Plaid may well be feeling a wind change in thier favour.

Looking at Social Media Plaid activist  appear to have gained an extra spring in their step 

With a strong performance in the last Leaders Debate  which the Wasting Mule called for the Plaid leader Leanne Wood and  its readers even more so

We asked readers to rate the leaders performances on the 90-minute debate chaired by Huw Edwards - and to tell us who they thought would make the best First Minister.
On both questions, Plaid leader Ms Wood came out resoundingly on top.
Our ratings tool was completed 5,017 times during and after the debate and our short questionnaire was filled out by 1,807 people. Voting has now closed.

..

The next was La Pasionaria  of the Lib Dems with 5,3/10 and 16.1%

Also according to the Mule

Latest polling data has revealed where the closest contests in next week’s National Assembly election are likely to be.
These, and all other projections, are derived from a Wales-wide poll and calculated on the basis of a uniform national swing.

And it looks promising for Plaid

Aberconwy 
 There, just 0.1% separates Tory Janet-Finch-Saunders, who has held the seat for the last five years, from her Plaid Cymru rival Trystan Lewis.

According to YouGov’s most recent poll for ITV Wales and Cardiff University, the Conservatives are on 28.0% of the vote, against 27.9% for Plaid Cymru. Labour is a fairly distant third on 16.4%.

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire 

Currently held by the Conservatives’ Angela Burns. But according to the poll she is trailing to Plaid Cymru’s Simon Thomas. He is said to be on 31.4%, with Ms Burns on 29.9%. Labour is trailing on 21.2%.

Llanelli,

 Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs Lee Waters is defending the seat against former Plaid Cymru AM Helen Mary Jones. The poll puts Ms Jones ahead by 41.1% to 30.4%.

Plaid may be also eyeing Clwyd West  where they were on a healthy 23% and have  one of their top AMs  Llyr Huws Gruffydd who may be hoping that he wins there and not be reliant on results to win  for the Regional lists 

There's  also the question that  a late surge could see Leanne toppling Leighton Andrews in the Rhondda and Neil McEvoy  pulling off a major shock in Cardiff West.

Going into the last week couldn't be worse for Labour in what to me seems to be an orchestrated attempt  to use the Anti-Semitism   row to dislodge its leader  . It seems some Labour figures at Westminster seem prepared to sacrifice  its candidates the Welsh  Assembly , the Scottish Parliament  and local elections in England .

Mr Corbyn was due to appear with "Welsh Leader" Carwyn Jones appear on Friday at the Pencoed campus of Bridgend College to meet staff and apprentices .

 There are some reports that Mr Corbyn was asked to stay away but probably it was due to Mr Corbyn  has bigger problems at home.

If Plaid can maintain the momentum   and renewed optimism  they may well get a further boost from deserting Labour voters, It may not be for the right reason but it could lead to even more surprises  next Thursday,

He's not the Messiah but he's a very able boy,

I must admit  the  Welsh Conservatives have a point in attacking a a Plaid Cymru leaflet calling one of its candidates the "prophetic son".

In my view without a doubt Adam Price, standing in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, is one of the most outstanding  politicians  in Wales  and if elected will undoubtedly make a contribution to the Assembly which sometimes seems lacking in Talent,

I when he to left the House of Commons  and spent some time n the United States on a Fulbright scholarship, referred to him for a while  as the Pri(n)ce over the Water.

I thought that at the time it probably reflected the feeling that Plaid as in the doldrums and needed one of his Star players back

But this is surely OTT 

 

Mab Darogan is a messianic figure from Welsh folklore, said to be destined to drive the English out of Britain.

Written by Adams replacement as the constituency MP Jonathan Edwards  it maybe didn't need the Messianic connection.  

Conservative rival Matthew Paul said it was "possibly the most sycophantic thing" he had ever seen.

Senior Plaid politicians are literally crawling over each other to pay tribute to their returning 'son of Wales', Adam Price.

"Fortunately he is also pretty good at talking himself up, and [Plaid leader] Leanne Wood will surely now know that the knives are sharpening."

