Belgium's Flemish separatists make big election gainsPlaid Cymru and the SNP are partners of the NVA in the European Free Alliance, along with a whole host of other civic and ethno-nationalist parties in the European Union.
Belgium's Flemish separatist party, the New Flemish Alliance (NVA), has emerged as the largest force in parliament, with coalition talks set to start.
The NVA, whose ultimate aim is independence for Flanders, Belgium's northern half, took 27 of 150 seats.
Both Plaid Cymru and Scotland, like the NVA, also desire splitting away from a larger, united nation.
Why then, with such similiarities, does the BBC, never, ever refer to Plaid Cymru or the SNP as "separatist" parties? What's the difference between their goals and methods and those of the NVA?
2 comments:
The term "sepratist" has negative overtones in the English language and the BBC would be accused by the SNP and Plaid of bias against them.
It is a bit like describing Labour as "socialist" which has post-1979 negative overtones in much of Britain.
Or maybe the "reactionaries" such as the Conservatives.
Or in your case as a constitutional conservative - a "constitutional luddite" :)
"The term "sepratist" has negative overtones in the English language and the BBC would be accused by the SNP and Plaid of bias against them."
Why use it on their Flemish equivalent then? The Beeb's betting on no one over there being able to understand English and thus be offended?!
Post a Comment