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Tory minister is ‘no fan of four nations expression’ for the union

12 Oct 2021 3 minute read
Alister Jack. Picture by Chris McAndrew (CC BY 3.0).

A Tory minister has said he’s “no fan of the four nations expression” for describing the union.

Alister Jack MP, the Secretary of State for Scotland, has insisted that the UK, which is made up of the countries of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, is “one great nation”.

But the Conservative politician, who represents Dumfries and Galloway in the House of Commons, insisted we “can all take pleasure in the regional variations that make us different” in an essay for Strength in Union.

This included enjoying “local delicacies” such as “Glamorgan sausages”.

Welsh Tory MP James Davies, who represents the Vale of Clwyd, has also complained about the UK being referred to as “four nations”.

In the same publication, he described the term as “divisive” and he suggested that it “pretends to equate our single nation state with an association of sovereign states”.

These complaints come despite former Prime Minister Theresa May using the phrase ‘four nations’ ten times in the introduction to the same book. Welsh Secretary of State Simon Hart and Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton also use it in the book.

‘Differences’

Alister Jack said: “I am no fan of the ‘four nations’ expression, for the Union gives us one great nation. Yes, we can still celebrate the differences within our borders.

“Of course, it is possible to be, say, a proud Scot and at the same time be a proud Briton. We can all take pleasure in the regional variations that make us different.

“Across the land there is a rich tapestry of dialects and the vernacular of our cities, towns and villages is as diverse as our glorious countryside.

“We can enjoy local delicacies – Scotch beef is something I am proud to have been a producer of – and specialities. Melton Mowbray pork pies, Northern Irish soda farls, Glamorgan sausages – this land offers a larder of delights for all to savour.

“Yet while the Union has a storied history, and can rightly claim to be the most successful political accord the world has yet seen, its glories are not all in the past.

“Indeed, I believe we stand on the threshold of a new era for Britain, one which draws from the successes wrought by generations long gone and which can benefit Britons yet unborn. It is all built on the bedrock of that living, breathing Union.”


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Hogyn y Gogledd
Hogyn y Gogledd
3 years ago

The four nations of the “UK” are England, Scotland, Wales and Cornwall.

Cornwall has been officially recognised as a national minority, and is, therefore, clearly a nation.

Ireland is a nation, part of which has been settled and colonised by the “UK”.

But what, if anything, is the “UK”?

It is NOT a nation – it does not have a single shared history, culture and language.

It is a state – a legal concept, which is a totally different concept.

Maurice Whisk
Maurice Whisk
3 years ago

Ireland is a nation, part of which has been settled and colonised by the “UK”.

Northern Ireland was settled by Scots – with the help of some Welsh.

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago
Reply to  Maurice Whisk

Those Welsh, eh?

Neil Anderson
Neil Anderson
3 years ago

Just like in the USSR! Happy days!

Quornby
Quornby
3 years ago

Who cares what this eejit thinks or says?

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
3 years ago

The idea that Britain in one country is a fallacy. We are not the same people. Do not speak the same language, let alone speak the same English, or have one shared history. If that were the case the Saxons wouldn’t have invaded with Hengist & Horsa. They wouldn’t have referred to us as Welsh meaning “Foreigner” and England and the English wouldn’t exist meaning we Cymry wouldn’t have spent the last 1,400yrs fighting to stop our native language & history from being erased. And If we took their version of history seriously. We’d all be the same and this… Read more »

Last edited 3 years ago by Y Cymro
Rob
Rob
3 years ago

So referring to the UK as four nations is divisive is it? I would say trying to enforce it as one nation would be even more divisive.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
3 years ago

Each nation has a cross to bear…

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago

What choice did Wales have in being part of this Union? We had no choice. Now is the time for the people of Wales to make that choice. Do we want to continue being far poorer than London and the South East of England and do we want to see an end to the chronic child poverty in Wales? We should have the right to decide for ourselves our future. To decide whether or not we can make a better future for ourselves outside the Union. Evidence is growing that we can be more successful as an independent country, that… Read more »

Maurice Whisk
Maurice Whisk
3 years ago
Reply to  Steve Duggan

 that we can build a more prosperous society for our children.

Name one policy that will make a more prosperous society for children in Wales that is in the lap of the nationalist movement, ready to go?

Only ther only talk of children on here I ever see are snide comments about the fact they go to private school in England.

This site is the same people making the same pie in the sky comments.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
3 years ago
Reply to  Maurice Whisk

So you expect us just to wait for this miserable UK government to ‘level up’ and end child poverty ? Forget it mate, we’re done with waiting, we’re done with neglect and we’re done with colonialism, now is the time for us to try and improve condtions ourselves and why not? It is not for me to name any policy it is for you to prove to us that remaining in the Union will make Wales prosperous, will end child poverty. Can you do that and if you can – why was it not done before??

Dave
Dave
3 years ago
Reply to  Maurice Whisk

Maurice it’s Plaid in the Sky if you really want to wind people up

Gareth
Gareth
3 years ago

I think, that by saying these things, unionists are trying to convince themselves, as much as us, as they see the union going down the pan, it is some sort of denial, that the end game for what is left of the empire has started.

Marc
Marc
3 years ago

The United Kingdom is dying, let’s put it out of its misery, let the unionists say their last goodbye, it’s time to let go!

Maurice Whisk
Maurice Whisk
3 years ago
Reply to  Marc

What do the last two Scottish and Welsh Independence polls and the last NI border poll say to confirm this?

Dave
Dave
3 years ago
Reply to  Maurice Whisk

Maurice you are doing it wrong fella half arsed comments like this will only encourage us Nationalists to vent against the oppression instilled by #toryscum

Arwyn
Arwyn
3 years ago

Anyone who defines a single contiguous British nation is imposing British Nationalism over and above the historic national identities of these isles which predate the existence of the UK. These shameless radical Tories threaten our existence as a Nation. We must resist them!

Crwtyn Cemais
Crwtyn Cemais
3 years ago

Os – yn ol y gwleidydd Toriaidd Alastair Jack -dim ond UN genedl yw’r Deyrnas Unedig ac nid undeb (anwirfoddol) o bedair cenedl, yna wrth ddilyn ei resymeg ei hunan, ydy e’n credu bod yr Undeb Ewropeaidd ond yn UN genedl hefyd, yn hytrach nag undeb (gwirfoddol) o 27 cenedl? Y twpsyn! ~ If – according to the Tory politician Alastair Jack – the United Kingdom is but ONE nation and not an (involuntary) union of four nations, then by following his own logic, does he believe that the European Union is also but ONE nation, rather than a (voluntary)… Read more »

Mark
Mark
3 years ago

Is the north of Ireland a country?

Wrexhamian
Wrexhamian
3 years ago

Ha ha! This book just gets funnier. While at the same time more offensive. And sadder.

Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones
3 years ago

Welsh Tory MP James Davies??? Davies is not welsh hes from Cheshire where he still lives !

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