A Question of Allegiance

Allegiance implies responsibility as well as commitment. For many years the people of Wales in general gave their allegiance wholeheartedly to Labour, the political party which grew out of, and thrived in, the conditions of the great majority of Welsh people, who toiled for their mine-owning masters in the valleys and in the slate industry of the North. Apart from that, the egalitarian culture of the nation based on the co-operative and communal nature of society readily lent itself to the socialist movement as it gained more adherents at the beginning of the last century. Thus, Wales rapidly assumed the colour of the dragon and a donkey with a red rosette would have found its way to Westminster.

There was, however, an underlying resentment over the fact that Wales was controlled and dominated by England, while the English regarded Wales as a thorn in its side. The English attitude to the people of Wales had been droll at the least, and was expressed in quite derogatory terms, as in the saying “Taffy was a Welshman, Taffy was a thief….”
As a result Welsh society, which by now suffered from an inferiority complex, drew in upon itself and subconsciously expressed its defiance in song and religion, and a strongly-held attachment to the language. The time had come for the people of Wales to express their separate identity and for nationalistic tendencies to arise and become an integral part of the political spectrum.

This is the situation at the beginning of the 21^st century. Plaid Cymru has matured politically and is a force to be reckoned with. People are even considering switching their allegiances, just as they switch from one power supplier to another. United we stand. Without this unity we fall. Allowing for the fact that there are many views and opinions we cannot create a party for each. Plaid is the umbrella for all progressive views. Leaving politics aside, the aim is the creation of a better Wales, which benefits the people as a whole, and keeps Wales together as a nation. Plaid remains the only party which steadfastly works for freedom and home rule. Let us restore to Wales that sense of community and egalitarianism, and revive our distinctive culture in all areas of Wales, eradicating the worst of the foreign influences and incursions. Let y dddraig goch be flown in every place to show our intentions are serious. We need to step up the profile, and keep it at the forefront of public attention.

Alan in Dyfed