Archive for - Abertillery Online Discussion Forum - Croeso i fforwm Abertyleri ar y we

For the old board click here
 


       - Abertillery Online Discussion Forum - Forum Index -> "That was the obstinate fact that was!"
Carolyn

Labour reveals shortlist for Blaenau Gwent fightback

Quote:
A FORMER Assembly cabinet minister, a former county borough council leader, and a sitting regional AM are among the potential candidates the Labour Party hopes can win back the prized and once safe Blaenau Gwent constituency.

A 13-name shortlist given to the Argus by the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) includes former Clwyd West AM Alan Pugh, whose tenure as heritage minister was ended when he lost his seat to Conservative Darren Millar at the last Assembly election in 2007.

Former Blaenau Gwent council chief Hedley McCarthy, relinquished that role after the council elections last year which saw Labour lost control to independents.

Alun Davies, current Labour regional AM for Mid and West Wales, who grew up in Tredegar, is also on the list, as is Keren Bender, from Cwm, an official with the union Community.

She fought a losing campaign when Labour attempted to oust Trish Law from the seat in the 2007 Assembly elections, is also named.

Blaenau Gwent, once Labour's safest UK Parliamentary seat has since 2005 become a wasteland for the party in all elections following a row over women-only shortlists that saw former Labour stalwart Peter Law, Mrs Law's late husband, already an AM, elected to the House of Commons as an independent at that year's General Election.

All attempts since by Labour to regain power at some level in Blaenau Gwent have failed miserably, with Mrs Law AM and Dai Davies MP flying the independent People's Voice flag in Cardiff Bay and Westminster respectively.

Dave Hagendyk, a Caerphilly CLP member and Welsh Labour's former head of policy, is also among those on the shortlist which contains too, sitting councillors from a number of Welsh local authorities.

These include Carmarthen county councillor Steve Lloyd Janes, Caerphilly county borough councillor Hefin David, Blaenau Gwent county borough councillor Jen Morgan, and Vale of Glamorgan county councillor Chris Elmore.

The list is completed by the following: Christopher Herriot, Newport East CLP; Catherine Anne Antippas, Cardiff South CLP; Graham Thomas, Cynon Valley CLP; Simon Evans, Cardiff South CLP.

The selection of a candidate will take place on July 14.



http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/...list_for_Blaenau_Gwent_fightback/
Rocke

I bet this one gets a good airing !

Contributions on here could have a major impact on candidates' chances of selection. ( I get this feeling someone's watching me ).

Now I know why it's all gone quiet over there...................

I'm staying out of it - this week at least.
Rocke

Well I can't, can I ?

So I'll run the rule over each of their chances of getting elected, just to help the poor old decent party faithful that will have to sit through sessions listening to the usual platitudes er. presentations by the candidates, before having to select the one HQ wants.

Alan Pugh - Clwyd West - that's up North isn't it ?
Could be worse - he could have represented Bristol South or some other English constituency.
Besides, he's already been thrown out by the electorate up there.

Hedley McCarthy - at least there's a local connection. Unfortunately familiarity sometimes breeds contempt and hanging on and escaping electoral oblivion by a very small number of votes doesn't exactly give confidence in his pulling power, does it ?

Alun Davies - current AM but a regional one ie. either failed to get elected by right or just depends upon being a second choice ie. PR. Also from North of here, with a double whammy of also being from well West of here.    

Keren Bender - a locally based failure in 2007. Labour's attempt to fight woman with woman. Political activist and obvious party zealot, judging by 'her' offerings in the local press ( most of them either have scriptwriters, speechwriters or submit their writings for prior approval to HQ ) .

Dave Hagendyk ( good Welsh name that ) - Caerphilly, so at least we're getting nearer home. However, a 'former head of policy'. Well, Welsh Labour's policy hasn't exactly been successful or sparkled has it. Did he go or was he pushed I wonder ?

Carmarthen county councillor Steve Lloyd Janes - Carmarthen's West of Merthyr isn't it ?

Caerphilly county borough councillor Hefin David - I can picture it now.
The selection meeting, the decent members being indoctrinated with the mantra 'Hefin help us', 'Hefin help us'.
Lord help the rest of us if he ( or is it a she, I haven't heard of the name before ) gets out on the streets.
Can you imagine electioneering, knocking on doors and saying 'Hefin is here'.
Sorry, I don't mean to be too personal, but I don't like people sticking ( or trying to stick ) their noses into OUR business.

Jenny Morgan - fight local fire with local fire and with someone with political experience who isn't an object of derision has something going for it. However, go out on the streets tomorrow and mention Jenny Morgan and Trish Law and guess who's better known ?
Also, only just scraped home in 3rd place in her ward, behind a party that supports Trish Law. Not a good omen. If one can't beat a PV councillor it's a mountain to beat a sitting AM with that party backing her.

Vale of Glamorgan county councillor Chris Elmore - someone south of here. Unfortunately it's all green vales down there, not deprived valleys.
Could hardly be a greater culture shock.

Christopher Herriot, Newport East CLP - mmm - the economy, environment and demography of Newport is similar to that of Blaenau Gwent is it ? James Herriot would be better - at least he could help with our livestock.

Catherine Anne Antippas, Cardiff South CLP - I'm beginning to run out of new material, and it seems that the Labour Party are as well.

Graham Thomas, Cynon Valley CLP - now I am struggling.
Dylan Thomas did Under Milk Wood. Perhaps Graham knows something of Nun's Wood ?

Simon Evans, Cardiff South CLP - thank goodness he's the last.
Is this an attempt at making Blaenau Gwent part of Cardiff South or something ?

What we have to remember is this - these people are coming here to try their luck rather than in their own neck of the woods. Now I'm not aware that Blaenau Gwent's AM gets double pay and expenses or any such like, so I assume that all the 'outsiders' don't have the confidence of their own constituency parties, let alone the electorate.

It is also to be noted that some well-known local Labour figures with considerable political experience haven't found their way onto the shortlist. I wonder why ?

Anyway, whoever gets it will have a good insight into what they're in for after the General Election.

ARE YOU WATCHING H.Q. ?
( More to the point, are you listening ? ).

       - Abertillery Online Discussion Forum - Forum Index -> "That was the obstinate fact that was!"
Page 1 of 1
Create your own free forum | Buy a domain to use with your forum