Plaid Lords are leaping: The party giveth and the party taketh away
Following on from an earlier post it seems at National Council*, Plaid Cymru have democratically nominated [sort of] their potential peers for the House of Lords, or as they prefer to call it, the Second Chamber. Going off subject, does that mean that they refer to the National Assembly as the Second House of Legislation?... I think not
Some believe that this process was Plaid's master stroke, others differ in opinion. I hope that some have repaid the favour - when casting votes - of Janet 'retiring' at the last Assembly election.
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Somehow I don't think they will break with tradition and not be styled appropriately after they get the nod from the Prime Minister. It makes you wonder how long it will be before there's mention of 'reforming the chamber from within'.
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*Other news from Plaid National Council: The Council also agreed to look again at the rule that prevented Mr Wigley from returning to the Assembly last year – the party’s policy of having a woman at the top of its regional lists. Mr Wigley was placed second on the North Wales list below Janet Ryder, who was elected. The same policy also gave Ms Jenkins the number one slot on the South Wales West list with just 14 votes.
But the controversy the policy caused within the party – it became known as the “Wigley Rule” – means Plaid will now look at a policy of whoever receives the highest number of votes from party members being placed on top of the regional list, with the second place automatically being given to a candidate of the opposite sex, a system known as ‘zipping’.
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6 comments:
Well at least these Plaid Lords didn't have to cough up a few hundred thousand quid to some ministers favourite think tank which seems to be Labour's favourite means of selection.
The womens section of Plaid fought hard for the first position. Supported by some enlightened men.
Plaid is ruled by old men and women who support narrow outdated views, most from the Welsh speaking areas, with very narrow views of the world.And it must be said of non Welsh speakers.
So a battle won now lost
No wonder I left along with others who could see no way forward for us.
Since when did Kinnock and the like have a few hundred thousand quid to donate to get their peerage. There's more than one way to skin a cat.
From what I can gather, Janet Davies, was looking forward to retirement and putting her feet up. Plaid have an uphill struggle, so she'd better lay off the gardening and horlicks for a few years.
Explaidco: "Plaid is ruled by old men and women who support narrow outdated views, most from the Welsh speaking areas, with very narrow views of the world.And it must be said of non Welsh speakers."
I find this comment most offensive. This equasion of Welsh-speaking with narrow-mindedness. Maybe your attitude towards Welsh-speakers was narrow-minded, that they were yet to fully appreciate the great benefit of casting off their language to become true interenationalists? Plaid opperates bilingually and many of its members don't speak Welsh even though they've been members for decades.
A lot of people, men and women, includng myself, suported the women on top rule. But after three National Elections one would have thought that enough time had been given to nurture new women candidates and show other women that politics was a career they could follow. The system wasn't set up so that a woman could stay in a seat for ever.
I'd say the women's section in Plaid is totally irrelevant to most female Plaid members and even unpopular with more female Plaid than male. They seems to discuss issue which don't interest most women. The impression the women's section gives at times is of being anti-Welsh too seeing the language and even Wales as a nuisance.
Bethan's 14 votes and Janet Ryder 'beating' Wigley just seemed a little too much for many men AND women.
Labour learnt in Blaenau Gwent that the system wasn't popular and Plaid have given the system more time again. It's only fair that another system is now used. Strong female candidates like Helen Mary, Elin Jones and I beleive, Leanne Wood or Jocelyn, would be chosen again in a free vote. What are some women afraid of?
changing the system was a mistake. Plaid Cymru- The party for males...
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