Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Labour at Sea on Union

We know that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown do not talk much - but even by their standards, the conflicting attacks on those seeking Welsh independence is unusally contradictory. It is also obvious that Peter Hain is no longer talking to Tony Blair. He has always known when it is time to jump ship - Western Mail today.

Over the last day or so, Hain has been running scare stories about Plaid Cymru (and the Tories) threatening the future of the Union. This is total gibberish of course, but he did achieve his objective which was to win some publicity for his bid to be Deputy Prime Minister. Gordon Brown has been promoting the same sort of line over recent days - as he tries desperately to avoid the blame for the current drive to Scottish Independence which he himself has caused.

Even Plaid Cymru seem to have put the whole 'independence' issue on the backburner - certainly until after 2011. (This is part of Plaid's very sensible preparation for coalition after May). But at the same time as all this tosh was being printed, Tony Blair was telling the world that "Welsh nationalists have virtually given up on seperation as an issue". Quite right, too. In passing, since I want the possibility of the Tories and Plaid working together after the May election, I was pleased to read Ieuan Wyn Jones' mostly sensible comments on this issue as reported in today's Western Mail.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I was pleased to read Ieuan Wyn Jones' mostly sensible comments on this issue as reported in today's Western Mail."

So the Tories are behind a referendum on a full parliament before 2011? Interesting...

Glyn Davies said...

My blog represents my opinion - and is not official party policy. I have said before that I would not be surprised if the Welsh Consevatives would sign up to a referendum in 2011. Personally I would be in favour of it - and have said publicly that I would campaign for the Scottish model of devolution in Wales. Nothing new here.

Anonymous said...

'Even Plaid Cymru seem to have put the whole 'independence' issue on the backburner - certainly until after 2011. (This is part of Plaid's very sensible preparation for coalition after May)'.

Hmmm. I don't think that's the reasoning!

Anonymous said...

Blamerbell should realise that there is a long tradition in the Tory party of suggesting that the people should be consulted on any constitutional change.Before 1914 Tories argued that there should be a UK referendum on Irish Home Rule. The simple fact is that the present settlement is unsustainable and will produce major disappointment after May.