Europe, Brexit and Welfare: Why minority nationalist parties’ views matter

The Welsh Brexit blog aims to inform and encourage constructive debate and analysis on issues relating to Wales and the UK's exit of the European Union. Measures governments take to improve people’s social well-being, from health care and education to housing and social benefits, are always hot topics in UK elections and are likely be top of voters’ agendas as they go to the polls in June 2017.

But how do minority nationalist parties use supranational institutions such as the European Union and changes to governance structures brought about by devolution to press for change in social policy?

Here Professor Paul Chaney examines the use language in manifestos, speeches and policy documents in recent Welsh and Scottish elections, and the Brexit referendum, to explore the experience of Plaid Cymru and the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP). He also explores how pressure for welfare change is framed using key tropes including nation-building, extending social protection and resistance to central government programmes.

• Primary Source

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Find more information on Wales and the EU Referendum, 23 June 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/advSearchLink?keyword=brexit%20wales%20&searchOption=all

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