Comments on: Blinks and winks

By: Daran Hill

Daran Hill — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:15:47 +0000

“But if we start from the point that we want the powers for Wales, that all parties acknowledge that the system as it stands does not work, then I see no real reason why the process should be stalled.”

Bethan – are you sure that all parties acknowledge that the system as it stands does not work? That’s not my reading of the Labour position. Rather, there is agreement that Part 4 would be an improvement.

A semantic point, maybe, but this has been a week of rather semantic points on this issue…

By: Bethan Jenkins AM

Bethan Jenkins AM — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:41:02 +0000

Peter- I really don’t think its all politicians who are playing ‘stupid games’ in all of this. I’m as eager as you are to trigger the vote, and to discuss the details of date and wording at a later stage, when it is appropriate. All sorts of conspiracy theories are floating around about why there are problems with the trigger vote being successful next week, not least that the Tories would lose out electorally if they had a referendum on more powers on the same day as the next Assembly elections.

But if we start from the point that we want the powers for Wales, that all parties acknowledge that the system as it stands does not work, then I see no real reason why the process should be stalled.

If it is the case that people are starting to reasses their views in the cold light of day, with the trigger vote lomming closer and closer, then that is another matter entirely, and such people/ parties should be honest and admit to it. I want to get on with the job, and start the yes campaign. But that depends on us getting the 2/3rds vote- the governing parties alone cannot guarantee that.

By: Peter D Cox

Peter D Cox — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:03:13 +0000

When the *!* will our politicians stop playing STUPID games? That’s all this is. Mo Mowlem apparently told Gerry Adams to start a meeting again without putting “his dick on the table”. Well, of course, she couldn’t have said this to Trish Law or Kirsty Williams, but it makes the point.

This posturing (actually as Mo might have said, obscene public exposure) does the individuals great harm – that I don’t give a damn about. But I do care about the referendum process – and so should they. This date or that, is something for a quiet, considered conversation with the Electoral Commission. Stop messing about, and as Mo might have said ” p’ing on the Welsh public”.

Note to moderator – quite happy personally to add the expletives because they are deserved, but maybe there are sensitive readers out there who don’t watch Channel 4.