The Evolution of Devolution

In the first devolution referendum we were offered nothing more than a glorified county council - yet Neil Kinnock and friends scared the electorate off with visions of a Welsh speaking Albania, and we lost our chance for a generation.

In 1999 we were offered a slightly better model, but this time the Kinnockites were not so successful in their scare tactics, and despite general public apathy, the case was narrowly won.

After two terms and no sign of any uniformed linguistic enforcement squads the Senedd has been generally accepted as an integral part of our society, and even the unionist Conservative party have dropped their opposition to devolution.

As the Senedd has progressively increased its powers it has also gained in credibility, and the battleground has moved significantly. In 1987 we were offered a choice between nominal devolution or the unionist status quo. Today the choice is between a more powerful legislative Parliament or maintaining our limited Assembly. Nobody is seriously advocating abolishing devolution.

However, by the time the third referendum is called I expect that the battleground will have shifted again. Independence will have been raised as a viable option, as will the establishment of a federal UK – many people who today oppose a parliament will then find themselves actively supporting one in order to counter the growing movement for independence. Nobody will be supporting a toothless Assembly.

A few more years down the road and I expect that Wales will have become a fully autonomous state within a federal UK – and that the final choice will be between Federalists and Separatists.

Evolution and not Revolution will deliver Independence.

We just have to give it enough time.

Independence back on the agenda

For a long time, Plaid Cymru have been quiet on the issue of independence, but there is nothing as powerful as an idea whose time has come.

It is excellent news that Plaid are going to set up a commission to review the implications of independence, and what is more pleasing is the fact that the Western Mail are reporting the news objectively.

I am sure we can now expect hysterical rants and wailings from the unionists which will only strengthen our cause.

The State of the Union

Imagine a land with a population of just under 3 million people – with an elected assembly with full law-making powers, able to raise its own taxes, in control of its police forces and even with a limited military capability. This land would cooperate fully with its neighbours, allowing unrestricted movement between them, and be part of a free market of over 300 million people. The land would agree to cede limited powers to a central government, but would fiercely defend its sovereignty from central interference.

Is this the post-devolution vision of Wales that frightens Neil Kinnock & friends so much?

Well no – it is actually the US State of Mississippi (or Iowa or Arkansas etc). The Americans are mature enough (!) to allow its people to run their own affairs without getting hysterical about economic meltdown and balkanization.

Why can our Westminster politicians not see that as long as they deny us the right to run our own affairs, that they are actually speeding up the break-up of the UK?

Trip to England?

I received this anonymous email today. It may be of interest to some of you:

What are you doing on 15 - 16 September. How about celebrating Glyndwr Day (16th) and the tenth anniversary of the Referendum Yes vote with a visit to support the English Democrats at their In My Heart 2007 Conference in Leicester?

Isn't it time Welsh nationalists made links with English nationalists? Sure we'll get some flack, but there's no harm in talking. Don't believe the Brit Nat propaganda that English nationalism is inherently racists - the English Nats are open to all ethnic groups and religions. Saying that English nationalism is automatically racists is like saying all British nationalists are racists because the BNP believe in Britian as a nation state as does Gordon Brown.

It would be interesting to learn more about the Campaign for an English Parliament. Maybe a delegation of Welsh nationalists could ask for observer status and see what's going on there too.

Both ourselves and the English have a common enemy - British nationalism. It's time to talk. Who's interested?

English Democrats: www.englishdemocrats.org.uk
The CEP: www.thecep.org.uk

Wales on Sunday

Following last weeks article in the Western Mail, the WoS has now joined the debate on independence.

It seems that Ray Gravell is in favour, Stuart Cable is undecided & Max Boyce is against.

Gripping stuff....... FFS

As Scotland is openly debating independence, our media turns out this drivel.

An Independent Wales Be Too Poor.....

Wales is clearly one of the poorer parts of the UK, but this is relative. According to the International Monetary Fund, the UK has a GDP per Capita of around $35,000 making it the 12th richest country in the world.

I do not have exact figures for Wales available, but I have seen it quoted that Wales’s GDP per Capita is only 80% of the UK’s figure. This would put the Welsh figure at around $28,000, which would place us at around 26th place – out of more than 200 countries.

This would also place us around 12th place in the EU.

Would an independent Wales be poor? – only relatively.

We would actually be the envy of much of the world!!

An Independent Wales Would Be Too Small.....

With a population of just under 3 million, Wales is a relatively small country.

According to Wikipedia there are 221 countries and territories in the world, and an independent Wales would slot in between the 135th largest country (Armenia @ 3 million) and the 136th country (Kuwait @ 2.8 million). In fact there would be 86 independent countries in the world smaller than Wales.

Within the European Union’s 27 states, Wales would fit between 21st placed Lithuania (3.4 million) and 22nd placed Latvia (2.3 million), and there would still be 6 smaller independent countries.

So would an independent Wales be small ? Yes.

Would it be too small ? Not at all!

Y Repwblic

For those of you interested in Welsh Republicanism, there is a new forum that has been established to replace various older forums. It is still being tidied up but it is worth visiting as there is a lot of interesting information in the archives.

Go to: http://repwblic.informe.com and sign up to join the debate.