Gordon Brown’s message to the people of Wales on St David’s Day was sent to the organisers of the National St David’s day Parade in Cardiff rather than to Welsh Labour Party Leader and First Minister Rhodri Morgan to deliver, it has emerged.
The message, from the Prime Minister’s office in No 10 Downing Street was sent by email to the Parade’s President Henry Jones-Davies, publisher of the national magazine Cambria. It was read publicly, in English and Welsh, by David Petersen, a leading member of the National St David’s Day Parade Committee, to a gathering of more than a thousand people outside Cardiff City Hall at the start of the Parade last Sunday on March 1st , attended by representatives of all the political parties in the Senedd – except Labour.
Despite cross party support since the Parade’s inception in 2004, the Labour party has consistently boycotted the event, with not a single Labour MP, AM or councillor attending.
“On the occasion of St David’s Day I would like to send my warmest greetings to the people of Wales and Welsh people all across the world.” The Prime Minister’s message ran. “The National Day of Wales is a time of proud celebration right across the four corners of Wales and beyond. From the birthplace of St David in the West of Wales, to the parades in Cardiff, Swansea and in North Wales, the St David’s Day festivities will play out.
In the cultural sphere we continue to pay tribute to your musical stars, especially this year’s Brit Award winner Duffy, national film and television personalities and those in the Arts.
Political life in Wales is always inspiring and in difficult economic times such as these we continue to find inspiration in working together with you to do whatever it takes to support Welsh businesses and jobs.
St David said in his famous final words that we should ‘do the little things in life’, and today we mark a great number of Welsh achievements, small and large, individual and collective, that contribute to a strong, proud and passionate nation.
I wish you all a wonderful St David’s Day.”
This year’s Parade, attended by a record 10,000 people ended with speeches and a flourish on the steps of the Senedd, with Conservative AM William Graham and Plaid Cymru AM Chris Franks addressing a capacity crowd of several thousands. Again, there were no Labour representatives present, although former Plaid Cymru luminary and now Labour AM Alun Davies was spotted standing on the periphery of the Oriel.
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