‘Wales not West Britain’: Alun Cairns’ accused out ‘airbrushing’ Wales at economic region launch
The Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns, has come under fire after the chair of his new Western Gateway Partnership referred to the south of Wales and the west of England as “West Britain”.
The new chair Katherine Bennett, unveiled at the lunch on Friday, said that she was “convinced that West Britain is a powerhouse of the UK economy waiting to be unlocked”.
The Western Gateway describes itself as a strategic partnership “linking a number of towns and cities across a wide region either side of the Severn the Western Gateway” to promote and maximising economic growth.
The UK Government says it will attempt to mirror the work of the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.
““The Western Gateway region can be a true powerhouse of the UK economy if we take this opportunity to galvanise its many strengths to generate ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship in order to stimulate jobs and growth,” Alun Cairns said.
However, those reacting on Twitter suspected that the main aim of the new West Britain region was to erase Wales off the map.
“West Britain? It’s called Wales, so you can fuck right off with that neo-colonialist bullshit,” said motoring journalist Craig Thomas.
“Perhaps we should rename the useless Wales Office as the West Britain Office?” Blaenau Gwent Labour Assembly Member Alun Davies asked.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards responded: “People of Wales if you don’t want to see our country turned into West Britain get out there and campaign for Plaid Cymru.”
NHS anaesthetist Dave Jones tweeted: “It is absolutely no surprise to me that Alun Cairns, the worst Welsh Secretary since the last one, is airbrushing out our national identity.
“Be under no illusions that these people see us as an annex of their Little England project,” he added.
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It’s rather simple isn’t it, the solution?
Before 1966, Gloucester was the most southerly crossing.
I suppose it’s pure coincidence that on the same day the WG announced plans to make Newport ‘the focus for economic growth’.
The Poison Dwarf is at it again, why o why is he Secretary of State for Wales when all he does is suck up to his cronies at Westminster. He should really stand for a seat in the West Country, because he is useless in what he has done for Wales.
How obvious and absurd. Wales and the south west….
Join the Club, greetings from all in North Britain, AKA, SCOTLAND, an unwanted tag we’ve endured for over 300 years.
The Secretary of State for Bristol peddling his usual gibberish.
What an absolute waste of space this man is.
Wales has no internal economy, everything comes from or through England
Hi Pete. How is Aberystwyth these days? Are you still demonising the natives for not being English enough?
Absolute nonsense man! Such ignorance of the facts does your reputation no good whatsoever, or, perhaps, confirms it. Go study reality and then come back with a sensible contribution.
The woman Bennett’s comment tells you everything you need to know about Cairns, his mindset, and his priorities. The job of Welsh Secretary should be abolished as not being fit for purpose.
I agree with you there why should wales have a secretary when Yorkshire and its millions more citizens doesn’t
Absolutely, as long as he or she acts in the interests of YORKSHIRE.
Yorkshire may well need to endure and suffer the appointment of a Secretary of State but please try not to exaggerate the population of that proud County. It does not exceed the population of Cymru by ‘millions’ if it does at all!
How far can you creep in the hope of being made a Peer? Further and further!
The lovechild of George Thomas and Smithers from the Simpsons.
Ha ha! Ardderchog! After a dirty weekend in a Holiday Inn.
Actually I’m glad Cairns is making his position untenable it shows the contempt Westmister has for Wales. This is nothing new, Owain Glyndwr was laughed at by Parliament and belittled as a nobody from Wales when he complained about his land being stolen by a nearby English noble. It hasn’t changed since with the ‘Not Welsh’ campaign and the submerging of Welsh villages for water in Liverpool. These slights to the people of Wales have to be drawn on in the debate for independence. How our relationship with England has not benefited us. And a major nationwide debate is what… Read more »
Cairns simply wants to make his name with the Conservative Hierarchy in the, probably forlorn attempt, as he is a man of proven lack of imagination and ability, to achieve hierarchy not realising that he is already ‘yesterday’s man’. As ‘window dressing’ goes this is yet another of the Tories trying to paper over the deep cracks, faults and ever creeping fungus that has enveloped this ‘United Kingdom’ since they came to power. The constant reference to the past economic ‘failings’ of Labour now fall upon deaf ears amongst a public for whom Labour Governments are a thing of the… Read more »