Have the people lost their voice?

No more bandwagon?

Today’s confirmation that independent AM Trish Law is to stand down next year ends several weeks of speculation and possibly marks the demise of a protest movement that kicked New Labour out of the Valleys.

The announcement follows a post-mortem meeting of the Blaenau Gwent People's Voice in August held to discuss the resounding defeat of parliamentary counterpart Dai Davies at the hands of Labour and to gauge future prospects. According to one local reporter, the breakaway body had “done the maths and run out of fingers”.

The departure of Trish Law is likely to signal an end of the dynastic creation formed after ex-Labour Assembly minister Peter quit the party when his planned accession to Llew Smith’s mantle ahead of the 2005 General Election was stymied by the imposition of an all-woman shortlist. Continuing as a protest action has limited appeal for a group which looks, feels and acts like a Labour party of the old school.

We will be watching to see how Alun Davies, Labour’s candidate-in-waiting for next year’s Assembly election copes in a constituency with a reputation for knee-jerk reactions when people think they’re being taken for granted.