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International First Minister




As I mentioned earlier this week, you can find news about Wales in the strangest places.

Therefore, it was with some surprise when I saw the following article in the Hindustan Times, which showed the hitherto unknown international business clout of our First Minister.

The Tatas, in the race to buy Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford, have taken a major leap forward with trade unions throwing their weight behind the Indian conglomerate. A source told Hindustan Times that union support "will give Tata an important boost as Ford attempts to appease the (British) government and unions over how it handles the sale of the two iconic brands. The official Tata Motors spokesperson in London refused to say anything as the process was ongoing, but the Tatas have a major supporter in Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan who told Hindustan Times that he was extremely happy with the Tata management of Corus and added that once they acquire Land Rover and Jaguar, "we expect the engineering side will be set up in Wales. The Tatas have a very good reputation as employers".

Has Rhodri said too much, too early?

For the life of me, I cannot see how Tata have promised the engineering business to Wales if they are successful as it would be very unusual for such a deal to be made, especially given the political sensitivities of selling these two companies. I am also sure that the unions in Coventry and Merseyside, who have endorsed the Tata bid, would have something to say about such a move and the loss of hundreds of jobs.

However, if he has done a deal, perhaps he could tell the Assembly a bit more about it as I am sure the Hindustan Times is not one of the newspapers on subscription within the members tearoom.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Mans a fool.
December 07, 2007 10:58 am
Anonymous said…
An alternative title for this post: Tit For Tatas?
December 07, 2007 2:07 pm
Anonymous said…
maybe its our press in Wales that need a kick up the backside, to start reporting some of this news and not Labour and Plaid's version of it

Rhodri Morgan was at the United Nations in New York on St David's Day delivering speech and did the welsh newspapers or broadcaster cover it, No.

so why if they are not asked to cover these stories, do they no protest and go anyway or are they too scared of loosing influence with the Labour Party in Wales i wonder.
December 07, 2007 9:01 pm
adolf moans said…
It's Rhodri's image or lack of it. Remember the Rorke's Drift commerations ? where the Zulu Chiefs wore Saville Road Suita and Rhodri looked like Catweasle ! The new Chelsea Manager has exactly the same problem with the press. Bit like putting Gollum against George Clooney. Wonder how much new business for Wales, Iuean W.Jones brought back from his trip to India ? Or how much the Indians took from Wales.
December 09, 2007 12:25 am
adolf moans said…
By the way, how much business for Wales is the American Office creating that Labour set up a few years ago with tax payers money ?
December 09, 2007 12:27 am
Anonymous said…
What a tit he keeps proving him self to be!
Very suprised at his deputy as well.
December 09, 2007 8:14 am
Anonymous said…
Indeed where is the profile of Our Welsh First and Deputy first Ministers, Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness, Northern Ireland's First Ministers were in New York opening the NASDAQ this week and meeting and greeting American Business Leaders looking for investment.

I wonder if there is any chance of Rhodri or Ieuan thinking and acting along these lines and giving Wales some Profile in America amongst the business community over there.
December 09, 2007 3:22 pm
Anonymous said…
Unless we start thinking of ourselves as a world class nation, we won't get anywhere. For a man with a keen intellect, Rhodri has wasted his talents. He is always too busy trying to cast off his middle class background by being 'a working class hero' with a pint of drak in his hand down Ely Labour Club. Unfortunately, that translates into his dealings with world and business leaders who see him more of a buffoon than a politician to be taken seriously.
December 09, 2007 4:20 pm
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