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Balancing act

Betsan Powys | 17:36 UK time, Tuesday, 13 April 2010

_38779505_elfyn150.jpgGo on - who does he remind you of?

Last week, as Elfyn Llwyd stood on College Green in Westminster waiting to talk to the Newyddion team, a passer-by asked me what we were interviewing Bob Ainsworth about.

Not quite, I said. That's the Plaid Cymru parliamentary leader. Granted they both have a moustache but that's about it.

Just for a moment . Why, he asks in his blog, has Elfyn Llwyd been sent to Coventry? Was he thinking ?

He wasn't. Mr Jones was wondering why Elfyn Llwyd hasn't been in evidence at Plaid's campaign and manifesto launches?

But he has, Mr Jones. Ieuan Wyn Jones as party leader has been fronting them but on his shoulder in Menai Bridge last week, by his side in the Wales Millennium Centre this morning, Elfyn Llwyd has been there. Very much been there in fact.

Last week it was Mr Llwyd's comment in the past that the Lib Dems are 'political whores' that caused the leader some embarrassment.

This morning, here in Broadcasting House, Mr Jones was busy telling Today listeners that a hung parliament is pretty much a racing certainty while Mr Llwyd, in another studio, was telling Radio Wales listeners that it is not. "Do we know for example if it's going to be a balanced parliament? I rather doubt whether it is" he said.

Perhaps it's known as balanced leadership.

Plaid's manifesto?

The 'i' word is there. Independent, if not independence makes it to p.32. "Plaid Cymru is committed to an independent Wales as a full member of the European Union". Pretty clear. No blurring of the lines there. So why p.32?

You might suggest it's because it's not a vote winner for Plaid. Yes, polls show growing support for taking the next step towards devolving further powers but independence? Absolutely no growth in support.

Then again they might suggest it's because their 2010 General Election manifesto ought to be about what Plaid, if ever called to the bargaining table, would have on their shopping list.

Constitutional change? Plaid's to aim for; not Plaid's to demand.

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