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‘Ugly nationalism’ behind Wales’ different Covid restrictions says Tory MP

22 Feb 2022 4 minute read
Craig Williams. Photo by David Woolfall (CC BY 3.0).

The Welsh Government’s desire to handle Covid differently in Wales is motivated by “ugly nationalism” a Conservative MP has said.

Craig Williams, the MP for Montgomeryshire, was responding to Welsh First Minister’s condemnation of Prime Minister’s Boris Johnson’s plan to end free Covid tests in England.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Craig Williams called on Boris Johnson to “reach out” to Mark Drakeford to ensure that Covid measures were also eased in Wales “as quickly as possible”.

The Welsh Government had yesterday criticised the move to end free tests, with First Minister Mark Drakeford saying that “any decision to change the existing National Testing Programme would be premature and reckless”.

But Craig Williams said that he welcomed “the path to freedom that the Prime Minister has set out”.

“I am sure that, like the Leader of the Opposition, the Welsh First Minister will condemn the plan today, but will in about two weeks present this same plan as his own,” he said.

“Will the Prime Minister reach out to the Labour First Minister and the other devolved Administrations—we have worked well with them, when ugly nationalism is put aside—to get those freedoms for residents in Montgomeryshire as quickly as possible?”

Boris Johnson responded that he would “extend the hand of co-operation” and that “the similarities in our approach greatly outweigh the differences”.

Greg Smith, the MP for Buckingham, also called on the Prime Minister to ensure that Wales and Scotland did not continue with Covid restrictions.

“Freedom works. Indeed, we should always cherish freedom, but as we have seen in the past when restrictions have been lifted, some bodies, particularly those with a union hand hovering over them, have continued with restrictions regardless,” he said.

“So, as we rightly lift these restrictions and allow others to lapse, can my right honourable Friend give a clear message that the turn towards personal responsibility is not a licence for those bodies to carry on with the restrictions regardless?”

Boris Johnson responded that the “instinct for liberty burns just as brightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”

“I think the people of the whole United Kingdom will understand that we want a sensible, balanced and proportionate approach that moves away from legal compulsion—something that has been quite extraordinary for these times—and in favour of people being considerate towards others and taking personal responsibility,” he said.

‘At risk’

Yesterday the UK Government’s Welsh Secretary, Simon Hart, said that Wales could continue to offer tests for free but would have to find the money out of its own budget to do so.

“We have to learn to live with COVID,” he said. “The Prime Minister has outlined a balanced plan to help us achieve that.

“Mass testing costs around £2 billion per month – surely our resource, funding and effort is a better use with a more targeted approach?

“If Welsh Government want to continue funding blanket testing going forward then that is a decision for them, they already have the adequate resource and funding to do so.

“This will mean tough decisions against other priorities, but that’s what mature governance is all about.”

Earlier Mark Drakeford said that tests had played a pivotal role in breaking chains of transmission and it was “essential that this continues”.

“Any decision to effectively turn off the tap on our National Testing Programme, with no future plans in place to reactivate it, would put people at risk,” he said.

“In Wales, we’ll continue to make decisions to protect the health of people based on the scientific evidence available to us.”

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also expressed concern over the plans.

The reality of UK finance flows means this decision determines the money devolved administrations (paid for by taxpayers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) have for testing,” she said.


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George
George
2 years ago

Does he hear the concerns of the health professionals and devolved governments and seek to reassure while supporting Boris?

No, he stands up and wastes everyone’s time to speak to the small selection of people whose first thought is always to attack devolution.

It’s not that he’s a Tory, he’s just a bad MP full-stop. Was when he sat in Cardiff constituency and is still a bad MP now

Lolly Mountjoy
Lolly Mountjoy
2 years ago

Yawn
Wales should do what is best for the people of Wales

Dewi Williamswhat
Dewi Williamswhat
2 years ago

“Ugly nationalism”? He clearly recognises it because it is called Brexit or better still a brand of English nationalism and he is an ardent supporter of it. He clearly also recognises mendacity because he is besotted with Boris.

tired of this
tired of this
2 years ago

I know it is a small point in the context of a genuinely life threatening issue with Covid, but I would just love to hear this man’s distinction between what he calls the ‘ugly nationalism’ of Wales and the honking and hooting of the xenophobic Anglos going on and on about ‘sovereignty’ (which of course isn’t ‘nationalism’ oh no not at all) and waving their black passports. What the hell is wrong with the people of Wales that we keep electing this quislings and traitors? Can it really all be down to the 20% who are Anglo immigrants?

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago

Please NC , just cos you are running an item that cites “ugly nationalism” there is no need to attach a photo of an ugly mug !

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Ugly nationalism? Obviously hasn’t looked into a mirror then the toad.

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

Yes I thought that. Pot, kettle etc.
Last time I saw a smile as unpleasant as that I was watching a Batman movie!

