Our Wales Government AM resigned a couple of months ago. He was a Plaid Cymru AM, well known in Wales and a former MP. Not an endearing media friendly type - with a squeaky voice and a love of public enquiries. The Island's MP has been a steady hand on the wheel an ex-union Labour man, who has an unblemished record since he was elected - based more on his character (a decent local type, self made with the skill of engaging with the common person) - the Island has flipped between Labour, Plaid and Tory boy (Keith Best - best forgotten by Tory Central Office !) over the years.
Local Authority politics have been third world to say the least - democracy was suspended here until recently and there was direct rule from Cardiff - we had free elections in May and all seems well again.
These WG elections were going to be interesting - and that's what they turned out to be....held on the same day as the general elections in Zimbabwe (which I found quite ironic), the usual suspects lined up to throw their hats into the ring - some seemed to be ideal candidates to join the swivel eyed loons of all political hues that seem to occupy the upturned boat in Cardiff Bay (they are truly an awful bunch) - a crunch election for Labour as a win here would mean they had a majority and could rule without coalition partners - so who did they choose - the enigmatic Tal (?) Michael - son of ex Labour MP Alun Michael (Charisma of and handshake of a wet Lettuce) - Michael senior is now Crime Commissioner
for South Wales Police - his son was candidate here but failed to get elected by the dozing electorate - his wife is PPC for a neighbouring Electoral area - so clearly a gravy train dynasty in the making. There was a Socialist Labour candidate who in her pamphlet describes herself as having worked for peace at Greenham Common for 17 years....(yawn), and an unknown UKIP guy. The PC candidate was former BBC reporter Rhun ap Iorwerth (who reported on the Machynlleth murder of poor little April Jones for Radio 4 news) - a local man who quit his job to run. The result was shocking - the PC candidate won a landslide giving the dreadful Michael a monumental kicking who came a very poor second and almost matching the UKIP vote. As Labour lick their wounds here, hopefully this marks a return to personality led politics. Ap Iorwerth has statesman like qualities that are sadly lacking in Wales and UK politics - he bucks his party's policies on Nuclear Power - most people actually want a new Nuke here.....time will tell.
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