Has Leighton Andrews fawned enough?
Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews is reported as demanding that Cambria’s ‘editor’ apologise for claiming that Rhondda schoolchildren were forced to turn out “North Korean-style” during a visit to the area by Prince William in May. Henry Jones Davies (Cambria’s publisher, not its editor as Andrews stated) made the remarks on BBC Wales’s Dragon’s Eye programme in June.
Andrews is quoted as saying: “This magazine is running a campaign to prevent Prince William being invested as Prince of Wales.” Not true. Certainly a report on the icambria weblog revealed a new PR offensive in Wales by the Royal Family’s spin-doctors, but the magazine has never covered the story. Out of this report grew a petition aimed at sending a ‘shot across the bows’ of the British establishment in the event that it was contemplating another investiture similar to the event staged in 1969 at the behest of the then Secretary of State for Wales, the egregious George Thomas. The ceremony was widely seen as part of a strategy to counter the rising tide of nationalism at the time.
Cambria’s publisher said today: “This is the typical sort of impudent response from a breed of London-centric politicians who fall over themselves in sycophantic frenzy to kow-tow to the British establishment whenever and wherever possible. Presumably they do so in the hope of being tossed some meaningless bauble of an honour when they have fawned enough.
They have little understanding of Welsh history and even less respect for it. Devolution is, as Ron Davies so rightly said, a process – not an event. The inexorable development of that process – now forging ahead – will lead, inevitably, to full self-government – independence – for Wales, and the attainment of a sovereignty which will belong to the Welsh nation and to it alone. Young people in Wales, and this will include, when they are old enough to speak for themselves, the young people of the Rhondda, are not remotely concerned with the trappings of monarchy and all the paraphernalia of patronage and condescension that goes with it. Their loyalty is to their country and they are becoming aware of a new reality: the bright future and the dignity that independence will bring.”
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Isn’t it just a tad condescending to speak for the young people of Rhondda before they are able to speak for themselves?
While we might hope they reject the baubles offered, sadly history suggests that there might be a few George Thomases among them, eager to be elevated to Tonypandys, who are only too willing to help run their country as a Principality.
This dreadful little man Andrews certainly makes my blood boil! It was he who cravenly attacked Leanne Wood when she objected to the english queen visiting the Assembly a few years ago. Why doesn’t he just go and camp out in front of Buckingham Palace until they throw him an OBE just to be rid of him. Welshman?…pah! He makes me sick.
Greetings Comrades
How dare Henry Jones-Davies compare the children of North Korea’s love for the Dear Leader Kim Jong-il with the ridiculous situation in Wales .
Korean children do not turn out to greet members of a royal family that invaded their nation as Leighton Andrews rightly has pointed out . Rather, the father of the Dear Leader , our eternal president Kim Jong-il defeated our invaders the Japanese !
Also, unlike your vulgar royalty, the Dear Leader wears practical modern clothing , he does not dress up like a Christmas tree weighed down with baubles.
We the people of North Korea send our fraternal greetings to our socialist comrades in the British Labour Party . We thank Leighton Andrews once again for correcting the lies spread in the Western Media by those who try to compare our socialist paradise with the pitiful situation in defeated Wales .
He does not need a knighthood from a German Queen as you suggest Henry Jones-Davies because unbeknown to you, he’s been awarded the Order of the Pink Freesia by the Dear Leader himself , the highest honour that North Korea can bestow on a foreigner !
Furthermore he has been made a freeman of Pyongyang and can walk the streets of our capital with his friend Chris Bryant , bayonets erect.
In fact during his clandestine visit here to receive his award, Mr. Andrews commentated on the advantages of having a dead man as the Head of State as we do in North Korea ‘If only’ he said ‘We had pickled Viscount Tonypandy we would have strong leadership in Wales now, unlike all the dead wood that surrounds me daily in Cardiff Bay’ .
Comrade Andrews and his wonderful wife the star of the anti imperialist epic The Sound of Music will always be welcomed on our peninsula !
Forward with the Revolution !
Paek Nam Sun
North Korea’s Cultural Attaché to the Court of St James
The order of the ‘Pink Freesia’ from Kim Jong-il himself. What an honour! A Knighthood pales to insignificance in comparison. Leighton Andrews must be pleased to accept this – hopefully in person. There is nothing we can offer him here in ‘defeated’ Wales to keep his worshipfullness here any longer. Such a sad loss for Rhondda and the people of Wales.
What some people will do for a meaningless gong! The once proud Labour Movement has degenerated into a rabble of British establishment toadies like Andrews who, rather than arguing in favour of a meritocracy, perpetuate the inequalities in society exemplifed by royalty.
Forward to a Welsh Republic!
Sir
As a committed Jacobite , I have been following with great interest your attacks on the Germanic pretenders who call themselves the House of Windsor . It therefore bemused me slightly to find the following advertisement carried on the Cambria website . Surely, Cambria readers do NOT need to know where to buy “The new OBE Emblem designed to be worn on everyday clothing ” or learn that ” Pictures of the hottest royals from around the world are on Living TV”.
It’s strikes me Madam Editor, in carrying these ads that perhaps you’re not too keen on the Crown but more than willing to take the half crown !
John Sutherland
Prince harry pictures
Pictures of the hottest royals from around the world on Living TV
http://www.livingtv.co.uk/royalhotties
OBE Emblem
Order the new OBE emblem designed to be worn on everyday clothing
http://www.tksmedalsandribbo
When the Tories win the next Westminster election, what will the Labour MPs and AMs do then? Shift to becoming Welsh, all of a sudden?
Leighton Andrews will find himself very much ‘out on a limb’ as he will have no where to go. The Tories will have Westminster and Plaid with or without Welsh Labour will have the Assembly. Where can he go? Or who will he then become? He could go back to the Liberals, if they will have him? His time as a polititian is running out, as is his support. So we can expect plenty of this kind of nonesense from him before he has to leave the political area. And that can’t come soon enough!