Silk Purse and Sow's Ear?

On St. David’s Day it may well be appropriate to pay tribute to Elfyn Lywd,  the last of the Plaid Cymru MPs with any credibility at all who leaves Parliament this year. He has been an MP since 1992 and during this time has made a valuable contribution to Parliament. Whether one agrees with all his views or not, his grasp of detail and intellect has to be admired. Most recently he presented a ten- minute rule Bill on the issue of coercive control within Domestic Abuse. He petitioned successfully for this to become a criminal offence and this will give a great deal of protection and the long overdue, force of law, to those who have suffer emotional as well as physical abuse. Diolch yn fawr!

It was therefore, with mixed feelings of admiration and ambivalence, that I heard the news that he was to visit Llanelli to assist the Plaid Candidate in his pursuit of power  a seat in Westminster. They had a ‘grand’ dinner in his honour and it was interesting to see how hierarchical and formal the table plan was, with a top table that even had a different colour of table cloth so there was absolutely no doubt who sat 'below the salt.

 I am not sure if this picture does Elfyn justice either.  

A recent tweet suggested it was the Plaid Cymru Bridge team? Answers on a postcard please.

Day two of Elfyn's visit saw him attend at the Plaid Cymru stall in the Llanelli town centre. Elfyn looked every inch of a Barrister which was in stark contrast to the Plaid candidate who seemed to have dressed for a day out in Panama or auditioning for a remake of the Dirk Birgarde role in the 1971 film 'Death in Venice'.

Then, obviously, wanting to make the most of Mr. Lywd most of the Plaid Cymru contingency left to what was described as 'an enjoyable day in Tumble'. This again, was in stark contrast to the few left behind who did not seem to have 'an enjoyable day' as they had underestimated how cold it was and seemed in need of a 'duvet day'. Indeed, one seemed so fed up at not being able to be get his voice heard above the loud cries of the Socialist Workers 'Fight the Cuts', that he waved his leaflets in the air and with a huge air of frustration squeaked 'Plaid is against the cuts too you know'.

Stark contrasts all around really and it is rumoured that when the Plaid Candidate loses his opportunity to become the next Martin Luther King he can always take a 'tour of London' in the Play Bus at the entry of the indoor Market. A bargain at the cost of £1 it could be said - I am sure the people of Llanelli will have a whip around for it.