Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Professor Phil Williams

Monday 16 June 2003 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Phil Williams [obituary by Meic Stephens, 13 June] was at heart more socialist than nationalist, even though he nailed his colours to the Plaid Cymru mast, writes Tony Heath.

That was vividly illustrated on St David's Day 2001 when he attended the inaugural meeting of the Bevan Foundation, a left-wing think tank taking its title from Nye Bevan. At the launch in Tredegar he was spotted in the audience by Paul Starling, then the foundation's director, and welcomed with the words, "I'm glad to see Phil Williams here. He's a socialist." Williams smiled in grateful recognition. Had he lived he might have succeeded in curing Plaid's perennial handicap - an inability to bridge the divide between cultural nationalism in rural Wales and the radicalism that still informs the heavily populated south.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in