Has Rhrodri got socialist polices?

This was the usual tick box speech. There is nothing there that you could sell to the already skeptical electorate. No condemnation of privitisation or ‘contestability’ the cuddly version, or voluntary or ‘third’ sector companies or PFI or an end to LHBs seeking tenders for NHS services!

One real policy idea suggested by Rhodri is that the Assembly will set up a Petitions Committee, to guarantee that issues which matter to people up and down Wales get onto their Assembly’s agenda! Wow! Policy making by petition, sooooo unoriginal. Sounds just like Tony Blairs e-petition! http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ If I do a petition so we can have NHS dentists in Wales what would be my chances of success?

The most acute politicisation of resources concerns that of housing although no mention of it in this speech. The Blair government wants councils in Wales to ‘privatise’ their housing stock and Rhrodri has bowed to pressure – the No Vote in Wrexham and clear indications from other areas show that tenants are overwhelmingly opposed. Housing stock transfer is so discredited that Rhrodri has attempted to disguise the policy by introducing a new fancy wrapper for it, calling it a ‘Community Housing Mutual’. Rhrodri, how about giving councils the same opportunity as presently exists for Housing Associations, to obtain improvement grants to bring housing stock up to standard so “people (WON’T) have to live in local environments which are run-down and in decay”. Do we have to do a petition?

Rhrodri is now environmental friendly too but will he promote greener transport? He is honorary president of the Cardiff Cycling Campaign, but members say he has supported car users since coming to power. In the campaign's annual meeting, the group voted unanimously to remove him - unless he influenced the Assembly's current consultation Welsh Transport Strategy to favour public transport, cycling and walking.

Rhrodri, the wealth gap has got wider, your statement that “Income is now the most equal since 1987” is irrelevant. A study by Paul Donovan of the City firm UBS, found that existing levels of income inequality preserve. The share of income owned by the top 1% of the population in the UK is back to pre-second world war levels. Meanwhile, 60% of people earn less than £20,000 a year, 80% less than £30,000. Those on the lowest incomes tend to suffer higher levels of inflation than those at the top. If you want the voters to trust you some honesty is required.

Rhrodri asks Did New Labour bury Thatcherism and create a new post-war consensus, a millennium consensus and the answer is an obvious no.

Rhrodri should come back with some concrete policies. Denis Healy was quoted in the Observer today “I have always been in politics in order to do something rather than to be something.”

You really must come out of this denial stage, I notice you don’t mention the war! Oh dear!