Labour promise "fresh start"

Our local Labour candidate in the Rhydyfro bilection (who I am honestly very fond of) promises to bring a fresh outlook to the community. Of course it's a Labour town councillor who caused this by standing down. Hmmm.

She also promises to do things differently as she wants to fight against "the usual people always getting in as Town Councillors".

What's interesting is that she was the only Labour candidate at the last town council election who DIDN'T get it. All the usual suspects did though. Even those who can hardly walk, see, hear or read. But they are Labour of course....!?!

She also promises to hold monthly surgeries. Unfortunately there are no facilities in which they can be held. At all. Unless you use one of the two pubs.

Our Plaid candidate makes no such promises, he's fighting on issues and merit alone. I still think though Labour might win as they're good at motivating people who don't think, but vote with their feet. "Dad always voted Labour and so do I .... ".

Good old democracy.

The heat is on

Wow. Summer has finally arrived. We've had three days of almost continuous dry weather. The grass is cut, my tomoatoes are finally about to show a hint of redness and the bi-election looks like being a scorcher.

Bob Williams is standing in Rhydyfro and looks like winning a landslide election.

I can't wait to build up a sweat for tonight's campainging!

MEP steps in to up the fight,

MEP Jill Evans will be visiting Pontardawe this week to support Bob Williams in his fight for a community / town council seat. Jill is particularly concerned about the threat of further expansion of the Pwwlfawakin waste site near Rhydyfro. Currently huge wagons are bombing up and down the community and there are real concerns locally. Plaid will fight any further expansion of the plant.

Bi-election blues

Just when you thought it was safe to answer your door again - up crops another bi-election. This time in Rhydyfro.

Former councillor Bob Williams will be standing for the Town Council against Labour's Eryl Puzey, wife of John Puzey, Director of Shelter Cymru.

Eryl was the only candidate last time around from Labour who didn't win a seat on the town council so she's trying again.

Bob on the other hand didn't stand for the town council as he was certain he'd win his county seat, which he didn't.

All up for grabs and a litmus test for public apathy and disinterest in the Labour-Plaid coalition in the Assembly.

2nd of August could prove to be an interesting day!

What's going on with Labour in Trebanos

Labour's newly elected town councillor, Andrea Davies - famous for not knowing that Pontardawe had an Arts Centre and International Music Festival - has come up with some ideas, if not exactly original.

Of course she wasn't at the meeting herself to view the true horror, and joy, when you realise an elected representative have no knowledge or connection wth their area.

First up a suggestion that we should celebrate youth success with a special award. There is one.

Next, that we should motivate the local community to establish a voluntary group to clean up the local canal. Yep. There is one, in fact one of the most influencial Canal Society's in Wales is in not so far away Pontardawe. Indeed its founding father is known as Clive "Canal". Him and his wife Lyn are the backbone's of society. But in fairness to our Labour councillor in Trebanos how should she know? She's only here so that she can stand for the £12k County Council role next year.

We might have a little surprise for her...

So history at last. Ieuan WJ is now officially the Deputy First Minister. With Rhoders laid up but thankfully on the mend it means that Scotland and Wales are currently being led by Nationalist leaders.

This may never happen again!

Labour MPs are strangely quiet on the ongoing troubles and those who opposed the coalition have disappeared again back to Westminster.

But where are our Labour friends who fought their leader and hate Plaid so?

Strangely quiet too. No resignations of hyperbole now. Just silence.

The silence of course will now related to their panic situation of "please don't sack me Rhodri".

Time will tell.

Llongyfarchiadau to Ieuan who has conducted himself like a statesman in the recent long drawn out weeks. Also congrats to Nick Bourne on his last gasp hope of being in bed with Plaid.

I don't see it happening - do you?

Oh and who or what exactly are the Lib Dems in Wales now? Lembit was racing around Covent Garden on Sunday on a mini tractor with the Cheeky Girls. Good to see he's busy then. While Montgomeryshire burns Opik parties...