Constitutional Commission ‘proves you vote Labour, you get independence’, says Tory MS
The Constitutional Commission that is being launched by the Welsh Government “proves” that “you vote Labour, you get independence”, a Tory MS has claimed.
James Evans, the Senedd member for Brecon and Radnorshire, accused it and Plaid Cymru of supporting the “biased, vocal minority” in the pro-independence group, YesCymru.
During a debate in the Senedd with the Welsh Government’s Counsel General, Mick Antoniw, he also claimed they were “attempting to have an independent Wales by the back door”.
In response Antoniw suggested that Evans was showing “goodwill to the overlords in No. 10 Downing St” with his comments and argued that Labour has an electoral “mandate for this commission”.
The Constitutional Commission has been set up to consider Wales’ future, and will look at a range of options, including a federal UK and Welsh independence as part of its work.
It will be chaired by the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and Professor Laura McAllister, a public policy academic, former international footballer and senior sports administrator.
James Evans said: “Minister, when I woke up this morning and I found out that this commission was going to be looking at independence, I was absolutely shocked, but I wasn’t surprised.
“Do you know, it made me think that this commission is likely going to be packed with independence sympathisers? One of the co-chairs leading the commission is a former Plaid Cymru candidate, and I’m not quite sure that sends the right message, that this commission will not be biased towards a certain outcome.
“Once again, the biased, vocal minority in YesCymru are being supported by this Government and Plaid, and are attempting to have an independent Wales by the back door. It just proves, doesn’t it, you vote Labour, you get independence.”
He added: “So, Minister, can you assure me and the people of Wales that this commission will seriously look at this Government and the way that it is managing devolved areas such as health, education and the economy, which are declining under your watch, and make serious recommendations on how we can improve the Senedd for the better with the powers we currently have, and not keep causing constitutional chaos and playing games with the lives of the people of Wales with this independence agenda, which is being driven by Plaid Cymru wanting to form a coalition deal with yourselves?”
‘Waking up this morning’
Counsel General Mick Antoniw replied: “Can I firstly congratulate the Member on waking up this morning? And the first thing he did was to exercise some thought. I hope this isn’t a one-off.
“Can I also thank him for the comments because I think, within the positions he’s expressed – I understand why he’s making them – obviously it’s important to show goodwill to the overlords in No. 10 Downing St, and I’m sure that features in some of the comments that have been made?
“I do find the issues that are raised in respect of constitutional chaos to be very unfortunate coming from a party that has been leading us for the last three or four years in absolute constitutional chaos, as we’ve seen from the economic factors, from the issues in terms of the situation with our ports, the economy, the petrol, the supply lines and so on. So, I don’t think you’re really in a position to argue on that.
“What I will say is this: when we get beyond the political rhetoric around this sort of thing, I’m sure that you have the ambition, as we do, to recognise that, firstly, there is a mandate for this commission, secondly, that the commission has a broad set of terms of reference, which you will be able to contribute to – you will be able to put your views into that – and that we engage positively and courteously in that particular debate.
“So, having perhaps gone down the road of responding to some of the political comments, I do recognise that there will be an opportunity for all of us to engage, because I’m sure that all of us have one clear objective, and that is to best represent the people of Wales and the interests of the people of Wales, whatever our specific differences may be.”
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I will never understand why Tories want another country controlling theirs? Odd. Have some pride boy!
Bulging pockets of silver more like
Nah, a second-rate malcontent will be judged as surplus once the job is done. If the Unionist establishment get their way, they’ll all be background artists in the bigger play. What’s frightening to consider is that many of these dic sion dafydds would settle for that.
Tories will always put loyalty to their party, and to their masters in London, ahead of any loyalty towards Wales.
Too many Labour put loyalty to their London masters too viz Bryant and Kinnock
I agree. And I don’t know if the likes of James Evans twisted mindset is unique to Wales, but I find ones of a Conservative bent don’t argue in their various parliaments about transferring power & sovereignty to a neighbouring country as he and the Welsh Tories favour doing with Wales.
And sure, you can argue how a country is governed within, what direction you travel, it healthy in a democracy, but what’s not natural is when you want that country’s political system, language & culture to be dissolved and consumed and replaced by another.
James, my dear boy, I sincerely hope you are right.
“………..playing games with the lives of the people of Wales” Tories really are the worst!
Typical “silent majority” claptrap we always hear from the English right wing.
