I fear that the hysteria (see previous threads) regarding Kim Howell is prejudicing any rational discussion.

If rational is a word that can be used in the context of any 'hysterical' approach by Dr Howells - you could well be right Gareth. Which would normally be a good reason for a political party to ditch an individual who caused issues important to be clouded by this factor.

The damage to the Party caused by this factor should be the reason to drop such as Dr Howells - and not promote him.

Not however our current Labour Party - if Gareth is representitive of it. Gareth repeatedly tries here to defend him and attempts to blame everyone who critises him.

Gareth would not the new (folk-singing) leader of the Welsh Nationalists be a better candidate now - for your support?

If the critics here of Dr Howells had just popped-up and for no reason started to prejudice rational discussion - there may be some justice in this approach. But Dr Howells was and is always the instigator of all of this. And rather than listening to his critics - has only one tactic but to continue to attack them. A tactic that Gareth appears to follow.