something practical, they started a not or profit company – Arianrhod. Arianrhod bought shops and other buildings which they then rented to local people. The rents and equity on the properties bought were then reinvested in further properties. This scheme has allowed a number of people in Gwynedd, restaurateurs, jewellers, butchers etc. to start up businesses which they wouldn't have had a hope in hell of starting otherwise.
One would have thought that this sort of scheme would be supported by the Labour Party. It shows a commitment to the community. It has the spirit of the co-operative movement. It enables skilled people from poorer backgrounds to start up their own small enterprises. It has everything that one would expect Labour to hold up as an example of what can be done to help other deprived areas.
But no! Unfortunately the people who set up and run Arianrhod belong to the wrong party, they include Dafydd Iwan Plaid Cymru's president and his brother Alun Ffred the Plaid AM. And a good idea from Plaid people has to be opposed at all costs.
Martin Eaglestone, Labour's serial candidate in Arfon, has done his best to undermine Arianrhod's good works by smear and innuendo in the local press and on his blog over recent months. Some of his friends in Llais Gwynedd have gone even further by making statements about the venture that border on libellous.
Regular readers of this blog know that I am neither Dafydd Iwan or Plaid Cymru's biggest fan in the world, but undermining an organisation dedicated to improving the local economy in Gwynedd for petty part political reasons is just sick.
14/02/2008
Nobody Loves Me!
The lovable Labour PPC for Arfon seems to think that I am unloved because of my recent tirade against socialism!
Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been sent a Valentines card that proves just how much I am loved and valued:
OK! It wasn't sent by Bethan, Leanne or Adam, it came from a Man in a Shed!
Nothing could be further from the truth. I have been sent a Valentines card that proves just how much I am loved and valued:
OK! It wasn't sent by Bethan, Leanne or Adam, it came from a Man in a Shed!
17/11/2007
Back from Honolulu
My Internet problems have, at last, been resolved - normal service on the blog will be resumed shortly.
During my absence two Labour bloggers have been selected to carry their party's banner in forthcoming elections.
Martin Eaglestone, a glutton for punishment, has been selected to stand as prospective parliamentary candidate in the Arfon constituency. Because of boundary changes Arfon is now considered to be a "nominal" Labour seat, so Martin has the task of "defending" a seat for the first time in his career as a serial candidate.
Luke Young has been drafted as a prospective council candidate in the May election for Blaenau Gwent County Borough.
Hearty congratulations to both of them.
During my absence two Labour bloggers have been selected to carry their party's banner in forthcoming elections.
Martin Eaglestone, a glutton for punishment, has been selected to stand as prospective parliamentary candidate in the Arfon constituency. Because of boundary changes Arfon is now considered to be a "nominal" Labour seat, so Martin has the task of "defending" a seat for the first time in his career as a serial candidate.
Luke Young has been drafted as a prospective council candidate in the May election for Blaenau Gwent County Borough.
Hearty congratulations to both of them.
13/10/2007
Own Gaol?
One of the most vociferous proponents for the need of a prison in North Wales when the Welsh Affairs Committee discussed the matter last year was Hywel Williams the MP for Caernarfon. Martin Eaglestone suggests that Hywel is getting cold feet over the proposal having discovered that one of the sites proposed is in his own back yard!
I can understand Hywel's trepidation - I too believe that there should, in theory, be a prison somewhere in the north, but I don’t want an institution full of murderers, rapists and robbers built in my village thank you very much!
Having seen the list of proposed sites, I don’t think that any of them are really suitable. The best of the bunch is Bryn y Neuadd for access purposes. But Bryn y Neuadd is a former hospital for people with learning difficulties. Those of us who have worked in former institutions like Bryn y Neuadd have spent two generations trying to prove that living with a learning difficulty doesn’t equal bad.
Building a new institution for criminals on the site of an old institution for people who use to be derided as subnormal would undo a lot of the work that has been done over the past fifty years into normalising people who live with learning difficulties into mainstream society.
If one considers the needs of an ideal site for a north Wales prison, accessibility to courts, visitors and legal reps; the ability to take prisoners from south Wales and the north West of England to make up the numbers (there aren’t enough baddies in the north to justify an exclusively north Wales prison) etc. The site that stands out (for almost the same reasons) is the former Hotpoint site in Llandudno Junction - earmarked for National Assembly Offices.
How about a compromise, Hywel and Martin - Jail in the Junction and Assembly Offices in Ferodo?
Of course, if Assembly Members or Officials were serious in their desire to see a prison in north Wales they would, themselves, have spotted the Junction site as eminently suitable. The fact that they didn't proposes it as a possibility is proof that the north of Wales will never, ever have its own gaol!
I can understand Hywel's trepidation - I too believe that there should, in theory, be a prison somewhere in the north, but I don’t want an institution full of murderers, rapists and robbers built in my village thank you very much!
Having seen the list of proposed sites, I don’t think that any of them are really suitable. The best of the bunch is Bryn y Neuadd for access purposes. But Bryn y Neuadd is a former hospital for people with learning difficulties. Those of us who have worked in former institutions like Bryn y Neuadd have spent two generations trying to prove that living with a learning difficulty doesn’t equal bad.
Building a new institution for criminals on the site of an old institution for people who use to be derided as subnormal would undo a lot of the work that has been done over the past fifty years into normalising people who live with learning difficulties into mainstream society.
If one considers the needs of an ideal site for a north Wales prison, accessibility to courts, visitors and legal reps; the ability to take prisoners from south Wales and the north West of England to make up the numbers (there aren’t enough baddies in the north to justify an exclusively north Wales prison) etc. The site that stands out (for almost the same reasons) is the former Hotpoint site in Llandudno Junction - earmarked for National Assembly Offices.
How about a compromise, Hywel and Martin - Jail in the Junction and Assembly Offices in Ferodo?
Of course, if Assembly Members or Officials were serious in their desire to see a prison in north Wales they would, themselves, have spotted the Junction site as eminently suitable. The fact that they didn't proposes it as a possibility is proof that the north of Wales will never, ever have its own gaol!
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.
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