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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Morgan urges a 'can-do' attitude | Morgan urges a 'can-do' attitude |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Rhodri Morgan has urged people in Wales to embrace a "can-do" attitude. | First Minister Rhodri Morgan has urged people in Wales to embrace a "can-do" attitude. |
| In a speech to the Institute of Welsh Politics conference in Cardiff, Mr Morgan said the country was blighted by outmoded, negative perceptions. | In a speech to the Institute of Welsh Politics conference in Cardiff, Mr Morgan said the country was blighted by outmoded, negative perceptions. |
| He told BBC Wales: "We haven't somehow developed the self-confidence about ourselves that goes with the facts". | He told BBC Wales: "We haven't somehow developed the self-confidence about ourselves that goes with the facts". |
| But Plaid Cymru said the public would not believe Mr Morgan's "rhetoric" that things were getting better. | But Plaid Cymru said the public would not believe Mr Morgan's "rhetoric" that things were getting better. |
| The speech was the first of six Mr Morgan will make between now and the run-up to the assembly elections. | The speech was the first of six Mr Morgan will make between now and the run-up to the assembly elections. |
| Mr Morgan wants to dispel the perception that Wales is a country that does not get things done, and used the Wales Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium and the Senedd building to make his case. | Mr Morgan wants to dispel the perception that Wales is a country that does not get things done, and used the Wales Millennium Centre, the Millennium Stadium and the Senedd building to make his case. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We are like the budding adolescent - eager to get out there, eager to please, showing good promise, but still some maturing to do: which makes it all the more exciting to be here at this time Jim Click here to send us your views | |
| He told BBC Wales that, when outside Wales, he heard constant praise of Wales' achievement in constructing the landmark buildings in Cardiff. | He told BBC Wales that, when outside Wales, he heard constant praise of Wales' achievement in constructing the landmark buildings in Cardiff. |
| He said construction executives marvelled at how this had been achieved for "less than the cost-over run" of the new Wembly stadium, which unlike the Millennium stadium will not have a roof. | He said construction executives marvelled at how this had been achieved for "less than the cost-over run" of the new Wembly stadium, which unlike the Millennium stadium will not have a roof. |
| Myth | Myth |
| He said: "I think we just haven't realised, as a country, just how much people outside Wales are re-rating us as a can-do country, and turning to us, because they can see we can solve problems, that others haven't. | He said: "I think we just haven't realised, as a country, just how much people outside Wales are re-rating us as a can-do country, and turning to us, because they can see we can solve problems, that others haven't. |
| "And the only people who haven't really appreciated that are us in Wales, ourselves." | "And the only people who haven't really appreciated that are us in Wales, ourselves." |
| He added a typical false perception people in Wales might have about their country was that the number of jobs had fallen since the Welsh assembly was created in 1999. | He added a typical false perception people in Wales might have about their country was that the number of jobs had fallen since the Welsh assembly was created in 1999. |
| He said 126,000 new jobs had been created since that time, a rate of increase of 10%, which was even higher in west Wales and the south Wales valleys. | He said 126,000 new jobs had been created since that time, a rate of increase of 10%, which was even higher in west Wales and the south Wales valleys. |
| He said: "I'm only asking people to look at the facts and look at the evidence - not to talk Wales up but to stop talking Wales down. | He said: "I'm only asking people to look at the facts and look at the evidence - not to talk Wales up but to stop talking Wales down. |
| "I think the evidence and the facts do show that Wales is developing a can-do culture, and a can-do culture reputation outside Wales. | "I think the evidence and the facts do show that Wales is developing a can-do culture, and a can-do culture reputation outside Wales. |
| "It's just that we haven't somehow developed the self-confidence about ourselves that goes with the facts." | "It's just that we haven't somehow developed the self-confidence about ourselves that goes with the facts." |
| Another subject Mr Morgan is expected to say that it is a myth that the Welsh language is a language of the past and is in decline. | Another subject Mr Morgan is expected to say that it is a myth that the Welsh language is a language of the past and is in decline. |
| He is also set to focus on the Government of Wales Act 2006, claiming it offers new opportunities, and that the best days are still to come. | He is also set to focus on the Government of Wales Act 2006, claiming it offers new opportunities, and that the best days are still to come. |
| 'Experiences' | 'Experiences' |
| BBC Wales' political correspondent Guto Thomas said the speech was an attempt to set out an agenda ahead of the assembly elections. | BBC Wales' political correspondent Guto Thomas said the speech was an attempt to set out an agenda ahead of the assembly elections. |
| But Mr Morgan's comments were attacked by Ieuan Wyn Jones, leader of Plaid Cymru in the assembly. | But Mr Morgan's comments were attacked by Ieuan Wyn Jones, leader of Plaid Cymru in the assembly. |
| He said: "The stock of politicians amongst the Welsh public is pretty low and they are not going to listen to people like Rhodri Morgan telling them that things are getting better. | He said: "The stock of politicians amongst the Welsh public is pretty low and they are not going to listen to people like Rhodri Morgan telling them that things are getting better. |
| "The reality is that the experiences that they have day-to-day, in their own homes, in the schools, and the hospitals and in the workplace just doesn't match up to that rhetoric." | "The reality is that the experiences that they have day-to-day, in their own homes, in the schools, and the hospitals and in the workplace just doesn't match up to that rhetoric." |
| Nick Bourne, Conservative assembly leader, said: "You will never get me knocking Wales - I will knock Rhodri Morgan as long as I have life and breath. I think he has done immense damage to Wales." | Nick Bourne, Conservative assembly leader, said: "You will never get me knocking Wales - I will knock Rhodri Morgan as long as I have life and breath. I think he has done immense damage to Wales." |
| Welsh Liberal Democrats assembly leader Mike German added: "Labour's theme tune used to be Things Can Only Get Better. Now it seems that Rhodri Morgan¿s theme tune for next year will be ¿ Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. | Welsh Liberal Democrats assembly leader Mike German added: "Labour's theme tune used to be Things Can Only Get Better. Now it seems that Rhodri Morgan¿s theme tune for next year will be ¿ Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life. |
| "His government has run out of energy and ideas, and no amount of whistling a happy tune will convince the people of Wales that we live in the best of times." | "His government has run out of energy and ideas, and no amount of whistling a happy tune will convince the people of Wales that we live in the best of times." |