Does Bethan Jenkins realise the damage she’s doing to herself, her party and welsh politics?

I haven’t blogged about the Bethan Jenkins stay over after the Rhianna concert courtesy of the tax payer although what she did was wrong because I didn’t feel that strongly and others had taken the story as far as it could go.

However having had a few conversations with family, friends and work colleagues since the story broke a few things struck me.

First this isn’t Bethan’s first indiscretion and it probably accounted for the swift defence from the Assembly Commission and her party leader Leanne Wood both of whom have shown poor judgement.

From Plaid Cymru’s perspective this would have been the ideal time for Leanne to tell Bethan she damaging her reputation and making the party look weak and  she would like her to stand down as an AM and told her we’ll find you another role in the party.

Second the incident say a lot more about Bethan’s lack of self-awareness than it does about the somewhat hysterical reaction to her actions in some quarters. Even Leighton Andrews realised he couldn’t stay in the Cabinet after his clashes over Health and Education policy and fell on his sword, other Welsh politicians should take note.

As for Martin Shipton of the Western Mail, I agree with Insideout Jaxxland he’s trying too hard to give the story legs and with his track record when it comes to political scalps, he’s hardly in a position to dictate and make demands of anyone, even errant AM's.     

Last point this isn’t just about Bethan Jenkins continuing to damage to her reputation and making her party look ridicules, there’s also the issue of the damage stories like this and the Labour AM Keith Davies night out do to Welsh politics in the wider public’s mind when this type of story is the only news they hear about what happens in the Assembly. 

 

Any source