First Minister Mark Drakeford and two members of his Cabinet will ignore a Labour Party boycott and travel to Qatar to support the Wales team in the World Cup.
Labour are boycotting the tournament in protest at the deaths of thousands of migrant workers and the criminalisation of homosexuality. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to watch the tournament at home “on the sofa”.
Shadow sports secretary Lucy Powell has told how she has turned down an invitation to attend the tournament, which begins on November 20. Ms Powell recently received an invitation from the Qatari government, but says she is turning it down because of the country’s human rights record.
Mark Drakeford
Read more: Mark Drakeford absolutely blows his top when questioned about the Welsh NHS
She told Mail Online: “Of course I am looking forward to the World Cup and I’ll be cheering England on. We cannot avert our eyes from the problems in Qatar.
“Dozens of construction workers have been killed putting this tournament on, and LGBT England and Wales fans are having to put up with the tournament being played in a country where their sexuality is criminalised. I’m excited to cheer on the England team from my sitting room and from my local pub.”
Mark Drakeford Keir is understood to have told his MPs that he will not publicly call for a political boycott of the finals, believing that is a decision for the government, but has confirmed the party will not be sending anyone. England and Wales have both qualified for the tournament, and will play each other in Group B.
Asked whether Welsh Government ministers would be attending the World Cup in Qatar, a spokeswoman for the Welsh Government said: “We are proud that Wales will be competing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. We believe that it is better to engage with countries that do not always share our values on human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights and political and religious freedom.
Mark Drakeford
“Engaging with countries provides an opportunity to develop a platform for further discussion, to raise awareness and to potentially influence a change in approach.”
To get our free daily briefing on the biggest issues affection the nation, Wales Matters, click here
The spokeswoman indicated that there had been no change in the government’s position since last month, when Economy Minister Vaughan Gething told the Senedd: “With our hope and ambitions on the players’ shoulders, we’re afforded one of the most compelling opportunities to promote Wales globally, and to introduce Wales to new audiences.
“The Welsh Government is working closely with the Football Association of Wales and other key partners to maximise this unique opportunity.
“With a global audience of five billion people, the World Cup offers a platform to take Wales to the world and to build on our previous activity to reconnect with existing audiences, including our global Welsh diaspora. It is the most significant marketing and sports diplomacy opportunity ever presented to Wales, given the profile of the event.
“As Minister for Economy, I have lead ministerial responsibility for co-ordinating the delivery of an ambitious programme of activities that will look to maximise these opportunities and realise benefits that will be delivered through our four key objectives. These are the promotion of Wales; projecting our values; ensuring the safety of Welsh citizens at the tournament; and securing a positive and lasting legacy from our participation at the men’s World Cup.
“To support our objective to promote Wales and engage in diplomacy, the First Minister [Mark Drakeford], the Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, and Chief Whip [Dawn Bowden] and I will attend a range of events, as well as each of Wales’ group games against the USA, Iran and England. “And I’m hoping to add more, depending on progress in the tournament. The core aim of these visits will be to support initiatives that will help to grow the economy, raise the profile of Wales and promote us as a globally responsible nation.
“We are acutely aware of the significant challenges in hosting an Mark Drakeford of this nature in Qatar, with the fine balance we need to strike between maximising opportunities and promoting our core values as a nation. Hosting the World Cup in Qatar has shone a light on that country’s human rights and workers’ rights records.
“We know that some of our LGBTQ+ fans will not travel to the country, due to its stance on LGBTQ+ rights, for example. We will use our platform as an opportunity to express our values and to demonstrate that Wales is a nation of values on the world stage.
Mark Drakeford
“We will do this through our enhanced marketing campaign and international engagement, including through our promotion of the diverse stories of modern today’s Wales and, indeed, of Wales as a nation of sanctuary. “The Welsh Government recognises that the diversity of our global relationship means that not all the countries with which we have a relationship will share the same values. We take a balanced approach to our international engagement, promoting Wales’s values and engaging constructively with Mark Drakeford and stakeholders across these issues.”
Read next:
- Grieving parents share pain of losing their girl, 6, as killer drink driver is jailed
- ‘Legendary’ Mark Drakeford suddenly dies weeks after lorry crash
- The man waiting for the apocalypse in a Welsh council estate abandoned to nature
- ‘Superhero’ dad dies before he could fulfil dream of watching Wales in the World Cup
- ‘Adored’ nurse made tragic call to girlfriend before falling from mountain
Story Saved
You can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.
