Hain the separatist
Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 3:31pm
4 responses
Deary, deary me! Ex public school boy and self styled class warrior Peter Hain is at it again, putting his name to inaccurate leaflets making tabloid accusations. As a Plaid AM representing the Neath area, it fills me with optimism. Labour must be getting desperate.
Hain berates Plaid for separatism in the leaflet, yet there are fewer MPs more removed, or shall we say “separated” from their constituents than Peter Hain.
I have worked very closely with the former Visteon workers in the fight for their pensions, and yet Hain has not had the time or even the political sense to attend a single meeting. I joined the Visteon campaigners on their journey to London to lobby MPs. Despite many of the ex workers going to Hain’s surgery to ask him to attend, there was no sign of him. I for one was proud to stand with and support the former Visteon workers.
Sending a message of support to the demonstrators is hardly adequate, and cut no ice with the workers. If Hain had turned up, it would have been interesting to see the ‘welcome’ he may have encountered: we will never know now. How convenient for him….
The former Visteon workers are in good company. Look at how the Allied Steel and Wire workers in Cardiff were let down by what they thought was their government. Compare the difference between the bankers and these workers: What Labour choose to prioritise shows what is in the DNA of their party. What is the difference between them and the Tories in this UK election fight?
The stench of hypocrisy around New Labour MPs at election time is more than nauseating. Hain claims credit for compensation to miners, but fails to mention the shameful action of his government in fighting sick men through the courts to deny them compensation. The miners got their well deserved compensation despite, not because of the government. Similarly, RMT signal workers are not even allowed to legally go on strike after a ballot due to New Labour’s refusal to repeal anti trade union legislation.
Labour’s record on privatisation is dire. Locally they are proposing to privatise the care homes in Neath Port Talbot. What is a ‘business concern’ if it is not privatisation, as outlined in the consultation document? How the trade union’s can stomach this agenda is beyond me, let alone continue to bankroll a tired Labour party that no longer represents their values and beliefs.
Hain holds Ieuan Wyn Jones responsible for the Welsh economy, and where we do have the powers over the economy, Plaid in Government has shown that we can be different- introduce new, creative policies. Hain knows we don’t have all the tools to do the job in Wales, but the sooner we do, the better- for the confidence of our Nation and for future generations.
In finishing, I will condemn Peter Hain by his own voting record. See below for what this former political good guy now stands for:
• Voted very strongly for replacing Trident.
• Voted very strongly for introducing ID cards.
• Has never voted on a transparent Parliament.
• Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals.
• Voted strongly for introducing student top-up fees.
• Voted very strongly for the Iraq war.
• Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.
Nice to see the Labour party we know and love at election time. Every time theres a vote to be won we see it. Do they inspire with hope and promise? No. Do they communicate with their constituents and try and carry them with them to the ballot box, standing up for them? Do they at least attempt to have a bit if sincerity and integrity? No. They scare people into voting for them. They lie on their leaflets and throw mud and innuendo to grubbily get their way into power.
And Hain is the king of grubbiness.
Desparate times call for desparate measures, and to this end I see Mr. Hain in his latest leaflet has played the old Miners Compensation payments card, already. Its a pity he couldn’t actually find some political issues to talk about.
[...] another. As she reminds us, Peter Hain got there first – even if his election literature has not found favour with Bethan [...]
It may be true Peter Hain; ‘got there first’, but if he had nothing worthwhile to say on policies, then perhaps it is better he should say nothing at all.