ABP

- Conference debat -

Plaid Cymru leadership candidate under fire for claiming UK is now a pretence of a State

Plaid Cymru leadership candidate under fire for claiming UK is now "a pretence of a State".

Par Claude Guillemain pour Réseau des Bretons de l'Etranger - RBE - le 26/10/11 10:30

Political opponents have rounded on Plaid Cymru leadership contender Elin Jones after she described the United Kingdom as “a pretence of a State”.

Elin Jones, the former Rural Affairs Minister made the comment during a speech she gave to the SNP conference in Inverness.

Mrs Jones and former National Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas are the two declared candidates so far in a party leadership contest that will take place in the New Year.

Looking forward to the prospect of a Yes vote in a Scottish referendum on independence that the SNP Government has promised to hold before 2016, Ms Jones told conference delegates: “As you, in the SNP and in Scotland, consider the real possibility of creating an independent Scotland, we are left to consider what would be left.

“A UK Government governing all English matters, and only some Welsh matters and even less Northern Irish matters. It is now time for a serious debate on the future constitutional relationship of the countries of the British islands. It is time to debate equality, not subservience and dependence. To us, the UK is currently a pretence of a state. After a Yes vote in your referendum, it could no longer pretend to anyone, not even itself.”

During her speech, Mrs Jones told the audience that at its own recent conference, members of Plaid had made it clear their aim was for an independent Wales within the EU.

Andrew RT Davies, the Welsh Conservative leader at the National Assembly, said: “As someone who aspires to be her party's next leader, Elin Jones wants to cut Wales off from the rest of the UK instead of ensuring it plays a full and active part in the Union.

“At a time of uncertainty in the world economy, the inter-dependence of the four nations of the UK is vital in providing strength and security, and in creating the right conditions for economic growth, investment and prosperity.

“Simply – when Plaid talk about money, the UK becomes important. When they revert back to type, it becomes insignificant.

Ken Skates, Clwyd South Labour AM, said: “It's quite clear from Elin Jones' comments that she is happy to settle back into Plaid's comfort zone and play to the nationalist base during this leadership election.

Mrs Jones said her opponents were missing the point: “If there is a Yes vote in the Scottish referendum on independence, the UK would simply no longer exist,” she said.

“I believe it is important that we have a proper debate in Wales about what kind of new relationships would exist between the countries that are currently in the UK. What would be left would be a constitutional hotchpotch.

“We need to face up to the fact that things are going to be changed forever, and debate the options for Wales. What happens in Scotland will affect Wales, and it makes no sense for Unionist politicians to put their heads in the sand…

“Whatever constitutional arrangements there will be in future, there will continue to be close ties between the countries of our islands. I will be arguing for an independent Wales without restrictions on the movement of people or trade between the countries of what is now the UK.”

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