With 2010 being an election year, the Labour Party will rely heavily on persuading the Welsh media to put across a distorted view of the choice facing electors.Take, for example, the interview with Peter Hain today in the Western Mail.
Whilst trying to claim the mantle of radicalism in Welsh politics, the article has only one mention of a Labour Policy - national care homes.
The rest of the article goes on a predictable anti-Tory rant i.e. "fear of the Tories", that the Labour Party is up against "tax-exile millions", attacking "Conservative plans to reduce Britain’s £1.2 trillion national debt", that the Tories "would represent a really ominous and serious threat", and that there is the danger will have "a Tory government with a clenched fist that will smash into public services."
Is this going to be the level of debate in the run-up to the next general election?
The Welsh media cannot continue to allow Peter Hain and the rest of the Labour Party in Wales to get away with interviews which don't contain any serious in-depth questioning of Labour policies and how, in the opinion of many, they have failed this country?
I can absolutely assure you that the Conservative Party would not get such an easy ride if they had brought the country to its knees and caused millions of people to lose their jobs.
Indeed, even when the Conservative Party offers an alternative view as Cheryl Gillan did last week, then the Welsh media cannot wait to get an Assembly Labour backbencher to comment.
Did Carwyn Jones' New Year's message get similar scrutiny from opposition spokespersons? Of course not, even though it was light of any policies for the future.
2010 could be one of the most momentous years in recent political history and in the run-up to such an election, Wales really does deserve better scrutiny of its politicians, especially those who are currently in power.
Comments
The Welsh Tories must not let them get away with it either, get them on the hook and keep them there!
All the best to you and your loved ones!
Oscar
Everyone in Cardiff Bay knows that one of its founders has already put his hat in the ring for a special advisor's role under Carwyn Jones, which demonstrates perfectly the incestuous nature of the welsh media, the lobbyists and politics.
Duncan works for a plaid AM
Adam used to be a policy avisor to labour
But what i don't understand from a Welsh Tory perspective is why you don't have your own welsh newspaper or online newspaper/magazine as you said to counter what the Western Mail and WAG churn out on a daily basis as well as give a right wing perspective, i mean its not as if your party don't have enough wealthy backers that could bankroll the project or have access to good local journalists who would be grateful for the work.
As for the new First Minister Carwyn Jones if he's really hiring Normal Mouth aka Adam Higgit as a SPAD then it proves Welsh Labour hasn't changed a bit and Carwyn is nothing more than Rhodri Morgan Mark 2 - God help us.
Out of interest was the Special Adviser job advertised anywhere, if not how did Adam find out about it?