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Tory MP suggests ‘Union identity’ is more ‘valued and respected’ than Welshness

01 Feb 2022 4 minute read
Marco Longhi MP. UK Parliament (CC3.0).

A Tory MP has suggested that British identity is more “valued and respected” than Welshness.

Marco Longhi made the suggestion when he expressed his support for a petition to make Union Jack branding a “legal requirement” on Welsh number plates.

The Member of Parliament for Dudley North, also told the right-wing London-based news organisation, the Express that “separatist parties will dislike this”, when he made his case.

He said he is “very proud to support” the petition for all new UK number plates to carry the flag, whether the vehicle owners want to or not.

The Conservative politician argued that the Union flag has a high “recognition” overseas, and claimed that this is not the case for Wales’ flag.

His support for the petition follows that of English Tory MP Andrew Rosindell, who has previously called for children to sing God Save the Queen in school assembly, at least once a week.

In his backing of the petition, Marco Longhi told the Express: “Having lived and worked across Europe and the Americas, I know just how much recognition the Union flag has overseas. This is not the case for our individual flags for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland – it’s a fact.

“Separatist parties will dislike this, but our Union identity is hugely more identifiable and a symbol, a brand, that is valued and respected. So anything that supports our Union is something I would be very proud to support – including a flag on a number plate!”

The petition which was started by Daniel Homer, states: “The Union Flag is a symbol of Unity and strength of our United Kingdom and is highly regarded at both home and abroad.

“Now that the United Kingdom has left the European Union, we the undersigned request the UK Government places the Union Flag on all new UK vehicle number plates.

“At present the number plate is optional and the flag is not required, we ask the government to change the rules to ensure all new plates are sold with the Flag, as a legal requirement.”

‘Access to Welsh beaches’

Longhi has previously suggested that access to Welsh beaches is a basic right for his constituents.

He complained to the House of Commons that the nearest beach is in Wales and that access is “almost mission impossible”.

He made the comments in a debate titled Connectivity and Infrastructure within Wales and Cross-border. The UK Government is conducting a review into the matter.

In response to a question from Longhi, the Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said improving “cross-border holidaying” between Wales the and west midlands is “exactly what the review is about”.

He added that this is in part because it brings “gratification to the residents of Dudley”.

Marco Longhi said: “My Italian forefathers always understood the importance of sunshine, sandy beaches and full-bodied, gorgeous ice cream, but for those who live in Dudley, the nearest beach is in Wales, and access is almost mission impossible.

“What can my right hon. Friend do to improve the wellbeing of my constituents by improving access to these basic rights?”

Simon Hart replied: “Sadly, we cannot move Dudley, but what we can do is progress the Union connectivity review and strengthen the links.

“I know my hon. Friend’s part of the world very well. Of course, the cross-border holidaying and other activity between the west midlands and Wales is well known, and we want to improve it.

“That is exactly what the review is about, because we know that brings not only gratification to the residents of Dudley, but economic prosperity to both areas.”


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Ceramike
Ceramike
2 years ago

The enforced imposition of a nationalistic symbol will not be welcome to the vast majority. Any government who attempted to do so would face extreme opposition and it would be wholly unenforceable. It is a ludicrous suggestion and the member for Dudley is obviously unhinged and totally deluded.

Dwyfor ap Llynfell
Dwyfor ap Llynfell
2 years ago
Reply to  Ceramike

Some of the deleted comments on this feed were hate speech.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

This from a Tory party loyalist of the type defending the guttersnipe in Downing Street.

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

Beach envy I suppose? Petulant rage about our covid regulations last year?
I expect the ‘Union’ Flag is more popular where he comes from. Let’s hope he stays there and keeps his toxic opinions to himself.
What a t**t

Owain Arfon Jones
Owain Arfon Jones
2 years ago

The Union flag is not well liked on the continent of Europe and that is a fact learnt from many of years of travelling in Europe.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

It’s true that attitudes are better when they realise you are Welsh.

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

“Wales? yeah the Dragon, yeah” ……Greek hotelier.

arthur owen
2 years ago

I agree with Mr Lohingi that the Union Jack is more recognised abroad than our flag and also with you that it is more,much more disliked.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Nul points 👍🏼

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

Anyone who travels into Europe will tell you that most of the locals they come across, avoid people wearing or associated with the butchers apron, as it represents very pink, fat, bare chested loud mouthed drunken slobs,

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Grazia mille Marco …ymlaen Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 yma ……..Fortza Italia – no way butt –
try asking your folks in the old country if you would like the flag of your birth city taken off care number plates ,,,,

C0189699-76B7-4CC0-B9C9-1C7AF88965F9.jpeg
Cymru Rydd
Cymru Rydd
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

In fairness to the Italians, I don’t think this uncultured pillock is representative of them.

