Welsh Tory MP complains about references to the ‘four nations’ of the UK
A Welsh Tory MP has complained about references to the “four nations” of the UK.
James Davies, who represents the Vale of Clwyd, has argued that referring to the United Kingdom in such a way is “divisive”, despite it being made up of the countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In an essay for Strength in Union, a publication that was launched at the Conservative Party conference, he suggested that this “pretends to equate our single nation state with an association of sovereign states”.
His complaint comes despite former Prime Minister Theresa May using the phrase ‘four nations’ ten times in the introduction to the same book. Welsh Secretary of State Simon Hart and Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton also use it in the book.
He said: “Early on in the pandemic, it became convenient parlance for nationalist-leaning politicians to refer to the UK as ‘the four nations’ – a divisive term which pretends to equate our single nation state with an association of sovereign states.
“The term successfully found its way into common usage, including via the BBC and wider media. This is indicative of the need for all of us who believe in Britain’s ongoing unity to think carefully about the language we use.”
‘Devolved’
James Davies also hits out of the BBC Wales for not broadcasting some of Boris Johnson’s Covid-19 conferences. He believes they should have been broadcast in Wales despite the UK Government being in charge of the health service in England, while in Wales it is the responsibility of the Welsh Government.
He added: “Furthermore, at times BBC Wales even chose not to air the Prime Minister’s pandemic press conferences, on the basis that the measures were a devolved competence.
“We must remind the BBC, as our state broadcaster, not to forget that the word ‘British’ features prominently within its name.”
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No you massive pile of excrement, ignoring the fact that there is more than one nation and shoving your made up nationality down our throats is divisive. Honest to god, the britnats are insane and out of touch with reality. They seem to work under the delusion that people will ignore their identity, culture and nationality because an a-hole like him says so.
Please, don’t hold back 😀
I’m showing my diplomatic side here.
No such thing as a Welsh Tory: other than an oxymoron, or a traitor.
He added: “Furthermore, at times BBC Wales even chose not to air the Prime Minister’s pandemic press conferences, on the basis that the measures were a devolved competence.” Were they showing the Welsh and Scottish governments covid press conferences on English tv? Because as far as I am concerned what this muppet is proposing would have been extremely dangerous and caused massive confusion leading to more deaths. The guy is a total idiot.
There is no English TV. But there is BBC Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland. It is just regional in England.
It’s time for a new wales 🏴 kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴
If you kick them all out that only leaves Plaid CYmru and a few independants.
Probably better if Welsh Labour just has full autonomy / independance, not that I see MD looking to Southside for guidance very often.
How many times have tory spokesmen and women said similar in the last week or two?
I think they are getting worried.
Keep it going!
They are coming for the senedd
Nationalist speak thy name. Labour Unionism enables Tory Nationalism. This is a dangerous nationalism that seeks to eradicate the historical Nation of Wales in the name of a confected British nation. No such British nation exists. The United Kingdom State exists. The island of Britain exists and upon it are the British nations of Wales, Cornwall, Scotland and England. To state otherwise denies reality. In the Tories case it’s clearly in pursuit of a bigoted political ideology, sadly aided by thoughtless Labour dogma. For goodnessakes Wales, ditch these losers and choose to build a new Nation State and renew our… Read more »
Excellent comment 👏
If Wales does not exist then he had best look for a new place to misrepresent.
That book of essays is going to do the unionists a lot more harm than good.
By inviting all the swivel eyed uninformed eejits desperate for Mr Johnsons approval to contribute abd demonstate their hostility and ignorance concerning the four nations.
I’m quite starting to enjoy it, although it might be bad for my blood pressure.
I wonder would a Tory ever dare question if Scotland is a nation or not, or even England for that matter (people still tend to treat England and the UK as if they were interchangeable)?
If so why should we tolerate this in Wales?
Just check out the definition of “UNITED” in a dictionary.
As I am dyslexic, might I check UNTIED instead?
(And to those who do have a problem with reading and spelling, I apologise wholeheartedly – but it was too good to let pass)
It’s becoming abundantly clear there is no such thing as the ‘welsh conservative party’ – they are ‘the english national party’ in Wales
I seem to recall Boris Johnson referring to the four nations when talking about the so-called ‘union’. If he can recognise the existence of the four nations then surely this complete carrot can as well.
It seems to me that England get “Conservative..” politicians and Wales and Scotland have been told they’re getting “and the union” politicians. Why does it appear that ever Welsh Tory MP/MS hates the idea of Wales existing?
To the idiots who said Boris Covid laws should have been aired in Wales, well let’s take it another way. PM Boris Johnson only worked on the COVID-19 pandemic for NHS ENGLAND, no mention of Wales this man absolutely hate’s the Welsh people and the Welsh Nation.🏴🏴
What a clown, would it not have been alittle confusing if both English (UK??) and Welsh health announcements were broadcast considering they were often different? When is he going to realise that the UK ‘IS’ made up of 4 individual countries?? What planet are the Tories on these days?
If James Davies would like to come to my school, I’ll get my Year 7 pupils to teach him how to count to four.
… and also the reasons why we should not try to rewrite history.
The United Kingdom – united meaning joined together politically, for a common purpose, or by common feelings. Well there is no common purpose, that was wasted decades ago and these nationalist pronouncements destroy any common feeling. So keep up with the twaddle unionists.
It’s time for a new wales 🏴 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴 that’s a new wales 🏴
Strength in union has sure found all the d***heads wouldn’t you say.
Dick’ eds with power
Sadly yes…… For now.
He is angry at the fact that the UK consists of 4 nations?! Strange man. Vale of Clwyd, you can do better…
The experience of reading these lamentable “essays” gives rise to a mixture of outrage and utter fascination; they’re almost addictive. How can these individuals be so crassly offensive about a country, as well as factually wrong, and expect to win support?
Interesting that most of the contributors have so far been Wal Goch MPs in the North East. Isn’t it about time that Ifan let someone claiming to represent Powys or Sir Benfro have a turn at sounding ridiculous?
To what is your dear leader, the Prime Minister, referring to when he blathers on about “The Awesome Foursome” then? Who votes for these lunatics?
This is fascism make no bones about take a look at the 12 warning signs of fascism
1. Powerful and continuing nationalism (as in the little englander type we know so well)
2. Disdain for human rights
3. Identification of enemies as a unifying cause
4. Rampant sexism
5. Controlled mass media
6. Obsession with national security
7. Religion and government intertwined
8. Corporate power protected
9. Labor power suppressed
10. Disdain for intellectual and the arts
11. Obsession with crime and punishment
12. Rampant cronyism and corruption
Please tell me which one this tory government does not do?
Tory turnip James Davies is a quisling of the worst kind. He bemoans the political & geographical reality that there are four nations that make up the British isles. How on earth did this ignorant fool get elected. Certainly wasn’t for his intellect. He’s as dense as lead. This clown also criticises BBC Wales for not showing Boris Johnson’s Covid update? He forgets Network BBC rarely shows Wales Covid updates in favour of either showing Scotland or England’s updates. Ours is usually isolated to BBC Wales. I’ve counted 12 English regional BBC stations, including 43 local stations, and to my… Read more »