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Brexit shows Welsh independence must be fought with ’emotion and patriotism’ says Andrew RT Davies

05 Oct 2021 3 minute read
Welsh independence march: Picture by Lluniau Lleucu / Yes Cymru. Inset: Andrew RT Davies.

Welsh independence should not be fought on “hollow economic arguments” because the Brexit referendum showed that “emotion and patriotism trump the economy”.

That is the argument of Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies in a chapter published in the book Strength in Union, launched at the Conservative party conference in Manchester.

In it he says that “separatists will always demand separatism” whether Wales is a net contributor to or beneficiary from the UK Treasury.

“We have to win the argument on an emotional and historical basis, because if there is one thing we learned in terms of campaigning during the 2016 EU referendum, it is that emotion and patriotism trump hollow economic arguments,” he writes.

“Identity, history and patriotism cannot be something you push to one side because of an economic arrangement. We need to continue to foster pride in the Union and Wales’s place within it.”

In the article, Andrew RT Davies argues that the Welsh Government’s push for more powers is an effort to weaken the glue that holds the UK together.

“Welsh Government ministers now want to see devolution of justice too,” he says.

“More and more you see an effort from Welsh Labour to make the values of the UK less relevant in our lives, and the push for devolution of justice is just another example of that.”

He adds: “The end result is that we no longer feel an attachment to the most successful union in history: the UK. I think this needs to be challenged by Welsh Conservatives within the devolved context, because no other party in the Senedd will do so.”

‘Credible’

In the chapter, Andrew RT Davies however argues that the Conservatives must accept that “devolution is here to stay”.

“If the Wales rugby team is playing badly, you sack the coach; you do not abolish the Welsh Rugby Union,” he says.

“So the Welsh Conservatives have to engage with devolution and be a credible force for government in 2026 when the next Senedd elections roll around.

“When you look at the constitutional set-up of the United Kingdom, we have devolved parliaments and assemblies, local mayors, police and crime commissioners, and local authorities.

“The idea that Wales can be the only nation in the UK without proper devolution is for the birds.”

He adds: “We have to accept that devolution is here to stay, and unless we make our voices heard within a devolved setting, the nationalist forces in the Welsh Labour Party and Plaid Cymru will bulldoze Wales’ place from within the UK.”


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Cathy Jones
Cathy Jones
2 years ago

I am surprised that someone like Davies would spell “lies and fascism” incorrectly…. I thought that Tories were well into grammar and all of that.

David
David
2 years ago

“If the Wales rugby team is playing badly, you sack the coach; you do not abolish the Welsh Rugby Union,” BUT you do not get the coach of England to pick the Welsh team.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

does this idiot really get paid to write this trash?

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Whining about seperatism and nationalism when brexit happened under his party. What a massive hypocrite. This is the right wing in a nutshell.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

The Conservative Party really is scraping the barrel now.

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Mr Williams

Notice how concerted it is?
Big fly posting campaign in reply required against this rubbish.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

I dont expect much from a poor peasant farmer, and he never disappoints me.

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
2 years ago

If Scotland gains independence, the UK will be on shaky grounds with regards to being a permanent member of the UN Security Council, doubly so if Ireland reunifies and Wales follows Scotland and also leaves, it is after all a ‘union’ so, England (or rather Westminster) ought to be nicer, much nicer towards us! As for the apologists like this silly farmer, why does he hate his own country so much? However crass, mean spirited, or just plain ignorant this man is, or his ilk, I could never hate them, however much my Welsh language offends them, I just feel… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Conservative klutz Andrew RT Davies should keep his ignorant mouth closed. It’s full of cow manure. I wish I could say what I really think of him. 🤬 Man”s an English wannabe. A fool of fools. An agent provocateur. Who leaps about shaking his bells as the Court Jester to King of Clowns Boris Johnson’s idiocracy. And as a two time Tory failure still struggles to distinguish Brexit meant Breakfast let alone argue that imposing Unionism. & Britishness on Wales will quench the fire burning for Welsh independence. Well It won’t. Your actions will only drive more to our just… Read more »

Alwyn
Alwyn
2 years ago

Andrew’s a real ‘Dic Sion Dafydd’. He was a real life Welshman by the name of Richard John Davies who moved to London, forgot his language and adopted an English accent, manners and way of life. He’s seen in Wales as the ultimate turncoat.
Sanicol wrote about him
He left his land, his tongue denied,
His nationality decried
A b*****d mule – He was a man
Who had all faults of mules save one
Dic managed thus in foolish kind
To leave a progeny of mules behind

Kerry Davies
Kerry Davies
2 years ago

A llyfed a taeog y llawr.
This ‘erbert is leader of the tories by default, the one they wanted was too much of a p******d so they took this idiot back.

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

It’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

j humphrys
j humphrys
2 years ago

“Nationalist forces in Labour and Plaid Cymru” (Gwlad just starting to rise)?
Greens and Libs! Get on the train before it leaves smoke in the face of RT and ilk.

Arwyn
Arwyn
2 years ago

Andrew, is that because you know the economic argument for the union doesnt stack up? Hollow I think was the word used. As for emotion and patriotism I think you’ll find it’s UK nationalists foisting their emotion and confected patriotism on the people of Wales and actively seeking to erase our identity as a nation. Begon Tory ghouls!

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago

He sounds worried…

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Astonishingly, he is right ! But in the belief that a view will not be won if based on the financial argument alone, hearts and minds need to be fired up. Where are the Unionists going to find that fire after 700years of Westminster neglect?? The fire, passion and belief in ones country will be delivered by the independence movement – we can do it, we can be sucessful, we can build a better future for ourselves – thank you Davies for the unexpected pep talk.

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