Plaid Cymru claimed he was "bitter" and the Tories were becoming "desperate".

Responding on Twitter  the author of this leaflet doesn't seem worried about the criticism

Jonathan EdwardsVerified account‏@JonathanPlaid

Thanks to @BBCWalesNews for their story covering my passionate endorsement of my good friend @_Adam_Price #voteplaidtwice

So maybe it was deliberately designed to draw out such a reaction and getting more coverage for Adam Price undisputed qualities. 

If so it seems to have worked.

Help me Rhonda? Rhonnda? Rhondda?

Where does the Labour Candidate for the Rhondda live 

According to the Wasting Mule 

Driver logs released under a Freedom of Information Act request show current Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews being chauffeured regularly from his home in Llandaff to Cardiff Bay – a journey of four miles.

Llandaff I thought he lived the Constituency  

Don#y get me wrong  I don't think every Candidate should come from the Constituency they are standing for but surly we can expect once elected their main home should be there.

Someone of Unemployment benefit would be expected to travel from Llwynypia to work in Cardiff Bay if offered a job there .

And we can't expect a AM from North Wales fpr instance to daily commute 

Why however does Leighton have another home in Llandaff? 

If he doesn't rive there's always the Train.

The commitment  of Plaid's Leanne Wood to her home in Penygraig in the constituency but  she seems the only candidate who lives in the constituency.

Sorry my mistake the Uip candidate for the election in the Rhonna appears to live in Porth on the constituency 
,
However his leaflet apparently has a problem

Regular readers of this Blog will be aware of my occasional  Typos you can expect them to get the name pf the constituency right.

Of course they could be big Beachboy fans?

We can thank devolution that our Doctors are not on strike.

Thank God he cannot carry out his "Mandate" in Wales.

Although we in Wales are not directly affected by the Junior Doctors dispute with the (English) Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt it is important that we note that Hunts justification for his belligerent attitude is that his proposal were part of the Conservatives 2015 General Election Manifesto.

Speaking in the commons , Hunt said:

“No trade union has the right to veto a manifesto promise voted for by the British people. We are proud of the NHS as one of our greatest institutions but we must turn that pride into actions and a seven-day service will help us turn the NHS into one of the highest quality healthcare systems in the world.”

Now this is interesting because the Tories received no such mandate from Wales and certainly not from Scotland.

Indeed this is a case of e Conservatives are idea for English votes for English laws (EVEL). Mr Hunt is only Health Secretary in England.

If anyone still doubts devolution  especially those who consider themselves anything but right of centre then without the devolved powers to our Legislatures in Wales , Scotland and Northern  Ireland then Mr Hunt could make the same statement as he imposed his plans on us as well.

We to would be facing our Doctors bravely standing up to a Westminster Government that cannot admit it has made a error in judgement .

For our English friends it may prove that that they are going to see a face of EVIL sorry EVEL  based on a Right Wing Ideology  for a long time.

But we must not  be smug Hunts claim of a "British Mandate  is one that the Tories claim for their Ideological Austerity cuts  even when no such mandate came from Wales, or Scotland  (and no Westminster Government has a mandate from Northern Ireland).

So we can claim that these are English Votes for British Laws.

I gain  no pleasure in our friends in England facing possible decades of Tory governments whose agenda is to destroy the Welfare State  and privatise the NHS.

But if there was a valid argument for Wales not to be included and Independence this is surely one.

Labour may welcome Ukip presence in the Welsh Assembly.

