The new-look State of Wales launches, albeit still as a work in progress (expect bugs to iron out), with one of the new recurring features – Word Salad – which will be a sardonic (haters will say nit-picking) take on strange, funny, confusing, flowery and reality-bending statements from our politicians, the media and public bodies.
The 2021 Senedd election is first up with a particular focus on the manifestos. It’s true that nobody really cares about manifestos, but political parties really, really do.
You can see there’s a drop-down menu to skip to different sections. The days of a massive 3,000-word wall of text are hopefully over.
“Plaid’s manifesto has been independently verified by two of Wales’ leading economists, Professor Brian Morgan and Professor Gerry Holtham.”
As in 2016. What they didn’t tell you is their assessment – which doesn’t seem to be available to read anywhere – came with some very big caveats:
“We are concerned that the Welsh government machine currently lacks the experience and capacity to manage such a rapid growth of borrowing (Owen: which would be at least £4-6billion over five years) and investment.”
Verification on whether the sums add up is one thing; believing it’s deliverable or based on good ideas is another.
“A Plaid Cymru Government will have a five-year plan to recruit, train and education an additional 4,000 nurses, 1,000 doctors and 1,000 allied health professionals such as physiotherapists and occupational therapists.”
I don’t want to single Plaid out here as all parties make similar pledges, but problems in the NHS – particularly long waiting lists – are caused by a lack of treatment and diagnostic capacity not necessarily a lack of doctors and nurses.
Doctors can’t treat patients without tests carried out by biomedical/clinical scientists and radiographers – unsung heroes who never get a look in because their work isn’t sexy enough. Patients need beds and porters to be seen by nurses or offloaded from ambulances. Hospitals need estates staff to keep wards running. It’s not just about doctorsandnurses and all politicians should stop looking at the NHS in such a simplistic way.
“A Plaid Cymru Government will establish Prosperity Wales, an arms-length all-Wales development agency….an Arfor Development Agency….Cymoedd, a Valleys Development Authority….an electric bike manufacturer in the heart of the Valleys….six strategic planning regions to provide the framework for an evolutionary approach to creating new democratic leadership at the community level….a dedicated Office for Regional Development and Investment….Ynni Cymru as an energy development company….Institutes of Technology on existing FE sites….”
That’s the abridged versio….
“….an AI Institute for the Future Economy….a consultative Rural Senedd….an Industry Task Force….establish production facilities to produce housing units….a National Advice Service to advise householders on installing domestic charging for electric vehicles….”
That’s the abridged ver….
“….a publicly owned bus operator….a local cultural consortium….a Welsh Media Commission….a new broadcasting and telecommunications body for Wales….new sector-based social partnership bodies across the economy….”
That’s the abridged version. Need I remind everyone that only one sitting Plaid MS has ever served as a government minister and they had a manifesto pledge to completely overhaul the civil service. That’s a 15-year programme of government minimum, not five.
“We support Lord Burns’ South East Wales Transport Commission’s recommendations for upgrading the southern main railway line to provide six new stations and an improved commuter service.”
*Ka-ching* £800million.
“Cardiff City Council have published plans for a £1bn plus transport strategy that includes a Cardiff Crossrail from St Mellons to Llantrisant, plus a Circle Crossrail a rail bridge over the Taff. This will undoubtedly improve public transport connectivity in Cardiff.”
Right, so you back that then? *Ka-ching * £1billion.
“Using existing, new and reinstated lines, a Valleys Crossrail will connect Treherbert in the Rhondda to Pontypool, via Pontypridd, Nelson, Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed, Blackwood, Newbridge, and Crumlin.”
*Ka-ching* Another ~£600million; you’re looking at some serious engineering work around the Quakers Yard and Newbridge areas. Existing railways would have to be reconfigured too. Not cheap. Not easy.
“Create a new west coast rail line, connecting the north and south….”
The Carmarthen-Aberystwyth stretch has been estimated to cost at least £755million (probably much more now). You can probably add at least another £250million on top to link Porthmadog to Bangor. *Ka-ching* £1billion.
“….a new Amlwch to Dolgellau ‘tram-train’ service and extension of the Conwy line to Bala and Trawsfynydd.”
Let’s call that another £200million at least. *Ka-ching*
“Develop Swansea Bay Metro proposals, reopening old railway lines and stations – including Cockett, Landore and the Swansea District Line – and creating direct routes to the surrounding Swansea and Amman Valleys.”
Assuming no new lines need to be built – another £100million minimum? *Ka-ching*
I work it out to be around at least £3.7billion in commitments for new rail projects alone and that might be an underestimate. There goes most of Plaid Cymru’s proposed borrowing, though if this is a 10-year+ programme, why even include it in the manifesto?
“The word emergency comes from the Latin word for emergence – to bring to light.”
“I see you’re trying to win an election. Did you know that the word ‘election’ comes from the Latin stem word meaning ‘to pick out’? Do you want me to use that in a sentence?”
No.
“Splendid! ‘In a manifesto that was already 125 pages long, Plaid Cymru should have picked out the unnecessary etymology lessons (and cut it back by about 60 pages)’.”
