And the All-Wales Accord (RIP) was not “vague in many parts and uncosted in others”?

Come on, Peter. Don’t you think people are fed up with this kind of partisan hackery?

I disagree that the detail of the policies are not important. I think aiming for a manifesto which is geared around campaigning will lead to inconsistency at best and populism at worst. A manifesto should be a programme for government. We should campaign on the issues closest to people’s hearts and minds, as all parties do, but selected from a thorough and detailed manifesto.

I think we need to be rigorous in producing detailed policy so that we in the party can understand what a Lib Dem government would mean for Wales. Only then can we really start to sell that idea to the public.

As it was I think I did hint at some of these things though you have also highlighted some omissions.

I agree that my paper largely outlines existing Welsh policy although with some variation specifically on the M4 extension and the Severn Barrage. However, that was the intention. Although I am keen to start a debate within the party I think it was also useful to tell the outside world where we are starting from. You would be astonished how many do not know. I have had a number of commnents from people thanking me for clarifying what the Welsh Liberal Democrats stood for simply because they did not know previously.

I agree with you on our manifesto but it was not so much lack of detail that was the factor as lack of relevance. Most people were not aware what was in the manifesto and those who were did not see how it related to their personal situation. As I said in the article we need to produce a campaigning manifesto.

I did respond and with a particular issue in mind – economic development. I think we should put forward more emphatically our policies in support of small businesses and a need to move away from the heavy industry led economy still harked back to by many in Wales. I think this is a key area where we can have a distinctive policy.

Similarly I think we need to develop a better strategy for incorporating environmental and economic development together. We should be offering greater support for businesses which are developing environmental technologies, particularly renewable energy. We should also look to encourage domestic processing of recycled materials. Many parties talk of increasing recycling, but none have yet to outline a proper strategy for mainstreaming the markets. Again, this is an area we can lead on and show how we are the only party with fully thought through objectives in this area.

As I said before, I don’t think there is a great deal you have said which wasn’t in the manifesto. The biggest problem with our election campaign was that we outlined our good intentions, but were scant on details as to how we would achieve them. I think honing down these details will enable us to create the clear cut alternative to the other parties in Wales, which is what you say you want.

In specific reference to Peter Black’s article I am less welcoming of this supposed conrtibution to debate. Those outside of Wales will not have seen today’s Western Mail, which has published the whole essay and given over a further page to its discussion. The coverage is embarrassing and simply provides the opposition with an opportunity to attack us.

Much of the content and tone seems dry and unimaginative. The document is also scant on key areas of policy. For example, it criticises the drop in economic output of Wales, yet has virtually no suggestions on how to improve economic growth.

We need to develop our policy and our campaigning stance, but this document does little to aid that process.

Peter’s article is big news in Wales, with the BBC Website including a link to LDV. How often does that happen?
And yet, readers seem not to have taken any interest. Peter’s article, whether you agree with him or not, is a serious attempt to put ourselves on the correct course in Wales, and has generated considerable controversy in the Welsh Press.
My mind goes back to the recent London slection results and the hundreds of comments posted. Yet, when it comes to Wales, nothing.

I know there are not millions of Wales based readers of Lib Dem Voice, but a little interest in the Welsh party and the way things are going here from the outside would perhaps encourage them to contribute more.

We are often accused by Plaid of being an English Party, something that is not true, yet the lack of interest on this website adds credence to their claims.

And Tim and Anders, thank you for taking an interest.