Less than a year ago I was out campaigning for a 'Remain' vote in the
referendum in Aberystwyth. Every time I was in the company of Plaid Cymru activists.
In that campaign we were comrades.
For many years the Plaid Cymru refrain has been: "an independent nation
within the European Union" (2015 manifesto). No such phrase appears in
this election's Plaid Cymru manifesto.
Leanne Wood's introduction to the Plaid Cymru Manifesto does not mention
Europe. Mark Williams is the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, his first words:
"The key issue – leaving our 27 partner countries in Europe – will affect us and the lives of your and my children for decades to come."
"The key issue – leaving our 27 partner countries in Europe – will affect us and the lives of your and my children for decades to come."
The Plaid website quotes leader Leanne Wood: “it is time ... to move beyond the
referendum”.
The very first section of the Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto:
"We passionately believe that Britain’s relationship with its neighbours is stronger as part of the European Union."
"We passionately believe that Britain’s relationship with its neighbours is stronger as part of the European Union."
The Liberal Democrats promise to fight an extreme
Brexit.
Nowhere in the Plaid Cymru manifesto are there similar clear restatements
of a belief that the UK, or an independent Wales, should be a member of the
European Union. It dispenses with the long used mention of Wales independent in
the EU. The first mention of Europe is on page 6: "Demanding that
every single penny we lose from Europe is replaced by Westminster." That
isn't fighting extreme Brexit, that's accepting Brexit and asking for
compensation.
It's true that: "ensure that Wales can continue to buy
and sell to Europe without any costly barriers" may be a call for a softer
Brexit, but why not just use the Welsh Liberal Democrat formula: "maintain membership of the Single Market"?
The answer is that Plaid Cymru do not even want to be part of the Single Market. (Despite a confusing page and a petition on their website.) Leanne Wood said in the ITV debate on 17 May when confirming opposition to referendum on the 'deal':
"at that that point in time we were still putting the case for wales to remain as a member of the single market to protect those jobs, we accept that things have moved on as they do in politics"
I think it was innacurate and unfair to describe Plaid Cymru's position as favouring an "extreme Brexit", as a recent Welsh Liberal Democrat leaflet and facebook ad. stated. However the facebook ad. was absolutely truthful in saying that Plaid Cymru was not fighting to stay in the Single Market.
It is also obvious that Plaid Cymru do not support the most moderate Brexit possible. That would be full membership of the EEA and the Single Market. Those are clearly options a UK government could pursue, Plaid Cymru clearly favours a more extreme Brexit than the most moderate available, the Norway option. Why?
The answer is that Plaid Cymru do not even want to be part of the Single Market. (Despite a confusing page and a petition on their website.) Leanne Wood said in the ITV debate on 17 May when confirming opposition to referendum on the 'deal':
"at that that point in time we were still putting the case for wales to remain as a member of the single market to protect those jobs, we accept that things have moved on as they do in politics"
I think it was innacurate and unfair to describe Plaid Cymru's position as favouring an "extreme Brexit", as a recent Welsh Liberal Democrat leaflet and facebook ad. stated. However the facebook ad. was absolutely truthful in saying that Plaid Cymru was not fighting to stay in the Single Market.
It is also obvious that Plaid Cymru do not support the most moderate Brexit possible. That would be full membership of the EEA and the Single Market. Those are clearly options a UK government could pursue, Plaid Cymru clearly favours a more extreme Brexit than the most moderate available, the Norway option. Why?
Welsh Liberal Democrats restate their belief in the
European Union and Britain's place in it. Plaid Cymru do not. They certainly
don’t offer a chance for the people to chose fight Brexit itself:
"we will put that deal to a vote of the British people in a
referendum, with staying in the EU as the alternative option on the ballot
paper. We continue to believe that, for the UK, there is no deal outside the EU
as good as the arrangements it already has as a member."
At a personal level I’m surprised and disappointed, I have seen Plaid Cymru
as a liberal outward looking internationalist nationalist party. I know many of
its activists to genuinely have those characteristics. Some liberal
friends have always said, ‘don’t be fooled, you can’t be an internationalist
nationalist!'
Perhaps they were right. My sense is that Plaid Cymru is seeking to co-opt those who voted last year for a form of British national independence to the Welsh equivalent.
European unity does not fit that mindset and the nature of national identity politics.
Perhaps they were right. My sense is that Plaid Cymru is seeking to co-opt those who voted last year for a form of British national independence to the Welsh equivalent.
European unity does not fit that mindset and the nature of national identity politics.
