Royal Family would be a ‘link’ across Britain’s nations after independence says Dafydd Wigley
The Royal Family could remain useful as a link between the British nations after Wales, Scotland and England go their separate ways, Dafydd Wigley has said.
The Plaid Cymru member of the House of Lords and former leader said that the nations would need to find joint institutions in order to work together after independence.
He told S4C Newyddion that the monarchy would play a similar role to other nations where the Queen is the head of state, such as New Zealand.
“The reality is that in these islands, even if Scotland and England and Wales are independent countries, we will have to have some way of working together with each other on issues that are important,” he said.
“‘We also accept, the party accepts in Wales, the SNP accepts in Scotland, that the monarchy will remain.
“The Queen’s work should be different towards Wales and Scotland than it is now – it should be more similar to what she is doing with New Zealand.
“But we respect that as a kind of link that shows that we recognize the relationship that has been with England, but from the point of view of the practical day-to-day power that it would be in the hands of Wales.”
‘It will come’
Dafydd Wigley added that the independence movement needed to be able to answer reasonable questions regarding how the relationship between Wales and England would function after independence.
“There is work to be done to answer quite reasonable questions from Mrs Jones who lives in Connah’s Quay and who works in Chester and goes back every day that we will have an open border, that goods will be being able to move back and forth, that money will be able to move back and forth,” he said.
“And these are the questions that must be answered clearly before we ask the people of Wales to vote for independence.
“I am fully convinced that it is possible to get those answers that are clear and concise and correct and that it is possible to convince the people of Wales at the appropriate point in time.
“‘We haven’t reached that yet but it will certainly come within the next few years’.”
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How many millions would we have to pay for that ‘privilege’ ?
I’m no royalist but if it means a lot of queen-lovies are happy and go along with independence instead of using it to justify being a part of Wingland, it would be a good bargain.
Yes. Dominion Status = 90% Indy, with Wales keeping Queen, £ until we grow up enough for full Indy. Ireland and NZ did this. I think this is what Arglwydd W is driving at – and he’s right
Weeeell, if we must. As long as we don’t get involved with all the other baggage, such as the House Of Lords.
Newyddion da Owain / bendigedig
As a republic , we could have a vote on it. Those who want to pay to keep English royalty as it is, can fill in a tax form to have it deducted from the weekly or monthly pay, when they vote, those who oppose keeping royalty can keep the money for themselves that they have earned.
Yet Commonwealth countries are voting to remove the Queen as head of state at an unprecedented rate, I humbly suggest Dafydd Wigley has gone fully native following his tenure within the House of Lords.
It’s probably an age thing. Some people get a bit cranky as they get older and develop all sorts of odd behaviours and attitudes, affection for Royalty being a good example of this sort of deterioration.
It’s called compromise. I was taken aback at first at Dafydd’s suggestion, but I can see the positives.
Some compromises are workable, others aren’t. I suppose if we swallow our pride we’ll find the “flexibility” to carry on tugging the old forelock, but the whole purpose of independence is to do things our way not in the way of the pre existing regime. Or is that a touch too radical ?
The comfy chair for some. Patriots find it very uncomfortable.
Also, following the recent vote by Bermuda to drop the queen, prince Charles said it was “a matter for each member country to decide” to keep the queen as head of state, while at a meeting of commonwealth leaders. He clearly is being pragmatic here, as the popularity of his family, and what they stand for, is in decline across the globe.
“a matter for each member country to decide” means as Wales is a member of the commonwealth (games) we can decide.
The good Lord breaks the ‘omerta’ on things Welsh in the House of Fun…
In my vision of a future Wales there will no Lords or Baronesses…
If Elfyn Llwyd thinks it’s a good idea, it is worth reading his commission report on the Future of Wales…
I would back this on 2 conditions: a Canada or Australia model that includes a voting mechanism that allows for ties to be cut and see Wales become a full Republic and the total dissolution of the office and title of “Prince of Wales”.
As DeValera did, begrudgingly pay lip service to it until the opportunity arises to shed all the shackles and become a full republic.
If this meaningless gesture is an advantage to aid Cymru achieve indipenpendence then Cymru is worth this.
I respect Dafydd Wigley, but sorry he’s gone soft in the head like Anglophile Tory Dafydd Ellis Thomas. The English Monarchy has never been any link to Wales but a noose around our necks. I think he’s been in the House of Lords too long? Any link should be severed not perpetuated . Don’t forget the English Monarchy were culpable for our invasion in 1282. Were signatory to our annexation & ethnic cleansing in 1535 & 1543. and were also privy to the Welsh Not campaign between the 16th to 19th centuries which involved her government policy of physically &… Read more »
They sit there all day and have no right to speak on devolved matters…a nonsense!
This has got to be a joke. Is he really saying: let’s work hard for independence so we can crawl to one of the world’s richest families who have exploited our country for centuries (and who are now creaming off millions of pounds from our coastline, while many can’t afford to put their heating on)??
Confiscate all their shotguns for a start…
“The party accepts”??? Er im a member of plaid cymru and i categorically do NOT ACCEPT any role for Mrs Windsor in a independent Wales. Furthermore, and contrary to dafydd’s apparent claim, im not aware of any decision being taken by the plaid membership to accept a continuing role for the british monarchy in a independent Wales. Afraid Dafydd appears to be speaking for himself – and not the plaid membership – here.
You have to wonder at the level of Welsh national consciousness that resides in the minds of the top brass of Plaid through the years.
One of the accusations lobbed at Wales by our English overseers, of course, is that Wales ‘is not, and never has been a nation’. The role of Plaid ought to be to prove this wholly incorrect and to lead the way out of the mire. Lord Wigley’s insipid comments cannot be explained by an ageing spongiform brain tissue, as the pathetic approach taken by Plaid is a long tradition by now.
Up the Welsh republic!
Dafydd is of course is right about the majority indeed vast majority support in Wales and NZ etc for QE2…. Indeed Gwynfor always recognised Wales as a member of the Queens Commonwealth of Nations. What however has or will change is that QE2 will have left the stage and many nations in the Queens Commonwealth will have chosen their own Head of State….rather than Englands. The future of or role of House of Windsor in Wales needs to be tested by each of the nations within these Islands. The Irish ☘️ Republic have made their own choice and those countries… Read more »
Reading this is more fun than watching the Senedd…
Na, dim diolch a phob parch
Mr. Wigley. Gweriniaeth i Gymru fydda’n golygu dim cysylltiad â’r theulu’r Windsors yn Lloegr fuddai orau, ‘da ni wedi gorfod eu dioddef nhw am ganrifoedd fel y mae hi! Na iddyn nhw â’u punt. Digon yw digon.
Dafydd Wigley has clearly spent too much time in the House of Lords and has lost his objectivity on this matter.
This should be a matter for the people of Wales post independence, although I wholly hope that most people will recognise the antiquated monarchy for what it is.
I’m sure the monarchy do not need the likes of Wigley fighting their corner.
The immunity of the monarchy as seen from a Scottish perspective. https://grousebeater.wordpress.com/2022/07/16/the-immunity-of-the-monarchy/