Don't gamble, Peter Hain warns left voters
WELSH Secretary PeterHain said today left-leaning voters would have to "take sides" in the forthcoming election and warned them not to "gamble" with other parties as Welsh Labour gathers for its conference.
Mr Hain urged voters not to flirt with the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru or the Greens and stick with Labour to stop the Conservatives winning.
-

Don't gamble, Peter Hain warns left voters
Labour said it would have an "unstinting focus" on the general election, which must be held no later than June 3, at this weekend's conference in Swansea.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week escalated the pre-election skirmish and revealed Labour would campaign under the slogan "A future fair for all".
Despite a week of potentially damaging claims about Mr Brown in a book by political commentator Andrew Rawnsley, Labour officials said they had been buoyed by a diminishing Tory lead in opinion polls.
Mr Hain said: "Labour has led the country through over 10 years of good times, and now also through the bad times.
"But, with a hard won recovery coming, this is not the moment to start gambling.
"It's a time to make serious judgments about the future of Wales and the future of Britain.
"And that will mean making a decision between the Tory way and Labour's continued leadership."
He added: "I know there are tens of thousands of people in Wales who see themselves not as dyed in the wool Labour supporters, but as progressive supporters who may vote for the Liberal Democrats or Plaid Cymru or the Greens.
"I am not asking them to sign up to every dot and comma of Labour's policies and proposals, still less to renounce their principles.
"But the truth is that this coming election will be one where we have to take sides."
First Minister Carwyn Jones will tomorrow deliver his first conference speech since being elected Welsh Labour leader in December.
He will highlight the big challenges facing public spending, the economy and the environment, and will urge voters not to jeopardise Labour's record in office with a rallying cry about the threat of a Conservative government.
Mr Jones said: "This is an important moment for Welsh Labour as we gather in Swansea to discuss new ideas and to reaffirm our values before the general election battle begins in earnest.
"Labour, working together in the Assembly and in Westminster has a proud record of achievement to campaign on, but we still have plenty of work to do."
Mr Hain is due to speak to the conference on Sunday.







62 Comments
View all
by Heather, Mumbles
Tuesday, March 02 2010, 11:03AM
“Mr Hain has many talents: one he has yet to discover, like sticking that finger up his snout rather than in my chops.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, March 01 2010, 10:52PM
“Cllr.Tony Wyn-Jones, Neath
I have spoke to Linda earlier today and I informed her about your wish to meet us. She told me she would contact you. If I can help the people of Neath, in collaboration with others, I will, Cllr. Wyn-Jones. Linda has my telephone and e-mail contact details, so by all means, if you wish, communicate with me via those methods. I sincerely hope that your health improves, Cllr.Wyn-Jones.”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, March 01 2010, 8:06PM
“Paul, Morriston
The fact is Paul, I honestly thought the Lib Dems and their pals, were genuine in their promises to make Swansea a better place and ensuring that our city's people were to be well looked after! Sadly, since the local elections of 2008, I have seen a marked decline in our fortunes as a city, though I hoped that local & National governments would make the right decisons for our city and our nation. This as we know, didn't happen.
As last year progressed, I saw our city and its people suffer even more, hence I haven't posted any positive comments this year under my name!
The Lib Dems Political opponents can be easily criticised, as they allowed the Lib Dems to have the opportunity to gain control of Swansea not just in 2008, but in 2004 as well! The Lib Dem's opponents Policies did little to prove to the Swansea Electorate, that they could do any better! Labour were the biggest villains over this, as Swansea, so long a Labour stronghold, treated the Swansea Electorate with contempt when they last led the Council Administration, including over the Leisure Centre! The sad thing is, as I have said in my earlier posting, there are still many good people in the other Parties in Politics local & National (except the BNP!), it is a pity if we ignore their worth to us and their willingness to get our nation back on its feet Economically and (in some cases) Socially.
Yes I did get into Politics to help others! If I wanted to be "....perspective career politician....", as you imply, that would have happened many years ago! With exceptions, I think, hand on heart, most Politicians do want help others when they are considering the prospect of entering Politics. But as we have seen, the Electorate gets left behind when some Politicians see themselves as above the Electorate and they think that we owe them a living when in fact, it should a privilege to represent us! You have only got to look at the actions of the parasite Party that is the BNP, which I have constantly made adverse comments about, and how they feed off hatred, resentment and job loss to the detriment of the Ethnic Minorities that are here in the UK legally!
