‘The British Isles are small enough as it is’: Sir Tom Jones comes out against Welsh independence
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.”
“I think the whole world should be together. Keep languages going, yes – keep the culture going – but be a part of something bigger”
Sir Tom Jones told ITV News he does not believe Wales should leave the United Kingdom and become independent https://t.co/yOhPRvZR8m pic.twitter.com/uB6xO3T1Rh
— ITV Wales News (@ITVWales) April 23, 2021
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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He put you on the map you idiot
Not really, in the world nobody knows he’s s from Wales actually…
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
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.
More real Welsh people say the opposite. Shame on you.
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.
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 »
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…
Ireland should rejoin!
Apologies, deleted original tweet.
Found autocorrect changed ‘rejoin’ to ‘remain’
Is autocorrect politically corrupted!
WTF has it got to do with him anyway?
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 »
I couldn’t agree more.
The fact that he can’t even sing our National Anthem properly speaks volumes.
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
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.
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. 😊
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.
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.