Sunday, April 10, 2005
Snow in Coelbren
A General Election campaign has not properly started unless I have spent some time leafletting or knocking on doors in the southern part of the lovely Brecon and Radborshire constituency. Thus it was that on Friday night I found myself delivering leaflets in the village of Coelbren, apparently situated on one of the highest populated areas of the constituency. Its isolation is underlined by a google search which shows that the nearest ten places to eat out are not in the village at all but in Aberdare, Seven Sisters, Glynneath and Ystradgynlais. Nevertheless it must be a lovely place to live.
For some reason I was completely unprepared for the weather. I live in the City and do not expect to be engulfed in a snow storm in April, but that is what happened. Although I spent Saturday leafletting vigorously in Swansea West and Swansea East I have still not warmed up.
Liberal Democrat campaign headquarters proved that they were on the ball with their latest mailshot. Normally, candidates and agents will get briefings, campaign material or assorted computer programmes through the post. Coming back from Coelbren however, I found an intriquing parcel that promised to be something different. It was a jiffy bag labelled "only to be opened in an emergency". Taking my near hypothermia to be such an emergency, I opened it. Inside was a simple three point message: "Don't panic! In an emergency (1) Take a deep breath; (2) Eat chocolate (3) phone this number..." Attached was a bar of chocolate wrapped in Liberal Democrat gold and party branding. Excellent!
For some reason I was completely unprepared for the weather. I live in the City and do not expect to be engulfed in a snow storm in April, but that is what happened. Although I spent Saturday leafletting vigorously in Swansea West and Swansea East I have still not warmed up.
Liberal Democrat campaign headquarters proved that they were on the ball with their latest mailshot. Normally, candidates and agents will get briefings, campaign material or assorted computer programmes through the post. Coming back from Coelbren however, I found an intriquing parcel that promised to be something different. It was a jiffy bag labelled "only to be opened in an emergency". Taking my near hypothermia to be such an emergency, I opened it. Inside was a simple three point message: "Don't panic! In an emergency (1) Take a deep breath; (2) Eat chocolate (3) phone this number..." Attached was a bar of chocolate wrapped in Liberal Democrat gold and party branding. Excellent!
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Actually David I have apologised as you know full well see http://peterblack.blogspot.com/2005/04/at-starting-line.html.
I didnt need to google Coelbren to find out about it, as believe it or not I have been in this general area quite a lot. I googled to underline the point about the nearest eating place.
I didnt need to google Coelbren to find out about it, as believe it or not I have been in this general area quite a lot. I googled to underline the point about the nearest eating place.
I dont sack people for showing human frailty. I am not some victorian-workhouse type employer.
I am astonished that a Labour Party member would adopt such a cavalier approach to the rights of workers and to employment laws. Is this official Labour Party policy now?
I should be surprised at your attitude to freedom of expression as well but then again I have seen too much of the Labour Party to allow that to happen.
As it happens Francesca no longer works for me anyway. She has moved onto another job within the Assembly. But her blog and her views are part of her private political life and have nothing to do with her employment.
I am astonished that a Labour Party member would adopt such a cavalier approach to the rights of workers and to employment laws. Is this official Labour Party policy now?
I should be surprised at your attitude to freedom of expression as well but then again I have seen too much of the Labour Party to allow that to happen.
As it happens Francesca no longer works for me anyway. She has moved onto another job within the Assembly. But her blog and her views are part of her private political life and have nothing to do with her employment.
I am sure David is expressing his personal views and he is entitled to have them. He is though keen to hold people to account for what they say so he should not be immune from that.
Yes, Francesca is still a member of the Liberal Democrat support staff and quite evidently she is speaking for herself and not for the Party as was I, when I misspoke (to use a Bushism). I am not trying to make excuses for myself. I cannot undo what has been done, but I have apologised and I think it is time to move on.
I have a great deal of time and respect for Rodney Berman and his colleagues as well as for the good work they are doing for Cardiff. I am sure that he was as unhappy about my comments however, as I was about Francesca's.
I am not sure who is running the insideswansea blog but as it is not promoting a candidate or a party I doubt that it is subject to electoral law.
Yes, Francesca is still a member of the Liberal Democrat support staff and quite evidently she is speaking for herself and not for the Party as was I, when I misspoke (to use a Bushism). I am not trying to make excuses for myself. I cannot undo what has been done, but I have apologised and I think it is time to move on.
I have a great deal of time and respect for Rodney Berman and his colleagues as well as for the good work they are doing for Cardiff. I am sure that he was as unhappy about my comments however, as I was about Francesca's.
I am not sure who is running the insideswansea blog but as it is not promoting a candidate or a party I doubt that it is subject to electoral law.
Honestly, David I think you really are dredging the bottom of the barrel now. Your sole motivation is to secure the maximum embarrassment for the Liberal Democrats from my honest mistake.
There is no similarity with the comments of Jody Dunn as firstly, I would never describe the people of Cardiff in those terms, I have too much respect for them, and secondly Jody's comments were taken out of context anyway.
As I have said several times, I have apologised for my remark and I am now moving on. The fact that you are incapable of (a) accepting that apology and (b) moving on yourself says far more about you than me. I am sure that the people of Cardiff recognise my sincerity in this.
Charles Kennedy, like other party members, is very proud of the record of the Liberal Democrats in running Cardiff. We are starting to put right the wrongs of decades of Labour misrule. His visit last week was to launch the party's campaign in Wales and he will be back to Cardiff later to support our very able candidate there.
There is no similarity with the comments of Jody Dunn as firstly, I would never describe the people of Cardiff in those terms, I have too much respect for them, and secondly Jody's comments were taken out of context anyway.
As I have said several times, I have apologised for my remark and I am now moving on. The fact that you are incapable of (a) accepting that apology and (b) moving on yourself says far more about you than me. I am sure that the people of Cardiff recognise my sincerity in this.
Charles Kennedy, like other party members, is very proud of the record of the Liberal Democrats in running Cardiff. We are starting to put right the wrongs of decades of Labour misrule. His visit last week was to launch the party's campaign in Wales and he will be back to Cardiff later to support our very able candidate there.
I really am not going to waste my time playing these sixth form debating games with you two anymore. I have said what I have to say on Cardiff and Charles Kennedy and that is it.
It's a shame that you didn't walk throught the village and find the Price's pub, a welcoming village pub with food so good we seldom have to drive far to have a friendly night out.
As for Coelbren being on the northern edge of the Neath constituencey.... well it's close and to be honest we are in Powys... a great county whose services far exceed that of our neighbours in Neath.
Our greatest problem is that automated postcode entries are defaulted to place Coelbren in 'Neath, West Glamorgan'. Not usually a problem until it comes to deliveries, insuring cars, houses etc....
If you ever come back to Coelbren when it's not snowing look out for the pub, can't miss it it's the only one here!
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As for Coelbren being on the northern edge of the Neath constituencey.... well it's close and to be honest we are in Powys... a great county whose services far exceed that of our neighbours in Neath.
Our greatest problem is that automated postcode entries are defaulted to place Coelbren in 'Neath, West Glamorgan'. Not usually a problem until it comes to deliveries, insuring cars, houses etc....
If you ever come back to Coelbren when it's not snowing look out for the pub, can't miss it it's the only one here!
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