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What he said in January 2008......
What he said in January 2008......
Andy Newman: Some in the Labour party, and on the left of politics, criticise Plaid Cymru because they say that nationalist parties are divisive. Do you think there is any danger that the widespread acceptance of multi-culturalism in Britain could be weakened by an increased stress of Welsh, Scottish and English identity? Or can being Welsh be just as inclusive as being British?
Mohammad Asghar: Plaid Cymru is a party which welcomes all people of all nationalities and religions and is not divisive at all. Wales has a proud history of welcoming people of all races as our citizens, going back many years to the days when Cardiff was a thriving sea port. There are many people who have come to live in Wales who are very committed to Welsh culture and the Welsh language, as I am, and who are keen to play their full part in the life of our country. I am a Muslim and am proud to be Welsh.
Both PC and the SNP can claim to have selected the first Asian/Muslim representatives to the devolved legislatures though. I think an important point here is even if someone comes from either/both of these groups, it doesn't make them a good politician necessarily - e.g Mohammed Sarwar MP, Labour crook based in Glasgow. On the other hand, the SNP was lucky to have the late Bashir Ahmad, who was a genuinely pleasant and decent person that I had the privilege to meet in the Glasgow East run-up - he provided a decent counterpoint to the nutters who attacked Glasgow Airport. It's a shame that Ashgar couldn't be such a good ambassador for Welsh Muslims/Plaid etc.
South Wales Argus - The opponent of full Welsh independence told the Argus he had joined Plaid in 2000 as a way of getting into the 'political system' - with the hope he could change the party's policies from the inside. But yesterday, amid allegations from political opponents that he had 'jumped before he was pushed' to make way for Plaid MP Adam Price's goal of joining the Senedd as a list AM, the Pakistan-born politician said he had failed. He said he was “a little parrot in a jungle." John Dixon wrote: Should members who cross the floor resign? In principle, I think that they should. It's more obvious in the case of a list member than a constituency member, since the list election is based on voting for a party rather than an individual, but even at constituency level, the idea that people win because of who they are rather than the party which they represent is something of a convenient constitutional fiction. Che Grav-ara wrote: It is not an ideal situation and not one Plaid would have mapped out maybe, but I would imagine that Ieuan Wyn Jones and the rest of the Plaid leadership will actually look back at this with a wry smile brought about by good fortune. Gareth Hughes could very well be right to suggest that yesterday’s Tory crowing could be a blessing for Plaid. Dai Llwyd AM states: "We now call on Mohammad Asghar to take the honourable decision to resign his seat as a Plaid Cymru AM," Mr Lloyd said. "The people of the South Wales (East) region did not want a second Tory AM to represent the area - they elected a Plaid Cymru AM. "Mr Asghar does not have the political mandate to sit in the assembly as a Conservative member..." Comment: we know "Oscar" is a Muslim, but is he Welsh, English, British or Pakistani? We know he's not a socialist, and now he's not a Welsh nationalist but a British nationalist and a Tory. He was that all along, obviously, then infiltrated Plaid to change it from the inside (as he stated above). He did not succeed, but now that he is in the Tory camp does he intend to change it from the inside or is he now in his true element? |
Rhobert ap Steffan writes: I can smell a rat!
Comments:
I wholeheartedly agree with every word you wrote. I've always considered this proportional representation system to be nothing but 'nonsense' bewildering to the voter and as has been, sadly, demonstrated yesterday, a wonderful opportunity for unprincipled 'weasels' to use the system for their own ends. Its all very well for Plaid to demonstrate how politically correct and "progressive" it is, but, the hiarachy within the party really does need to investigate the political background and motives of their bed fellows much more carefully than they do at present.