Another squall has been spotted developing in the South Wales West regional constituency. This time it’s in tory waters where the detritus from the decision to keep Alun Cairns in two jobs continues to float to the surface.
Cairns should have given up his Assembly role after winning a parliamentary seat in May. But despite having supported earlier recommendations to stop ‘double-jobbing’ in politics, Welsh Conservatives insisted that the newly installed MP for the Vale of Glamorgan also stay on in the Senedd. This understandably enraged the number two name on the regional list, Chris Smart, who accused his party of showing "total disregard" for voters.
At the time, press commentators put the contrary decision down to the outspoken Smart telling Capn' Cameron’s lackeys to take a walk a few years earlier when they tried to get him to withdraw following allegations about the Porthcawl town councillor in an anonymous leaflet - although his personal bankruptcy in 2008 might also have been a factor.
Since then, reciprocative niggles about Cairns’ own suitability have been highlighted through various non-attributable sources. Most attempt to recycle the allegation that the AM lobbied officials in order to get expenses guidelines changed so that he could keep his second home in Cardiff Bay. The latest, from an un-named ‘member of the public’ but dutifully reproduced by the Nick Bourne fan-base chapter within the Western Mail, is that the Assembly is refusing to publish specific details of his expenses.
Whoever is dripping the poison is unlikely to be thanked by party managers for rocking a leaking boat by resurrecting memories of iPods and trouser-presses in the minds of the electorate less than a year before Assembly elections. But you tend to get the distinct impression that seeking approval is not part of the perpertrator's stratgey anyway.
Nevertheless, it is encouraging to see in this day of new politics how the old adage still runs true that the people who sit across from you in the chamber are merely the opposition; the enemy are those who sit alongside you.
2 Comments:
News is that David Melding is lining himself for the Vale and that Andrew RT will go for South Wales Central, now whats behind that little lot then.
What are the Tories doing about ensuring their wimmin are in with a shout as the boys carve up the cake ?
We've heard something similar. Not sure if this is a chicken run prior to future boundary changes or people just hedging their bets in anticipation of getting a kicking next year. Not much loyalty involved either way.
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