There is an appetite for more independence in Wales – we know Westminster doesn’t work for us
Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru leader
Today, March 3rd, marks the anniversary of the 2011 law-making powers referendum.
As an AM who voted to trigger that referendum, and later as part of the Yes for Wales campaign committee, it was good to see that half a million of our citizens came out and said ‘Yes’.
They said ‘Yes’ to reducing Westminster’s control over Wales, and ‘Yes’ to making more decisions for ourselves.
The ‘LCO’ system in place before the referendum had delayed Welsh decisions being made on school transport, mental health, fire safety, and affordable housing.
Getting rid of it with a referendum was a major achievement of Plaid Cymru in the One Wales government.
Many Labour MPs wanted to stop it happening. If it had not taken place then, we would probably have had to wait at least another five years.
The 2011 referendum confirmed that there was no going back to direct rule. It opened the door to future devolution of tax-varying and borrowing powers, and the ability to create a Welsh Parliament.
Raw deal
But this slow drip-feed of responsibilities has not satisfied people in Wales.
Seven years on, and the BBC’s latest St David’s Day poll suggests that when it comes to the constitution, 51% of people want either further powers or full independence.
Polls can’t be fully trusted of course. But time after time, whenever consulted, people in Wales say that more decisions about Wales should be made in Wales.
The reason for this is that Westminster does not work for Wales. The UK is the most unequal state in Europe and Wales is at the bottom of the pile.
People know that we are getting a raw deal. The impact of this is seen in our daily lives and in our economy.
Years of under-investment, antique trains and infrastructure, decisions being fudged or put off, and poor representation by a Wales Office that seems more interested in what’s going on in Bristol than it does here.
We have put vast natural, financial and human resources into the UK over the course of a century, but have been deliberately de-industrialised and left unable to compete.
The devolved Labour Welsh Government has a history of mismanaging public services. But at no point do people conclude that powers should be handed back to Westminster.
This is because for many, governing ourselves is now a matter of principle.
So how can this preference for greater Welsh self-rule be turned into reality?
Empowering
A lesson from the 2011 referendum is that there is not much enthusiasm about devolution and the constitution.
One way we can bridge this is by making it more real to people. In a recent publication I have argued that;
“A core principle of decentralisation, for us, is that people in Wales are best placed to take decisions in the best interests of Wales.
“If those decisions are taken outside of Wales, then there is a risk that those decisions will not be in our best interests.
“Currently too many decisions affecting Wales are taken in Westminster by people who have little knowledge or interest in Wales or the needs of the people who live here.”
I have already begun a series of public meetings to openly discuss these concepts and more.
Making more decisions about our own lives is central, but this is not set out as a mere constitutional policy.
Instead, I talk about empowering people in Wales; as individuals, as communities, and as a nation.
People from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds are turning up and engaging in this conversation.
I will eventually speak to several thousand of people through these events.
Whatever happens in the coming years with the Brexit process, the need for Wales to become a state, with full self-determination and the right to choose our own status, will become impossible for governments in London and Cardiff to ignore.
The 2011 referendum did not represent the “settled will” of people when it comes to where decisions about our country should be made.
There is an appetite for more autonomy and independence, demonstrating that many people have a full understanding of how Westminster doesn’t work for us.
Let’s make sure that no one is under any illusion: we want less Westminster control over our lives, and more decisions about Wales to be made in Wales.
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In her speech yesterday May didn’t once refer to the devolved governments’ competence over policies and practice post-Brexit. Every time she mentioned “parliament” she was referring exclusively to Westminster, as if the other parliaments in the UK counted for nothing, which, of course, is her mindset. Don’t suppose there was one civil servant in London or one minister in the Chequers pow-wow [Cairnsie – where were you when your nation needed you?] who thought to correct this impression before she gave the speech.
Leanne. The headline of your posting is perfect except for one word. The word is more.
Remove that and you are really talking.
