CABINET ANNOUNCED

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 2:59 PM | add or read comments (4)

First Minister Rhodri Morgan unveiled his new-look Cabinet for the Welsh Assembly Government’s third term.
There was a thorough shake-up of some old familiar names in a slimline top team.
Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant (pictured left) becomes Chief Whip and deputy business minister.
UPDATE: Mr Sargeant dismisses criticism of the lack of a North Wales AM in the full cabinet thus: "I'll be making sure we have a North Wales voice at the cabinet table."
The Tories' Nick Bourne isn't so sure: “This is the cabinet of Labour's Glamorgan mafia."
Neither is Lib Dem's Mike German: “There are no new faces and no new ideas in this M4 corridor cabinet."
Plaid's Rhodri Glyn Thomas: “We have here the same old tired faces; it is unlikely this cabinet will contain renewed ambition for Wales to go with the new powers of the Assembly.”

Continue reading "CABINET ANNOUNCED" »

• Tags:
• cabinet
• labour
• rhodri morgan

Doing the Cabinet Shuffle

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:45 AM | add or read comments (0)

After a long weekend as First Minister, it is about time Rhodri Morgan unveiled a new cabinet.
The Welsh Labour leader has never been one to shuffle and reshuffle on a whim.
But he already has TWO vacancies after former finance and public services minister Sue Essex retired at the election, and culture, Welsh language and sport minister Alun Pugh was sacked as AM by the voters of Clwyd West.
Will Mr Morgan replace Mr Pugh with another North Wales AM in the new line-up - albeit on a temporary basis until the Rainbow rises over Cardiff Bay?

Continue reading "Doing the Cabinet Shuffle" »

• Tags:
• cabinet
• labour
• shuffle

Wheels back on the wagon...

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:08 PM | add or read comments (0)

Liberal Democrat Assembly leader Mike German declared: "The wheels are now back on the wagon."
His relief was tangible after a special conference in Llandrindod Wells voted 125 to 77 to endorse the All-Wales Accord with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives.
"The ball passes to Ieuan Wyn Jones."
Ieuan's still up for it, and so are the Tories, it's now a question of how and when a no confidence motion comes.
There will be a conference sketch in Capital Eye, in Tuesday's Daily Post

• Tags:
• coalition
• lib dems
• mike german
• rainbow

Yes, First Minister

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 4:41 PM | add or read comments (0)

There was a moment of mischief as AMs assembled to witness the nomination of Rhodri Morgan as First Minister.
Tory AM Alun Cairns glanced up towards the public gallery and happily waved at former Labour finance minister Sue Essex, who stood down at the elections, and was now an interested spectator.
He motioned towards her old seat on the cabinet front bench and appeared to mouth the words: "It could have been me."

Continue reading "Yes, First Minister" »

• Tags:
• assembly
• first minister
• sketch

No Wheels on the Wagon, but...

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:50 AM | add or read comments (0)

Lib Dem Assembly leader Mike German called a news conference in Cardiff Bay to appeal to the party to embrace the Rainbow Alliance agreement despite the nomination of Labour's Rhodri Morgan as First Minster just a few hours later.
There seemed to be a theme developing, when he said: "What was clear is the wheels came off the wagon on, on Wednesday night.
"Tomorrow the Welsh Liberal Democrats have an opportunity to put the wheels back on the wagon..and it will be a harder job for us to accelerate down the road than before but accelerate we must."
A case of 'after the horse has bolted', I think.

• Tags:
• coalition
• lib dems
• mike german
• rainbow

Who said: "I told you so...?"

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:15 AM | add or read comments (5)

In the end, there was something strangely prophetic about this cartoon produced during Labour's election campaign.
The 'Rainbow Express' has indeed careered over the precipice.
I'm not so sure about the characterisation of Rhodri as the comic-book all-action hero though.
Suggestions for an alernative caption are very welcome...

• Tags:
• cartoon
• election
• labour

You couldn't make it up...

