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Peter Hain, MP for Neath and Secretary of State for Wales, has been relieved of the Northern Ireland brief, and been promoted to be Minister of Work and Pensions. He has criticised us for wanting to reform the wasteful New Deal programme. However, he now finds himself in charge of the run-down of local Job Centres, part of the Treasury's desperate scramble to fill the so-called "black hole" in government finances. Will he attempt to reverse this?
Incidentally, an unkind Scottish colleague suggested that Quentin Davies (about whom Guido Fawkes is scathing) should become the Welsh Secretary in view of "his history of sheep abuse".
On the subject of Tories crossing the floor to New Labour, Shaun Woodward has been given the Northern Ireland brief which Paddy Ashdown turned down, showing how peripheral this job has become and thus vindicating Paddy's decision.
- Frank Little
1 comment:
I have to say Frank, that the article reflecting Peter Hains thoughts, though written back in 2005, still holds water today.
It is without a doubt, the Liberal Democrats who are posing the greatest threat to Labour. The Plaid surge during the Assembly campaign is simply a blip that will be short lived - especially since they have decided to "get into bed with Labour."
They have now shown their true colours. Jumping into the Labour camp at this stage of the proceedings is simply ignoring the thousands of people who voted Plaid in the mistaken belief that Plaid was the best opposition to vote for in a Welsh Genral Election. They have, in my opinion, betrayed the electorate by campaigning on an anti-Labour platform and now agreeing to go into coalition with the party that the majority of Welsh people failed to vote for.
It is the Liberal Democrats who continue to campaign and defend the core values that we, and so many of the people of Wales, believe in.
These are, the protection of civil liberties, the environment, fair taxation and, above all, freedom of the individual - fairness of the system - trust in our elected representatives.
- Richie Northcote
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