He probably wouldn’t even grasp how it could be possible someone in Milan might not be able to understand someone from Rome and vice versa.

So, as a hint, I offer the following to him:

O mia bela Madunina che te brillet de lontan

Tuta d′ora e piscinina, ti te dominet Milan

Sota a ti se viv la vita, se sta mai coi man in man

Canten tucc “lontan de Napoli se moeur”

Ma po’ i vegnen chi a Milan

TERUN!!!

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Cymru Rydd

Belisimo 👍🏼

Philip Jones
Philip Jones
2 years ago

Bring it on. The sales of small Draig Goch badges will rocket and I would be the first to be prosecuted for “flag abuse”.

Gareth Wyn Jones
Gareth Wyn Jones
2 years ago

Maybe look to edit the last part of that comment please, there is nothing more that pleases the BritNats and tories more than been able to call us anti-English

Last edited 2 years ago by Gareth Wyn Jones
Richard 1
Richard 1
2 years ago

Hear hear GWJ.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

They call us those things anyway.

Argol Fawr!
Argol Fawr!
2 years ago

The Welsh flag is recognised around the world with warmth, the Union Jack with derision. All helped along by the Tories.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Who is this idiot? Never heard of him and never will again.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

I stuck a Welsh flag over my driving license, I will do the same for my cars reg plate. Illegal or not, I am not having some foreigner dictating my nationality to me.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

 “My Italian forefathers always understood the importance of sunshine, sandy beaches and full-bodied, gorgeous ice cream” Yeah, your forefathers also fought for the fascists during WW2. Get back in your hole.

Ed Jones
Ed Jones
2 years ago

He’s 54? Heck of a hard paper round that was! Dudley North, what the flip were you thinking?

Gareth W
Gareth W
2 years ago

The union jack flag is widely recognised throughout the world as the flag of England, and English travellers are very good at reinforcing this misconception

Dwyfor ap Llynfell
Dwyfor ap Llynfell
2 years ago
Reply to  Gareth W

That’s hate speech are you saying that about all English people. It seems to me you despise the English.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

I wonder if this tory MP has ever been to Wales or Scotland in his life?
Fighting Welsh nationalism with British nationalism is like fighting fire with fire.

Ann
Ann
2 years ago

“At present the number plate is optional”
Where does he come from? The number plate is required for every car registered!
As far as I know a flag or sticker is only required for vehicles being taken across national borders. The European rules have now been changed and instead of having a GB sticker a UK sticker is needed. So as I shall not be taking my vehicle out of the country it won’t need to show where it comes from.

Ed Hazell
Ed Hazell
2 years ago
Reply to  Ann

The change from GB to UK stickers isn’t anything to do with “European rules”. In fact, it was instigated by the government in Westminster, which applied to the UN to alter the rules.

According to the Department for Transport “Changing the national identifier from GB to UK symbolises our unity as a nation and is part of a wider move towards using the UK signifier across government.”

Make of that what you will.

Deio Jones
Deio Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Ed Hazell

Been driving to Europe for nearly 50 years spending weeks at a time thereespecially in France. I’ve never put a GB or UK sticker on the car. In the early years it was CYM. Now its the Welsh flag on the plate with Cymru written on it. Once in the early 70s I was asked by a policeman in France what the CYM was. I explained and he was OK with that.

Kathleen WALKER
Kathleen WALKER
2 years ago
Reply to  Ed Hazell

British national is an attempt
To impose an English identity upon the all of the UK.Ad the rest of the world knows the that the English identity is lager lots,
Pedophiles and racists!

Dwyfor ap Llynfell
Dwyfor ap Llynfell
2 years ago

That is simply hate speech it seems to be prevalent here on ad far as I can understand supported by the Welsh government.

Dewi Williamswhat
Dewi Williamswhat
2 years ago

This type of Englishman is naturally endowed in his DNA with the need to “invade, “take over” and “dominate”. Let’s respond by showing them some Welsh wisdom. They can’t help it after all. This idiot needs understanding and tolerance. We Welsh have shown them this in abundance. Over the many years they have been in receipt of more than a generous welcome whenever they turned up at Barry Island in their vast numbers. This is what irks them in particular because they do not have these welcoming facilities in their DNA to share with others.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Dewi. Marco is a Rome boy mate !

