The Welsh Government has refused to distribute to every school pupil in Wales a book to commemorate the Queen's Platinum jubilee - but WalesOnline readers are divided over whether it was the right decision. The UK Government awarded a £12m contract to London-based published DK books to produce 211,000 bilingual copies of the book to be distributed to children at just under 3,000 schools and educational establishments in Wales.
However a Welsh Government source told us that after seeing the book, it was decided that it would not be appropriate to distribute it to all pupils, but to leave it to schools to decide whether they wanted it. Some Welsh Labour Cabinet members, including First Minister Mark Drakeford, are republicans. It’s thought that the book is seen to be too Anglocentric and not in tune with a devolved UK where Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own governments. UK Government Ministers are said to be “furious” at the Welsh Government’s U-turn on the plans, with a senior political source telling us they failed to understand the objections to the book. You can read more about the contents of the book and the decision by the Welsh government here.
We asked our followers on Facebook whether all pupils in Wales should get the Westminster's book about the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and the near-1000 responses were pretty evenly split, with strong arguments from both sides. Against the Welsh Government's decision, Paul Christopher Bryant: "100% YES. It’s about time WAG [Welsh Assembly Government] stopped meddling in things like this. It should be free to everyone not just children - such an historical landmark to be celebrated and commemorated."
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Ken Harris echoed Paul's view, calling the book a "historical British publication" that was "being denied" to children in Wales. Meanwhile Kyler Henton argued that the Welsh Government "should not be speaking for everyone in Wales", adding that he would "love it personally". Betty Fairweather also said she would "love" a copy, and thinks the Welsh government "should not be influencing children against our heritage".
Paula Regler said: "What a sad world we are turning into. The children of today will never in their lives see this again." Tudor Weatherley went even further, branding the decision "absolutely disgusting". He continued: "Typical of a Welsh Labour Government. I think all school children should have the opportunity of having this memorable book and should not be restricted by biased Welsh government."
But not all agreed, and many expressed vehement objections against the book. Sheila Ross believes the book should not be distributed not only in Wales, but also Scotland and Northern Ireland. "Everyday the royals are just more Englanders," she said. "Such a waste of money better spent on priority educational resources."
Abi Reed slammed it as a "waste of money to produce en masse". She pointed out: "Some households will end up with a few of them, money could be better spent on resources for schools or a million other things. I’d rather not have one gathering dust." Richard Williams also thought the money spent on the books could go elsewhere, writing: "With everything going on in this country people having to go to food banks to feed their families the money would be far better spent helping these families. I bet the Queen doesn't have to rely on food banks to feed her family."
Joshua Declan McCarthy branded it "propaganda on behalf of an incredibly rich and privileged woman" and believes "no school should be forced to give" it out. "A celebration worthy of Ms. Windsor would be saving the money on this book, putting some of her personal wealth in covering energy costs for families freezing to death in their homes, and opening her empty palaces to Ukrainian refugees," he said.
Janet R-Lewis, also objecting, called for a "more balanced view of history in Wales". She said: "Westminster and Royalty are Anglo Centric. We are at risk of turning back the clock and, as in my younger days, focussing entirely on the rule from London - even pre England taking over Wales the history I was taught was about monarchs and did not teach us about Owain Glyndwr or anyone else Welsh."
Matthew Savagar quipped: "Excellent by the Senedd on this one! Stopping English cultural imperialism at source", while Ashley Martin said the book should only be distributed if it "also highlights the undemocratic and unaccountable nature of the monarchy, a relic of a bygone age which has no place in a 21st century democracy!"
A few had a more neutral view, like Jamie Jenkins, who suggested a diplomatic alternative. He said: "If the UK government is serious about reducing carbon footprint and showing that they aren’t just wasting tax payers money, make it accessible to all online; less of a carbon footprint and less cost to the public purse. Result. That way it makes no difference what WAG or the Scottish Government think either as it’s not being forced on anyone."
Do you think the Welsh Government was right to refuse the the distribution of the book to all school children in Wales? Let us know in the comments below.
