A London Tory’s Unexpected Welsh Romance!
Ever thought you’d hear a self-confessed “Celtophobic Tory” say they fell for Welsh nationalism? Well, that’s exactly what happened when William Atkinson, a journalist from The Spectator, attended the Plaid Cymru conference in Newport.
William, who hails from Rickmansworth, ventured to Wales with some unflattering stereotypes in mind. But what he found at the conference surprised him! Plaid Cymru members turned out to be “disconcertingly normal”, and as he mingled with party-goers, he couldn’t help but admire their relentless drive for equality within the UK.
Despite his reservations about some of Plaid’s stances—like immigration and gender self-ID—William couldn’t ignore the shared dissatisfaction with Welsh governance, touching on issues including the NHS and education. He even questioned why more people weren’t drawn to nationalism. With Wales constantly being “failed, ignored or joked about”, it’s no wonder that the passion for change runs deep.
Although he’s not ready to trade in his Surrey allegiance, William returned to London with newfound admiration for the Welsh spirit. He said, “I won’t swap my support from Surrey to Glamorgan… But I admire their sincerity and enthusiasm. I returned to London having fallen a little bit in love.”
Would you ever think that a staunch Tory from London might find a soft spot for Welsh nationalism? It’s a political love story you didn’t see coming!