Independence: coming soon to a nation near you?
Friday, January 19, 2007

Apart from Edwina Curry brandishing the Big Brother three as "slags" on Question Time, the highlight of last night's political television was Plaid's Deputy Leader, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, squirming under pressure from Rhun ap Iorwerth over his party's alleged lack of ambition.

As we've been discussing here lately, Plaid seem reluctant to spell out their attitude on independence as part of their election campaign, much to the irritation of some of their own activists, who think the recent poll showing 20% support for separation should have had the party shouting a little louder.

The electorate is notoriously sceptical about a lack of political frankness - it's the reason why Labour are in freefall over Iraq, and why the Lib Dems have failed to properly recover from the messy removal of Charles Kennedy. Fact is, there's a real tension between increasing powers of governance for Wales, and nationalist attitudes towards independence.

Just this week, Plaid "welcomed" the contract to build a super military academy in St Athan. But in an independent Wales, those 5,000 jobs and £14 billion pounds of investment would surely not be welcomed by a Plaid government, whose defence policy would lean towards establishing a non-interventionist Europe-wide force. And with every giant military academy in Wales, the prospect of independence is weakened and the infrastructure of union strengthened.

In today's Wales there's a fine balance between the Welsh and British aspects of our governance and identity. It's not yet clear whether Plaid are willing to take the short-term risks that could tip the scales in their favour in the long-term.

Labels: , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 11:01 am, ,


Plaid dragging their feet on independence
Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Acrobat finished searching my document. The find item was not found.

The document was Plaid's pre-manifesto, Change for the better; the find item was "independence".

In fairness, the word "independent" does feature twice:
"We will promote and maintain independent living for disabled people."
and,
"We will establish an independent National Commission on the Governance of Wales... releasing resources from bureaucracy for frontline services."

Not quite the pledges die-hard Plaid supporters would've been hoping for.

Yesterday, the independence debate went national, with the BBC's Newsnight hosting a more full and frank discussion on the subject than I've ever heard on mainstream TV. The 'Welsh question' was notable only by its absence.

In this week of constitutional argument and self-reflection, Plaid have kicked separatism into touch, while the SNP have it written in warpaint across their foreheads. Welsh nationalists may wonder if it's been a missed opportunity.

Plaid's leader, Ieuan Wyn Jones, was forced to clarify his position in the Western Mail. He said: "We have always understood that while the long-term aim of the party is independence, we want to see constitutional change taking place incrementally."

So why isn't this in the pre-manifesto, in black and white? The document sets out Plaid's aims for a decade, including a referendum on a Scottish-style parliament by 2011. Are we to assume, then, that independence isn't a Plaid priority for at least another ten years?

Labels: , , , ,

posted by Blamerbell @ 2:17 pm, ,