About a year ago, we commented on Plaid Cymru’s dormancy in Swansea and not much has changed since – although there was a period when you would get this slightly worrying warning if you googled “Plaid Cymru Swansea”.As far as the party’s official website is concerned, the main news is an announcement of the launch of its 2007 Assembly campaign with party stalwart and Searchlight veteran Ian Titherington as Swansea West candidate. Ian has since migrated east to become Grangetown Jack (an often informative & entertaining blogger).
Out of date websites are by no means rare among the political parties, especially in Wales, but the absence of any candidates listed for Swansea east and west constituencies – despite 31 out of 40 having been selected – is not encouraging news for local supporters.
Plaid electoral fortunes in Swansea have dipped significantly since 2005 with a steady decline in vote share. The party got stuffed in the 2008 council elections, losing 3 of out their 4 seats to the Liberal Democrats. Their remaining representative joined the ruling anti-Labour coalition.
Lately there have been rumours, admittedly emanating from partisan sources, that a local accommodation has been reached by which Plaid will tread very softly in the anticipated Swansea West contest thus allowing the Lib Dems to mop up what is expected to be a steady trickle of defecting Labour voters.
Sounds unlikely to us but given the level of Plaid Cymru campaign activity in neighbouring Neath and Llanelli, the party’s lightweight presence in Swansea is puzzling to say the least.
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(PLR)
3 Comments:
I am no avid Plaid-watcher but it does seem to me that the Party of Wales has been supplanted in Swansea by the Liberal Democrats as the alternative political force to Labour in the minds of the media and the local electorate. What is remarkable is that Dai Lloyd and Bethan Jenkins appear content with this situation. This is different to the Cardiff council arrangements which keeps Plaid in the driving seat. If I were John Dixon I would be asking a few hard questions.
Re dormancy. Can you recall the last time that a local Labour spokesman had anything vaguely relevant to say about the city (other than there are too many bright signs on some buildings)? The party that once ran Swansea is wasting away thanks to a self-indulgent leadership that is unable to motivate a dwindling membership and a cadre of hackneyed commissars who regard the status-quo as being in their best interests.
Dr Dai Lloyd must know what's going on as he actually employs Swansea's only Plaid councillor, Mr. Darren Price.
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