Tuesday 29 June 2010

English and Northern Ireland Allies?

I think the people at Wales Home are deliberately provoking controversy. Firstly we had a hagiographical portraits of several AM’s, starting with Lyne Neagle by someone under the pseudonym Willy Nilly , and now we have an article by Robin Tilbrook, the Chairman and a founding member of the English Democrats bemoaning Plaid Cymru for its apparent lack of support for an English parliament.


I don’t know what Plaid’s policy towards an English Parliament is or whether they would prefer devolving power to the English regions, and of course in any of these the question of Cornwall remains. But I suspect that Plaid would not seek to support a party that advocates leaving the EU and claims part of Wales (Monmouthshire) for England to the extent they propose standing in the Assembly elections on this issue.

It would be interesting if there was a moderate (and I don’t even mean left leaning) Party advocating an English parliament but at this moment in time. Plaid should concentrate or furthering its links with the Greens in England.

However a more interesting problem occurred to me with regarding Northern Ireland. The SDLP seem to be the natural partners of Plaid and the SNP but they remain linked to the Unionist Labour Party. So is there another Party in NI. that they could embrace.

The Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) does lean to the left and I’m sure most Plaid supporters would agree with much of their social Policy but its very Unionism and it ties to Loyalist Paramilitaries probably exclude them. Bur what would the reaction be if they applied to join the European Free Alliance (EFA)?

Or if somehow there was a non-sectarian left leaning Ulster National Party advocating Independence of both the UK and the Irish Republic. The EFA would surely have to consider this. After all the fact that Ireland is an Island does not necessitate it should be united.

This of course is probably just fantasy but we should consider it in order to understand our own position

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"I don’t know what Plaid’s policy towards an English Parliament is or whether they would prefer devolving power to the English regions..."

I don't know why anyone thinks it's anyone's business except England's.

glynbeddau said...

"I don't know why anyone thinks it's anyone's business except England's."

But it’s an article by the English Democrats asking about Plaid's position. Which started this?

Anonymous said...

The Scottlish National Party support an English Parliament.

Do some research !!!!

glynbeddau said...

I made no comment on the SNP policy but anyway it isn't really relevent in this context with regards theEnglish Democtat post on Wales Home and Plaid's attitude towards an English Parliament.