tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post5017659852130308224..comments2023-07-16T11:22:14.708+01:00Comments on Gareth Hughes: Plaid's new leaderGareth Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14811374617896851568noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-4984019809444949332012-03-18T22:21:20.173+00:002012-03-18T22:21:20.173+00:00My impression and vague reading of history is that...My impression and vague reading of history is that the political philosophy in the "heartlands" liberal rather than conservative, and you can see that throughout Plaid's history and also the electoral history of those areas. Those kind of areas also place a high value on specific candidates so it would be more important to them that Elin Jones was their candidate than who the party leader was. But with that said there isn't really a huge clash between Leanne Wood's political offer/Plaid Cymru policy and the old liberal Welsh tradition in those areas.Welsh Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17585109264200933570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-46235011730651312602012-03-18T22:17:50.690+00:002012-03-18T22:17:50.690+00:00Do people really vote in Welsh elections on the ba...Do people really vote in Welsh elections on the basis of opinions about Cuba? If that was the case Paul Flynn would never get re-elected (presuming support for Cuban things is unpopular- something I genuinely have no idea about) and neither would Elfyn or Edwina Hart or whoever else expresses solidarity or sympathy with Cuba! <br /><br />Wylfa B is more likely to be an election issue but I would imagine the Plaid policy will stand which will see the usual compromise being made. I wouldn't anticipate drugs policy being put in the party's ongoing programme, but the Greenprint ideas are more likely to be promoted as part of a wider package. I think there is likely to be a difference between the party's political programme and the personal views that Leanne follows on a range of subjects. If Plaid has learnt anything of late it is to stick to a set of battles that are worth fighting and I thought that came through from Leanne's speeches too as she would be more relaxed about attending royal events etc as party leader.Welsh Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17585109264200933570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-24250090409987834282012-03-18T14:25:15.906+00:002012-03-18T14:25:15.906+00:00Anonymous:
Unlike one of the other contenders, Lea...Anonymous:<br />Unlike one of the other contenders, Leanne has been very clear that she will not make up policy on the hoof, she will follow party policy. If you're a member you, of course, have an input into that.Alunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03369460221317033897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-90942619222737320482012-03-18T12:21:26.442+00:002012-03-18T12:21:26.442+00:00I agree - the word is that her vote came from acro...I agree - the word is that her vote came from across Wales, and across generations. Far too much is being made of this split between conservative West and radical East. Both traditions are informed by the non-conformist ideals of equality, community values, and fairness. That is what Leanne stands for, and that is why she won. <br /><br />My hope for the future is not only will Leanne persuade voters to desert Labour for Plaid (and the inert, laissez faire Labour government, run from London is helping no end with their complacency), but I believe she will inspire a large number of people who currently don't vote (because they fell alienated by politicians) that something CAN be done, and they can help by voting PLAID.Siônnynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00021974709953206048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-78402351237127732732012-03-18T12:13:59.396+00:002012-03-18T12:13:59.396+00:00Plaid is fully democratic - its policies are decid...Plaid is fully democratic - its policies are decided by the membership, not the leader, though of course you would expect the leader, especially one as persuasive as leanne is, to have an influence on that.Siônnynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00021974709953206048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-15213667883157819802012-03-17T12:01:14.477+00:002012-03-17T12:01:14.477+00:00Anon 02.43
"Her comments on Wylfa B have alr...Anon 02.43<br /><br />"Her comments on Wylfa B have already probably cost us Anglesey..."<br /><br />Are you seriously suggesting that Plaid support building a new nuclear reactor, with all the concomitant problems and dangers, not to mention the unaddressed existing problem of waste, in order to save a seat in the Assembly?<br /><br />Should the people of Wales and our dearly held principles be for sale just to get elected? That's pathetic.<br /><br />I suspect that many people on the island don't want another facility there anyway. I certainly wouldn't want it in my vicinity. It would be generating electricity for the conurbations of the north of England, nor for Wales. If the London government foist it on Wales, then Plaid will urge that local people are employed on the project. Most of the skilled workers will be imported.<br /><br />I fully support Plaid's non-nuclear stance. I fail to understand how it could have an energy spokesperson who directly contradicted and undermined the policy. That is no way to win elections.maen_tramgwyddnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-62347592458284454682012-03-17T10:13:47.438+00:002012-03-17T10:13:47.438+00:00"This strategy also carries with it the dange..."This strategy also carries with it the danger of alienating the more conservative Plaid voter in rural north and West Wales."<br /><br />This is a narative the unionist parties will use, but is there any evidence to show that Plaid voters in rural north and West Wales are conservative? I think that is just a stereotype. Plaid politics have always been that of radical, community based ideas.<br /><br />Of course there are some cultural and small 'c' conservative Plaid voters, but Leanne's stance on independence and the Welsh language have managed to entice many such members to vote for her over EJ and DET. And with large post industrial communities amongst those 'rural' areas of the west and north Wales, I believe that for every vote lost(which won't be many, if at all), there will be a lot of votes to gain.<br /><br />Iwan RhysAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-84744300293036521782012-03-17T09:43:06.420+00:002012-03-17T09:43:06.420+00:00As a Plaid member i accept that Leanne has a manda...As a Plaid member i accept that Leanne has a mandate from the Party for change. However i feel the policies she will espouse, such as legalisation of all drugs, her greenprint for the valleys document which is an economic policy document with no figures and her admiration of all things cuban will not go down well with the electorate. <br />Her comments on Wylfa B have already probably cost us Anglesey and i fear there is worse to follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-14951057744871999552012-03-16T14:33:48.819+00:002012-03-16T14:33:48.819+00:00Picture taken before result was known.Picture taken before result was known.Gareth Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14811374617896851568noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-18563669668632535602012-03-16T13:40:56.845+00:002012-03-16T13:40:56.845+00:00I just hope she'll manage to get Wylva B stopp...I just hope she'll manage to get Wylva B stopped up here in Anglesey. Worth her weight in gold if she remains true to her word on nuclear power!<br /><br />Come on Leanne.kphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313438657508449613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2069212153482249376.post-76037716814653218362012-03-16T13:11:36.029+00:002012-03-16T13:11:36.029+00:00Good post - but is there any significance in the b...Good post - but is there any significance in the banana skin in the picture?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com