Plaid Cymru leader calls on other political parties to join Welsh independence movement
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has called on other political parties in Wales to join in the independence movement, saying that it is time to take the initiative as the UK fractures.
Adam Price said that he and the party’s Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts will take part in the first march for Welsh independence in two years in Wales today, starting in Wrexham at 12pm.
Ahead of the march, which is organised by AUOB Cymru, Mr Price said that Wales had a choice either to “stand by while nations like Scotland leave this sinking ship” or to “take our future into our own hands”.
“It’s been two long years since we last marched together and it’s truly great to be back – proudly proclaiming that Wales can stand on its own two feet – and succeed,” he said.
“We gather in Wrexham against the backdrop of another week of being treated with contempt by Westminster as they seek to scrap laws passed by our democratically elected Senedd – undermining workers’ rights in the process.
“Wales has a choice. We can either stand by while nations like Scotland leave this sinking ship – or we can take our future into our own hands. Plaid Cymru has a simple answer to the challenge posed by Westminster, and that is independence.
“Plaid Cymru is the only party represented in the Senedd that has Welsh independence as its vision of a better, fairer, more democratic future – but we extend the invitation to all other parties. If they believe that Wales can succeed, then join us in our call.”
‘Amazing job’
The March for Independence will start at 12:00 on Saturday 2 July in Llwyn Isaf, Wrexham town centre.
It is being organised in partnership between AUOBCymru, Indy Fest Wrexham and YesCymru.
Taking part in the speeches after the event will be singer Dafydd Iwan, Pol Wong from IndyFest Wrexham, poet and activist Evrah Rose, comedian and broadcaster Tudur Owen, Wrexham Plaid Cymru County Councillor Carrie Harper, Archdruid Myrddin ap Dafydd, co-chair of Labour for Independence Dylan Lewis-Rowlands and ‘Her Game Too’ football ambassador Roopa Vyas.
An ‘Indy Market’ is also being organised to coincide with the march, with over 20 stalls offering local food, drink and produce, and including Indy Wales merchandise. The market will be at Queen’s Square, Wrexham, from 9.30am to 4pm today, Saturday 2 July.
A spokesperson on behalf of AUOBCymru, said: “The AUOBCymru marches for independence in 2019 were a huge success with thousands attending in Cardiff, Caernarfon and Merthyr.
“There is something special about coming together to march and people are desperate for the chance to come together once again.”
“The group of volunteers at Indy Fest Wrecsam, who’ve organised a whole weekend packed with events, have done an amazing job in difficult circumstances due to the pandemic with an ‘Indy Market’ and the gigs organised to coincide with the march and rally.
“We are also grateful for the financial support offered by YesCymru, as well as to everyone who has donated to our fundraiser. We hope that people from every part of Wales will head to Wrexham on 2 July and that the March for Independence in Wrexham will be the best yet!”
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See you all in Wrecsam!
Don’t forget your mask Mr Williams, Sir…
Ha ha, certainly haven’t 🙂
With you in spirit…… Ymlaen!
Labour UK hardening their stance. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jul/01/labour-never-strike-deal-snp-keir-starmer-pledge Seems at odds with Drakeford’s approach in Wales. As frustrating as his take is on Unionism/Independence at least there’s a willingness to work with Plaid. In Scotland, Labour are cutting deals with the Tories to control councils. I’ve said so many times that the UK is the Tory State. Labour UK are obsessed with being in government in the Tory State on Tory terms. They happily wrap Starmer up in a Union flag at the same time as decrying “right wing nationalism”. Starmer had PR rejected at conference against the wishes of the grassroots.… Read more »
Forget about UK Labour and Starmer. They have never supported independence and never will.
Any opportunity for a semblance of a Welsh Labour breakaway won’t come until Drakeford steps down.
However, be prepared to accept the fact that Welsh Labour or indeed most of the party will never embrace independence. If people want it, they may have to be prepared to look elsewhere.
Did you see the recent polling on Welsh Labour members indy stance? Significant.
Adam Price has a short memory. Before the Senedd elections his party published a long winded document that went out of its way NOT to commit to independence.
