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Express claims Plaid Cymru MS has ‘concerns’ about breakup of the union

04 Oct 2021 2 minute read
Rhys ab Owen MS in the Senedd

The Express has claimed that a Plaid Cymru MS has “concerns” about the breakup of the union.

The right-wing London-based newspaper made the suggestion after speaking to Rhys ab Owen, who supports Welsh independence and is a Senedd member for a pro-independence party.

An article in the publication suggested that concerns about the union breaking up have “grown, not only in Westminster, but also in Cardiff”.

It based this on an argument by the Plaid Cymru Senedd member, who represents South Wales Central, that if Scotland becomes independent, it “weakens Wales’ position” within the union.

The article in the Express said: “Concerns over the break-up of the Union have grown, not only in Westminster, but also in Cardiff.

“Express.co.uk spoke to Rhys ab Owen from Wales’ nationalist Plaid Cymru party about the consequences of Scottish independence.

Rhys ab Owen told the Express: “I would argue it even weakens Wales’s position if Scotland becomes independent.

“You know, England is so much bigger than the other nations already, 56 million compared to Wales’s three and Scotland’s five million.

“With Scotland going that even makes the disparity even greater doesn’t it.”


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Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

Uh?

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
3 years ago

Two issues: Ab Owen must clarify his position and make his real views known.

And Plaid Cymru a “pro-independence” party. Really?

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

“Plaid Cymru a “pro-independence” party.” Yes but only on days containing the letter “x” .

I suspect that Rhys’ comment referred to the risk of Wales being utterly swamped by Greater England in the event of Scotland leaving the Union, and was not intended as an endorsement of the Anglo dominated Union. Anglo-Brit supremacist media can’t make a subtle or not so subtle differentiation so no surprises there.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

Just to point out plaid’s core aim is full membership of the united nations for wales – cant get a clearer committment to independence than that!

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
3 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

How I wish this were the case!
Look at the strange document produced before the election, although entitled to give the impression of independence, it prevaricates with any number of future alternatives, including a referendum with a possible option of scrapping the Senedd, never mind independence
And who will ever forget Dafydd Wigley’s infamous “Plaid Cymru has never believed in independence”?
The party’s sudden conversion before the election had nothing to do with the growth of yes Cymru of course…..and silence since.

Richard
Richard
3 years ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

John B as usual providing usv a well argued and alternste – but clear set of views – always worth noting – if not always agreeing with ✔️

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
3 years ago

He never said anything in support of the political union between Scotland and England.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
3 years ago

A virulent english nationalist rag taking Rhys ab Owen’s comment completely out of context. For the record Plaid’s core aim is full membership of the united nations for wales – cant get a clearer committment to independence than that!

Stuart Cane
Stuart Cane
3 years ago

It sounds like his view aligns totally with mine. Scotland leaving the UK weakens Wales’ position in the UK and strengthens the case for Welsh independence. I suspect that the Express is deliberately misrepresenting that viewpoint for its own agenda.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Stuart Cane

Yes, they’ve highlighted a legitimate concern by Rhys ab Owen that Westminster will be in an even stronger position, once Scotland leave, to pursue an englandandwales agenda against a powerless Cymru. They neglected to point out the obvious fact that ab Owen would therefore want Wales also to go it alone, and they aimed to persuade their readers that here was a Plaid Cymru MP who didn’t want to see Scottish independence. Pretty unsubtle, and not very clever.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Wrexhamian

MS, sori, not MP.

CJPh
CJPh
3 years ago

Want a lesson in cognitive dissonance? Read this rag. To derive that Rhys ab Owen’s comments amount to indy scepticism proves the journo is a gold medalist in mental gymnastics. Iesu wen tragwyddol, let us be free from this nonsense. Nawr ac yn fythol.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago

The Express is getting desparate. There are no ‘second thoughts’ about independence – especially in Plaid Cymru. The Union argument is losing so they’ll now say anything in the vain hope it’ll stop the break-up of the UK. It’s too little too late. Goodbye.

Grayham Jones
3 years ago

We in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh 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 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
3 years ago

If Scotland leave, the numbers would mean Wales becomes an even less important part of the new union. That would be a concern to anyone who wants Wales to have more control over its own affairs. The Express uses their own perverse logic to turn that concern into an apparent expression of ‘indyscepticsm’. I’d laugh but I know many of the Express readers will actually believe it!

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
3 years ago

So ridiculous, it’s hilarious, lol. 🤣

The Express. Too shiny to wipe your behind on. Too lowbrow to read. Not worthy enough to wrap your fish & chips in. Only function. To be pulped then turned into something useful. Toilet paper.

Last edited 3 years ago by Y Cymro

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