ANGLOPHOBIA

Below is a copy of an article which appeared in the Welsh Daily Post.

It is to be noted that Peter Hain does not address English interests at all and is hostile towards English nationalists, unlike those very nice Welsh, Scots or even Irish nationalists:

'English nationalism' warning


Jan 18 2006

Daily Post

PETER Hain last night insisted a bid to ban Welsh MPs voting on across-the-border issues would risk "fanning the flames of English nationalism."

The Welsh secretary launched a scathing attack on legislation introduced in the House of Lords by former Tory home secretary Lord Baker.

He said it was "unacceptable" Welsh and Scottish MPs voted on issues which do not affect their constituencies, because they were dealt with by devolved assemblies in Cardiff or Edinburgh.

Under his blueprint, the speaker of the House of Commons would have the power to stop English, Welsh, Scottish or Northern Ireland MPs from debating and voting on legislation which does not affect their regions.

Lord Baker, who served in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet as Kenneth Baker, said: "The supremacy of Westminster has been divided.

"The only way we are going to keep the UK together is by not accepting a manifest unfairness for England."

But Mr Hain branded the peer's bill "dangerous and wrong."

He said: "To prevent Welsh MPs from voting on certain classes of parliamentary business would consign them to second class status and would disenfranchise Welsh voters.

"It would undermine key pillars of our constitution and risks fanning the flames of English nationalism.

"The government believes that to go down this route would be dangerous and wrong and we have no intention of doing so."

The issue, known historically as the West Lothian question, was repeatedly highlighted as Welsh MPs vote on education and health proposals which only affect England.

The Bill will be debated in the Lords in February but is unlikely to become law without government backing.