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Christina Bridge
At least it looks good
The UK economy needs help. Our anticipated economic growth rate for 2012 is 0.8% – less than a third of the expected global average and insignificant in comparison to that of emerging economies (5.7%).
If we are to maintain a strong global presence and dignified citizenship, we must adopt a harmonised approach to growth and social development. With such fluid borders and aligned social ideologies, carving up the UK’s budget between the various nationalities serves no greater purpose than pacifying whimsical nationalism. Proceeding further along the path of devolution simply indulges petty regional disgruntlements.
To many, the very fact that the UK is giving more and more credence to devolved governments is testament to the fact that London’s parliament doesn’t care about the UK beyond England’s borders. This misconception plays perfectly into the hands of regional governments who capitalise on this nationalistic sentiment to boost their popularity and justify their existence, even if it’s to the detriment of the UK as a whole.
Why do I, because I am Welsh, need two government representatives but people in northern England, who are equally as removed from London, both geographically and socially, only need one?
Why should I enjoy free prescriptions whilst the whole of the UK suffers major healthcare funding deficits?
Why should our taxes help develop software in the Welsh language when I need to move to England to find a job?
The government should be building a country I believe is great because of what it can offer. But instead, it is taking the easy option and adopting populist policies which encourage the arrogant patriotic assumption that ‘My country is great and deserves privileges merely because I was born here’. Implementing prejudiced and un-coordinated policies across the UK will ultimately create fortified divisions and bitter social resentments.
But, this year as Wales’ unemployment rate remains significantly above the national average at 8.9% – in these fragile economic times the Welsh Assembly have decided to up its funding for promoting the Welsh language to over £5.5m. Amongst other things this project involves replacing all road signs with bilingual ones, where the Welsh words, (which are often riddled with errors coincidentally) appear above the English words. Such policies are indicative of a wounded nation.
Bernard Shaw once compared nationalism with a sick man unable to think of anything but his ailment – it certainly seems that Wales is sick and, instead of focusing on the key underlying cause of its discontent, it attempts to restore national pride through patriotic policies. At a time when social tensions are strained we should not be adding fuel to the fire of patriotism through such sideshow politics.
In the past two years the Olympics, the jubilee and the royal wedding have perfectly illustrated that a harmonised British identity is achievable. This needs to be harnessed and built upon. A British identity doesn’t mean losing sight of our various cultural differences. Ethnic diversity is part of Britain’s make up and it’s what makes us beautiful. Building a stable economy is the only way to get the whole of the UK back on its feet and to restore a sense of pride in Britain. We can’t continue to rely on unique ceremonious events for this and it won’t be achieved through a series of misaligned fiscal and social policies.
We’re a small island, rapidly shrinking in global significance; we cannot afford to suffer further divisions. I leave you with the famous adage: Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.
Christina Bridge presented this paper at a recent course of the Young UK and Ireland Programme, organised by the SR team.
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