Comments on: Twisting in the Welsh wind http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/ "crass, boorish and more a bruiser than blogger" - Alex Wilcock Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:01:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: James Graham http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57251 James Graham Mon, 28 May 2007 10:17:17 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57251 Did I say I thought the Welsh Tories were 'nice'? No, I said they were Cameroons, which is not the same thing. Their manifesto was certainly to the left of the English Conservatives, but if you read my post you'd see that I portrayed them as cynical political manipulators who appear to be happy to enter into coalition with Plaid purely so they can hang them out to dry. For the record, I share your concerns about a rainbow coalition. I don't think 'not being Labour' is a strong enough basis for a coalition. I think a better 'fit' would be a Plaid-Labour coalition, a LD-Labour coalition or even a Tory-Labour coalition. However, while I remain unconvinced that the agreement thrashed out last week was the right one, after this weekend I think there is a chance that the party could thrash out a better deal. Either that, or force Plaid into the arms of Labour. Either way, I don't think the Lib Dems in Wales will solve their problems by simply resolutely sitting on the fence until the end of time (I acknowledge that a number of Welsh Lib Dems disagree with me in that respect, and indeed consider it to be their <em>raison d'etre</em>). Did I say I thought the Welsh Tories were ‘nice’? No, I said they were Cameroons, which is not the same thing. Their manifesto was certainly to the left of the English Conservatives, but if you read my post you’d see that I portrayed them as cynical political manipulators who appear to be happy to enter into coalition with Plaid purely so they can hang them out to dry.

For the record, I share your concerns about a rainbow coalition. I don’t think ‘not being Labour’ is a strong enough basis for a coalition. I think a better ‘fit’ would be a Plaid-Labour coalition, a LD-Labour coalition or even a Tory-Labour coalition. However, while I remain unconvinced that the agreement thrashed out last week was the right one, after this weekend I think there is a chance that the party could thrash out a better deal. Either that, or force Plaid into the arms of Labour. Either way, I don’t think the Lib Dems in Wales will solve their problems by simply resolutely sitting on the fence until the end of time (I acknowledge that a number of Welsh Lib Dems disagree with me in that respect, and indeed consider it to be their raison d’etre).

]]> By: pendrepepper http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57166 pendrepepper Sun, 27 May 2007 16:20:43 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57166 Contrary to what you think Welsh Tories are not nice, cuddly Cameron model Tories. I should know, I live in Brecon and Radnor and their leader Nick Bourne has been involved in three Assembly elections there, in two of which he was soundly beaten by the Lib Dem, Kirsty Williams. As far as I could see the only thing the three parties have in common is their dislike of Rhodri Morgan. I did not think that was a good base for long term cooperation. When I found that the document the coalition was based on was a complete muddle and only sketchly costed I was glad I objected. I am afraid that the whole affair will hamstring our efforts in next year's council elections, cost us seats in the next General Election and end in tears Contrary to what you think Welsh Tories are not nice, cuddly Cameron model Tories. I should know, I live in Brecon and Radnor and their leader Nick Bourne has been involved in three Assembly elections there, in two of which he was soundly beaten by the Lib Dem, Kirsty Williams. As far as I could see the only thing the three parties have in common is their dislike of Rhodri Morgan. I did not think that was a good base for long term cooperation. When I found that the document the coalition was based on was a complete muddle and only sketchly costed I was glad I objected. I am afraid that the whole affair will hamstring our efforts in next year’s council elections, cost us seats in the next General Election and end in tears

]]> By: Liberal Democrat Voice » Top of the Blogs: the Golden Dozen #14 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57164 Liberal Democrat Voice » Top of the Blogs: the Golden Dozen #14 Sun, 27 May 2007 15:59:53 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-57164 [...] ‘Twisting in the Welsh wind’ by James Graham on his Quaequam Blog! blog. A trenchantly reasoned critique of the Welsh Lib Dem [...] [...] ‘Twisting in the Welsh wind’ by James Graham on his Quaequam Blog! blog. A trenchantly reasoned critique of the Welsh Lib Dem [...]

]]> By: Peter http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-56830 Peter Fri, 25 May 2007 07:30:37 +0000 http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/25/twisting-in-the-welsh-wind/#comment-56830 Well I won't bother posting myself... Well I won’t bother posting myself…

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