Drakeford refuses to say if he thinks Wales will have an indy referendum in next 20 years
Mark Drakeford has refused to say if he thinks Wales will have an independence referendum in the next 20 years.
The First Minister was questioned about the likelihood of Welsh independence during an interview with The House Magazine.
Though he would not commit to a 20-year prediction, he did say doesn’t see “any prospect” of a Welsh independence referendum in the next five years.
Drakeford, who insisted that he is a committed unionist, told the magazine that he often “gets into trouble” with supporters of Welsh independence.
He has said he wants “radical federalism”, which would recognise that the union is now a voluntary association of four nations.
He said: “In fact, if not in law, nearly a quarter of a century into devolution, sovereignty in the United Kingdom is now dispersed. It is not held uniquely in Westminster decisions are made separately and independently in the four nations.
“We choose to pool our sovereignty for common purposes that we discharge better when we do them together.
“For me, the case for the United Kingdom has always been that it is a great insurance policy: we all pay in, and we’re all able to draw out of it when needs arise.
“When you have a UK government that sees itself in this way, it is also a great instrument and engine of redistribution. It makes sure that opportunities and investments are shared properly around the United Kingdom.”
‘Coronavirus’
He also said: ““The experience of coronavirus has shown people in Wales the breadth of independent decision making we already have.
“For some people that has led them to ask the question, would we be better off if we had more of that?
“But when it came to an election rather than an opinion poll, where this was absolutely explicitly in front of them, the result was very clear.
“The proportion of people in Wales who voted for a party that wanted separation went down, not up.”
Support our Nation today
For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.
Dydd Gŵyl Glyn Dŵr hapus i bawb / Happy Glyn Dŵr Day to all.
Yes Cymru !!!!!!!!
Rank and file, ditch the poodle.
Still fellating Westminster after its power grab while English Labour sat there and did nothing.
Don’t expect any leading from the front from Mr.D. I know he is losing support on his leading from behind.
Today is also the anniversary on wearing face masks in enclosed places.According to the Welsh Governmemt website it was brought in because cases were increasing sharply in the Welsh Valleys.
Surely they’ve come down in 12 months.
Mark Drakeford is living in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks ‘sovereignty in the united kingdom is dispersed’….alas a single act at westminster could shut the senedd down. Furthermore the uk govt at westminster has removed powers from the senedd the people of wales voted for in a referendum. At present our Senedd is entirely at the mercy of a voracious english nationalist govt in Westminster – a deplorable state of affairs Wales’ labour leader seems happy to continue with ☹️
He hasn’t said there will be an independence vote in the next twenty years but by the same token he hasn’t said there won’t be. As usual he is hedging his bets. His declared aim of “radical federalism” would mean more power and more scope of action for the Senedd and therefore by implication for him or whoever succeeds him. As a politician, of course he wants more power. But the covid crisis seems to show he has capable of using it more wisely than the English government is. He is walking a tightrope. If he argues too forcefully for… Read more »
I bet he says. Ask me again in 2023. The year Scotland becomes an independent nation again and rejoins the world. #Alba 🏴 #IndyRef2 #YesCymru🏴
I think he’s doing the right thing in playing right down the prospect of a referendum. As things stand, less than 50% of the population favour independence. We’d fail.
If we use the time wisely, those five years are exactly what we need.
I think Drakeford’s opinion will vastly change in 2023 when reality kicks in. 🏴 👍
Welsh voters will have a choice too. Be a 🏴 nation or become an appendage of 🏴.
Kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s it’s time for a new wales 🏴 A Free Wales 🏴 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh for the future of our children and grandchildren
It would be interesting to demand that the so-called Welsh Conservative and Unionist party explain to us all in detail in which ways they might deserve to be called Welsh.
As far as I can see they don not even support nothing the current level of devolution and are plotting with St Steffan to undermine it.
still trotting out the old “insurance policy” rubbish, the last 18 months has shown the insurance company only pays out when it suits them, the tories have already stated they are working to remove the ability for devolved governments to act independently should a similar emergency occur.
“It makes sure that opportunities and investments are shared properly around the United Kingdom” – The trouble is the Union has never done that, most of the wealth is tied up in the south east of England. Wales has been neglected for years and years. And, let’s be honest – Welsh Labour owes its election victory to their handling of Covid-19, not the party’s devolution or independence policy. It is highly likely we will be independent in 20 years time.
Radical Federalism is the mantra of fools and knaves as it is an obvious political nonstarter in Westminster.
Which is Mark Drakeford?
Nid yw eistedd ar ffens yn hobi synhwyrol i arweinydd Llafur. Profodd ffens Brexit yn angheuol i JC.