Respect can bridge political differences

WHO would have thought renaming the second Severn Crossing the Prince of Wales Bridge would ignite such controversy?

Could anyone in Whitehall have predicted that thousands of people would sign a petition in protest or that politicians would react with public consternation?

Actually, the response was completely foreseeable.

Senior figures in the Wales Office will have an acute understanding of the sensitivities in contemporary Welsh politics and an awareness of how Wales has changed since the dawn of devolution.

It was inevitable that republicans and many Welsh nationalists would object to an iconic landmark being named in honour of the heir of the British throne. But what has caused wider concern is that the decision was made without consultation with the Assembly or the wider public, although there was correspondence with the First Minister.

This is in stark contrast with the approach taken in Scotland; there, a public vote was held to choose a new name for the “Forth Replacement Crossing”. Around 7,600 suggestions were put forward and more than 37,000 votes were cast.

The Scots had an exercise in democracy which culminated in the selection of the Queensferry Crossing as the name for the road bridge. In Wales there is frustration that the nearest thing there is to an official gateway to the nation is being renamed without debate.

There are those in Wales who respect the Royal family’s contribution to national life; it is not at all impossible, for example, that Welsh communities in the future will vote to name public buildings and landmarks in appreciation of the Queen. Supporters of the monarchy may regret that a move intended to honour the Prince of Wales has ignited controversy.

David Cameron liked to talk of a “respect” agenda when it came to relations with the devolved institutions. It is important that unnecessary provocations are avoided, especially when it is vital that people from different political tribes work together to ensure the best possible outcome for each nation in the UK as the country leaves the European Union.

There are issues of much greater consequences than the name of a bridge. Child poverty and deprivation blight Wales, but these challenges cannot be tackled without trust, goodwill and cooperation – things which should be strengthened rather than strained.