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:37 PM | add or read comments (3)

Liberal Democrats backed away from the Rainbow Coalition to govern in the Welsh Assembly when a vote on the deal in their national executive was tied after three hours of talks.
It means that the party's six AMs will 'sit on their hands' when a new First Minster is nominated in the Senedd.

Continue reading "You couldn't make it up..." »

• Tags:
• coalition
• lib dems
• rainbow

Ieuan Goes for It

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:31 PM | add or read comments (1)

Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones suspended talks with Labour over a political pact to govern in the Welsh Assembly.
The dramatic decision, after five hours of tense talks with Plaid's 15 AMs, left Labour's Rhodri Morgan out in the political cold. The Lib Dems have also pulled out of negotiations to keep the largest party Labour in power.
The prospect of a 'Rainbow Coalition' between Plaid the Lib Dems and Conservatves - and elevation to First Minister - burned brighter still on Mr Jones' 58th birthday.
BUT the look on the faces of some Plaid AMs showed that there could yet be trouble ahead.
UPDATE: Now Plaid vice president, Rhondda-based Welsh MEP Jill Evans, has declared her opposition.
"There will be no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow," she says.

Continue reading "Ieuan Goes for It" »

• Tags:
• coalition
• ieuan wyn jones
• plaid
• rainbow

Gizza job!

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 9:31 AM | add or read comments (2)

Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones is in the spotlight as the Conservatives and Lib Dems warm to his appointment as the next First Minister in Wales.
If talks are successful, three party leaders will have to ponder on their cabinet, while Labour's Rhodri Morgan could be facing resignation to make way for a new chief in opposition.
Who could be in line for a minsterial car? Here's one line-up...

Continue reading "Gizza job!" »

• Tags:
• cabinet
• rainbow

Triple Crown Exclusive

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 10:31 PM | add or read comments (3)

Liberal Democrats agreed to suspend talks with Labour over the future government in the Welsh Assembly.
Instead, the smallest minority party will start exclusive talks with Plaid Cymru and the Conservatives on a 'triple crown' alliance, which would dump Labour, the largest group, into opposition.
The effect, if negotiations are successful, would be to install Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones as first minster in a coalition government within a fortnight.
UPDATE: First minister Rhodri Morgan said: "We aren't conceding defeat because there are many twists and turns in the tale yet to be played out. We will see what happens over the next 10-13 days."

• Tags:
• exclusive
• lib dems
• rainbow

Rhodri No Mates

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 8:44 PM | add or read comments (0)

Rhodri Morgan emerged from two-and-a-half hours of Labour pains to announce his bid to run a minority Labour Assembly government.
His choices are now limited to seeking a 'stability pact' with the Lib Dems or Plaid Cymru after the power-sharing options of formal coalition had 'ruled themselves out' in talks, he said.
Are the Lib Dems effectively out of the running as deal-makers as they descend into disarray and in-fighting over their leadership?

Continue reading "Rhodri No Mates" »

• Tags:
• labour
• minority
• rhodri morgan

Plaid Election Fall-out

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 5:09 PM | add or read comments (0)

A post election de-briefing session for Plaid Cymru in North Wales provides the opportunty for some 'get-it-off-your-chest' therapy tonight.
Some supporters of ex-Plaid leader Dafydd Wigley are angry that he failed to return to frontline politics via the compexities of the Assembly PR system.
And elected AM for North Wales Janet Ryder may be poised to face a backlash.

Continue reading "Plaid Election Fall-out" »

• Tags:
• dafydd wigley
• plaid

Rhodri 's Yes to Talks

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 7:19 PM | add or read comments (0)

Rhodri Morgan was given the go ahead this afternoon for talks with both Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems to try to form the next Assembly government.
Three hours of a marathon soul-searching session by the 26-strong Labour group ended with a mandate for ‘talks about talks’.

