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Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales
Celebrities back boycott of royal Welsh visit
Two Plaid Cymru Assembly Members have received celebrity support for their boycott of the royal visit to Wales. Poets, writers and entertainers including Benjamin Zephaniah, Polly Toynbee, Peter Tatchell, Catrin Dafydd and Clare Rayner have offered their support to Plaid Assembly Members Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins, who are visiting homelessness projects instead of attending the royal opening of the Welsh Assembly.
Plaid's Bethan Jenkins AM added:
"As a Welsh person, I do not see how the Monarchy is relevant to my everyday life, and to my generation. Of course, people are free to their opinion in support of the Monarchy, but I am equally free to criticise what I believe is an indefensible, undemocratic system.
"I want to create a truly democratic society, where inheriting power and privilege is consigned to the history books. Most of our European neighbours have successful democratic republics, and every new democracy that has emerged over the past thirty years has chosen to be a republic. There is nothing taboo or radical about being a republican in the 21st Century."
Plaid's Leanne Wood AM, a former probation worker and lecturer in social work, commented:
"I have held my republican views all my life like many of the well known names who have written with their support. The royal family are irrelevant to the people of Wales and so there should be no need to have a royal opening of the third assembly. My allegiance is to my constituents and the people of Wales, not to the monarchy."
"There are people on both sides of this debate with strong views. I respect the views of both those who support the monarchy and those who don't. Debate on this issue is long overdue. I disagree with an unelected head of state, so I don't feel I can attend the event at the Assembly. I look forward to the day when Wales is a republic and we can hold events like this without a royal presence."
Diwedd / Ends Notes to Editors
1) Celebrity quotes in support of Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood's stance:
Benjamin Zephaniah- Poet and Republican. He refused to accept an OBE: -
'I am proud of Wales, and I'm not even Welsh. Every time I cross a border I'm aware that I'm in a different Country, and that I am among people that have a strong sense of identity. I can't see what the monarchy has to do with that identity. I'm convinced the Welsh have the intelligence and confidence to look after themselves. The monarchy is simply out dated for the Welsh, and for everyone.'
Polly Toynbee- Columnist for The Guardian and The New Statesman: -
'Let's declare Queen Elizabeth as Elizabeth the Last, and never again a Prince of Wales. Its time modern parliaments and assemblies let go of the feudal past'.
Human rights campaigner and Green Party parliamentary candidate Peter Tatchell: -
"Congratulations to Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood on their inspiring stand in support of an elected head of state. Monarchy is incompatible with democracy. It is based on inherited power, wealth, influence and status - not on merit or public consent. Monarchs get the job for life, no matter how appallingly they behave. Imagine having to put up with a king like the insensitive, gaffe-prone Prince Philip. The alternative to royalty is not an all-powerful US-style president. We could have a low-cost, purely ceremonial elected president, like the Germans and Irish. This would ensure that the people are sovereign, not the royals. It would give us an important safeguard: if we don't like our head of state, we can elect a new one."
Catrin Dafydd, Author:
"The concept of inviting another country's monarchy to offer its seal of approval on political arrangements in Wales is alien to me. It's the people of Wales's seal of approval that matters. The monarchy is undemocratic and is a symbol of social injustice and a pervasive class system that divides rich and poor - it's about time to change that system. This is Wales's chance to do things differently".
Republic - campaign organisation:
"A hereditary head of state has no place at the opening of the new session of the Welsh Assembly. The Assembly is a democratic institution, the members of which have been chosen by the people of Wales. The Queen represents the worst, least democratic part of our constitution. Republic welcomes the boycott of the opening by Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins and hopes that in future significant events in the Assembly there will be opportunities to celebrate Welsh democracy, not to remind the people that they are subjects of the Crown."
Eurig Salisbury, Poet: -
"It's about time for someone in Wales with some guts to remind the Welsh that subservience does not play a part in the new political culture that we have in Wales!"
Roy Greenslade, Professor of journalism, City University, London:
'Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins represent the future of their country. In refusing to attend the Queen's opening of the new session of the Welsh Assembly, they remind the Welsh people that monarchy is an outmoded institution. It is irrelevant to the lives of people in the 21st century who seek to be citizens within a democracy with a proper constitution. Of course, it is an even greater insult to the Welsh people when that monarch happens to be foreign. So I offer my unequivocal support to Leanne and Bethan in staging their boycott. It is in the very best traditions of republicanism'.
