British Empire declared a ‘force for good’ by second Reform MS
Ella Groves, ICNN Senedd Reporter
A second Reform MS has declared the British Empire was a “force for good” during a debate on Wales’ place within the United Kingdom.
Gŵyr Abertawe MS, Francesca O’Brien, told members “the United Kingdom is the greatest nation in the history of the world.”
She said: “We gave parliamentary democracy, common law and the industrial age.
“We defeated Napoleon. We abolished the slave trade—sorry to disappoint you. We stood against Hitler in 1940 when the rest of Europe had fallen.”
Ms O’Brien continued: “At every one of those moments, Wales was there. Wales has been at the centre of British history for generations.
“In 1485, Henry Tudor, a Welshman born in Pembroke castle, landed near Milford Haven. He marched through Wales, gathering men to his banner, the Red Dragon, and he took the crown at Bosworth.
“His granddaughter Queen Elizabeth I began the British empire, which was such a force for good in the world.”
Her comments came during a debate, tabled by Reform UK, which called for the Senedd to agree Wales should remain in the UK.
They also follow criticism from Plaid Cymru MS Carrie Harper who, earlier in the debate, condemned comments made by Reform’s Joe Martin last week praising the British Empire.
The Fflint Wrecsam MS said Mr Martin’s comments say something about “the political imagination on offer”.
She suggested Reform look backwards “to an idea of what they believe Britain once was”, whereas Plaid Cymru look forward to “what Cymru can become.”
Her party tabled an amendment to the motion, stating that “Wales’ constitutional future should be determined by the people of Wales.”
“Proud Unionist”
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives, Darren Millar, emphasised the pro-union standing of his party, declaring the UK a “shared family of nations”.
Mr Millar said: “We built industries together, we went through the industrial revolution together, we fought tyranny together, we created wealth, improved living standards and built communities together, and our history is Welsh and British.
“And those identities are not in conflict with one another; they strengthen who and what we are.”
He called on Plaid Cymru to answer what he described as the “most basic of questions” on what would happen if Wales were to be “ripped from the rest of the UK”.
The Tory leader pressed for confirmation on what currency an independent Wales would use, who the head of state would be, and if Wales would seek to rejoin the European Union.
Mr Millar concluded: “You cannot answer these things. And they’re not technicalities; these concern people’s jobs, savings, mortgages, pensions, national security and our clout on the international stage.
“I’m not prepared to take that risk. I firmly believe that Wales is better off in the United Kingdom and that the United Kingdom is better off with Wales right at the very centre of everything that it does.”
“Best outcomes”
Minister for the constitution, Dafydd Trystan Davies, stressed that the “constitutional settlement is not static”.
Describing his party’s amendment as a “simple one”, he noted it does not ask members to give up their views but instead acknowledges the principle that Wales’ future is for the Welsh people to decide.
He told members his government’s priorities for devolution are clear, pressing for rail infrastructure, justice and policing, and the Crown Estate to be passed into Welsh control.
Mr Trystan Davies said: “Our objective isn’t to move powers between institutions, but to ensure responsibilities sit at the level where they can be exercised most effectively and deliver the best outcomes for people and communities”
Responding to the Minister, Reform’s James Evans declared the United Kingdom the “second greatest union” in his life – following his marriage.
He supported Ms O’Brien’s speech, adding: “You highlighted the United Kingdom is the best country in this world, and I think everybody in this Chamber should agree with that.
“We should not be ashamed of our shared history. We should not be ashamed of our world history, either. Britain built the world.
“You’ve talked about how Welsh people have shaped our globe, how we have improved democracy, how we have brought freedoms to people around the globe.”
Mr Evans continued: “And I’m afraid to say what we see in this Chamber is political opportunism by others rewriting our history to suit a political narrative to rip our country apart.”
The Reform motion was rejected by the Senedd with 45 votes for and 46 against with the Llywydd exercising his casting vote.
The Senedd did, however, agree the Plaid Cymru amendment by 53 votes to 37.
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Not sure if the tens of millions who perished under British rule in India would agree with Ms O’Brien’s rosey assessment of the empire. Nor would the indigenous australians who suffered genocide at the hands of British colonialists nor the one million irish people starved to death in a famine.greatly exacerbated by Ireland’s then british rulers. Yes Britain stood against the monstrous third reich – though there were plenty of members of the british ruling class that wanted to cut a deal with Hitler – but she forgets to mention that her chums in the far right ‘Voice of Wales’… Read more »
The United Kingdom is “a nation”. Heaven help us, how thick is this woman (and how on earth is she representing us in our Senedd)? Forget Imperialist romancing, she desperately needs a lesson in the history of Cymru and the Cymry.
Now it’s time for Cymru to emancipate ourselves from the shackles of the UK.
Unbelievably stupid on so many levels. And she rally needs to spend time looking at history, Napoleon was beaten by a coalition and the Royal Navy up to abolition was busy defending slavery. Then she wants to examine what happened to the freed slaves and the ex owners paid off. and standing up to hitler, it was a coalition and the army that escaped France owe the French forces that put up a valiant rear guard defensive. We also owe the US for the 100 octane and the polish for enigma without which would have been a massive blow, and… Read more »
The French invaded Pembrokeshire.
Not for long. Defeated by local Welsh women.
Some parallel here, over the centuries, disgruntled power plays appealed to France etc. for aid to overthrow English power. The same is happening with reform, they take foreign money to get them into power. Back in the day it was called treason.
Their sister party in Germany is probably saying that Adolf wasn’t all bad because he gave the world VW.
With this level of stupid it’s not really worth commenting, just leave them to dig their own holes.
So it achieved nothing?
Sir Jimmy did a lot of great work for charity.
Invented the first concentration camp.
The first country to use biological weapons on tens thousands of native Americans.
Held 2 countries hostage over hundreds of years and totally rinsed them financially and culturally (still going on now)
Yes they’ve achieved, but somehow managed to become the biggest laughing stock on planet earth.
Reform are still looking for that other ball.
Talk about rose-tinted glasses. Helping to abolish the slave trade, for example, would have been an amazing achievement, if we hadn’t been so active in it in the first place!
There was a lot of good the Empire did.
But for me, the bad far outweighs the good and I feel shame rather than pride at Cymru having been part of it.
The British Empire was more a stain on the world than an achievement.
Cymru Rydd.
Emperor Palpatine insists Sith order has been beneficial to the universe….