Nick Bourne did some serious back tracking on the Politics Show yesterday, and we can look forward to seeing him squirm some more when the Roberts report is made public. Bourne's claims that his leadership of the Conservative group is stable, that the party has a Welsh agenda, and that it is the only effective alternative for government in Cardiff Bay are not only laughable in light of his recent ditherings but even more so given that the Roberts report reveals the Conservatives to be against further devolution.
Try as some Tories might to divert attention, it is quite clear that they are in serious trouble. Glyn Davies' remark about Felicity Evans ("Felicity Evens is a feisty customer, but she did go on a bit") is an amusing example of just how uncomfortable Welsh Tories are feeling at the moment.
This "little squall" is far from being put to bed,
A message to the government
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A tip of the horns to my peripatetic Greek chum for this...
"Gordon, if you're watching... Leave. Us. Alone." Class.
I have my own message for you, Gordo...
8 comments:
Well, I htink everyone's cred is at stake here: they're all running scared of the referendum.
Laboru because they;ve lost so much support that their divisions would break them apart, the Tpories because they're hypocrites and their best people are toeing the line, and Plaid because they're afraid of standing alone on this one.
It's become an almighty fuck-up, high-level political cowardice of the most blatant kind, and no-one come sout well from it.
They're all chickening out at David Davies's first challenge. Pathetic.
I like Hain's claim that people are 'anti-politician' Funny that, after 10 years of New Labour and Hain's own scandal...
KWK> your cred is where exactly? You are so quick to say XYZ are this, that, or the other thing. Why don't you balance your invective with a few positive solutions? Too hard for you?
Well, the solutions are strongly implicit in what I write, namely that the pro-devolution lobby of both Labour and the Torie should stand up and be counted, that Plaid put is money where its mouth is (or has been) and make the case withotu fear of rocking the boat, and that the cross-party consensus we were promised by all the parties is acted upon by those who promised it.
Instead we have seen every major politician - except the virulently anti-Campaign - gently backsliding: from Glyn Davies to Wyn Roberts, to Plaid's leadership by their silence, via Hain, Rhodri Morgan etc etc.
Another solution is for the useless referendum commission start to says something, starting with updating its blog (the last entry was 6 weeks ago) for example.
Is that enough for you anon? I am baffled as to how you could need it spelled out, but I'm happy to do so.
Borthlas has spoken on this matter!
http://borthlas.blogspot.com/2008/10/cant-or-wont.html
Kairdiff - If any politician in a position of influence makes a serious effort to move the case for a yes vote forwards, I might reassess my opinion that they have all given up on it. What the hell do expect people like me to do - carry on saying black is white. I'm a pragmatic politician, interested in outcomes. Since the Coalition partners have given up on a referendum, I have to start looking for an alternetive way to achieve the same objective - and all that's on the table at the moment is trying to make the hopelessly complex LCO system work. You got a better idea?
If any politician in a position of influence makes a serious effort to move the case for a yes vote forwards, I might reassess my opinion that they have all given up on it. What the hell do expect people like me to do
Be serious Glyn. You gave up on it as soon as the idea became part of the One Wales deal over a year ago. You've been speaking against it ever since.
Yes, I got a better idea, and I stated it, namely that politicians re-engage with the respect we might have for them by actually fighting for what they believe, or say they believe, by arguing for it and defending it, and not keeping their heads down when the arguments get tough.
I expect you to be true to your word and make a case you say you believe in.
Ordo is right in any case, you've been backsliding n devolution since last year.
I am baffled by this: politicians complain that we don;t believe or trust them, then when we ask them to stick to their guns they retort that they're actually pragmatists, and therefore won;t actually do/say/implement their beliefs after all because it might cause them a bit of stick.
"What the hell do expect people like me to do"? interesting line...
Glyn - I meant to add that the manufactured indignation - 'what, you really expect me, a politician, to stick to my guns when it looks like it might get tough!?!' – when someone actually challenges you to fight for your much-trumpeted beliefs, is a sad sign of what politics has become.
It's like something out of a Little Britain sketch.
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