One of the interesting things about the  latest  Welsh Political Barometer poll.  Is that Labour appear to be the only Party to be adversely  by the second preference vote  for the Regional seats

Constituency Vote

Labour: 33% (-2)

Plaid Cymru: 21% (no change)

Conservatives: 19% (no change)

UKIP: 15% (-2)

Liberal Democrats: 8% (+2)

Others: 3% (no change)

Regional 

Labour: 29% (-2)

Plaid Cymru: 22% (+2)

Conservatives: 19 (-1)

UKIP: 15% (-1)

Liberal Democrats: 8% (+3)

Greens: 4% (no change)

Others: 4% (+1)

With the other Parties either remaining the same or gaining votes Labour are a good 4% down on the Regional lists 

This reflects Labour Dominance in the Constituencies in Wales and somewhat vindicates the very idea of the Top up system 

Labour: 28 seats (26 constituency seats + 2 list seats)

Plaid Cymru: 13 seats (7 constituency seats + 6 list seats)

Conservatives: 10 seats (5 constituency seats + 5 list seats)

UKIP: 7 seats (7 list seats)

Liberal Democrats: 2 seats (2 constituency seats)

There appears to be some indication that the Lib Dems calls for a second vote transfer to stop Ukip in the Regional vote.

Plaid  are also is buoyed by the findings. Particularly with the Leaders Popularity pol putting Leanne Wood streets ahead  .

Rhun ap  Iorwerth, said:

“This is an encouraging poll for Plaid Cymru and shows that we have momentum going into the final days of the campaign. We are delighted that the warmth, respect and affection we’re experiencing for Leanne Wood on the doorstep is reflected in this poll, which gives her a clear lead as the most popular party leader in Wale


Is Plaid on a a small surge ? I am not sure but a result mirroring   the latest may well not see any challenge to Leanne's leadership .

It may well be that the apart for themselves the only Party  that may be happy to see Ukip win seats is Labour.

With no overall Majority they may well think that they can run Wales on their own as the opposition parties particularly  Plaid and the Lib Dems are unlikely  to be keen to be voting with Ukip.

It may well be governance  by division of your opponents.

Rather than compulsory voting we need a true Welsh Media.

The very real prospect that the Welsh Assembly elections will see less than 40% of the electorate  bothering to vote is worrying for the validity of Welsh Democracy.

So much so that Labour's deputy minister for culture, tourism and sport has said. that compulsory voting should be considered to boost turnout at Welsh Assembly elections, Labour's deputy minister for culture, tourism and sport has said.

On Sunday, he told BBC Radio Wales he was "personally in favour" of compulsory voting.

His party - which has previously rejected the idea - declined to comment.

The Welsh Conservatives, UKIP, Plaid Cymru and Welsh Liberal Democrats said they were all against the introduction of compulsory voting.

Mr Skates, who is standing for re-election as an AM in Clwyd South, told theSunday Supplement programme he was "disappointed" by the turnout in the constituency during the last assembly election - about 40%.

"It's always of concern when turnout reduces. I'm personally in favour of compulsory voting and always have been,"

 ."I think it's important to examine all possibilities to improve turnout using digital technology, but also considering compulsory voting."

Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies has warned turnout for the 5 May vote could be the lowest so far.ever, 

However Mr Davies said compulsory voting would allow politicians to "abdicate their own responsibility for increasing public engagement with politics".

He added: 

"We need to make politics more engaging, interesting and representative - not hold a gun to people's heads and force them to vote."

A Welsh Lib Dems spokesman said the party

 "believes people should be able to keep their right not to vote".

UKIP also poured cold water on the suggestion, with MP Douglas Carswell saying: 

"Government should not penalise voter disengagement.

"Instead"Government should not penalise voter disengagemend we should have politicians who engage the public and policies worth voting for".

None of those who support or oppose  seem to address part of the problem in that with a lack of a large Welsh Media most of the information the Welsh Electorate get is comes largely from the English Media.

Even in the two major fields of devolution the NHS and Education  people can be almost forgiven for thinking that stories only affecting England will also affect them.

Indeed  switch on the BBC, ITV and pick up a Newspaper in Wales and you will see that the Welsh Electorate are probably more informed about the NHS in England than here in Wales.

