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Betsan, I sympathise...but isn't the media fixation on (non-welsh) issues of the day (that come and go) the principle reason why the likes of Blair 'stonewall' on broader (more Welsh) issues of less transient significance? If you introduce matters of foreign policy to an election concerning the composition of the WAG it follows that a candidate's position on Iraq will be prioritised over their stance on education, health, housing or the Welsh language (great for the Lib Dems in student dominated areas etc) - there is, granted, a philosophical link - but this is a somewhat abstracted from the issues on which I as a 'normal' voter would have you challenging our senior politicians.
Cofion,
Matt.

Sounds like Blair is as a big a liability in Wales as he is here in Scotland. A failure to expose himself to serious questioning has been a hallmark of his time in office.

Still, from the point of view of this Scottish voter it is further evidence of the need for "regime change" in our country. And it looks like Alex Salmond is on track to deliver it.

With Blair here today in Scotland "to bolster the Labour vote" we can expect a further boost to the SNP vote.

I trust my Welsh friends have cottoned on as strongly as the Scots. Mind you, at least the Welsh First Minister is not a craven boot-licker of (I'm Tory Plan B) Tony Blair MP and so might have a fiant chance of survival if he can keep him away.

Hurrah. roll on 4th May.

Message 4#

'A failure to expose himself to serious questioning has been a hallmark of his time in office.'

Is that really fair? Let's just remember that Blair submits himself to a monthly press conference from regional/national/international hacks at Downing Street. He also submits himselfs to a half-hour PMQ's once a week, which means the leader of the opposition gets six questions at him (remember the old system was two 15 minute slots on Tuesdays and Thurdays). Blair also appears twice a year before all the heads of the Select Committee's where he is cross-examined on all aspects of the Governments performance, no other PM has ever done that. I think there was a statistic that showed that Blair had given more PM statements to the House of Commons than any of his immediate predecessors.

I think it's fair to say that Blair avoided doing big interviews with the big beasts of broadcasting such as Paxman and Humphrys early on his premership. But since Alastair Campbell has left Downing Street, he has appeared quite offten on the Today program and subjected himself to proper cross-examination.

Personally I think Blair subjects himself to far more scrutiny from the press than either Gordon Brown and David Cameron do. You may not like the answers he gives but that is a different matter.

I know you're new to this political thing, Betsan, but you need to learn the ropes a bit. Both main channels carried a Blair clip with his Marines response - the shots were clearly pooled, something which your big Beeb bosses would have agreed to, and something which is standard practice for such events. Why would he want to spend the rest of his visit talking about it again? Are you really having a pop at the PM for having the temerity to talk about Wales and Welsh issues on a visit to… er… Wales? A bit of perspective might not go amiss.

Cortaderias Betsan - fancy name for pampas grasses. I grow about 10 different varieties.

It sounds to me like Betsan is annoyed about being strongarmed regarding her choice of questions - it's one thing to say that the question has already been covered, but quite another to say that if you ask a particular question you will *not be allowed* to ask any further questions regarding Welsh issues.