I find the title rather negative and half-hearted and more or less a whinge. “There is an appetite for more independence in Wales – we know Westminster doesn’t work for us”. Nobody will ‘work’ for us or give is hand-outs to prosperity. Not Westminster. Not the EU. Not even a Welsh Government. We have to do things for ourselves. And the best framework to facilitate being able to do things for ourselves in my opinion is a government on a Wales level. ‘There is an appetite for independence in Wales – we have to do things ourselves to make things… Read more »
Leanne, (I don’t usually write long ones, so maybe I’ll send this as a letter too.) Plaid Cymru’s biggest challenge is that this is an astonishingly diverse country for its size. And that we cannot empower Wales with one political viewpoint while we are too small to realistically have more than one nationalist party In giving away my Texan origins, here is a solution: a .45 revolver-modeled umbrella chamber fused with the ideas of the Dutch Liberal Party D66. In D66 if you lose an election, no matter the level, you lose your position and the right stand in the… Read more »
I’m not sure we need anything that complicated – just a party that’s a big tent and that allows its constituency branches a certain measure of independence to do their own thing. Leadership then concentrate on the big picture, those issues that bring the entire party together.
A very sophisticated idea for these volatile times. But PC is a left party. New party, though? (btw.The finnish is puolue, juhla meaning any celebration. )
We cannot afford a new nationalist party. Gwynfor Evans’ victory took 40 years to achieve. Lib Dems grew out of 1 deeply planted root and a sterdyish new one with older elements. New parties usually don’t last long, and they often waste resources.
Diolch am y Ffineg.
Ben, “Constant mode of structural change.” Are you thinking “Social Media”? This weekend I was struck by the various tweets by young people on the kind of Independent Wales they would like to see.
No, not social media.
In the mid 20th century Liberals began reconstructing themselves and what that came up with was to make compulsory constant evolution and Darwinism built into the structure of their party. This later enabled them to morph into the Lib Dems by swallowing another party.
Evolutionary survival.
I don’t know whether you’ve noticed, but the LibDems are everywhere in retreat and have become an irrelevance, and not before time. I’m not suggesting that any other party is that much better, just less anachronistic.
feels like a post truth society where we do not seek a system that works….or ground up anarchism variety of organisation….but simply put in different systems because its their time :/….
Devolution is not made to work for us. It is made to work for Westminster colonial aims. It will never work for us because the threat of removal or winding back of powers will always be there. The threat of being dragged into Westminster’s decisions will always be there – another Iraq? We are ignored in Westminster. We are ignored on Brexit in Westminster. The biggest statement Plaid Cymru could take is not taking their seats. The way forward is clear and always has been… the journey towards more powers is the threat of Independence and only the threat of… Read more »
“people in Wales”. That’s the new ‘safe’ term for the Welsh people, is it?
“people in Wales” is an appropriate admission given the Cardiff bubble’s view of the future of Wales. The Welsh nation is being incrementally replaced by a ‘diverse’ population. Our elected “representatives” either welcome this or are resigned to it as inevitable. Leanne calls it Civic Nationalism, a soothing term for soft genocide. Many Europeans are starting to wake up. At a German rally the other day for stronger boarders the headline was: “We don’t lock the doors of our homes because we hate the people outside. We lock the doors of our homes because we love the people inside and… Read more »
But no-one has a monopoly on the truth. You may be sympathetic to slow creeping fascism, I’m not. There is nothing at all indicative in the idea of Civic Nationalism of soft genocide; it depends a lot on how other aspects of our national identity are maintained. Civic Nationalism is fine if it clearly states that those who share our values are welcome to call themselves Welsh – as has always been the case. It doesn’t mean that Welshness in the sense of Civic Nationalism has to be an anything goes scenario, as you seem to suggest. Whilst the way… Read more »
There is one easy way to stop all but the Fundamental Nationalist 7% that apparently want an independent Wales. Just give Wales full fiscal responsibility for its spending needs. Draw the line where you will for Defence, Foreign Office etc, Stand back and watch as the loss of the perhaps flawed, but now vastly reduced Barnett formula payments kick in. We just do not generate enough income in Wales to support the 2nd most obese nation in the world. It is sad, but it is truth.
