Welsh independence would make Brexit look like ‘walk in the park’ – Lib Dem
Emily Price
The Senedd’s only Liberal Democrat has claimed that independence would be so devastating for Wales that it would “make Brexit look like a walk in the park”.
Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds made the comments on Monday (April 28) following the announcement of Plaid Cymru’s new economic plan for Wales.
The party – led by Ynys Môn MS Rhun ap Iorwerth – has promised to “breathe new life” into the Welsh economy if they win the next Senedd election in May 2026.
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Announcing the new plan, economy spokesperson Luke Fletcher said a Plaid Cymru government would see “wealth built, retained and recycled in our communities instead of it leaking, and in some cases flooding, out of Wales”.
The plan commits to better support for Welsh businesses as well as energy independence – including control over Wales’ natural resources.
Plaid Cymru has also promised a new skills strategy, a new deal for Welsh universities and more support for community-owned businesses.
But Ms Dodds has claimed that Plaid Cymru’s pro-independence stance would be “devastating” for the Welsh economy.
‘Damage’
She said: “Plaid Cymru are glossing over the damage their plans for independence would cause to the Welsh economy and businesses.
“The bureaucracy, red tape and challenges faced by Welsh businesses as a result of independence would be so devastating that it would make Brexit look like a walk in the park in comparison.
“Voters who want to back Wales’ businesses and drive economic growth and investment should back the Welsh Liberal Democrats instead.”
It came after South Wales Police estimated that over six thousand people, including Plaid politicians, took part in a march for independence at the weekend – although this number has been disputed.
Plaid Cymru hit back at Ms Dodds saying it “beggars belief” that a party which claims to support the devolution of the Crown Estate, doesn’t see independence as an avenue to achieve it.
‘Ruin’
In February, the Welsh Liberal Democrats joined Plaid Cymru calls in the UK Parliament to push for the transfer of the management of the Crown Estate’s assets in Wales to Welsh ministers in the Senedd.
Revenue from the assets currently goes to the Treasury and the money is then spent across the UK.
Despite the team up between Plaid and the Lib Dems, Labour was able to reject an amendment to the Crown Estate Bill that would have seen Crown Estate powers handed to the Welsh Government.
A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said: “The Liberal Democrats spent years in coalition with the Conservatives, where they promoted a policy of austerity that brought uncontrolled ruin to our economy.
“As a party that claim to support a closer relationship with the EU, that claim to support the devolution of the Crown Estate, and that recognise the potential these policies have to promote growth in Wales’ economy, it beggars’ belief that the Liberal Democrats don’t see that independence has the potential to achieve this.
“Plaid Cymru are full of confidence in the fact that it is only through independence that we can unlock Wales’ economic potential.
“But, our strategy today shows how we can use the powers Wales already has to undo the damage of 25 years of Labour failure and over 14 years of continuous austerity from Westminster Governments.”
A recent poll on voting intentions for next year’s Senedd election conducted by Beaufort Research for Nation.Cymru revealed that Plaid Cymru is only three points behind Labour at 24%.
The Conservatives are on 16%, Greens are on 5% and the Liberal Democrats are on 4%.
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Hyd yn oed petai Cymru yn llawer tlotach, (a fyddai hi ddim!) mi bleidleisiwn dros annibynniaeth yr un fath. Nid ar fara yn unig y byw dyn. Gwell byw yn dlawd ar dir rhydd Cymru na bod yn daeogion caeth ar fara pwdr Prydeinllyd.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have become a shadow cabinet of shadows—mirroring London’s interests, not Wales’. Westminster-centric thinking is not new in Welsh politics, but its grip on a liberal party of Wales is particularly galling. Once, Welsh liberalism meant independence of thought and fierce localism. Now, policies come pre-approved from London, and party messaging is polished to please an England focused HQ, not the high streets of Ceredigion or the valleys of Torfaen. Is it any wonder that younger activists turn to Plaid Cymru, to the Greens, to Reform UK or away from politics entirely? The Welsh Liberal Party once… Read more »
The Lib Dems are a unionist party, so this stance is hardly surprising. Having said that, my sense is that since the global financial crash back in 2008 the UK as a nation has been gradually ‘going down the pan’, and that thus far there’s scant evidence that this trajectory looks likely to be quickly reversed. I don’t for a moment think that Welsh independence would be without its challenges and difficulties; but if you think that you’re inexorably on a slowly sinking ship, trying to jump across to something radically different – even if you anticipate new and different… Read more »
Dodds at real risk of losing her seat too, clearly the calculation is to woo former conservative voters rather than court those leaning Green or Plaid.
