Blamerbell Briefs

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The End
2007-06-26 13:46:00
I had hoped to bring you news of a potentially historic step forward for Welsh politics. But as usual, the politicians have contrived to delay proceedings.Plaid's assembly group was due to meet today to make a final decision on whether to recommend a Rainbow or a Red-Green coalition to its National Council on July 7. However, they've decided to postpone that meeting until tomorrow because Labour's Welsh Executive meets this evening.I understand that the momentum is still with the 'Brown' deal. In the short term it may seem less ambitious, but in the long term it would deliver more powers to Wales (if they can win a referendum) and bring Plaid closer to its long-term aim of independence.Perversely, an election campaign spent convincing people that government mattered more to Plaid Cymru than distant objectives of autonomy looks to have put Plaid in a position to push for the latter while surrendering the opportunity to take overall control of the former. It seems also that Labou...

It's not over till it's over
2007-06-25 13:00:00
The Western Mail is today reporting that the 'Brown' coalition is more or less a done deal. Just a few days ago, all their correspondents were still predicting a rainbow coalition.They've also called a Lab-Lib deal and a previous rainbow pact as a formality before now.If there's one thing this circus of tribalism and talks has taught us, it's that there's no telling what will happen next.Plaid have a group meeting tomorrow, and the only thing that's certain is that it will go on for bloody ages. I can think of at least five AMs who will dig in for a fight. Don't expect the Rainbowistas to simply bend over and accept their fate.UPDATE: BBC Wales' Westminster Correspondent David Cornock has given up asking his bosses for a blog and pushed ahead with his own. It's helpfully titled notabbcblog.blogspot.com

The Blamers 2007 - A star-bereft award ceremony
2007-06-24 19:20:00
The more prescient among you may have come across whispers in some far-flung corner of the internet hinting that this blog will soon be following Tony Blair into retirement. These whispers have some truth, because I started them. (As Peter Black writes today, why would cheeky Wales on Sunday Journalist Matt Withers find his own stories when he can just pinch them from someone else?)More on that later. In the meantime, I shall press on with my end of year political awards. Of course, it's not the end of the year and on current form no politician really deserves an award, but now is my last chance.Regular readers will know that this blog has been enriched over the past eight months by references to certain characters who have very kindly allowed me to reduce their incredibly complex personalities to simple stereotypes. Either that, or they've been too stupid or lazy to notice:)So, I would like to present The Blame rs 2007. A pair of my crusty briefs will be finding its way to the luc...
More About: Star , Award , Ceremony , Ward

Britain's got boring
2007-06-23 12:57:00
Pol Pot singing Nessun Dorma? Now, that really would be a must-see. Firstly, he'd have to rise from the grave (an achievement matched only in showbiz by Bob Monkhouse's apparent ability to be funnier dead than alive), and secondly, whatever you think about his politics, the act would at least be different.Paul Potts, on the other hand, is just another media-manufactured 'ringtones to riches' personality. His voice is OK, but if you're ever queuing outside Madame Tussaud's in London and hear the warbles wafting across the street from the Royal Academy of Music, you'll hear better.His story is good: mobile phone salesman to celebrity singer, we like that. But he might as well have been a hairdresser, a lollipop lady or a stuttering sixth-former. We've all seen this formula before.Absolutely the worst aspect of this phenomenon, however, is its one trick ponyness which is, frankly, driving me potty.Pavarotti has already done Nessun Dorma to death, so much so that it's been top ...
More About: Britain , Boring

Big fat amnesty event
2007-06-22 14:29:00
Not another sausage roll and wine in a box gathering to keep Rhodri Glyn Thomas nourished and lubricated, I hear you cry.Well, no.Instead, it's my somewhat novel and absolutely not likely to happen suggestion to clear the air if or when the assembly gets full law-making powers and twenty extra members.Over the last tortuous couple of months, one thing has become abundantly clear: some AMs are in the wrong political party.Of course, they'd never own up to it, and there's something very British about that. It's like when we accidentally take the wrong turning in the car. The easiest thing to do is to turn around right away and double back. But something in us makes us persevere - 'If I just take this left and then follow that road it'll all be... ah, bollocks!'.Some of our AMs, I fear, are lost in the Stevenage roundabout network. Their political compasses are way off track.And so, when the assembly inevitably expands some time in the future, why not have an amnesty so that pol...
More About: Event , Amnesty , Vent

