Wednesday 24 May 2017

Beware leopards and spots

The launch of the Tories’ ‘Welsh’ manifesto on Monday was somewhat (deliberate understatement) overshadowed by the astonishing U-turn on a social care cap, and the Prime Minister’s Trump-like insistence that a reversal of what has been said just a few days previously was merely an alternative fact a minor clarification.  But it meant that the import of some of the other things being said – in a more specifically Welsh context – did not get the attention it deserved.
I suppose the very fact that the ‘Welsh’ manifesto was launched by the UK leader rather than depending on any natives should have been warning in itself (the self-styled ‘Welsh leader’ wasn’t even present – whether by lack of invitation or lack of inclination is unstated).  But some of the comments made should give serious cause for concern in relation to the resilience (I was tempted to say strength and stability) of the devolution settlement.  How can these statements:
·         "The United Kingdom Government has in the past tended to 'devolve and forget'.  This Conservative government will put that right.”
·         “We will work closely with the Welsh Government for the benefit of all our people - but that will not be the limit of our actions in Wales."
be interpreted, other than as a clear statement that a re-elected Theresa May would have no intention of respecting the boundaries between devolved and non-devolved responsibilities?
And, constitutionally, she has every right to interfere and over-rule the Welsh Government and the National Assembly at any time of her choosing.  The convention that the UK Government would not do so is exactly what it says, a convention. And as the Article 50 Supreme Court proceedings demonstrated, there is absolutely no requirement on the UK Government to abide by that convention.  It underlines the truth which devolutionists would prefer that we didn’t understand – all the powers of the National Assembly and Welsh Government are ‘on loan’ from Westminster, and can be reclaimed at any time.
There is one way, and only one way, of replacing the concept of sovereignty as the inalienable right of the Crown-in-Parliament with the concept of sovereignty belonging to the people of Wales and that is by securing Welsh independence.  The Tories’ commitment to devolution is being shown to be the same as their commitment to any other policy – it will only last as long as the UK leader decides (which, as we’ve seen on other policy areas, might only be days at a time).

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was obvious the day after the EU referendum, when Andrew RT Davies and Alun Cairns started on the EU funds weren't spent properly and Wales has always been closer to England than Europe lines they've spouted ever since.

This Tories anti devolution return is welcome, no more pretending suits those of us who want independence, they are a clear enemy. The Tory manifesto also makes a mockery of Plaid Cymru's spineless position on welsh Independence, the roll back of powers started on 24th June Plaid Cymru should have been banging the indy drum back then and continued it instead of cwtching up to Labour.

Anonymous said...

Thought you might be interested in this new Welsh news initiative, Nation.cymru
https://nation.cymru/welcome-to-nation-cymru/

Despite the lack of debate or promotion of the idea, their first story is good news for us welsh independence supporters
https://nation.cymru/quarter-of-population-support-welsh-independence-yougov/

G Horton-Jones said...

Bottom line
England decides to Brexit just do the referendum maths
Theresa May tells devolved Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that their points of view are of no significance in any Brexit negotiation

Wales was annexed to England by the so called Acts of Union

Only logical conclusion is for Wales to secede from a Union we were never a party of