Brexit threatens our Assembly's future - but Dominion status could protect us

One day the argument - _____________*, what's in it for England. will be presented. Even then I doubt that many east of Clawdd Offa will buy it. * insert any constitutional arrangement you can come up with as long as it's not Welsh independence.

Interesting argued. I'm not quite convinced - mostly because my emotional gut-feeling dislikes the moanarchy bit even at a token level. But in terms of legislative power it could come close to independence and would perhaps meet less resistance from those who's gut swings the opposite way to mine and would prefer a less than total breakaway.

His Lordship makes a point. This is a chance for us to avoid the potentially dangerous and immature road of hyper-republicanism (and the bloodshed it usually leads to), whilst keeping what has over the last 700 years become part of our country and culture, namely our emerging Anglo-Welsh legal system and the Monarchy. And this as a buttressed defense against any post-Brexit threats to out devolved powered. With Dominion status we could focus on doing what complete independence will be useless and meaningless without: rejuvenating our Welsh language and ensuring that a majority of us speak it before establishing any independent state. Otherwise an Anglo-Welsh identity may be the end of the Welsh Language as we've seen in Ireland.

My head buys the arguments here, it's very pragmatic and rational, but my heart can't quite get to grips with the word and some of its connotations. .

So in the last election Labour in Wales distanced itself from Corbyn's Labour... as if to unite the vote of Labour supporters: Don't like Corbyn? Vote Carwyn. Don't like Carwyn, vote Corbyn. Now Labour are venturing into the lands of Plaid... Looks like they've found a new tactic... "Don't agree with us? Vote for us anyway!". I do not envision the future of our nation suffering the indignity of being ruled over by the English crown. It defeats the basic point of Welsh nationalism which started with our own monarchs - that hold such a special place in our shared heritage: complete autonomy from English rule.

People seemingly didn't quite grasp the Brexit referendum, what chance understanding a dominion?

I don't like this. It sounds too different to what Scotland asked for, and would be very difficult to explain to the public. It is still progress for Labour figures to be discussing these options. Labour and Plaid have enough voters between them to achieve whatever constitutional status they agree on.

After WW2 Dominion status for Wales was Plaid Cymru policy, supported by none other than Saunders Lewis. Those of a republican bent established the Welsh Republican Movement in opposition to it and many left Plaid Cymru. Some joined Labour, and one of them, Gwilym Prys Davies, became highly influential in his unassuming way in moving forward the causes of Welsh self-determination and the Welsh language within that party. It is slightly ironic, but very welcome, that Elystan Morgan, another who moved from Plaid to Labour (for different reasons at a later time), should now be suggesting this practical solution to a constitutional conundrum.

I'm not sure that the Scots were asked to vote on the currency in 2014. I say that because what currency would be used after independence seemed to be one of the few matters that the SNP and the Yes campaign had not thought through fully. Once this was realised then the Better Together campaign went for it big time. The picture was so confused that I'm not sure most voters knew the position when they voted. Most probably didn't care, but the uncertainty could only have helped the No side. So to have the position made clear before any future Welsh referendum would be very sensible.

I like this idea. It's pragmatic, it wouldn't alienate Welsh + British identifiers and would nudge the non-Welsh to develop a greater sense of civic identity as they wouldn't be able to ignore our existence.

Dominion Status is an old Plaid objective, from way back when his Lordship was probably in Plaid himself...

I'm not convinced "this was Plaid policy seventy years ago" is a good selling point, in all honesty. It makes even less sense than 'devo max' which has at least been aired in Scotland.

It's as though there's a box of tempting constitutional chocolates open in front of us and we just have to choose one. Shall it be Dominion status delight, Confederation creme, Federation fudge, League of the Isles nutty cluster or perhaps a lucky dip one that's wrapped in shiny red white and blue foil. First, if we get a chocolate it will be one that we are given and not one that we've chosen. Second, what's the motivation for the confectioner to give us a chocolate at all when they can shut us up with a cheap Great British gobstopper. Wake up and smell the chocolate.

Lord Elystan Morgan has spent much of his political life campaigning for meaningful self-government for Wales. Any proposal he has, deserves serious consideration. As I understand it, he proposed “something of the nature of dominion status” for Wales in response to provisions for further devolution of powers to Wales in the 2016 Wales Bill which he described as “ messy," "utterly and monumentally trivial” and reflecting Westminster's "huge imperial mentality”. “Dominion” has long been an obsolete term, even in Canada, the original Dominion of the British Empire. “Dominion status” evolved through convention as much as law and meant different things at different points in time. Had the Scottish Independence referendum been won, Scotland would have become a “Commonwealth Realm”. The SNP argued for a monetary union with the remainder of the UK this would have been by treaty between the two independent states. There are no constitutional links between the Commonwealth Realms. They just have the same royal family. All discussion between monarch and ministers of Her realms is privileged. As an independent country, the Kingdom of Scotland could have chosen to become a republic So what exactly is meant by “something of the nature of dominion status”? Would Wales be recognised as an independent state by the international community? Would there be a Welsh nationality and passport? Could Westminster repeal a “Dominion of Wales Act” and annul “Dominion status”? Would interference by Westminster in the affairs of Wales be regarded as illegal in international law? Could Wales enter into treaties with other countries? Would the Dominion of Wales have the right to become the Republic of Wales if that’s what its people chose? But most importantly of all, to what extent would Wales have control over the economy to deliver the radical transformative policies needed to make a real positive difference in the lives of the people of Wales? The level of integration of the economies, transport system and welfare and benefits arrangements of England and Wales and the mobility of capital and labour are challenges the nascent states of the old Commonwealth, even the Irish Free State, did not have to face. Constitutional change may create new levers of power, but rather than being constrained by the limitations of the powers at its disposal, the Welsh Government may find itself unable to use the levers of power it were given. A complete rethink about how, when and where government intervenes in markets and the economy and its support for business and how public services are funded - is what is urgently needed..

