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Election 07

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Smoke gets in your eyes

  • Betsan Powys
  • 2 Apr 07, 08:36 PM

The things you do eh?

Wayne, the darts champ and I had hoped to bring some clarity to the way we elect our Assembly Members. He'd throw the darts, I'd run through the figures.

No excuses - the pub was smoke-free after all - but put it like this: I suspect things weren't very much clearer by the time we'd done our stuff.

You win some ...

On my way back to Cardiff to do the same again in Welsh - minus the dart board - I passed one of those posters on wheels that Plaid Cymru have become so fond of. This one was in the process of being parked for all to see on their way in to work tomorrow.

'Vote UKIP' it said in huge letters. 'A vote to get rid of the National Assembly'.

And just at that very moment ... unlikely as they are to make a big impression on May 3rd ... the fog suddenly seemed to lift.

Disclaimer: it's been a very long day!

Deal or no deal

  • Brian Taylor
  • 2 Apr 07, 02:26 PM

The Scottish Tories have had to get used to their fair share of obstacles in recent years.

But today they faced a physical obstruction in their path as they set off from Edinburgh to launch their manifesto.

They chose Galashiels in the Borders for the launch, typically, they said, a Scots town that would benefit from their family-friendly approach.

But standing in their path on the way from Edinburgh to the Borders were the Nationalists.

A group of SNP activists trooped deliberately slowly over a pedestrian crossing right in the path of the Tory election battle bus.

When she finally got to Gala, the Tory leader Annabel Goldie described the demo as "childish".

But the launch itself.... more child-like fun as the Tories chose to introduce their manifesto at a child play centre in the Border's town.

The image they were seeking to project was that of helping young families. Annabel Goldie said the people of Scotland were crying out for a focus on bread and butter issues.

But there was a fair touch of bread and water about the Tory launch too as they set out plans for a new prison and a hard line on crime and drugs.

Miss Goldie's strategic message was that the Tories would pursue their own programme and would not enter any pact with another party.

So don鈥檛 bother to ask Annabel Goldie whether it is "deal or no deal" - the answer will be no.

Triggering D'Hondt

  • Martina Purdy
  • 2 Apr 07, 12:23 PM

Here is the order of which ministers are to be selected today - and the best GUESS of a Stormont insider as to where the departments may fall:

1. DUP - Finance
2. SF - Enterprise
3. DUP - Education
4. UUP - Health
5. SDLP - Regional Dev
6. SF - Culture Arts Leisure
7. DUP - Social Development
8. SF - Dept of Higher Education and Learning
9. DUP - Agriculture
10. UUP - Environment

Here's the thinking behind this: SF wants Enterprise because it has a strong cross-border dimension and they want to drive an all-island economy. They will later select Higher Education because its training element fits in strategically with driving the economy. DUPs may feel they have no choice but to take Education. Regional Dev is a big spend and although it has water charges it also has trains, buses and lovely cross border roads. DUP said to want Agriculture this time for the rural element. SF has longed for culture to promote Irish language despite the department's small budget. Health for UUP because Sir Reg likes a challenge and it will make his party rather important. DUP took Social Development last time because it lacks cross border element and includes housing. But take all this with a pinch of salt as it is not an exact science!

There is also whispers that there has been an attempt to precook the arrangements so the party leaders have a fair idea of who is getting what before today's meeting at 2pm today.

Martin McGuinness is about to meet the media at 1.45pm and the MLAs with him may be the faces about to become ministers. The media is expecting Catriona Ruane and Conor Murphy to make the Executive list. We'll soon see.

Here we go

  • Betsan Powys
  • 2 Apr 07, 09:49 AM

Conferences: 4
Manifestos: 2
Candidates already deselected: 1
(the Lib Dems' man in Llanelli, so elusive he's been dumped. Any volunteers?)


So here we go then, round three. They're calling it 'the big one' in Scotland. How are things shaping up here in Wales?

Talk to Labour Party insiders and candidates and they'll tell you things aren't as bad out on the doorstep as everyone keeps telling them it is. But talk to some of the same people and they'll tell you they're working their patch really hard. Why? They're not sure, they just get the feeling that this time round, there's something out there that just might do for them.

Hospital cuts? Cash for Honours? Iraq? Not really ... just a feeling that you think their time is up.

Plaid Cymru, when they're not putting out press releases describing the Tory manifesto as "all substance, no spin", are confident - too confident for one bit of the party. The media men wish the other bit - the number crunchers - would stop chucking figures like 16/17 seats into the pot. Management of expectation and all that. Look what happened in 2003.

The Tories are fine thanks, still slightly taken aback that things - they sense - are going so well, still wondering whether the Cameron bounce will make it safely over here.

And the Lib Dems? Big decisions ahead for them ... no, not whether to watch the Cheeky Girls' new reality tv show, hoping for a glimpse of their Welsh leader but whether they should get into bed with Labour again if invited. Will the party's young Turks have the ammo and the desire to take over?

Our election desk is up and running.

I've had my first run-in with angry candidates.

I've even been granted a blog.

It must be election time.

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