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Plaid Cymru to launch commission looking at the economic case for independence

12 Nov 2019 3 minute read
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price at a YesCymru rally. Photo Nation.Cymru

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price will announce at an event in Caernarfon this evening that his party will establish a commission which will look at the detail of how an independent Wales could work.

The arms-length commission, chaired by former AM and Welsh Government minister Jocelyn Davies, will look at the economic case for independence.

The commission will also consider the future relationships between Wales, the rest of the UK and the European Union.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said the commission would prepare a path for Wales to achieve its independence.

Mr Price said that the conversation around Welsh independence had moved from “the margins into the mainstream” and it was time to convince the people of Wales why independence is “not merely desirable” but “vitally necessary”.

The Plaid Cymru Leader said the forming of the commission would be a “watershed” moment.

“Something is happening in Wales. Over the past year, thousands have marched together in independence marches in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Merthyr,” Adam Price said.

“Polls show that around 30 per cent consistently support independence. Independence has moved from the margins into the mainstream of Welsh political debate.

“Our mission is to convince the people of Wales that independence is not merely desirable, but actually vitally necessary to tackle our problems and improve our standard of living.

“That’s why I’m proud to announce that Plaid Cymru have set up a commission, chaired by the formidable Jocelyn Davies, to look at how Wales can become independent in the next decade. The arms-length commission will undertake extensive analysis and develop effective policy to carve a clear pathway to the independence we need as a nation.

“This is a watershed moment in our country’s history. Plaid Cymru believe that independence is the best choice for the people and communities of Wales. This commission will play a crucial part in proving that. It’s time to declare a new Welsh spirit of independence and hope by refusing to put our faith in the Westminster establishment that has failed us for so long. It’s time to choose a future that we ourselves will shape. It’s time to choose our independence.”

 

‘In-depth’

Commission chair Jocelyn Davies said that it was an honour to chair the “landmark” commission.

She said it would “critically engage with all the questions around Welsh independence such as how we can afford it, what our future international relations would look like, or what would be on the ballot paper of a Welsh independence referendum”.

“The Commission will consult with a Citizen’s Assembly to inform its work alongside providing in-depth analysis and policy recommendations on the best pathways to achieve independence.

“Creating a new independent Wales is not the work on one party, but the work of an entire nation, all of its people and all of its perspectives. What better response to the chaos of Westminster than to begin a thoughtful, hopeful and constructive discussion with our people about the future of our country?”


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Gareth Bailey
Gareth Bailey
4 years ago

think this is a great idea. we need to move this conversation forward. unfortunately it is necessary to perform this kind of study, to get across to a wider audience and arm proponents of indy with more and more facts. I believe indy will make us better off (and not just in a financial/transaction way) but many ppl do look at the benefits to their pocket. My only concern is that we do not have disaggregated data from the exchequer…..making it harder to do the analysis. hopefully they can find ways around it.

Douglas McArthur
Douglas McArthur
4 years ago

After reading the first two paragraphs I thought, good call, a proper economic case for (and resumably against) independence. Then further down it became ‘lets look at how Wales can become independent in the next decade’ not quite the same thing.

jr humphrys
jr humphrys
4 years ago

Stop presuming, then.

vicky moller
vicky moller
4 years ago

great, happy to help, eg with liaising with citizens assembly (CA) ambassadors in Wales to wnsure the CA meets standards

Simon Gruffydd
Simon Gruffydd
4 years ago

The first thing this commission needs to establish is that being a member of the EU categorically rules out independence in the political sense of the term. Anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to pull a fast one. The second fact that must be taken into account is that both political and economic independence is impossible while remaining tied to the Bank of England monetary regime. It was this blind spot that contributed to the SNP’s failed bid for independence for Scotland in 2014.

Tudor Rees
Tudor Rees
4 years ago
Reply to  Simon Gruffydd

If that is true then we must stay in the EU to change that, and then have a grown-up discussion with England and Scotland about how our independent countries can work together.

pete
pete
4 years ago

First thing we need to know is who is sitting on it and what is their qualification apart from being welsh nationalists?

Keith Parry
Keith Parry
4 years ago

Got a problem? Form a Commission to look into it for a few years and write a report to gather dust on a shelf for years.
Yes Cymru chant’ WHAT DO WE WANT? INDEPENDENCE! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW! CYMRU RYDD!”

Huw Davies
Huw Davies
4 years ago
Reply to  Keith Parry

As I have said so many times there is a strong undercurrent of disinterest/lack of confidence/ insincerity/ vested interest in all this. Too many of our politicians are “doing alright” out of the present system and have become too attached to its rewards and career opportunities.. They get the chance to make noises but have no real drive to go for the big goal. Hence one of the reasons for the term “chattering classes”.

pete
pete
4 years ago
Reply to  Keith Parry

And people actually voted for you……

Dave Brooker
Dave Brooker
4 years ago

The number of plaid MPs might give a clue as to how everyday Welsh people actually feel about this nonsense

Jonathan Gammond
Jonathan Gammond
4 years ago

Sounds like a very useful exercise, though I hope the chair didn’t declare the commission to be a ‘landmark’ nor Adam Price declare it a ‘watershed’ before it has even started work, deliberated with people across Wales or published its conclusions. The Beveridge Report was a landmark, but did Sir William Beveridge declare it to be in advance?Likewise the Wolfenden Report and many others.

Tudor Rees
Tudor Rees
4 years ago

This assessment is important, as we consider how best to resuscitate the Welsh economy in a sustainable way that is responsive to the needs and wishes of the people of Wales. It may also cast a little light on the puzzle whereby Wales, as one of the countries in northern Europe with one of the richest natural resources at the beginning of the 20th century, ends up as being one of the most deprived areas at the beginning of the 21st century.

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