Clare Rayner-Broadcaster, Novelist and Journalist
'I heartedly support the Welsh Assembly two who are standing for nearly half of the population of the UK who want to be citizens of their country not subjects of a Monarch. More power to their elbows- as much as they need to convince their colleagues in the Assembly to give some real thought to the issues surrounding the existence of a Monarchy, rather than the all too common knee jerk reaction that regards a visit from the Monarch as something important. If she had been an elected Head of State it would be different. But she most certainly is not!'
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Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales
Enwogion yn cefnogi boicot ymweliad Brenhinol i Gymru
Mae dwy Aelod Cynulliad wedi derbyn cefnogaeth enwogion am foicotio ymweliad Brenhinol i Gymru. Mae Beirdd, awduron a newyddiaduron gan gynnwys Benjamin Zephaniah, Polly Toynbee, Peter Tatchell, Catrin Dafydd a Clare Rayner wedi estyn eu cefnogaeth i Aelodau Cynulliad Plaid Cymru, Leanne Wood and Bethan Jenkins, sydd wedi penderfynnu ymweld ag elusennau i’r digatref yn lle mynychu’r seremoni brenhinol o agoriad y Senedd.
Dywedodd Bethan Jenkins AC Plaid:
"Fel Cymraes, nid yw’r Brenhiniaeth yn berthnasol i mi yn fy mywyd pob dydd, na chwaith i bobl o’r un genhedlaeth a mi. Wrth gwrs mae gan bobl yr hawl i gefnogi’r Frenhiniaeth, ond ar y llawr arall, mae gen i yr hawl i feirniadu system sydd yn fy marn i yn anemocrataidd ac yn anniffinadwy."
Dywedodd Leanne Wood AC Plaid, a chyn darlithydd mewn astudiaethau cymdeithasol:
"Rwyf wedi bod yn Weriniaethwr erioed, fel nifer o’r pobl enwog hynny sydd wedi ysgrifennu i ni yn cefnogi ein safiad. Mae’r teulu Brenhinol yn amherthnasol i bobl Cymru, ac felly ni ddylai’r Senedd cael agoriad Brenhinol. Rwyf yn deyrngar i bobl yn fy etholaeth, ac i bobl Cymru, nid i’r Frenhiniaeth."
"Mae pobl ar ddwy ochr y drafodaeth sydd รข barn cryf am hyn. Rwyf yn parchu barn y dwy ochr- y rhai sydd yn erbyn y Frenhiniaeth, a’r rhai sydd yn ei gefnogi. Mae angen trafodaeth ar y mater hwn. Rwyf yn anghytuno a’r cysyniad o Bennaeth Gwladwriaeth nad sydd wedi cael eu hethol. Rwyf yn aros am y dydd pan fydd Cymru yn Weriniaeth, lle medrwn gynnal digwyddiadau fel hwn heb bresenoldeb y teulu Brenhinol."
16 comments:
Hope all the Ams visit a project near homes that day
It is very me,me and me...
Remember many of your constituents who voted for you DO want a monarchy, was your republican views in ANY of your election material?
Your entitled to your opinion, marcusian but I will disagree!
I have expressed my opinion that I am a Republican on numerous occasions, as I have done on this blog. Incidentally, it was totally ignored at the time! It seems people are jumping on bandwagons.
You are a fan of John Griffiths and Paul Flynn who are both well known Republicans, remember.
Both those men are republicans of course, but both those men are aware they are still servants of the crown. You KNEW pre election what you would be elected to, your reaction reeks of a stunt now...If you dont like the institutions links to the monarchy, dont accept the job as an AM...its hardly a secret is it?
Well sorry, I don't see why I shouldn't take on the position as an AM for that reason! Surely, If I intend to campaign on issues of importance such as republicanism then we should be able to do so though democracic channels such as the Assembly?
It is the duty of an AM to campaign on issues of importance, to change society, to scrutinise and to develop Wales. The Assembly should not be answerable to the Crown.
Monarchy sparks passionate views on both sides. I sit in the royalist camp for two reasons. Firstly, the institution of monarchy is an important link between the past and present and is therefore an important element of national Identity (well, for me at least and yes, I was originally from England!)
Secondly, I genuinely believe that a nation needs a figurehead that is above politics. Granted, our unwritten constitution means that, in theory Queenie could rule by dictat if she wanted to, but this is nothing that a written constitution could not sort out.
That said, I respect your view and the decision that you have taken and I would not expect a member of Plaid to buy into my unionist interpretation of the monarch's role.
Llongyfarchiadau Bethan. Ti wedi gwneud y dewis cywir. Mae yna resymau cenedlaetholgar cryf yn ogystal a rhai gweriniaethol dros dy safbwynt.
