http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html en-gb 30 Sun 20 Dec 2009 09:41:51 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html?page=15#comment3 But Powys was very daring. Early in the Montgomeryshire count Lembit Opik said "the art of democracy is painted by the public and we don't know what the picture's going to look like yet". Two hours later the Conservatives had 9 seats. The victorious Conservative candidate for independent (Liberal) stalwart Llanfyllin, Peter Lewis, declared, "it's time for people to show their true colours." Glyn Davies turned into Neil Armstrong: "it's a big step and a first step", he said. By the end the whole of northern Montgomeryshire had turned blue. And Mr Opik was nowhere to be seen. Mon 05 May 2008 06:49:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html?page=10#comment2 Hmm, the RCT Labour people I've spoken to have been quite pessimistic, perhaps Leighton doesn't know what he's talking about. It would hardly be the first time. Thu 01 May 2008 14:15:22 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html?page=5#comment1 One of the most serious issue that needs tackling in local government is the power of council officials. These people overturn decisions made through a democratic vote by elected councilors.This undermines democracy, and any form of power like this should be removed from these people immediately.Council officials are public servants, they are there to serve the people, to act upon the democratic wishes of the people represented by local councilors. Not to act on the wishes of other public servants be they from Cardiff or London.There is only one word to describe anything that undermines democracy, and that is fascism. Thu 01 May 2008 12:22:23 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/betsanpowys/2008/04/handbags_gladrags_and_pencils.html?page=0#comment0 What about Cardiff? Both the Labour leader (John Sheppard, Llandaff) and Deputy Leader (Sophie Howe, Whitchurch) are looking seriously vulnerable and Labour could fall to 3rd place in terms of seats.The Heath ward, comprising Heath and Birchgrove, is one to keep an eye on too. It was won convincingly by the LibDems in 2004 but is in play this time. It is where the 2007 Cardiff North Assembly Election was won for Jonathan Morgan and the Tories look like rocketing from 21% poll in 2004 to well over 40% this time. It could be the site of one of the few LibDem losses in Cardiff.And Cyncoed, because you never know. Thu 01 May 2008 07:07:40 GMT+1