He could always leave
John, i most often agree with your well thought out musings and comments but we need everyone working for Wales from all backgrounds and areas including Powys.
My fear is. One day he found his way back.
“You vote Labour, you get Independence” – we consistently vote Labour, champ. Where exactly is our independence? hello? Are you awake? ah, asleep at Brecon and Radnorshire’s wheel again.
Not to mention the fact that independence, involving an entire country, is by nature non-partisan.
It’s ironic how the Tories were happy to see Brexit happen quoting how they had a mandate from the people, but claim Welsh Labour are pandering to a vocal YesCymru minority with their Constitution Commission. The Tories forget how Welsh Labour pledged this Commission in their 2021 manifesto. Which can’t be said of the English Conservatives with their Brexit vote. Not once did any Brexit referenda appear in their Conservative 2015 manifesto.. Who really has the mandate? Answer. Not the Tories. Also, hasn’t the Conservative party since 1993 pandered to the vocal micro- minority in the Anti-EU ERG group at… Read more »
Yes., and we don’t vote Tory too, but had the Conservatives elected by England using the English block vote. The fool knows not of democracy.
The Tories hate any form of Welsh voice – it’s extremely lucky for us they are not in power here ! Upon independence (yes, it will happen Unionists), they will have to decide whether to pack their bags and move back in with their over lords in London or finally put the ‘Welsh’ fully before their name. In my view, get the coach ticket across the border please.
Hear hear 👏👏👏.
Tory AM rejects constitutional defence of his own job. Psychiatrists sent for.
He expects a particularaly big chunk of dirt from the boot he’s licking. Creda ti fi, gw’boi – by’ nhw ddim yn dy barchu am hyn. Ma’ Toriaid Llundain yn digon barod i dy iwso, ddim yn barod i dy dderbyn.
If James Evans was a chicken he’d stuff himself.
Said hypocrite James Evans, a man who represents a party that told Scotland if you vote no to independence you stay in the European Union. A man whose Welsh Conservative party told the Welsh public that voting Tory & Brexit would mean Britain would become an independent nation again free of Brussels control. And once we left the EU, proceeded to steal Wales EU powers due to be repatriated, attacked the competency of our Senedd Cymru, then used the most undemocratic methodology possible to interfer in already devolved areas using threats and intimidation, and now says Wales has no right… Read more »
I think James Evans and all politicians would do much better by contributing to the debate rather than criticizing it’s existence.
Nothing positive will come from James Evans mouth. He cares not for Wales. His priority is England and England only. After all, he is a crooked Tory.
Also he argued this Commission should look at how the Welsh Labour had run areas devolved like Heath, Education etc… in Wales, but cynically omitted the chaotic rule of his Conservative party in England with their NHS England Covid fiasco. The loss of £39 billion on a failed track & trace system. Their PPE cronyism, especially the scandal of losing millions of taxpayers money when the facemasks made didn’t fit. He’s a moron.
What has Brecon & Radnorshire done to deserve these clowns, we kicked one crook out of office only to be replaced by the pathetic Fay Jones and now this muppet in Cardiff.
He has a former Plaid candidate sat with in the Senedd conservatives. I hope he ensures she’s barred from, well, anything in case it sends the “wrong message “
I have no time for reading Tory Claptrap. Vote Tory get S**t!!
I vote Tory everyday. Each and every time I flush my toilet. 🤮
So James Evans thinks that Welsh Labour are “attempting to have an independent Wales by the back door”. Unusual for a Tory to talk in such an optimistic way. I hope he’s right!!
Doing Welsh Labours campaigning for them 😅
first the welsh Tories say that Welsh voters voted for unionist parties, now Welsh Labour are not unionists #torysum are weird people #torylies
The man is incapable of logical thought or critical thinking. It remains a lamentable fact that Mark Drakeford would prefer almost any improvement in Wale’s constitutional position that increased it’s ability for self determination, up to, but not including independance. However, Mark Drakeford, is a firm believer in democracy and knows he cannot simply exclude ideas he is not keen on from a democratic discussion. Unlike this p Tory Lapdog the citizens of B&R were foolish enough to elect, who seeks to shut down anything he doesn’t personally approve of, and belongs to party who constantly seek to stoke division… Read more »
As he comes from a farming background and he’s a tory, perhaps he should be explaining why his London masters are hell bent on pushing for trade deals from the other side of the planet, that will undermine local Welsh farmers and result in tons of pollution from container ships,