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Rainbow Raider



Perhaps Mike German can now claim the sobriquet 'Rainbow Raider' after last night's television interview, where he tried his best to claim full credit for bringing the three parties together.

After flirting with Labour for a full two weeks, he has finally decided to ask the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru if they will go out with him. What a double date!

On a more serious note, I discussed the Rainbow Coalition issue with a very senior Plaid Cymru member in North Wales yesterday. He said that such a coalition was possible BUT that there was still a major question whether Ieuan could get this past Plaid's National Council and whether Nick Bourne could get the Conservatives to sign up for the further constitutional programme that Plaid will inevitably want for Wales.

I am unsure about the former - especially given the undue influence on the party by Valleys socialists - but the time has come for Plaid members to put up or shut up. Do they want to implement their election programme which they said would make a difference to Wales or do they want to support a minority Labour administration for another four years? Certainly, the 'dreaded Tories in power' should not be an issue as Plaid have happily signed up to a coalition deal with other non-Labour parties at a local authority level in Conwy.

As for the Conservatives, we have always made it clear that we support a referendum on further powers for the Assembly and that should not get in the way of any deal. Indeed, many of the policies that should form the heart of any government programme - business rate cuts, stopping the reconfiguration of local hospitals, affordable housing, greater funds for Tir Mynydd, and a new Welsh Language Act, are already agreed by both Plaid and the Conservatives.

History could be made over the next few days. Let's hope our elected politicians are up to it.

Comments

Bonheddwr said…
A poll in Golwg yesterday showed that the majority of new Conservative AM's did not support new powers for the Assembly.

Those who opposed new powers at the present time were Angela Burns, Nick Ramsay and Andrew R Davies.

Paul Davies and Darren Millar were more positive.
May 18, 2007 10:27 am
Anonymous said…
Plaid's socialists are all over Wales, including in the constituency where you lost. Being a little snooty on your blog will not help your cause to bring over Plaid's National Council.
May 18, 2007 4:08 pm
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