Are you talking about the English being most obese? The House of Commons report 20 January 2017 has the figures which shows England well up on Wales in weight both obese and overweight. Our income in Wales goes to support English retirees whose state pension is shown as Welsh expenditure. Then there’s the sick and poor of England who come here after being pushed out of England. They are pushed out of England because they are too expensive to support. Shelter has been scathing about this people trafficking. Their social payments are down as Welsh expenditure. Why mention the Barnett… Read more »
Whilst we all know that highlighting the Westminster sanctioned, (or at least they turn a blind eye) ‘people trafficking’ activities of agencies and local authorities in England, (ably aided and abetted by the Labour sponsored Third Sector Quislings here in Wales) would bring on the usual calls of ‘racism’ we still need to make this an even bigger issue.If we make it cause big enough, and more widely understood, those taunts lose their power. It would be quite possible to do this in a way that is perfectly humane in the best senses. Those who are effectively trafficked here more… Read more »
The softness of tread in such matters needs to be matched with the softness of the pen. Under our radar these unfortunates meet changes of upheaval that cannot be imagined, if imposed. And destinations into a Country where there are no material or human connections or sympathies. I suppose abandoned may not be too risky a venture of mind set. Then it would be reasonable to predict that in such circumstances that the frail and feeble, or with serous disabilities, including mental health issues will be not best severed. Strange surroundings, neighbours, housing, environment and medical care. I would venture… Read more »
Nigel, Are you deliberately ignoring all the explanations for the truth about the Welsh financial position ? It appears that way. It’s been explained so many times that Wales would be well able to hold it’s own as an Independent country. It would be a very difficult divorce, we all know that, but the fact that it would be difficult is no argument against it. And why would you be looking for a way to stop people wanting Independence for their country ? And why do you refer to people wanting Independence as fundamentalist ? It’s a simple human right… Read more »
Nigel is right and wrong. It’s what the media keeps flogging, and watch has toes turn upwards when the truth be told. It’s like the trapeze artist says to the assistant ” it’s all about timing”. I’m a recipient of a feed of social media from protect animal friends. It mentioned that rats love to be tickled. Um. The draw on our resources is endless. Prisons, the dumping of the disabled and sick from London and other cities and elsewhere to areas like Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen , North Wales, because they are vulnerable, and taking up valuable tenancies, In popular areas… Read more »
Leanne, cario ymlean. Mae’n imposid i bod frindiau i rhyw pwy weld unig sais. Ni yn ddim ofn, ond ddim yn unig yr wir. Ni ein gylydd, ni yn dawel, yn aros hyd yr dydd pan Rydyn ni ‘r di dal. Rwyn fi garu Gymru.
Uh? Beth yn union ydych chi’n ceisio i ddweud Graham? Basai’n well petach chi wedi defnyddio Google Translate! (Neu, wrth gwrs, ei ‘sgrifennu yn Saesneg.)
Mae’n ddrwg gyda fi. Mae rhaid i mi wneud yn well. Wyt’n ysgriffennu yn Gymraeg perffaith. Diolch am y wers. Dymunaf un dydd I fod gallu I siarad a ysgriffennu yn rhugl. Mae rhaid i mi.
Ma’n anodd, ar y ddechrau, i mynegi eich barn trwy gyfrwng iaith newydd. Yr unig cyngor y gallaf cynnig i chi yw i geisio eu cadw mor syml a phosib – hynny yw, defnyddio iath syml, a pheidio gesio i fod yr un mor rhugl (articulate) ag yr ydych yn Saesneg. Dw i ddim yn ‘sgrifennu Cymraeg yn berffaith, o bell fordd, ond diolch am y teyrnged!
Os oes gennych ffrindiau sy’n siarad Cymrag, gofyn iddynt eich helpu. Ond rhaid cofio: Cropian cyn Cerdded!
Dal ati Graham, mi ddaw hi yn y pen draw.
Diolch am dy cyngor di. Cadw syml. Dw’i gerthfawrogi mawr. Ac Ymlaen.
Dafydd It does not help my point by not being able to quote the source, but I distinctly remember it being discussed at length about two years ago. That a house of common report says that Wales is better than England is little comfort. We are still an obese nation, with the post-industrial south by far the worst. I remember being shocked when visiting Merthyr 7 yrs ago at the physical condition of so many people. Health and health care is failing in Wales, yet the causes according to my GP are mostly according to lifestyle. We have a diabetes… Read more »
Nigel,
I’m sorry your memory is playing up about your false obesity claim about welsh people. What’s this racism you speak of? When England gets all the rail funding for Wales and England, Would you that a racist statement or a colonialist statement.
.