Apart from teh Daily Post covering North Wales only the Wasting Mule really covers Welsh News and I am not a fan of this Unionist Rag,

Scotland at least has a media that covers issues there extensively cover Political issues and even the London Media provide "Scottish Issues"  true they are over  90% Unioinist ,

and although our experience of the "Welsh" Mirror which briefly entertained us  in the wake of Labour’s failure to gain a majority in the first Assembly elections of 1999?and Plaid sen to be on the ride .and  It was was nothing as Jacofthenorth pointed out..

 but a platform for Paul Starling to spew his hatred for all things Welsh, dressed up of course as ‘combatting the evils of nationalism’.

But as Oscar Wilde said

"There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about" 

Maybe increase powes instead of Devo Dipynbach  that we have now will increase the profile of the Welsh Assembly which will probably become a Parliament (In name at least) before the next round of elections.

But if we are to be engaged in Welsh Politics and vote accordingly then instead of having to trawl the Internet  for news we get our information in a more diredt (even old fashioned) manner.    


Update  2:22 PM

This Morning's coverage by the BBC Breakfast program completely failed to address the issue of coverage of the Assembly and Welsh Politics . It was disappointing that even Professor Laura McAllister  didn't raise the issue.

Of course the Beeb doesn't want to be tols its part of the problem.

Ukip Assembly hopeful told to avoid meeting those who will pay his wages.

In a recent Blog on  Labour in Pontypridd  proudly using   Ukip defector in their campaign I mentioned that said defector, was the Ukip  Pontypridd candidate in the 2015 Andrew Tomkinson and that I was unable to say what part of Ukip's  ethos he shared because I received no leaflets and he didn't turn up for for the hustings I attended.Maybe there was a reason 

 According yo BBC Wales  UKIP's assembly election candidate in Cardiff North says the party's controversial lead candidate for South Wales Central has asked him not to speak to the press or take part in hustings.

Haydn Rushworth says Gareth Bennett said he should not do either as Mr Rushworth "hadn't been trained".

A UKIP spokeswoman said the allegation was "alarming".

Mr Bennett did not respond to requests for comment.

The South Wales Central candidate has caused controversy after linking rubbish in Cardiff streets to Eastern European immigrants.

Mr Rushworth, who has produced the party's election broadcast, said he was advised by Mr Bennett in an email "not to do any press or attend any hustings, as you haven't been trained to do it".

He said Mr Bennett told him:

 "We are certainly not expecting our 'paper candidates' to undertake such arduous tasks!"

Just how many of those standing for Ukip are regarded as "Paper Candidates" is interesting 

Mr Rushworth said: 

"I work in the media industry professionally."

He said he found the request "mildly entertaining given my professional background".

Though h has admitted  it was  originally an agreement for himself to be a 'paper candidate' but has since wanted to get more involved.

Mr Rushworth, who was signed up to be a candidate at short notice, said he'd be "eager" to attend hustings if he was invited.

Though it appears Mr Bennett who is likely to win a Regional seat seems adverse to meeting those who will be paying his wages if he is elected.

In a Wales Online interview Mr Bennett said he did not approve of door-to-door canvassing.

"I don't really like the idea of foisting myself on other people," he said.

"Obviously some people don't like us and some people just aren't interested in politics. I don't really need to be imposing myself on them."

Mr Bennett survived an attempt by colleagues to have him removed as the lead UKIP South Wales Central regional candidate after he made controversial interviews to Wales Online and the BBC's Daily Politics programme.

The candidate has stood by his comments linking rubbish problems to Eastern European immigrants. UKIP spokeswoman said: "These are alarming allegations.

"The party strongly believes in canvassing the public directly through knocking on doors, hustings and other forms of outreach and engagement."

BBC Wales say they have made several attempts to contact Mr Bennett but he has not responded to requests for comment.

We have a right to see and here those who seek to be our representatives,, but such is the nature of Ukip is that they believe that they can win a substantial vote  without doing so,

Unfortunately  ot is an assumption that  looks like it will be proved right.

Racism and Hypocrisy the nasty party returns.

Boris Johnson accusation that President Obama of Hypocrisy maybe has a ring of truth but

On a visit to the U.K., Obama weighed in on Britain's debate about European Union membership, urging U.K. voters to back staying in the 28-nation bloc.