Dewi Williamswhat
Dewi Williamswhat
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

With care you would have noted I used the generic term “type”. Therefore, Marco aside, this describes a “type” of Englishman and does not necessarily include all of them. Many of whom I know would be of the same mind.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

More a fortza Italia type I think 🤔

Dewi Williamswhat
Dewi Williamswhat
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

Do I detect more sniping Richard?

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

You may be a touch over sensitive my friend on an issue I think 🤔 i and a good number of ‘ regular’ scribblers are with you on….

Dewi Williamswhat
Dewi Williamswhat
2 years ago
Reply to  Richard

“facetious” perhaps is a better fit

Dwyfor ap Llynfell
Dwyfor ap Llynfell
2 years ago

Trained as a teacher in a Welsh teacher training college brought up Welsh speaking in Ystalfera. Moved to England in my Early 20’s. Ashamed of the comments here the English were nothing but welcoming and hospitable. Such hateful words I read.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Well said ✅

Malcolmrj
Malcolmrj
2 years ago

IWill give you a example what happened to my Nephew when he was in spain.He was in a Nightclub he whent outside for some fresh air when some lads started talking to him and after a while they asked him where he was from he made the life changing mistake of saying that he was English he woke in hospital and now is blind in one eye would that have happened if he had said that he was Welsh.?? I won’t Be putting any BUTCHER’S APRON on my car just look at the Eurovision song contests to see what the… Read more »

Rob
Rob
2 years ago
Reply to  Malcolmrj

Why didn’t he say he was Welsh? You know the country where Gareth Bale is from. I always say I’m from Wales when I go abroad & where my Welsh football top.

Malcolmrj
Malcolmrj
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

Many years before Garath Bale whent too Spain sadly

Dafydd
Dafydd
2 years ago

Over my dead body!

Cant you idiots see you’re pushing more and more of us towards independence with each of these pathetic utterances. Stick your union jack up your pen ol!

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

Marco Longhi, as most of us who comment on this site would agree: I think not!

Cymru Rydd
Cymru Rydd
2 years ago

Have a day off lmfao!

Even among the dyed-in-the-wool unionists I know, their Welshness comes first. Most of them actually profess to not even like the English very much which makes their desire to remain part of the “union” all the stranger. However, they very much see themselves first and foremost as Welsh within the “union” rather than “British”. I am more than willing to be proven wrong but I would hazard a guess, going by my own experience, that that phenomena is wider than just my own circle.

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Cymru Rydd

Surprising. Couple of points 1: there are some really nice folk in Dudley.
2: some English people who have lived in Europe for some time, find that when visiting home attitudes drive them up the wall. Being in the EU was actally slowly changing these attitudes, but Brexit had them roaring back.
But people do learn, and Brexit has become very unpopular. We shall see what comes.

Geraint
Geraint
2 years ago

Rising inflation, highest taxes since WW2, high levels of poverty, low industrial productivity and a lying prime minister. I’m sure the people of Dudley North really think their MP’s utterances on flags will make a huge difference to their lives!

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
2 years ago
Reply to  Geraint

Just a passing thought from a traveller. I notice that the majority of private houses that I have seen with flagpoles and flags in England fly the Cross of St George. I don’t recally seeing any flying the UJ. Of course Dudley North may be different…

Geraint
Geraint
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Having past through the North East of England last year saw flags split three ways, Northumbrian, English and Union Jacks. But having said that there can’t have been more than 50 flags seen over five days.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

Well it may not be as well know as the Union Jack (the flag is actually more imformous around the world) but the Welsh flag has been voted the coolest flag in the world. It sits proudly on my number plate.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

This man is an absolute tool. Short and sweet. I’ve never heard so much rubbish in my life.

Oh sure. I embrace a Union that omits my nation’s representation. Bloody fool! This is the English establishment re-establishing their hostile stranglehold on Wales.

R W
R W
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Aided and abetted by Simon Fart and his ilk!!

Dwyfor ap Llynfell
Dwyfor ap Llynfell
2 years ago

This is not a political comment it is hate speech. How is this allowed on site supported by the Welsh Government. Makes me ashamed to be Welsh.

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