Just to keep everybody updated about events today.

Dorian and I were interviewed by several people and only time will tell how much of it gets into the media. We spoke to Radio Wales/Cymru, BBC TV in English and Welsh, Western Mail and a journalist from several papers including  the Star and E Post.

Dorian has done a fantastic job today of tirelessly collecting signatures and even Amanda (my wife) helped!

As I've put on the forum - the most impressive part was the 5 minutes or so we spent exclusively with Peter Hain and his PA. We didn't button-hole him as he was happy to talk to us without interuption. He knew little about the calling in and seemed genuinely surprised. He told us not to worry and that this would be sorted after a few phone calls. Now, I'm not naive enough to believe this totally but it was certainly positive. He told us that he'd seen the benefits for the Ospreys of a new stadium and admitted that he'd made a few calls in their favour and was keen to do the same for us.

His PA (a Scarlet!) has given me a card and has asked me to email her the details for Hain to look at.

All in all, a good day (apart from me looking stupid and rambling in front of the camera in Welsh, but Dorian saved the day!).

I have now emailed Amanda Kirk, Hain's Private Secretary.

Had a reply from Amanda Kirk with regard to Peter Hain -

Hello!

Good to meet you yesterday. The Secretary of State spoke to a few different
media folk yesterday and pressed the importance of a quick decision from the
Assembly. His support for the campaign was noted in the Western Mail, and I
hear the Evening Post are running a good story about it today, but I haven't
seen a great deal of coverage. Anyway, we will keep an eye on things and if
there are any developments that we should be aware of please do let me know
and I'll make sure that SofS is kept in the picture and if he can help he
will. We will also be writing to Carwyn Jones copied  to Catherine Thomas.

Hope this helps

Amanda
Ysgrifennydd Preifat ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru
Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales
Swyddfa Cymru/Wales Office
02072700538

Can't say fairer than that! I just love the way that he was briefed by myself and Dorian and was completely ignorant of the facts and within minutes was talking to the press about it as if he knew everything. I suppose it's called being a politician.

I think it looks really promising and made yesterday totally worthwhile. Nice too that the Trust got good coverage by the Western Mail. I love the fact that he will write to Carwyn Jones and Catherine Thomas. She was in a difficult position but perhaps picked the wrong side.

Please can we keep the above correspondence off the forum as I don't want it being used against us, and it was a private email which I would hate for Peter Hain to have to fend off any embarrasment. Also, it doesn't allow the Scarlet 9 to raise their game.

ursamajor wrote: Well done Alun and Dorian. You worked your socks off yesterday, fair play. I'm surprised Hain allowed himself to be seen to be supporting the Scarlets side quite so openly, as he should by all rights be impartial and could well have hidden behind the planning procedure. I think its called 'hedging your bets'.

I was surprised as well and only time will tell what kind of reaction he'll get from Carwyn Jones and Rhodri (the pair met yesterday). The positive thing is that his office is happy with the media coverage of his agreement. He also told us that he had privately "made things happen" for the Ospreys and the new stadium and that he supported all of Welsh rugby.

Amanda is a mad Scarlets fan, so perhaps there's some influence there!

Congrats for your investiture yesterday.

Yes. I've passed it on to Richard for the club to have a copy.

Hey, Dorian. Looks like we've wound up Ianto!!

Front page on the Evening Post. Gloves are off, Ianto bach.

Just to have my final word on this subject - The Evening Post journalist came and went from the Scarlets stand long before Peter Hain arrived. How therefore did the paper get that Hain angle in their story?

I can only assume that Amanda Kirk "arranged" to have Mr Hain's view in their story - especially as she knew before it went to press that the Evening Post were running a positive story (her words in my email from her were "I hear the Evening Post are running a good story").

How good to know that Peter Hain's own Private Secretary (a Scarlets fan, and one happy to wear the SOS sticker) seems to be manipulating things from behind the scene. I'd love to see the letter that she's composed to Carwyn Jones and expecially Catherine Thomas for Hain to no doubt just sign off!!