Cofid
Cofid
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

Edrychwch ar ei lygaid.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

“Mass testing costs around £2 billion per month” Not for Wales, he is talking about the whole of the UK and trying to make out that it will cost us 2 billion a month the bloody truth twister.

Tracey
Tracey
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

That’s the modern Conservative party for you. The truth is barely a passing acquaintance.

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

Prime example of the tories putting wealth before health yet again.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

MP for chicken poo with the smile of the Joker…how did Sir Drefaldwyn sink so low…

hdavies15
hdavies15
2 years ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Too many Sais crossing the border to get away from “unpleasant immigrants”. The irony of their racism is unrivalled.

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

I do wish these so-called “Welsh” conservatives would put their bodies in the same country their hearts so obviously belong to and leave us alone.

Last edited 2 years ago by Erisian
Grayham Jones
2 years ago

Kick this idiot out of wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and all English party’s in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Dafydd
Dafydd
2 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

ffs…its time for using a capital W for Wales,,,lol!

Ann
Ann
2 years ago
Reply to  Dafydd

And to use Cymru rather than Wales!

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Dafydd

Oh god ! Woops oh God !

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

All Tories are English Nationalist

Gareth Rees
Gareth Rees
2 years ago

On the same day ‘ugly nationalism’ (Williams) and ‘the disease of nationalism’ (Putin) used by those committed to centralised super-powers (with nuclear weapons – quintessential examples of dangerous or potentially dangerous nationalism) to oppose democratic self-determination for smaller nations

Ieuan Evans
Ieuan Evans
2 years ago

These people makes me sick. Their contempt towards anything Welsh is absolutely deplorable, yet they are willing to accept Welsh taxpayers money to provide them with the luxuries of life. Untrustworthy, disloyal, little Englanders and totally anti Welsh.

Julie Jones
Julie Jones
2 years ago

This is all part of a detailed, concerted attack on us orchestrated by London Unionists. It is crude, because they know that visceral attacks are effective – see Brexit! Scotland and Northern Ireland are on the road to freedom, so they know they must hold on to Wales, in order for us to feed them with water and energy. Wait for the next windfarm or nuclear power announcement (and we’ll have some new reservoirs soon).

Paddy
Paddy
2 years ago

“Covid-19 has already disproportionately impacted those on lower incomes, in insecure employment and from ethnic minorities. This move threatens to exacerbate these health inequalities. – British Medical Association

I wonder why the Tories are pushing ahead with this?

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Oh dear Graig. Not your usual approach 🙃…. Glyn D built your vote up by considered and well placed comment while keeping sway from the usual sticks and stones from the Central Office Junior troll and young con section… Think before you join their weekly attack rota perhaps by noting the poll research on opinions in Wales to the Senedd published yesterday. The further to the hard right the more chance the Liberals will return…..this isnt Cardiff Council where attacking Russell G and co is cosha but Mach and Llanidloes mate. Your nrxt to Oswestry – now Lib ! Think… Read more »

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Slimy Craig Williams says “ugly Nationalism is behind our Covid Wales rules”. I have never heard so much balderdash in my life? Our Covid restrictions saved thousands of lives, were more measured & sensible than England’s where the calamitous English Conservatives free-for-all has meant over 150,000 died, families suffered, while Boris and fellow lushes partied the night away. Cretinous Anglophile Craig Williams forgets how taxpayers billions were lost because of fraudulent claims from their Corona Virus Schemes resulting in the Tories writing off £4.3 billion. They also wasted £37 billion on a failed Track & Trace System and favoured family… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Ugly? Mmmm I saw him snivelling on the back benches on TV. He knows all about ugly.

Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
2 years ago

The lack of self awareness! This closely resembles Putin’s attitude towards Ukraine.

Last edited 2 years ago by Cai Wogan Jones
Nottabott
Nottabott
2 years ago

Wonder how many jacks his office has

Marc
Marc
2 years ago

I wanted to vent my anger at yet another asinine proclamation from a Welsh Tory lap dog but then I saw his photograph…….😂😂

Last edited 2 years ago by Marc
Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
2 years ago

A now all-too-familiar strategy from the playbook of bullying neighbours:

STEP 1: Label a smaller neighbour as “ugly nationalists*.

STEP 2: Crush them.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Welsh born English supremacists are the worst.

Steve Duggan
Steve Duggan
2 years ago

This guy needs to face the families of those who’ll die from this reckless behaviour in England. The things Johnson will do to divert attention from the stench of corruption coming from him and his party.

gaynor jones
gaynor jones
2 years ago

Is this Alan Partridge? In fact are all Tory Mps now clones of Alan partridge?

Keith Parry
Keith Parry
2 years ago

This man like all other MPs in Wales serves no use full purpose. He is a waste of taxpayers money. All MPs jobs in Wales should be abolished.
. FREE WALES! CYMRU RYDD!

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago

Ugly nationalism behind england’s different covid restrictions. There, fixe dit

Nige
Nige
2 years ago

Tosser.

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