Farcembly?
2007-06-21 14:12:00
Today's twist: Labour MPs have told Rhodri to cut out his after dark soirees with Adam Price and IWJ and snuggle up to Mike German and the Lib Dems instead.The Western Mail's Tomos Livingstone is now predicting a Rainbow coalition will rise from the ashes of the Red-Green talks, while Peter Black says everyone should get a move on.Quite right. With more waffle than a Birdseye potato processing factory flying through the air in Cardiff Bay, little actual work has been going on. There are still no committees, for instance, so Thursdays are just used for filing fan mail and eating subsidised lunches.Those in the Welsh political bubble think this is all just fine. These are exciting times. This is the new politics. And other such guff.But outside, in the real world, it doesn't look quite so groundbreaking. People are simply wondering why they aren't getting on with it.At the outset, every new twist seemed to offer endless intrigue and interest. But now, 'developments' are treading...
More About: Farce

Labour u-turn a sign of things to come
2007-06-20 20:34:00
It is exactly two weeks since Rhodri Morgan wrote to Ieuan Wyn Jones and Mike German outlining the terms of a possible agreement to keep him in government.Since then, Plaid have been negotiating a beefed up deal with Labour , the underlying document of which is just about finished, I understand.Now, whaddyaknow - Business and Budget Minister Jane Hutt has announced an independent commission to review the Barnett Formula and consider tax-varying powers for the assembly.A fortnight ago, Labour offered Plaid and the Lib Dems a "seen to be independent inquiry by the Assembly Finance Committee, possibly chaired by a Liberal Democrat." In other words, not an independent inquiry at all.In just fourteen days, Labour have gone from stubborn refuseniks to willing co-conspirators. They are, [cough, splutter, vomit] experimenting with [shh, don't tell Tony]... compromise.We've heard a lot about the 'new politics' which is a necessity now that power hangs in the balance between the parties in...
More About: Sign , Things , Thing , Turn

What Ieuan wants
2007-06-20 14:54:00
No decision yesterday in Plaid's group meeting, so that means the future governance of Wales is likely to hinge on next Tuesday's weekly get-together.Some people have already been speculating about the way Plaid AMs will vote, with almost everyone agreeing that Ieuan Wyn Jones is in the Rainbow camp.Of course, he would just say he wants whatever's best for Wales, which is a bit like that ruthless lady from the Apprentice saying she wants what's best for Alan Sugar.His own personal political inflections (and ambitions) must inevitably be playing a huge part in his thinking. It's just that he hasn't bothered sharing them with the rest of us. The BBC reports that he'll be meeting party members across Wales shortly to "explain the choice he believes Plaid should make." I'd wager he'll be doing a lot more tergiversating (love that word) than explaining, given that the details of the Red-Green pact have yet to be revealed.IWJ is a very shrewd politician, even if there is somethin...

The Gordon Brown meme
2007-06-20 14:35:00
I've been tagged by Iain Dale and Matt Wardman to say two things about Gordon Brown .Two words, of course, would be easy. Good off! Or bugger luck! Or something like that:)Anyway, heregoes...Two things Gordon Brown should be proud of:His (Ed) BallsHis Cow's lickTwo things he should apologise for:Supporting the England football teamCardiff North (or was that Cherie's fault?)Two things he should do immediately when he becomes PM:Promote Peter HainDemote Peter HainTwo things he should do while he is PM:Favours for rich peopleMake St David's Day a national binge drinking day holidayI hereby tag fresh-faced newbie Seneddwr, Sanddef (because he loves everything to do with blogging), and anyone who'd like to share their wisdom with us in the comments because I am still struggling striving to be non-political and so I don't think I've really done this properly!
More About: Meme , The Go

Assembly FC
2007-06-19 13:07:00
From Alun Davies AM:Dear all,Somewhat surprisingly, and certainly unbelievably [no kidding], I have been asked to captain the Assembly 's Football Team in the annual Parliamentary Shield competition supported [somewhat ironically] by McDonald's. This year the [pissup] event takes place in London on the weekend of the 4th and 5th August, giving us the chance to play against elected representatives from Westminster, the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Scottish Parliament for the Parliamentary Shield and a [happy meal] cheque for the charity of our choice.By taking part in the tournament we not only have the opportunity to show off our footballing skills (!) and win money for charity but we also have the chance to [get drunk with] meet many colleagues from the different Parliaments and Assemblies across the UK, talk tactics with our celebrity manager Ian Rush and watch the Community Shield match between Manchester United and Chelsea at the new Wembley stadium the following day (Sund...

