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Election 07

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Oh no we didn't.

  • Betsan Powys
  • 19 Apr 07, 11:34 PM

That, at least, is Labour's line tonight.

No they didn't tell Jonathan Austin to say that Labour would not go into coalition with anyone after May 3rd. "This is not Labour's position".

They're going for a majority and will only rule out going into coalition with the Conservatives.

Cock-up then?

No doubt Dafydd Wigley will be checking that with Jonathan Austin on Radio Cymru's Dau o'r Bae tomorrow. And Jonathan Austin can return the favour and point to Ieuan Wyn Jones' interview tonight on Dragon's Eye. He was asked whether, in principle, he would have Conservative Ministers in a Plaid led cabinet? Yes, he would.

Now we know.

Deal or no deal?

  • Betsan Powys
  • 19 Apr 07, 09:58 PM

I was about to blog about three conversations with three old heads in this election ... but you'll be glad to know that a story has come up.

And those of you who jump up and protest bitterly every time I mention the word coalition will be even happier.

On tonight's Pawb a'i Farn - the Welsh language election debate programme - Labour's Jonathan Austin, candidate in Ynys Mon, was on the panel. And when asked about possible future coalitions made it clear that Labour wouldn't consider going into a coalition with any party after May 3rd.

No deals, no coalition.

The presenter, Dewi Llwyd, tells me he had a quick chat with JA after the recording was over. Had he meant to say what he did so unequivocally? Yes he had. He'd known there was a question on future deals being asked on tonight's programme and had called HQ in Cardiff to ask what his line should be. He was told to say that Labour will not go into coalition with anyone after the election.

Fellow panelist, Plaid Cymru's Dafydd Wigley, tackled Jonathan Austin after the programme was over and suggested he'd stuck his head above the parapet a bit. Not at all, came the response - the line came from Cardiff.

More to come ...

The minister that never was

  • Mark Devenport
  • 19 Apr 07, 05:33 PM

On Radio Ulster's Evening Extra my colleague Martina Purdy has just reported that the North Down MLA Alan McFarland turned down the chance to be Health Minister in the incoming executive. Apparently his reasoning was that his leader Sir Reg Empey should not be taking the other UUP ministerial job, at Employment and Learning, but should be concentrating on trying to rebuild the party. With no meeting of minds on this point, Sir Reg withdrew his offer and asked the South Belfast MLA Michael McGimpsey to take the health portfolio. That surprised many who believed Mr McGimpsey's star was on the wane after his failure to hold the UU Westminster seat in South Belfast.

Sir Reg and the North Down tank commander have crossed swords before. Alan McFarland beat Sir Reg to the UUP nomination as Westminster candidate for North Down only to be subsequently beaten by Bob McCartney. Then, after David Trimble resigned, he ran Sir Reg close for the leadership, running on a moderate ticket clearly associated with the North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon. Now Sir Reg has to contend with him on the back benches.

Some party colleagues can't understand it. One told me that if you aren't going to be party leader then surely being a minister has to be the pinnacle of your ambitions - so why didn't Alan take the offer? But anyone who peruses the transcripts of Stormont Preparation for Government Committee proceedings knows Mr McFarland is a man of forthright views - not only did he berate political journalists in general, he also once suggested that members of the public should not have direct access to devolved ministers. Instead, he suggested, MLAs should act as "the gatekeepers". For now, the North Down MLA won't need a gatekeeper although a UUP source tells me the party may well match the DUP in rotating its ministers after 2 years.

On a not entirely related note, why hasn't the DUP's Willie Hay been confirmed as the future Speaker? Maybe the two main parties are just spacing out their announcements or maybe the DUP isn't enamoured of an alleged Sinn Fein suggestion that Mr Hay could take the job for two years to be followed by Francie Molloy for the next two years.

Vote early, vote often

  • Brian Taylor
  • 19 Apr 07, 01:01 PM

So I got my polling card today. Actually, I got two of them. Both helpfully note: 鈥淧lease check where you vote. It may have changed.鈥 It may indeed.

According to my polling card Mark One, I am entitled to vote in the West Dunbartonshire council elections.

Polling card Mark Two correctly notes that I am, instead, a council tax payer in East Dunbartonshire. It is, in short, a blunder.

Let me explain. My house is in Bearsden. In East Dunbartonshire. From the upper floor, you can see Bearsden Cross.

Nevertheless, boundary lines place me in the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency. (The boundary runs down my road.)

Polling for the constituency of C&M is administered by West Dunbartonshire Council. (Pay attention at the back.)

West Dunbartonshire duly issued polling cards to their remote Bearsden subjects. Snag is their computer (it鈥檚 bound to take the rap) assumed that everyone in C&M Parliamentary constituency also lives in West Dunbartonshire.

They don鈥檛 - as poll card Mark Two acknowledges.

This notes, in small lettering, that it 鈥渞eplaces the poll card previously issued.鈥 Vote early, vote often, say I. (I know, I know, the vigilant officers at the polling station will spot the problem. It was, for the avoidance of doubt, a lame joke.)

More seriously, does this guddle portend further trouble on the night?

Already, some are querying whether the electronic count - for both Holyrood and council elections - will go well. Won鈥檛 defeated candidates seize upon these doubts to demand manual recounts?

Others are asking whether it is a particularly smart idea to expect the voters to deal with a new Single Transferable Voting system for councils - on the same day as they deploy a different system for Holyrood?

Those who favour the joint ballot say it helps boost turnout and reduces voter fatigue. Those who are agin say it will be a hideous mess.

PS: When I鈥檓 buying stuff in a shop and I enter my G61 postcode, why oh why does the blasted computer insist on placing my home in 鈥淟anarkshire鈥?

Is it because the UK system is only able to cope with cities and counties and can鈥檛 accommodate Scotland鈥檚 single tier set-up? Harrumph!

Election Fever?

  • Betsan Powys
  • 19 Apr 07, 07:27 AM

On my way in this morning, scanning front gardens as I went, I spotted:

Conservative posters: 5
Plaid Cymru posters: 4
Save Insole Court (community centre) posters: 6

By the way to those of you who are getting in touch and asking who your candidates are and where they stand on this issue and that, take a look at the issues and constituency guides on this link

Hope they're useful.

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