Need for more honesty from Welsh journalists and politicians all round

The headline from Martin Shipton’s piece in the Western Mail yesterday was certainly eye catching and the opening few paragraphs went further than anything previous in the welsh press questioning of the calibre, suitability and effectiveness of Minister’s in the current Welsh Labour Government (or previous Welsh Government’s) as they are faced with the unprecedented challenges of big cuts to budgets, welfare changes, low economic growth and changing Welsh public service delivery including local government and the NHS. 

However the strong opening asking about the capabilities of the current Cabinet was little more than padding as it was a reshuffle speculation piece probably planted by the man in question about which Labour backbencher would make a better Minister than any of the current lot.

The person being championed is Mark Drakeford, he’s was a SpAd to former First Minister Rhodri Morgan and knows the workings of the Welsh Government as well as anyone on the front bench which would be an advantage in this situation, but those writing about him should be more honest. Because as well as being the man behind the clear red water strategy, he is anti-business and enterprise and uncomfortable with profit, but has amassed a personal fortune through well paid public sector jobs and lives in a million pound house in one of the most exclusive parts of Cardiff.  Hypocritical to say the least

Mark Drakeford isn’t alone in Cardiff Bay or the Labour Party in being suspicious of business as former Labour MEP Eluned Morgan stated in her Patrick Hannan lecture in 2011 and Labour aren’t the only party with elected representatives and members with similar views, but it would provide a better informed and healthier debate in Welsh politics if journalists and politicians were more honest with the public about thier views and why certain decisions are made and others not.

The article is here