Minister blasts Tory MP who said the Welsh aren’t the ‘ultimate authority’ in Wales
A Labour minister has taken aim at a Tory MP who claimed that the Welsh are not the “ultimate authority” in Wales.
Mick Antoniw, the Welsh Government’s Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution, said the suggestion by Robin Millar, the MP for Aberconwy was “bizarre, anti democratic and confused”.
In an essay for Strength in Union, a book launched at the Conservative party conference, the Conservative politician said idea that the Welsh are “the ultimate source of authority in Wales” is “wrong in fact and in law”.
He argued that the continuation of Westminster’s sovereignty over Wales will depend on people’s “belief in a covenant between the people of these islands” which he said the Senedd had undermined.
“Every time a UK minister has been pushed around by a devolved administration, they have unwittingly sent a message to voters that ‘one briton, one vote’ does not prevail in Wales,” he said.
“Welsh Government ministers, meanwhile, have explicitly founded their recent attacks on British authority in the tale that the Welsh are the ultimate source of authority in Wales – that there is no such national people as ‘the British’.
“This may be wrong in fact and in law, but it is a tale to tickle many listening ears.”
But Mick Antoniw hit back, saying: “A bizarre, anti democratic and confused Tory MP. I was brought up to believe that power in Wales came from and belonged to the people of Wales. Am I wrong?”
‘Story’
Robin Millar added that to secure the future of the UK, Unionists were going to have to tell a “story” of Britain that competed with that of the Welsh.
“While the claims of all sides are vested in ancient stories, it is the nationalists who have proved willing and adept at telling theirs,” he said.
“Herein lies the danger – an untold story becomes an unheard story and, over time, will be forgotten.
“The advocates of Britain, seemingly unaware of (or embarrassed to tell) a rich and contemporary story of British sovereignty, have instead thrashed about for alternative arguments, such as the scale of fiscal transfers from England to Wales or the economic benefits of the Union.”
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Unfortunately what he says is all too true. Ultimate power over Wales and Welsh affairs still, undemocratically, resides in Westminster. This must change!!!
Interesting – “The scale of fiscal transfers from England to Wales” this is exactly the problem. 1- the lack of “fiscal transfer” to Wales i.e – neglect and 2 – total central control by England rather than spreading control equally across all the nations of the UK. Westminster and the Tories are still stuck in the 19th century and times have changed. It is this inability to adapt to that change that will see the break up of the UK.
Stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s it’s time for a new wales 🏴 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴
Kick moaning White xenophobes out of Wales and let second homes to hard working refugees!
We need to stop being miserable English speaking racists.
More Arabic/Welsh bilinguals in the Bro Gymraeg
What about Welsh speaking humanists? Would you banish them as well?
Not sure you got what he was saying
Where are the decent Tories? They surely must be angry to see how Johnson et al have hijacked their party. What on earth must they think of such opportunistic jokers as this awful Mr Millar? Surely he and his colleagues must know they are hastening the demise of their own party (to which I say hurrah and good riddance), the pressing issue is just how much damage they inflict on the rest of us.
All councillors, Members of Parliament and the Senedd, need to remember they are representatives of the people and that they are the ultimate power.