Infamy Infamy II

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:19 AM | add or read comments (0)

The Carry On continues in Wales’ most keenly-fought constituency of Clwyd West. (See Infamy, Infamy! and Triflegate below)
Now Conservative Darren Millar has rejected claims by opponents that he said homosexuality is a ‘sin’ and supported the teaching of ‘Creationism’ in school science lessons.
He was questioned by Labour supporters at a public meeting in Ruthin.
Were you among the near 100 strong audience at the Awelon Centre on Thursday night?"

• Tags:
• alun pugh
• assembly
• election

Crystal Balls #2

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 6:00 PM | add or read comments (0)

Plaid Cymru Ieuan Wyn Jones: “This poll reflects the change that we’ve seen on the doorstep over the past few weeks.”
Conservatives Nick Bourne: “This poll does not reflect the evidence we are getting on the doorstep.”
Lib Dems Mike German: “It is clear that our vote is moving ahead and producing more seats for the Welsh Liberal Democrats.”
Labour: “This poll shows that the Labour vote is holding up.”
Only the results of the latest ITV Wales Assembly election opinion poll can do this.
For full poll details click below.

Continue reading "Crystal Balls #2" »

• Tags:
• election
• poll

End of the Rainbow

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 2:44 PM | add or read comments (0)

This is one view of the coalition shenan -igans courtesy of Mumph and ITV Wales.

• Tags:
• cartoon
• election
• rainbow

Pants on Fire #2?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:20 AM | add or read comments (0)

LABOUR’S Welsh leadership has exploded with indignation at the suggestion that they are considering a post-election deal with Plaid Cymru. (See earlier post Pants on Fire)
BBC Wales today reported ‘prominent Labour figures’ were behind the idea that Labour might be prepared to make policy concessions in exchange for Plaid backing in the Assembly.
Welsh Labour leader Rhodri Morgan described the story as ‘rubbish’ while confirmed Nat-basher Welsh secretary Peter Hain preferred ‘trumped up’.
Is the prospect of such a deal so outrageous?
Noon update: Plaid repeat it would not prop-up a failing Labour administration and that it would not back a Tory-led coalition.

Continue reading "Pants on Fire #2?" »

• Tags:
• coalition
• denial
• labour
• plaid

"Assembly still pussy-cat's parlour" - Rod

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 5:18 PM | add or read comments (0)

Rod Richards was never one to dodge a good argument.
The ex-Welsh Office Minister and once leader of the Welsh Conservatives was often embroiled in controversy.
Now, with impeccable timing, he has revealed his “positive decision” not to vote Tory in the Assembly election - while simultaneously taking a side-swipe at a past leadership rival - in an interview with the Parliamentary Monitor magazine.

Continue reading ""Assembly still pussy-cat's parlour" - Rod" »

• Tags:
• conservatives
• election
• nick bourne
• rod richards

Alan Johnston

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 5:13 PM | add or read comments (0)

BBC correspondent Alan Johnston disappeared on his way home from his Gaza City office on 12 March. He is feared kidnapped in the lawless territory, where he is thought to have been the only international correspondent still working. Intensive efforts have been made to secure his release. Find out more here.

Pants on fire?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 2:23 PM | add or read comments (0)

Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones challenged first minster Rhodri Morgan to call him a liar.
The Ynys Mon AM has had enough of continually denying Labour accusations that he would be willing prop up a Tory-led coalition after the Assembly elections.
“Is Rhodri Morgan calling me a liar? If he is not, then both him and his party should desist from such dishonest campaigning," Mr Jones said.
He also challenged Mr Morgan to stop the Tories' chance of being in government by considering a coalition deal with Plaid Cymru.
Is Rhodri bovvered?

Continue reading "Pants on fire?" »

• Tags:
• ieuan wyn jones
• liar
• rhodri morgan

Now it's 'Trifle-gate'

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:37 AM | add or read comments (0)

Clwyd West's embattled Labour AM Alun Pugh is at the stockades refusing to let rivals sink his campaign with the latest sniping over his no show at a UEFA dinner.
He's dubbed the latest row 'trifle-gate' following on from 'postergate'.
Things can only get better.

• Tags:
• alun pugh
• elections
• trifle-gate

"Infamy, infamy!"

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:05 AM | add or read comments (2)

Clwyd West Labour AM Alun Pugh has become a target for political opponents over some of his Assembly election campaign methods.
Mr Pugh, the culture minister, who is fighting hard to retain the highly marginal seat (maj 436), insists that he has stuck to the rules - well, mostly.
As Kenneth Williams once said: "Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me!"
UPDATE: Alun has been answering his critics and remains up for the fight.
But now he's facing allegations he, as sports minister, snubbed an important UEFA dinner in Cardiff on Tuesday night to 'carry on campaigning' in his constituency.
Clwyd West is proving a really tough battleground and there's still two weeks to go.

• Tags:
• alun pugh
• elections
• infamy

Ron Davies in the Senedd

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 6:38 PM | add or read comments (0)

Former Welsh secretary Ron Davies was back in the Welsh Assembly launching a bid to return to frontline politics as an Independent.
Mr Davies, who is standing in his old Labour constituency of Caerphilly, believed that Independents might yet have an influential role in a new Assembly where no party has overall control. He even offered to become First Minister in a coalition - if elected.

