National Assembly of Wales Elections 2016

[YL]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35549828

infighting in the UKIP over a few parachuted candidates - including a few old friends.

To be fair, Neil Hamilton is actually Welsh. Anyway, UKIP's constant infighting doesn't seem to have hurt it's poll numbers significantly thus far, so I doubt this will derail UKIP's assembly campaign in any significant way.

The issue with Neil Hamilton is surely not his Welshness but the fact that he is Neil Hamilton.

[YL]

OMG UKIP have actually selected Neil Hamilton at the top of their list for Mid and West Wales.

They've also selected Mark Reckless in South Wales East.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-35744070

[YL]

With one seat (Cardiff West) left to declare, the only constituency to have changed hands is Rhondda.

Labour held Cardiff North reasonably comfortably: their vote was down, but the Tories' vote was down by more.  Vale of Glamorgan was close, but Labour narrowly held it.

[YL]

What's the story with the PC enclave in South Wales? (I haven't really been following the thread.)

It's the Rhondda.  The Plaid candidate was their leader, Leanne Wood, and there were apparently issues with the Labour candidate.

[YL]

As Kirsty Williams is opposed and as there's a Plaid presiding officer the numbers don't even work! And even if they did... I'm so confused right now...

There's a Labour deputy presiding officer, who also doesn't vote.  So 29 pro-Jones (28 Lab + 1 Lib Dem) and 29 pro-Wood (Plaid, Con, UKIP).

[YL]

Looking through Twitter, a lot of people are suggesting that Plaid did a deal with the Tories and UKIP - it appears that they haven't done a deal. Leanne Wood was put forward as a nomination from Plaid (which they are perfectly entitled to do) and the Tories and UKIP voted for her.

It'll be very interesting to see how the media spin this.

I think this must be Tory and UKIP mischief making.  As has been pointed out, actually doing a deal with them when there aren't enough votes for an actual coalition anyway makes no sense at all from Plaid's point of view.  Even if there were the votes, it would be a "courageous" strategy for them.  Fancy holding the Rhondda after doing a deal with the Tories?

[YL]

Tories and Kippers are both claiming that little chats were held before the vote...

Well, perhaps it should just be "fancy holding the Rhondda then?".  Manchester Lib Dems might be able to help with expectations.

(Though remember who the leader of UKIP in the Assembly is.)