Order, Order

We turn now to a Motion Vote on WM120, the Colours of the Union Motion, in the name of Inadorable.

Colours of the Union Motion

The Senedd Cymru notes that–

(1) The previous UK government introduced a bill to celebrate the Colours of the Union festival, a unionist holiday celebrating the ‘importance of the Union’;

(2) The government in Westminster has repeatedly committed cruelties upon the people of Wales, that they could not stop due to the lack of Senedd Cymru before 1999;

(3) That many in Wales do not want to celebrate this holiday, but that it is being enforced upon them by Westminster.

The Senedd Cymru declares–

(1) Its disappointment in the process leading to the introduction in the bill, with the Senedd Cymru not being given a chance to debate the issue before Westminster attempted to implement the legislation.

(2) That it is up to the people of Wales, rather than Parliament in Westminster, whether the union is something to be celebrated.

The Senedd Cymru asks the Welsh government to declare the Colours of the Union festival null and void within Wales, and that public sector workers shall be asked to continue their work during the bank holiday.

This motion was written by the Lady Llanelli as a Private Member’s Motion.

Llywydd,

Like many people in Wales, I find the celebration of a holiday that fundamentally depends on the exclusion of the large minority of Welsh people who do not support the Union as it stands today an insulting move that is below the standards that one might expect from a public holiday. And whilst Scotland is being given a chance to reject the holiday, the Welsh people are declined that opportunity, as if our opinions on the matter are irrelevant. If the members of the House of Commons do not wish our voice to be heard, we must make it heard more loudly than ever before, Llywydd! We must fight for the autonomy of our nation within the union when we are no longer considered, when our history and our people are so insulted as they have been due to the festival. This is a chance for the Senedd to put its foot down and tell Westminster that Wales is an autonomous, proud country and the celebration of holidays is a Welsh affair rather than a Whitehall affair. The bill must be thrown out, or it must be resisted. This Senedd must be prepared to do the latter.

Link to the Debate

Voting on this bill will end at the close of business on Tuesday 21st of November at 10pm BST