Blog of Radio, TV, Newspaper contributer Adam Balchder

Former Balchder Cymru President Adam (Balchder) Phillips gives his thoughts

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Not long after I reported that the 2 candidates running for election in the USA race for the Presidency it looks that they are keeping a keen eye on what policies are being talked about in Wales.

Donald Trump just re tweeted about our possible“rolling Lockdown” :)

All eyes on Cymru / Wales

https://twitter.com/ingrahamangle/status/1313621716015484933?s=21

Laura Ingraham on Twitter

“Your future under Biden: "Rolling lockdowns' will become norm in Wales" https://t.co/o7yL2JY71u”

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Presidential hopefuls appeal to Welsh Americans as they endorse Independence from Britain.* 

America kicked the British out after the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783  and haven’t looked back since.

Now one of the worlds superpowers it revels in its independence.

There are over a million Americans with connections to Wales, The United States house the largest Welsh Diaspora outside the land of my fathers. 

The Welsh have had a massive influence on The USA With at least 9 presidents being able to trace their ancestry back to “Cymru fach” (little Wales).

If we were to ask both these candidates would they give up American independence to give Britain back control, the answer would be a big ‘no thanks’ it’s one thing to have a trading relationship with someone, it’s something else being under their control. 

So in the Independent Wales v Wales tied to Westminster debate there would only be one conclusion. Independence is the way forward.

*i’m sure they would if I could interview them.

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Critics of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland having different lockdown laws to England have been left red in the face following the latest proposal to come from foreign secretary Dominic Raab.

The Guardian newspaper outlines how geographic areas like cities could have different lockdown procedures to each other.

Recently the Devolved governments have received criticism from those who see their decision making as a threat to the normal order in which England reigns over them. Some perceive these strong actions as forewarnings of the break up of the Union. In fact they have been reacting to different infection peak rates as the virus moved from East to West.

The fact that the devolved governments announced their laws then England chose to be the odd one out has escaped many.

These critics have claimed that the different rules in Wales in particular have caused confusion and in some cases anger as people wanting to go paddling to the Sea or climb a mountain were denied the opportunity.

Most people in Wales have welcomed the different laws as scenes over the border have shown masses flock to popular tourists destinations as if there were no pandemic.

Raabs proposal will surely cause massive confusion for those who couldn't grasp that different countries have different laws. How will they cope with say Manchester and Liverpool having two different sets of rules?

Local lockdowns could be used if coronavirus cases rise, says Raab

Foreign secretary’s suggestion comes as he defends easing of rules on gatherings in England

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The Conservatives have slipped further in polls following what has been a disastrous few weeks for the party.

looking like a government that is winging it at best and being dangerously incompetent at worst. Being outperformed by its devolved neighbours, Westminster has started to look like an England only establishment. Whilst English voters watched Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continiue their lockdowns, in what looked like a people focused policy, the Prime Minister relaxed the rules in England in a bid to get the economy rolling. Announcing a June 1st school restart spectacularly backfired as teaching unions asked why they and their members weren't consulted. Meanwhile, Mark Drakeford told us "there would be no fixed date, we will consult with the unions, teachers and parents." Also, Scotland has repeatedly announced that they are going to do it their own way. As different rules in different countries caused confusion the blame game began. Trying to blame the devolved governments for flexing their political muscles. The problem for the now English Prime Minister was that the other countries had made their announcements first. He could have gone in lockstep with them or explained to people that the virus spread peak was different in various parts of the UK as it moved East to West. Instead the leadership once again seemed to have dropped the ball.

Added to this, they had to backtrack on their immigration bill due to overseas healthworkers, rightly having the support of the general public, couldn't have come at a worse time for a party on the back foot.

Now to cap it all off Dominic Cummings has gone and turned everyone else's lockdown into a mockery in a "do as I say not do as I do" serious error of judgment.

The World has changed due to Covid19, the UK is in its last throes thanks to Boris Johnson and his cabinet.

yougov is only a poll maker, but it's all going downhill in every poll on there right now.

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#Cambria supporters stickers available now. Rectangle / sticky back Round / sticky front to go inside Windows £5 donation for the pair through our pay pal free p+p Wales, England, Scotland, NI and Cornwall (£6 rest of the World) Inbox us to order

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#impeach #Blair #Iraq #War #Noimediatethreat

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#Iraq #War #Inquiry #Impeach #Blair #NoIminentThreat

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Promotions / Sponsorship opportunities with the Worlds busiest marching band -find "Cambria Band" on Twitter and FB

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This summer Shell aims to Drill the Arctic. Shell has already admitted "there will be leaks" .It's an environmental disaster waiting to happen!

