A blogging new year

THE New Year is upon us but there is time for a last glance back in the Daily Post's 'Capital Eye Review of 2007'.
And, of course, to wish everyone a very happy 2008.

JANUARY: Welsh Lib Dem’s election campaign chair Jenny Willott is optimistic over the voter impact MP Lembit Opik’s relationship with a Cheeky Girl could have. “We might get some more votes among Hello readers.” (They didn't)
FEBRUARY: Tony Blair arrives at his last Welsh Labour conference as prime minister and declares: “It’s amazing how nice people are about you when they know you’re going.” Next year, he might be outside ‘holding up the little sign saying, ‘More Socialism!’” (He won't)
MARCH: Tory Shadow Welsh minister David Jones describes Peter Hain’s speech to the Labour gathering as “all good class warrior stuff.” But the same Mr Hain was seen in soft focus on a lifestyle web site extolling the virtues of the Aga for Bistro-style slow cooked tuna. “He’s not so much manning the barricades as backing the marinades.” (Clever)
APRIL: Windows have to be removed from a shelter for staff smokers at the rear entrance to the Assembly offices in Cardiff Bay to comply with the new smoking ban in public places. The enclosed shelter cost taxpayers £6,270 plus VAT. The adaptations cost just £270, plus VAT. (Nice to see smokers getting some of their tax back)
MAY: Only the Lib Dems could contrive a ‘triple-lock’ system to prevent its Assembly leadership from steamrollering a rainbow coalition deal, which then denied its special conference a say, on the strength of a tied 9-9 vote in its national executive. (That's democracy?)
JUNE: Rhodri Morgan poo-poos suggestions that health minister Edwina Hart would be prepared to have Plaid’s Ieuan Wyn in a Labour coalition cabinet. “She said she didn’t mind what happened as long as Ieuan Wyn Jones didn’t take her job.” (He didn't)
JULY: Rhodri Morgan is admitted to hospital for heart surgery. The discomfort which so alarmed the first minister was initially blamed on the effects of chillies, prompting speculation that his digestion was affected by the ‘inedible’ part of the ‘inedible and unpalatable’ choices on offer for political coalition. (He's given up on chillies)
AUGUST: New Counsel General Carwyn Jones also runs Assembly business as Leader of the House, seemingly against the Government of Wales Act which states: “A person holding office as the First Minister, a Welsh Minister appointed under section 48 or a Deputy Welsh Minister may not be appointed as the Counsel General or designated under subsection (6); and the Counsel General or a person so designated may not be appointed to any of those offices.” (Yeh, right)
SEPTEMBER: Plaid elections director Adam Price advises Tony Blair: “Remember Pinochet. Be careful where you holiday, Mr Blair. Spain and Belgium have already made the crime of aggression illegal in domestic law. And when criminal justice is transferred to the Assembly we’ll make it a crime here too: retrospectively.” (Blair becomes international Middle East peace envoy)
OCTOBER: Word goes round the Bay that some AMs can expect an extra pay hike in future. Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant could benefit as Labour chief whip having been ousted as deputy business minister in record time in the coalition deal. (He didn't get it - yet)
NOVEMBER: Competition is generated over how best to describe the indecipherable qualities of the Assembly Government’s draft budget. A tenner for each time a Tory used the word ‘opaque’ would go a long way to cover the £13.5m Wales Millennium Centre debt. (It's been paid off)
DECEMBER: Welsh secretary Peter Hain prompts controversy at the ITV Wales political awards. Last year's Welsh Politician of the Year asked ‘if standards had slipped’ in this year's award to former ‘country solicitor’ Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones. (You win some, you lose some)