The future of YesCymru
Neil Anderson, Member 146
YesCymru fails to give committed members anything much to do between marches. This was allegedly going to be a role of All Under One Banner Cymru (AUOB), in itself an effort to reconcile differing perspectives.
Though there were a few local YC groups which organised meetings and some activities (‘Banners on Bridges’ etc), these were sporadic and have fallen into recess.
While the marches are always great events, apart from flag-waving and occasionally very good speeches, the experience for participants, beyond camaraderie, is, I suggest, relatively shallow. Constrained by its founding principles…
YesCymru is a single issue movement. Our two main aims are for international recognition … and for Wales to have its own written constitution. We’re making the general argument for independence. We are working from all parties and none. We welcome people who have different visions as to what an independent Wales would look like in terms of policies etc. (Jobbins 2021)
…and as a non-party political campaign (2017) from developing policy, it gave YC members little to do in an area which excited them enough to join if not much else. Organising around the abstract idea of independence was always going to difficult…
Difficulties
Then, perhaps unsurprisingly, YesCymru turned in on itself. Other difficulties soon arose, notably in respect of alleged transphobia. The then-interim chair said that…
…one of the things of being a broad church and a wide spectrum of people across politics is about making sure that you’re respectful…we have to be respectful to everyone’s views, and respectful to everyone as human beings. (Rees 2021)
Subsequently, it became impossible for YC to resolve much at all within the Central Committee. Other internal ructions led to a standoff that may not be wholly resolved by the Llywd Report (2024).
Fundamental changes
It seems to me that there are at least two options for YesCymru at this time. Either it be dissolved and reconstituted as YesCymru2, with fundamental changes enacted to its constitution both to remove some of its constraints and change its internal processes and structures to ensure that it is always possible to resolve differences in a democratic manner that fully involves members, or that it continues in a dysfunctional state, not fully trusted by it members, and as importantly, potential members.
Strategically then, I think it was a mistake to preclude policy from the remit of YesCymru. While only a public referendum could set constitutional matters in place in the newly independent Cymru, and national elections determine the policies of the first (and I would hope all-party) government, I believe that the independence movement will not gain substantial traction with the people of Cymru until an Offer is clearly defined.
The latter would at least answer the questions ‘what is independence?’ and ‘what is independence for?’. The experience of the Scottish referendum is salutary.
Reflection
It is in the light of the above that I think we need to consider the following…
1. While it is too soon for the full impact of the Llywd Report to be considered by the various parties most intimately involved, and by members, a period of reflection about how we as a movement proceed in future is surely indicated.
2. There must be doubt as to whom members can trust to act for them in the reformation of YesCymru, especially given the way some appear to have behaved.
The mere idea of independence demands integrity and probity of the highest order. Somehow, members need to ensure that the people we elect to positions within YesCymru will exercise their responsibilities appropriately.
We need to note that often these elections have resulted in a bare mandate. Too few participated. We need to know why that was, before indulging in such contests again. My contention is that too little was at stake.
3. The Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales agreed that independence is a viable future for our country. Those who formerly have accepted devolution as the halfway house, the necessary compromise, or the endless pathway to some sort of independence one day, might now recognise its limitations and be re-evaluating their opinions.
I believe devolution to be unstable, fraught with continued bickering between an economic colony with little leverage and the failing yet headstrong United Kingdom. The UK will not lead us anywhere worth going, and certainly not anytime soon.
4. But all of these points beg the question of how independent do we want to be?
Has there ever been a march for devolution? Would you get out of bed for it? No and no, I suspect, for almost all of us. But a clearly defined, widely-supported and real independence is the only option that just might get sufficient of us to do that.
5. While a substantial and supportive membership is a necessary precondition to financial durability and eventual success, an empowered board and chief executive and competent staff must also be part of that. I admired the professionalism that was sometimes seen in YesCymru. We must see it again.
6. The real world needs to intrude. The Unionist hegemony of the Labour Party, the Tories, the LibDems and Reform have done and will do Cymru few favours. Even their prized devolution is being rolled back. We need Plaid Cymru and we need YesCymru to fight for all of us!
7. Plaid Cymru and the other pro-independence parties must flourish in the 2026 elections if even the idea of Cymru is to survive. As a nation, we are facing an existentialist crisis.
Obliteration
We must act now if we want our country, our democracy and our culture to avoid obliteration by the British state and its financial overlords over the next few years. Plaid has done very well this year, and will do better, while the Labour Party here continues to fail.
There is a radical spirit afoot, a red dragon, waiting to be unleashed…
We kicked the Tories out. Now it seems that we need to do the same to the Labour Party, whose former members are finding a warm welcome among the nationalists.
Independence in 2030 might just be achievable!
Cymru Rhydd!
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I joined Yes Cymru as a retired member to support progress towards an independent Cymru. I have been terribly disappointed in its leadership and current direction and am very much considering leaving.
D on’t!
I support Yes Cymru, however, every year when deciding to join and then would need to send an annual membership fee.
Then pause and then I decide that the cash would be better spent donated to Plaid Cymru to be used on election campaigns.
Interesting piece.
All I see from them these days is accordions, waving flags and spamming social media with no particular focus.
I’m not trying to be obtuse, but what’s the way forward here? Something that pitches itself as the flagship Indy organisation has to be more than that, surely?
It seems everyone that wanted to do “more” has been got rid of one way or another. What’s the long term plan?
We have every right to feel despondent but we can’t just abandon the concept of YesCymru. (As some have considered doing here).
If we do that we waste all that the organisation has built already. As the article suggests a complete reorganisation of it’s internal structure to better represent it’s membership and give a clear concise way forward is one way to go. And any changes must be ratified by the membership.
We tried not to. We tried to hang on to it as a brand, as a membership, as all the good work that had been done. But we were thwarted by egos so set on control they lost sight of the vision. We really did try. Its made people ill. Its been over a year of bullying. But we tried.
What was disappointing was the collective shrug from the wider membership when the whistle was blown. Unless they stand up there is nothing to be done!
The eyepopening facts are in the Elfyn Llwyd report . Onwards with the campaign and focus on what you can do as members to bring independence closer. EVERYBODY WANTS OTHERS TO DO THE WORK. WE are all responsible, it is down to every Sion and Sian . Er gwaethaf phawb a phob Dic Sion Dafydd. Because they will try to stop us. Ymlaen.
“There is a radical spirit afoot, a red dragon, waiting to be unleashed”
There’s a man down the chip shop thinks he’s Elvis. Seriously, unless this “movement” sheds it’s wind and rhetoric and faces hard reality and it’s own inadequacy, it’s doomed.
What “radical spirit”? All I see across Europe is a slide to neo fascism, the final collapse of social democracy, and the acceptance & consolidation of the Right. Wales does not have any exceptionalism. As we will relatively shortly see.
I am not sure what to make of YC apart from flags and marches and a strange strained ownership?
My perception. Web site is not what I expected and a bit hit and miss (first look in today)
But I am not interested unless I start to see policies and projections and you absolutely need to get non welsh speakers and heritage on board. If you want indy then the majority want to go, not dragged along.
As this article recognises, the demand for independence will not gain traction until it is clearly defined. So what is the Offer?
I am am somewhat concerned at the tone of this article and some of the responses. It is true that things have gone a little quiet, but remember that we are a totally voluntary movement relying entirely on members goodwill. Any voluntary organisation has its issues, both internal and external The problems of the past (note, past) to which reference has been made are exactly that – in the past. What dismays me is that in this day and age it is far too easy to rush to social and other media with a grudge instead of either sorting it… Read more »