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Support for Welsh independence nudges upwards in latest poll before Wrexham march

23 Jun 2022 3 minute read
The independence march in Merthyr Tydfil on 7 September. Pictures by Lluniau Lleucu

Support for Welsh independence has nudged upwards before next week’s march in Wrexham, a YouGov poll suggests.

25% said they would vote for Welsh independence, a rise of four percentage points compared with 21% in March.

With don’t knows removed, 32% would vote for independence and 68% against.

The poll by YouGov / ITV Wales had a sample size of 1020 adults in Wales and was conducted between 12 and 16 June.

Next week’s March for Independence will see a number of performers take part, including Dafydd Iwan.

The march on 2 July will be part of a full weekend of activities organised by volunteers from Indy Fest Wrecsam.

The march itself will start at 12pm at Llwyn Isaf, Wrexham. Following the march there will be a rally with speakers and music, with a stage and screens organised.

Joining Dafydd Iwan will be Pol Wong from IndyFest Wrexham, poet and activist Evrah Rose, comedian and broadcaster Tudur Owen, Wrexham County Councillor Carrie Harper and Archdruid Myrddin ap Dafydd. More names will be released in the run up to the day, the organisers said.

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 on Saturday 2 July.

In addition to the march, rally and market, Wrexham will also be hosting some indy gigs at Saith Seren on both Friday and Saturday nights, with Bryn Fôn headlining on the eve of the march.

‘Support’

The March for Independence in Wrexham on 2 July is being organised in partnership between AUOBCymru, Indy Fest Wrexham and YesCymru.

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!”

Those who wish to contribute to the fundraiser towards the costs of the march can do so here.


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Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago

Feels like it was a lot higher, middle of last year. What has changed since then? Have the Westminster lot got more trustworthy? Quite the contrary.
So what is going wrong? What happened to the 40% support? This is not far off the default numbers for the last 40 years

Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago

Oh hello! It’s back

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Different polling agency. Yougov are generally on the low side for things like this.

Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Fair point, but a quick check of “Support for Welsh Independence Wiki” gives you a graph of various polls and aggregated polls which suggests this isn’t a one-off. It’s been downhill since a 7 year high last march

Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago

I asked a legitimate question. Where has the 40% support from last year gone? Why is this slight uptick regarded as good news? In the 1979 referendum, support was 29%.
So now I have to ask, where has my earlier post gone? And why?

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago

Not as high as many of us would have liked – but still moving in the right direction, and as the report mentions support for welsh indy rises to a third when ‘dont knows’ are removed. Considering the pandemic and internal ‘difficulties’ have becalmed organisations like Yes Cymru for over 2 years these polling figures are still encouraging – now the welsh indy movement needs to get back out on welsh streets taking the positive indy message to the people of Wales again. Wrecsam looks like being an excellent start!

Last edited 2 years ago by Leigh Richards
Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

I don’t know so much. In March 2021 support for Indy was at a high of 39% (with don’t knows excluded it was at 46%). This was right in the middle of Lockdown There was a short drop then, until around June, then downhill til Feb this year. So I don’t buy that it was Lockdown. The biggest driver for Indy was the appalling behaviour of the Westminster Government and I don’t recall them getting any better in this period. What else could have caused it? I’m trying to signpost people to the pretty obvious answer here – that correlates… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Not My Real Name
Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago

Personally i was never sure about those polls putting support for indy at around or even above 40 % – it certainly wasnt the feeling i was getting from chats with family, friends and acquaintances and when canvassing for the most prominent pro indy party over the last year. So i dont think there’s been the big drop in support for welsh indy you and others understanably fear. This poll feels about with regard to where welsh public opinion is on this issue at the moment, and if it is we shouldnt be too down about it – as Dr… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Oops typo – should say “This poll feels about right with regard to where welsh public opinion is on this issue at the moment”

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago

Support for the union has dropped considerably according to this poll, however still a lot of work to do from Yes Cymru and Plaid to convince all those “don’t knows”, particularly of the economic case for independence.

Last edited 2 years ago by SundanceKid
Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
2 years ago

We have to be a little careful about believing our own propaganda. Having said that, I’ve been around long enough to remember the idea of independence being a source of much amusement and support for independence being in low single figures even on a good day. By that standard, support at around a quarter to a third is exciting, almost unbelievable, and at about the level of support in Scotland before the referendum. What lifted support there was in its way quite simple – the case was put concisely, factually and clearly, a situation that has not happened here quite… Read more »

Carol James
Carol James
2 years ago

25% support for the dissolution of the State is actually incredibly high. Support for Scottish independence hovered around 10-15% for many years and Catalans will tell you that it was not long ago that they’d have jumped in the air with delight to get even 20%. Massive constitutional change is not an easy thing to get to grips with, even for those who may be Indy Curious. The key factor is that people are definitely coming around to the fact that the British Imperial edifice is rapidly crumbling, and they are looking for alternatives. The end of the UK will… Read more »

I.Humphrys
I.Humphrys
2 years ago
Reply to  Carol James

Agree, why? Because to actually support it, people will be first thinking of their paychecks or pensions and weighing up commitment with that in mind.
25% not so dusty.

Last edited 2 years ago by I.Humphrys
Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
2 years ago
Reply to  I.Humphrys

Exactly! And we can address these issues with solid research and practical policies – why not come along to one of my talks?

Glen
Glen
2 years ago

What the Welsh independence movement lacks is a larger than life, charismatic leader.
Unfortunately there is no Welsh Salmond or Sturgeon

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

Ahem….dafydd iwan!

Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago
Reply to  Glen

For charisma, Michael Sheen if he was willing to sign on for it would be brilliant. Politically, if we could spare Liz Saville-Roberts from the bear pit at Westminster to focus more on Welsh Independence than the trivia of ousting Johnson.
I’ve always liked Leanne Wood’s iron fist in a velvet glove when she gets going and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE her long-suffering mum/teacher patiently explaining simple stuff to the stupid kids approach she used when speaking to or aobut the Tories

Last edited 2 years ago by Not My Real Name
Steven
Steven
2 years ago

Hmm that’s funny cuz no1 has asked me for my opinion and I would happily vote for Welsh independence

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