Welsh Gov slaps down Westminster plan for children in Wales to celebrate ‘One Britain One Nation Day’

The Welsh Government has slapped down a Westminster plan for school children in Wales to celebrate ‘One Britain One Nation Day’.

The UK Government wanted pupils across Wales to sing a ‘We are Britain’ anthem as part of the event that will teach them about the UK’s “shared values”.

They said that they were encouraging schools across the UK to take part in the ‘One Britain One Nation’ day on June 25th which includes singing the song “We are Britain and we have one dream to unite all people in one Great Team”.

However, the Welsh Government has poured cold water on the idea, pointing out that education is “devolved” and saying it has not been “engaged” in the project.

The idea has also been lampooned as “desperate” on social media.

Mike Jones said: “North Korean levels of propaganda, this. The Union is finished, just let it die peacefully.”

Walis George said: “What nonsense is this?! Britain is an island not a nation, while the UK is a political union made up of four nations.”

YesCymru committee member Niki Jones said: “If I told Mared this, at 6 years of age, she would already laugh in my face. She is so Welsh in her identity, she’d think I was joking with her or something.”

Paul Thomas said: “Strong Soviet Union vibes.”

Stace Williams said: “Everything about this is terrible, somebody fire the lyricist immediately.”

A spokesperson for the Welsh Government told Nation.Cymru: “Education is a devolved matter and the Welsh Government has not been engaged in this project.”

‘Many wars’

The lyrics of the ‘We are Britain’ anthem include: “Our nation survived through many storms and many wars, We’ve opened our doors, and widened our island’s shores, We celebrate our differences with love in our hearts, United forever, never apart.”

It ends with the repeating lines “Strong Britain, Great Nation”.

The event which aims to develop “a sense of civic pride by championing our shared values of British Citizenship” also includes encouraging every child to clap for a minute to recognise, embrace and pay tribute to all those people who helped during the Covid 19 pandemic crisis.

The UK Government’s Department for Education said: “We’re encouraging schools across the UK to celebrate One Britain One Nation Day on 25 June, when children can learn about our shared values of tolerance, kindness, pride and respect.”

So far, it seems that only schools in the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council area have signed up to take part in ‘One Britain One Nation’ day. Education in Wales is also devolved to the Welsh Government.

Among the aims of the organisation are to “promote, rejoice and celebrate the successes of our people under the common and collective identity of being British”.

Another aim is to “re-appropriate the flag of Great Britain so that it represents all people of good conscience, in order to promote and celebrate our common and collective identity”.