tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2133809191630290599.post3762500019658488082..comments2023-08-19T16:44:23.150+01:00Comments on National Left: DET: I'm not leaving.glynbeddauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09933352430631144936noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2133809191630290599.post-86301694459920358872012-06-23T12:14:57.696+01:002012-06-23T12:14:57.696+01:00I'm sure that Dafydd El will be welcomed in th...I'm sure that Dafydd El will be welcomed in the Labour Party, the only dynamic popular political party in Wales today. Why would he want to be linked to a fringe sect.Eric Robertsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2133809191630290599.post-51522653390358137862012-06-21T13:32:29.848+01:002012-06-21T13:32:29.848+01:00"Apart from the successful referendum campaig..."Apart from the successful referendum campaign did the One Wales agreement achieve that much"?<br /><br />I made my point some time ago on Borthlas. I felt at the time that it was not opportune for Plaid to go into a junior coalition role with Labour. The referendum victory on powers was more symbolic than substantial. The LCO system was frustrating and unworkable, and would have been ditched by Labour eventually, and quite likely during the current term.<br /><br />Plaid, under IWJ, shot itself in the foot by entering government, and is now paying the price for it. I don't see the party making gains in the short or medium term. It fell into the devolution 'trap' which Labour had prepared for it. I call it political naiveté. <br /><br />I agree that Plaid has to be seen as a credible alternative to Labour rather than an adjunct to it. Putting it simply, voters potentially sympathetic to Plaid now think, 'Why vote for the monkey when we can vote for the organ grinder?'. <br /><br />There are a number of Plaid AMs who would favour a coalition with Labour even under the current circumstances. Personally, I think they must have a death wish for their party. It would be utter stupidity to make the same mistake twice!<br /><br />Labour made a 'fist' of it during their term at Westminster, leaving the UK in the worst mess that I've seen in my lifetime. They've also made a mess of running Wales since 1999, and of places like Swansea, which they did for decades. Yet people voted Labour in the Assembly and local elections, instead of turning to Plaid. <br /><br />The opposite happened in Scotland. Salmond learned the lesson that cosying up to Labour is political suicide for a nationalist party. The SNP became the credible alternative that the Scots could vote for in droves. Plaid's leadership was to blame for its current misfortunes. It could have been worse, more seats could have been lost, but the greatest setback is the loss of momentum since 1999.<br /><br />I back Leanne. Under her leadership Plaid has to make the case that Wales can only ever prosper when decisions about its future are made here in Wales, by people who care for our country. It should be a relatively easy thing to do considering the abysmal record of all three unionist parties as far as Wales is concerned.maen_tramgwyddnoreply@blogger.com