Open letter calls for First Minister to set up independence commission

An open letter has called for the First Minister to set up an independence commission.

The letter, written by pro-indy groups, argues that an independence commission is needed “not one to salvage the union”.

It has been signed by members of the former Central Committee of Yes Cymru, Welsh Football Fans for Independence, Melin Drafod, AUOBCymru, Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Undod.

They oppose Mark Drakeford’s idea of a constitutional commission on reforming the union and argued that the “answer is the complete freedom for the people and communities of Wales to choose our own path”.

It also says that Westminster has left one in three of our children in poverty”, and that the British state has “history of illegal wars and its proclivity for breaking international agreements”.

The letter says: “As groups which represent the views of hundreds of thousands of people in Wales, we write to express our opposition to your proposed constitutional commission.

“The day is coming soon when our country will achieve its independence — that is increasingly clear for all to see.

“The people of Wales see that Westminster has left one in three of our children in poverty, so many of our citizens uninformed about our democratic system, and, through its unswerving support for large corporations, has failed to tackle the climate crisis.

“Furthermore, the British state, through its history of illegal wars and its proclivity for breaking international agreements, makes us a negative influence on the world stage.

“What Wales needs therefore is a national conversation which puts its direct and urgent focus on how we can as a people secure a thriving, progressive and fair Wales when our independence comes.

“When it comes to tackling the major challenges of our age — inequality, deprivation and climate change — Westminster is the problem, not the answer.”

‘Complete freedom’ 

It adds: “The answer is the complete freedom for the people and communities of Wales to choose our own path, and to take our place as a nation side by side with others on the international political stage.

“In your recent policy document, ‘Reforming our Union: Shared governance in the UK’, you state, in your very first sentence, that the question that needs answering is “How can our Union be made strong and durable?”.

“We cannot place our faith in a project which uses that as its starting point. We know, and the people of Wales will come to see, that you are playing a game: of trying to look both ways on the question of independence for our country for political reasons, instead of what is best for our people and our communities.

“You cannot however hide that which is in black and white — you are determined to save the old ‘union’, not build the new independent Wales of our future. Any process established by your government is going to be a unionist project aimed at salvaging an antiquated union that’s fast unravelling.

“You will no doubt pick respectable people, establishment voices, to lead your commission, instead of conducting a conversation led by ordinary people and grassroots organisations.

“As groups that are independent of government, we do not want Welsh taxpayers’ money spent on this process, given that you have been crystal clear about your government’s unionism. Instead, we will, together, look at using the resources we have to hold the open conversation about independence that the people of Wales deserve.”