The Party of Wales. Bit of a cheek. With more watching Newport County home games, than Plaid has members.
The membership is largely confined to the northwest of Wales. The valleys a barren land for Plaid. Rhondda a bit of an exception, but that's more of a personality thing.
Plaid Cymru. Party of Wales. Rhan o Cymru. Part of Wales is more appropriate.
And they are not moving forward. Not gaining votes or seats. Yes, they will point to this poll and that. Ahead of Labour. Clutching at straws. The fact is, they are the third party in the Senneddd and the most optimistic polls point to them remaining that way.
Future projections, if they are to be believed, point to the challenge to Labour coming, not from Plaid Cymru, but from the Tories.
Leanne Wood was dumped, not moving forward fast enough , so it was said, ( I think its because she's a socialist ).
There doesn't seem to be much forward momentum since though.
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| Plaid Cymru's Independence rally |
Stagnating. That's the best you can say.
So why? What does Plaid stand for?
Therein lies the problem. The public doesn't really know.
They are perceived as a Welsh speaking , middle class, elitist Party and it doesn't help that the leadership reinforce that perception.
The Chair. A member of the broadcasting fraternity, who writes Welsh language comedy programmes.
Perhaps necessary qualifications for the role.
The Chief Executive. Moved over from Friends of the Earth. Maybe to help with the green credentials..
There is little sign of heavyweight impact in policy in that appointment.
The Leader. Its no good playing the working class background card, if academia is the image showing through. If you are out of touch with the voters. You have to look people in the eye, not talk over their heads.
This call for reparation. Headline grabbing to no purpose.
So what do they stand for.
A green economy, fair and equal society. Jobs for all. So whats new.
The system doesn't really work on a buggins turn basis, where its your turn to govern.
What does Plaid Cymru offer that's different.
It could be Independence. A better Wales through an Independent Wales. Well Plaid isn't convincing the Welsh public of that.
Despite Wales having a good share of voters disaffected with the present system, they are not flocking to them.
Plaid Cymru lacks conviction. As an established political party it has a platform, an advantage. However in the Independence movement it has ceded leadership to others. Yes Cymru and others are leading the push, not Plaid Cymru.
Plaid Cymru has announced the setting up of a Commission on Independence. A Commission. The refuge of the clueless.
Twenty years after Devolution and with Independence supposedly at its core, it still has to be told whether Independence works.
It is this lack of confidence and conviction that is a problem.
In the early days of devolution, Independence was a word to be whispered, in case it frightened the voters.
Then the Welsh Labour government lost it majority. it was desperate for Plaid to prop it up. There was the opportunity to insist that Independence to be put on the agenda. Chance not taken.
The 2011 Plaid Cymru Sennedd election manifesto contained very little on Independence. A paragraph in fact.
The 2016 manifesto concentrated on a Federal UK. What is that all about? We have what is supposedly a Federal UK. Its not working.
That was always going to be a non runner, What Wales needs. Full legislative powers and economic autonomy. are the very powers Westminster want to hang on to.
So what is it Plaid. ? You really don't believe in Independence, or are you afraid of it.?
The thing is, the persistent whining about the Welsh Labour government. It's becoming a mantra.
Further it is denigrating not Welsh Labour , but the Government of Wales. Giving ammunition to those who are not friends of Wales. Those in Westminster and the English controlled media.
Yes you must hold the Welsh government to account, but if the motive is to embarrass the government you often embarrass the Nation.
The Welsh public know when things are wrong. What they want to know how Plaid is going to to put it right.
Vague promises don't cut it, as you are finding out.
The public is still waiting for Plaid to explain how Independence is going to work. Paying for Welsh water is hardly an economic plan.
No Plaid I am afraid that the public realise , that neither you, or any other party, is going to make a significant difference under the present system.
It seems therefore you are stuffed. Destined to whither and die.
You have to do something different. What about changing the system. What about self government. A better Wales through an Independent Wales.
You don't seem keen on that though.
If you change your mind and you really want a go at government here's a clue.
Go for change. Down the self government route. ( sounds less radical than Independence ).
Address the main issues that concern people on Independence.
How are you going to do it.? How are we going to afford it ? How is it going to improve our lives.
Hammer it home at every opportunity. Remember Let's get Brexit done. That worked.
It should be front and centre with Plaid. Clear, precise, persuasive. And for goodness sake sound as if you mean it.
So there you have it. Independence must be Plaid Cymru's priority.
Unless of course you are happy with the sideline. Or at best a junior partner in a future coalition.
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