29.09.09
So before blowing out the candles the First Minister had some news for us. He'll stand aside in September of next year, on his 70th birthday.
The man who gave us that memorable image of a three-legged duck that swims in circles knows what happens to lame duck leaders. Did he ever regret saying publicly he was going to stand down before the next Assembly Election?
May be.
Will he regret putting a date on it?
May be. But he's put in an interesting caveat. He'll stand aside in September 2009 unless there's a General Election in that year - that might change his mind.
Just imagine that there is an early General Election and just imagine that Labour in Westminster lose their hold on power - just how quickly would Labour in Wales decide to push for a referendum? Now a brand new First Minister wouldn't fancy staking his future on the result perhaps but an old hand, a man who'll have given Welsh politics everything he's got?
Wouldn't they wonder whether we'd find it harder to say no to him?
Just a thought.
I'm Betsan Powys, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
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It will be a sad day for Wales when Rhodri Morgan resigns, he has been a great leader of Wales, and of Welsh Labour. However, thankfully, we still have over the year of First Minister Rhodri Morgan devlivering for Wales, and I am sure that he will be nothing like a "lame duck" leader.
I thought it was a one-legged duck?
David
It was of course. Rush of blood to the head. Poor duck.
Geraint says what a sad day - the realy sad day is that he hasn't decided to go sooner. He has been a lame duck since the assembly election - he could not even win an election in a system that was designed to ensure his party should always have a majority no matter what. Frankly, I for one will not be sad to see him shamble off into the sunset and enjoy his retirement. Unfortunately, the shambles he has left behind will not go with him - just how much has merging the WDA into the Assembly cost? - One day someone will ask that question and get an answer and then realise that thay have just wasted tens of millions for the sake of the vanity of Rhodri Morgan. Mind you if he does go on to the next general election at least his wife will be there to keep him company in retirement as she has a snowballs chance in hell of retaining Cardiff North.
Nigel what? "he couldn't win an election in a system designed to ensure his party should always have a majority no matter what"... urm no the AMS system we use in Wales is designed to do the precise opposite i.e produce a fair balanced result... in Welsh terms that means a majority Government on average 1 in every 5 elections or something like that.
As for Rhodri Morgan he comes across as an alright kind of guy...i like how he fits rugby into speeches, true Welshman!!