So this is what the Labour party's current 'Indyplay' is all about then. Not Independence. but a mish mash of old concepts and ideas that will confuse the Labour electorate into continued submission to a party that has more a kin with the Tories than any socialist values they purport to have. Dominion status is another form of unionism and the construct of the arguement appeasement to the British. We have just passed the 51 anniversary of Aberfan and there my friends is an example of what Labour are capable of, conspiring against the people and not for. We also see that throughout our history some have conspired against our own heroes, who stood against the English, for the gain of land, wealth or a title. Nothing changes there then. In 2014 Carwyn Jones stated (taken from a BBC News interview: that "The Welsh public have the right to decide what powers they want and what powers the UK should have", he said. But the first minister believes "they would not want to become an independent country and he would not back the idea". So there you have it, again, mark my words 'LABOUR ARE NOT FOR INDEPENDENCE, BUT THE BRITISH STATUS QUO'. All Labour are doing is repackaging and renaming continued submission by the people to the English. Coincidently, recommended by an English lord with a Welsh name. YesCymru certainly have Labour running scared and like the first meeting of this group it told us nothing more than what we already know, Labour cannot be trusted to stand for our people, country or nation. Time to move on and debate somethiing new, fresh and for all Wales to benefit not just an English political party!

Here's the choice. You have two ways of getting what you want. By consent. Or after a confrontation. Confrontation For this you need guts, backbone, organisation, unity of purpose, a thick skin. Be honest, does this sound like Wales today, with its risk aversion, fear of micro-aggression, dependence on hand-outs from England? I like all these virtues and aspire to them, with incomplete success no doubt. Independence? Doesn't make me afraid. Federalism including Statehood for Wales (an enormous advance)? Bring it on? But to get them you'd have to confront England. Consent You don't have to confront England. Stroke them. Reassure them. Talk their language. Why? Because they hold the Parliament whose consent you need, and they have the votes. So what do the English want? Poor old English. They lack so much. They have no written Constitution like every other country since the USA and modern France were formed. They have no safeguards, because they are subject to a single-house legislature based on a Medieval model. Its all top-down for the English. They only have cricket, Methodism and the Church of England, the Queen (who likes the Commonwealth), and the race-memory of their money being as sound as a gold sovereign. Oh, and the Navy (as in Nelson) and the Army (as in Eighth Army) and the Air Force (as in the Dambusters and the Spitfire). And the fact that they own Scotland. So don't press all the buttons which will annoy them and go on about Federalism or breaking up the familiar (unless its the EU of course, though they are distressed over that because they fear another English Civil War). What would they like to hear? No, don't say "Home Rule all round". This reminds the English of Ireland (bombs) and Scotland (grief at nearly losing what they own). Call it Dominion Status. It means the same as Home Rule all round, Probably. Yes it sounds antigue. But the Establishment lawyers and guardians in London will get it. They know it means the graceful way to lose yet another possession as they lost all the others. They know its a fudge. But they like fudges and a quiet life. They are English. So give them what they want. And they will consent. For heavens sake, wise up. Let the English keep their armed forces (for now, and start building a little Welsh navy from scratch. One properly funded Fisheries vessel for a start). Let them keep Foreign Policy (and develop the Welsh proto-Foreign Office - which we already have in Cardiff). Keep the pound (because pressing this button is what screwed the Scots last time round.) The single biggest problem is the Welsh legal system. The English think all bobbies come from Scotland Yard and should be on the beat and Keep the peace, which is the Queen's not yours or mine. They simply don't grasp devolved policing. In the US, leave aside the Federal FBI, its all done at State level with a mixture of State Troopers and elected Sheriffs and Mayors running the town and county forces. It works well. But this freaks the English at the moment. They can't let go of Home Office Control over the police. Similar arguments apply to the Court buildings and appointing Judges. If we are going to get consent, this is where we in Wales will have to work hard.Just on Law and Order. Including the right to run our own criminal law. As Scotland and N.Ireland do. This is the tricky one. So work on this. Tease the problem apart. Be patient. Reassure the English that the Welsh police and Judges will be perfectly fine. Like the NZ, Aussie and Irish ones. Get consent on this and all else falls into place. Dominion Status? Home Rule? First big stride to a free Wales eventually. I bet Lord Elystan would agree - organise Welsh Law and Order first. Doing a difficult job always looks daunting at first. But deuparth gwaith yw dechrau. So make a start. On the Welsh legal system