Marcusian, there is a superb post on "Wales - World Nation". A part of which I have copied below:
"The Finns have their own Finnish President to open their own Parliament. They do not call on the King of Sweden to do it, not because he is a King but because he is not Finnish.
Wales does not need a Foreign Monarch to open our Senedd. Just as everywhere else - one of our own can do it."
http://walesworldnation.welshblogs.co.uk/2007/06/royal_royal_visit.html
I think something like 80% of people want a monarchy. That means at least 20% don't. So to represent the population you could say that one fifth of AMs should boycott this pointless ceremonial occasion. So based on that out of 60 AMs, 12 should not go. So the view of republicans is grossly under represented.
As far as it goes with Leanne Wood, she has made no secret of her views regarding the monarchy. So, anyone voting Plaid was in little doubt. They either didn't care or accepted it. So taking Marcus' first argument she has a mandate to NOT attend.
Dennis Skinner always boycotts the Queen's Speech and stays in the commons. I don't think he regards himself of a "servant of the crown" even if technically that is the case. Tony Banks famously kept his fingers crossed when swearing the oath of allegence. Does Marcus think these two should not be MPs? If so then anti-monarchists would never be represented in democratic institutions.
Leftfield- that's the type of thing I was trying to say to marcus earlier, but I got caught up in the passion of the argument. You convey it much more effectively!
Dear Bethan Jenkins,Congratulations on your courageous boycott of the opening of the Seneddbuilding. Unlike others, who are republicans but hesitate to come out ofthe closet, you have put your anti-monarchical principles into practice.You deserve the admiration and support of all those who believe thatdemocracy should not stop at the door of Buckingham Palace but shouldinclude the election of Britain's head of state.Best wishes,Piers Brendon- Lecuturer at cambridge University and author.
another quote of support from Hywel Griffiths who won the Urdd Eisteddfod Chair last week:
Rwyf yn gyfan gwbwl gefnogol o benderfyniad Bethan Jenkina a Leanne Wood i beidio mynychu seremoni agoriadol 3ydd Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru. Mae'n wych fod gan aelodau o Blaid Cymru yr ewyllys a'r dewrder i ymwrthod a'r fath wasaidd- dra dipwrpas.
I wholeheartedly support Bethan Jenkins and Leanne Wood's decision not to attend the opening of the 3rd National Assembly. It's great that members of Plaid Cymru have the resolve and strength to stand up to such an unnecessary system.
As a republican, I have no problem with Mrs Windsor, as she does stirling job in very difficult circumstances and is frankly amazing for her age. I also have no problem with the cost issue, as I do accept the argument that the Royals more than cover that cost in added tourism.
I'm just a simple soul who has a fundamental problem with someone being born to be a head of state. I particularly object to there being a Prince of Wales when he has nothing to do with Wales and is again born into a title, that was invented to subjugate Wales in the first place. Again, he seems a nice enough bloke, but why can't we choose a head of state?
It doesn't have to be a politician and it could be for a fixed term. They could represent our nation (sorry, Principality so as not to upset the Lib Dems) on the world stage without any regal trappings, along the lines of the Irish President.
I hope that the Windsors do not find my views offensive as it's not personal, but they are a historical hangover of a former empire and need and deserve a respectful and dignified retirement. It can't be much fun having your every breath judged from birth til death.
Bethan.
I respect you and Leanne's right to your republican point of view. However do you imply that other AMs who are republican are hypocrites for attending the opening.
I am neither a republican or a monarchist. I would rather think of myself as a democrat. Who believes that the people should decide the type of polity that governs them.
Quite frankly Peter Tatchell's comment that he would prefer a German styled president (a ceremonial type) rather than a "all powerful US style one" as rather waste of a election and naive. Anyhow It was that type of president that let Hitler in. (parliamentary dictatorship)) I think the US constitution is the soundest one. Sorry to be so long winded! with its separation of powers.
Unless you are a followers of Colonel Qaddafi's type of "socialism"
Even though I am a Welsh Labour supporter, I think it is good to see that at least two AMs willing to stand up for republicanism and against the out of date monarchy, even though I may not agree on exactly why you are doing it, I still think that it is good on you and Leanne for doing it, and sticking by your principles.
as a monarchist I object to the queen of england opening the welsh assembly. I also object to her son being referred to as the prince of wales.
I am sure we would not have to much difficulty finding a royal family of our own that could operate in the modest way of the spanish monarchy or other modern european monarchies.
I see that peter hain,Secretary of state for Wales, recently apologised for the role of welsh people in the slave trade.As technically he is the Queens Secretary of state perhaps he could apologise on her behalf for the role her relatives played in the murder of the, various, welsh royal families:)
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