Lunatics in charge of the Welsh and Scottish Asylums

VFTN's concerns about the cost and constitutional questions posed by devolution for Scotland and Wales has always been tempered by a belief that too much power is concentrated in Westminster and the devolved institutions may reinvigorate politics by putting power closer to the people.
How wrong can you be?
Those of us who spend most of our lives in England rarely hear about the workings of the Scottish Parliament or Welsh Assembly and have seen only brief overviews of the current election campaigns. I recent visit to Wales, therefore, was eye-opening to say the least.
In the course of his career, VFTN has had the misfortune to spend a lot of time in council meetings across the North of England and has frequently despaired at the quality of people holding public office and the paucity of debate. Depressingly, most of them would wipe the floor with the characters taking part in devolved Government.
The Welsh Assembly candidates VFTN saw interviewed were often incoherent and could not even produce a decent soundbite. In one exchange, Rhodri Morgan was asked about how the campaign was going. His reply was that the candidates were in danger of getting sun stroke because of the weather. No policies then Rhodri?
A Lib Dem election broadcast opened with the memorable line "We all love Wales". Vacuous tosh. The main policy aired in this broadcast was that the answer to the shortage of dentists in Wales is mobile dentists. Now, as it happens, VFTN knows a few dentists. Their considered view is that mobile facilities are fine for doing a quick check-up but pretty useless for doing any significant treatment. One told VFTN: "All a mobile dentist will often do is confirm that the patient is right, that they do need dental treatment and that they should find a dentist."
As a hack, VFTN is ashamed to say the coverage of the elections was less than inspiring either. BBC Wales employs a goon called Vaughan Roderick. In a two-way last week he was asked by a presenter about the nature of the election campaign. Roderick's observation was that politicians were having to get "down and dirty" with the voters. No, VFTN does not know what that means either.
To be honest, better analysis was provided by the Machynlleth butcher who, asked about his local contest, said: "Well round here it's a two horse race. It's hard to say who will win but it will certainly be one of them."
Last night's Newsnight feature on the Scottish elections suggested it is much the same north of the border. A bunch of men in cheap suits looking like shifty used car salesmen and women power dressing Dynasty style.
All of a sudden, VFTN has new respect for the Westminster brigade.

Incidentally, check out the excellent Arsembly blog for more on the workings of Welsh politics.

Campaigning, Lib Dem style

Making an early bid for VFTN's 'Misleading Leaflet of the Campaign' competition is that of Altaf Hussein, Lib Dem candidate hoping to represent the north Leeds district of Roundhay. In his leaflet he attacks the "mindless vandals" who have ruined the recently refurbished cafe in Roundhay Park. The Government, he says "should fund more police community support officers to patrol at night."
Perfectly reasonable sentiments of course. Hard to see though what that has to do with the cafe being destroyed by...... erm..... fire. And the fire wasn't caused by vandals but...... erm..... an electrical fault if the Yorkshire Post ("Power fault confirmed as cause of cafe blaze) and the Yorkshire Evening Post are to be believed.
Mr Hussein also has strong views on Iraq, not something Leeds Council has much say over last time anyone looked. Oh, and he thinks post offices shouldn't shut and quotes two national newspapers over PO closure plans. He doesn't produce any evidence of plans to shut the Oakwood post office which rather begs the question why he is pictured outside it?
More examples please to theviewfromthenorth@hotmail.co.uk