I’M sure I’m not the only fitba fan in Scotland that has picked up since the World Cup started how the BBC and ITV have generously celebrated our Celtic cousins’ feelings of patriotism and deep devotion to their country. The Dafydd Iwan song, entitled in the Welsh language, “Yma o Hyd”, meaning “we’re still here”, has been adopted as Wales’ World Cup anthem. Indeed, it’s very stirring to hear when thousands of Welsh fans sing it and it’s clear why it’s so popular with them. Both UK telly channels have regularly included it in their World Cup programmes.
I’ve checked YouGov opinion polls back to March 2015 to date. During March 2015, Plaid Cymru polled 21% of the voting intentions of the Welsh people, Labour 33% and Tories 22%. Fast forward to September 2022, it’s Plaid Cymru 21% yet again, Labour 37% and Tories 18%. During that seven-and-a-half years period, Plaid Cymru’s highest polling was 24% and lowest 18%. For Labour it’s 40% and 19%, and for the Tories it’s 37% and 12%.
Unfortunately, it definitely looks like the “settled will” (that awful term that’s been used a lot recently) of the Welsh people is to remain within the UK. This strong patriotism doesn’t therefore translate into a wish to be an independent country and unfortunately during the 20th century that was the case for us Scots too. Call me an auld cynic, but maybe that’s why the English media feel so comfortable celebrating the patriotism of the Welsh and warm to them accordingly. They are clearly not a political threat to them unlike around a half of us rebellious, ungrateful Jocks!
