Good...
A Conservative Party review of Welsh devolution has concluded the system is not working as it should and has failed to win the hearts of people.
Even better...
NEW tensions have emerged between coalition partners Labour and Plaid Cymru over the timing of a referendum on lawmaking powers.
Glenrothes notwithstanding (and even there, as I wrote last week, a SNP victory may work long term in our favour), have we just passed the "the high tide of nationalism"? If so then roll on that rather sexy sounding "neo-Unionism", which is "no longer afraid to speak its name - for fear of appearing bigoted, or imperialist, or simply out of touch with the zeitgeist."(I told you I'd be pillaging Lloyd's article for quotes!)
9 comments:
When the Tories' report says "the system is not working" they mean the Government of Wales Act 2006. They're not saying devolution as a whole.
Even nationalists would agree with that quote from the report.
Well, if you're going to be pillaging the article for quotes, how about this one?
Polls show that, even if the Celts would not vote for separation, the English would.
And why is this? Because we are being ignored and abused.
If the Union is to survive all parts of the Union have to be treated with respect.
This isn't happening.
I believe the contempt that the British political classes have for the English and any expression of our identity is what will eventually doom the Union.
At the moment the "Celts" are getting to have their own cake and eat England's as well. Which is why when push comes to shove they won't vote for independence.
But England would.
You might not like Devolution and its explicit rejection of "Britishness" - but the majority in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do.
And when the Scots, Welsh and Northern Irish all reject Britishness for themselves is it really surprising that the English are following suit?
Nothing happens overnight. But just remember Tom Nairn's comment that "once England starts to think for and about itself in a new way, nationally and constitutionally, it will change everything and everyone else automatically – and in its own interests."
England is awakening.
HF
and has failed to win the hearts of people.
That's the angle what the Tories should be working on, there remain, I'm sure a % unhappy with the complete idea of devolution; at present they are disenfranchised- it's time for the Tories to stand up for these people and be counted instead of standing passively on the sidelines.
You might not like Devolution and its explicit rejection of "Britishness" - but the majority in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do.
At this present time it is not at all certain that a majority in NI would vote to continue with the present charade of "government" we've got and as HF states in Wales, there is discontent (for whatevr reason) for their version of devolution. But that's a side point, but there are plenty in all 3 parts of the UK who both in both devolution and are proud to call themselves British- I'd argue that devolution has weakened the Union, but I'd also contend that I don't think it has, in any meaningful way, caused a rejection of Britishness in any of the three parts, but that is a different argument.
Nothing happens overnight. But just remember Tom Nairn's comment that "once England starts to think for and about itself in a new way, nationally and constitutionally, it will change everything and everyone else automatically – and in its own interests."
Do you think there would be presently be a majority in England who would vote themselves out of the UK? If not, then as I said in my post one of those three factors has to change dramatically and even then I'm not sure there would be the momentum re public opinion to force through the necessary break- look, as a comparison at the question of membership of the EU, any referendum now to leave would, I reckon, be a very close thing- the majority of the tabloids as is a fair proprotion of the Tories anti-EU, yet what's the chance of us leaving anytime soon?
That's the angle what the Tories should be working on
Every poll on the matter has shown that Welsh voters are unequivocally in favour of further devolution. Failed to win their hearts? Bollocks.
Do you think there would be presently be a majority in England who would vote themselves out of the UK?
Actually, no I don't. Not yet. But it would be closer than you'd think.
What matters, as always, is the trend. 10 years ago a vote on England leaving the Union would be a joke that would have struggled to reach 1%. And now?
When Scotland gets its referendum in 2010 England should be asked as well. The British State will allow the Scottish Referendum because it knows it will win it. But it won't allow an English one - because it wouldn't dare to put English attitudes to the test. That in itself speaks volumes.
Being in favour of Devolution and being in favour of being British is just wanting to have your cake and eat it as well.
You can't say on the one hand that you're Scottish/Welsh/Irish and that you are only prepared to be ruled by your fellow Scots/Welsh/Irish and then simultaneously say that you're also British and that despite rejecting British rule for yourselves you insist on imposing British rule over England.
You can be in favour of a federal United Kingdom in which all parts of the UK stand in the same relation as each other with the British State. That would be a stable (and fair) resolution that addresses both the desire for autonomy and that for Unionism.
But being in favour of (assymmetric) "Devolution" and in favour of a "Britishness" in which some "Britons" have extra votes and rights over others?
Only if you're prepared to be called a Hypocrite to your face!
I've always hated the equation of Unionists with imperialists. Does not everyone of Ulster have a right to freely associate identify and support with Britain or Ireland if they so choose!
But being in favour of (assymmetric) "Devolution" and in favour of a "Britishness" in which some "Britons" have extra votes and rights over others?
wildgoose:
I'll leave that for a devolved Unionist to answer!!
abdul-rahim
Does not everyone of Ulster have a right to freely associate identify and support with Britain or Ireland if they so choose
Or both;)
ordovicus
Every poll on the matter has shown that Welsh voters are unequivocally in favour of further devolution.
"Unequivocally" as in 100% or "unequivocally" as in 51%?
"When questioned, the majority of respondents (39%) wanted Wales to remain part of the UK but to have its own elected Parliament with full law-making and taxation powers. 31% of the people questioned wanted the Assembly to retain its current level of powers and 10% wanted Wales to become a fully independent nation.
Of the remaining respondents, 15% wanted to return to the pre-devolution status and 6% expressed a ‘don’t know’ opinion."
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