Wednesday, 11 May 2011

INDEPENDENCE CYMRU
BRINGING YOU A HISTORY OF CELTIC POLITICS SINCE JUNE 2007

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Thursday, 31 December 2009

Is Carwyn Jones a Closet Nationalist?

Opinion

There is reason to believe that Carwyn Jones, the new Chief Minister of the Welsh government, puts his country ahead of his party. For Rhodri Morgan, imbued in Welsh socialism in its heyday, it may have been a step too far, but now the time is right, with a General Election and a Referendum on the near horizon, to push towards national recognition for the powers which both Wales and Scotland so desperately need in order to advance their programmes of renewal and regeneration. It must be said that the system of LCOs foisted on the Assembly by the Wales Office and the government at Whitehall has been a dismal failure and a half-hearted attempt at placating the forces of change sparked by the advent of devolution throughout Britain.

It is right that the First Minister of a nation should put his country first, particularly as he is from a Labour background, as it is generally realised that Labour is known for putting its own interests as a party before everything else. Loyalty for New Labour socialists recalls the spectre of solidarity and comradeship of the workers (the joiniing of arms and the singing of the "Red Flag"), reminiscent of Communist totalitarianism in the countries of Eastern Europe. But the times are a-changing. New Labour has moved to the Centre, even to the Centre Right in politics in its avaricious desire to garner votes, and to that extent it has been successful over the past ten years and more, though at the expense of largely forsaking its socialist Bevanite principles. Former radical socialists have become Lords in an unelected chamber, advancing their own selfish interests and ambitions in their climb to power and high office and accruing considerable fortunes in the process. I name no names.

In the survey which Independence Cymru is currently conducting it appears that those who favour Plaid disassociating itself with Labour in the Assembly are running neck and neck with those who believe that the alliance should remain. There are distinct signs that Labour in Cymru is distancing itself from the recalcitrant Labour MPs in London who are adamantly opposed to the forces for change at work in their nation. They will be left behind, as "yesterday's men" (in the words of Adam Price MP), and their vain attempts to undermine progress towards independence for Cymru will not succeed. Thus, by putting his country first, with an eye on Scotland, concerning himself with the social, cultural and political welfare of the people of Wales, and maintaining a distance between Welsh Labour and New Labour, Carwyn Jones may be placing himself firmly on the path of national progress and renewal.

" Democracy that is not 100% does not mean democracy".

Aleksander Kwasniewski. President of Poland

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Working Itself Out in a Predictable Way

SNP success will inspire campaigners for Welsh independence

by David Williamson , Western Mail
May 9 2011

The Scottish Nationalists resounding election success raises the i-word and will have major implications for Wales. Political editor David Williamson assesses the situation

THE revolution in Scottish politics will send regular tremors through the United Kingdom over the next five years and Wales will feel the full force of each shock-wave.

There are at least three immediate implications for the nation.

First, independence is on the agenda, and the future of the UK as we know it has been called into question. It is almost unthinkable that a referendum on Scottish independence will not be held, but it is likely to take place towards the end of the parliamentary term.

This means that over the coming years there will be intensive coverage of the debate and scrutiny of the viability of an independent Scotland. The controversy will provoke strong reactions on either side of the debate but it also gives time for people to become used to the idea that the different parts of the UK are linked by the principle of consent and not some impermeable constitutional cement.

It is inevitable that this will embolden supporters of Welsh independence and force Plaid Cymru to clearly articulate its own position.

There is also a good chance the debate will strengthen English nationalism, focusing attention on the question of why Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English health and education policies when Westminster has no say over the direction taken by the devolved governments.

The second main area that the triumph of the SNP will affect Wales is in the debate over finance. All parties in the Assembly are convinced that a new formula is needed to determine how cash is allocated from the Treasury. There is strong evidence that Scotland benefits disproportionately from the Barnett formula while Wales loses out.

