Comments on: What’s happening in Blaenau Gwent?

By: Bethan

Bethan — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:56:15 +0000

Look, I think Politicians should attack other politicians based on their policies and their delivery of such policies. There’s not denying that I attack opposition politicians, and Ministers if I believe that they are taking the wrong direction. They are there to be scrutinised after all. I’ve said when I don’t think it is appropriate, make of that what you will. I am not trying to suggest that polticiains shouldn’t engage in healthy arguments, this happens all the time and rightly so. I think, yet again, that my comments are being taken way out of context.

By: ponty boy

ponty boy — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:10:53 +0000

“I don’t believe that AMs should be attacking each other personally…”

So your “Gwenda ‘out of her depth’ Thomas” attack in April 2007 was…what? Not a personal attack? Hypocrisy knows no bounds when it comes to you, does it?

By: leigh richards

leigh richards — Fri, 01 May 2009 10:24:52 +0000

it will of course be for the voters of bleanau gwent to determine who will be the most ‘effective’ politician to represent them!

Will it be the highly popular and hardworking trish law or somebody who abandoned everything he ever believed in in order to secure a assembly seat with a party he had spent years denouncing?

hmm… im not normally a betting man but think i’ll maybe make an exception this time…..

By: Mac

Mac — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:22:33 +0000

I’m not really sure what Trish Law has been doing — but then she hasn’t been on any committees.

By: dyma_ni

dyma_ni — Fri, 01 May 2009 08:29:38 +0000

Fair enough. I can understand your point of view but I disagree and think that elected AMs and MPs should be held accountable for their performance as well as their policy beliefs. Keep up the blogging.

By: Bethan

Bethan — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:48:23 +0000

I was merely stating that the way in which this argument is starting to play out is not very constructive. I don’t believe that AMs should be attacking each other personally, mud slinging in public. Other AMs can do it, I don’t want to be part of it.

By: dyma_ni

dyma_ni — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:08:02 +0000

We all accept that we are free to criticise the ideas and polices of politicians. But why should politicians not be criticised if their performance is poor? There are a number of different skills needed to be an effective AM but I believe that if an AM is lacking these skills or performing badly then there should not be a code of silence. Why do you think it’s ok for AMs to criticise each other in private but not in the public arena to the constituents they represent? If Trish Law is an effective politician she should have no trouble at all rebutting Alun Davies’ attack.

By: Bethan

Bethan — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:45:02 +0000

I thought I made it clear- personal attacks. I know that we go in to elections attacking others for their policies, but I don’t appreciate the way Alun Davies is lowering the tone already against Trish Law. Is that clear enough?

By: Linford

Linford — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:37:19 +0000

“I am sure that people have their own personal opinions on the performance of various AMs and the way they represent constituents, but I don’t think its proper for fellow AMs to do that judging in the public arena in this manner, at least.”

Bethan that is ridiculous to say the very least, every time a politician goes for an election they are basically saying ‘I will represent the constituents better than the imcumbent’

That really is a rather lightweight argument. I dont care what you say about Alun Davies, i think he is a prat too, but it frustrates me that you cannot make a better case as to why than the one you just put forward.