It suggested study groups to decide on the wording of a referendum,, that wording then would be part of a further referendum, followed by a yet further referendum on the role of the monarchy.
Aside form this nonsense, careful reading revealed the truth – Plaid Cymru’s official policy, in black and white, hidden within this document, is federalism.
Honesty please!
Most wet people feel a lot safer staying within the Union and this lot are about as soppy as you can get. They prefer to discuss, at length, anything other than the real issues and challenges that will face us as we move towards freedom and the early years post – secession.
I disagree John. I know that you disagree with Plaid’s policy but the policy is to establish a Welsh Nation State in a Confederation. That idea has more in common with an EU style structure. I think there’s a degree of realpolitik behind the policy. It’s about a proposition with the potential to win an electoral mandate.
Mt personal red line is that we must establish our own Nation State. If we can get that done we will have achieved an enormous leap forwards and it will be the beginning of something not an endpoint fixed for all time.
Too many like Boris to trust a Confederation? I’ll go with you on the nation state, though.
Totally understand.
Gwynfor’s vision was for a Britanic self governing Confederation of equal outward looking nations across these Islands – based on respect and peace each with a seat at the UN.
I cannot think what has changed or what needs to.
Da wir.
Wording and timing are crucial. A great way to rally a cause seems to be following rules from an Authoritarian the best one can and only resisting when no other perceivable options are available. How better to authentically justify a cause, especially in the minds of skeptics, than to follow until the cost of diminishing returns significantly outweighs the risks of a revolution?
Adam price just fails to cut through doesn’t he? we need a new leader for plaid. he failed us in the senedd elections
As the crisis deepens this fall and winter, our people will be looking for direction, so is Adam the guy who will give it? He is more of an activist, and we need someone with a decent grasp of economics, some law, and ability to inspire?
I think he deserves far more credit. The electorate solidified around its traditional voting patterns at the last elections. Yet Welsh Labour have moved a long way towards Plaid policies. We’re still in the fight.
“Labour have moved a long way towards Plaid policies”
I thought it was the other way round.
Not wrt constitutional policy.
I agree. We might have strengthened our grip on the traditional strongholds but we took a step backwards everywhere else bar Wrexham, where we created several marginals in 2016.
My fear is we will regress even further by 2026 if we don’t change our leadership now.
The last few elections have been held under exceptional circumstances. Lines were drawn and the electorate piled behind particular alliegiances. Adam has demonstrated some realpolitik that perhaps will be appreciated in years to come.
Adam Price is right. I personally think. Even if you disagree with independence but support more devolution for Wales by aligning yourselves like Labour & Liberal Democrats do with Unionism, especially knowing its long history of suppressing and oppressing Wales, cannot then complain when the English Conservative party flagrantly attack Welsh devolution, illegally repeal Senedd laws and usurp Senedd competency when you are culpable by your inaction. All I say is this . Join us. Support our aspirations rather than perpetuate our pain. Put your political differences aside for the good of Welsh democracy. Don’t look the other way. Do… Read more »
If Welsh Labour were to become independent of UK Labour and run on a joint ticket with Plaid with a Welsh Nation State on the manifesto, I could support that. If a Confederation is the compromise that gets us there, I can live with it. I’d happily let Libs & Welsh Lab have free runs at Tory seats (reciprocated of course) on that basis.
That will never happen, Labour are every bit as unionist as the Tories.
Havr you seen the recent poll of Welsh Labour members? If their leadership remain intransigent then they might find the Scottish pattern follows here.
Plaid Cymru needs to campaign for independence and to get rid of Labour as the SNP has in Scotland. Federalism like devolution is power retained in London. Nationalists should not touch it with a barge pole. Plaid Cymru’s muddle and lack of clear commitment to independence is why they are failing to make progress.
Independence was on the manifesto at the last election. It garnered a great deal of publicity. Plaid are calling for a Confederation of Nation States not a federal UK. Just this week, they called for independence in the Senedd, they did it in the Western Mail and through their social media accounts. It was reported on the BBC, in Nation Cymru. I think it’s pretty clear what they stand for.