What's in a name?
Funny business, this coalition government.
A copy has arrived of Ieuan Wyn Jones' speech. You'll get to hear all about it soon enough but one thing you may notice: not once does the Deputy First Minister mention the Welsh Assembly Government. You'lll probably hear 'coalition government' once but time and again he plans to refer to 'Llywodraeth Cymru'n Un' or the 'One Wales Government'. The same choice of words from the Heritage Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, in his speech this morning.
A quick call to the Government press team to ask whether Ministers have been given any 'advice' on terminology? "It's the Welsh Assembly Government".
An even quicker word with the man himself. What's this all about then, a bit of gentle provocation? "You'll have to wait and see!" comes the beaming response. A topic for discussion at the first cabinet meeting next week? That's what one usually well-informed voice is suggesting.
By the way Labour get a couple of mentions: "those amongst Welsh Labour MPs who are regressive Unionists ...", "the minority Labour government introduced some of the policies we demanded". You get the idea.
UPDATE:
Mr Wyn Jones' people obviously got a little unsettled by the interest sparked in his planned text. Someone took a red/green pen to the final script and the term "Welsh Assembly Government" did appear at least once but the phrase "One Wales Government" was most definitely there.
The Plaid leader should have an interesting time if the matter is raised at the first meeting of the new Welsh Cabinet next Monday.
As Labour and Plaid Ministers sit down at Rhodri Morgan's table for that historic meeting the linguistics of this coalition may indicate that even smallest of words could create the largest of differences.
I'm Betsan Powys, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Wales' political editor. I'll be blogging the inside track on .
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I'm sorry to see Plaid being snipey. As a Labour supporter, I was actually quite excited about the prospect of working with our Nationalist counterparts, hoping they could become our nationalist friends. It would be a shame to see such a chance for progressive, truly Welsh policies to be thrown away because we can't settle our differences.
A brief contribution Betsan. Those of us on the devolunist left of Labour are enjoying a very productive relationship with our colleagues in Plaid. Please do not get taken in too much by the theatrics of the Conference season........
βBehind the Green Curtainβ ~ Plaid Conference 2007
By Martin Slippon ~ Our man in the back bar.
βFighting broke on the floor of the closed session of the Plaid national conference yesterday as Ieuen Wyn Jones unveiled his new βFast-track Wigley to the Lordsβ, OB1 Programme.
βWe need to take over the crumbling remnants of the hated feudal English absolutist state if we are to continue the onward march of our pure Welsh socialism. For too long our aspirational hardworking members (cries of βthank you, Gordon!β) have been held back in their glittering careers by the petty attitudes of some of our extremist members. (shouts of βDeath to the AM girls!β). Why should we be denied this proud elevation? (βNo reason!β β Robyn Druid). And, after the Lords, next the Monarchy! How can we have a Welsh socialist republic with an English queen? (shouts of βViva Adam!β). What happened to Equal Ops.? Why not Charlie Church or Cath Zeta? (Shoutβs of βBig up Charlie!ββ¦βViva Lady Zeta Mumbles!β).
βAnd we need a top tax rate of 60% for the scheming parasites who infect our society!!! (loud cries of βNot ME surely, Iβm going to be a Lord!ββ¦β Jeeeeezus, NO. Iβm an AM with kids in private schools!....βWhat about MY holiday flats and second home down the Gower?ββ¦βWho let the Treorchy Trots in???β ). Mr. Jones failing response was drowned out as vicious fighting broke out between angry Plaid delegates, chairs were smashed and Bethan Jenkins nearly lynched by the Plaid landowners faction ~ Anglesey and Cowbridge. Adam Price (Plaid-Medya) was then led away from the hall shouting, "Hold my hand now, Gordon, cos tomorrow will be too late!", in the style of Elvis.
One Walesβ¦Er, Maybe. One Partyβ¦.Neverβ¦So, all back to the bar before the big rush."
Β© Wales New Medya. (An EU OB2 funded project to promote more exlusive wine bars in Cardiff's new politico district)
As a during the week exile I do not get much of a chance to read Shipman, this piece is very good - made me chuckle.
So Betsan I am only 20 mile to your north, any gravy train bashes you could get me on in Brighton ?
And there we are ex-Llanhari pupils too!
It should be renamed the 'Welsh Government' just as happended in Scotland recently with the rebranding to 'Scottish Government'.
Some labourites have complained, in particular in the Scotland Office, but the fact is, the Scottish rebranding has cross party support, with the lib dems recommending the name change and a former labour first minister having already tried to change the name in the past, only to be defeated by Labour MPs in Westminster.
The majority of the press in Scotland support the move, as do most Scots. Few would argue a return to the use of the lame term 'Scottish Executive' now.. in fact, most people dont even know what it is. Everyone knows what a government is.
Wales was already ahead of us here, with the rebranding to 'Welsh Assembly Government', way back in 2002.
Its time now to take it to its logical conclusion...Welsh Government here we come!