Welsh Politico Blog Award Nominations

A competition run by Ordovicius has now received nominations from all four panel members.

Oudles of thanks to those panelists that chose a post from this blog [Adrian Masters and Alan Davies]. If a stranger ever sends a drink over and waves to you from the bar, you'll know who she is. Further congratulations to all that were nominated.

The Welsh Politico Blog Award consists of the Gold, Silver and Bronze seals of Owain Glyndŵr, which will be awarded to the three blogposts that the panel judge to have made the greatest contribution to or had the biggest impact on Welsh politics in 2008. The following is the final shortlist.

The Panel

Alan Davies
Managing Director of Junction 31 and Director at Cymro Consulting.

Daran Hill
Managing Director of Positif Politics and Chair of Public Affairs Cymru.

Richard Wyn Jones
Director of the Institute of Welsh Politics at the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth University.

Adrian Masters
Presenter of Dragon's Eye, and former presenter of the BBC's Politics Show Wales.

Adrian Masters

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT VOICE Peter Black AM: Welsh Liberal Democrat leadership race to begin soon?

As well as blogging regularly and for the longest time, Peter Black has consistently taken an honest and open approach to blogging. In this post as ever, he allows us to see behind the scenes with candour and without innuendo.

MISS WAGSTAFF PRESENTS: How to make enemies and alienate people

Insider gossip with substance. As always.

PAUL FLYNN - READ MY DAY: Hypocrisy' versus 'hypocrisy

His account of voting with the Tories against his own government. Like Peter
Black he allows all of us to understand what it's really like in politics.

Daran Hill

PETER BLACK AM: Different Meetings

Peter Black’s blog posts are at their best when he gives a cheeky bit of insight rather than cutting and pasting the latest story from the Western Mail before anyone else because he seems to get up earlier than other bloggers. This short missive from the Black bunker is a great example of his frank style. Mischief maker or party political saviour – the jury will be forever out perhaps. In this post, the impact and economy of his last sentence is provocative blogging indeed.

HUW LEWIS AM: Adam Price's Kind Offer

Huw Lewis doesn’t blog for fun but to make political points and that’s why he’s always worth a read. He’s one of those politicians that it’s impossible to be neutral about (even within his own party) and his blog is always forthright. This post is a juicy morsel of political defence. It’s also worth noting that the two bloggers in question, Huw and Adam, are conducting a dialogue on their own blogs rather than posting on each others. That in itself speaks volumes.

A VIEW FROM RURAL WALES: Tipping Point

Absence from a legislature has made Glyn Davies no less relevant to Welsh politics and his blog remains a must read. One of the best things about Glyn’s posts are his provocative openings, which are usually engaging enough to draw me in (apart from the gardening posts). He usually develops a narrative which sustains interest and challenges the reader to revisit our conceptions. The non-Cardiff perspective which shines through is always well constructed and in this post he really makes you think about how devolution is delivering. Glyn remains one of the few bloggers in Wales who manages to write both from the heart and with precise language. Never afraid to cite examples, it’s never a rant, and always a pleasure.

Alan Davies

MISERABLE OLD FART: Holy Smoke
MISERABLE OLD FART: Leanne Wood - Communist or Nationalist

Very Witty writer + runs two blogs simultaneously in both English and Welsh. But doesn't merely translate from one language to the other. The content of both of his blogs is original, informative, and entertaining. A Welsh nationalist and a Plaid sympathizer (albeit from the right of the party) Miserable Old Fart is prepared to speak out against Plaid Cymru policy and hold Plaid Members to account, where others fail, which perhaps does not endear him to many plaid members.

MISS WAGSTAFF PRESENTS: Wiped from the Face(book) of the earth

Miss Wagstaff Presents is a must read- first for all the juicy inside gossip from Cardiff Bay. First to get political scoops. She/he/it has a finger on the Welsh political pulse like no other journalist. This story is testament to her growing influence, and the fear she strikes in to our Welsh political classes (particularly Labour ones!)

