The Welsh Road to Ecosocialism
.Mo
Within Plaid we have a tension. While there are perfectly competent Ecosocialust here and a long honourable tradition of community activity in individuals such as Leanne Wood and Bethan Sayeed there is within Plaid a long tradition of Social Conservatism. This can be essentially seen in what I would call the Neil MeEvoy Syndrome. Here we see an essentially unreconstructed
I joined Labour some years ago largely because it seems to me the best party to develop an Ecosocialust teach in in an Eco Socialist Wales. Mark Drakefords commitment to Socialism. The role of Momentum and Welsh Labour Grass roots make this transformation possible. I feel at home within this tradition and have found many former Green Party and Plaid Ecosocialists there. There is a commitment to diversity and multiple identities there . The emergence of Jeremy Corbyn and alternative non capitalist policies all create the circumstances and policies to make Labour the best means for creating a Welsh Ecosocialust tradition,. This would involve new models of ownership, and an open tolerant and diverse Wales. It may well be that Ecosocialists from within Plaid like Leanne Wood and Bethan Sayeed would feed radical ideas into an Ecosocialust Welsh Labour. It would also offer the capacity of those Ecosocialst from the Green Party to influence and provide ideas for the future. The road to Welsh Ecosocialusm is near but the road is still a long and winding one. These thoughts run through my mind and I am a commited Welsh Republican Socialist of some 61 years of age. I look forward to the future of the Welsh people and the Welsh nation. There is much to do and the dogs of reaction are barking and yet my mind is clear as is the method and direction of a new Wales that is socialist, tolerant, green and diverse...
Psychological response to militarry occupation
My reaction to the events of July 1969 were the origin of my commitment to an Independent Welsh Socialist Republic. Some fifty years later as July 2019 approaches I find myself a Welsh Republican Socialist fully aware of my beliefs and outlook. The Welsh Socialist Republican tradition is spread between many parties in Wales . I find it articulated clearly and forcefully in this Julys copy of `Liberation`. The magazine brings together all of the necessary themes.
The sheer size of the castle in Caernarvon brings home the reality of military occupation. It was 750 years ago yet you still realize how the domination of the town and the port shows how thoroughly the area was garrisoned. The castles of Edward 1 at Harlech, Caernarvon Beaumaris, Conway show the iron heel of the Anglo Norman state across north Wales.
It was this Anglo Norman state that learnt the model that made Wales the first colony, the model that would be used in Ireland and in Sicily. In the castle of Caernarvon on a gigantic Chess board are the figures of the conquest. The largest is Edward Longshanks himself brooding, in control and dominating all the others. I saw further evidence the line of the princes of Wales from imagination, through Vortigen created, constructed, the mysterious gap from the last Welsh ruler to the present Saxe-Coberg- Gothas claiming the title. There were films of previous Investitures from 1911 and 1969. Each gave lip service to the Welsh identity but each slammed the boot of the English state both consciously and consciously on the Welsh identity. culture.
It was a military occupation first and foremost and brought home to me even more powerfully than before of this process. One branch of my family comes from North Wales and I have always been aware of how the Arthurian legends come from Wales, from Brittany and of how the Imagination form the base of so much of the borrowed, purloined culture of the Anglo Norman state. A returning Arthur would have by definition opposed them, and would have created an Celtic faith far different from the patriarchal war processing state that the Anglo Normans imposed. Yet this was something I realized much later.
In Carnarvon some years ago passed a book shop where I see in the window a book by Gideon Brough called” The rise and Fall of Owain Glyn Dwr. The book is very important. It stresses the Welsh revolt here as an important part of the Hundreds Year war. For too long this revolt was seen as a sub plot of a rebellion by an obscure Welshman against the King. Brough sees this campaign as part of a wider European war. He stresses the role of Glyn Dwr not only as a soldier but also as a thinker and as an administrator. He stresses the role of a separate rebel state in terms of law and administration and recognizes its value to a sense of Welsh identity.
Glyn Dwr brought down the Edwardian state in Wales, he had real roots in the Welsh population. We cannot claim him as the founder of a modern Welsh nationalist identity but we can rescue him from obscurity and denial. They never told me about him at Prep School I just heard of the Edwardian conquest. They never told me of Hywell Dda, of Gruffudd Ap Llywelyn, and of the knowledge, culture and learning within Wales prior to the building of Caernarvon and the Anglo Norman occupation.
So,me personal reflections on Welsh Labour
Thiis is my response and form a reflection on the previos speculations. the Labour party conference
that I have ever attended. I have been going to political conferences over 30
years and this was the most challenging, intriguing and frustrating one that I
have experienced. I learned a great deal and have gained a great deal of
understanding of both the angels and the demons of the Welsh Labour Party. In
addition, I learned a great deal about the constitution, the nature of debate
and of the Labyrinthine forms of political activity and approach.