As a result of the Calman commission, proposals were laid out to give Scotland greater fiscal freedom, and legislation is working its way through parliament. However, the SNP will want to go further and Welsh politicians will soon realise that they literally cannot afford to be left out of this debate.

Welsh Labour has opposed the devolution of tax-varying powers and focused its attention on the apparent inequity of Barnett. But the SNPs demands may force major changes in how all UK regions are financed, including in England. Such developments could transform the financial position of the Assembly for good or ill.

The third impact of a majority SNP government in Scotland is that Labour has suffered a cataclysmic defeat in a key heartland at a time when it is locked out of power in Westminster.

Unless the coalition collapses, Labour will not have a chance of winning the keys to Downing Street until 2015. This means that increasing attention will be focused on First Minister Carwyn Jones as the most senior elected Labour figure in the UK.

If Labour fails to unseat London Mayor Boris Johnson next year, Wales will be the only part of the UK beyond local government that can showcase Labour policies in action.

Just as Welsh Conservatives have found a way of thriving while their Scottish counterparts have all but perished, Welsh Labour nows stands tall in juxtaposition to the wounded party in the north.

There will be opportunities for Mr Jones to play an increasingly high-profile role in British debates and to carve out a politics in Wales that contrasts with the nationalism now dominant in Scotland and the centre-right policies pursued in England.

He will also have to convince his Westminster colleagues that devolution does not lead inexorably towards separatism. The transformation of the Scottish political map will have done nothing to assure devo-sceptics that once the genie of autonomy is out of the bottle the spirit of independence also arrives.

Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/05/09/snp-success-will-inspire-campaigners-for-welsh-independence-91466-28658725/#ixzz1Ly7LaaXg

Comment

As this blog continually reaffirms Wales will follow Scotland on the road to independence and the vision which inspires Alex Salmon and the Scottish nationalists will at a later stage be grasped by the people of Wales. The notion will dawn eventually that separatism in this modern world is an illusion but reviving the spirit of a nation within Europe and joining up with equal partners as independent and yet interdependent is the way of the future.

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Plaid Should Go It Alone

A MESSAGE TO PLAID CYMRU

It is time for Plaid to re-evaluate its whole approach to Welsh politics as well as the leadership of the party. More than a year ago this blog warned against Plaid continuing its association with Labour in the One Wales Agreement. It has served its purpose by delivering the Referendum. Now there is no benefit in associating with unionist parties. They do not share the vision of Cymru Fydd. They rigidly adhere to the status quo and the perpetuation of the Union.

So now the time has come to strike out for core principles and go it alone, free from tainted association with parties that have Britain's interests in mind but not the interests of Wales. It falls to Scotland to lead the way, which Alex Salmond and the SNP does admirably. They demonstrably have at heart the interests of the Scottish people and the future of Scotland is safe in their hands and seen to be so. This is what accounts for the massive landslide towards the SNP and assures the party of majority government for the next five years.

Plaid needs to nail its colours to the mast, as the SNP has done, and prove to the people of Wales that it is not a prop to Labour but an independent force to be reckoned with. It needs to show that it fully represents the people of Wales and their aspirations, socially, economically and constitutionally. It needs to look to Scotland for lessons on how to lead and conduct its campaigns.

The only thing that really differentiates Plaid from Welsh Labour is the question of independence. Apart from that their social and economic policies and their progressive stance are virtually identical. Therefore, why should Welsh people vote for Plaid if they have no concern about independence? Those who are content for Wales to remain part of the Union will be inclined to vote Labour.

The key difference is independence. Plaid Cymru should proclaim its affirmation of the aim of independence and not hide away from or ignore this salient fact.
After all, it is the reason and sine qua non of why the party was founded in the first place!

Further Comment

Opposition voices to the SNP victory in Scotland are pushing Alex Salmond to hold a referendum on independence as soon as possible. The reason is that if it were heldnowa vote in favour of independence most likely would not succeed. Alex is too canny a politician to fall for that.....

Alan Stafford Jones

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