D Day Hero

Newport Pride

I met a hero today. Probably many, but one stands out.

Lyndon Sheddy took part in the D-Day landings. ‘Days like today bring all the memories back.

I have them imprinted on my mind.’ He told me that when he jumped from the landing craft the water was shoulder high. Only with great difficulty did they reach the beautiful beach in front of them. Then the machine guns opened fire on them. His face told the story of memories too painful to describe.

Lyndon is from Newport. He told me how he sold flowers outside the railway station 70 years ago – a short step away from the new site for the Newport D Day memorial. ‘I stood there’, he said ‘to catch the people coming off the train and returning home.’  He has spent the past 50 years in Canada. His sister Joan Reynolds does magnificent work for the British Legion. She was rewarded with an MBE a few years ago. Lyndon intends to return for this ceremony every year. There were three other D-Day veterans on parade today.

I can vividly remember the long build-up to D-Day. The concentration of American Forces in Wood Street in Cardiff, the increased military traffic and the constant guessing game of when D-Day would be. The day was warm and sunny and I clearly remember my own happiness and relief at the prospect of an end to war as I skipped down Thomas Street in Grangetown to collect chips for the family meal.

The Newport commemoration started quietly last year. In order not to build up the event to rival Remembrance Sunday, MPs and AMs were present but we did not lay wreaths. The ceremony was dignified and simple and a great credit to the organizers.

Returning from the ceremony I saw two ‘hoodies’ chatting to one of the standard bearers at a bus stop. They were asking him about his uniform. They parted and all shook hands warmly. As they passed me, one of the hoodies said to the other ‘These guys fought for us’. I am sure the standard bearer appreciated the recognition.

The memories churned up by the anniversary are profound and disturbing. But there is great satisfaction in recalling that we stood today to remember and honour the courage and sacrifices of a senior generation.

Unique result

Intriguing days ahead for Newport Council.

Congratulations to Labour and LibDems for ensuring that no Conservatives were elected in the six by-elections. These results were against the tide of public opinion where the Tories are riding high.

Labour’s triumph with big majorities in Bettws is especially gratifying following the small majorities in similar areas a few weeks ago.

Never in living memory have the voters not delivered an overall majority in Newport. The result is Labour 22, Conservatives 17, LibDem 9, Plaid 1 and Independent 1.

The task of elected councillors is similar to that of the Assembly Members last year. There is no obvious solution. New thinking is required. A Lab-LibDem pact is not likely. It did not happen in the Assembly or local Government. It is believed that there is a Germanic Fatwa against coalitions with Labour.

It would be a betrayal of the election result if Labour does not continue to have the dominant voice. Nationally Labour is below rock bottom in popularity. But Labour in Newporrt are only 4 seats short of an overall majority. Their record in office is exemplary on education, low council taxes and green policies. That golden legacy must not be seized by inexperienced hands.

One possibility is the complex arrangement that has kept New Zealand’s splendid Helen Clarke in power for a third term. It is known by the cumbersome title of the Confidence and Supply and Support system.

It guaranteed the support of enough parties for her Labour-led coalition to govern. The formal coalition consists of the Labour Party and Jim Anderton, the Progressive Party's only MP. In addition to the parties in formal coalition, New Zealand First and United Future provide confidence and supply in return for their leaders being ministers outside cabinet. A further arrangement has been made with the Green Party, which has given a commitment not to vote against the government on confidence and supply. This commitment assures the government of a majority of seven MPs on confidence.

The voters of Newport have not sent a clear message. But it is not in the city’s interests to have weak leadership that cannot guarantee secure long-term planning on key issues.

Newport has a great future. Parties must bury any destructive self-indulgent tribal interests. The people of Newport deserve a mature arrangement that will allow councillors to work together to lead the city through the most promising period in our history

Yesterday’s News

Full marks to Newport Council in being the only source on their website of the full glad tidings that Labour won all three Bettws By-election seats. The Lib-Dems won in St Julians.

The news came at 2.30 am and the Argus website reported it immediately but without the vital  details of the individual votes. The Western Mail missed it altogether. Proof that the Argus is sadly yesterday’s news today is that my printed copy delivered this evening carried no news of the by-election.

The headline was the Alpha Steel story. I gave an interview on that at midday yesterday. The Argus is no longer printed in Newport. The printers have lost their jobs, the city has lost a skilled vocation and our local news is stale. A poor deal for Argus readers.

Comments

[valleylad]

I may have a very low opinion of the labour party nowadays, but I've despised German since his WJEC days. As I like to say "those who can do, those who can't teach, and those who have no conceivable value to society enter politics" (present company excepted :) ).

I'll also never forgive the liberal party for letting Alton keep the whip!