A couple of weeks ago, I can’t remember which newspaper it was, one of the tabloids decided that North Wales is the rudest place in the United Kingdom. They complained that the people in the shops or pubs started talking Welsh as soon as you came in there. But of course that didn’t have anything to do with the English people coming in there, people have always spoken Welsh there. Just to give you an idea - speaking another language is seen as rude in the United Kingdom. It’s not seen as anything positive, as building a multilingual, multicultural environment'.
This is one of the comments that Simon Thomas makes when he describes the attitudes he meets in his job. He claims that English people in general are ignorant when it comes to Wales and its culture.
This is one of the comments that Simon Thomas makes when he describes the attitudes he meets in his job. He claims that English people in general are ignorant when it comes to Wales and its culture.
Wales, and the Welsh language have been in the spotlight recently, with the debates on its future following each other. The Party of Wales, Plaid Cymru, has been in the centre of discussions that have on one side accused Welsh politics of 'racism' towards English immigrants, and on the other side of not doing enough for the safeguarding of Welsh language and culture. Plaid Cymru's Simon Thomas has been a Member of Parliament in London since February 2000.‘A couple of weeks ago, I can’t remember which newspaper it was, one of the tabloids decided that North Wales is the rudest place in the United Kingdom. They complained that the people in the shops or pubs started talking Welsh as soon as you came in there. But of course that didn’t have anything to do with the English people coming in there, people have always spoken Welsh there. Just to give you an idea - speaking another language is seen as rude in the United Kingdom. It’s not seen as anything positive, as building a multilingual, multicultural environment'.
This is one of the comments that Simon Thomas makes when he describes the attitudes he meets in his job. He claims that English people in general are ignorant when it comes to Wales and its culture.
'And I mean ignorant in the full sense of the word - which is basically don’t know, as well as even if they did know, they wouldn’t be interested. I asked a question of the Prime Minister last week, about Afghanistan, and as I was asking, one of the Labour backbenches shouted out ‘go back to the hills’. That’s the mind attitude that they’ve got.'
Simon Thomas, a Plaid Cymru member representing the constituency of Ceredigion, has got a tricky job. While this is the attitude of some of his colleagues in London, his party has also been accused of not doing enough to safeguard the Welsh language and culture and instead trying to get English votes. Thomas defends his party by saying that it is a growing party and that they need the support of the English in order to get more power in Cardiff.
‘Ultimately, my job is to wrestle power away from London, into Cardiff and to get more evolution in Wales, and to see strong Welsh institutions being established. One MP, two MP’s - or even forty, can’t change peoples’ attitudes. What changes attitudes is seeing political power being exercised.'
This is the long-term goal of Simon Thomas. He says, 'there’s a lot of people saying that we shouldn’t be here, that we should be in Cardiff. I think we should remember that we are actually a part of the United Kingdom, and we have a contribution to make. Obviously our longterm aim is to move the power to a European level and to Cardiff, but while it is happening at a British level, I personally want to be part of it.'
But what about a Welsh future in Europe? Will London always be the centre of power for the Welsh, or will it be sidetracked by a stronger Europe one day?
Simon Thomas doesn't see a marginalized London as impossibility. It depends on how active a role they chose to have, he says.
‘This makes it even more important for Wales to get representation in Europe. If London gets marginalized in Europe and we’re marginalized in London, we’re never going to get any recognition. There are two tracks to go down for Wales. One is to remain with the United Kingdom and hope that it becomes more of a federal state, that it develops along the lines of Spain, giving autonomy to it’s regions. The other track is to recognise that this state has never shown any sign of devolving or becoming federal, and to instead try to get Wales into the Union as a member state. This is obviously not going to happen in the near future, we’re talking 20 to 25 years, and by that stage Europe will also look different.’
This is one of the comments that Simon Thomas makes when he describes the attitudes he meets in his job. He claims that English people in general are ignorant when it comes to Wales and its culture.
'And I mean ignorant in the full sense of the word - which is basically don’t know, as well as even if they did know, they wouldn’t be interested. I asked a question of the Prime Minister last week, about Afghanistan, and as I was asking, one of the Labour backbenches shouted out ‘go back to the hills’. That’s the mind attitude that they’ve got.'
Simon Thomas, a Plaid Cymru member representing the constituency of Ceredigion, has got a tricky job. While this is the attitude of some of his colleagues in London, his party has also been accused of not doing enough to safeguard the Welsh language and culture and instead trying to get English votes. Thomas defends his party by saying that it is a growing party and that they need the support of the English in order to get more power in Cardiff.
‘Ultimately, my job is to wrestle power away from London, into Cardiff and to get more evolution in Wales, and to see strong Welsh institutions being established. One MP, two MP’s - or even forty, can’t change peoples’ attitudes. What changes attitudes is seeing political power being exercised.'