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Chaz Davies appreciated the traveling Welsh Support at Donington WSBK round 24/05/2016 as he scored 2x3rd places -Llongyfarchiadau :)

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Proud of the Scots / Ashamed of the Welsh

With 55 seats the Scottish SNP have obliterated their political opposition giving the people of Scotland a powerful voice in Westminster and showing a new level of confidence in their own political party , not leaving their destiny to the London based "Nationals". Wales meanwhile saw Plaid take 3 seats. Yes 3 seats for the only Wales based party compared to 25 for Labour and 11 for the conservatives. The phrase "put a red tie on it and those idiots will vote for it" is still true in Wales. Following Labour fuelled scandals like the "Awema" charity scandal costing millions, Repeatedly refusing to vote positively in the interests of Wales at every turn, this was the ideal opportunity for the people of Wales to show the Labour Party that it's London bias was unacceptable and that Plaid would get their vote. Especially given the positive way Leanne Wood came over on the TV election debates. But no, the Welsh sheep blindly put the red Tories back in their positions and even increased the vote of UKIP who, constantly bang on about immigration whilst being mainly immigrants into Wales themselves. Shame on you Wales, you let the Celts down!

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Speech at Wrexham St David day Parade

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StDavid day parade coming to Wrexham this Sun- 11am start.Meet 10.45 @ Queen Square

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Cambria Band Needs You

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A week ago today- my take on the Scottish No Vote (condensed as much as possible without losing meaning)

Many people will have pored over the Scottish Referendum result and come up with their reasons for the “No” side triumphing over the “Yes” side. I’d like to give the view from the outside. Looking on optimistically from Wales, hoping that Scotland would grab its chance to be the first of the Celtic countries to break free of the Empire/ British Union. Seeing the scenes from George square and the general upbeat feel from social media the day before made me think, this could be it, this could be the start of the domino effect that would eventually set us all free. You see this was never just a Scotland issue! The instant Alex Salmond announced there was to be a referendum on independence the state machine started on its mission to deliver a No vote. There was absolutely no way they were going to see an end to the union, dropping England down to an equal partner in a “new” British state was unthinkable. Whilst we free thinkers in Wales, Cornwall and Ireland saw it as the first chance in hundreds of years to gain independence politically from our masters in Westminster without the need for bloodshed or uprising.

So how did they do it?

Well there would always be real no voters, primary the loyalist community and anyone who is a Royalist (obviously the promise to keep the queen as head of state wasn’t enough) Then you have people who feel a sense of duty or nostalgia towards Britain. There are those negative people who are frightened of change. Then there were those who were “encouraged” to vote no by their bosses or union reps (covered later)

The whole state bag of tricks was used including…

First of all Positive PR- For a few years now in a bid to build up the union, royal family etc we have seen an increase in the use of the Union flag, the making of “British” tv shows like the great British Bake off etc, Kate and Wills popping up everywhere all smiles and waving.

Then in the last month or two it was an intense shameless campaign as every periodical from cats weekly to knitting monthly through to serious titles like The Spectator and investors magazines ran front page stories begging you the Scottish public to stay in the union, flirting with you that we are all better together, pleading “please don’t go”

Then there was the propaganda. If they don’t go for promises and pleas, then give them threats and fear. Forget the currency and “no plan B” , The NATO and UN membership and all the big stories. These magazines and papers were painting a bleak picture of the wasteland that would be an independent Scotland. The Chief propaganda machine came in the shape of the BBC who was free to make up any story as long as it supported the union and slated the Yes campaign. Like parrots other channels repeated whatever the BBC put out and we had a daily cycle of scare stories and black propaganda. Most newspapers (trinity mirror owned) followed the same pattern (except for the Herald) and we saw it here in Wales where Yes supporters paid for an advert saying “Yes go for it” and the paper itself then blasted a full front page “Western Mail says No”.

To add to the propaganda and scare stories “Celebrities” were drafted in to help the No campaign, some were friends of the state like Obama (what does he celebrate on the 4th July?) Some were pop stars like David Bowie that would reach a certain generation or JK Rowling who who would appeal to the younger voter. Then you had the sickly unionist ex Wales international rugby player Gareth Edwards who would give up all his sporting memories for a knighthood. If all that wasn’t bad enough the Political parties instead of thinking we could be a great country and have strong left / right and In-between politics in a free Scotland they obeyed their Westminster masters and truly showed the world that they weren’t the “Scottish Labour” party or the Scottish Conservatives” but were mere “Branches” of the main party. Welsh Labour sent a bus load up to knock on doors etc! Worse was to come as Labour activists joined forces with the National Front and the Orange Order. How can a party shed its core beliefs to work happily with fascists? It shows how far they would go!

Then it was the political panic and (against the rules) offering new powers and deals if the people would be so kind as to vote no- this showed that they thought the Yes campaign was more successful than they’d anticipated.