"I don't think the EU moderates U.K. influence in the world — it magnifies it," Obama said at a news conference with Prime Minister David Cameron.

He angered campaigners for a "leave" vote in the June 23 referendum, who accused the American president of meddling.

but how many of the leave campaign including Boris cheered when the US president at the behest of Cameron) advised Scots to stay with the UK,

But apart from being a Hypocrite calling others Hypocrite London Mayor Boris Johnson, a leader of the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, faced a flurry of criticism Friday for suggesting U.S. President Barack Obama may have an "ancestral dislike of the British Empire" because of his Kenyan roots.


Johnson said Obama's advice was "paradoxical, inconsistent, incoherent" because Americans "would never contemplate anything like the EU for themselves."

Writing in The Sun newspaper, Johnson recounted a claim that a bust of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was removed from the Oval Office after Obama was elected and returned to the British Embassy.

Johnson wrote that some said removing the bust "was a symbol of the part-Kenyan president's ancestral dislike of the British Empire, of which Churchill had been such a fervent defender."

Its not just the Blond Buffoon who is raising the race card.

Supporters of Sadiq Khan   the Labour Candidate for London's  Lord Mayor  say the Goldsmith camp has tried to focus voters’ minds on his faith, in an attempt to divide religious and ethnic groups and persuade non-Muslims to vote for Goldsmith.

They also say that Goldsmith’s campaign, run by Lynton Crosby, who masterminded the Tory success in last year’s general election, has tried to plant fear in Londoners’ minds by referring to Khan as a “radical” who has shared platforms with “extremists”. In comments defended by Goldsmith as legitimate, Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, said Khan was a “Labour lackey who speaks alongside extremists” and “cannot be trusted” to keep London safe.

Speaking at PMQs on Wednesday  in response to a question on ‘sharing platforms with extremists’ – a reference to Zac Goldsmith’s attacks on Sadiq Khan – David Cameron said the following:

‘If we are going to condemn not just violent extremism but the extremism that seeks to justify violence in any way, it is very important that we do not back these people, and we do not share platforms with them.

‘And I have to say, I am concerned with Labour’s candidate as Mayor of London, [i.e. Khan] who has appeared again and again and again – [stops amid shouts from Labour].

Anyone can make a mistake about who they appear on a platform with. We’re not always responsible for what our political opponents say.

But if you do it time after time after time, it is right to question your judgement

So  the Tories revert back to Nature  although they are not now so crude as they were in

Smethwick in the 1964 general election

After the Second World War, Smethwick attracted a significant number of immigrants from Commonwealth countries, the largest ethnic group being Sikhs from the Punjab in India. There was also a background of factory closures and a growing waiting list for local council accommodation. Griffiths ran a campaign critical of the opposition's, and the government's, immigration policies.

The Conservatives were widely reported as using the slogan "if you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour."^[2 Though the Conservatives claimed that these posters were the work of far right groups, Griffiths was quoted as saying "I should think that is a manifestation of popular feeling. I would not condemn anyone who said that.

I am not a fan Sadiq Khan as he's a Blaireite  and I would back the Green Candidate if I was still living in London . But  I would give him my second vote and a send a message to the Tories to cease such appalling electoral tactics,

Is Dafydd El making a bid to be Llywydd (Presiding Officer)?

I have been waiting for Dafydd Elis Thomas to rock the boat and   with two weeks to go to the Assembly Election and Police and Crime Commissioner  he has delivered

Not only managed to get Plaid some unwelcome publicity  but he has given a boost to Ukip'

 According to the Wasting Mule

Dafydd Elis-Thomas he  has urged....

 Plaid, Conservative and Liberal Democrat supporters to give their first or second preference votes to David Taylor on May 5, saying he wants to “stop Ukip in their tracks”.
By doing so, he could face attempts to have him expelled from Plaid Cymru, which is fielding its own candidate, Wrexham councillor Arfon Jones.
The peer, a former leader of Plaid who is seeking re-election as AM for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, is taking the unprecedented step of encouraging all mainstream voters in North Wales to give one of their votes on the police commissioner ballot paper to Welsh Labour’s candidate, David Taylor.

