Devolution has given rise to ‘extreme nationalism’ in Wales says Wrexham MP
Devolution has given rise to “extreme nationalism” in Wales, according to the Conservative MP for Wrexham.
Writing in the book Strength in Union which was launched at her party’s Manchester conference, Sarah Atherton said that she had suffered abuse after becoming the first Tory MP for Wrexham in December 2019.
Comparing Wales with Scotland, she says that Wales has a “small but vocal nationalist party” but that she aimed to use her position to “ensure that Wales does not take inspiration from Scotland’s nationalist agenda”.
“In the run-up to my election, and since becoming the first-ever Conservative MP for Wrexham, it has become painfully clear to me that extreme nationalism is on the rise,” she said.
“I have seen repeated protests outside my constituency office, criminal damage to the office, toxic behaviour on social media and death threats.
“Is this really democracy? Much like their inability to accept me as their democratically elected MP, nationalists refuse to accept the Union and the benefits it brings to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
“Separatism is rising across the UK and it would not be unfair to attribute some of the moves towards independence in Wales and Scotland to the creation of the devolved administrations in the late 1990s.”
‘Division’
As a military veteran, having served in the Intelligence Corps, she argues that the key to retaining the UK is the military which is “the cornerstone of our United Kingdom”.
“As a passionate Unionist, it seems obvious to me to use the military as a vehicle to promote the strength of our Union and the opportunities that it brings,” she said.
“Today, each nation within the United Kingdom has a proud individual identity – but too often this can be used to feed separatism and division. The defence sector, however, bridges these divides and has stood the test of time against growing nationalism.
“The military is an institution which has been steadfast in its loyalty to protecting our Union – and, more importantly, the people within it – while celebrating the individualism of each of our four nations.
“It is the epitome of Unionism and, more than that, it is good for our Union and we should celebrate that.
“There is no nation-bias when it comes to our Armed Forces: there was a job to be done to protect the entire UK from this invisible enemy and that is exactly what they did, while displaying the Union Flag on their uniform.”
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Duw a’n helpo /God help us! Her unionism is the extrême nationalism threatening the 4 nations in the UK. We do not need her British jingoism here in Wales!
It’s not devolution that has done that dear. It’s you and your kind that are to blame for recent hostilities.
Apparently going on peaceful left wing marches, putting a few stickers up, treating everyone in Wales as equals and not going towards the violence route is extreme nationalism. Absolute clown. Actually what a piece of excretia for calling us extremists when its THEY who are pushing through racist policies, covering up for child molesters, selling weapons to despotic rulers, deliberately starving kids during a pandemic, enabling a class system and deliberately breaking international law because of a few refugees. Bunch of fascists.
covering up for child molesters
Is there any evidence for this? Like the same evidence against a former member of MAC who was on the record for being found where he shouldn’t be?
I bumped into Jimmy Savile once. He was staying at a hotel in Brighton reserved for the Conservative party conference. Thatcher, and Heath seemed happy to see him but Maudling was fuming.
Totally agree
She is right – the independence movement in Wales is on the rise and about time too. It is not an extreme movement and I do not condone any violence, we can gain independence peacefully. Her aim to “ensure that Wales does not take inspiration from Scotland’s nationalist agenda” is too late, the genie is out of the box. There is nothing she can say or write that will show us how the Union will benefit Wales, we’ve had 700years of pretty much constant neglect. Time to find our own path.
The armed forces are the corner stone of the UK she says and yet Wales provides around 10% of these Armed forces and less than 3% are based here. She hasn’t thought out her argument very well at all.
Doesn’t say much for her claim to have been in the Intelligence Services then!
Boris’s Barber?
She never thinks through what she is saying…not ever, she is as dumb as a rock but as poisonous as a viper. My bet is that she is trying to be the next Priti Patel.
Sarah Atherton omits to mention that there were protests outside her office because she voted against a labour motion at westminster to prevent children in england starving over the easter holidays 😢. And by ‘using the military as a vehicle to present the strength of the union’ she presumably means continuing the deeply distasteful practice of the british military of targeting schoolchildren in the poorest communities in Wales for recruitment and to fight in its illegal wars overseas ☹️. Please note the british military intelligence corps, in which sarah atherton previously worked, engages in psychological warfare and propaganda…nuff said 😉
all over the UK military recruitment targets working class areas because of poorer education, poorer living standards, poorer job opportunities, it’s time the british military stopped recruiting child soldiers,
she voted against a labour motion at westminster to prevent children in england starving over the easter holidays
But then again she was voting on a matter that had no affect on her constituents. If I was an English parent I would be fuming at this.
