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Former Tory leader calls for Senedd to be lit up with colours of Union Jack

By Emily Price
Andrew RT Davies - Image: Joe Giddens

Emily Price 

The former leader of the Senedd Conservatives, Andrew RT Davies, has called for the Senedd to be lit up with the colours of the Union Jack flag to mark VE Day.

Thursday's (May 8) Victory in Europe Day will commemorate 80 years since the day in 1945 when fighting against Nazi Germany in Europe came to an end.

Davies said the Senedd should mark the occasion by bathing Wales' parliament in red white and blue on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May.

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Historic

He said: "This is a moment for the whole British nation to come together in gratitude and respect.

"Lighting the Senedd in the Union Flag colours of red, white and blue will show that we remember those who gave everything for our freedom.

"It's a simple but powerful way to send a message of national unity and remembrance."

The Senedd is often lit up with colours to commemorate various historic events or occasions.

In September 2023, it was illuminated blue to mark National Police Memorial Day.

During the run up to Christmas 2020, it was lit up with rainbow colours to honour community heroes.

In a letter to the Senedd's Llywydd - Elin Jones - Davies said VE Day meets the same threshold.

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Allies

He wrote: "This is a moment of immense historical significance for our country. It was the day the British nation and its allies celebrated the end of the Second World War in Europe after years of sacrifice, loss, and extraordinary courage.

"As we approach this milestone, it is right that we come together as one nation to commemorate those who served and those who gave their lives to defend our freedom. Lighting the Senedd in the colours of the Union Flag will send a powerful message of unity, remembrance, and gratitude.

"There is a clear precedent for the Senedd being lit to mark important events, and it is without question this historic occasion meets that threshold.

"I trust you will give this request serious consideration and ensure the Senedd plays its part in commemorating this historic anniversary."

A spokesperson for the Llywydd said that Ms Jones had responded to the South Wales Central MS explaining that the Senedd will be lit up "in red in alignment with other buildings in Wales" taking part in VE Day activities promoted by the UK Government's department for culture, media and sport.

The red lights will be switched on at around 9pm each night once it's dark enough.

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24 comments

Bart

There would've been no victory in Europe without the USA and the Soviets so these flags must be represented.

Reply
Frank

True, but England would have you believe they did it all singlehanded. Very rarely do you hear them mention having help from allies from all over the world but as Trump said to Zelensky "never do we hear you thank the US for help" ....... and never do you hear England thanking other nations for their help.

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Bart

When you look at what happened to one of their most valuable wartime assets, Alan Turing, gratitude might be best avoided.

Reply

In reply to Bart

Jeff

It was terrible. And his work was on top of the brave polish mathematician's that smuggled the machines out as Poland fell. And Polish squadrons highest kill rate in BoB.

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Steve

Some people should learn their history The Americans only got involved when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour and Russia when they were attacked by Germany. As for other nations they were part of the British Commonwealth. Lets look at the other major players. Italy were allies of Germany, the French rolled over and refused to supply Britain with their navy, rather give it up to Germany. My grandfather was captured trying to get to Dunkirk and spent the war in a concentration camp. My uncle was blown up twice once in France second time in Italy, both proud Welsh men.

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Jeff

Help was there from the US early on but not overt. 100 octane just as the BoB kicked off. US assisted (and initially supplied?). Not the only help. And Germany declared war on the US after pearl harbour because H was an idiot. I can imagine his general's giving it a WTF moment.

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Bart

Indeed but without the Soviets and the Americans the outcome would've been very different.

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Hogyn y Gogledd

The Soviets had a pact with the Germans and they invaded Poland from the east, just after the Germans did so from the west. (Perhaps UK and France should have declared war on them at that point) They then changed sides when Germany invaded them.

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Jeff

What an illiterate flag sh*@#ing blow hard. Light it up with Polish colours, Indian colours, Kenyan, Australian, USSR, light it up with Ethiopian and Brazilian colours….there were many nations, not one. the bloke should not be let near crayons.

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Erisian

Be fair, he's already not allowed pencils 'cause they're too sharp. Just don't give him a blue crayon.

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Neil Anderson

And don't forget Somaliland! The cheapest solution is for the Tories to dress themselves in their Butcher's Apron suits and parade prominently on each of the days suggested. Might be best to avoid open-air vegetable stalls though...

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Drew Anderson

Sorry Jeff, but you are falling into same trap as he has: suggesting changes to the brief with 2 days to go: that is not the job that was put out to [Maggies compulsory competitive] tender; its not the job that was bid for; its not the job that was signed off. Throwing a monocolour wash onto a building is straightforward. Changing to tricolour almost certainly needs extra lights; even if they don't need extras, there's definitely additional work involved in focusing the lights, so the colours don't bleed into each other. Who pays for the extra work, and perhaps extra gear, if this clueless idiot had got his way? You would ladies and gentlemen. The production company, quite rightly, shouldn't have to absorb the cost. This is a good example of how politicians are expert at squandering public funds by insisting on changes at a late stage.

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Erisian

Yes, let's celebrate. But let's not do it using a flag which pointedly excludes us. We could perhaps be conciliatory and use the Union Flag as a background for our dragon... Just this once?

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Stephen Thomas

I’m sure he does it deliberately- really annoying. But then it reminds us what a bunch of inbreds the tories really are

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Geoff

The Cons might show a little humility given they enabled the failed artist by brokering the Munich appeasement then doing nothing more than send a strongly worded letter when he took Poland.

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Crwtyddol

So let's get this straight. In Wales, we use the colours of a flag on which we are NOT represented to honour those Welsh who gave their lives for a common good. I don't follow. Could somebody explain please?

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Steve D.

Lighting up the Senedd with red white and blue would not represent the Welsh war dead as Wales is not on the flag. Red white and green would be better colours.

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Karl

Lets not take advice from a party who calls my kids the pre war generation. Lest we forge5 and endl3ss ugly flags waved. But not learnt a lesson from WW2, to be nicer, woek together,no brexit and to never do it again.

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Rob

There is no Welsh representation on the union flag. That in itself is an insult to the thousands of servicemen and women died fighting for freedom.

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Brychan

It wouldn't surprise me if the PIN number for his credit card was 1966. We know where his loyalty lies.

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Hogyn y Gogledd

The "British nation"!? That's his problem - he is ignorant. There is no such thing. There is only a British state.

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Bart

Which is also a legacy term since Ireland left. It should be the UK state and UK citizens. Every time someone uses the geographical name of the largest island in the British Isles they exclude Northern Ireland.

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Adam

Keep that disgusting flag away from our country.

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Garycymru

He's such an embarrassment to politics, I'm surprised he hasn't joined reform yet.

Reply

Leave a reply

Replying to Erisian Cancel

Yes, let's celebrate. But let's not do it using a flag which pointedly excludes us. We could perhaps be conciliatory and use the Union Flag as a background for our dragon... Just this once?

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