I’m in despair circular tones of what is or not a Nationalist view. And now de facto formula. How can you be different sort of Welsh if you live in the east or west of Wales. Are we referring to cultural hegemony. The distinction between the traditional/organic and others. This is dangerous territory. The whole issue of Nationalism is that whomsoever raises a murmur of identity and language it’s construed as somehow mischievous and at odds with good relations. The ‘fundamental’ question to ask therefore should those who live in different parts be somehow different, is Wales a Country in… Read more »
I take little confort from a racist. Impoverished, maligned, insulted. And do you know what. It’s the Brent Authority of London ( Labour) who are the worst conspritors, of transporting the vulnerable to our shores. To rid them selves of the aged, mentally sick, and in desperate need of social care. I cry in despair at the callous treatment of those who deserve better. Don’t pity me, I pity you and your like.
Well I think the mask slipped from mr bull the other day, with his little `english breakfast´ c**k a doodle .
I hate to quote this guy Miss Wood…but he’s right on this one:
“Power devolved is power retained”
Enoch Powell
Dafydd Obesity-It is here. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19366302, so not false unless we are nation of Atkins dieters! I will not defend rail funding, it is plainly unfair, leaving us with 2rd rate electrification, but…………..”Plaid needs to set out a plan for Counter-colonisation” and “The Welsh nation is being incrementally replaced by a ‘diverse’ population” We are all immigrants of sorts and very few thoroughbred celts that live here. Being Welsh is very different depending upon whether you live in Chester, Chepstow, Carmarthen, Caernarvon or Caerphilly. There is no de facto formula for being Welsh, Fundamental Nationalists need to accept it or indeed… Read more »
If you’re going to quote me I suggest you quote the entire statement – what i said was: “Plaid needs to set out a plan for Counter-colonisation – which includes education, media and more events celebrating Welsh figures and important occasions to make them more mainstream.” You’ve just essentially put two comments together from two different people and made my statement seem like a statement about race when It clearly was not. Colonialism of the modern day is Cultural Colonialism. The Politics of the English language and everything surrounding it. Its nothing to do with race. Its about the influences… Read more »
The BBC article of 2012 you refer to on obesity is clearly unfounded and incorrect and there is no evidence supplied unlike the House of Commons Report of 2017. Both the BBC article and yourself say, incorrectly without evidence, that Wales is “the 2nd most obese nation in the world. One could regard this as racist. You use this false information and say “it is the truth”. Thereafter you argue that Wales can’t support itself because of obesity, but England has more obesity so therefore using your argument I would say that the sooner we sever government from England the… Read more »
I don’t normally engage in debate with anyone who inserts the word ‘racism’ when appointing themselves as a BritNat apologist in relation to Wales’s colonial status, but the truth is that the racists are those English local authorities who — in happily transferring their unwanted citizens to another country and expecting that country to bear the economic and social burden — clearly regard Wales’s separate identity and culture as being of no importance. And if you think it was an isolated incident involving a few Liverpudlians, you’re in denial. Graham John Hathaway spelled it out succinctly regarding the assumptions behind… Read more »
Nigel Bull, like many in True Wales, hold their own people and their own country in contempt, accuse anyone who thinks Wales should get off its knees of ‘racism’, and is happy to be ruled by the likes of Boris Johnson rather than a Welsh-specific and Wales-first political arrangement. You can’t do anything with those people – they are both aggressive (to other Welsh people) and fawning (to the English overlord), and you find them in Labour as much as the tories. They tell us we’re poor and stupid, because they believe that themselves. They look at our problems and… Read more »
Well, Kid, we love you anyway wherever you came from and hope you’ll stay!
I’ll second that.
Cardiff devolution was always a branch of Westminster rule …. we need real devolution as far down as possible……individuals and communities able to make wealth with workers part owning where they work
What would be wrong with workers owning the whole show? It’s only them who create the wealth anyway, so why have a leeching capitalist class increasing the costs to everyone else?
Kairdiff Kidd I hold few in contempt, there is much on here that I thoroughly agree with and indeed some of what you say especially what you say of Plaid actions over recent years. True Wales existed because it was the only way that the comfy consensus between all parties could be challenged. To a man(or woman) few of us would have found anything wrong with the thoughts of Edeyrn above. Plaid defended all that was wrong in what had gone before because of being afraid that it would put back the long term goal of Independence. That will only… Read more »
………fundamentalist that sees independence as a goal in itself, the above is very difficult to grapple with, but essential for long term success.
