Quoted for truth - Jack Straw

Here's a couple of great quotes from nu-Labour stalwart Jack Straw. They are from 2006 but in many ways they are even more relevant now than they were back then. After all, back in 2006 Labour had a clean sweep of Governments in Wales, Scotland and UK. Now they only have Wales and with the Scottish referendum less than a year away they are facing self destruction.

So first up, here's Jack Straw outlining why England needs to hang on to the rest of us in order to keep up the pretence that they are still a world power.

Jack Straw outlining why England needs us. Share via twitter | facebook

You can read the whole question and answer session here. Just in case it vanishes I have archived the page here. And for those who cannot read the text in the picture, don't want to click it or don't want to read the link here is the quote from above.

"Historically, England called the shots to achieve a union because the union was seen as a way, among others things, of amplifying England's power worldwide.

And the reverse would certainly be true. A broken-up United Kingdom would not be in the interests of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, but especially not England.

Our voting power in the European Union would diminish. We'd slip down in the world league GDP tables. Our case for staying in the G8 would diminish and there could easily be an assault on our permanent seat in the UN Security Council."

Second quote, he's said this a couple of times over the years and once again it's still as relevant and powerful as it was back then. And a timely reminder for anyone who thinks that devolution should be as far as we should go.

Power devolved is power retained - Jack Straw. Share via twitter | facebook

What Jack is saying here is that this rug that we call devolution could be pulled from under our feet at any moment. All it would take is for the UK Government to decree it. Jack is basically reminding those in Wales, Scotland and the six counties that England has been so kind to allow us a longer leash so we should be thankful, know our place and not rock the boat.

Ar d'ol di hefo'r siswn! After you with the scissors!

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