 Commenting on his call, Lord Elis-Thomas said:

 “I believe voters in North Wales need to think and act tactically in the election for the Police and Crime Commissioner, in order to stop Ukip in their tracks.“The relatively new role of commissioner is hugely important in terms of injecting real democratic accountability into policing here in North Wales. It’s crucial therefore that the result of this election is not skewed by the UKIP vote for the Assembly on the same day.
“That’s why I’m calling on all supporters of Plaid Cymru, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats right across North Wales to cast either their first or second preference vote for Labour’s David Taylor on polling day, to stop Ukip from inadvertently benefiting.
“David is someone I have known for many years. He is a Labour Party member but like me is never afraid to speak his mind and will always put the interests of North Wales first. He is the candidate who can unite our region.
"I know he would make an outstanding commissioner, bringing a much-needed new energy and enthusiasm to the role.
“It’s important that a true reflection of North Wales voting intention determines the outcome of the PCC election on May 5 and extremism is not rewarded by accident.”

 If a candidate fails to win an overall majority on the first count, second preference votes are added and the candidate with the highest total wins.

Commenting on the endorsement from Lord Elis-Thomas, Mr Taylor said:

 “I am deeply honoured to have received the backing of Dafydd Elis-Thomas.
“Although we are in different parties, he is one of Wales’s leading statesmen and someone I respect a great deal.
“I have tried to run a positive campaign, and have been determined to show that I would be a commissioner for everyone in North Wales. I am humbled by the support I am receiving.”

One of the reasons I am nor a member of Plaid is that I wish for this Blog to be Independent  and able to criticsise  Plaid when I feel it is necessary and Yes to make a similar call as Dafydd El has made.

But he is a Party member and candidate  and if it was anyone else Plaid would institute disciplinary procedures  against him.

Perhaps with Plaid to become the main position Party  in the Assembly he believes that every seat Plaid wins is vital and therefore he can say what he likes.

But what if costs others their seat by provoking discord in his Party.

Just over a week ago  I said  that The first Problem the next Assembly will face, will be finding a Llywydd (Presiding officer ) and said that 

So it will be interesting time. Will Dafydd El break ranks to get his old exalted position back?

Could this be a bid by Dafydd El to create a situation   where the safest thing Plaid could do is nominate him for Llwydd again?

Two Election Leaflets for Ponty and two different approaches.

Two post delivered leaflets yesterday and interestingly they presented very different aspects of the campaign.

The First like the Toryies was a Generic leaflet from Ukip presumably delivered throughout Wales .

The Other side was a Window Poster .

There was no mention of the candidate in Pontypridd or the Region. But it was Bilingual .

With no mention of the EU Referendum or Immigration it read like a Pre-Devolution  Tory leaflet .

Clearly this is aimed at simply getting votes for the Regional seats and there is no serious bid to support any candidate . People will be voting entirely for the party,

The second was for the Liberal Democrats and the Pontypridd Candidate Mike Powell.

Disgracefully It was completely in English and once again we ask, how commuted the Liberal Democrats are to Bilingualism in Wales.

The Leaflet however put an interesting slant  to the Liberal Dempcrats campaign in Pontypridd.

Mike Powell os a Perpetual candidate  who wil jump om any bandwagon who has a large personnel vote in Pontypridd 

In the 2010 UK election he came within  3000 votes of causing a major upset and defeating Labour  but last Year Finished fourth just above Plaid. So small wonder his although standing as a Liberal Democrat his campaign consists of a plea to a personall vote he writes on the leaflet,

"People are fed with  politicians not listening , of going ahead abead and doing just  what they want, of those they want of those those they represent to elect to represent them putting party politics before people

He seems to have missed a few words from the above because it does not make sense,

 This May why don't you put party politics aside and vote for someone who will put this area and people first , Someone with a proven track record of doing just that

We can only wonder why he does not stand as an Independent.

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