‘People of Wales are feeling ever more out of touch with Westminster’ says Tory Senedd candidate

The people of Wales are “feeling ever more out of touch with Westminster” according to a Tory Senedd candidate.

Former Big Brother contestant, and Welsh Conservative Senedd candidate for Cardiff North, Joel Williams, said he was worried about the rise in support for independence.

He called for people to vote for Welsh Conservative Government in the upcoming election on May 6 to stop it from happening.

The Councillor for Pontprennau and Old St Mellons on Cardiff Council also said that under a Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru coalition, an independence referendum would be “increasingly likely”.

Mr Williams has written about his fears for the future of the union on the conservative website Gwydir.

He said: “There is no denying that the relationship between the four nations of the Union has been under significant strain in recent years.

“Plaid Cymru’s surge in both the European Election and the 2019 General Election has shown that the people of Wales are feeling ever more out of touch with Westminster and all that the United Kingdom stands for.

“‘Yes Cymru’ have recently grinded their way to 15,000 new members (0.7% of the Welsh Electorate) – which to some sparks fear of a divisive and unnecessary Independence referendum which could complicate the lives of millions living in Wales and on the Welsh-anglo border.

“Under a coalition between Labour and Plaid Cymru, a referendum on Welsh Independence is increasingly likely, which is why we’re giving voters this simple message. Next year’s election is about Unionism under a Conservative Government or an Independent Wales with Plaid.

“It will be the defining year for the desired direction the people of Wales wish to take in regards to their place in the United Kingdom, or as a newly independent nation.

“The options, to me, are simple – facing two further decades under a failing Welsh Labour Government, or reaping the rewards of a fresh, new, positive governance under the Welsh Conservative Party – committed to healing the apparent wounds between Cardiff Bay and Westminster.”

‘Flaws’

YouGov polling indicates over twice as many people trust the Welsh Parliament to look after the interests of Wales as trust Westminster.

Only 35 per didn’t trust the Senedd while 72 per cent didn’t trust Westminster, if the ‘don’t knows’ were removed.

YesCymru, who commissioned the YouGov poll believe it shows that more people than ever are seeing the benefits of Wales running its own affairs.

YesCymru chair, Sion Jobbins said: “Trust in politics in general is very low, but nearly two thirds trust the Welsh parliament to look after the interests of the people of Wales,”

“On the other hand only 28 per cent trust the UK parliament. People in Wales are aghast at the shockingly inept British government and their callous incompetence.

“This crisis has really revealed the flaws in the British political system. Westminster governments don’t care about Wales. Why should they? No matter how we vote in Wales we end up with a government we didn’t vote for.

“People are more aware than ever of the benefits of having the people of Wales run their own affairs. We have seen with Covid-19 that small independent nations, such as New Zealand, and also our neighbours the Republic of Ireland, can react quickly and efficiently to an international crisis.

“It’s proven that being a small independent country isn’t a disadvantage at all. Wales has done well, but people are starting to think, how much better could we have done as an independent nation?”