The road to independence: Wales must learn the lessons of Scotland, Catalonia, and Kurdistan
M agit Ceviz
Across the world, nations have fought for independence — some with success, others with heartbreak.
Scotland, Catalonia, and Kurdistan each offer valuable lessons for Wales today.
If we are serious about independence, we must be realistic, strategic, and honest with ourselves.
Passion alone will not be enough. Independence must be earned — with discipline, credibility, and unity.
No victory without a national elite
No independence movement succeeds without the support — or at least the neutrality — of a national elite.
In Scotland, parts of the business, legal, and cultural elite helped normalise the idea of independence. In contrast, Catalonia and Kurdistan struggled when elites remained divided.
Wales must learn this. We need respected business leaders, academics, artists, and public figures to stand proudly for independence.
Without their support, independence will remain easy to dismiss as a fringe dream.
Reassure business
Business confidence is critical. Uncertainty kills jobs and investment. An independent Wales must be a country where companies feel welcome, protected, and supported.
We must send a clear message now: Wales will be open for business, with stable governance and a commitment to prosperity.
Independence must mean more opportunities for Welsh businesses, not more risks.
No border hostility to England
Independence must not be built on hostility. Wales’ relationship with England is deep, personal, and human. Families, friendships, trade, and culture cross the border every day.
We must present independence as a positive choice — not an act of revenge. We want self-government, not walls.
Wales must be open to England, Scotland, Ireland, and the world.
Be honest with the people of Wales
The people of Wales deserve honesty. Independence will not solve all problems overnight. Building new institutions, creating a new economy, and establishing international relationships will take time and sacrifice.
We must resist the temptation to promise a fantasy. If we are honest about the challenges, the Welsh public will respect and trust the movement more.
Face Economic Reality
Wales is rich in resources, culture, and innovation. But decades of neglect have left us vulnerable. We must face this reality head-on.
An independent Wales must have a real economic strategy: investing in green energy, boosting tourism, modernising agriculture, and expanding digital industries.
We must also be honest about monetary policy — whether temporarily keeping the pound, establishing a Welsh currency, or joining a wider economic bloc.
Empty slogans will not build a nation. Only real plans will.
Independence must not be a political toy
Finally, independence must not be used for short-term political gain. It must belong to the people of Wales — not to any individual politician or party.
Too often, in other movements, leaders have used independence to boost their own profiles or distract from failures.
Welsh politicians must put the nation above themselves. Those who cannot should step aside. Independence is bigger than any party or leader.
A nation ready to rise
Wales has the heart, the culture, and the potential to become an independent nation. But to get there, we must be serious.
We must build a respected elite, reassure business, avoid hostility with our neighbours, be honest with our people, offer a credible economic plan — and ensure that independence is about Wales, not about politicians.
If we do these things, we will offer our people not just a dream, but a real future — a nation ready to rise.
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Exactly so. Perhaps the best plan would be for Plaid (and the other parties) to declare that they would expect a realignment of party loyalties and policies post independence, and that parties would have to have Wales-only constitutions. This would stop Cardiff governments having to follow British political trends dictated by their English party organisations as at present. We have seen what a mirage of devolution (let alone any concept of independence) would be now we have Labour at both ends of the M4.
Creating a mini version of what presently already exists in the UK. Remembering that the UK model serves us poorly, perhaps independence offers alternative economic and societal opportunities.
The UK model serves us poorly because it is heavily London centric. Wales’ problem isn’t necessarily economic ideology but that we lack autonomy to empower our economy and make us self-sufficient. Elitism is not ideal but a Welsh elite is still better than a London elite.
Elites are a fact of life pretty much whatever kind of society it is you live in. In his book The Inner City Leopold Kohr writes about how elites can influence positively when they use the services that all others use, such as public transport, healthcare and live their lives in an exemplary way. We also have to consider that some people become an elite because we, the people make them that, so there is a democratic element to the creation of elites. Maybe the constitution of an independent Wales should outlaw things like private healthcare and education so that… Read more »
Outlaw private healthcare and education, how would that be achieved? How would we stop people crossing the border if they didn’t think the Welsh health service was inadequate for them? I’m in favour of free healthcare and education but it should also be up to the individual if they choose to go private or not. What Wales needs is wealth creating powers, the power to invest on our infrastructure and enhance our innovation. The UK’s London-centric economy is contributing to Wales’ brain drain.
If independence merely results in a pale reflection of the current situation I would be opposed to it. Fortunately this article debunks that scenario and points to a far more positive idea.
Good to see you back Padi, missed your contributions to the debates.
The problem we have with elies is that most Welsh elites live in Caerdydd. If however they have the opportunity to become UK elites they move to Llundain.