DYLAN JONES-EVANS: State of the UK economy
DYLAN JONES-EVANS: Welsh Conservatism and devolution

Dylan Jones Evans is one of Wales' foremost Economists, sums up the economic challenges succinctly in lay man's terms. His language is simple and his style is very engaging. Bloody good read.Whilst engaging with many economic issues, DJE is also an aspiring politician who not shy away from engaging with some contentious political issues, least of all his party's very own stance on the future of devolution in Wales.

A Frank and honest debate on Conservative Party policy on Devolution. Rather refreshing for a Tory politician on the question of devolution, which has long been shoved in to the long grass by other senior Tories.

Richard Wyn Jones

PENDERYN/BLOGMENAI: Beth yw pwynt Llywydd Plaid Cymru? (English translation)

AMANWY (BEVAN FOUNDATION BLOG): …Go on, say something!

VAUGHAN RODERICK: Y Gwir yn erbyn... (English translation)

Politics Show: Wales and the West?

I'm a woman of routine and was surprised to discover that 'Wales' will not be broadcasting today as part of the Politics Show. As much as I like the West, I'll miss his cheeky little face today.

Will have to get back to cooking Sunday lunch.

Peter Hain MP: Career Plan

Appearing on the BBC's Politics Show this week, Gordon Brown refused to comment on whether or not he'd have Peter Hain MP [backbench] back in the government if he clears his name.

Although some have already offered advice, the little known PR Consultant, Pippa Wagstaff, decides to offer a career plan:

1. Lie low for several months, concentrating on constituents and good causes.



2. Show a little humility and bask in the satisfaction of victory when no charges are brought.



3. Wait for a Cabinet member to cock-up - coincidentally at the same time as a non-government related disaster story hits the headlines.



4. Gently slip Hain back into a different Cabinet post.

Point 5: Pay Miss Wagstaff £10k for good advice.

Wales 20:20 A new commission by Karen Sinclair AM

I received an email from a fellow blogger yesterday morning. Don't know why I've published this post as they haven't linked to my blog, and more importantly they seem to have emailed the entire country in the process, but it does make sense - even if the words do follow what other politicians have been saying for some time.

It reads:

Following on from the very successful test-launch of the Wales 20:20 think tank and online forum earlier this year, we are delighted to announce our re-launch today with the publication of a new commission by Karen Sinclair AM.

In her pamphlet Karen Sinclair, By Our Common Endeavours - addresses the current state of links with England across a range of areas and their importance in fostering economic progress. The Labour AM said she hoped to start a comprehensive debate on the importance of the issue across Wales.

You can read Karen's new pamphlet in full, and join in the discussion in our new and improved online forum, simply by logging on to our fully redesigned website. You can also watch Karen being discussing the pamphlet on the Politics Show by visiting here.

Drowning in Clear Red-Green Water

I am so pleased that an Assembly Member has pointed out that John Griffiths, AM for Newport East was waffling such utter nonsense when he appeared on the Politics Show last Sunday.

As Huw Lewis AM states, "I am at turns intrigued, bewildered and not a little worried by this political pitch."

In my view, Huw Lewis, AM for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney was short changed when sacked from the Welsh Assembly Government before a coalition was formed with Plaid Cymru this year. Huw may be anti-Plaid/Nationalism, but he is an able politician and one of a very few Labour AMs that punch above their weight, or even deserve their seat in the Assembly.

The reason behind Huw's dismissal made him an easy sacrifice for Rhodri Morgan to make, but to leave talentless fools such as John Griffiths in government is inexcusable. Even the irony doesn't escape us, with him being a Deputy Minister with special responsibility for skills. Not to mention the hypocrisy of a government minister appointed by the Queen and swearing an oath to Her Majesty, while also known as a staunch republican, albeit in the closet when it suits.

Perhaps I underestimated Rhodri Morgan's strategy in doing this, and that he's actually thinking long-term and about how Labour will survive post coalition. After all, someone has to make waves when it comes to Plaid's ambition and that is a tall order now that they are in government, which may take more effort than the work of just one man.

And that is because the 'Red-Green' label is just that – a label

Speaking as a woman, when I go shopping, I may be attracted to labels, however, most of them end up in the bin at the end of the day.