Last week, First Minister Mark Drakeford caused controversy with comments he made about the nature of nationalism. In an interview with the BBC’s Nick Robinson, Drakeford was asked whether he thought the best chance of achieving socialism in Wales was to adopt a nationalist position. Drakeford responded by declaring that nationalism is “an inherently right-wing Read more
The election of Keir Starmer as Labour leader has come during one of the greatest crises that this country has faced. In contrast to the fanfare that usually greets a new leader, Starmer’s election was announced via an email to party members. Nevertheless, Starmer will not worry about such celebrations as he begins his role Read more
This weekend Wales play a Euro 2020 qualifier in Osijek, Croatia, with travelling fans hoping to see a first-ever Welsh victory against Croatia. Wales have played Croatia 4 times in the past since it became independent from Yugoslavia in 1991. However, the national team had visited Croatia once before it was represented as an independent Read more
Today marks the 70th anniversary since the creation of the NHS. It is an institution which has become part of the social fabric of British society. When celebrations of the NHS occur, Aneurin Bevan is inevitably mentioned. As Minister of Health in Attlee’s post-war government, he was given responsibility for its creation. As I mentioned Read more
At the Welsh Labour Spring Conference next week, the results of the Welsh Labour deputy leadership election will be announced. The first ever election for the new position is being fought between Swansea East MP Carolyn Harris and Cardiff North AM Julie Morgan. A lot of the talk surrounding the election has been over the Read more
Bevan and Wales The final entry of the year into the Bevan and Wales series was supposed to be a summary of the different aspects of Bevan’s attitudes towards Wales, Welsh identity, the Welsh language and devolution. In fact, the series itself was originally only going to be a year-long one to commemorate 120 years Read more
“I remember so well what happened when the Russian revolution occurred. I remember the miners, when they heard that the Czarist tyranny had been overthrown, rushing to meet each other in the streets with tears streaming down their cheeks, shaking hands and saying: ‘At last it has happened.’ Let us remember in 1951 that the Read more
Bevan’s speeches and phrases are continually referenced by politicians from all parties. As part of the ‘Bevan and Wales’ series, Nye Davies discusses Welsh Labour’s latest rebranding invoking Bevan. Bevan as Welsh Labour hero Aneurin Bevan is a mythical figure in the history of the Labour Party, being considered one of its greatest heroes. In Read more
As part of the ‘Aneurin Bevan and Wales’ series, Nye Davies analyses Bevan’s 1947 article ‘The Claim of Wales’ 70 years on from its publication Wales in Bevan’s thought It has generally been considered that Bevan was either against or at best ambivalent towards devolution and that “the claim of Wales”, as he termed it, Read more
After a disappointing election night for the party in Wales, Nye Davies explores calls for the strengthening of the Welsh Conservative brand Disappointment in Wales After the first Welsh General Election barometer poll, the Conservative Party was in buoyant mood. The party was projected to win Wales and end Labour Party dominance which had existed Read more
