Friday 23 April 2010

Hustings #7

Back to Carmarthen for last night's session - 'Ask the Climate Change Question', organised by the RSPB. Can't say why, exactly, but it didn't seem to have the same spark as some of the other sessions we've had - hope we're not all becoming jaded. One more to go, in Tenby next Tuesday.

Good range of questions again tonight. One was on nuclear power - no real surprise. Nick Ainger inevitably drew attention to the fact that my position doesn't accord with that of the party leader. Can't blame him for trying, but once again, I can only point out that Plaid makes its policies democratically, and I am promoting the policy agreed by the membership and reiterated in the manifesto.

There was also a question on the Severn Barrage. The Lib Dem and I both argued against the large barrage. Nick Ainger wanted to see the outcome of the studies being conducted before coming to a conclusion. Not an entirely unreasonable position to take - pity I didn't find the opportunity to point out that that puts him at odds with his leader, given that Hain wanted to include a firm commitment to the barrage in their manifesto.

The Tory, Simon Hart, could only say that he didn't have a clue what his party's policy is on the issue. Honest answer, but a little bit surprising given that energy policy was always likely to feature in a debate about climate change.

4 comments:

David Wise said...

I was there, representing oxfam and frankly I don't think Nick Ainger did you any harm at all by pointing out that you disagree with your party leader over nuclear power- it made you look principled and independently minded. Incidentally, nobody knows when this is broadcast do they? BBC Wales don't know and S4C aren't answering their phones... I'd like me mam to see it...

John Dixon said...

David,

Thanks for the feedback. Afraid I haven't a clue when it's to be broadcast - didn't even know the cameras were going to be there until I arrived.

David Wise said...

Oh :( I'll see if I can give S4C a call tomorrow morning then. Incidentally, perhaps next time he does that you could say that it's unfair to yet again mortgage the future of the Welsh people to provide energy security for England? Just something that occured to me at the time...

John Dixon said...

Thanks again.