This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-50013949
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| UK must be open to Wales quitting union, says Welsh Government | UK must be open to Wales quitting union, says Welsh Government |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The UK must be open to Wales voting to quit the union, a Welsh Government report has said. | The UK must be open to Wales voting to quit the union, a Welsh Government report has said. |
| Ministers say Parliament should allow Wales to hold an independence referendum if politicians calling for one win an assembly election. | Ministers say Parliament should allow Wales to hold an independence referendum if politicians calling for one win an assembly election. |
| The unionist Welsh Government hopes voters would reject splitting the union - but it says the UK is best seen as a "voluntary association". | The unionist Welsh Government hopes voters would reject splitting the union - but it says the UK is best seen as a "voluntary association". |
| It follows a series of independence marches held across Wales in 2019. | It follows a series of independence marches held across Wales in 2019. |
| First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford called for an "entrenched and extended devolution settlement" to tackle what he sees as the challenges facing the union. | First Minister and Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford called for an "entrenched and extended devolution settlement" to tackle what he sees as the challenges facing the union. |
| Mr Drakeford, who has been highly critical of the UK government's handling of Brexit, was delivering the Kier Hardie lecture in Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday. | |
| "The continuation of the United Kingdom is, today, more at risk than at any moment in my political lifetime," he said. | "The continuation of the United Kingdom is, today, more at risk than at any moment in my political lifetime," he said. |
| Leader of pro-independence party Plaid Cymru Adam Price said there is now "no doubt that Wales should be able to hold an independence referendum". | Leader of pro-independence party Plaid Cymru Adam Price said there is now "no doubt that Wales should be able to hold an independence referendum". |
| Mr Drakeford's lecture coincided with the publication of "Reforming Our Union", a Welsh Government paper that spells out constitutional reforms ministers in Cardiff believe the UK needs. | Mr Drakeford's lecture coincided with the publication of "Reforming Our Union", a Welsh Government paper that spells out constitutional reforms ministers in Cardiff believe the UK needs. |
| "Whatever its historical origins, the United Kingdom is best seen now as a voluntary associations of nations taking the form of a multi-national state," the document says. | "Whatever its historical origins, the United Kingdom is best seen now as a voluntary associations of nations taking the form of a multi-national state," the document says. |
| "If, as this first proposition maintains, the UK is conceived of as a voluntary association of nations, it must be open to any of its parts democratically to choose to withdraw from the Union. | "If, as this first proposition maintains, the UK is conceived of as a voluntary association of nations, it must be open to any of its parts democratically to choose to withdraw from the Union. |
| "If this were not so, a nation could conceivably be bound into the UK against its will, a situation both undemocratic and inconsistent with the idea of a Union based on shared values and interests." | "If this were not so, a nation could conceivably be bound into the UK against its will, a situation both undemocratic and inconsistent with the idea of a Union based on shared values and interests." |
| It adds that provided that a government in either Scotland or Wales "has secured an explicit electoral mandate for holding of a referendum, and enjoys continuing support from its parliament to do so, it is entitled to expect the UK Parliament to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the appropriate arrangements can be made". | It adds that provided that a government in either Scotland or Wales "has secured an explicit electoral mandate for holding of a referendum, and enjoys continuing support from its parliament to do so, it is entitled to expect the UK Parliament to take whatever action is necessary to ensure that the appropriate arrangements can be made". |
| It says it would be unreasonable for such referendums to be held too frequently. | It says it would be unreasonable for such referendums to be held too frequently. |
| "More importantly, as a government committed to the United Kingdom, we would hope that in any such referendum the relevant electorate would vote for its territory to remain in membership of the UK," the report added. | "More importantly, as a government committed to the United Kingdom, we would hope that in any such referendum the relevant electorate would vote for its territory to remain in membership of the UK," the report added. |
| Mark Drakeford told the Merthyr lecture that there must be an "explicit, legal recognition" that the National Assembly for Wales "is a permanent feature of the UK's democratic architecture", which can only be abolished by referendum. | Mark Drakeford told the Merthyr lecture that there must be an "explicit, legal recognition" that the National Assembly for Wales "is a permanent feature of the UK's democratic architecture", which can only be abolished by referendum. |
| A settlement is needed, he said, where the powers of the devolved parliaments and governments around the UK are exercised "exclusively at that level, other than by the consent of the legislatures involved". | A settlement is needed, he said, where the powers of the devolved parliaments and governments around the UK are exercised "exclusively at that level, other than by the consent of the legislatures involved". |
| He said the parliamentary sovereignty model - where the UK Parliament is the highest form of authority in the UK - does not "provide a basis for the future". | He said the parliamentary sovereignty model - where the UK Parliament is the highest form of authority in the UK - does not "provide a basis for the future". |
| Instead, that authority must be "dispersed" between the constituent parts of the UK. | Instead, that authority must be "dispersed" between the constituent parts of the UK. |
| He made the case for the UK as one where "unity and solidarity are the means by which the interests of the many... can be advanced". | He made the case for the UK as one where "unity and solidarity are the means by which the interests of the many... can be advanced". |
| Nationalism leads a "false trail" in ""exactly the opposite direction", he argued, "one that pits working people against each other, based on the accident of geography". | Nationalism leads a "false trail" in ""exactly the opposite direction", he argued, "one that pits working people against each other, based on the accident of geography". |
| Adam Price, Plaid Cymru leader, said: "There is now no doubt that Wales should be able to hold an independence referendum. | Adam Price, Plaid Cymru leader, said: "There is now no doubt that Wales should be able to hold an independence referendum. |
| "It is disappointing - if not surprising - that the Labour Welsh Government continues to defend this indefensible union. | "It is disappointing - if not surprising - that the Labour Welsh Government continues to defend this indefensible union. |
| "Any short term steps that help get Wales indy-ready are welcome. But the Welsh Government should concentrate on building the Wales of tomorrow, not saving the union. | "Any short term steps that help get Wales indy-ready are welcome. But the Welsh Government should concentrate on building the Wales of tomorrow, not saving the union. |
| "The pooling and sharing of risks and resources is, frankly, a fanciful idea. Westminster has always been all risk and no reward for Wales." | "The pooling and sharing of risks and resources is, frankly, a fanciful idea. Westminster has always been all risk and no reward for Wales." |