Thursday, February 02, 2006
Nostalgia is not what it used to be
Yesterday's Plenary was the last to be held in the old chamber. From Tuesday we are to be ensconced in altogether more salubrious surroundings. Naturally, this drew comment throughout the day as members told us what they would miss most about the place and what they were looking forward to.
Caerphilly Labour AM, Jeff Cuthbert, was not sure whether to weep or to jump for joy. He has been stuck behind a pillar ever since he was elected in 2003. As a result he has often had to endure a restricted view of his fellow AMs. On the plus side he always found it a useful prop, something to lean against when speaking:
Jeff Cuthbert: I hope that Elin Jones has noticed that, probably for the last time, I am leaning on my pillar.
Fortunately, somebody had explained to him that he could not take it with him, no matter how comforting it may be.
As we got into the more heated debate on Arts policy the Presiding Officer was keen to take every opportunity to point out to members how things would be different from next week. Firstly, to Alun Pugh and Rhodri Glyn Thomas:
The Presiding Officer: Order. The Minister has replied to the intervention. Members must get used to the fact that we will soon be in an acoustically lively Chamber. You might as well get used to it now.
And then back to that pillar again:
The Presiding Officer: Order. Are you giving way to Lisa Francis? You cannot see her as she is standing behind a pillar.
By the time that David Melding had accused the Minister of kneecaping the Arts Council whilst still believing it to be capable of running the marathon we were all ready to move on.
Caerphilly Labour AM, Jeff Cuthbert, was not sure whether to weep or to jump for joy. He has been stuck behind a pillar ever since he was elected in 2003. As a result he has often had to endure a restricted view of his fellow AMs. On the plus side he always found it a useful prop, something to lean against when speaking:
Jeff Cuthbert: I hope that Elin Jones has noticed that, probably for the last time, I am leaning on my pillar.
Fortunately, somebody had explained to him that he could not take it with him, no matter how comforting it may be.
As we got into the more heated debate on Arts policy the Presiding Officer was keen to take every opportunity to point out to members how things would be different from next week. Firstly, to Alun Pugh and Rhodri Glyn Thomas:
The Presiding Officer: Order. The Minister has replied to the intervention. Members must get used to the fact that we will soon be in an acoustically lively Chamber. You might as well get used to it now.
And then back to that pillar again:
The Presiding Officer: Order. Are you giving way to Lisa Francis? You cannot see her as she is standing behind a pillar.
By the time that David Melding had accused the Minister of kneecaping the Arts Council whilst still believing it to be capable of running the marathon we were all ready to move on.
