A Non-English Warning About the Johnson Brexit Deal

Do you support the Withdrawal Deal Boris Johnson has negotiated with the EU and believe that the Union of the four countries within the UK is secure? I would like to invite you to consider the Deal carefully from a non-English perspective and, in particular, the potential impact of imposing such a Deal, without a second referendum, on the countries of Scotland, N. Ireland and Wales.

• It is perceived as undemocratic in Scotland where the vote was 'remain' and may quite quickly lead to the departure of Scotland from the UK. 
• It is perceived as undemocratic in N Ireland for the same reason and draws N Ireland closer to S Ireland.
• It means N Ireland will be treated differently from the rest of the UK.
• It creates political tensions in N Ireland.
• It creates new issues that may lead to complication and disruption at Welsh ports, fuelling the independence movement in Wales and changing Wales' relationship with Ireland (both countries).
• It is predicted to lead to a 6.4% reduction in GDP (which is more than 4% greater than Teresa May's Deal here). This will impact Scotland, N Ireland and Wales heavily with the loss of industries and jobs. 

I grew up on the West coast of Wales during the period when the first Plaid Cymru MPs were elected, at the time of Tryweryn (the flooding of a Welsh valley, including a village, to provide water for Liverpool) and during the time of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales. It was also the era when Cymdeithas yr Iaith (the Welsh Language Society) were at the height of their direct action campaign. However, I have never seen so many people out on the streets demonstrating in favour of Welsh independence as I have recently. The protests have not been only in the Welsh heartlands but in areas that have traditionally shown little interest in independence; they have not been widely reported by the English media. This alerts me to the fact that, in England, people may underestimate the strength of feeling that is around. People in all three Celtic nations are unhappy that their voices are seemingly disregarded. The Deal currently under consideration is, I think, likely to lead to the eventual break up of the UK or at least to many years of debate about how the Celtic nations can (or why they should not) separate from England and join the EU. There is a growing perception in Scotland and Wales that their voices are not heard and their interests are not well served by Westminster.


For this reason I ask you to support all moves to take substantially more time to formulate and scrutinise any deal and to put a choice between that deal and remaining in the EU to all four nations in a referendum. 

I often hear people say, 'Oh Scotland and, more particularly Wales, could never make a go of it on their own.' This article by Adam Price (a Plaid Cymru MP) here offers some food for thought. I had no idea that Wales is the fifth largest exporter of electricity in the world!!