We can exclusively reveal that, following yesterday's general election, a landslide victory means the next British prime minister will be… Leonid Breshnev. Contractors have already started renovation works at the Rhewl and Cerrigydrudion nuclear observation bunkers.
It's been an uneventful journey to the polls, in Rhuthun/Ruthin. Winning candidate Conservative David Jones hoardings went up in the countryside the day after the election was called.
David Jones was by far the favoured candidate in terms of town centre election posters. In fact, his were the only ones. Several flapped in the wind strung outside the Conservative Club, Well Street, but were replaced as unsatisfactory with a couple of boards in the windows.
There was also a couple of David Jones banners in the former and now nicely painted Rhuthun Carpets, Well Street, alongside one for Turner Brothers. Yet, there was no mention of the brothers on the ballot paper. Can we then assume the brothers have an allegiance?
On Clwyd Street, there was a Conservative poster either above or in the empty shop next to Blackcurrant, and two in the old Blossom's beauty parlour. It was here that someone had stuck over the David Jones signs on the window three small pieces of paper only slightly larger than business cards that said, "No return to Tory blood-sport sadism". These additions had been removed yesterday.
There was no evidence in town (that I saw) of any other notices of candidature. What happened, for example, to Labour's Donna Hutton? Some say Labour decided against public notices. The only one I saw was taped to the rear passenger window of a solitary car. Things were different in Y Rhyl, where Chris Ruane supporters had heartily painted the town red.
There was a small collection of people early yesterday on Station Road, near the entrance to County Hall, with a large banner reading "Only a vote for Labour will secure your job".
A number of people have commented that they voted tactically based on information received from Plaid Cymru (candidate F(f)lerr Hughes-Griffiths, as one of my neighbours steadfastly mispronounced him!). Plaid painted an "us & them" blue/green picture, in which it was a straight Clwyd West choice between Conservatives and Plaid. Plaid's share was up nearly 5 per cent, so may be this tactic worked. It was, however, based on a larger European constituency where voting habits and patterns are somewhat different. As former Labour MP Gareth Thomas stated on this very blog, the difference between him and 2005 victor David Jones was a mere 133 votes, last time. Till 1997, this was the seat of the Conservative hapless Rod Richards, of course.
Risking life & limb on the bike-infested B5105, I chanced a trip up to the Thomas household in Llanfwrog Rural, to see whether there was a Labour or Plaid Cymru billboard outside his house. Nothing at all to see. Very strange.
Rhuthun/Ruthin resident and regional member of the Assembly Janet Ryder was standing as a prospective Plaid MP in Clwyd South. Her local supporters need not fear, as Plaid was always a bit of an outsider and, with 3,009 votes or nine per cent, she will therefore continue to represent North Wales in Caerdydd. There's talk, however, that at next year's Assembly elections, she will seek a seat further south, abdicating to allow the return to mainstream politics of Dafydd Wigley. There was a bit of a rumpus three years ago when Ryder was first placed in the Plaid list, ahead of Wigley. She was even asked to stand down in his favour. Her former husband Peter was standing this time around for Plaid in Delyn polling 1,844 or 5 per cent.
The boundary of the Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency was extended south to mirror that of the Assembly's, three years ago. This lumps Rhewl with Dinbych and Y Rhyl, but not Llanrhaeadr, which continues in Clwyd West.
Near Rhuthun resident and former Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh who lost his seat in 2007, failed to be elected in the Arfon constituency in Gwynedd. A swing away from Labour secured a Plaid MP.
And finally, it's all over and there's nothing we can do about it, for another five years, anyway. If you don't like the result, remember that climate change is gonna get us all in the end.
It's been an uneventful journey to the polls, in Rhuthun/Ruthin. Winning candidate Conservative David Jones hoardings went up in the countryside the day after the election was called.
David Jones was by far the favoured candidate in terms of town centre election posters. In fact, his were the only ones. Several flapped in the wind strung outside the Conservative Club, Well Street, but were replaced as unsatisfactory with a couple of boards in the windows.
There was also a couple of David Jones banners in the former and now nicely painted Rhuthun Carpets, Well Street, alongside one for Turner Brothers. Yet, there was no mention of the brothers on the ballot paper. Can we then assume the brothers have an allegiance?
On Clwyd Street, there was a Conservative poster either above or in the empty shop next to Blackcurrant, and two in the old Blossom's beauty parlour. It was here that someone had stuck over the David Jones signs on the window three small pieces of paper only slightly larger than business cards that said, "No return to Tory blood-sport sadism". These additions had been removed yesterday.
There was no evidence in town (that I saw) of any other notices of candidature. What happened, for example, to Labour's Donna Hutton? Some say Labour decided against public notices. The only one I saw was taped to the rear passenger window of a solitary car. Things were different in Y Rhyl, where Chris Ruane supporters had heartily painted the town red.
There was a small collection of people early yesterday on Station Road, near the entrance to County Hall, with a large banner reading "Only a vote for Labour will secure your job".
A number of people have commented that they voted tactically based on information received from Plaid Cymru (candidate F(f)lerr Hughes-Griffiths, as one of my neighbours steadfastly mispronounced him!). Plaid painted an "us & them" blue/green picture, in which it was a straight Clwyd West choice between Conservatives and Plaid. Plaid's share was up nearly 5 per cent, so may be this tactic worked. It was, however, based on a larger European constituency where voting habits and patterns are somewhat different. As former Labour MP Gareth Thomas stated on this very blog, the difference between him and 2005 victor David Jones was a mere 133 votes, last time. Till 1997, this was the seat of the Conservative hapless Rod Richards, of course.
Risking life & limb on the bike-infested B5105, I chanced a trip up to the Thomas household in Llanfwrog Rural, to see whether there was a Labour or Plaid Cymru billboard outside his house. Nothing at all to see. Very strange.
Rhuthun/Ruthin resident and regional member of the Assembly Janet Ryder was standing as a prospective Plaid MP in Clwyd South. Her local supporters need not fear, as Plaid was always a bit of an outsider and, with 3,009 votes or nine per cent, she will therefore continue to represent North Wales in Caerdydd. There's talk, however, that at next year's Assembly elections, she will seek a seat further south, abdicating to allow the return to mainstream politics of Dafydd Wigley. There was a bit of a rumpus three years ago when Ryder was first placed in the Plaid list, ahead of Wigley. She was even asked to stand down in his favour. Her former husband Peter was standing this time around for Plaid in Delyn polling 1,844 or 5 per cent.
The boundary of the Vale of Clwyd parliamentary constituency was extended south to mirror that of the Assembly's, three years ago. This lumps Rhewl with Dinbych and Y Rhyl, but not Llanrhaeadr, which continues in Clwyd West.
Near Rhuthun resident and former Clwyd West AM Alun Pugh who lost his seat in 2007, failed to be elected in the Arfon constituency in Gwynedd. A swing away from Labour secured a Plaid MP.
And finally, it's all over and there's nothing we can do about it, for another five years, anyway. If you don't like the result, remember that climate change is gonna get us all in the end.
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