Rigging and fixing. I firmly believe that a percentage of votes (postal mainly) were fixed. Simply pick people on the register who haven’t voted in previous elections and vote for them. This would have worked without problem had it not been for a greater interest in this election and people turning up at voting stations only to be told that they’d already voted! Then there was the placing of Yes votes in No piles at the counting desks. There were stations where the boxes were transported to another station and it would have been a simple case of swapping boxes. In one station the fire alarm was sounded and everyone evacuated. Does this seem far fetched? No not if you consider the stakes. If you consider the forces in play, the might of the State and its resources plus willing partners in ;the Orange lodge; free masons; party activists; state agents etc. Talking of agents, Fb and Twitter was awash with fake profiles putting out hate and negativity towards the Yes campaign and the SNP and they are a constant blight with our own campaigns in Wales too.

The Trade unions, founded as a bastion of strength to the working man by people like James Larkin who advocated home rule were also shamelessly used to tell its members “Vote No”. What do you think the men from the miners strikes in the 80s would think of the new Labour Party doing the bidding of the Tory government and its millionaire backers?

Big Business leaders were told to tell their workers “Vote No” or they would be relocating South of the border (as if every shop / business would leave a country because of a change of governance?!)

Pensioners were told they would loose their pension and people close to retirement were concerned about what would happen to their state pension and any private pension they had. All scare stories but ultimately very successful in getting people to vote No!

So what of the Yes campaign? Well it surpassed expectations judging by David Cameron’s comments recently where he was overheard saying “it should never have been that close!” Despite being hampered by a negative tv and news network it successfully got its message of possibilities and positivity across thanks to social media fb Twitter and creative adverts, the youth looked with hope and optimism at the prospect of self determination and an end to the negative aspects of the union. The Yes Campaign tried its best to counter the Labour led “Better Together ” campaign by telling people the basic facts like “we will get exactly the Government we vote for” and “we can afford it due to oil and gas reserves” (which the No camp disputed) but the key was breaking the chain to Westminster. (One trick the Yes camp missed was the Water issue and that Scotland and Wales are main water suppliers to England. They wouldn’t want to have to start paying for that)

So what now? Well you won’t get another vote that’s for sure, they will simply say “you’ve had your chance” There will be people who voted No who will regret it. Not because of the going back on promises but because Scotland has now tarnished its image. 55 percent prefer the Union flag to the Saltire? I don’t think so either but that’s what the loyalist unionist will tell you as he strangely dreams that he is in Belfast during “the Troubles” some No voters will have had their eyes opened and seen Saltires ripped from the hands of young girls or openly burnt and might think differently next time. The Saltire is the National Flag of Scotland end of!

Another problem is how to get the message across to the people who don’t use social media ? These are the ones most affected by the PR and propaganda, they don’t attend public gatherings etc and rely on TV and papers.

How do you combat the fraud and rigging? Well one thing is to scrap postal ballots and to have live cctv surveillance in all polling booths and instant counts- no transportation of boxes.

To summarise then- in the face of everything the yes campaign did brilliantly, it was never going to beat the state. Things might change a little in “Britain ” but only window dressing - nothing of importance. The rich 1% that control Westminster will already have their plans in place.

The people who care are awake and interested, the task is to keep them interested- if you have read this and articles like it then you care and that means you can spread the message that people have power. The best you can do is elect every English Political party member out of office on every level. To educate as many people on the positive aspects of your country and most of all the resources you have and to try to eradicate the Sectarianism and control the Orange Order has in certain areas.

Pob lwc / good luck and whatever happens in the future your Celtic cousins in Cymru / Wales are behind you all the way!

Adam Phillips President Balchder Cymru

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A busy week all round for Balchder Cymru, for myself and for those striving for a better future in the Celtic countries. The Brit establishment have been busy people too by the looks of it (but more of that on the next blog)

First up was remembering Owain Glyndwr becoming Tywysog Cymru (16th Sept) and the town of Corwen as usual threw themselves into it with a church service, local schools and groups involved, the Cambria Band led a parade to the statue of the great man and speeches were made and a wreath laid. "Tan tan mae Rhuthin ar dan" Fire fire Ruthins on fire was the song ringing around the square as the school childeren sang us the story of Glyndwrs first act- the sacking of Lord Grays town (Lord Gray had stolen his lands).

Then the Scottish Referendum was upon us and despite the best efforts of the Yes Camp and support from all over the world the Brit empire and its box of dirty tricks won through! (Next blog)

Friday was a down day as reality kicked in and the Brit empire still stood triumphant, we were down in Treforest for the funeral of Free Wales Army man Dafydd "Y Dug" Burns one of the "9" that were sent to jail on the actual day of the investiture of the (Pretender) Prince of Wales Charles Windsor July 1st 1969. Rest in peace comerade "Fe Godwn Ni Eto!"

Pictured is John Jenkins MAC (Mudiad Amddiffyn Cymru) who re visited Gelligaer the site of a Celtic church and later a Roman fort where over 30 yrs earlier he was pictured for his book (back cover) Prison Letters.

Saturday we held a Independence rally in Ruthin where around 60 people turned out to remind the people of Cymru that we are still here and we are still standing!