You asked;
"....if you really got into politics to help others why aren't you actively opposing the muppets in Swansea now.....?", I suggest Paul, you read my comments in response to your previous posting, which I have reproduced for you below;
"Quite simply, Paul, they, as a collective, stopped caring about people, so I made the decision to not to renew my membership of the Party nor did I attend the last AGM or the Party Conference in Swansea. This has given me the opportunity to have a 'free voice' to air my views without being 'shackled'!"
Consider this Paul, to be the beginning of my criticsm of Parties, including the Lib Dems, who have not done enough to ensure that we the Electorate, have a decent future to look forward to!”
by anon, Neath
Monday, March 01 2010, 7:47PM
“"If you want to be rid of Hain vote Plaid, it's the only way he's going to be beaten"
Replace a donkey with a dead donkey. forget it.”
by Paul, Morriston
Monday, March 01 2010, 4:35PM
“James, if you got into politics to help others why were you supporting the useless, greedy incompetent LibDems in Swansea for so long? You should have been opposing them, after all they have been incompetent for more than the last year! And I seem to remember you supporting them on this site only a few months ago (whilst, I might add, simultaneously criticising their opponents)! Now of course, they stand to do very badly in the elections so any perspective career politician would sense which they way the wind is blowing and rapidly desert their sinking ship...!
You may think I'm sad Mr Sheridan but I suspect that is because I hit a nerve. Lets see if I can hit another by simply asking you this, if you really got into politics to help others why aren't you actively opposing the muppets in Swansea now.....?”
by James Sheridan, Swansea
Monday, March 01 2010, 3:19PM
“swan anon, anon - Thanks for the support! Your comments are spot on and I am sure, joking apart, that you too are a person of principles.
Linda, Neath - Thanks for your contact details, it was brave of you to post them on this site. I will contact you.
Cllr.Tony Wyn-Jones, Neath - Thanks for the kind suggestion of a meeting with you & Linda, given your state of health. I will talk to Linda about it when we speak.
Paul, Morriston - What a sad person you are! I got interested in Politics only to help others, not to help myself like some of the Political gravy trainers! For your information, I have had no direct one-to-one personal contact with the Lib Dems for over a year, other than the odd piece written communication, which I ignored! Quite simply, Paul, they, as a collective, stopped caring about people, so I made the decision to not to renew my membership of the Party nor did I attend the last AGM or the Party Conference in Swansea. This has given me the opportunity to have a 'free voice' to air my views without being 'shackled'! That said, there are still good people in the Lib Dems, as there are in other Parties, so we should not dismiss every Politician, local or National, as some can do good for our nation. The trick is getting the Political class to understand, that is we the people, that should be their priority, not Bankers, not Party Politics, but us!
There is nothing to stop people from other parts of the region getting together to discuss what their options are at the next General Election. We should not be tricked by the Party machines that their way is best, as this may not be the case in our region! It is our futures that are most at risk, lets do something about it!”
by Dai, Neath
Monday, March 01 2010, 2:48PM
“Plaid are the only party with a chance of defeating Hain.
An Independent candidate would only succeed in splitting the opposition vote.
If you want to be rid of Hain vote Plaid, it's the only way he's going to be beaten.
Don't underestimate the hardcore Labour vote in Neath, they may not like Hain but they will still vote Labour rather than see a Tory victory.”
by swan anon, anon
Monday, March 01 2010, 2:14PM
“Actually, although I dont always agree with James Sheridan I have found him to consistently be a man of principle.
He also seems to have a good sense of humour, I have taken the mickey out of him once or twice and he has taken it as a bit of fun.”
by Cllr.Tony Wyn-Jones, Neath
Monday, March 01 2010, 12:34PM
“Linda Ware is the greastest loss to Plaid we did not do enough to keep her I would love to think that there would be a chance to change her mind but I think it's to late at leaset I still have as a very good friend.
Listen to her she knows what she is talking about this has been proved over the issue of Blainhondda council.
As you know I'm not very fit at the moment but I would love to meet with you and James.”
by Paul, Morriston
Monday, March 01 2010, 10:40AM
“Linda, James Sheridan is a failed hitchhiker on Swansea's disastrous LibDem led gravy train. IMO he'll sing from any song sheet just to gain some political power and is therefore about as principled as Hain the pain.”