Rumours

Translation of a post by Vaughan Roderick:

It appears that the government is beginning to lose its patience with the heads of the health service. In a frank letter the Health Minister, Edwina Hart ferociously attacks the failure of the service to reach its targets for those awaiting treatment in hospital A&E departments. The trusts were to reach these targets by 2004. So far not one of them has succeeded. The Health Service is celebrating its sixtieth birthday in the summer. Is the government then taking advantage of the occasion to perform a bit of political surgery? At the moment the trusts are being lulled to sleep but is it possible that they are about to dissappear completely? Is the fact that the new chief of the Civil Service in Wales is an expert on the health service of any significance?

Why doesn't Jane Davidson wish to be first minister after Rhodri? "Some of us like political fights and others, like me, like to introduce fundamental policy changes." That was the Environment Minister's explanation this week. This will cause a bit of a shock for some of her fellow ministers as Jane is finding it exceptionally difficult to win the cabinet's support for her plans.

The attacks on the government by some of Plaid Cymru¡s giants is growing more intense. Tonight (Thursday 21st) Dragon's Eye will concentrate on the problems facing Y Byd. It includes details of a bitter criticism of Rhodri Glyn Thomas' decision by, amongst others, Owen John Thomas, the party's former culture spokesperson as well as the former MP and AM Cynog Dafis.

Is this the worst political stunt ever? On the threshold of the Liberal Democrat conference Labour has announced it wants to give Nick Clegg an ASBO. What is that ASBO? Well, an amateurish enough looking leaflet accusing Mr Clegg of "Absoultely Shambolic Behaviour". Weak, boys, weak.