Aneurin Glyndwr

Dave doesn't care where money comes from in Welsh campaign

So the Tories are flooding marginal Welsh seats with glossy print paid for by Dave's shady rich mate Lord Ashcroft. And in a piece of hand-washing straight out of Pontious Pilate's Guide to Personal and Political hygiene... Dave says it is 'not a matter for him' to worry about where this shadowy cash has come from and whether anyone has ever dodged UK taxes on it... But when GB lands a clunking fist on him in PMQs we see that Dave didn't play 'rugger' at Eton, 'cos he certainly doesn't like a ruck.

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales: on Cameron's rich list

Cheryl Gillan MP was outed as one of David Cameron's pals in the Shadow Cabinet, who will between them save £7Million from THEIR OWN PLANS to slash inheritance tax.

La Gillan brought shame to her Welsh portfolio by making it onto the 'Greedy Eighteen' list in today's press. With a reported personal wealth of £1.4Million she alone would save £280,000 in tax under Tory plans. Why don't Welsh Tories understand - you cannot make savage cuts to Welsh public services and pay at the same time as you give a huge tax break to the 3,000 richest people in England (mainly) and to the majority of the shadow cabinet including your Welsh spokesperson.

So much for the Tory election slogan 'We're all in this together'.

If it can be hung it can be won

One poll does not make a pattern, but today's Observer will scare Welsh Tories who have been gloating since the June Euro Elections. If Labour is within six points today then there is all to fight for. As election day comes closer people in Wales will see a stark choice: take a risk with Dave or stick with the recovery.Anyone who votes for the Fib Dems will gamble Clegg getting into bed with the Tories. And Plaid have made it clear they are drawing up a list of demands to make of Dave before they prop him up. Today's poll is not the end of the challenge Labour faces, but will be a boost to party activists and puts the pressure back on the Tories: riven in Wales on devolution, and in the UK on Europe.

Cyber men, stags and the Turnip Taliban- SO uncool

It is not often that AG tips his hat to the Mail on Sunday, but three comment pieces on p24 show just how uncool Dave and the gang have become. And no, this does not include having a Shadow Sec State for Wales who sits for a seat in Bucks- uncool though that is on so many levels.

First, cyber man Tory MP Mark Pritchard spammed his fellow parliamentarians with an invitation to join  a cyber security group at Westminster. Fib Dem Greg Mulholland replied:

'If I get another unsolicited email about this c***, I will make a complaint. Put your brains in gear and stop bothering us all with this!!!'. Not a cool or calm response.

Second, Toff Dave likes to flaunt his cool credentials, the same organ tells us, by raving about Morissey and The Smiths. Pity, then that on their last tour Morrisey shouted from the stage:

'David Cameron! Stop shooting stags!"

And third we have the carrot crunching Turnip Taliban of Norfolk South West. They have broken off from trying to sack Liz Truss only to claim they are the victim of 'racist' bigotry. You are not. Chill out.

EU-Turn

AG can't help but be a little sceptical of Toff Dave saying "we won't stand in the way of that request" should the Assembly ask for a referendum. Wasn't this the same guy who wrote in THE SUN (Sept 2007)  

"Today, I will give this cast-iron guarantee: If I become PM a Conservative government will hold a referendum on any EU treaty that emerges from these negotiations. "  

I guess they don't make cast-iron guarantees like they used to.  

So if Toff Dave was able to do a U-turn on the EU what's going to stop him from doing the same over his pledge on the referendum?

Plaid split on maximum wages

Adam Price is polishing his left wing credentials today in calling for a maximum ratio between bosses' pay and those of their staff in the private sector. Ironic that he tried to bring down the Labour government at Westminster and attempted to usher in the Tories at a dissolution debate, given that the Conservatives are against the tax on those earning over £150k. Nats are Tartan Tories for sure.

And AG has no wish to appear brutal, given how sensitive some of the kids at Welsh Underlings are, but how does this sit with Plaid bloggers' defence yesterday of top pay at BBC Wales? Is it that Plaid want as a matter of principle to cap private sector but not public sector pay? Or is this just the latest example of Plaid hangers-on undermining the point their leadership is TRYING to convey. Come on guys- think it through. Do you support progressive taxation or not?

Nats are a novelty that has worn off

Glasgow North East was a thumping victory for Labour over the Nats, who were left trailing by over eight thousand votes. It may only be a step on the road to a Labour fightback, but it is proof that the Nats' novelty factor is looking worn. Adam Price had said they would top the popular poll in the euro elections in Wales in June, but they could not beat Labour even at our lowest ebb. Labour is bouncing back and the Nats are showing signs of strain. Those results in full:

Labour - 12,231 votes (59.39%)

SNP - 4,120 votes (20%) - sister party to Plaid Cymru

Tory - 1,075 votes (5.22%)- marginally less awful in votes polled thn the BNP

BNP - 1,013 votes - losing their deposit

Solidarity - 794 votes - protesting against BNP, calling them 'Nazi' at the count

Lib Dems - 474 votes  - Fib Dems are irrelevant in two horse races

 

Plaid spinning out of control

Steve Thomas, the Nats' Communications MIS-manager, is under fire today. He tried to doctor a report to save the Deputy First Minister's blushes but ended up dropping a hairy one. It is improper for a Plaid press officer to interfere with the work of a committee in this way. Granted, it is rare that AG nods in the direction of a Tory AM but credit to cttee Chair, Angela Burns:

'I personally was dismayed by the fact that the papers got into non-committee hands and were so very obviously spun and then presented back to the committee.'

Well, AG agrees. These Plaid hacks reckon they can run Wales as an independent country? Stop playing student politics, it is beyond your ability...

Top economist blasts Tories, in Cardiff speech

The Western Mail today has Capital Economics' Ed Stansfield telling the truth to leading Welsh business people: this is no time to trust the Tory view of the economy. Stansfield was a respected Treasury adviser, he backs Labour's plan for continued investment during these lean years, and he does not pull his punches: 'the outlook looks weaker if there's a Conservative government.'

The Tories are a change we in Wales cannot afford.

Stop posing and back St Athan

Dave thinks it vital to take his own personal photographer to Armistice day memorials, posing for political gain. On the very same day the Tory leader 'in' Wales, Cheryl Gillan, again refused to come clean in Parliament about Tory plans to slash the DTC at St Athan. Challenged at Welsh Questions she failed to distance herself from what Boy George and Dave have done in recent months: to undermine and call into doubt the commitment to a world-beating Defence Training College, needed now more than ever.

Those who vote for Plaid and those who vote Fib Dem will get David Cameron posing as a statesmen, looking to his image and with no understanding of, or regard for, Wales.