What is to be done? A Labour Perspective on the Question of Wales

I don't think anyone could disagree with what Dr Huw Williams quite eloquently says in his opening pitch. Although, it is basically a repeat rhetoric with some long English words that we have heard before and proof that a Labour 'perspective' is not only outdated, but has no place in our country anymore. As someone who studies prehistory/history, I know we cannot change the past and we must not dwell there however, we can certainly change the present to create a better future. The change he mentions can only come through Independence nothing more and nothing less. Regarding the paint analogy, I do not know anyone within the Independence 'sphere' who is considering a new coat of paint and we will certainly would not accept or tolerate any more whitewashes that have constantly eminated from Westminster or their llackies within Cymru for far too long. Nor are we wanting to change brands either, we look soley toward a free, open and untarnished Cymru from the exterior to its core, especially from the top to the bottom. Like the roundhouses of our prehistoric ancestors we shall have no corners where corruption and evil can hide. As Dr Huw openly states, it is from a “Labour perspective”. Not a Llafur Cymru 'perspective' because it is not. It is a Labour perspective as layed down by the Labour party, a foreign based party and therefore from a foreign based perspective. Which begs the question, do they have any right at the table discussing the future of Cymru? The answer is no, otherwise we may as well invite other foreign based parties and nationals to discuss it, maybe the French? After all they are a republic and surely would not do as bad as the anglo-norman establishment based at Westminster has for the past 1500+ years! Anyway, my first impression regardly the title “What is to be done? A Labour Perspective on the Question of Wales” was whoa, do people really still think and talk like this in the 21st century?! I guess the answer is, unfortunately, they do. The phrase smacks of that 19th century statement known as the 'Irish question'. This was a phrase used mainly by members of the British ruling elite regarding those fighting for Irish freedom and indepependence in another land the 'British' had invaded and despoiled. We don't need these outdated British labels when talking about our nation and people, they are not polite nor helpful. Unless anyone, of course, feels they are British and not Cymrieg, which again begs the question, do they have a right in discussing our future when their allegiance is plainly elsewhere? There is yet another term used throughout the piece I and many cannot agree with or accept. Neither shall we tolerate it and will continue to bring people to account until it is wiped from our language, writings and psyche. It is the use of another outdated, this time anglo-saxon term, wéalas viz wales viz foreigner the 'w' word is I call it. It is a name that enslaves us to the English elitist and British lapdog system. It perpetuates English dominance and disrespects our heritage because we are not foreigners in what is left of our own lowlands, highlands and islands, we are indigenous to them. We are Cymrieg and we are in what we know as the land of fellow countrypeople not a land of foreigners, that's next door (and once ours)! However, as with everything about late 20th century Labour, where it is more than apparant they are stuck, there is a certain disrespect and untrustworthiness about them and everything they do regarding our nation. You do not have to take my word for it, just look at their actions whether today in the Senedd or their history throughout Cymru with situations or complicity in disasters such as Aberfan. Apart from the actions of the National Coal Board in the cause, to aid clear up the slip the then Labour Prime Minister, Harold Wilson's government forced a contribution from the donations given freely to the disaster fund, by everyone throughout these isles and abroad, to help the families and community recover the best they could. Not only has their political surety of re-election bred an arrogance beyond belief, but it has taken them so far away from the fundamental roots and beginnings of the party. James Keir Hardie a great socialist and first ever Labour MP would not recognise the party he founded as it is today. As a socialist myself I know he would be right in thinking they are the modern day Tory party. Why? Because, these days we keep seeing Labour, time after time, proposing or backing right wing policies. He would also see them teaming up with the Tories in our Senedd, doing deals and voting against our only major home grown party (Plaid Cymru) on nearly every subject or issue, whether they agree or not. This can vary from our language, to house names, steam rollering through British policies of housing (for more English settlement), recently a new prison, to major votes on the rights of all Cymrieg under the current British occupation and subjugation. Now, to be fair and balanced, UKIP, Liberal Democrats and the Tories are all foreign based political parties and believe it or not the Tories were once the sworn enemy of Labour, but now we find them constant bed fellows. So, as I close my humble offering I do welcome Dr Huw's honesty in the title which, I take to be, an open admission that Labour does not know what to do anymore and another reason why we should not even consider their 'perspective'. If the Labour party had any loyalty toward Cymru that died many years ago in the younger days of my late Father, Mother and many other good and true Cymry. Those who fought and sometimes died for the (diminishing) rights we have today.

The contrast between "polity" and "public sphere" is a worthwhile one I think. Too large a proportion of the country never got their heads around the devolution that we DO have - there's uncertainty about what's devolved and what's not. There's uncontested Country Councils up and down the country, and many people cannot name their local representative - this is not unique to Wales of course but it could be different. The fact that a Tory majority would boost support for independence shouldn't surprise anyone - it's a natural side effect of the fact that Wales consistently votes more to the left but seldom sways the overall UK vote. That's reflected in the makeup of the Senedd but it's unfortunate that the watered down devo has opened an avenue for the argument "Well the assembly hasn't made us richer so why would independence?" I must go and read Red Dragon Red Flag now - it's a bit of historical politics I didn't know much about.