The “test” is quite simple really. When you go to another country do you respect the native culture, language, heritage etc or do you just bring your own baggage and expect everybody to adapt around it ? If you go to Birmingham, Manchester, London you are expected to respect the prevailing values ( whatever they may be ! ) That’s why there such a rumpus about foreigners coming into UK ( a.k.a England ) and not speaking the lingo from day 1 ! So , Wales needs a similar code of respect, without the jingoism, just a bit of effort that acknowledges that identity.

The ‘born elsewhere’ I know well are doing essential jobs to keep Wales going especially rural Wales. Many also try to learn Welsh. I do not like the insinuation that these good people are less Welsh than people born in Wales.

I would completely agree with Jac that serious policy efforts need to be taken to stop social dumping or self dumping in Wales, there are many actions which could be taken but it would require an understanding of the problems and the processes of dumping and the guts to do something about it. Sadly mixing up those who try to contribute with those who only take is quite depressing. I am pleased you have the guts to raise these issues.

PS In response to your Welsh lady (very funny), some of us to paraphrase her call, do jobs nobody in Wales seems very keen to do.

You appear to be an Anglo that is seething with envy towards another Englishman who made a move and managed a degree of integration that the majority of recent migrants either fail to achieve or don’t see any need to achieve. Indeed I would go so far as to say that if a person tries hard but fails then an old obsessive like me who really cherishes identity and all the stuff that goes with it will reach out and “accomodate”.

It’s the vast majority of migrants who arouse intense dislike, even cause offence, by their active ( or passive ) gestures of indifference and hostility towards the language and culture. That M Parker has provoked such a bilious response from the usual quarters shows how near the surface that hostile instinct resides. We have seen Anglos who have lived here for long enough to wise up to local characteristics indulge in quips like “don’t bring that language near me…” and aspiring politicians trot out some sad lines of criticism without having the good sense to check that they hadn’t blotted their own books in the past. The recent advent of UKIP and the desparation of Welsh Labour to cling on to any means of attacking Plaid and “staying ahead of the game”, whatever that game may be, has added an intensity to the “anti-Welsh cause” within Wales which is highly regretable. However it was always there, and now out in the open so it is less deniable by all those mealy mouthed public figures who have tried to pretend the issue did not exist.

I stand by, “Wales belongs to those born and bred here”, and especially when confronted by colonialists trying to take over our country. But Mike Parker has chosen to integrate, therefore I have no problem in accepting him, as the Plaid candidate or anything else. Why does it bother you? Anyway, this exchange is going nowhere. I’ve made my position clear, if you can’t accept or understand it, then that’s your problem.

The reason I’m being repetitive is that you are refusing to answer, and there is what you call a “symmetry or logical progression” about all this. You shouldn’t be having opinions if you can’t make them fit together. If you can’t answer then it perhaps says more about you than you realise. I answered all your questions, so why can’t you have a go at this?:

“If Wales belongs to those `born and bred’ there, which you confirm you believe, then how can you approve of someone from England being a Plaid candidate, presumably having beaten `born and bred’ applicants to the post in a selection process.”

Just give it your best shot.

Look, pal. you’ve caught me in a good mood, Swans won. Os won, and that’s why I’m spending time on you; but as you say, it’s getting late, and as I might say, you’re a repetitive bastard, who has now worn out his welcome. So Good-night.

What I meant clumsily by “central north Wales” was the coastal stretch between the old Arfon and the start of the Merseyside conurbation. How else can I put it? – the part of north Wales that isn’t particularly Welsh Wales? Don’t suppose you’ll like that either.

I found your blog on the previous occasions because I was trawling for information about how the Green Party in Wales had changed since I was active in it, and there seemed to be lots of information, of a sort, here. This post starts with two references to MP, so it isn’t the wrong post, it’s the active post of the two.

You seem to be very determined to gloss over the questions you can’t handle, so I’ll just repeat one here:
“Well if MP knows exactly where you stand it’s more than I do. If Wales belongs to those “born and bred” there, which you confirm you believe, then how can you approve of someone from England being a Plaid candidate, presumably having beaten “born and bred” applicants to the post in a selection process?” It’s most unlikely that you would approve of that, which is why I think there must be some other agenda in play.

Time for bed, g’night.