WELSH LABOUR AT LLANDUDNO: LORDING IT WON'T WORK; WELSH LABOUR AT LLANDUDNO: 100 YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Why our Mister Speaker ought to take a leaf out of the book of Betty Boothroyd and earn our respect.

APPARENTLY His Little Lordship Elis Thomas didn't like being exposed in this column last week as one of the arch-plotters in Alun Michael's downfall.

Designer-Dafydd slithered up to a journalist mate of mine after reading this column last Friday and launched into a stream of political and personalised comments.

His Little Lordship had just delivered a highly political speech commemorating Welsh language extremist Phil Henry.

It seems I hit a nerve when I reminded Wales that our so-called "impartial" Assembly Speaker had a very colourful past as a politician.

He was uncomfortable that I reminded you, our readers, that he had flirted with republican socialism and is a former highly political Plaid Cymru President.

And, despite his left-wing words in the 1980s, he ended up as a member of the British Establishment in the House of Lords.

What I restrained myself from doing was talking about his very colourful past as a person.

Believe me, I could!

His Little Lordship is used to having a smooth ride, though at times he also likes it a bit rough.

So here goes.

IS it true that Your Lordship once had a political researcher who is now well-known in media circles?

Is it true you are still as thick as thieves with this man?

Is it true that that person is now a key executive decision-maker in the BBC in Wales?

And is there any connection between this and the fact that you are treated with too much deference and over-fawning respect whenever you appear on BBC Wales radio or television?

I prefer to say what I have to say publicly. You obviously prefer stealth and slither.

So let me say this very clearly to our so-called impartial Assembly Presiding Officer.

For far too many years, you have had an easy ride from journalists.

I have many, many, many more questions for you to answer, Mr Elis Thomas.

But first I think you should answer those I've posed above.

Next week I will turn to the empire you are building for yourself in the Assembly. You call it the Office of the Presiding Officer.

THE people of Wales will want to know why you need your own legal advisor, policy advisor and so many staff. And just how much all of this costs.

It would also be interesting to hear why you think it should be you who entertains ambassadors, heads of state and assorted foreign big-wigs when they come to the Assembly - and not our democratically-elected First Secretary, Rhodri Morgan.

You liken yourself to Betty Boothroyd.

Betty gained the public's respect over many years through her restraint and her impartial, utterly non-political behaviour.

In other words, she EARNED that respect.

You can make a start now. Or not. The choice is yours.

So, my Little Lordship, sharpen your pen. You want a debate? You've got a debate!