Yes Cymru Chairman resigns

The Chairman of Yes Cymru, Iestyn ap Rhobert, has resigned, a week after proposed changes to the campaign group’s constitution were blocked by members.

He has been followed out of the Central Committee by Rhydian Hughes the Vice-Chair, Gweirydd ap Gwyndaf the Treasurer, and Moelwen Gwyndaf the Secretary.

An Extraordinary General Meeting will be held in two months in order to appoint a newly elected committee of 16 members.

The Central Committee had faced criticism over the last few weeks following the suspension of some members and controversial proposed changes to the movement’s constitution.

The changes to the constitution were rejected in YesCymru’s AGM of Saturday 13 October. It was agreed that an EGM would be held in two months in order to give everyone time to discuss the changes.

However, in a statement, YesCymru said that the discussion on changing the constitution would be postponed until a full committee could be appointed.

“In our recent AGM we agreed to consult with the members on the proposed changes to our constitution, and to hold an EGM to vote on the changes separately rather than in one motion,” a spokesperson for Yes Cymru said.

“Due to these unforeseen circumstances, we will be forced to postpone this process until a full committee is appointed. One of the first tasks of the new committee will be to consult with the members and hold a further EGM on matters regarding the constitution.”

Iestyn ap Rhobert was a founding member of YesCymru, which was set up after the independence referendum in Scotland.

Last year the campaign group had over 400 members and 13 local groups around Wales.

The remaining members of the Yes Cymru Central Committee are:

• Tricia Roberts
• Dilys Davies
• Leon Russell
• Matthew Ford
• Gwyn Llewelyn

Yes Cymru’s statement also noted that the aim was to ensure that the movement was now “a member-led, grassroots, mass-member organisation”.

“During this new chapter of YesCymru, we also aim to make the Central Committee more transparent and more answerable to our members and local groups,” a spokesperson said.