Reform and NI unionists blast nationalist government in Wales over using term 'North of Ireland' in official business
Reform UK has accused Wales’s nationalist First Minister of disrespecting the people of Northern Ireland, by refusing to say they will only use the country’s official name in government business.
The party says Plaid Cymru don’t want to upset “their friends in Sinn Féin” – and rubbished a claim by Rhun ap Iorwerth that use of terminology like “the north of Ireland” is about “parity of esteem” in the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
That explanation by the Welsh nationalist leader – the first separatist to lead a government there – has also been rubbished by unionists in Belfast.
The UUP called it a “display of utter contempt” – with Jon Burrows saying he would never disrespect Wales by calling it “the west of Britain”.
The TUV queried whether the nationalist government in Cardiff would “like it if Wales was referred to as West England”.
The issue first arose when Reform UK Wales asked the first minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to ensure that all his ministers and officials do not refer to Northern Ireland as the north of Ireland in all government business.
The Plaid Cymru leader responded: “Parity of esteem is a key principle of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, requires respect for, and just and equal treatment of, the identities, traditions and aspirations of both Unionist and Nationalist communities in Northern Ireland. The Welsh Government will ensure the terminology it uses accords with the principle of parity of esteem”.
A Reform UK Wales spokesman told the News Letter that the party “is appalled that Plaid Cymru shows such disrespect to the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom”.
“Nowhere in the Belfast Agreement does it state that ‘north of Ireland’ is an accepted legal term for the province.
“Plaid Cymru may not want to upset their friends in Sinn Féin, but they must ensure the official name used across the Kingdom is the only term used in all official business”, they added.
The first minister’s office declined to respond when asked questions about its policy by the News Letter.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows said: “Once again, nationalism has shown its true colours. The refusal of Welsh Government ministers to commit to using the correct, legal name of Northern Ireland is a display of utter contempt for an integral part of the United Kingdom and for the people who live here.
“Parity of esteem is not a licence to erase Northern Ireland’s constitutional reality. Nowhere in the Belfast Agreement is ‘the north of Ireland’ recognised as a legal or official term. Northern Ireland is our country’s name, in law, in international treaties, and in the Agreement itself.
“I doubt the Welsh Government would take kindly to being referred to as ‘the west of Britain.’ I would never disrespect the people of Wales, and nor should their government disrespect the people of Northern Ireland. Yet when its ministers write to our Executive, the reply on the letterhead will say what it has always said: the Northern Ireland Executive.
“I genuinely expected better from the First Minister of Wales. But when a party takes its lead from Sinn Féin, perhaps we should not be surprised. Unionism across this United Kingdom must stand united in calling this out.”
TUV Chairman and East Londonderry candidate, councillor Allister Kyle, said: “Whatever my problems with the Belfast Agreement, and they are many and profound, it did at least recognise the constitutional position of Northern Ireland.
“It is the express position of the Agreement that there can be no change to that without the express consent of the people of Northern Ireland.
“That was disregarded when it came to the imposition of the Sea Border. Now the Nationalist administration in Wales won’t even tell us if they use the official name of Northern Ireland in correspondence.
“To cite the Belfast Agreement to defend this is perverse as it recognises that a referendum is necessary to break up the UK. Regardless of party, Ministers in Northern Ireland serve in the Northern Ireland executive and the Cardiff administration needs to recognise that.
“I commend Reform UK for bringing this important issue to light. It is, as they rightly say, an insult to the people of this part of the UK.
“How would the Welsh Government like it if Wales was referred to as West England? After all, it is all one island and England occupies the greater landmass.
“This is another example of how devolution is being weaponised by Nationalism to further their divisive agenda to break up the UK.”