Continue reading "Ron Davies in the Senedd" »

• Tags:
• elections
• ron davies

Where's Lembit #2?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:58 PM | add or read comments (1)

Liberal Democrat Peter Black was among candidates to reflect on their Assembly campaigning strategies after Page 3 revelations in some of the tabloids.
Welsh leader Lembit Opik had taken an Easter break with Cheeky Girl Friend Gabriela Irimia in the Canaries.
Tory hopeful Glyn Davies was equally in reflective mood.

Continue reading "Where's Lembit #2?" »

• Tags:
• cheeky girls
• elections
• lembit opik

So now we know

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 3:05 PM | add or read comments (0)

First Minister Rhodri Morgan got into a right pickle on BBC's Question Time in Aberystwyth last year when he tortuously circumnavigated a question about his personal support for the war in Iraq.
Today the BBC finally got the answer via presenter Richard Evans on BBC Radio Wales.
Well, against, probably.

Continue reading "So now we know" »

• Tags:
• election
• iraq
• rhodri morgan

The Nuclear Option

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 4:23 PM | add or read comments (1)

Ynys Mon Labour MP Albert Owen bent my ear before the inaugural Cardiff-Valley flight over the political fall-out on Anglesey regarding the future of the Wylfa nuclear power plant.
The MP and Labour Assembly candidate Jonathan Austin then both sent me Press Releases hopping mad that Plaid Cymru leader and Ynys Mon AM Ieuan Wyn Jones had declared his conditional backing for a new Wylfa B station on the island.
Mr Jones lashed back accusing them of mischief-making.
Phew this is so sensitive, it's almost raw.

Continue reading "The Nuclear Option" »

• Tags:
• albert owen
• election
• ieuan wyn jones
• wylfa

If a picture paints a thousand words...

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 2:42 PM | add or read comments (0)

BBC Wales political editor Betsan Powys was a 'bit pi***d off!' by the media management surrounding prime minister Tony Blair's election visit to west Wales.
It reminded me of an interview with the prime minister during the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno when I asked him about the Iraq war and whether he felt he was a help or hindrance to the party's Assembly election push. A grumpy PM's face tells its own story..

• Tags:
• tony blair

Will air link really take off?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:26 PM | add or read comments (1)

A day off from the Assembly election campaign today to join passengers on the inaugural flight of the much subsidised Cardiff to Valley air link.
Just when I thought I could escape politics for a few hours, the Lib Dems e-mailed a Press Release declaring they would scrap the £3.6m air subsidy and plough more money into North-South rail links.

Continue reading "Will air link really take off?" »

• Tags:
• air link
• north wales

Clear Red Water

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 1:51 PM | add or read comments (0)

Rhodri Morgan took a swig from a bottle of Clear Red Water as Welsh Labour launched its manifesto for the Assembly elections in its traditional Valleys heartlands at New Tredegar.
"Actually, it's not bad. I recommend it," he said.
The First Minister was flanked by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain but for some reason didn’t offer him the bottle - which from a short distance smelled like raspberries.
The Big New Idea was for ‘Mobile Mammas’, cooperatives of local women to offer childcare services to single parents to help them to keep their jobs.

Continue reading "Clear Red Water" »

• Tags:
• clear red water
• labour
• manifesto
• rhodri morgan

Crystal Balls #1

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:34 AM | add or read comments (0)

The first proper opinion poll of the Assembly election campaign makes gloomy if predictable reading for the Labour Party in Wales.
The ITV Wales commissioned survey predicts Rhodri Morgan's team shrinking from 29 to 25 seats in the new Assembly.

Continue reading "Crystal Balls #1" »

• Tags:
• assembly
• election
• poll

Where's Lembit?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:39 PM | add or read comments (0)

There is a familar theme developing during questions at Welsh Lib Dem press conferences.
No not the old chestnut about who the Lib Dems will climb into bed with in a post-poll coalition.
Not even if their iconic policy of Proportional Representation for council elections could be dropped to seal a deal with Labour and propel Mike German to deputy first minister again.
The question is: "Where’s Lembit?"

Continue reading "Where's Lembit?" »

• Tags:
• cheeky girls
• lembit opik
• lib dems

What a way to run a breakfast

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:28 PM | add or read comments (0)

One of the attractions during past election campaigns has been the bacon butties supplied at Welsh Liberal Democrat press conferences to hungry media types.
There was general rejoicing that they were to be restored for the 2007 Assembly campaign.

Continue reading "What a way to run a breakfast" »

• Tags:
• election
• lib dems

What's all this about?

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:22 PM | add or read comments (0)

What better time to launch into the blogosphere than in the midst of the Assembly election campaign?
In the political bubble which is Cardiff Bay, they all seem to be at it - blogging that is.
I would welcome ideas and reaction from those who may linger here.
Please stay long enough to comment, or leave ideas for a story or two.
Try to keep it legal and decent, I’ve got to read the stuff before it goes on.

• Tags:
• blog
• election