The closed list is a big mistake. It helps grifters in Reform who've done nothing but a well known and respected candidate (from whichever party) won't be able to get those extra vital votes. It also alienates voters. Plaid wanted STV, Labour opposed. Is there still time to change that?
One of the things that might make a difference is challenging the right-wing bias in mass media. GBNews, TalkTV & most of the big national newspapers are owned by very rich individuals who have vested interests to protect.
We need media that ask parties like Reform the hard questions, and point out when they have no answers.
Reform didn't have a manifesto at the last election, and that was entirely deliberate. They're not a democratic party, they're a limited company owned by some of the same very rich individuals who own the media.
There's a pattern, and it's a nasty one.
How do we persuade the Labour party (both in Wales & in the national party) to start unpicking the systems than enable that plan? Starting by removing the senior people in the BBC that were put in place by the previous government to silence honest debate, perhaps?
But we also need to reach the the people Will describes in his piece in some way that they will see and listen to. Sorting out the BBC is really important in itself, but do these people at the Reform conference watch the BBC?
We might need something like Led By Donkeys. Maybe even working with them.
Regulating GBNews properly might help too, of course. They need to be pushed to be at least a little bit more balanced, and stop the lies.
So we need Ofcom sorted out & the Electoral Commission too.
Ofcom have started to be a bit more pro-active, but there's much more to do.
LBD are great, and they cheer me up a lot, but really they only reach the "usual suspects" - even more so than the BBC. People who think Fraage is a "man of the people" aren't going to listen to them any more than they hear the BBC.
The message from the US election is that what we've been doing up to now just isn't good enough. We need to change too.
Jesus Will! Facts. 52/48% on a 70% turnout in the referendum is not an overwhelming majority, especially when that majority would have been reversed if the English retirees in Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire were excluded. You should now this!
Similarly, why do you do glibly repeat the trope about the NHS and education in Wales compared to the UK?
If Reform are the catalyst and the means to oust Labour from government then all well and good. The left leaning Welsh press will then, no doubt, subject them to a revenge of scrutiny that Welsh Labour have never had to endure even if it has been so deserved.
Looking for organised efforts to campaign against Reform and counter the situation you describe. Seems like an "Anyone But Reform" campaign to inform ahead of the election would be worth supporting.
Be the change you want to see! I know there'll be a lot of people (myself included) in the same boat as you. Reform getting even one vote in the Senedd election is a terrifying prospect.
To keep Labour in power? Why? In 25 years they have delivered no significant benefit to Wales whilst presiding over a calamitous decline in public services. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Nice... Daily Mailesque catastrophising language. No facts, no perspective, and not very persuasive. What's your evidence re calamitous decline, and then if proven, your evidence that it's Labours fault?
I am not a Reform supporter, but I have been surprised at how many people I talk to are attracted to them. They want Labour out and see Reform as a way of achieving this. Perversely, a 'Stop Reform' campaign might have the reverse effect. It's more publicity aferall.
That is the worry, and another reason I don't want to try to organise -- I don't know enough. If I had to bet though, I'd try the sort of thing Led By Donkeys do. Discredit Reform as grifters who don't actually care about fixing anything, and do it with a sense of humour and separate from promoting any other party.
The closed list is a big mistake. It helps grifters in Reform who've done nothing but a well known and respected candidate (from whichever party) won't be able to get those extra vital votes. It also alienates voters. Plaid wanted STV, Labour opposed. Is there still time to change that?
That seems like a really good question. Who should we bother to get answers and try to light a fire under this?
One of the things that might make a difference is challenging the right-wing bias in mass media. GBNews, TalkTV & most of the big national newspapers are owned by very rich individuals who have vested interests to protect.
We need media that ask parties like Reform the hard questions, and point out when they have no answers.
Reform didn't have a manifesto at the last election, and that was entirely deliberate. They're not a democratic party, they're a limited company owned by some of the same very rich individuals who own the media.
There's a pattern, and it's a nasty one.
How do we persuade the Labour party (both in Wales & in the national party) to start unpicking the systems than enable that plan? Starting by removing the senior people in the BBC that were put in place by the previous government to silence honest debate, perhaps?
But we also need to reach the the people Will describes in his piece in some way that they will see and listen to. Sorting out the BBC is really important in itself, but do these people at the Reform conference watch the BBC?
We might need something like Led By Donkeys. Maybe even working with them.
Regulating GBNews properly might help too, of course. They need to be pushed to be at least a little bit more balanced, and stop the lies.
So we need Ofcom sorted out & the Electoral Commission too.
Ofcom have started to be a bit more pro-active, but there's much more to do.
LBD are great, and they cheer me up a lot, but really they only reach the "usual suspects" - even more so than the BBC. People who think Fraage is a "man of the people" aren't going to listen to them any more than they hear the BBC.
The message from the US election is that what we've been doing up to now just isn't good enough. We need to change too.
Jesus Will! Facts. 52/48% on a 70% turnout in the referendum is not an overwhelming majority, especially when that majority would have been reversed if the English retirees in Pembrokeshire and Monmouthshire were excluded. You should now this!
Similarly, why do you do glibly repeat the trope about the NHS and education in Wales compared to the UK?
There are so many reports about this kind of thing. https://www.nhsconfed.org/articles/can-we-make-direct-comparisons-between-nhs-england-and-wales
You, Martin Shipton and his disciples either need to widen your reading lists or are being deliberately manipulative in your commentary.
Facts, or at least perspective, please.
Fun to see your interviews of the INFIRM party leaders. Ignorance is bliss from their point of view.
If Reform are the catalyst and the means to oust Labour from government then all well and good. The left leaning Welsh press will then, no doubt, subject them to a revenge of scrutiny that Welsh Labour have never had to endure even if it has been so deserved.
Looking for organised efforts to campaign against Reform and counter the situation you describe. Seems like an "Anyone But Reform" campaign to inform ahead of the election would be worth supporting.
Be the change you want to see! I know there'll be a lot of people (myself included) in the same boat as you. Reform getting even one vote in the Senedd election is a terrifying prospect.
I'm too old and tired and introverted to be the organiser. But I'd give it major financial support.
To keep Labour in power? Why? In 25 years they have delivered no significant benefit to Wales whilst presiding over a calamitous decline in public services. The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
Nice... Daily Mailesque catastrophising language. No facts, no perspective, and not very persuasive. What's your evidence re calamitous decline, and then if proven, your evidence that it's Labours fault?
Because they've been in power for 25 years.
I'm a Plaid member. But I think countering Reform is more important than anything else.
I am not a Reform supporter, but I have been surprised at how many people I talk to are attracted to them. They want Labour out and see Reform as a way of achieving this. Perversely, a 'Stop Reform' campaign might have the reverse effect. It's more publicity aferall.
That is the worry, and another reason I don't want to try to organise -- I don't know enough. If I had to bet though, I'd try the sort of thing Led By Donkeys do. Discredit Reform as grifters who don't actually care about fixing anything, and do it with a sense of humour and separate from promoting any other party.
Well Labour have been warned.