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Wall Street Journal mocks ‘One Britain One Nation Day’ for flopping in Wales

28 Jun 2021 2 minute read
Wall Street Journal Corporate Headquarters. By John Wisniewski (CC 2.0)

The Wall Street Journal has mocked ‘One Britain One Nation Day’ for flopping in Wales.

The iconic American business newspaper suggested that it “didn’t go so well” after the UK Government encouraged schools across the UK to take part.

It noted the Welsh Government pointing out that it “runs its own education system”, and that it hadn’t been “consulted” on the plan.

The event, which took place on Friday included singing a ‘We are Britain’ anthem and children being taught teach about the UK’s “shared values”.

But it led schoolchildren in Wales singing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau instead to show support for the Welsh national football team ahead of its Euro 2020 clash with Denmark, after being encouraged to do so by the FAW.

This move was also backed by Welsh Education Minister Jeremy Miles.

The Wall Street Journal said: “Five years after the vote that pulled the U.K. out of the European Union, the British government this week tried to persuade schoolchildren across the country to belt out a new anthem expressing their love for the motherland, ‘One Britain One Nation. It didn’t go so well.

‘Bradford area’ 

It added: “The young students, mostly around the Bradford area in northern England, where the campaign began, gathered outside to sing or drew pictures of people holding hands before waving paper flags.

“But many schools around the country opted out, saying singing runs up against Covid-19 restrictions.

“Others pointed out that the island Britain actually comprises three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland, the fourth member of the United Kingdom, appears to have been forgotten entirely.

“Scotland’s leader Nicola Sturgeon, who favors independence from the rest of the U.K., said she thought it was a spoof when she heard about the ‘One Britain. song and noted that most Scottish schools will have shut for the summer holidays by Friday anyway.

“Wales’s government pointed out that it also runs its own education system and hasn’t been consulted in the plan, which is backed by the U.K.’s Department for Education.”


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William Glyn THOMAS
William Glyn THOMAS
2 years ago

At least the US Media recognises there are four nations that comprise the UK. For Boris, the “Penny has not dropped yet”.

Stephen Owen
Stephen Owen
2 years ago

Boris is living in the past.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

It didn’t just flop in Wales. It flopped everywhere except some schools around Bradford

CJPh
CJPh
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Just as the article says, yes.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago
Reply to  CJPh

True. But not the headline

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Now, Chris, surely your not suggesting some people only read the headline and don’t peruse the whole article!

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

There are 5 regions, not 4. You forgot London & Home Counties who think they run the show!

And, well, we’re not so keen on culture wars and incompetent would-be autocrats round here. Stuff it where the sun don’t shine Boris

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago
Reply to  Erisian

Nations.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Johnson and his crew are a laughing stock everywhere….. except on BBC news…. they just stay silent on the idiocy.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

… silent except for this morning on R4 Today where Nick Robinson and Laura Kuenssberg were robust in dealing with the bullsh handed out by Justice Secretary Robert Buckland. A quite entertaining 17 minutes (listen again at 2 hours 10 minutes in).

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
2 years ago

Curiously Bradford came bottom of the UK best places to live list in 2015 (can’t find a more recent one). Have things there improved dramatically or is it a case of ‘the only way is up’ so any improvement felt now is seen as a sign of how great Britain is in 2021?

Llin
Llin
2 years ago

Yr unig dylwyth sydd yn galw eu hunain yn Brydeinwyr yw’r saeson

Finn
Finn
2 years ago

Da iawn blant Cymru cofiwch ych caertref.

Llin
Llin
2 years ago

one mistake by the newspaper, the say that

“the British government this week tried to persuade schoolchildren across the country to belt out a new anthem expressing their love for the motherland, ‘One Britain One Nation. It didn’t go so well.”

britain is not one country, it is made up of four entirely different coustries with different culture, and the only ones who consider themselves british are the english. Roll on Welsh Passports

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