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'I am against imperialist nation-states': Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh backs Welsh independence

By NationCymru
Picture by Edinburgh International Film Festival (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh has said that he is now backing independence for Wales.

In a conversation recorded by the Guardian he said that he believed that breaking up the UK was the only means to bring about the end of the British elite, such as the Royal Family, House of Lords and Eton.

Although previously a supporter of independence for his native Scotland, he had told the Western Mail in 2017 that he hoped to see "a kind of federalist arrangement between the Welsh, Irish, English and Scots, where each knows their own identity".

However, he now said that he hoped each nation would become completely self-governing.

"I’m not as much for Scottish independence as I am against imperialist nation-states," he told the Guardian.

"I think it’s better to be governed by non-hierarchical nation-states that aren’t based on imperialist precepts and entrenched beliefs. I’m for Scottish independence as a mechanism for breaking up the UK, and I’m for English independence and Welsh independence.

"The real fear of elites in England is that, if Scotland is independent, at a stroke, there’s no royal family, no House of Lords, no Eton. And people in England are going to say – we’ll have some of that."

Primal Scream frontman Bobbie Gillespie, who was also a part of the Guardian discussion, said that he had sympathy with Irvine Welsh's point of view.

"I remember reading you at the time of the vote in 2014, and thinking, that’s interesting," he said. "This idea that, if Scotland gets independence and becomes a more social democratic, left, liberal country, maybe people in England will finally wake up.

"I totally understand that point of view, but I find it very hard," he added. "I’m only nationalist when it comes to football. My dad’s influence was to be internationalist."

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12 comments

Steve Duggan

He is absolutely right, unless we gain independence we will always be dominated by the people who still believe there is an empire, who still believe in colonialism and total control. The likes of Eton and the Royal family. Since 2016, in particular, this concept has grown, the UK Tories have become fixated with it and it has made us poorer. Enough is enough, independence is the only way to make our country better off.

Reply
CJPh

If the English want to maintain, reform or scrap their institutions, cool. Pob lwc, sincerely. All I care about is Cymru becoming a free and independent nation. How many Americans, Indians or Irish advocate to rejoin the union/empire? How many advocate to end the British monarchy? Yup, Cymru rhydd, nawr ac yn fythol.

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Philip Hucknall

 How many Americans, Indians or Irish advocate to rejoin the union/empire? They became Independent from Britain, which contained Wales and whose countrymen took part in their colonisation.

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Wrexhamian

That's common knowledge (in the case of the USA). What's your point?

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D Mackenzie

Given that Wales was colonised as well makes any point you are trying to make very weak. Besides, even if the Welsh took part in colonisation in the past (the colonised always take part in their own and others colonisation that is how it works. It is a political process/event that unfortunately snowballs, not an inherent characteristic of any one people or another), why shouldn't they or anyone else not wish to distance themselves from it now? You seem to be suggesting that you cant wish to leave a system you think is abhorrent because you have taken part in it. Not a very strong argument.

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Barry Pandy

“I’m only nationalist when it comes to football. My dad’s influence was to be internationalist.” And therein lies the problem. Far too many people who consider themselves to be 'progressive' oppose independence on the grounds that they are 'internationalist' rather than 'nationalist'. I also consider myself an 'internationalist' in that I want an independent Wales to participate fully in international institutions such as the UN and it's agencies such as UNESCO, WHO, UNICEF etc. and eventually re-join the EU (or at EFTA at the very least). If the people who like to think of themselves as 'progressive' and 'internationalist' thought it through then they would have had to oppose Irish independence, Indian independence and indeed independence for every former colony of the British Empire, thereby supporting a system of colonialism that their supposedly 'progressive' views should tell them to oppose. Instead, their supposedly 'progressive' stance on Welsh and Scottish independence means they are propping up a highly reactionary system of government (and one that is getting more so every year) plus the ongoing colonial domination of Wales and Scotland by England. To any supposedly 'progressive' 'internationalists' out there: sorry but I'm not waiting around for your socialist revolution (which will probably never happen) to put an end to English colonialism. I want out of the so-called union.

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Cai Wogan Jones

100% agree. Being a territory of the UK locks Wales out of the international community of nations I also truly value the potential of our relationships with the other nations of these isles. But as equal partners, not subordinates.

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John Brooks

Absolutely. I find it interesting that many socialists see the anti Colonial struggles of the past, such as India and even Ireland as revolutionary acts. But when it comes to Scotland and Wales it is dismissed as nationalism.

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D Mackenzie

Brings to mind the late great Hamish Henderson's internationalist song Freedom Come All Ye. Composed in Scots but a great anti elite, imperial and internationalist anthem. One line goes "Broken families in lands wev'e harried will curse Scotland the Brave no more no more".

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Y Cymro

Irvine Welsh is right. The irony is, It was the very elite who fuelled the hatred & demonisation of Ethic minorities & EU who engineered us leaving the European Union. And I find ones who rabidly supported Britain leaving the EU whilst themselves advocating a separatist agenda with Brexit, have no right to argue against Welsh & Scottish independence as what's good for the goose is good enough for the gander.

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Grayham Jones

Independence is the only way for wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

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j humphrys

It's the correct road. Forget left and Right until we get Indy, join at the center. I'm not advocating Liberal, of course, just a meeting point, like YES CYMRU!

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Replying to CJPh Cancel

If the English want to maintain, reform or scrap their institutions, cool. Pob lwc, sincerely. All I care about is Cymru becoming a free and independent nation. How many Americans, Indians or Irish advocate to rejoin the union/empire? How m...

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