A big mistake in my view, will soon be Dodds the Dodo at this rate, politically speaking.
And why Wales only has one Liberal Democrat MS in the Senedd, soon to be none next May 2026. I still remember when her pathetic party aided the Conservatives in 2010 and lied through their teeth about abolishing tuition fees. Could you ever trust or believe a word these charlatans say? Beware! How dare she compare Welsh independence with Brexit. Brexit was based on lies & hate. She sounds more like a Conservative than a Liberal. But hey these yellow bellies are cut from the same cloth seeing the Tories & Liberals were once one and the same right-wing Whig… Read more »
With a statement like this, Jane Dodds needs to leave the Senedd delivering a Lib Dem free Wales if we could just change that yellow blot in Powys.
The Party of Lloyd George has long a go died and gone to the Dodds.
It is clear that the Lib Dems (just like the other unionist parties) have no confidence in the abilities and potential of the people of Wales to succeed in an independent Wales. Why would anyone want to vote for a party that has no confidence in you? I certainly won’t be doing so!!
Somebody should point her in the direction of Wrecsam…
Watch and learn, Ryan and Robbie have more confidence in Cymru than every MS except Plaid put together …
Get out of the way if you can’t lend a hand…
Which league do Wrexham play in? Would the team have been such an attractive proposition for Ryan Reynolds if they didn’t have access through to the Championship or Premiership eventually? I think you’ve just made the point that a strong Wales, as part of the UK is better for the people of Wales than independence – that’s what the Lib Dems believe in and are fighting for. Rather than some imaginary utopia which doesn’t exist.
The lack of ambition from the Dems is just astonishing. They should be selling an alternative vision of milk and honey achieved within union if that’s their view. But all I’m hearing is a pitiful whine about managed decline.
Yes, Ms Dodds is a joke; but Plaid has to do better than the vague comments attributed to Messrs. Ap Iorwerth and Fletcher here. Vacuous rhetoric isn’t enough.
Trailing behind the Green Party, wondering where their credibility went. I can trace it right back to a certain coalition. Now they have permanently become the Illiberal Autocrats.
Plaid atr thr future of Cymru. A party you can trust with dynamic and capable leaders capable and able to solve the problems of breaking the bonds with Westminster. The small problems they have to solve including Cymru’s long stand ing reliance on Lloeger for hospital care, jobs, airports, currency, are minor factors the biggest challenge is ensuring we become a country where the Welsh language dominates and English is not widely spoken.
I enjoy a walk in the park!
Let’s do it!
And that right there is why the Lib Dems only have one seat. And with opinions like that, let’s hope that one goes.
Mae gan Gymru gyfoeth, ond fe’i sugnir allan o’n gwlad gan Ymerodraeth Lloegr. Ac mae hyn wedi bod yn digwydd ers cyn y Chwyldro Diwydiannol. Mae’n hen bryd i ni roi stop ar hyn oll, ac annibyniaeth yw’n unig ffordd allan, fel y gallwn sefyll ar ein traed ein hunain, gwerthu peth o’n cyfoeth ar y farchnad agored am brisiau realistig, ac yn y pen draw, cael cyfle i ymuno â’r Undeb Ewropeaidd.