I attended workshops on the following topics:
1.
The
effect of Brexit on the concept of political identity and being Welsh, British
or English. This was a fascinating presentation provided by Cardiff University
Political Election Unit. It clearly showed the effects and social outlook of
each political party and the challenge ahead in Wales for the Labour party in
the assembly elections of 2021. It is quite clear that while Labour have great strengths
in certain area that there is a vulnerability that need to be overcome.
2.
I
attended a workshop run by Stuart Olwady on the use of the campaign app for
canvasing. This was a first class workshop that enables us to understand voting
behaviour over a long period of time in a particular area. This will be an
essential tool that I will teach to both my local Ward Party and if required to
the CLP. The app is valuable yet need a lot of work doing on it for people like
myself who are partially sighted.
3.
The
highlight of the conference was Jeremy Corbyn`s speech on the Saturday
afternoon. He clearly demonstrated that he understood that there is a Welsh
Labour tradition and beautifly quoted the Welsh poet Idris Davis. On the
Saturday night I attended the rally at which Mark Drakeford, Mike Hedges, Meke
Antoniw, Joe Tomas and Shawanah Tag spoke. This was a well-attended meeting and
the topics raised clearly showed the strengths and the weaknesses of Welsh
Labour that we must attend to. Once more the issues of winning of 2021 were
particularly stressed and considered. Joe Tomas`s account of her campaign as
PPS were particularly fascinating showing how Labour could reach votes in a
rural area and was particularly relevant for us here in Brecon and Radner.
Shawanah Tag`s observations were very relevant concerning the lack of diversity
within Welsh Labour Party and she clearly indicated how Plaid Cymru had already
stolen a march on Labour in terms of its appreciation of the multi-ethnic
nature of the Welsh people.
4.
In
many respects the conference allowed me to pick people that I have known in
various political incarnations over the last 40 years. I enjoyed meeting former
political adversaries and former political friends in the same political party.
The conference as a whole had a feeling of coming home for the first time but
always knowing that place.
5.
The
major criticism I have that I felt that there was an inbuilt majority within
the delegates who always voted with the recommendations of the Welsh Labour
Party executive. It is quite clear that Welsh Labour has a long way to go in
being responsive to both the activists and the need to become a mass Party that
response clearly to its ordinary members.
6.
The
Party has a long way to go on understanding the real nature of a sustainable
and green Wales. I was repulsed when on the second page of the conference booklet
that there was an advertisement trumpeting the value to Wales of aviation
expansion at Heathrow airport. This is just not compatible with the Welsh
Labour assembly government declearing a climate change emergency within Wales.
I was delighted that Wic Grout reminded the conference that to really deal with
climate change that we must stop eating meet, stop flying and end capitalism.
There is a long way to go within Welsh Labour to appreciate what Eco socialism
is really about. It was particularly disappointing that one speaker in the
motion of the small hill farms felt that the consumption of the meet was an
issue for a few hundred years to come and not in the present.
7.
The
rejection of the motion of Autism was depressing and followed the usual pattern
of rejection all motions not supported by the Welsh Labour Party executive.
8.
As
a national executive member of Disability member I would like to point out that
very little assistance was given for those of us with sight issues. Despite
indicating the nature of my disability larger text was not provided and there
were significant issues in access for those with mobility problems. It is
essential that some serious consideration be given in future. Disability Labour
have now affiliated to the Welsh Labour Party and this will enable a more
direct route to challenge these problems.
9.
The
best bit of the whole conference was seeing the red flag at the end of
conference. It is something I have always wanted to do and lifted my spirits
very powerfully. It was quite poignant that conference was held in Llandudnu.
Last time I was here some fifty years ago I was with my grandfather who I
realize was most influential in developing my appreciation and my love and
understanding of socialism. So I will always remember the conference form
better practical and emotional learning experience.
10. A Party political conference offers his delegates the
change to experience the Id, the Shadow and the Persona of the political party
that you belong to. It is important to appreciate all of these aspects and
understanding to participate, contribute and to develop your own role as a
delegate and activist within the party. I was untypically nervous when
considering speaking in public and this is rather unusual for me. I suspect
that I could have learned far more had I appreciated exactly how Welsh Labour
Party works and its organized.
The Seren Werdd declaration....
We seek to create a socialist and green Wales. A Wales where power is devolved to the lowest possible administrative unit. A Wales where its people are aware of it culture, history and language and which is fully bilingual and multi cultural. A Wales that supports workers rights, public services and a comprehensive welfare system. A Wales that protects the rights of animals to be free from exploitation. We are opposed to Nuclear Power and seek a Wales powered by renewables that are owned by the communities of Wales. We seek a Wales that is a non-aligned, neutral republic and which is free from the arms industry”.
Thank you for your insights. Very helpful and informative article for Welsh Labour members and others.
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