The Wales we live in

This is the reality of Welsh politics the Wales we live in, according to detailed independent electoral research-

"Welsh people are more willing to give credit for any improvements to their own level of government. However, when there is blame to be attributed, it tends to be directed at the government in London.

"The implication of these findings do not look good for any prospective Conservative or Liberal Democrat candidates next year. At a time when there will be plenty of blame flying around, it seems that most voters will be inclined to pin it on the level of government that their parties control."

This is according to Professor Roger Scully paraphrased in the Western Mail.

The reality of life is that people in Wales aren't hung up about the Assembly anymore- in fact they have an in-built preference for it. Even if the Assembly is not yet loved as an institution (few places of government are), it is now more than tolerated. Something to think about whenver we digest opinion polls; it's not all about party politics, there is a bigger picture.

While Professor Scully believes this works out as good news for Labour and Plaid Cymru, let's also consider the governing coalition in London.

The Tory AM Darren Millar offers a comment in the article in question. His statement is that the Tories' delivering (or rather, permitting) a Welsh referendum will make it "more clear" that the Assembly or Welsh Government is in charge of health and education. That is a completely acceptable outcome as far as this particular blog is concerned.

He further says that on the issue of cuts "At the end of the day they (Labour and Plaid) are the ones in Government in Wales.

“They can campaign and say ‘We don’t have sufficient resources’ if they want but I think that will wear thin over the course of the election."

That is either wishful thinking, or an incredibly naive comment. At a time when the main political issue is public finances and cuts, the idea of resources will be at the forefront of any election campaign. It will not "wear thin" at all. There's no "at the end of the day" about it, the issue of Wales' level of funding, the UK finances, the banking crisis and the economy is at the heart of politics in the UK and has been for the past eighteen months at least. The Assembly election is a Welsh General Election and is a superb opportunity to discuss the Holtham recommendations- which by the way the Conservatives and Lib Dems refuse to implement, just as Labour did.

The Liberal Democrat position is equally incredible. Lembit Opik's only defence is that "maybe the public will be discerning enough to see that without the Liberal Democrats it would be even worse"!

For once, words fail me.