Watch: Devon Tory MP calls for ‘Barry booze cruise’ ferry from England to Wales
A Devon Conservative MP has said that she wants a “Barry booze cruise” ferry that will take tourists from the south-west of England to Wales.
Speaking in the House of Commons, North Devon MP Selaine Saxby said that the ferry could link Ilfracombe to Barry, Swansea and other parts of Wales.
Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said that he would be “very happy” to meet with her to discuss the proposal.
“I can see South Wales from my North Devon constituency and I’m very keen to secure a ferry crossing from Ilfracombe to South Wales, popular on both sides of the Bristol Channel, with visions ranging from a Dylan Thomas literary tour, through to a Barry booze cruise,” she said.
Today in the Chamber I asked the Welsh Secretary of State, @Simonhartmp, about progressing plans for a ferry crossing from Ilfracombe to South Wales. 🇬🇧⛴️🏴
I will continue working in Westminster to garner support for this project which would hugely benefit #NDevon. pic.twitter.com/vpeq82PSA8
— Selaine Saxby MP (@SelaineSaxby) November 17, 2021
Simon Hart added that there used to be a ferry from Tenby to North Devon “back in the old days and I’m very happy to see it”.
“I have to say that until the Welsh Government honours its 2016 manifesto commitment to improve the M4, the quickest way of us visiting each other will be a 30-year-old ferry chugging across the Bristol Channel,” he added.
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Another dig at Wales, Simon? Fair play, you are consistent in demonstrating just how awful you truly are. Wales is just a playground for these Tories isn’t it? Anyone else had enough of this nonsense?!
On fairness you only have to look at the amount of Welsh stag and hen parties that go to Liverpool, Bristol, Birmingham, London, etc.
With due respect Ever seen the embarrassing scenes of red sunburnt drunk English people blighting Benidorm, Ibiza and other Spanish resorts as they stagger out of English pubs , fighting amongst themselves whilst vomitting on the pavements , and that’s just the women.
PS. And to ones who disagree. I’m not omitting the fact that Welsh people don’t do similar. After all, they are just aping the culture of binge drinking Brits like sheeple.
And where most normal societies respect alcohol and enjoy a social drink, “Brits” abuse alcohol rather that enjoy.
So the Welsh do it to copy the English?
My God, the depths of this bigot hole.
No he is saying that this drinking culture common across the island of Britain.
I was implying that, but obviously my point went right over his head, this likely due to the hole he’s standing in. Hit are raw nerve.
Being serious for a moment. The binge culture in Britain is an ongoing embarrassment. You don’t see similar in France, where families are around alcohol from an early age and learn to respect it.
This differs in Wales, and Britain as a whole, where it’s the weekend and I’m going to get bladdered with inevitable consequence. A trip to the police cells, A&E or worse, the morgue
Good on you. To be Self-deprecating is very brave of you. But remember, baby steps..
PS. If you need a ladder. Call me. I’ll be busy.
“Ever seen the embarrassing scenes of red sunburnt drunk English people blighting Benidorm, Ibiza and other Spanish resorts as they stagger out of English pubs , fighting amongst themselves whilst vomitting on the pavements , and that’s just the women”
Welsh people don’t do similar. After all, they are just aping the culture of binge drinking Brits like sheeple
As Nation goes the same way as the National.
Stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh close the borders with England stop all second homes in wales 🏴 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴 take all second homes of them and give them to young people who can’t get on the housing market because of incomers it’s time for a new wales 🏴
Stop being a broken record.
Independence requires constructive action not repeating the same pointless words over and over again.
Nation.Cymru’s most prolific commenter.
Actually, I disagree there. The Welsh public do need reminding constantly – we’ve become to complacent as a nation, just excepting the sh*t. Though admittedly not just on here.
Yawn!!
Do we need to call it a “booze cruise”? Too much alcohol abuse already and this won’t help.
Let’s be honest, Welsh drinking culture is here to stay. Might as well have Brits coming over and spending their money here.
Where I’m all for encouraging tourism from all parts of the UK. After all, Swansea has some of the best beaches in the world let alone Britain, but we’ve got to think higher than becoming England’s booze cruise backwater.
The wording is inappropriate but the general idea is pretty good.
