‘The opportunities of independence are endless’ says Green Party deputy leader

The deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales has said that the opportunities of Welsh independence are “endless”.

Amelia Womack, who is standing for the party in South Wales East at the Senedd election, believes that independence would enable Wales to get to grips with the climate crisis and to better support communities.

The Wales Green Party voted in favour of backing Welsh independence at its annual conference. It is a semi-autonomous political party within the Green Party of England and Wales.

Ms Womak, who grew up in Newport, said she believes that Westminster has failed Wales and doesn’t understand what communities need.

She told Open Democracy: “Talking about those economic aspects of how we actually make sure we support communities across Wales while making sure we’re tacking the ecological and climate emergencies.

“These things can’t be done within the current frameworks that we work in, the opportunities in what an independent Wales looks like are endless. Welsh independence is the solution.

Ms Womak believes that Brexit has increased support for Welsh independence.

‘Surge’

She said: “Immediately after the EU referendum there was a surge in support for Welsh independence. That increase of interest has obviously galvanised even more support, as a result of coronavirus and seeing how the devolved nations have reacted.

“But you’re also seeing a generation of people who have grown up with a Welsh identity not just being about Welsh language. A generation of young people where Wales has been at the heart of our education. We have to learn Welsh at school, we learn Welsh history.

“And so I see people from all ranges getting involved in YesCymru, but I see lots of young people who are really passionate about that future as well.

“When we look at specifically these big points in our history, we’ve seen Westminster flail and fail on what the bigger vision is.

“There has been a lack of understanding about what communities need. While we’re seeing lots of people supporting Welsh independence, we’re also seeing lots of people supporting the abolition of the Welsh Parliament.

“I think that this is why it’s really important that more parties have such a clear message on this, as with the Greens, because this is possibly going to be a battle that we have to fight and win.

“Wales has been used over the history of the UK. I think it’s interesting the way our transport networks don’t connect Wales well

“What our transport networks do is move goods, people and resources out of our country into England, making us better connected to London, making us better connected to the capital of England.”