“Sorry, León”: UK not 'cradle of parliamentarism', Rajoy learns

UNESCO historians have subtly corrected him by pointing out that it was the ancient Kingdom of León which is credited with being the seat of parliamentarism, of which the city of the same name was then capital.

Rajoy credited Britain with the honour during his recent meeting with its prime minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street, in which he thanked the Conservative leader for her support of Spain over the Catalunya crisis and pledged that Brexit would not break the close links between the two countries.

In his speech at a press conference after the Downing Street meeting, Rajoy had said: “The UK is leaving the European Union, but it is not leaving Europe, and it is crucial to build a strategic alliance to help deal with common 21st-century challenges such as job creation, migration, climate change, development, cyber-security and terrorism.

“Britain's backing our handling of the Catalunya situation is particularly significant, since the UK is the cradle of parliamentarism and the rule of law.

“Winston Churchill, whose family history is linked to Spain's War of Succession, said: 'the farther back you can look, the farther forward you can see'; the history of our nations is inextricably intertwined and will carry on being so.

“The UK can count on Spain's loyal and sincere friendship.”

This speech was published in British daily broadsheet, The Guardian, and sparked irritation among the people of León.

Its mayor, Antonio Silván, wrote to Rajoy to remind him of the first Parliamentary meeting held in León in the year 1188 under the reign of King Alfonso IX, which pre-dates the first of its kind being held in Britain.

“I know you're hurt, and I understand,” Rajoy said in a written reply.

“I have spoken to your mayor, my good friend Antonio Silván, and he was kind enough to invite me to León shortly to view and share with you the places and documents that accredit the historic honour the city holds of being the 'cradle of parliamentarism' as recognised by UNESCO.”

Rajoy recalled that he was a 'León resident by adoption' since, although he is originally from the Galicia province of A Coruña, he spent most of his childhood, until the age of 15, in the centre-northern city.

He was admitted to the Disciples primary school and later the Jesuits high school, which required passing an entrance exam.

Rajoy remembered, in his letter, his 'many walks' through the city and its 'unforgettable cold', given that the region of Castilla y León sees some of the lowest winter temperatures in the whole of Spain, regularly dropping into minus figures from as early as September or October.

But this 'unforgettable cold' binds 'loyal' Spaniards who are 'proud of their origins' together in the city, Rajoy says.

“My mother country, like yours, is Spain and, like you, nothing makes me prouder than being able to speak well of Spain – there are so many reasons why! One of these was the chance to raise awareness of the 1188 Decree of León, the oldest western Parliamentary document in existence, with UNESCO back in 2012 in my first year as president of the national government.”

Rajoy announced that next year, he would travel to León in the high-speed AVE train to celebrate its opening, back in late September 2015, which 'allowed for the explosion of León as a tourist destination'.

And 2018 will be a fitting year to travel there on an official engagement, given that it will be the 830^th anniversary of the Decree and of the city becoming the 'cradle of parliamentarism'.

Also, next year will see the bi-millennial celebration of the Roman Foundation, the León Forum, and León has been named as 2018 World Culinary Capital.

León will soon become 'a major logistics hub for the west', Rajoy concluded, once the AVE rail links to Galicia and Asturias were finished – something he plans to bring to fruition before the end of his term of office.