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‘The British Isles are small enough as it is’: Sir Tom Jones comes out against Welsh independence

23 Apr 2021 2 minute read
Tom Jones. Picture by Ralph_PH (CC BY 2.0).

Sir Tom Jones has come out against Welsh independence, saying that the British Isles are small enough as they are.

The singer from Pontypridd who was knighted in 2006 said that he does not believe Wales should leave the United Kingdom and become independent, in an interview with ITV.

“I’m not for that myself. I think… er… united we stand, divided we fall,” he said. “The British Isles are small enough as it is, without us splitting up.

“I think – to be together, that’s the thing – I think the whole world should be together. Splitting up… I mean keep languages going, yes, keep the culture going. But be a part of something bigger.

“I don’t really believe in being completely independent. Breaking away. No, I don’t see that.”

While promoting his new album Surrounded By Time, Tom Jones also revealed an encounter he had at Buckingham Palace with the recently deceased The Duke of Edinburgh.

“He walked over to me, and he said, ‘I suppose you’ve read in the newspaper that I said you must gargle with pebbles?'” he told BBC One.

“I said ‘Yes, I did see that, yes.’

“And he said, ‘Well, let me explain why. I was at a small businessmen’s meeting and they were moaning and groaning about not getting subsidised from the government and I used you as an example. ‘I don’t know what you are moaning about when a fella from South Wales, the son of a coal miner, can come up to London and do as well as he has done. Why are you complaining?’”

“‘Well the man’s voice is so strong he must gargle with pebbles.’ It was a compliment, not the way it came out in the press. I was misquoted.'”


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Grayham Jones
3 years ago
  1. Tom Jones have never been welsh only when it for him first he have never given enything to Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 but given lots of money to The USA and England but nothing for Wales
George
George
3 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

He put you on the map you idiot

Charlie
Charlie
3 years ago
Reply to  George

Not really, in the world nobody knows he’s s from Wales actually…

Moya
Moya
3 years ago

It’s not for him ti say. He doesn’t live here.
i never supported Welsh Independence but watching the dreadful conduct of the current Westminster Government I’m beginning to think that the people of Wales deserve better than the casual indifference shown by Westminster

GJR
GJR
3 years ago
Reply to  Moya

I can’t see the UK Government in London changing for a generation or more. A chilling thought, by which time Wales will be finished, unless we decide now to choose an alternative, prosperous and self-confident future.

Cerith Griffiths
Cerith Griffiths
3 years ago

More real Welsh people say the opposite. Shame on you.

Linda
Linda
3 years ago

I think he has a cheek to make these comments as he does not live here and has enough wealth not to feel the pinch. How many people in Wales have to realy on food banks/benifts all because of Westminster keeping us underfunded. It’s time to take control of our own destiny.

Rhian jones
Rhian jones
3 years ago

Dwi yn byw yn CYMRU rhioed a siarad ein iaeth ni bob diwrnod, dim yn amal dwi yn siarad sysneg mond os mae na pobol sysneg yna,ne ar phone,dwi ddim yn meddwl bod CYMRU digon gryf I cael Annibyniaeth,does na ddim digon o gwaith yma I dod a pres In gwlad ni ,lle da ni mynd I cael y pres o ,well bod y gwlad fod yn un ,na tori y wlad yn pedwar,mae y iaeth ni mor bwsig I fi ,mae bechod bod pawb yn CYMRU dim yn siarad ein iaeth ni, yn yr lockdown yr iaeth mwy oedd… Read more »

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Rhian jones

Dw i’n cytuno efo chi bod yr iaeth yn bwysig iawn, Rhian, ond dw i’n anghytuno efo Tom Jones. Ond dach chi’n gywir bod Cymru ddim digon cryf ar hen o bryd i gael annibyniaeth. Mae’r gwlad angen economi cryfach. Gawn ni weld…

Denis Coghlan
3 years ago

Ireland should rejoin!

Apologies, deleted original tweet.
Found autocorrect changed ‘rejoin’ to ‘remain’

Is autocorrect politically corrupted!

paul ware
paul ware
3 years ago

WTF has it got to do with him anyway?

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  paul ware

As much as it has to do with you or me. If you start discounting or diminishing people because he moved “away” or been a success in his chosen work you are at the top of a slippery slope. As it happens I disagree with his view but he’s entitled to it. You need to start being a touch more persuasive and less confrontational and maybe just maybe you will convert someone to the pro-indy view. Right now there is too much, far too much “cancelling” of those who don’t take the “right side”. Part of the wave of ultra… Read more »

arthur owen
arthur owen
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

I couldn’t agree more.

Johnny Gamble
Johnny Gamble
3 years ago

The fact that he can’t even sing our National Anthem properly speaks volumes.

TwmTwmffat
TwmTwmffat
3 years ago

I agree with Tom. Anyway Plaid only have one policy – independence – and they are to lazy to work out the basic details relating to currency and borders. Fantasy emotional identity politics. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-56801448

Dewines
Dewines
3 years ago

I always thought him a ghastly creep, even before I moved to Wales, fell in love with Cymru Cymraeg and started to identify as Welsh by choice.. Then I saw that awful Youtube video where he murders Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Now with this news, I have an even better reason to hate him.

David Wall
David Wall
3 years ago

Someone should tell him about Tryweryn and that being Welsh is not just about having an accent. A chat with Michael Sheen should sort out Sir Tom. 😊

hdavies15
hdavies15
3 years ago
Reply to  David Wall

Is that the same Michael who thinks that sending our kids to Oxbridge is a good idea ? While he has certain positive attributes he might reconsider his views on education as there are a number of uni’s here in Wales who can offer good quality academic experience. Of course if what he’s promoting is “networking among the toffs” then he is bang on the money, but those kids will acquire new values not necessarily beneficial to the aspirations of Wales.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  hdavies15

To Jesus College, Oxford, which is where brainy young Welsh people traditionally go. If Wales was able to develop a real economy of its own, then those people would have an incentive to return and help to foster a better country. None of this is Sheen’s fault. We have a brain drain because our conomy is restricted to low-end tourism and wind farms.

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