SCOTTISH REFERENDUM WAS 'DAVID AND GOLIATH' FIGHT SAY PENARTH PLAID CYMRU CANDIDATES

The Scottish referendum campaign has been described as a David and Goliath contest by Plaid Cymru's UK Parliament and National Assembly candidates for Penarth, Ben Foday and Dafydd Trystan Davies...

Ben Foday (left) and Dafydd Trystan Davies

They said the closeness of the result was remarkable, considering that the UK Government threw everything at Scotland in a bid to get a No result.

In a joint statement, Mr Foday and Dr Davies said: “The Yes campaign focussed on the remoteness of Westminster and how it has failed Scotland over the years. Regardless of the result, we hope this will act as a wake-up call to the people of Wales to realise that we have also had a rough deal from central government over the years.

“The Yes campaign worked tirelessly with a positive and comprehensive case for an independent Scotland. On the doorstep and on street stalls they engaged with and inspired a whole generation.

"The No campaign relied on London-based politicians, backed by a motley crew of luvvies, sporting has-beens and ‘comedians’, by the BBC with its institutionalised bias in favour of the status quo and by an increasingly hysterical right-wing press.

“We are delighted that so many Scots saw through their bribes, blackmail, fear-mongering and bully boy tactics and voted for independence.

“Nothing will be the same again in British politics and we will be interested to see if the UK Government has any sops left over for Wales after it fulfils its commitment to throw at Scotland all the money it offered for a No vote.

“We in Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales, have already started setting out our ambitious plans for our nation to chart its own course.

“We will be campaigning vigorously for the UK General Election next year and for our national election in 2016. It is up to those politicians who want to retain the status quo to outline their vision and plans for the future of Wales - if they have any.”

PENARTH MAN'S SONG FOR SCOTLAND

Penarth singer-songwriter Adrian Roper has written and recorded a song in support of a Yes vote at this month’s Scottish independence referendum...

Adrian Roper

Adrian, a well-known part of the music scene in Penarth, wrote Freedom’s Hame (home), which is now on Youtube.

With instrumental support from his fellow band-members in The Wide Open Spaces, the song is beautifully enhanced by backing vocals and bag-pipe drone sounds from The Lovely Wars, who also produced the song.

Adrian, who lived for a while in Scotland, has recorded his song in Scottish dialect.

He will be travelling north later this month with his daughter, Bethan, to support the Yes campaign and will be staying for the result of the referendum, which is being held on Thursday. September 18.

“I’ve written a number of songs,” he said, "but consider this to be my most important."

“I can’t say I’m rivalling The Proclaimers for a place at the top of the charts, but hope nevertheless to make my small contribution to the Yes vote campaign."

“I’m looking forward to spending time with some old friends in Scotland and encouraging everyone I meet to take this once-in-a-lifetime chance to vote for independence."

“It’s great to see the recent ‘bounce’ for a Yes vote in the opinion polls and so exciting for Scotland and for the rest of the UK too. The Scots have really grown in self-confidence and are clearly moving from dependency on a remote Westminster towards running their own affairs instead."

“As The Proclaimers say on their hit record: I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land - cap in hand.”