Tuesday 10 July 2007

A Time for Reflection

A Time for Reflection - and a timely reminder that for all the brickbats politicians are human. The sudden illness of the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan stalls the finalisation of the cabinet. Well these things can wait, after all we have waited 9 weeks already, a bit longer will not hurt.

I wish Rhodri well and hope that his recovery will be swift.

In the longer term I suspect it will strengthen Rhodri's resolve to step down after the coalition has bedded down and speculation will now rise as to who his successor will be. Remember this will be a "one man one vote" election for Labour members and there will be pressure on the Unions and affiliated organisations to conduct a poll of their members before they cast their votes in the electoral college. Plenty of opportunity for those die hard anti Plaid people to go for a leader who will be tough on their coalition partners - I wonder if they will be able to resist? And if so who would they put forward? Possibly we could see Huw Lewis emerge as their standard bearer? Lots of ifs and buts there.

A week is a long time in politics, as has been amply shown by the last few weeks in Wales. Who knows what we will see in two years. We could have had a general election where the Brown bounce has run out of steam and have a Tory government, a minority Labour government or even a Westminster coalition in place. From this end its impossible to judge the outcome. What ever happens at Westminster will greatly influence what happens here in the bay.

We live in interesting times!

No comments:

Post a Comment