Coronations and compromises
Ieuan Wyn Jones' coronation has been shoved around a bit. Plaid wanted 12.30pm. Labour wanted 2pm. It's happening at 1.30. A sign of compromises to come?
Anon - you're right. I haven't written about Rhodri Morgan here, though I have talked at length about him on radio and television. His wife Julie spoke to us before going to see him in hospital this morning and hopes he'll be out if not today, then tomorrow. I hope so too.
On Monday night in Westminster there was a distinct feeling of shock amongst the Welsh MPs who came to the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales do. Not because my colleague David Cornock appeared to be taking on (shocking though the thought of the havoc he'd wreak with a sonic screwdriver would be ...) but because they'd all heard the news of Rhodri's illness. Best wishes came first, then the kind of warm praise that implied he 'stood out' in Cardiff Bay. For 'stand out' read 'who the hell is going to take over when he goes?'
Dr Kim Howells claims that it was the First Minister's speech on Friday at Labour's Special Conference that persuaded him he has to live with PR and therefore, live with the red green coalition. He did still manage to call the 'One Wales' agreement a 'dismal document' as he left the CIA mind but maybe the realisation took a while to sink in.
That bit of Cardiff, around the CIA, looks a bit like Damascus according to the Foreign Office Minister. He thought he was in Damascus for a moment while on his way to the conference. Someone seemed to be trailing him. They were walking just a few paces behind him as he walked through the Hayes. He shot a look over his shoulder and thought, for a moment, that the face was familiar. He racked his brains. The man followed him all the way past the building site .. and up the steps of the CIA. "It was that Carwyn ... what's his name?" "Jones?" "Aye that's him".
Just remember that when Rhodri Morgan does eventually stand down and if there is a leadership election and if they use the same system as 1997 and 1999 (how many ifs is that..?) then the maths means the MPs would have more of a say than the AMs.
Someone's got their work cut out.
Back to the present. No-one's quite sure whether the fax has arrived from Buckingham Palace approving Ieuan Wyn Jones' appointment. They'd better hurry up ... his Mum is in the canteen all set to hear the speech.
I'm Betsan Powys, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
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thanks betsan! can't always catch the news on ´óÏó´«Ã½ or radio.
you're right about 'someone' having their work cut out with MPs. However, somehow the MPs also need a little rethink over their attitude. Some were incredibly pompous at Labour's special conference, although the party has shown a clear commitment now to a more regular dialogue between MPs and AMs. it should help
I heard that Ieuan Wyn had a video conference with the Queen yesterday afternoon. How bizzare?
When Rhodri, as First Minister, finally retires, surely it should be the obligation of the Deputy First Minister (Second Minister?!?) to take over?
And why should we have to put up with a Labour Leader assigned by the MPs? Is it not a party internal election for Welsh Labour? What about all this clear red water that Rhodri keeps reminding us about?