Comments on: ‘Vote Plaid Cymru – Get Labour’

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 13:07:48 +0000

UKIP had huge coverage in the UK media and press for the two years leading up to the European and General elections however I suspect that for Welsh identifiers their vote is soft. Discontent with Labour in Cardiff and the cultivation of the NHS “Border of death” idea by the Conservatives boosted the Tory vote by Welsh identifiers but again I suspect that that vote is pretty soft also. It fact generally the electorate’s vote seems to be getting softer so there is much to be gained or lost.
In an ideal world perhaps parties wouldn’t declare who they would work with before an election, but that situation relies on an electorate who are comfortable with and understand the machinations and outcomes that coalition politics brings. I think that the fate of the LibDems at the general election indicates that the electorate is still grappling with the concept.
When I said “significant” it means the most votes. therefore the most Senedd seats. I think Plaid’s chances of picking up votes is greater in the Welsh identifying Labour and soft Labour who voted UKIP or Tory at the General election than anywhere else.
To me Plaid’s strategy regarding declaring who they will not work with looks a good one. Of course it remains to be seen how they now play it from here. Potentially it enables those Labour voters who are dissatisfied with Labour to vote for an alternative party that they can be confident won’t give the dastardly Tories the key to the castle. Also for dissatisfied soft UKIP and Tory voters voting Plaid would be the most effective way to give Labour a kick up the backside.

By: Clayton Jones

Clayton Jones — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 00:56:58 +0000

In reply to Jac.

I believe Mr/Ms anonymous could be a Labour plant – Plaid can only win on financial credibility ,innovation ,reasonable policies and a change to its constitution. Plaid has spent thirty years trying to be more Labour than Labour ,the result – our leader States the General Election result could have been worse – She dreams as does your anonymous contributor .

By: Jac

Jac — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 19:54:30 +0000

In reply to Anonymous.

I can’t agree. There is a substantial number of people in Wales looking for a viable alternative – or any alternative – to Labour. This explains the Ukip vote last year in normally staunch Labour areas such as Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr, Swansea, Wrecsam, Flintshire, Caerffili, Newport, Torfaen, And this year in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney Labour won but Tories and Ukip did better than Plaid.

So you’re wrong to say that “the only place Plaid can pick up significant numbers of votes is from current Labour voters”. There are a few hundred thousand voters who don’t want :Labour, and nor do they really want Tories or Ukip, but they still find these two parties more attractive than Plaid. (And don’t disregard the non-voters.) One reason for that may be that they fear Plaid will do a deal with Labour and keep a minority Labour administration in power. Which it will.

If Plaid is serious about emulating the SNP it must be ambitious, it must say, ‘No deal with Labour, we want to rule alone’, otherwise Plaid will remain the fourth party in Wales.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 18:30:39 +0000

In reply to Clayton Jones.

It’s not a game of poker.
The only place Plaid can pick up significant numbers of votes is from current Labour voters.
Those whose support for Labour is wavering and are potential Plaid voters want to see Plaid’s “cards”.
Being coy isn’t an option. Plaid showing their “cards” has p1issed two groups off.
The Labour party who now can’t run scare stories of a Plaid – Nasty Tories coalition.
The Tory party who now know they won’t get near to government in the Senedd in any form.

By: Clayton Jones

Clayton Jones — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 14:14:09 +0000

LLEW- Have you ever played porker please ? If so, you will know never to show your cards – its exactly what the Leader has done – completely wrecking any positive post election negotiations if required. With Lord Thomas still on board , I believe Labour will be drinking champagne well before the election . If the MEMBERSHIP change Plaid’s direction pre- election and the leader post -election there is still a window of opportunity.

By: Llew

Llew — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 11:18:12 +0000

We have to admit that Leanne Wood is coming at politics from an opposite direction to Jac and this blog. As are her supporters.

She could not work with the Tories. She is being honest and defusing that. It’s Labour’s main tactic. I don’t feel like Plaid Cymru can copy the SNP but this is one thing that the SNP has also always ruled out as well.

I won’t buy this idea that she supports Labour. She is mounting a strong challenge to one of their Ministers and will take them on robustly.

She literally appears to be the joint most popular politician in Wales. Unfortunately she is tied with Carwyn Jones. But that shows that its Labour “soft nationalists” who need to be won over to Plaid. But you need to expose Labour to convince them its not worth voting for. Working with the Tories does NOT do that and people commenting this blog should in my opinion admit that.

She doesn’t share your politics and that’s fine. But she IS taking on a “top” Labour Minister, and I believe she could win. If you disagree with the politics that’s fair enough but Plaid Cymru’s problems stem from before Leanne Wood. Just my five cents!

By: Jason Morgan

Jason Morgan — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 17:04:36 +0000

In reply to A Black.

Pentyrch was a damned good result for Plaid Cymru, but it was like Ynys Môn in 2013 – strong campaign and strong local candidate.

Anyone who thinks it has any more significance than that is an idiot.

By: Sion

Sion — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 11:19:34 +0000

I helped out in Pentyrch and the surge was down to having a good candidate supported by a dozen or so people knocking on every door and delivering multiple leaflets to every home in the ward. It was a good effort but I don’t think Plaid nationally can read too much into this.

By: Jac

Jac — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 10:04:45 +0000

In reply to A Black. Funnily enough, we said that in Carmarthen, in 1966.

By: A Black

A Black — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 09:37:02 +0000

The Plaid comeback has started, up 27% in the Pentyrch by election, so it’s only up from here