Sunday, July 01, 2007

Crossroads for nationalism ?

In reading around maes-e, blogs and other places there is a clear head of steam amongst some for smacking down Adam Price, and stopping the Red-Green option. Some push it as far as floating the possibility of new nationalist party.

There is an inevitable post devolution tension, Plaid are not alone in feeling it, but they perhaps have some of the most acute tensions to resolve.

We await another week's political drama but I suspect the strong potential for Red-Green by the end of the week has unleashed a force for longer term division in nationalism (I wait to see what happens with Labour).

8 comments:

Cai Larsen said...

You can take it from me that a red / green coalition will cause far less internal dissent than a rainbow coalition would.

If it goes ahead, there will be minor problems - but it certainly won't lead to a split - long term or short term.

The messages you come across in cyber space generally does not stem from party activists, or even members. They stem from people who criticise from outside the tent.

Martin Eaglestone said...

I find that a reasuring comment as I sometimes wonder where these people sit in relation to the main party.

Cai Larsen said...

The idea of an alternative party has been tried in the past - remember Independent Wales?

Such parties can't compete with Plaid because they lack the political machinery, & they lack a support base.

How about Labour - to be honest I sense more of a split in that quarter? Although I'd be the first to admit that my understanding of the internal machinations of that party is at best limited.

Martin Eaglestone said...

Who knows in politics ! But I detect no more tension than the Party's previous ups and downs over devolution issues. I suspect a fundamental difference is that this is not the issue that drives our party, but it clearly is THE fundamental issue in nationalism (perhaps a staement of the obvious!).

I expect various tensions over the potential deal but hope we can all get on with the business of government asap. There is a lot to do

Aled said...

Menaiblog - can you shed any light on what the local Plaid AM thinks about the red-green pact.

He wasn't one of the gang of five who came out against a possible coalition with the Tories - does that mean he would have been comfortable with it??

I checked his website to find out his views on this historic moment in Welsh politics - but he hasn't updated it since April 26. Must have been a problem with his IT ever since the election was done and dusted...

Martin Eaglestone said...

Aled/Menai

I'm fairly clear that that AFJ was someone who started out,like Dafydd Wigley, wishing to see the "Rainbow"`over Cardiff Bay, but may have changed tune as the debate moved on. His refusal to declare on radio e.g Dau or Bae was telling.

The silence of Hywel Williams has also been interesting (surely Red-Green !) but subservient to Ffred and DW.

Cai Larsen said...

I'm not going to speak on behalf of either the MP or AM - although I think I know the attitude of both men.

I'd just like to point out that the game is now different to what it was when the original rainbow coalition arrangement almost came into being.

Now Labour is engaging in a meaningful way with Plaid - it didn't at that point. The landscape has changed.

The assembly group broke (I believe) 10 - 5 in favour of the green / red alliance. The National Exec backed it by a wide margin & so will the ultimate authority in this matter - the National Council. It all depends on Labour.

Martin Eaglestone said...

Friday approaches and I beleive Red-Green will see it through the turbulence and we then have much to play for. Both sides face pressures but goodwill could make it work.