Tory MS claims people in north Wales have closer links with England than Cardiff
A Conservative MS has claimed that people in north Wales have closer links with the midlands and north west of England than they do Cardiff.
Taking to X to share his thoughts on the 25th anniversary of Welsh devolution, Vale of Clwyd MS, Gareth Davies, wrote: “Most people in North Wales have closer links with the North West of England and Midlands than what they do to Cardiff.
“Devolution is fine if it encompasses the social realities of peoples lives rather than forcing an unrealistic, universal dogma down everyone’s throats.”
Most people in North Wales have closer links with the North West of England and Midlands than what they do to Cardiff.
Devolution is fine if it encompasses the social realities of peoples lives rather than forcing an unrealistic, universal dogma down everyone's throats.
— Gareth Davies MS/AS (@GarethDaviesVoC) May 8, 2024
The post, shared on the morning of 8 May has received a mixed response from X users, with Ethan Jones writing: “Most” – Polled them have you?”
“Reality of infrastructure”
Disagreeing, one X user wrote: “It is in your unionist and pro-Westminster interest to dilute the cohesion and solidarity felt by Welsh people.
“You and your leader Davies make no secret that you want the Senedd to have diluted powers, even to dissolve it. You are actively trying to foster disunity within Wales.”
Jac, wrote: “That’s not out of some “love” the Welsh have for Chester but a reality of infrastructure in Wales being largely built to take extracted Welsh resources and transport them to England.
“It’s why our major railways go West to East instead of North to South.”
In partial agreement, D4AN0 wrote: “That is largely true, but is a consequence of lack of infrastructure investment in Wales. No direct Motorway or Rail service from the Welsh Capital to the North, both requiring a route into England.
“Imagine London being cut off from the North and having to go via France.”
Agreeing with Mr Davies, Sinsir14 wrote: “I agree with you it is really a matter of geography not just transport links. From Bangor Liverpool and Manchester are much closer than Cardiff or Swansea.
“In addition there are many close family ties with this region.”
Response
In response to the reaction to his post, Mr Davies told Nation.Cymru: “Since Welsh devolution in 1999, the Labour party, 25 years into Government have failed to reflect all of Wales in its diversity.
“Whether that is the NHS, alienating the rural community, or by Cardiff and The Valleys getting the lion’s share of investment and north Wales being an afterthought.
“The Vale of Clwyd has close ties with north west England but could also be brought into harmony with the rest of Wales by properly representing the unique cultural, social and economic makeup of each community and region in Wales.
“This is what would be achieved under a Welsh Conservative devolved administration.”
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Perhaps the rise of the City of Wrecsam might help to redress the balance…
I think you make a good point.
Now a friendly between the two cities sounds like a good day out and I hope the spec for the ‘new’ stadium can provide a world class sound system for international music gigs as well as top class international football…
‘There are some great acts from Canada Ryan’…
All geography Mr Davies and no different to Newcastle feeling more akin to Scotland than London but it will always be in England and your constituency will always be in Wales.
Devide and conquer , that is the Tory way, even in its home country of England, today it seeks to alienate the sick and the poor, devision and distraction from its failed tenure in office. They have nothing to offer here, never have, never will, so the old games are rehashed, play north v south.
Closing 4 lines show this lying barsteward up for what he really is. That last line is total misrepresentation of intentions. Reality is more like Greater Severnside to combine Cardiff & Newport with Bristol and Mersey/Dee to bind N.E Wales to Cheshire/Wirral and the immediate N.W of England.
Yes, that’s the ‘game’ but it will never stop flags bearing town names like ‘Tonyrefail’ & ‘Blaenau Ffestiniog’ appearing alongside each other at Cymru football matches. Great unifying events. Their sick strategy will continue to fail as it has for centuries achos ry’n ni yma o hyd.
Instead of stirring the pot why not fight for better links between all parts of Wales with Cardiff. Then we will all feel the connection as one country. Oh silly me they don’t want that do they. We can be controlled better keeping us apart.
Yes! Because he is one of those people in Wales who genuinely believe we as a people are Beneath the Anglo and everything they have done to our country has been for our benefit, he sums up everything wrong with the relationship of England and Wales. We are used time and time again, and have always strived to divide us, and let’s be honest, it works marvellously.
The “Welsh” Conservatives have an obsession with England don’t they. If it’s not wanting to assimilate the whole of Wales into a greater England by destroying our native language, culture and political independence, also wish to use divide and conquer by turning the North against the South. This is the very reason why they will forever be in opposition and regarded as a joke political party full of self hating fruit loops and crackpots who couldn’t run a tap let alone a country.
The Stockholm party!!! Why do they look at England like they are Gods Gift? A lot of Englands great historical figures were actually from other nations. Including Wales, It’s ironic really!
I’m pretty sure Northumberland has greater links with Scotland than with London.
They wont be happy until they turn Wales into an English county. A reprehensible take and a pathetic attempt to sow division.
Reinforced by those dreadful free glossy magazines they give away in supermarkets that imply Gogledd Cymru is in Cheshire. And not a word of Cymraeg in them.
He clearly states that he sees Wales as nothing more than an “unrealistic, universal dogma”. In anyone’s language that is an extreme position to hold.
I have saying they would be rolling out this sort of language eventually, they want to divide us as a people. We are easier to deal with that way, they been doing this sort of thing for centuries prior to Social media, we have to stand strong and tell them to jog on. People of North Wales DO NOT have more in common with English people than their compatriots in the South. They have better connection via Roads, I wonder why? Well, we can see why now can’t we! They fear a United Wales more now than they did in… Read more »
We need the infrastructure in Cymru, a north-south railway and motorway, so we don’t need to go via the inferior lloegr!
Thats a stupid comment. I have many times enjoyed time in our north. They are uique and certainly nothing aligned with the English. Let alone chavy London.
Perhaps he meant to say people in north west England and the midlands have closer links with Wales than they do London.
Yeah, travel links. Nothing more!