This is the long-term goal of Simon Thomas. He says, 'there’s a lot of people saying that we shouldn’t be here, that we should be in Cardiff. I think we should remember that we are actually a part of the United Kingdom, and we have a contribution to make. Obviously our longterm aim is to move the power to a European level and to Cardiff, but while it is happening at a British level, I personally want to be part of it.'
But what about a Welsh future in Europe? Will London always be the centre of power for the Welsh, or will it be sidetracked by a stronger Europe one day?
Simon Thomas doesn't see a marginalized London as impossibility. It depends on how active a role they chose to have, he says.
‘This makes it even more important for Wales to get representation in Europe. If London gets marginalized in Europe and we’re marginalized in London, we’re never going to get any recognition. There are two tracks to go down for Wales. One is to remain with the United Kingdom and hope that it becomes more of a federal state, that it develops along the lines of Spain, giving autonomy to it’s regions. The other track is to recognise that this state has never shown any sign of devolving or becoming federal, and to instead try to get Wales into the Union as a member state. This is obviously not going to happen in the near future, we’re talking 20 to 25 years, and by that stage Europe will also look different.’
Comments
Hide the following 15 comments
English uneducated rabble.
05.08.2003 06:07
Redkop
Don't be ignorant
05.08.2003 08:27
Paul Edwards
A CAN OF WORMS?
05.08.2003 08:28
In 1954 a Welsh spy detected a conspiracy to use economic forces to destroy the Welsh Nation. It has worked so well that Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru MP for Ceredigion is now dependent on the votes of English inmigrants to be returned to Parliament. There are enough of the better sort for that to happen. There are also the worst sort, they have sold up in their home towns to get away from the "Pakis". They come to Wales and bring their racist prejudices with them, and apply them to the Welsh. They are a potent source of race conflict. Last year a group of patriotic youths celebrating the life and lamenting the death of Llewllyn set up a chant "White Pakis". I did not then understand what they were on about, perhaps I now see a reason for it. ... A mickey taking taunt.
Hot news in Wales today is that a black woman is made a member of the Gorsedd Circle, but then she lives in Crymych, just across the road from where refugee Haile Selassie first stayed in Wales. As the symbol of his Nation's struggle for independence, he was guarded by welsh speakers who volunteered to put their live at risk to give him an armed guard against a possible Italian hit squad. That at a time whan the UK and French Governments were killing the League of Nations by supporting Mussolini's atrocious war to take over Abyssinia.
People who were at Selar are likely to know Alice. The lesson is that it is menes, not genes that count in Wales.
But to return to the can of worms in the article: Patriots want a free and independent Wales able to participate in full in the International Community of Nations. Any person selling that objective short is a traitor. To be a part of Europe without achieving independence is to abandon Nationhood, it is no better than being part of the UK. those who have been doing their damnedest to undermine the UK will, if the implications in this article are true, have an equal duty to destroy the E.U.
I still puzzle the intent of our mystery author.
ab Alun
Ref dont be ignorant.
05.08.2003 09:35
Redkop
"by the uneducated rabble"
05.08.2003 09:55
It must be because I am so uneducated that your whole comment comes across as smug arrogance.
Sonic
To sonic
05.08.2003 11:42
Redkop
always use a clear and meaningful title and clear the lungs before singing-smile
05.08.2003 12:02
I remember in London quite enjoying the welsh button on the telephone boxes.
Each public access of unit of British Telecom who supply telecommunication equipment to many multi-lingual overseas countries and regions of not only the €U, better known perhaps as the common market but beyond even further in the lands far flung of the former empire indeed and new found trading partners.
BT as the multi-national-corporation sells itself the snappy global firm, affords four languages an option on the kiosk phone box.
ah the Red phone box.
from the Falklands to Hollywood, in Ireland they painted them green then blue and white for Eircom, but in London, red.
Press the language button next time you're in a Phonebox.
today is welsh reading day.
BT make more money than Wales every day.
ipsiphi
Wales? Shcmales!
05.08.2003 12:27
I don't see what all the fuss is about!
Observer
To observer
05.08.2003 12:41
Redkop
Wales: A Dump
05.08.2003 13:37
hailie salisie was a dictator..ordinary ethiopians had to bow before him so i cant say welsh people guarding the black mussolini is anything to be proud of!
And thats not even starting on the feuds between north wales and south!
Some one who Lives in Brecon
A warm welcome in wales awaits the hun english
05.08.2003 22:25
Yes give english holiday makers a warm welcome, burn out their holiday mansions and cottages.
going native in wales
Ahhh..think I'll buy my THIRD holiday home in Wales
06.08.2003 08:31
Simon Saxon
hypocrites!
06.08.2003 12:52
..oh no sorry, wrong minority..
anon
islamophobia isnt a joke
07.08.2003 14:37
Sonic
oops sorry Sonic
07.08.2003 16:11
Humour is a dangerous game, innit?
anon