Martin Shipton says in today's Western Mail, writing about the Aneurin Glyndwr blog, that neither I nor Ieuan Wyn Jones 'wanted to comment personally.'
Well, I can't speak for Ieuan.
But Martin Shipton never contacted me to ask if I wanted to comment on his story, despite the fact that he has my mobile number and my email addresses.
So, for the avoidance of doubt, here is what I would have said had he bothered to contact me:
As far as the comment from the Plaid Cymru spokesperson is concerned - which Martin should have contacted me about, since it refers to me - I regard David Taylor as an excellent researcher with great communication and IT skills, who plays a major part in helping me communicate how the Labour-led Assembly Government is leading the way in addressing the recession, through schemes of support for business such as Pro-Act.
What David gets up to as a party volunteer in his own time is a matter for him.
The fact is that Plaid are cuddling up to the Tories in the Vale of Glamorgan Council, especially Plaid Cllr Chris Williams who is desperate to keep his scrutiny chair.
Posted by: mark wilson | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 02:40 AM
Most of the posts were put up during office hours Leighton. Either he did it as part of his work or your researcher's wasting your office hours on his pet project. Have a word ;-)
Posted by: Hen Ferchetan | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 03:13 AM
Either he did it as part of his work or your researcher's wasting your office hours on his pet project
Or maybe, just maybe, he's not the only person updating the website? In fact, I think you'll find that is the case.
Doh!
Posted by: Peter | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 07:05 AM
What Peter? There's more than one person in Labour's ranks as unfunny and attack minded as Leighton's researcher? Fair enough, I can accept that.
But the site was registered by David Taylor at 12:45pm on 26th January (a Monday) - still office hours and impossible to be anyone but him.
Posted by: Hen Ferchetan | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 07:29 AM
12.45pm - his lunch hour!
Posted by: Peter | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 07:37 AM
Ha ha, OK, I'll give you that one. How about launching it just before 4:16pm on Thursday?
Posted by: Hen Ferchetan | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 07:58 AM
It launched at 9pm Thursday jsut before Dragons Eye.
Anyway, don't think anyone could accuse DT of being lazy and not fulfilling commitments when it comes to his work for Leighton.
What ever you think of him and his views, he is one of the most hard-working and diligent people in Welsh politics.
Also, you talk about "office hours" - they don't really exist in politics. Often staff are required to work at weekends and late on days when the Assembly is sitting, for example.
Posted by: Peter | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 08:07 AM
No Peter, 9pm was when the website details was passed on to journalists. 4:16pm was when David Taylor boasted on his twitter:
"Just launched www.aneuringlyndwr.com - what do you think?"
Posted by: Hen Ferchetan | Sunday, 29 March 2009 at 08:41 AM
You're wrong again, I'm afraid.
4.16pm - Twitter (San Francisco) time.
12.16am - GMT
Launch was under strict embargo for Dragon's Eye Thursday night - I was hardly going to announce it beforehand on Twitter!
Posted by: David | Monday, 30 March 2009 at 12:46 AM