Getting the message
Someone is refusing to get on board - the gloom and doom tour, that is.
"No-one pretends that the financial situation is going to be good, but it's no good going to voters with a message of doom".
The voice of Carwyn Jones, First Minister and the leader of a Welsh Labour party where some had been starting to wonder already whether all we were about to be fed over the next twelve months was a diet of pointing a finger at Westminster, inter-governmental bickering, anger directed at Gwydyr House that at times felt synthetic ... and not a whole lot more.
Perhaps Mr Jones and his team have heard the same question. The answer - - is 'no'.
The stance on the Welsh Labour party and its prospects in next year's Assembly election? Positive.
On the day , his stance on cuts? "It's not going to be good", rather than "bad".
His personal stance as a leader? Out and about during the election campaign, people were very warm and positive;
On the referendum? Giving the impression of being more positive than his predecessor, asked Martin Shipton? "All I've done is put into practice what I've always believed in".
Earlier this week I asked the three politicians who took the government and opposition party lobby briefings for three adjectives each - three words that best describe the first month of relations between Cardiff and London. We were all, I felt, a bit fed up with the over-used "constructive".
Tory leader Nick Bourne offered innovative, workman-like (if that's not un-PC he added) and respectful.
Soon to be Lord German used at least a hundred words before plumping for just three: listening, understanding and developing.
Labour's John Griffiths was hard pressed to break away from the 'c' word but came up with business-like, followed by realistic and ... positive.
Got the message?
I'm Betsan Powys, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
Comments
or to comment.