No Welcome in the Hillside

The Welsh ‘government’ appears unshaken in its pursuit of economic and cultural self-destruction. Wales—a nation in its own right or an appendage, depending on perspective—shares with Scotland a focus on legislative posturing and virtue signalling over genuine economic progress. Both countries harbour a form of racism directed against the English and, increasingly, against white people in general.

If Scotland is teetering on the brink of economic dependence, reliant on the Barnett Formula’s generous subsidy from England, Wales fares even worse. Despite its population being just 57% of Scotland’s, it receives over £20 billion annually—less than half of what Scotland receives, yet proportionally substantial. Scotland, at least, has its whisky trade and oil reserves, although the former is largely English-owned and the latter constrained by Net Zero policies. Meanwhile, Wales trails behind economically, with a per capita GDP even lower than Scotland’s. Its equivalent to Scotch malt whisky is barely drinkable, and its oil reserves are described as “meagre.”

Tourism remains a lifeline for both nations, for now. But the Welsh Labour government seems determined to sabotage even this. In 2027, a tourist tax is set to take effect, imposing a European-style levy on visitors. It seems you can take a country out of Europe, but not its hankering after all things European. While expected to generate only tens of millions annually, it risks driving tourists away—hardly a worthwhile trade-off. A mere £1.25 per night might seem modest, but when combined with other aspects of Welsh mismanagement, it could deter potential visitors.

Certainly, Wales boasts many charms (my spouse being one of them), and for some, the tax may be worth enduring. However, Wales’s penchant for erasing its historical icons—renaming streets, removing statues, and rechristening buildings—is deeply troubling. The targets of these efforts are often historical figures who, while imperfect, contributed to the freedoms and political foundations we enjoy today. Accused of profiting from slavery or expressing offensive views, none of these individuals were saints, but they are being judged in absentia by modern standards and summarily condemned. Yet, if Wales wishes to attract tourists, shouldn’t it preserve its history, allowing visitors to learn, reflect, and draw their own conclusions?

Not content with revising its history, the Welsh government has unveiled its Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan 2024, aiming to eradicate racism. The impetus for this initiative is unclear. In 2019, a BBC report claimed 40% of Welsh people believed racism had increased—a perception rather than a measurable reality. Undoubtedly, even in a country which gave rise to the smouldering mixed-race beauty of Shirley Bassey (I am ‘of an age’) there will be people who hold and express racist sentiments. Curiously the report omitted to report that 60%—a clear majority—did not share this view. Such selective reporting feeds into confirmation bias and the public’s tendency to give socially acceptable answers when asked such questions.

The plan targets the “beliefs and behaviour of the white majority,” a strategy that risks backfiring spectacularly. By aggressively pushing this narrative, Wales might inadvertently stoke the very racism it seeks to quell; something they undoubtedly will not have considered. The rhetoric of inclusivity rings hollow in a country that becomes less inclusive by the year. Consider the recent rebranding of the Brecon Beacons, a beloved and internationally recognized region, to a name so cumbersome that even BBC presenters struggle to pronounce it.

The tourist tax ostensibly supports “promoting the Welsh language,” though the specifics remain vague. Given that bilingual road signs already dominate the landscape, doubling the size of necessary signage, it’s unclear how much more promotion is needed, how this sits with the inclusivity agenda or why such efforts should come at the expense of possibly alienating visitors.

Should the rest of the UK care about what happens in Wales? Absolutely. Labour leader Keir Starmer recently praised his Welsh counterparts for their policies on racism, promising to emulate them at Westminster. The prospect of extending Wales’s misguided governance to the whole of the UK should give us all pause.

If you haven’t yet signed the petition to call for a general election, I urge you to do so. God help us if the Welsh model becomes a blueprint for the nation.

Roger Watson is a retired academic, editor and writer. He is a columnist with Unity News Network and writes regularly for a range of conservative journals including The Salisbury Review and The European Conservative. He has travelled and worked extensively in the Far East and the Middle East. He lives in Kingston upon Hull, UK.

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