What has Tony Blair done for us?
2007-06-19 11:26:00
During the election campaign, Tony Blair made one fleeting visit to Wales . Even that was enough for the Beeb's Betsan Powys, who struggled to pin him down for an interview.By contrast, Blair made four visits to Scotland. Also by contrast, Labour lost Scotland and hung on in Wales.It's probably fair to say that by 2007, Blair isn't quite the same electoral asset he was. "Give him the send off he deserves," cried Plaid Cymru's election advert - evidently believing Tony Blair deserved an ambivalent election result followed by continual flitting between various different coalition permutations.So, in ten years, what has TB done for us?Devolution. Yes, that's a big one.Alun Michael. Not such a big one.Introduced top-up fees so the assembly could scrap them. Bit of a messy one.We've been called the 'F*cking Welsh' for daring not to vote Labour in droves and he's been called Lionel for not being someone more famous at Rhodri Morgan's mum's breakfast table. But otherwise?Answers ...
More About: Done

Hain, Gay, Cornish, Cym
2007-06-18 20:13:00
Now, there's a title which is sure to wreak havoc with the search engines:)Anyway, thank you, dear readers, for your patience with yet another post about possible coalitions. Heaven forbid that anything else should be happening in the world. But I do get emails and messages from time to time from people with various motivations (not all of them sanitary), so I thought I'd flag up a few...*********************************** ***********************A chap called Philip Hosking emails to ask for my views on the 'Cornish Question'. Much to my surprise, it is not "butter or clotted cream or both?" (to which the answer would be both), but rather the extent to which Cornwall be granted autonomy from the United Kingdom:"I am a Penryn born Cornishman from the United Kingdom and a growing Cornish and Breton speaker. I have been raised by a family and community that has endowed me with what can be best described as a Cornish national identity, another way to look at it would be of Cornish et...
More About: Hain , Nish

Lib Dems won't do a 'Lib Dem'
2007-06-18 14:33:00
A while back, I wrote a post titled Red + Green = Brown. It seems I was being more prophetic than I had intended, since it was written on the day Gordon Brown came to town. From that moment, the Red-Green deal has had a whole lot more momentum.Why?Well, Gordon doesn't really fancy beginning his premiership with two rogue Celtic states gnawing at his ankles. A rainbow coalition in Wales would see the Tories back in power and would give David Cameron a huge PR boost. Worse still, Labour would look like a party of opposition again.New Labour arguably won the last two general elections on the waning momentum of their enormous first victory in 1997. Ten years ago, Tony Blair had his cake and ate it, feeding on a Britain bloated with optimism. Now, there's barely a crumb of that good will left. Gordon Brown is going to have to rebuild. Scotland is already lost, but he can't afford to lose too much more ground. Rhodri Morgan says he spoke to the PM in waiting about the situation in Wale...
More About: Lib Dems , Lib Dem

Blamerbell en Paris
2007-06-17 13:54:00
What's happening then?Don't expect me to tell you:)As you may know, I've been away at the CNN European blog awards, which I'm pleased to say I won.I went to Paris for the ceremony on Friday and it was actually rather a big deal. There was a huge media fair being held at the Porte de Versailles which, for future reference, is not really taxiable from the centre of town (unless you are willing to remortgage your maison).The awards ceremony itself was quite a grand affair - there were a number of elaborate speeches before I was eventually called. I was given the prize by a chap called Emmanuel Chain, who is sort of the French Jeremy Paxman (for looks, think David Ginola rather than Tony Adams). I'm sure he said some nice things about my blog but it was all in French and all I can remember from GCSE is how to ask for an ice cream or report that my cello has been stolen.And that is very much how the rest of the evening went - much French being spoken and much failing to understand o...
More About: Blame , Lame

What's happening to the assembly on the telly?
2007-06-14 16:51:00
Once upon a time I went for a chat with someone in the assembly's Cathays Park building.I had to wait a while before the meeting, so I sat in the lobby. It's quite a grand place actually - lots of marble and columns and that kind of guff.Anyway, my most vivid memory of this little spell was sitting next to a giant screen which, after a while, began broadcasting live coverage of the latest plenary session.The receptionist, clearly fed up with the likes of Janice Gregory and Eleanor Burnham breaching her peace, stood up and turned it off. And that was that. Even the assembly can't stand to watch the assembly.So it's no surprise, then, that it may soon be impossible to watch proceedings live on television. S4C2 currently broadcasts those thrilling debates each Tuesday to Thursday when the assembly is in session. But it now has plans to broadcast Welsh language children's programmes instead.This story appeared in the Western Mail at the beginning of May and Sanddef flagged it up so...
More About: Assembly , The A

