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Gwlad Gwlad standing in four seats where Plaid Cymru have withdrawn ‘to offer people a pro-independence vote’

15 Nov 2019 4 minute read
Gwlad Gwlad leader Gwyn Wigley Evans

Gwlad Gwlad have said they will contest four seats at the General Election where Plaid Cymru have stood down for the Liberal Democrats and Greens.

The party formerly known as Ein Gwlad which describes itself online as centre-right and pro-Brexit said they will stand in Montgomery, Brecon and Radnor, Cardiff Central and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Party leader Gwyn Wigley Evans, who is standing in Montgomeryshire, said that it was a difficult decision to stump up the £2000 to stand but that Plaid Cymru hadn’t left them with a choice.

“The idea from the start was that we wouldn’t stand for Westminster seats, but given that Plaid Cymru aren’t standing we want to offer people a pro-independence vote,” he said.

“We’ve been put in this situation. It’s an outrage that Plaid Cymru aren’t standing and we have to adapt to that.

“I just don’t see that Plaid Cymru supporters in Montgomeryshire are going to vote for the Liberal Democrats. It’s a step too far to ask them to do that.

“Jo Swinson has said that even if there’s a second referendum to stay in the EU and Leave win she will still campaign to stay in the EU.”

The party intends to stand in all the seats in Wales at the 2021 Senedd elections. However, Gwyn said that they would not split the pro-independence vote by challenging Plaid Cymru.

“We will only be attracting people who don’t want to vote for Plaid Cymru,” he said. “They are too far on the left for many people.

“They have said that they will refuse to work with the Conservatives after the election – will refuse to join a rainbow government.

“We formed when Leanne Wood was the leader and although I’m glad that they shifted back a little bit towards the centre under Adam Price they’re still far too left-wing.”

 

‘Keyboard warriors’

Gwlad, Gwlad have faced persistent accusations of being a far-right party, which they have denied.

Despite the party describing itself as centre-right on its Facebook page, Gwyn Wigley Evans claims that the party is neither left not right, citing the fact that they support both a Citizen’s Income and a Flat Tax.

Nation.Cymru asked Gwyn about a recent post on the party’s Facebook page praising the far-right Lega Nord and Brothers of Italy parties, and past praise for Hungary’s Viktor Orban.

“I haven’t seen that post on Facebook. And the person who praised Viktor Orban left a long time ago,” Gwyn Wigley Evans said.

“The people calling us far right are just keyboard warriors. They use the term fascist far too easily and freely. They are just trying to upset us but haven’t succeeded.

“The old idea of left and right has been crushed completely. The old traditional politics is never coming back.

“We are neither left not right. If an idea is good we will adopt it wherever it is on the political spectrum.

“We do however appose another Brexit referendum. The people have spoken and we should implement their decision.

“What we need now is Wexit – a referendum on Welsh independence. And once we have that we can have a second Brexit referendum and decide whether we want to be in the EU or not.

“We want independence for Wales, and end to the circus at Westminster, and an opportunity to look after our own nation.

“When I fly to eastern Europe I look out the window and see small independent nations everwhere. We’re the odd ones out. We could try it!”

‘Disagreement’

Gwlad, Gwlad have also faced recent internal changes with the departure of previous chairman Gwilym ap Ioan and others.

A former member told Nation.Cymru that the party was “nearing death” and had less than 40 members when he resigned.

However, Gwyn Wigley Evans said that the departures would allow the party to change direction.

“There was a disagreement about the direction of the party,” he said. “They were more virulent than we wanted to be. They had history with Plaid Cymru and wanted to get even. It was too personal.

“We think Yes Cymru and Plaid Cymru are excellent. We want to work with them.”


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Richard Jenkins
Richard Jenkins
5 years ago

Most importantly to understand, I believe, is these ridiculous blood & guts nationalists are a Brecit supporting party. Diametrically opposite & opposed to Plaid Cymru’s inclusive, civic Nationalism. They do not ‘deputise’ for Plaid Cymru in any way. They will be opposing the Remain candidate. Hopefully, further splitting the Brecit vote. The sadness is that there are a few deluded, racists, who will vote for them.