Is this the Tory idea of “Levelling- up” Wales. The spirit level. A place to buy cheap booze. Personally, I have greater aspirations for Wales than being England’s bottle bank.
Looks like the ones who disagree have no aspirations for Wales. And they wonder why our nation languishes at the bottom. Be honest and open. Debate with me rather than hide.
Wales has no aspirations because people think a ferry between South Wales and Devon is a bad idea…
Regarding bad idea. A booze cruise is, tourism isn’t. I want more than a group of transient lad & ladettes catching a ferry over to to Wales soley to buy cheap extra strength Cider, where tourists visit, stay a few days or weeks, and do it because they are interested in the culture and history while spend hundreds of pounds in the process that stays in the local economy not in the into the pockets of multinationals with non-dom status. Also, the likelihood that the ferry company employed would be Welsh owned, is highly unlikely. Why you ask? Well, Whitehall… Read more »
You are very foolish if you think a direct transport link between South Wales and Devon is bad idea. I doubt you oppose to the links between Wales and Ireland…but they aren’t English. Tourism isn’t the devil you think it…and it works both ways.
A closed Wales is not good for anybody, try to be a bit more ambitious.
Once I worked for P&O, so I tend to take an interest. There ought to be some chemistry here. But how realistic? Reardon Smith Line was based on partnership with the W.Country – if only we could do something similar. Paddle steamer “Waverley” used to have a short season with calls at Swansea and Penarth, and may well return after Covid/refit. Lots of people have suggested a car ferry to Ilfracombe or wherever,. Someone suggested a service to boost cider exports from Gwlad yr Haf to Gwlad y Gan, but I think that was tongue-in-cheek. I think it comes down… Read more »
There was a plan about 10 years ago to run a ferry service across using catamarans called Severn Link. It never came to fruition as investors pulled out! Happy memories of paddle steamer from Mumbles Pier to Ilfeacombe back in the day though. 2 attempts to go on the Waverley in recent years were foiled by bad weather. Balmoral also has had occasonal trips planned but the estuary isn’t really great for paddle steamers. As a teetotaller I dislike the “Barry booze cruise” idea and it’s unlikely to catch on anyway except in reverse as I understand the cost of… Read more »
Devonian tourists could come and enjoy the Swansea lagoon? Dream on……
Indeed. And I think the people of Swansea & Barry deserve better than to be regarded with such contempt by an all fur coat and no knickers Conservative lush.
Is there any doubt this wannabe Englishman Simon Hart is an agent of Whitehall, who is an active participant in our nation’s downfall.
And I don’t take lightly to being patronised by a bunch of lowbrow crooked sleazy Conservatives who play to the stereotype. We must purge this Tory scourge from Welsh society once and for all. He & they serve no purpose but themselves and England.
PS. If you disagree with my post. Do debate with me. Defend Simon Hart and his adverse attitude towards Wales.
Just for fun Cymro I tried to think of something good about Hart but nothing came to mind.
You have a keen sense, observant and are highly intelligent. 👋
So what would the price of the alcohol be? We have minimum alcohol pricing in Wales remember.
We could do with a ferry to Spain and France from Swansea i think it would do well it’s a hell of a way too Dover from many parts of the UK
If it would do well it would be running.
It would be a 28 hour crossing and there aren’t the numbers
Just compare the size of the populations of south Cymru and north Devon+Somerset.
Most of the passenger traffic will be return trips from Cymru to Devon and most of the money spent onshore by passengers will be in Devon.
As it was when the ferry used to run.
The Tory MP for Devon knows that. Hopefully those who put the interests of our economy before Devon’s won’t provide funding for any ferry enterprise that might be established.
You are spot on. The English West Country is largely rural. Any ferry would actually facilitate revenue out of, not into. We’d be making England richer and Wales poorer.
Although we do have the port infrastructure, especially in Fishguard & Holyhead, sadly not the political will to do anything large-scale that would transform Wales and its coastal communities. Not England see.
And where other independent nations ports are hives of business , trade & activity, our Unionist politicians prefer us to have Poundland ports that make them billions while Wales nothing.
Fishguard and Holyhead are on the opposite side of the UK in rural areas at least three hours as way from any areas of population.
That’s no one’s fault
DEBATE ME, COWARDS!!!