You then attack me using your opinion of what you think I am, my view and you are so far from the truth. Terms like “these people” and then making assumptions of what they think is bigoted. I do not take myself seriously and see humour in all, especially keyboard warriors that hide behind a name!
Off now for some lamb and leek soup
Nigel, I’m glad there are some things we agree on, and I certainly don’t fail to appreciate your humour, but what you say about True Wales isn’t really , er… , true: True Wales went around with a plastic inflatable pig going oink oink and telling Welsh voters that the Assembly was a bunch of pigs with their snouts in the trough. It was puerile politics by smear and fear. The TW person I spoke to once in Cardiff, who was standing not far from the inflatable pig, and might even in fact have been you, told me that AM’s… Read more »
Leanne and Plaid are far to cautious on the independence question. I think it’s a fear of being accused of being Nationalists, which is ironic because that’s why most people vote for them, and what the other parties accuse them of being anyway. The pretender to the crown Rhun is even worse, double speak is his second language after Cymraeg. Anyway what do they have to lose in talking independence? They seem happy to lose AMs in Cardiff and still call themselves the opposition, even though they are in third place without NMc and DET. I’m quite happy for them… Read more »
KK I was probably in Cardiff on the day in question, but it was unlikely to have been me that you spoke to as I have no knowledge of the total costs involved for each AM The salaries have always been lower for The Assembly and office costs etc, given MP’s are based London will be considerably lower. So that pretty much rules me out from the conversation. There are some issues re welsh speaking ability being irrelevant to certain WAG jobs, but I do not make an issue on that as I accept that my Eastern Wales experience and… Read more »
Excellent.
Lovely. Very well explained.
That’s the sort of speech Leanne should start making.
Agree, but without extending a welcoming hand to the right and centre of the electorate Plaid will remain an opposition party.
As a dissertation on the Welsh politics current, with the bone shaking reality of just what we are facing as a Nation, then it could not be more clear. We are paddling in the swill of our own misery, and cannot recognise, see or believe we can reach dry uplands. Of which we have many. A major contribution of consensus politics and wisdom. Excellent. I think some one has touched the litmus paper. Let’s go forward with Plaid with confidence in an arc of wide reaching support.
Henry Vlll successor, Thereas May, won’t permit it to happen.
The return of the spectre of a tyrant who robbed and confiscated swathes of fertile lands of Wales through patronage and now the threats to our devolved powers and more through executive powers vested not in Wales. Described as a power grab by Westminster. I wonder what the difference is.
Yes, that’s Theresa May.
As a previous post so described that ‘history never repeats itself but rhymes’. Much more dangerous than a highway robber like Richard ‘Dick’ Turpin, but it may call for a return of a Robin Hood. Not sure we can find a highly skilled archer and swordsman who wears tights!
Twm Sion Cati, ble wyt ti?
Mae’n ddrwg gyda fi. Wrth gwrs. Ateb perffaith.
I for Inspirational! A great post. Diolch.
Ms Wood, looking at Twitter over the weekend, I was struck by the numbers among the youth tweeting “what I want an independent Wales to be like”. The buzz was there. Time for all parties to
form a plan for the future now?
Nigel, I’m warming to you, and there’s always something in what you say I agree on. I’m afraid I just don’t see Cardiff Bay as being a trough, and I condemn the attempt to direct populist fear and hate against Cardiff Bay (and implicitly other Welsh people) when in fact it’s Westminster that is grotesque. TW never mentioned that. Perhaps you did, but you’ll agree that TW existed and exists solely to attack devolution, and does so solely through the imputation of greed and privilege to the Assembly. I’m with you on Deryn, and on the revolving doors of politics… Read more »
How about declaring lobbying by any others than constituents illegal? Those who wish to use the services of lobbying companies are predominantly those who hope to subvert the democratic process.
In order to receive a sizeable Plaid vote it must make itself more attractive to both the right and centre of the electorate. Pursuing only hard left policies which Leanne Wood prefers will keep Plaid in opposition indefinitely.
