The Ladder of (dis)Respect

The way Westminster treats Wales tells us a lot about their priorities. Wales was offered a drasticaly reduced version of the powers in the Scottish Parliament. Since then Westminster has had to re-visit the Wales Act to provide more powers however it still falls far short of Scottish levels.

Plaid Cymru undoubtedly want independence but they have obviously decided to work on a gradualist basis building support for more powers for the existing assembly rather than going straight for independence.

However given that Wales like Scotland is a recognised country what justification do Labour have for providing different powered assemblies?

Quite simply it is because England gained power over Wales earlier and they feel that Wales can be more easily ignored. Labour are ignoring Scotland as well because polls are showing majority support for independence however it's all part of the same game.

Wales is at least better off than Cornwall which has been almost completely absorbed into England and while Cornwall has an active independence movement as well (Mebyon Kernow) Cornwall is completely ignored altogether with zero provision for devolution there despite a massive 50,000 petition in favour by Cornish nationalists.

Nationalities within the UK occupy a ladder of respect. Independent Ireland is treated with the most respect by the UK though for a long time their people were treated the worst and were victims of appalling levels of racism (Irish 'jokes' anyone?)

Scotland are lower down on the ladder but the success of the SNP has pushed the independence argument higher up the agenda and we have gained a stronger parliament. Wales is lower still and Cornwall is at the bottom.