In anorak terms, so far it has been a fascinating day all round, what with the new 'gang of four' joining Kim Howells to raise their heads above the parapet of the new Camelot to warn of the All Wales Accord.Will this signal the opening of the Old Labour floodgates? Is Dragon's Eye already out trawling through the working men's clubs of the Valleys to find dissenting voices? Will Rhodri regret not picking up his 'hotline' to Mike German's office?
Many will be waiting with bated breath to see how many more will 'come out' over the next 48 hours.
So is the new alliance already in a precarious position?
If we take the five Plaid Cymru AMs who do not want a coalition with Labour, along with the four (declared) Labour AMs who do not want a coalition with Plaid, we suddenly have only 31 AMs (excluding the PO of course) in this 'new stable government for Wales' who have not voiced their opinion against it.
Also, given the stated opinions of Huw Lewis and Leighton Andrews - two deputies who may have to make way for Plaid AMs in the new cabinet - on the matter of nationalism in Wales, this is hardly a stable foundation for the next four years.
Labour have always been excellent at organising their whip and maintaining internal discipline. However, with Rhodri going in less than two years, there will clearly be a jockeying for positioning amongst candidates for the top job. With a predominantly anti-Plaid group of MPs having a major say in the next leader of the Welsh Labour Party, who in Labour's cabinet will break ranks first?
Who said politics was boring?
Comments
Dylan, the real problem for Plaid was the Lib Dems and not your party.
This week we hear of Huw Lewis passing notes to Peter Black at a meeting. Well we can let paranoia take over and think the worst.
Plaid member and socialist
"when shall we three meet again"
Nuff said
This was at the Bevan foundation Event at the Assembly - it was excellent too. I wouldnt worry about conspiracy it was more like skool boys R US
Thanks for making me blush at the end of the day as I haven't done that in a very long time :o
As for Aberconwy, I actually enjoyed the competition the first time round and whilst we could, and should, have done better, it was a good place to lose my political virginity.
However, I think Plaid and Labour have made the seat easier and I know a lot of people in the area feel betrayed about Plaid's decision, not least the new AM.
It will certainly make it difficult for them to sell themselves as the alternative to Labour in 2011.
Indeed, the next GE - when we will have an outstanding candidate in place i.e. not me :) - will give a strong indication of how things may shape up at the next Assembly election.
Like some ageing South American dictator, he is clearly so desperate to hang on to the last vestiges of power that he is happy to bring his party down with him.
When are Leighton, Andrew Davies and others going to come to their senses and call the men in white coats to Crickhowell House to take him away?
I spoke to a senior BBC political journalist today about the reaction within the Labour party to the new coalition, especially the nazi comments from Aberconwy Labour activists about Plaid Cymru (and I can tell you, they really do hate them!).
He said that a growing opinion is that the anti-Plaid reaction in North Wales and across the South Wales Valleys is not being take seriously by Rhodri and his M4 cabinet because most of his team are completely isolated from what is really going on at the grassroots level within the Labour Party.
Knowing little about Labour, I couldn't really comment. Perhaps the proof of the pudding will be on Friday (if the spinmeisters at Transport House release the results from each individual constituency).
About 3/4 years ago the 'rainbow coalition' became my fantasy. I have no doubt in my mind that a Plaid/Tory Government in 2011 is likely - unless Plaid split into two
Remember he is the one who said the day after the election
"Dwy yn erbyn clymblaid a Llafur...mae nhw'n wrth Gymraeg ac mae pobol yn eu casau nhw" (I am against a coalition with Labour..they are anti-Welsh and people hate them)
Perhaps the A470 from Llandudno to Cardiff has the same qualities as the road to Damascus...
To be fair, on Dragon's Eye he did add "as it is, yes" as a qualifier to his support for Red/Green. He wasn't asked whether he'd prefer a Rainbow - he was asked whether he supported Red/Green. What was he supposed to say? That he didn't want to see his party in government? Scersli belif!!