I agree.
KK View us as rebels perhaps, fighting a guerilla war where the methods are not what we would choose, but are all that is available to us. TW was founded as it became apparent that The Assembly was not working as it should and could. There was an infamous split when one founder wanted to abolish it, but left over the issue. There was a difficult birth after Ron’s badger spotting and A Micheal’s imposition, after which it was given time, but for me as the Technium debacle played out and many other issues too, the need change became apparent.… Read more »
It still isn’t clear what you and your ‘fellow-rebels’ want for this country, Mr. Bull. You seem to be on the same page as most contributors regarding the corruption in the Bubble (which seems to be worse even than that of Westminster because there seems to be less accountability). Do you want to reform the Senedd, or abolish it? You raise valid questions concerning the kind of country an independent Wales would be, and we’re all agreed that that is an issue of fundamental importance. But although you and your ‘rebels’ seem afraid of the prospect of independence, you’re not… Read more »
Wrexhamian TW is not a political party and has no ambition to be. It is however very much against what most in Wales do not want in terms of honesty and answerability in politics. If you read with just a little care above re The Assembly, much of it is there to be seen. But since you obviously did not I will copy and paste re abolition. “TW was founded as it became apparent that The Assembly was not working as it should and could. There was an infamous split when one founder wanted to abolish it, but left over… Read more »
I did read it, but it didn’t clarify your organisation’s position on the Senedd. Your explanation “Reform is the way forward” did clarify it. The use of the Welsh language is rising, not falling. It is the proportion of those who have any ability in it in relation to those with none that has fallen, owing to immigration into Wales. That will probably be rectified as Welsh language policy — perhaps Welsh Labour’s one single achievement — begins to bear fruit. WE still have no idea where your organisation stands on independence. I’ve already gone against my intention of not… Read more »
Sorry, I meant “…as his constant comments are distracting well-meaning and well-informed contributors from offering viable solutions to this country’s problems, or responding to Leanne Woods’s post”. Wedi blino iawn rwan!
Grovey, I have just begun to learn cymraeg, so count me in too. Here’s the thing, I am quite right wing, but even so I enjoyed Ben’s firework display of ideas once I digested them.
Sometimes, having slept on it, I come around to proposals whatever their source and the youthful buzz is very attractive, having also been young once. The future beckons!
I feel that such distinctions as right and left are out-of-date and not immediately relevant when we’re dealing with the kind of issues discussed on this blog, JR. Right, left, or centre, surely anyone who has positive ideas to contribute to solving Wales’s problems is a valued ally. Keep up the language-learning, and enjoy it, and when you’re ready, go to Saith Seren in Henblas Street on a Monday night for chatting-practice!
V. true, Wrex. And I find it almost impossible to criticise successful people, especially Leanne, who, let’s face it, is one gorgeous tomato.
Henblas St. know it very well, alas I live west Finland where I talk to the wall, but might pop into Saith Seren to wish you all well. Diolch, Hwyl Fawr!
I agree fully and left a comment on another article saying that the 7% supporting independence is good, if you add them to the 44% wanting autonomy. Add them together and you have a majority.
Separate them and you’re back to 7%. Reduction.
Encouraging stuff, Jim. Also, how to push; business seems to be one path. More dosh, more push.
NIgel, I don;t agree that telling lies and smearing public servants is ever , as you put i ‘all that is available’ to anyone, and I’m sorry to hear you say that. I agree re the local authorities stuff you mention, but that’s the Labour party for you, and I don;t recall TW ever raising that – you only ever attacked devolution, not the people running it (many of whom, like your pal Nigel Dix and Rachel Banner, Labour party members/councillors). So what you were in fact doing was criticising the Labour one-party state but you didn’t want to call… Read more »
KK You do have point in that what you see in the media, was not always ideal, but it is not the whole picture. You see the answer to questions, but very often not the questions themselves which often were quite specific. There also was the question of simplifying the issues into digestible understandable chunks that will stick in peoples memory. I will give one example, when making a documentary in the The Assembly building in the week before the referendum. Both I and Cathy Owens were given questions to address. When I broadened the issues I was told to… Read more »
You’re always off somewhere. As far as Clinton is concerned, Peter Schwiezer’s Clinton Cash might give folks some clues.