Euroelections 2014: Wales Region
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Someone on our facebook page has worked out the percentage we got in each of the 22 "local counting areas" in Wales. Some interesting points arise (which might require the above analysis to be revised).Those with an above average (above 0.19) are:Rhondda Cynon Taff 0.29% (147 votes)Gwynedd 0.27 (80 votes)Swansea 0.26 (139 votes)Ceredigion 0.23 (48 votes)Vale of Glamorgan 0.22 (76 votes)Merthyr Tysfil 0.22 (26 votes)Wrexham 0.21 (63 votes)Neath Port Talbot 0.21 (73 votes)Cardiff 0.20 (160 votes)Bridgend 0.20 (60 votes)On the surface these have nothing in common. Our election leaflet was delivered by Royal Mail in parts of the Rhondda, Gwynedd, Swansea, Wrexham, Neath and Cardiff. Members and sympathisers distributed a limited number in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend, but none were in Ceredigion. In fact there (which includes Aberystwyth and its university) all they would have had would have been the election broadcast, other BBC Wales interviews and what they saw on the ballot paper. Gwynedd and Ceredigion are, with Anglesey, the most Welsh-speaking areas of Wales. What distinguishes them is that there is a well-established university in both, Bangor in one and Aberystwyth in the other, which means that they will have a younger, more outwardly-looking group. This would go some way to explain why we nearly outvoted No2EU in both these (48 to 56 in Ceredigion and 80 to 100 in Gwynedd). UKIP did badly there with the Welsh Nationalists topping the poll. But unlike Scottish Nationalism Welsh nationalism is leftwing (its current leader even claims to be a socialist).I'm not sure what the implications of all this are for our future activity in Wales but there must be something there to build on in time for the Welsh Assembly elections in 2016.
Former mining communities may have voted for the SLP if they were familiar with Scargill's trade union activity, not so much his politics though.
"But unlike Scottish Nationalism Welsh nationalism is leftwing (its current leader even claims to be a socialist)."Not exactly correct. The Scottish nationalists jettisoned their Tartan Tory tag a long time ago and the SNP have successfully placed itself left of Labour on a number of crucial issues and the Yes campaign is propped up by all sorts of Trots.
True, the SNP have transformed themselves from Tartan Tories into Tartan Reformists but has Alex Salmon ever spoken in these terms as the current leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood has:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/mar/23/leanne-wood-wales-plaid-cymru
Quote:"Socialism is an old-fashioned word and for some people an offputting word. But I describe myself as a socialist. Plaid Cymru has socialism in our aims, to create a decent socialist world."She's right. The word "socialism/sosialaeth" does occur in its constitution as one of its aims:http://www.plaidcymru.org/uploads/Cyfansoddiad_Nov_2012.pdfOf course they are not socialists but at least they are not afraid of the word.
ALB wrote:True, the SNP have transformed themselves from Tartan Tories into Tartan Reformists but has Alex Salmon ever spoken in these terms as the current leader of Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood has:http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/mar/23/leanne-wood-wales-plaid-cymruQuote:"Socialism is an old-fashioned word and for some people an offputting word. But I describe myself as a socialist. Plaid Cymru has socialism in our aims, to create a decent socialist world."She's right. The word "socialism/sosialaeth" does occur in its constitution as one of its aims:http://www.plaidcymru.org/uploads/Cyfansoddiad_Nov_2012.pdfOf course they are not socialists but at least they are not afraid of the word.
Leanne bought a copy of 'Capitalism and other kids stuff' enroute to the Iraq anti-war demo. Time for a debate I think.
But you are forgetting that Salmond was once expelled from the SNP for being a member of the 79 Group which stood for a "Scottish Socialist Republic"Admittedly, he now bends at the knee and touches his forelock when he meets the Queen and is a member of her Privy Council (by default) and the current SNP position is to retain the monarchy. And his present form of socialism is to give favours to Donald Trump and Rupert Murdoch…
For the record, here are the other two articles that appeared in the Powys County Times.From Friday 1 May:To enlarge click here.From Friday15 MayTo enlarge click here.
An analysis of the 100 or so requests for more information received at Head Office (by email, phone or letter) shows that about 37 of these have come from Wales. Since only 25% of the 1.35 million leaflets were distributed in Wales this requires an explanation. All I can think of is that Wales is a more "leftwing" or "anti-Tory" area than the South East so that the word "socialist" gets a better hearing there. It could be to do with the election broadcast but I doubt it as I don't think that that many viewers will have a pen and paper handy to take down the contact details at the end of one. The response to the election video (in terms of hits on our website, now nearly 2800) will have come from Youtube rather than the broadcast itself. On the other hand, the percentage vote in Wales was lower than in the South East.So, something that needs explaining.
ALB wrote:An analysis of the 100 or so requests for more information received at Head Office (by email, phone or letter) shows that about 37 of these have come from Wales. Since only 25% of the 1.35 million leaflets were distributed in Wales this requires an explanation. All I can think of is that Wales is a more "leftwing" or "anti-Tory" area than the South East so that the word "socialist" gets a better hearing there. It could be to do with the election broadcast but I doubt it as I don't think that that many viewers will have a pen and paper handy to take down the contact details at the end of one. The response to the election video (in terms of hits on our website, now nearly 2800) will have come from Youtube rather than the broadcast itself. On the other hand, the percentage vote in Wales was lower than in the South East.So, something that needs explaining.Or it could be because the level of deprivation is far higher in Wales than in the South East. We'll soon know once Swansea Branch get in contact with the enquirers.
I can't find a direct hyperlink to this website under the party's election video. I think anyone approving of the video should be able reach this site with a click.
Vin Maratty wrote:I can't find a direct hyperlink to this website under the party's election video. I think anyone approving of the video should be able reach this site with a click.Well spotted, thanks. Sorted!
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