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"Make way for Welsh Tories" - analyst

Simon Brooks, editor of the Welsh-language current affairs magazine Barn, has made a special study of Conservatism in Wales.

In his publication, Conservatism and the New Wales, he argues that the Tories' electoral failure in Wales has been due to their inability to establish a Welsh identity of their own.

"It is impossible to have a mature political system in any developed country without the willing participation of a sensible centre-right element," he says.

Mr Brooks says that in the wake of devolution, it is the "historic responsibility" of "Welsh patriots" like himself to help the Conservatives become a Welsh party, even if that means the centre-right would have more influence in Welsh politics than previously.

He points out that many Welsh Tories, such as long-serving former Welsh Office minister Sir Wyn Roberts, have also been noted for their commitment to Welsh culture.

In addition, many grass-roots supporters of the Conservatives in rural Wales are also strong supporters of the Welsh-language culture.

However, he says, the fact that the Conservatives at a United Kingdom level had refused to question the former constitutional status quo meant that in Wales, they were doomed to be seen as the "English party".

Now that devolution is a reality, however, he says the Tories have been pushing harder than some other parties for the Assembly - whose creation they had opposed - to use its powers to the full.

With UK party leader William Hague arguing that Welsh and Scottish MPs should lose their voting rights on English affairs at Westminster, then this could force Tories in those countries into a more revolutionary position - pressing for a federal Britain.

That would leave Labour upholding the present devolution settlement and consequently being identified in people's minds as the "English party", he says.

The public image is of Wales as a country with broadly liberal values - reflected in the fact that no Tory MPs were returned in the 1997 General Election. However, Mr Brooks argues that this actually conceals the fact that many Welsh political and cultural values are traditionally conservative.

He says he sees this viewpoint reflected in the Assembly by "talented" Tories like Glyn Davies, Jonathan Morgan, David Melding and Nick Bourne.

He believes the bulk of the Tory members of the National Assembly would be open to such an approach, particularly following the departure of hardline British centrist Rod Richards as their leader.

With the advent of the National Assembly, the Tories now have a chance to harness what he calls: "a healthy-enough emphasis on the creation of wealth and respect for individual freedom; whilst still respecting the social contract that brings men and women together."

"We must all strive to ensure that those who hold this political viewpoint feel themselves to be a full and proud part of a Welsh civic community," he says.

Relevant Stories

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'English votes on English laws' (15 Jul 99 | UK Politics)

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