Hear some of Neil Kinnock's speechesIndustrial south Wales, a traditional hotbed of socialism, has provided the Labour party with a string of politicians noted for their oratorical skills.
Most famous of all is Aneurin Bevan from Tredegar, creator of the National Health Service, whose statue can be seen in a characteristic pose in Queen Street, Cardiff city centre (right).
Aneurin Bevan talks about the launch of the National Health Service
The broadcasting of Parliament made a star of Commons Speaker George Thomas (Viscount Tonypandy), who rolled his R's with relish as he called for "order, order!"
Neil Kinnock, who like Bevan came from Tredegar, inherited his fiery oratory which undoubtedly helped him become leader of the Labour Party.
But were Kinnock's chances of becoming Prime Minister fatally wounded by Tory jibes of being a Welsh windbag?
The Conservatives even went as far as staging a comedy skit during a 1992 election campaign press conference making fun of Kinnock's "Valleys boyo" image.
The featured actors? None other than Swansea boy Michael Heseltine and Port Talbot-born Geoffrey Howe.
your comments
Walter Harris of Cwmbran
Lloyd George surely is known as the 'Welsh wizard'? Oration is an art which is sadly lacking among most politicians.
Carl, Bargoed
What Nye created in the NHS we should all be proud of & support. I did vote for Kinnock once, to my regret, I quite admired Neil Kinnock, Commissioner Kinnock snout firmly in the EU gravy train is another matter & now Lord Kinnock from a man who wanted to abolish the upper house. My only hope is that his misses wiil now stand down & we can have an MEP who has lived in the area in the last 30 years.
Victor Gray, Canada - Gabalfa born
The Welsh accent in any vocation is a pure treat to hear, and definitely nothing to be ashamed of.
Jan Preece from Newport
I am not a supporter of the Labour party. I have never been one or would wish to become one. However, I have the utmost respect for the early Labour party, for the pure fire and passion which their membership and leadership displayed. They had the hallmarks of true statesmen, something sadly lacking in today's political arena. Their passion and belief was a beacon to all, as was Margaret Thatcher's and Winston Churchill's. Love them or hate them they were statesmen.Today sadly, I see only a carping shallowness steeped in deceit, greed and a plethora of downright lies. Just look at their eyes when they are being interviewed.
Does that not summarise today's politician?