Jill o the South
Jill o the South
5 years ago

It is a pity that Plaid Cymru have had very little blood and guts in recent years. How can you call them inclusive when you know very well that a swathe of your membership voted to Leave the EU? You write as if your civic nationalism is the only game in town. It is obvious that the Party of Wales has not been doing its job properly over the past two decades or you wouldn’t have lost these people who no longer feel included. You do realise that your party are viewed as deluded racists by some?

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
5 years ago

‘vast swathe’ of plaid cymrus membership voted to leave the EU – it’s you that’s ‘deluded’. The overwhelming majority of plaid members voted remain and are committed to Wales becoming a full member of the EU once we’ve departed the reactionary England dominated UK. And the only person that thinks plaid are racists are anonymous Brit Nat trolls like yourself posting under fabricated identity

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Leigh – You may just be right about “Plaid members”, but JoS may be nearer the truth if referring to “Plaid supporters”. Plaid’s best estimate of membership is still less than 10,000 so some regard for the views and preferences of non-member supporters would be tactically sound if Plaid wishes to maintain some sort of representative presence at Westminster post 2019. As for GG, EG or G, whichever name they go by today, I have read all their bumph and it is very grounded, devoid of high falutin’ bull***t, a nice change from the stuff churned out by the various… Read more »

Jonesy
Jonesy
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Plaid members do not sway or win elections, their voters during an election do. And it’s best PC started talking to them and including them in their conversation – rather than turning a deaf ear to us

Jill o the South
Jill o the South
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

‘swathe’ Leigh not vast swathe. Why would you put the word vast in there? Freudian Slip. Come come, a Brit Nat Troll? You only have to read the comments from the people of Monmouthshire on the South Wales Argus Facebook page to know what a lot of our fellow countrymen and women feel about PC. Isn’t ‘reactionary England dominated UK’ a tad on the racist spectrum?

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Some may have voted Brexit, but I think they regret it and would now vote with
people like me who are now pretty keen on Remaining.
Yesterday’s press release by Tesla should have a few stragglers signing up for Remain.
Plaid and Adam Price are on the money here

David Roberts
David Roberts
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

42% of Plaid voters voted out!!!!!!!

Redmond Mocke
Redmond Mocke
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

What planet are you on. The vast majority of Welsh people voted to leave. PC is run by a bunch of village idiots stuck in 1404AD.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago
Reply to  Redmond Mocke

“Voted” is the key here. “Will be voting” is the new key.

John Young
John Young
5 years ago
Reply to  Redmond Mocke

This isn’t a reply for you Redmond, as you’re obviously a very silly person, but just to point out to everyone else who reads your strange post that the Welsh leave vote was 52.5%.

Hardly a ‘vast’ majority.

David Owen
David Owen
5 years ago

Well worth a read.
“The Fascist Party in Wales? – Plaid Cymru, Welsh Nationalism and the Accusation of Fascism”. Author: Richard Wyn Jones.
Publisher: University of Wales Press.
ISBN : 9781783160563

Jill o the South
Jill o the South
5 years ago
Reply to  David Owen

What’s in a name eh? I always wondered why such an esteemed academic with nationalist sympathies put such a loaded title on the front of a book. Give a dog a bad name and it sticks.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago

JoS, Not so difficult to work out. RWJ had a book to sell and despite the serious nature of its thesis it needed some sensational text on the cover to draw in the “punters”, or so his marketing wonk would have advised. As for the Fascism in the title, it relates to the real deal of the 20’s – 40’s when a small number of early Plaidos were sucked in by Adolf and particularly Benito. “Fascism” today it is often just a word that crops up in the stunted vocabulary of those who enjoy a bit of name-calling and don’t… Read more »

Tomos
Tomos
5 years ago

Gwlad Gwlad have three Parliamentary candidates, not four: they haven’t nominated a candidate in Brecon and Radnorshire.