Typical Tory mud-slinging at those who don’t agree with their agenda.
Was that a veiled threat? Remain subservient to the English Parliament or she’ll send the troops in! If she’s an example of military intelligence they’ll probably invade the Isle of White
“democratically elected”?
45 percent of a 67 per cent turnout.
I don’t think she knows what democracy is.
Extrene Nationalism = EDL and Neo Tories.
.where’s the extreme edit?
So let me get this straight a woman that voted against feeding children thinks that people protesting her dirty work is extremism and wants to demonstrate the benefits of the union by using the military?….
…..I mean what could be deeply sinister and unsettling about that?
Hard to accept “benefits” that don’t exist.
She has the nerve to complain that she is not accepted as a democratically elected mp, and it was her party, who, after the successful vote on devolution, drew up plans to reverse the result of the vote. It was only Tony Blair winning the election that saved devolution. And I am no fan of Blair. No Tory can talk of democracy following that incident, it would seem our votes only count when they win.
Bravo Sarah, keep it up. You are an excellent example and recruitment facilitator for the reason why we shouldn’t be governed by the chinless hedge fund greasy pole merchants in Westminster any longer. Not quite as effective as Jaccob Rees Mogg yet, but with more practice your efforts will help to swell the numbers of pro indi minded people.
Quote “I have seen repeated protests outside my constituency office, criminal damage to the office, toxic behaviour on social media and death threats.” If this is true then this kind of behaviour should not be tolerated and those responsible should be held to account. That being said, it is hardly surprising that some people would react this way when you and members of your party are taking turns in belittling Wales. If you went to Denmark for example & started belittling the Danish nation, I’m pretty sure you would get the same kind of response from the Danish people. Oh… Read more »
Classic smoke and mirrors. Extreme nationalist Tories are flinging hypocritical accusations at those fighting for democracy. Tory ghouls. Anti-Europe Brexit obsessives calling Welsh statists ‘seperatists’? Get in the sea! Dangerous hypocrites. Let’s ditch these fanatics and build a progressive European Welsh state for goodnessakes!
Where does she stand on the extreme British nationalism that is Brexit?
I think all democrats have to agree that SA does indeed represent a strand of opinion in Wrecsam and within our Country. Not substrantial perhaps and not too well informed on this for certain but after all with a right to be heard – and of course countered on fact. Her local vote is not out of cinque with others elected who offer differing views and yes many might have been voting ‘ to get Brexit done ‘ but we must all respect those who cast a vote that day. Its a long way to go to the next election… Read more »
It was her brand of unionism that led to the War of Independence in Ireland a century ago and the Troubles fifty years ago.
The Brit/Eng nats can’t accept any identity on the island of Britain and Ireland other than their own.
Northern Ireland will be leaving the Union one day under the terms of the GFA. Scotland probably has a majority of their people wanting to be independent of England.
Wales will be left in an awkward position. Hopefully by then, Atherton won’t be an MP.
Correction. Brexit has given rise to extreme nationalism in England.
Said the hypocritical woman who represents a Conservative party responsible for the rise of ugly British/English Nationalism thanks to the Brexit vote. Is it April Fools Day already? Oh, sorry. Meant the Tory conference. Same thing.
“Extreme nationalism in Wales” says MS whose party wanted a 105 foot tall union jack defacing entrance to biggest rail station in Wales.
She calls it extreme nationalism I call it extreme democracy
If Sarah Atherton believes nationalists have an “inability to accept me as their democratically elected MP” its because she and her party’s policies represent England not Wales. If “Separatism is rising across the UK” then she is well and truly a flag bearer for it.
She got in because of the ‘Boris bounce’, and because the alternative was Corbyn. Wrecsam. Under normal circumstances, Wrecsam people wouldn’t give her the time of day.
They’re publishing a book now? It doesn’t smack of desperation at all! Minus one star in my review for predictable and hackneyed invocation of the military.
So let me get this straight, is she saying we should remain subservient to the Brit establishment and if we threaten to assert our own national identity then the army should be sent in? She’s a riot, isn’t she? That policy didn’t quite work in Ireland 100 years ago. We all know Michael Collins et al gave the Brits a hell of a beating when they tried to reinforce their muscular Brit nationalism!!
In a telivised discussion during her election campaign she was asked which of the other candidates she most respected, and she said Carrie Harper. At that time Labour was her main enamy, obliviously this woman will say anything to keep her seat.
what a silly woman lladd dy hyn