Something else!
2007-06-13 16:12:00
Some of you may have seen an earlier version of this post, relating to the CFJ/CNN European award for the best student news blog. Suffice to say, though, that I am nominated for the award, where I will have to fight off tough competition from France and Serbia.(Even that) is something of a shock really, given that I mostly specialise in strained metaphors and the kind of news most people wouldn't touch with a bargepole covered in their own faeces.Thank you all for contributing not just to this blog but to the emerging Welsh blogosphere in general, which was virtually non-existent (with some notable and excellent exceptions) when I started back in October.As I sit and watch assembly members coax each other into a deep and intensely boring slumber in the Senedd, it's good to know that there's a potentially unlimited space online for lively political debate. The medium has certainly proved itself in recent months and long may it continue.On another note, Rosemary Butler is chairing ...
More About: Something , Else , Thing , Some , Something Else

Plaid won't do a 'Lib Dem'
2007-06-13 13:22:00
There's been a lot of chatter over the past few hours about Plaid re-opening talks with Labour over a formal coalition.Some of the usual suspects, bless them, have been getting quite upset. Stomp, stomp, stomp. We want our bloody rainbow.Well, as I said yesterday, they are still odds on to get it. So kem down.Have any of Plaid's rainbowista AMs publicly changed their position? No.Has Plaid's leader given any indication that he's keen on a deal with Labour? No.Has Gordon Brown suggested that he'd whip up Labour MPs to get a referendum on further powers through parliament? No (in fact Tomos Livingstone reports Labour MPs saying quite the opposite).Were Tory and Plaid AMs drinking together in the Eli Jenkins last night? Probably.Do we know who the identity of the 'senior source' that broke the red-green story? No.Worth bearing in mind, I think, that I've seen people quoted as 'senior sources' before who were fourth placed constituency candidates in the assembly election. Can ...
More About: Lib Dem

How long has Rhodders got?
2007-06-12 17:00:00
That's the question I was asked today. And for once I didn't chafe my precious parts sitting on that well-worn pundit's fence. Instead, I leapt tentatively into the 'He'll be gone by autumn' camp. Predictions are usually wrong in Welsh politics and there are plenty of twists and turns yet. But you'd have to say that, on current form, the rainbowistas look set to make a move, perhaps before the summer's out.Quite simply, Ieuan Wyn Jones wants it too much. Tactically, it might be better to keep the Labour option open as long as possible to at least make it look like the rainbow was forced to make a move. But at the moment, IWJ's poker face is about as convincing as a Didier Drogba dive.If it were to go ahead, though, I think one of the biggest changes might be in 'foreign affairs'. I know that isn't exactly part of the assembly's remit, but with a nationalist first minister in Scotland and a sympathetic ear in Northern Ireland, the rainbow would look to put pressure on We...
More About: Long

Wee bits and bobs
2007-06-11 20:25:00
I'll be taking part in a live debate over on BBC Radio Scotland this evening (10pm) about the future of devolution.The new Scottish government, led by Alex Salmond, isn't too pleased that Tony Blair apparently struck a deal which could lead to the Lockerbie bomber being sent back to Libya to complete his prison sentence without informing it.Meanwhile, the Secretary of State and the First Minister in Wales are on such good terms that Rhodri Morgan is backing Harriet Harman for the Deputy Leadership of the Labour party.You can listen to the programme, Scotland at Ten, online this evening.I am also booked to pop up again on tomorrow's AM/PM on BBC 2 Wales - better than Big Brother every time:)In other news, Plaid's Ieuan Wyn Jones has torn up Labour's olive branch, ground it into sawdust, shoved it in his mouth and sprayed it all over Rhodri Morgan's surprised face shouting "Boo hoo to you, Sir!"He still fancies forming his own government, you see.
More About: Bits

Tories Cook up a storm
2007-06-11 16:22:00
You all scoffed last week when I hinted the Conservatives might try and bring down the government over lack of movement on a new Welsh language act.But with travel agent Thomas Cook appearing stubbornly monoglot in its unwillingness to embrace the Welsh language, the Tori es made the first move.They are calling for a review of the Welsh language act. You'll remember that Labour's legislative proposals stopped short of it, though it's a big deal in the proposed rainbow coalition programme for government.Plaid have since chipped in with their own calls for increased Welsh language legislation. Well, they do everything together these days, don't they?Labour's masterplan is to exclude the Conservatives from the consensus they have been seeking. They are trying to raise issues which isolate the Tories. But the men in blue are attempting quite the reverse and on today's form, seem to be having some success.UPDATE: Q: What's the worst thing you can do when you're embroiled in a stor...
More About: Storm

