Former Plaid Cymru Minister, Rhodri Glyn Thomas today called for the UK government to scrap the Trident replacement, arguing that the money should be spent on domestic affairs which would result in more money coming to Wales as a consequence of the Barnett Formula.
It’s a shame that Rhodri’s former colleague, the other Rhodri didn’t think so. First Minister Rhodri Morgan argues that it is inappropriate for the Welsh government to lobby the UK government on non-devolved matters, even if they have a trickle-down effect on Wales.
There’s a simple answer to this little predicament: independence. If Wales was an independent nation, Plaid wouldn’t have to worry about going begging to Westminster for more money and could scrap its own Trident replacement programme just like that.
I’m coming round to this independence malarkey. Any buyers for Rhodri Glyn Thomas as Defence Minister?
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I do not know why I am about to get involved in a potentially career ending conversation with you, it always ends in tears.
If anyone from Plaid is reading this, I would like you to think of the army as being the most important area for support and investment. My God I know that I could not do their job, and you decisions must remain with you for life, and they allow me to have a state to live in, to have my ideals and a vote. .
Defence is the first area that all nations have to invest in first. (Defence of the realm against those who may take over, such as Hitler etc). It is typical that Plaid shows such short termism, if they think that saving cash this way is wise then I am not shocked; they are so obsessed with ploughing all our money into the arts, ‘Welshness’ and social issues, because this links directly to votes, that they forget that some things are important without showing an immediate or obvious benefit, or a poll boost. It is frustrating when we see aged weapons and military machinery being made redundant despite spending millions years before. That said there is no point treating millions on the NHS, to then fall under oppression, tyranny, and being subjected to genocide days later, simply because we did not invest in our armed forces. Trident is our primary defence system and must be replaced. If I can also add that I have heard Lib Dem members of Parliament also desire Trident to be ended. I think life would be boring if everyone agreed, but surely they would not feel safe whilst other nations have, or our obtaining the nuke. It was lucky that the Cold War did not result in a nuclear war. Also, I am aware that Terrorism is our primary concern at this moment, but we should not let ourselves be duped into thinking that there are not nations that would attack us if they had the ability to strike, and if we could not quickly respond. Also in terms of troops there are mucg larger armies, Trident was and is a deterant,
Jeremy, we have many second rate politicians in the Assembly, and you are contemplating the idea of them having total power. If we did not beg to England for money we would need to go with a wheel barrow to Europe. I heard Plaid’s conference and nothing that they say shocks me anymore.
By the way, we have enough lobyists without Wales becoming one. That said I would have been interested to see Mr Morgan under a Tory Parliament, I have a feeling he would lobby then. Jeremy I am shocked that your mission to find money saving schemes has driven you into seeing Trident as a target .
My comments do not reflect those of the Tory pary, even if they happen to. These are my individual thoughts and observations.
Trefforest Tory? Now there are two words I’ve never seen used in the same sentence before!
These conversations are muchos fun and I doubt they’d be career-ending. (I wouldn’t describe blogging on FC as a career – can you believe they don’t even pay me?!)
I have decided that I am not going to get into the rights and wrongs of the nuclear deterrent – I’ll leave that to others more qualified to speak.
But TT, god no! I wouldn’t ever contemplate the idea of giving Plaid total power! I mean, can you imagine it?
The problem with blogs are that they are a perminent mark. If you said something that in ten years time becomes contraversial, or incorrect, it will be picked up via a quick scan, and you will be talking about something that you can’t remember saying. You sound like a very clever man, and I dare say that one day you could be in government, should you decide to go down that route, and I am simply saying that I personally do not tend to respond to blogs very often, as they can be dangerous. That said, your comments have been so compelling of late that I have felt the need to contribute.
Nuclear deterrent is needed as long as they exist. I am all for no one having them, but the Gene is out of the bottle. Is that how you spell ‘Gene’? Not a word I use everyday. Also Trefforest is a modern place and no longer votes merely on family lines. It is also better than Bala, sorry I could not resist. I have never been there, I am sure it is lovely, and being rural is as good a place as any for an Eisteddford, but lets leave that in the past, and hope it stays there. HA!
TT, you are too kind – and you sound like a thoroughly decent man/woman (delete as applicable)
Trefforest is a prett decent place, and the Otley is a great pub with decent beer (better than all this Brains crap we get in Cardiff!. If I ever see you in there, I’ll buy you a pint and we can say all manner of controversial things that the blogosphere will never know about! Mwahahaha.