Last Wednesday night I, like the rest of the Welsh Icons’, team were in purdah. Apart from an editorial telling everyone to get out and vote we refrained (as we had done throughout the campaign) from taking a party political stance.
Well, here we go again.
Before it all kicks off again, I’d like to make some observations on last Thursday and Friday’s events. You may agree or disagree with me. This is what Welsh Icons and democracy is about. Please use the comment form below to let us know what you think.
Winner: Eurfyl ap Gwilym
Eurfyl is the economics spokesman for Plaid Cymru and the Deputy Chairman of the Principality Building Society. He appeared on Newsnight and ripped an unprepared Jeremy Paxman to shreds.
Losers: Plaid Cymru in Newport
The so called ‘Party of Wales’ managed to poll less than the BNP in the two Newport seats
Winner: Glyn Davies
In Montgomeryshire Lembit Öpik lost to Glyn Davies, a former farmer and former Tory Welsh Assembly member. At least Lembit had the courage/audacity to appear on the BBC’s Have I got News for You the following evening and we wish him a successful career in broadcasting.
Losers: The Labour Party
The Labour party lost four Welsh seats to the Conservatives, but regained its former stronghold of Blaenau Gwent, which had been independent since Peter Law won a byelection in 2006.
Losers: The people of Wales
The National Assembly has shown that no one party needs to be in overall control for a democratic system to work. Granted, the assembly has its flaws but they seem to muddle through. Elections are expensive and disruptive. The assembly already has certain devolved powers and it would be a shame to see many of its members running around promoting their party interests should another election be called rather than doing the job for which they were elected and for which they are handsomely paid.
One last thing. I’d like to point out to those those of you calling for proportional representation that the BNP managed to get more votes than the SNP. I agree that our electoral system needs reforming but maybe this is not the time nor the place.
The views expressed in this article are mine alone and do not represent the politically agnostic stance of the Welsh Icons Team.
