Plaid Cymru - logo pictured left - has since 1981 officially considered itself a socialist party. The importance it attaches to that stance is now being put to the test, following elections earlier this month that left the Welsh Assembly under no overall control.
Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones has pulled out of discussions with New Labour, and as head of the second-largest party, is now trying to put together a coalition with the Tories and the Lib-Dems.
That is, of course, difficult to reconcile with even a nominal attachment to socialism. So it’s pleasing to hear that over a quarter of the Plaid’s assembly members – all of them women, incidentally – have rejected the move.
But four of the 15 Plaid AMs broke rank. Helen Mary Jones, Leanne Wood, Bethan Jenkins and Nerys Evans said the so-called rainbow coalition was "not the way forward".
Ms Wood said: "We fought this election on a platform to deliver a proper Parliament for our nation. A deal with the Conservatives would undermine the chance of delivering that goal."
Ms Jones said: "There is a clash of values and principles between Plaid and the Conservatives."
Hopefully the four will do more than reject any deal verbally, but lead the opposition from the Plaid left if the deal goes ahead.
Comments (11)
There's a basic principle here: the largest party should be part of any governing coalition.
That means it should be Labour and another party. I would object to a rainbow coalition being cobbled together after an election simply to sideline the largest party.
Its just about acceptable if the parties campaign together as an alliance during the election itself (that's how the right scraped through in Sweden) but simply stitching it all together afterwards is wrong.
So, on democratic principle Plaid should reject this, and resume coalition talks with Labour or the Liberal Democrats could do so instead (with Liberal Democrat support Labour would have a slim majority, and with Plaid a more comfortable one.)
So is there not a clash of values and principles between Plaid and New Labour? (I exempt the Lib Dems, for obvious reasons.)
Btw, can anyone elucidate what Edwina Hart (Labour AM for Gower) is on about in today's 'Morning Star': "We do not want the Welsh Assembly to be in the same position as certain non-Labour Welsh councils, where parties desperate for a taste of power have aligned with extereme right-wing Poujadists and reactionary policies which benefit only a tiny minority have been introduced"?
PS: I *do* know what "Poujadist" means; I just want to know what, specifically, she's on about.
"There's a basic principle here: the largest party should be part of any governing coalition."
Why?
Let's imagine a local council in which the BNP has 7 seats, Labour 4, and the Lib Dems 4. Should either Labour or the Lib Dems side with the BNP to respect this principle? Of course not. If the 1992 General election had resulted in a hung parliament, a Lib/Lab government
Coalitions must form around parties with common ground. Those parties who can find enough common ground - and enough seats - to form a majority should form a government. This isn't a case of ignoring the electorate, it's recognising that parties with similar platforms split the vote and that parties with greater support tend to attract a broader range of voters.
Oops- pressed post too soon. But there's no way Plaid should side with the Tories, as they're more unionist than Labour and more right wing. The 'rainbow coalition' has no basis in policy.
The so called Rainbow Coalition has plenty of common political space in that the parties concerned are dedicated followers of capital. Indeed Plaid Cymru makes a big deal out of arguing that it is better suited to attract MNC's to Wales. And just to prove it they are as happy when in power on local councils to enforce service cuts as any Nu Labour or Tory administration. The only thing they bicker about with Labour is whether it is better to close a Welsh medium or an English medium school.
I assume the Plaid logo was chosen to appeal to fans of Ivor the Engine?
Let's imagine a local council in which the BNP has 7 seats, Labour 4, and the Lib Dems 4. Should either Labour or the Lib Dems side with the BNP to respect this principle?
Its a difficult one. I can see arguments either way.
But in general though, I think it's a good principle. Coalitions should form around parties that receive a plurality.
I direct Jim to the story in the latest Private Eye on the ousting of the LibDem-Indie administration in Swansea by a rainbow coalition of Plaid, Tories and, er, Labour. I'm not sure, but this may be what Edwina has in mind.
I forgot to mention eaerlier that the so called Plaid Cymru logo Dave illustrated hius article with is not the real McCoy. For the real thing go to http://neprimerimye.blogspot.com/ and read the article Plaid Candidate ex-Trot Shock for the genuine article.
Not all that sure the 'new' tag is that valid in Wales...