Dead Man Walking

Iain Dale explains how tomorrow's ICM poll in the Mail shows that Gordon Brown is now a 'Dead Man Walking'.

Dem Libs

So there I was a few moments ago, waiting for the kettle to boil, and I turned on the telly. There, on BBC Parliament, was a repeat of last Tuesday's First Minister's Questions. Next up after Nick Bourne was of course Mike German.

"Arweinydd y Rhyddfrydwyr Democrataidd" said Dafydd Elis-Thomas, and up stood Mike, blissfully unaware that the Llywydd had just called him the leader of the Democratic Liberals.

Spot the difference

The Western Mail notes today how Gordon Brown is happy to be compared with John Major:

Mr Brown and his advisers are happy to be compared to the grey man who lasted seven whole years in Downing Street. This isn’t as odd as it sounds, because the Brownites are talking about Major Mark I, the man who became Prime Minister in November 1990 and 18 months later defeated Neil Kinnock at the polls.

Yes, but John Major's major cock-ups came after the elections, not before them. Added to which he had popular papers like The Sun on side against the Ginger Whinger...

Jeff gets the jitters

Jeff Cuthbert is a funny old fish. He seems somewhat irritated by the prospect of having his expense claims published:

Jeff Cuthbert, AM for Caerphilly, said he couldn’t see “what all the fuss is about” over politicians’ allowances and suggested making detailed breakdowns of members’ expenses was a waste of time.

A waste of time, eh Jeff? Unlike that standards committee you chaired then. You know, the one to examine comment moderation on politicians' blogs, the one where you said:

"Who takes responsibility for the remarks that are posted on a blogsite?

"Regardless of who is actually the author of it, what responsibility, legal or otherwise, rests on the Assembly Member? It's issues like that."

Yes indeed Jeff, investigating the ins and outs of comment moderation on AMs' blogs wasn't a waste of time at all, no no no. Letting the public know how AMs are spending their expenses on the other hand, well that's just frivolous...

Plaid in on Môn, but out in Ceredigion

Plaid Cymru will form part of the Isle of Anglesey County Council's administration, with Phil Fowlie (Ind) thrust into the top job:

The two groups now have a clear majority with 28 councillors on the 40 member council.

He will be backed by deputy leader Bob Parry, leader of the Plaid group, and a whole new front bench team on the executive.

Coun Fowlie, who replaces Coun Gareth Winston Roberts as leader, said: “As a group we will be looking to the future and to providing services in the most efficient and effective way for the tax payers of Anglesey.

“We want to ensure we prepare for future generations in a positive way. We must provide a firm platform for our young people by creating sustainable and high quality employment on the island.”

He added: “The current economic climate poses a challenge for us, however, by working together within the council I believe we can deliver for Anglesey.”

The changes were unveiled at the first full council meeting since the election, which saw seven members of the Anglesey Forward and Radical Independents coalition ousted.

Other key executive roles have been filled by Conservative Goronwy Parry (finance), Plaid Cymru's Eufryn Davies (education and leisure), Independent Bryan Owen (economic development) and Independent Robert Llewelyn Jones (planning).

And for the first time, Ynys Môn will have a Lib Dem chairman:

Coun Aled Morris Jones has been elected as the new chairman.

Coun Jones, 44, who represents Llaneilian, said: “Being elected as chairman of Anglesey County Council is a great honour and a privilege for me.

“I will endeavour to repay the faith shown in me by my fellow councillors and look forward to representing the county during the coming year.”

He added: “I would also like to thank my constituents for re-electing me and also the Young Farmers movement for all the opportunities it has given me over the years.”

However Plaid Cymru will not form part of the administration in Ceredigion, despite becoming the county's largest group:

Coun Keith Evans was re-elected leader of Ceredigion County Council.

It follows the creation of a ruling group comprising 23 Independent, Liberal Democrat and Labour members.

The opposition group will be the Plaid Cymru group comprising of 19 members and led by Coun Ellen ap Gwynn.

The new chairperson was elected as Coun Odwyn Davies and the vice chairperson, Coun Ifor Williams.

Election results: a Labour lord's verdict

Commenting on the significance of the local election results, veteran Labour Peer Lord Gwilym Prys Davies -who was Labour’s candidate in the 1966 Carmarthen by-election which saw Gwynfor Evans elected as Plaid Cymru’s first MP- had this to say:

“I take the view that the establishment of the National Assembly has strengthened the consciousness of being Welsh, while the consciousness of being British is weaker.