A prophecy is buried in Eglwyseg
A prophecy is buried in Eglwyseg
5 years ago

The Rebellion of the Owl will begin along the borders of northern Sir Gar, not through a political party

Aled Gwyn Job
Aled Gwyn Job
5 years ago

This is quite a balanced piece in fairness, although the author is misguided when he states that GWLAD is ‘pro-Brexit’ . We do not endorse either a ‘Leave’ or ‘Remain’ position as such, as we seek to be a national party which can appeal to all Welsh voters, over and above the narrow and divisive ‘Leavers’ versus ‘Remainers’ narrative. However, we have said that we feel the original vote should be better respected by the political class or else there is a danger that trust in democracy itself is undermined. Already on the campaign trail, we have encountered a huge… Read more »

Ifan Morgan Jones
5 years ago
Reply to  Aled Gwyn Job

The problem with reporting on Ein Gwlad is that despite having quite a small leadership team there seems to be quite some internal difference of opinions. You deny that the party is pro-Brexit but the leader is quoted in this article saying you oppose another referendum and that the will of the people should be implemented – that is by any interpretation a pro-Brexit position. Similarly, the leader says that you are neither left nor right but on your Facebook group you say you are centre-right. It’s not really the journalist’s job to sort your internal contradictions out for you.… Read more »

Royston Jones
5 years ago

There are people who campaigned to stay in the EU prior to the June 2016 referendum who are now prepared to implement the verdict of the electorate, does that make them supporters of Brexit? Looking in from the outside, my understanding has been that Gwlad Gwlad accepts the 2016 vote, prioritises independence and, once that is achieved, will put it to the people whether to join the EU. I suspect that the motivation is to avoid the ‘distractions’ that bedevil Plaid Cymru; Brexit, climate change, identity politics, etc., and focus on Wales and Welsh issues. And if that can be… Read more »

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago

Ifan, they “would ” have been Ein Gwlad if the Electoral Commission had been impartial.
So they came up with Gwlad Gwlad, to get through quicker. Didn’t you know this?
Okay, give benefit of doubt , but it’s like Johnson calling the SNP “The Scottish Nationalists Party” as if they were unknown, when he knows his lot are about to be smashed by the Scottish National Party. The ploy won’t work.

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Aled Gwyn Job

Who knows what gwlad support as they will change their principles when its convenient.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Alwyn J Evans

Heaven forbid. How dare they encroach on the oligopoly of flexible principles held by the Unionist Parties ( including Plaid)

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

It’s not that they would dare, it’s that they would choose to. That’s disappointing.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
5 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

er how can a party (plaid cymru) which for decades has been committed to leaving the uk and establishing a independent wales be ‘unionist’?

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Sadly what Plaid says “on the tin” doesn’t regularly turn up “in the tin”. Shame but that is the end result of excessive posturing and gesture politics.

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Plaid sit in and vote on, union matters in a unionist parliament after swearing. allegiance to the unionist monarch. Legally they are a unionist party, by collaboration and co-operation they are a unionist party. Vague ambitions are never offset by the reality of present action. One day I desire to have a Lamborghini, today I am a cyclist.

John Young
John Young
5 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Leigh, I was a member of Plaid up to about three years ago and left because I was so frustrated that they WOULDN’T talk about independence. Leanne had an enormous amount of airtime when she was the leader but avoided the indy word completely. The only time she addressed it was when an audience member, if it was that type of programme, asked the question.

At the time I sent emails to Ty Gwynfor asking why this was the case. I had some answers but some mails were just ignored.

Redmond Mocke
Redmond Mocke
5 years ago
Reply to  Aled Gwyn Job

Yes and no, 😉 there must be priorities in independence. The first priority must be to have a leader that can motivate Welsh people to get off their back sides and work our wonderful resources. Only when we have economic independence can we believe in ourselves and not exist on begging bowls. We have by far the best natural resources in the UK. Sitting back like PC still licking 1404AD wounds is counter productive. We should, with our natural resources, not have to depend on handouts by Westminster or Brussels.

andrew smith
andrew smith
4 years ago
Reply to  Redmond Mocke

Join the discussion…

Aled Gwyn Job
Aled Gwyn Job
5 years ago

Ifan. C’mon. Another mistake. It’s not Ein Gwlad. It’s GWLAD. As has been explained before, the name was changed because of the Electoral Commission’s decision. As for your point about inconsistency as regards political labels, GWE’s statement about not being left or right means that the extremes of both the left and the right are rejected. Placing ourselves generally on the centre-right in Welsh politics as small ‘c’ nationalists is totally consistent with this: as anyone who knows anything about Wales, culturally, socially and politically, will understand that this world view is miles apart from what would be considered ‘right… Read more »

Ifan Morgan Jones
5 years ago
Reply to  Aled Gwyn Job

It’s not actually Ein Gwlad or GWLAD – it’s Gwlad Gwlad according to the electoral commission. Nevertheless, if you would like me to not report what your party has to say in case this misleads readers, I’m happy to oblige.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago

How happy?

