The Bourne Supremacy?
Ah well, back to the day job. As the process of government-building continues in Cardiff Bay, this election correspondent is back at Westminster trying to shake off withdrawal symptoms after five weeks on the campaign trail.
Fully forty per cent of members of the fourth Welsh assembly are new to the job, including three of the five Liberal Democrats. Their leader did accuse me, during the election, of being always "upbeat and positive" so I won't mention the 17 deposits lost by the Lib Dems in the 40 constituency seats.
Those who love elections have the possibility of two leadership races to cover. Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones says he's getting on with the job, although you would not put your mortgage on his long-term job prospects.
The Welsh Tories certainly need a new leader. Here at Westminster the suspicion is the defeated Nick "victim of his own success" Bourne will shortly be joining us. Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, anyone?
One intriguing rumour doing the rounds is that he could find himself in government, representing Wales in the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition.
This may just be mischief-making among Westminster Tories, as it would be unprecedented for the secretary of state for Wales to sit in the Lords.
A department of the nations might make that easier, but that is a story that fills plenty of newsprint but has yet to deliver. David Cameron has also ruled out a reshuffle this year.
But the Wales Office spokesman in the Lords is currently represented by the Scottish advocate general, Liberal Democrat Lord Wallace. A fresh voice for Wales, to coin a Tory election slogan, may not be so far-fetched.
Stranger things do happen in politics. Cheryl Gillan has joined, not a sentence I thought I'd ever get to write.
Tweeting is now allowed in the Commons chamber so it will be interesting to see tomorrow if she combines answering MPs' questions with summaries of 140 characters or fewer.
Hello. I'm David Cornock and I'm parliamentary correspondent for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Wales. This is the blog for the latest news and gossip from the Westminster village - with a Welsh accent.
Comment number 1.
At 10th May 2011, RW49 wrote:That's interesting, tweeting in the Chamber is allowed now, no wonder the Speaker did nothing when confronted with all those thumb twiddlers playing with their toys! I don't think it would be a good idea during PMQs though, besides the fact that the place is crammed, shouldn't they be paying attention?
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Comment number 2.
At 10th May 2011, Bill wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 3.
At 10th May 2011, dispozest wrote:"A department of the nations might make that easier,"
I'm afraid the government in Brussels doesn't refer to Scotland, Ulster, and Wales (in alphabetical order...) as nations - they are simply referred to as "administrative units" or as Regions. A department of the administrative units doesn't have quite the same ring to it!
But the idea that the Tories might reward Nick Bourne for failure by elevating him to the Lords has some merit - they already have a growing list of such failures in positions of power and influence despite being rejected by the democratic process.
Not sure whether they learned that trick from Labour or whether it has always gone on?
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Comment number 4.
At 12th May 2011, sionnyn wrote:I am sure that the appointment of Lord Bourne would gain a ringing endorsement as Secretary for State for Wales in the Assembly - and indeed in the country.
Having a woman as SoS is unprecedented - so precedent is not a good reason for not appointing Lord Nick.
Gillan is far too busy in her constituency, these days, fighting the HS2 rail line to give any consideration to Welsh affairs, so Cameron would probably be doing her a favour by replacing her.
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