This morning I return to the letter which Plaid President Dafydd Iwan issued to Lord Elis-Thomas about Plaid's candidates for May 2007. The letter reveals that the preferred choice of Plaid President Dafydd Iwan for the new seat of Arfon was Dafydd Wigley, not Alun Ffred Jones. Indeed Mr Iwan wanted Ffred to stand in Dwyfor-Meirionnydd and with Lord DET moving to Aberconwy to help this happen.
I know that some of my blogging colleagues will say this means nothing, and is part of the normal business of running a party in preparation for the elections. However in the small world that is Plaid Cymru in North West Wales I think it is more than a little significant that the pattern of candidiates this May is nothing like the President intended. It also suggests that the President has little influence in his own Party, as it would surely be sensible to sort out such thoughts in private not by written correspondence.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
As a Labour man it probably needs to be explained to you that most parties select candidates locally - not in response to central dictat.
Things are going along quite nicely thank you.
Of course we all know it was the great Lord DET that spoilt the plan, and nothing to do with loyalty. It seems that the Lord's refusal to move to Aberconwy created a Hobsons choice, which meant Plaid selected the President's second choice for Arfon - and resulted in a seond place on the list for Mr Wigley.
Now the people of Arfon will need to "Vote Eaglestone-get Wigley", and at least the President will then get his preferred candiidate back in the Assembly.!
Good God, you're recommending that your supporters give their second vote to Plaid Cymru?
Can I quote you on that?
Is this not an internal discerplinary matter for New Labour?
I think a better one would be:
"Vote Eaglestone and get Wigley too!"
Two for the price of one.
A real bargain.
Let me explain my simple theory - being a simple man (I got it in first !) - Plaid seem to be claiming they will win Ynys Mon, Arfon and Conwy, and places 1 & 2 on the North Wales regional list.
Can I suggest that seems a very unlikely prospect under the system of PR, and if, Mr Wigley is one of your favourite politicians you can vote Eaglestone in Arfon, thus giving Mr Wigley a better chance on the list.
Blogging was created to allow us to debate these little side stories. I am sure some anorak can start offering predictions on the votes across the new North Wales region so we can engage in some pointless calculations.
Time was when the Lib Dems set the gold standard for dishonest, cynical opportunism when it came to encouraging tactical voting.
It seems that New Labour has learnt rather a lot from them.
Once upon a time Labour came forward with a set of policies & asked electors to vote for them on that basis.
New Labour it seems is more interested in a policy free manipulation of a stupid hybrid PR system to get elected - a manipulation based on the twisted version of the politics of personality.
Plaid oppose tactical voting ?
I must remember that one.
Surely not a hint that your man has reason to fear what a blogger might call naked tactical opportunism ?
Our poliices will be just a lovely bonus for the people of Arfon !
Nah.
As opportunistic attempts at inducing tactical voting goes it's pretty inept. The concept, like the voting system itself is far too complex to be persuasive.
Still pretty squalid though.
I thought not, but in blog land could allow some squalid headline like "PLaid man has fears of Wigley backlash" !.
Sure. Be my guest.
Post a Comment