A Great British Summer
2007-06-11 14:28:00
Apologies in advance that blogging will be somewhat intermittent this week. I have limited internet access while I try to get my life sorted.In the meantime (the possibility of any work permitting) I'm hoping to indulge in a few of the summer activities I missed out on last year in Japan.First it's off to Cambridge for a garden party. Chinos, Pimm's and chamber music: lovely.Then, I'm hoping to go to Wimbledon to see some tennis. I'll bring my own strawberries this time after choking on the nine carat gold pips of the world's most expensive fruit on previous visits (read THIS for my previous take on overpriced fruit - yes, I write articles about everything).If I'm still unemployed in July, I'll take in some Proms. These are quite wonderful occasions which are unfortunately marred by the sweaty, vapid flag-fest of the last night (read THIS to see exactly what I think about that).What strikes me about these activities, though, is that they are all unquestionably British affair...
More About: Summer , Great

Blamerbell on Sunday
2007-06-10 21:20:00
This week, I shall be deputising for Matt Withers while Wales' favourite only Sunday political journalist goes off to Italy to bronze his bald patch.The column is called 'Spin Doctor' because 'Matt Withers' didn't sound sexy enough for the cesspit of sleaze and crap metaphors that is contemporary Welsh politics.And so, I am asking you please to send me little tidbits of gossip and amusing goings-on from the Welsh political world this week. There's got to be something interesting happening. Do it for the sake of your own vanity, or to bugger your boss. Whatever, just whop it in an EMAIL to me.It kind of defeats the point if you write it in the comments section, so let's reserve that for made-up gossip instead.I'll make a start...Peter Black is Swansea West Warhammer champion, 2007.Carl Sargeant turned down the Economic Development, Health and Education portfolios before eventually settling for the 'You get to sit around the cabinet but you can't make notes' brief.Jonatha...
More About: Blame , Lame

Red + Green = Brown
2007-06-09 03:03:00
Hardly the most inspiring colour, is it?And yet, whether Wales is a car or an aeroplane, there seems to be mileage in the red-green Plaid-Labour idea again. Adam Price is all for it. And Edwina Hart used her first interview since the twentieth century to put her weight behind it too. (Quite how any assembly member has managed to dodge the Welsh press for so long is a complete mystery. After all, there are only sixty of them. There should probably be a Dragon's Eye rota, just to even it out. At least that would give Helen Mary Jones some well-earned time off to go scarf shopping.)Plaid and Labour in a grand coalition? Lefties everywhere are getting erect nipples just thinking about it.But they haven't had to face Ieuan Wyn Jones. Does this man really fancy playing second fiddle to Rhodri's 'same-old' septet? No.He'd quite like to captain the ship himself. That's why the opposition are already behaving like a government in waiting in Cardiff Bay, with joint strategies and chumm...
More About: Green , Brown , Rhodri Morgan

Bob Atkins
2007-06-08 03:39:00
I will not be blogging today as a mark of respect for Bob Atkins , Director of the Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at Cardiff University, who died last week. His funeral will be held today at Thornhill Crematorium.Bob was probably the best broadcast journalism trainer in the UK for the past fifteen years and I feel greatly privileged to be among the last few to learn from him.Before that, Bob was editor at Radio Wales and an executive producer at the BBC World Service.There's hardly a newsroom in the country that doesn't have someone fed and nurtured on the Atkins diet. He was a stickler for accuracy and good writing above all else, and I'll always value the advice he has given me over the last year.I still can't believe he's gone. He was a funny, kind and inspirational character whose dedication to his students was so great he'd even listen again to our breakfast shows in the bath at home.Journalism won't be the same without him.Cheers, Bob.

