Quote Originally Posted by SLUDGE FACTORY View Post
It is true

Its been that way since the industrial revolution and the coal , steel and Iron industries that brought loads of people from Somerset and the West Country to work in South Wales
I have seen costings that suggest Wales can pay for itself, which seemed entirely reasonable.

We sit here thinking - oh poor Wales, cant afford to be a proper country - yet why is that still the case, after x hundred years of control by England, why are we still the poorest part of the UK? because we are continually neglected, and there is no reason to imagine that is going to change any time soon.

100 years ago Ireland was becoming independent. It was the poorest part of the UK, only really did trade with the UK. and had a really weak economy.

100 years later and they have fared a lot better on their own than they would have within the UK. If they can do it then why can't we?

There are plenty of countries in Europe that would have a lower GDP than a separate Wales. Croatia for example - they manage to be a functioning country don't they?