A BBC news presenter has reminded the media about the distinctions between elections happening in Scotland, Wales and England this week.
Voters across Scotland and Wales will go to the polls on Thursday for elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Senedd. These elections will decide who leads the devolved governments for the next five years.
Meanwhile, voters in England will be casting ballots to elect representatives to 145 local councils and 13 mayors for larger regions like London, Manchester and Liverpool.
The only national elections English voters take part in are the Westminster General Elections.
All elections will be happening on May 6 causing some in the media to conflate them together as all being simply local and regional elections.
READ MORE: English elections will be a crucial test for Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer
Huw Edwards, a veteran BBC presenter, journalist and newsreader recently called attention to the distinction as we head into the final week of campaigning.
The proud Welshman tweeted: "A polite word from my Cameronian shed to remind fellow journalists that elections in Wales Scotland are not “local” or “regional” but NATIONAL. The English elections are local and regional. Humbly yours."
A polite word from my Cameronian shed to remind fellow journalists that elections in Wales 🏴 Scotland 🏴 are not “local” or “regional” but NATIONAL. The English elections are local and regional. Humbly yours. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/VdXbLnFXwY
— Huw Edwards (@huwbbc) May 3, 2021
The tweet drew ire from self-proclaimed Brexiteer Patrick O'Flynn who said that in a "UK context" they are regional, causing Edwards to reply: "Oh dear. In a UK context the home nations have national elections. You’re most welcome."
This caused O'Flynn to get his dictionary and atlas out, with the Brexiteer tweeting: "Wrong. England has no national elections, however you wish to define things. A region is any sub-division of a whole geographic entity. Hence elections in Scotland and Wales are both national - because they are nations - and, in the UK context, regional."
READ MORE: Could Plaid Cymru hold key for Labour at Welsh election?
Calm in his response, Edwards replied: "My dear chap. The fact that England doesn’t have national elections in no way affects the national status of this week’s contests in Wales and Scotland. That’s all I’m saying. Thank you."
My dear chap. The fact that England doesn’t have national elections in no way affects the national status of this week’s contests in Wales and Scotland. That’s all I’m saying. Thank you. 🏴 https://t.co/MseBAs7j3A
— Huw Edwards (@huwbbc) May 3, 2021
A strong proponent of his Welsh national identity, Edwards was ordered to delete a tongue-in-cheek tweet of himself in front of a Welsh flag by BBC bosses in March.
READ MORE: Huw Edwards deletes Welsh flag picture after Union Jack backlash
The tweet came at a time when UK Government ministers were seen in BBC interviews in front of Union flags of various sizes, to the point where BBC Breakfast presenters joked about the size of one minister's flag in an interview.
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