Continue reading "Rhodri 's Yes to Talks" »

• Tags:
• coalition
• rhodri morgan
• talks

Lib Dems leadership turmoil

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 12:30 PM | add or read comments (2)

Lib Dem Assembly leader Mike German is facing a potential challenge to his authority at a crucial time with coalitions on the cards.
Education spokesman Peter Black thinks it's time for a change and that a new deal with Labour would damage the party .
UPDATE: But then Mr Black has dissenters too.

• Tags:
• lib dems
• mike german

Lib-Lab is the i-deal

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 7:10 PM | add or read comments (2)

Now the dust is settling and AMs are catching up on some sleep, the first moves are being made by Labour towards a coalition deal to run the Assembly Government and its £14bn budget.
There are two options for Rhodri Morgan - cwtch up to the Lib Dems (again) or consider a dalliance with Plaid Cymru.

Continue reading "Lib-Lab is the i-deal" »

• Tags:
• coalition
• labour
• lib dems

Coalition Day

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 6:59 AM | add or read comments (0)

It's just before 7am and I'm thinking of going straight into breakfast at the Castle Hotel in Conwy after watching the Assembly election results roll in, oh so slowly through the night.
Labour lost some key marginal seats, including that of former culture minister Alun Pugh to the Conservatives in Clwyd West.
The intrepid mountaineer is now planning an assault on Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania, while Darren Millar heads for Cardiff Bay.
It was a bad night for Labour failing to achieve a majority, yet hitting 26 (?) seats with around a third of the vote. (Is that proportional representation?)
But there was Labour delight when Lesley Griffiths snatched Wrexham back from Independent John Marek.

Continue reading "Coalition Day" »

• Tags:
• assembly
• election
• results

'Vote Labour, get Wigley' - Rhodri

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:09 AM | add or read comments (0)

Rhodri Morgan preferred to talk about rugby when asked if Gareth Thomas should be kicked out of the Labour party for backing Plaid's Dafydd Wigley.
When reminded that the Gareth Thomas in question was the former Labour MP for Clwyd West, not the Wales captain, he thought a 'Vote Labour get Wigley' strategy could actually help him to return to government.

Continue reading "'Vote Labour, get Wigley' - Rhodri" »

• Tags:
• dafydd wigley
• labour

Ex-Labour MP says 'vote Wigley'

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 12:48 PM | add or read comments (1)

Former Labour MP for Clwyd West Gareth Thomas has promised his second vote in the Assembly elections to Plaid Cymru's Dafydd Wigley.
Mr Thomas, who narrowly lost his seat at Westminster to the Conservatives in 2005, expects that he served notice on his Labour Party membership with the public announcement this afternoon.

Continue reading "Ex-Labour MP says 'vote Wigley'" »

• Tags:
• assembly
• dafydd wigley
• election
• labour

Sickening North Wales Bias

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 12:15 PM | add or read comments (0)

All the political roads seem to be heading North with just two days campaigning till Polling Day.
Tory leader David Cameron is being deployed in Llandudno, in marginal Aberconwy, for the final push to persuade any devo-reluctant Conservatives to turn out to vote. (What not even more marginal Clwyd West?)
Rhodri Morgan is taking in the delights of Bangor, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Wrexham, while Lib Dem Assembly leader Mike German is on an "East Coast Sweep" from Wrexham to Brecon and Radnor via Montgomeryshire.
Any chance this 'sickening North Wales bias' will continue from May 4?

• Tags:
• election
• north wales

Hot Red Water

• Posted by Tom Bodden at 11:17 AM | add or read comments (0)

Labour's number one candidate on the North Wales regional list has landed himself in hot water according to the New Statesman.
Ken Skates wrote an entry on the publication's Election 2007 blog predicting that his party would fall from 29 to 27 seats in the new Assembly.
But after the blog was published Labour officials apparently got in touch with Skates and he emailed the New Statesman asking if his blog could be removed as it was causing him trouble.

Continue reading "Hot Red Water" »

• Tags:
• assembly
• election
• labour