“I happen to believe that in an age when globalisation has swept across the world, weakening the sense of individual national identity, it is very important to have a sense of belonging to an historic nation like Wales. We have to strengthen all the forces that strengthen our awareness of being Welsh.

“It seems to me that in philosophical terms there are three governing elements in the concept of Welshness: the influence of the Welsh language and Welsh culture from the time of Dewi Sant, the influence of Christianity, and the influence of the industrial revolution over the last 200 years. We really need a political vision for Wales that can synthesise all these elements.”

Weekend Poll: Rhodri To Go?

ITV's Sharp End recently suggested there's some talk that Rhodri Morgan should step down this year rather than next year. I don't see any real logic to this myself, and the only examples of such 'talk' that I've come across are a couple of anonymous comments on the Welsh blogosphere, which makes me wonder about ITV standards more than anything else. Still, I've placed a poll in the sidebar on whether Rhodri should stay or go. You decide.

Cherie speaks for herself

Cherie Blair dishes out the dirt on Gordon Brown today in The Times.

In an interview with The Times and in extracts, Mrs Blair:

— Demolishes the myth of the Gran-ita pact. It has always been suggested that Mr Blair and Mr Brown struck a deal over the leadership in the Isling-ton restaurant of that name. In fact, she says, the discussions took place in her sister’s home days earlier;

— Reveals that she told Mr Blair in 1994 that it would be “ridiculous” that he should agree with Mr Brown to have only one term as leader;

— Reveals that Mr Blair used to tell Mr Brown that if he wanted to be leader he needed to get married;

— Discloses her fury with Mr Brown after he told ministers at Labour’s first Cabinet meeting in 1997 not to take a 26 per cent pay rise. “How dare Gor-don do that? What did he know about financial commitments? He was a bachelor living on his own in a flat with a small mortgage”;

— Denies that her former “style guru” Carole Caplin is “dodgy”, says that it was her idea that Ms Caplin should give Mr Blair massages and insists that it was Ms Caplin who “kept me thin”.

Cherie goes on to deny the claim by Lord Levy recently that Mr Blair did not think that Mr Brown could beat David Cameron:

“Lord Levy doesn’t know anything,” she says. “I know that Tony thinks Gordon could win the election and I know that he has spoken to Gordon about how he could do that. Tony has given Gordon advice. He and Gordon talk to each other even now.”

Right, okay, but how exactly is spilling the beans in this manner helping an unpopular Labour leader to improve his electoral chances?

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Gordon, it does.

Democrat dream ticket?

The Independent reports on speculation that Hillary Clinton may settle for the vice-presidency:

The rumour has resurfaced – perhaps inevitably, but this time stronger than ever: could the long and bitter battle for the Democratic nomination end in what many see as the perfect answer – Barack Obama united with the all-but-vanquished Hillary Clinton on a "dream ticket" for the White House?

After his big primary win in North Carolina and very near miss in Indiana this week, Mr Obama himself gave fresh impetus to the speculation. "She is tireless, she is smart. She is capable," he told CNN. "Obviously she'd be on anybody's shortlist to be a potential vice-presidential candidate." On NBC he had a similar message: "There's no doubt that she's qualified to be vice-president, there's no doubt she's qualified to be President."

Thus far there have been no similar noises from the other side. The Clinton camp naturally shies away from the subject: even to publicly concede the possibility, when her candidacy is hanging by a thread, would be taken as acceptance of defeat.

Others, however, believe that although Ms Clinton vows to fight on in pursuit of the top job, quiet feelers are being put out about a "dream ticket" – indeed, some argue that the former first lady's real purpose in staying in the race is to make her claim to the vice-presidency unassailable.

Nevertheless, the fact that Hillary has behaved as if the presidency were an entitlement may mean she would be unsatisfied with anything but the top job. The the vice-presidency is a post of great power, but...

...there is another job which could tempt a defeated Mrs Clinton – that of Senate majority leader. She has won fine reviews for her performances on Capitol Hill. With Democrats set to increase their majority in the Senate in November, conceivably close to a filibuster-beating 60, the majority leader would wield real power.