Originally Posted by Northumbrian:
But the Welsh have their own language, and that is one of the criteria for nationhood.

Quick boy, run and tell the continental congress before they do something silly. :-)
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Originally Posted by Tom Wilde:
I know I shouldn't rise to it, but this is a bizarre assertion. If there was no Welsh nationalism before the 20th century, how do you explain for example the movement to colonize Patagonia in the 1860s?

Welsh settlement in Argentina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The romantic idea of Wales as a 'nation' only really took off in the past century; perhaps I should have said 'late 19th/early 20th century'.
The wikipedia source you quote itself says 'Michael D. Jones is recognised as the first to advocate a political solution to defending Welsh identity, and therefore is seen as one of the most significant forerunners of Welsh nationalism'.
So much for the 'ancient nation' of Wales if its 'most significant forerunner' died in 1898! The notion of welsh 'nationalism' was dreamt up as a political excuse for preserving the welsh language. There is absolutely no historical continuity between the 'nationalism' of the various bickering welsh tribes and princelings before the English conquest and that invented by people like Michael D. Jones. The Welsh 'nationalist' movement today indulges in a lot of flagrant historical revisionism in relation to this.

Of course, I'm don't object to the preservation of the Welsh language, but it's no reason to invent a 'nation' that never was.
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Originally Posted by Northumbrian:
But the Welsh have their own language, and that is one of the criteria for nationhood.

Yes - Cornwall also has its own language that no-one ever speaks. Just like Wales!
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Cornwall should have it's own Parliament as should England.
All the homes nations should have Parliaments with complete financial powers.
Yet all should contribute 5% of their GDP for Foreign Affairs and Defence to Westminster.
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Originally Posted by British-Conservatism:
Cornwall should have it's own Parliament as should England.
All the homes nations should have Parliaments with complete financial powers.
Yet all should contribute 5% of their GDP for Foreign Affairs and Defence to Westminster.

We need less politicians not more.
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Originally Posted by Charlemagne:
We need less politicians not more.

Strange you support the EU then.
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Originally Posted by British-Conservatism:
Strange you support the EU then.

Why? I believe in abolishing Westminster in favour of direct rule from Brussels.

Most of our laws come directly from there so that's where our elected representatives should be.
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Originally Posted by Charlemagne:
Why? I believe in abolishing Westminster in favour of direct rule from Brussels.

Most of our laws come directly from there so that's where our elected representatives should be.

Still would mean far more politicians under your system.
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Originally Posted by British-Conservatism:
Still would mean far more politicians under your system.

Why do you think we created the role of MEP? All MPs will eventually be phased out within 10-20 years. They will be replaced by MEPs who will report directly to Brussels thus conveniently bypassing Westminster.

I'm suprised you didn't know this.
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Originally Posted by Charlemagne:
Why do you think we created the role of MEP? All MPs will eventually be phased out within 10-20 years. They will be replaced by MEPs who will report directly to Brussels thus conveniently bypassing Westminster.

I'm suprised you didn't know this.

As I said we will have far more politicians under your system not less.
They will cost far more too.
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