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago

They’ve repeatedly said they won’t stand in Westminster elections. I have no issue with them standing in westminster elections but lying puts them in the same pot as the rest. A very disappointing response to their first test.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Alwyn J Evans

Hardly a lie …. just a slight shift in position which I would recommend they don’t make a habit of doing. One of its virtues is that it proposes to shun Westminster’s toxic pond and focus on our cesspit here in Wales where it feels it can make a difference. At least that’s how I understood their message. On any scale it is very small beer and fails to match some of the dud stuff we’ve had from Unionist parties including our own. Piecemeal promises with no coherent costing or funding from parties either in government or with extensive experience… Read more »

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  Huw Davies

It’s unfortunate as their decision not to engage with the westminster system was one of their biggest attractions for myself. All parties that seek a place in the union parliament, are unionist parties.

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
5 years ago
Reply to  Alwyn J Evans

More of a case of impulsive gesture politics which will p**s me off if they keep doing it. Leave that nonsense to others who seem to need it. I trust that this is a one off due to this protracted Brexit mess.

GWYN W EVANS
GWYN W EVANS
5 years ago
Reply to  Alwyn J Evans

We have said that we would not stand for Westminster elections, you are quite right, and if PC were standing in all the constituencies as they should being “the party of (all) Wales”, that would still be the case. We did not anticipate (our fault) that they would do a deal in London behind closed doors with British unionist parties not to stand. We decided to stand in the 4 breaches (our B+R candidate had to stand down last minute for personal reason, we wish her all the best) so that those people who were denied the chance could vote… Read more »

Alwyn J Evans
Alwyn J Evans
5 years ago
Reply to  GWYN W EVANS

Gwyn, I understand why they have chosen to stand and hopefully as Huw stated it is an impulsive reaction. And there is the issue, they appeared to offer a different approach. All the other parties play the same game and it has delivered nothing. Gwlad appeared to be very clear in not wanting to play that game but have now decided they want to join in and their reasoning is exactly the same as all the other parties. Wales is being failed by the system, a new way is the only way to change that.

Redmond Mocke
Redmond Mocke
5 years ago
Reply to  Alwyn J Evans

Gwlad Gwlad is only standing in those seats as Plaid Cymru has sold its soul to foreign parties against its own people.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
5 years ago

Gwlad say they are neither Right or Left, or Liberal, then they hold out a raft of Right wing policies.
They are against Climate actions, hail Brexit, and against the European Union. This is fraudulent?
Wouldn’t it be better if they just came right out and said ‘ we are a conservative party for Cymru’ ?
I do not agree with Jenkins calling them racist, as Trotsky called the nationalities wanting indy in Russia.

Redmond Mocke
Redmond Mocke
5 years ago

Gwlad Gwlad the future of Welsh politics. Plaid Cymru is just a bunch of village idiots siding with foreign parties against the majority of the nation.

John
John
5 years ago

A party of ‘Pick ‘n Mix’ policies (neither left nor right – what nonsense). A party so united that its leading lights cannot decide whether to support Brexit – only a decision of existential proportions. Probably only really attractive to Plaid dissenters and ultra-nats…

fred
fred
5 years ago

Adam Price – “Right”

fred
fred
5 years ago

Adam Price – “Right” !!!

Marianne Hancock
Marianne Hancock
3 years ago

What is in a name? Is Jill o’ the South a follower of Jac o’ the North? She should know that Aled Gwyn Job disapproves of female politicians. In a world which had given us Margaret Thatcher and Boudicca, he thinks women don’t have the required skills such as diplomacy. While I agree with Jac o’ the North about a citizen’s income, he lacks the alleged masculine trait of diplomacy which is why he was dropped from the steering committee of the party he founded, and finally left the party. Judging from his blog, he hates the old and weak,… Read more »

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