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First Welsh Victim of Smeargate?

(Very) early this morning, I was trawling some of the main Welsh blogs and found that the "Welsh Ramblings" website, which has been accused by Labour bloggers of being run by Plaid Cymru staffers, was down and inaccessible.

Is this merely a technical hitch or is it the first victim of the tightening of rules over 'Smeargate'?

Certainly, we have heard nothing for weeks from "Pippa Wagstaff" which was allegedly run by Conservative staffers.

As someone who has always blogged openly under his own name, I have always been uncomfortable with anonymous blogging, especially when it is carried out by those employed by political parties in Wales.

There is a temptation to focus on unsubstantiated gossip and innuendo which, as we saw over the weekend, can lead to trouble.

It also smacks too much of the 'doing their Master's bidding' as in the McBride affair.

If politicians don't have the balls to blog themselves, then their paid employees shouldn't be doing it for them.

Comments

Unknown said…
At the moment Welsh Ramblings writes .....

"This blog is open to invited readers only"

..... the door has been closed .....

by "His Masters Voice" maybe.
April 14, 2009 10:07 am
Anonymous said…
Are people getting edgy about blogging in time paid for by the public purse.
That's what it amounts to for political staffers doesn't it Also I guess freedom of information means any emails etc. on computers in such settings are open to public scrutiny
April 14, 2009 10:53 am
Anonymous said…
Obviously not - Mr Ramblings is back on. Perhaps he was making sure there were no references to Bethan Jenkins.
April 14, 2009 5:29 pm
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