24/05/2011

Wales Needs A Campaign for Independence

For elected politicians being in opposition is a nightmare, you've slogged your guts out to get hold of elected office, you've had the jubilation of victory in your own patch after campaigning for the policies that you believe can change society, only to find that a majority of those elected to the same chamber thwart your vision and your mandate every time.

For political activists the opposite is true. No government does exactly what its rank and file party members want it to do, but party members have to bite their tongues and offer support despite themselves and that is bloody frustrating. It is even more frustrating if ones party is in coalition and has to compromise on issues that are held dear to the rank and file.

Opposition is a damned site easier for party activists than being in government and incredibly easier than being in coalition government.

The way that the two dominant British Parties overcome this conundrum is by having extra parliamentary groups that support their core values, and campaign for those core values, even when they are in government, keeping the flame alight.

When Labour introduced a minimum wage, rather than a living wage, the trades union movement continued to campaign for a living wage. Whilst the ConDems are increasing the tax take, the ultra Conservative Tax Payer's Alliance continue to campaign for lower taxation.

One of the reasons that the Lib Dems took a hammering in this month's elections, in every part of the UK, is because there is no extra parliamentary Campaign for Liberalism and Democracy that fundamentalists can support and campaign for as an alternative ideal out with the party's practicalities!

Plaid Cymru's period in government was partially similar to that being endured by the Liberal Democrats. On Language issues campaigners could keep their purity by supporting Cymdeithas yr Iaith's protests about the Welsh Language Measure, Welsh Language provision in Further and Higher Education etc, but on the wider nationalist issues there was nowhere for us to express our purity whilst accepting the compromises of government.

In every election that I can remember (1970 Westminster is my earliest) Plaid has said This election isn't about independence it's about XYZ, each time it has been truthful, the problem is that Plaid has done nothing since 1970 to ensure that the next election "IS" about independence, and it will not do so unless there is a non party Campaign for Independence, that puts independence on the political agenda!

9 comments:

  1. I agree - we needed to be quietish about independence until after we secured the powers referendum. Now that is done we need to push for our final destination - Independence.

    Some of my views are here:
    http://actofdisunion.blogspot.com/

    Penddu

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  2. Hi Alwyn,

    I did email you and would be interested in getting involved in a thinktank/campaigning organisation.

    Marcus

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  3. Agree 100%. About time we took on the unionists full on and point out the fact that Wales is in the Economic and Social mess because of the disastrous South East of England centric policies imposed by Westminster.
    Alex Salmond will take Scotland from strength to strength and highlight the advantages of Independence. Bring it on!

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  4. "Fantasy" I seem to remember a similar comment made about the potential for Welsh devolution not that long ago.
    We shall see!

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  5. You obviously do not know the difference between independence and devolution.

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  6. I do, but its almost impossible to explain to someone conditioned to be subservient.

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  7. I totally agree with you about the independence issue. But I much prefer to use 'British nationalists' rather than the more fluffy 'unionists'. British nationalism is a much more loaded and, frankly, negative construct and Plaid Cymru needs to explain and confront it.

    Plaid members, of course, overwhelmingly want independence. I believe the party's problem lies with a few British devolutionists in Cardiff Bay. Fortunately, the SNP's success forces it on our agenda, whether AMs like it or not. Historically, both parties have often worked symbiotically, the one kick-starting the other. Roll on the slippery slope!

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  8. "Plaid members, of course, overwhelmingly want independence." Are you sure? I don't believe so. Leaving the members aside, Plaid Cymru voters want Welsh interests not to be forghotten by London.

    If you want independence, set up your own group, turn it into a Party fighting for independence in ther course of time, and try for a local council seat (Glan Conwy?) in 2020, then an Assembly seat in 2019, then for a Westminster seat in 2020. By 2100, there may be a slim majority of the new party interested in independedence. By then Lord Alwyn OBE (Lord Alwynne Hughes) may have changed his mind and opted for thorough integration with the United Kingdom of England and Ireland and a seat in the House of Lords.

    The journey is a long one. Prepare for a couple of centuries of work, sabotaged by Plaid members. Good luck!

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