The only certainty about this year's Euro Elections is that the turnout will be low. Even though Europe is responsible for most of our best new laws on the environment and employment rights the election debates will be about crooked bananas and petty nationalism.
Launched in my constituency this morning was Labour's Welsh Euro campaign. The theme was a Euro cake with the hope that Wales will have a bigger slice. This is the first election where no Labour MEPs are defending seats. Glenys Kinnock and Eluned Morgan are both standing down. They have done a magnificent job - unrecognised here.
The new candidates with Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy are Leighton Veale, Lisa Stevens, Rachel Maycock and Derek Vaughan. The likelihood is that Derek and Lisa will be elected.
AM Rosemary Butler took the candidates to the throbbing heart of the Newport, the Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre.
One of the UK bright fly weights boxing hope Mo Nasir was in training there. Edward Watts (pointing) the centre's dynamo proudly showed off the Centre's activity where every square metre was in intensive use.
The Iman from the mosque in Commercial Road stressed the strong involvement with the centre of the Pill Muslim community. Many Muslim children were there today playing their full part in the activities. Edward Watts has just returned from a visit to Pakistan. He was captivated with his reception there.
Edward is a great local hero. He has had a lifetime of work in the voluntary sector doing the hard slog at the workface without the financial rewards that are often received by those in elevated positions. He deserves greater recognition.
Pill elected its first Muslim Councillor last year, Ibrahim Hyat pictured here with veteran councillor (he is the same age as me) Ron Jones and the Secretary of State.
No parliament today because this is a constituency week.
Peace ploy?
No premature dis-illusionment please.
Tonight's news on extra American troops to Afghanistan is the minimum that Obama could deploy while sticking to his election pledge. The President is highly critical of the fuzzy strategy of a war without end. The extra troops are designed as a bargaining chip to encourage progress towards peace negotiations.
Obama does not have the talent for infinite self-deception that characterised the Bush regime. This small surge gives us the chance to cancel ours. I am still very optimistic that a peace deal will be done.
British soldiers killed in Afghanistan 145
oh la la !
Posted by: gusty for | May 24, 2010 at 07:46 PM
yo it is your cuz mohammed
Posted by: mohammed | May 07, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Well, anyone who will share a platform with murphy without a peg on their nose, can't be trusted. My vote will go to the most promising non nu-lab/tory.
Posted by: valleylad | February 19, 2009 at 10:39 PM
No MH. It's probably a bad thing to decide now on the referendum. The outcome depends on many factors including who will be in power in Westminster.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 18, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Thanks, PF. Might I try and draw you out on the timing of the GoWA 2006 referendum?
Would you be in favour on holding that at the same time as the Assembly Election in 2011?
Posted by: MH | February 18, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I am very much for elections/referendums on the same day - especially when Europe is involved.
One Labour candidate is virtually certain to be elected in Wales. A second is probable.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | February 18, 2009 at 09:48 AM
PF wrote: "The likelihood is that Derek and Lisa will be elected."
That seems like a sure-fire way of getting people NOT to turn out. Why bother if it's a foregone conclusion?
You'll win one seat, but I doubt that you'll win two. For that you would first need to be the biggest party (which is possible, but I wouldn't bank on it!) and ALSO have more than twice as many votes as the fourth largest party.
-
On the subject of a low poll, your government has decided to put back the local elections by a month so that both are held on the same day. I think that's a very good idea. But do you agree that holding two votes at the same time is a good way of increasing turnout and voter involvment?
Or do you agree with Peter Hain who, in marked contrast, seems dead set against holding the GoWA 2006 referendum on the same day as the Assembly elections in 2011?
It strikes me that you can't have it both ways.
Posted by: MH | February 18, 2009 at 12:50 AM