What is Wales?
2007-06-07 11:13:00
A little known fact about the new Government of Wale s Act is that there is now provision for a minister, outside the cabinet, with responsibility for metaphors.So far, the theme has been transport."We have got a new car," said Rhodri after the election. "We are certainly not going to leave it in the garage."Then, this week..."Wales is an aircraft, and I am its pilot," Rhodri told the Queen."Can you ask the trolley lady to bring me a little something," said Dafydd El.Still to come, Wales is a boat, a bicycle and a blimp.After that, we'll be moving on to vegetables.
More About: Rhodri Morgan

Rhodri's letters
2007-06-06 18:07:00
Here's what Rhodri Morgan is offering Plaid Cymru and the Lib Dems in exchange for keeping him in power. Compare and contrast...****************************** ****************Dear Ieuan, How about some of this?1. To take part in an "even-handed" and "seen to be independent" inquiry by the Assembly Finance Committee, possibly chaired by a Liberal Democrat on the Barnett Formula - which determins the way the Assembly is funded.2. Bilateral "early" discussions on the Assembly's Budget.3. A moratorium on existing proposals for changes at community hospital level and that already agreed changes in District General Hospital serves are not implemented unless and until associated community services are in place.4. to involve other parties in significant public appointments e.g. chairs of NHS trusts.5. a joint group to be set up involving Plaid Cymru and Labour members in the assembly and Westminster to assess the pre-conditions suitable for a referendum to be triggered on Scottis...
More About: Letters

Reasons to disagree on first day back at the office
2007-06-06 01:34:00
Rhodri Morgan today unveils the Labour manifesto his government's legislative programme, with the emphasis on CONSENSUS.So committed is he to this cause, he failed to take part in a televised debate with the leaders of the other parties to explain to the people of Wales what this might actually mean in practice.If the intention was damage limitation, the effect was quite the opposite; the other leaders spent almost the entire programme reminding viewers of the first minister's absence.Never mind, Carwyn Jones was deputising and, as ever, sounded like someone from a self-help tape. He managed to tell those agitated nurses to bugger off in really the most relaxing way.Anyway, the point that the would-be rainbow coup leaders made repeatedly was that the assembly is today being presented with a legislative programme, and yet there was no consultation with the other parties in advance. Labour seem to be saying take it or leave it.Mike German got as close as possible to facial expressio...
More About: Office , The Office , Back , Reasons , Sons

Time to talk
2007-06-05 01:43:00
It's 'don't turn up' Tuesday.First of all, Plaid AMs Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins will give the Queen's official opening of the assembly a miss, then Rhodri Morgan will be the only party leader absent from a Week in Week Out special examining what the hell is going on at the top of Welsh government. Fresh from gaining Wales' first super-ministry, Carwyn Jones will deputise. A sign of things to come, perhaps? Nevertheless, the first minister's absence does rather undermine the point of the programme.We want answers, and only Rhodri Morgan truly knows what cocked up went on over the past few weeks. It'll certainly be interesting to see how upfront the leaders of the other parties are willing to be about a timetable for a possible rainbow coalition coup.What are the bottom line issues? And even then, can the government do anything to save its back?The reality is, surely, that the opposition parties can keep upping the anti. If Labour put all their eggs in one basket, the rain...
More About: Time , Talk

More new blogs (don't tell Leighton)
2007-06-04 16:22:00
The Welsh blogosphere continues to expand like a nineteenth century Western empire. The only difference being that we don't throw pineapples at Alun Cairns pygmies. We're much more friendly than that.As far as I'm aware, the latest additions to the Welsh blogging family are as follows: (I use family in the dysfunctional mother hates father has three illegitimate children with uncle, two of whom enter the civil service while the third lives in a squat in Aberystwyth with a parrot called Cynog Dafis sense of the word)Assembly Notes, gwe, Amanwy, Sion Owain, Petha' Bach, Glamorganshire, The Silurian.If you've been overlooked, holler in the comments. I'll be putting these in the sidebar shortly. If you don't link back, I'll pee in your letterbox.
More About: Blogs , Leigh , Logs , Tell , Eight

Everyone's a winner on the Tory front bench
2007-06-04 12:45:00
The Conservatives have announced their new shadow ministerial team. Alun Cairns makes the Education portfolio a Bridgend affair. He is also just about the only assembly member who could literally squeeze into Carwyn Jones' shadow.All the baggage that goes with that brief has been dished out to Paul Davies, who takes Welsh language, Culture and Sport. Expect this chap to be wheeled out as the Tories' token Mr Welsh over the next four years.Elsewhere, Brynle Williams gets 'Farming', which is a bit like giving Darren Millar 'Christianity' (unfortunately he gets Environment instead) and Jonathan Morgan sticks with Health.You can see the full list HERE.
More About: Winner , Front , Everyone , Bench , Tory