Another Labour AM has announced that they will be retiring at the next Assembly election.
Swansea East AM Val Lloyd has become the latest to respond to Labour’s summer deadline to make their intentions for 2011 clear.
This comes on top of the retirements of Rhodri Morgan, Jane Davidson, Brian Gibbons, Lorraine Barrett and Irene James on the Labour benches.
Also standing down is Mick Bates from the Liberal Democrats and Janet Ryder from Plaid – she has in effect signaled her intention to leave the Assembly by standing in Clwyd South rather than sticking with the north Wales regional list.
That’s eight AM’s leaving the Assembly – more than 10% of the total. Of course of top of this will be those who lose their seats.
Irrespective of whether the Assembly has new powers in 2011, it is going to be all-change in Cardiff Bay come 2011.
David Phillips 12:37 pm on 26 July, 2009 Permalink
All change at the Bay and in Westminster at a time when our economy and society face several and varied challenges. What really matters is the policy direction taken at both UK and Wales level from 2010 and 2011 respectively, and so the key question is who will be the change agents.
a Change of Personnel 2:53 pm on 26 July, 2009 Permalink
any renewal in the stagnant waters of welsh politics is a good start, my only concern is that the parties don’t just replace like for like candidates because some more dynamism in the Assembly would be a very welcome sight indeed.
Lee Waters 3:17 pm on 26 July, 2009 Permalink
Local parties guard their role as gatekeepers carefully. But as political parties become smaller, and therefore less representative, they become more likely to select in their own mould and view ‘newcomers’ with suspicion.
I think open primaries have a lot to recommend them but local parties of all colours are very protective of their power to select candidates. As power to make policies are increasingly exercised by a small elite at the centre, it remains one of the few levers available to ordinary members to wield influence over the direction over their parties – and why would they give that up?
Michael Cridland 3:58 pm on 26 July, 2009 Permalink
And that’s the truth the death of Wales! You know COP I like you and an appropriate title!
Robert 11:44 am on 27 July, 2009 Permalink
Must be the stress from the expenses they cannot afford to live on £64,000.
I for once do not care anymore, I for the first time in my 58 years did not vote at the last local elections and will not be voting and the general election, if I had to vote sadly it might well be for a stupid Nazi party, because boy I’m I sick to death of New labour and the Tories.