It is time for Plaid to re-evaluate its whole approach to Welsh politics as well as the leadership of the party. More than a year ago this blog warned against Plaid continuing its association with Labour in the One Wales Agreement. It has served its purpose by delivering the Referendum. Now there is no benefit in associating with unionist parties. They do not share the vision of Cymru Fydd. They rigidly adhere to the status quo and the perpetuation of the Union.
So now the time has come to strike out for core principles and go it alone, free from tainted association with parties that have Britain's interests in mind but not the interests of Wales. It falls to Scotland to lead the way, which Alex Salmond and the SNP does admirably. They demonstrably have at heart the interests of the Scottish people and the future of Scotland is safe in their hands and seen to be so. This is what accounts for the massive landslide towards the SNP and assures the party of majority government for the next five years.
Plaid needs to nail its colours to the mast, as the SNP has done, and prove to the people of Wales that it is not a prop to Labour but an independent force to be reckoned with. It needs to show that it fully represents the people of Wales and their aspirations, socially, economically and constitutionally. It needs to look to Scotland for lessons on how to lead and conduct its campaigns.
The only thing that really differentiates Plaid from Welsh Labour is the question of independence. Apart from that their social and economic policies and their progressive stance are virtually identical. Therefore, why should Welsh people vote for Plaid if they have no concern about independence? Those who are content for Wales to remain part of the Union will be inclined to vote Labour.
The key difference is independence. Plaid Cymru should proclaim its affirmation of the aim of independence and not hide away from or ignore this salient fact.
After all, it is the reason and sine qua non of why the party was founded in the first place!
Further Comment
Opposition voices to the SNP victory in Scotland are pushing Alex Salmond to hold a referendum on independence as soon as possible. The reason is that if it were held now a vote in favour of independence most likely would not succeed. Alex is too canny a politician to fall for that.....
2 comments:
There is anorther approach possible. Maybe the way ahead is for Plaid Cymru not to contest Assembly elections in the future, only fighting Westminster elections as Gwynfor did so well.
We would then see IWJ standing (and winning) as a Welsh Conservative Assembly Member on Anglesey, Leanne Wood standing (and winning)as a Welsh Labour Candidate, with Dafydd Elis-Thomas a Conservative, Mary Helen a Labour, and so on. It doesn't take much brain power to work out where each Plaid AM and prospective AM would fit. Then, working inside the system, instead of acting as a permanent party of protest, they would be elected to power and implement nationalist politics. The other parties, like Plaid itself, are broad coalitions and would have plenty of room for patriots of all colours.
What do you think?
Time is the problem in this scenario. It is another 4 years until the next General Election. Also they would lack crediblity if standing for another party. Sorry - it wouldn't work
Post a Comment