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Opinion

Yes Cymru – drop the slogans

07 Nov 2024 4 minute read
Picture by YesCymru

Llinos Dafydd

As a member of Yes Cymru, I’m committed to seeing Wales stand on its own, build its own future, and claim its independence.

But as my membership renewal date approaches, I’m left questioning whether Yes Cymru still represents that vision or if it’s drifting away from what independence should actually mean.

The recent, now deleted, use of the slogan on their social channels, “Independence will… make Wales great again,” has really hit a nerve. This isn’t just a casual mistake; it’s a concerning choice.

Anyone paying attention to global politics knows exactly where that slogan comes from – Donald Trump’s campaign. This isn’t an association any progressive, forward-looking movement should want to make. Trump’s slogan brought with it a politics of division and exclusion, something many of us in Wales are fighting against, not rallying behind.

Borrowing this slogan wasn’t a clever nod to international trends; it was a blunder that misjudges what Welsh independence is all about.

Inclusive

Yes Cymru’s choice raises questions about where it’s headed. Are we here to mimic the tactics of other movements, or are we here to show Cymru what independence could genuinely be – something original, inclusive, and Cymreig to its core?

To me, Welsh independence is about something much deeper than a catchy phrase. It’s about the chance for Cymru to shape its own policies, protect its own communities, and develop a unique identity that’s not just a copy of others.

Independence should stand for progress and equality, and above all, it should carry a tone that’s distinctly Welsh, rooted in our culture and our ambitions. Choosing a slogan that resonates with divisive politics on the other side of the world isn’t just a lapse in judgment; it undermines the movement’s credibility.

Progressive

The irony is, Cymru doesn’t need borrowed slogans. We have centuries of history, a vibrant culture, and a shared sense of community that’s far richer than any rehashed line from elsewhere.

This is where Yes Cymru’s messaging should be grounded – not in political trends that don’t resonate here, but in the unique spirit and values that are unmistakably Welsh.

If Yes Cymru is serious about engaging people across Wales, it needs to take its messaging seriously. The organization has an incredible opportunity to build a powerful, authentic social media presence – one that reflects the unity, determination, and progressive vision of the Welsh people.

But this takes effort and insight. We need a tone that speaks to people, that feels authentic and welcoming, not something that feels like it’s ripped from a foreign playbook.

So, where does this leave members like me, who are weighing our commitment? I joined Yes Cymru because I believe in the future we could build as an independent nation. But I need to know that Yes Cymru understands the weight of this vision and is willing to put in the work to represent it well.

Cheap, recycled slogans just won’t cut it. We need thoughtful messaging, a clear direction, and a social media approach that shows our values with confidence and clarity.

Who’s steering the ship, anyway? This misstep also brings up another pressing question: who exactly is running Yes Cymru these days? Leadership is crucial in any movement, and right now, it feels like there’s a lack of clear direction.

Support

The organisation is overseen by a National Governing Body (NGB) – that, I know.
But despite these structures, recent actions suggest a disconnect between leadership and the movement’s core values.

It’s time for Yes Cymru’s leaders to step up, clarify their vision, and ensure that every message aligns with the true spirit of Welsh independence.

Yes Cymru has the support, and it has the cause. But to keep people on board, it needs to lead with vision and purpose.

Welsh independence isn’t just a slogan; it’s a commitment to building a fairer, stronger nation. Yes Cymru needs to remember this if it wants people like me to stick around and support the journey forward.


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TheOtherJones
TheOtherJones
22 days ago

This is a powerful piece that, if I’m being honest, breaks my heart. The movement, for me at least, should be about everything Llinos Dafydd describes there. We need a genuine umbrella organisation that can bring it all together at key times. I understand my personal policy preferences are in the realm of party politics, but an umbrella org should regularly platform *all* the major parties to set out their political stalls and inspire for an independent Cymru. This article breaks my heart because YesCymru has blown its place as that umbrella. So much promise burnt. There is too much… Read more »

Annibendod
Annibendod
22 days ago

Given that the vast majority of independence supporters are on the Left it certainly appears to be a gaffe. The trouble with YesCymru is that its in the news nowadays more often than not, for its problems and not its successes. I have every respect for the early founders of YesCymru and every sympathy with the vision behind establishing the organisation. Indeed I was a member for some years. But if it can’t keep clear of controversy, how does it help our movement? It appears to me that it has become an unweildy and overly beurocratic organisation, far too engaged… Read more »

Last edited 22 days ago by Annibendod
Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
22 days ago
Reply to  Annibendod

Whatever the issues, you keep failing to understand that Yes Cymru’s strength and importance is that it is a NON POLITICAL movement.
Please stop using every opportunity to suggest that we who actually work for independence through YC should join the self serving circus of Plaid Cymru and their chums in the bay.
By the way. You keep suggesting that we join PC. Has your enthusiasm got as far as standing for, or indeed winning, an election?

Garry Jones
Garry Jones
22 days ago

‘Who’s steering the ship, anyway? This misstep also brings up another pressing question: who exactly is running Yes Cymru these days? Leadership is crucial in any movement, and right now, it feels like there’s a lack of clear direction.’
I agree with the author’s concern here, and have cancelled my YesCymru membership earlier today, in part for this reason. 
I wish YesCymru well in its important mission to increase suport for annibyniaeth, but control of messaging, and membership retention are important leadership roles to achieving that. 

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
22 days ago
Reply to  Garry Jones

If you are that concerned why not stay in the movement and work to put whatever’s wrong, right.
Walking away is the coward’s way out.

CDE
CDE
20 days ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

I’m not convinced that calling people a coward is going to bring people to the movement.

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
17 days ago
Reply to  CDE

I’ve just returned to this thread.
I’m sorry if the word coward offends your sensibilities.
What else do you call people running away from the fight?

CDE
CDE
15 days ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

I’d have thought that a less aggressive tone might work better.
Not to worry, I’m a nobody. And I imagine someone like me isn’t welcome in Yes Cymru anyway.

Last edited 15 days ago by CDE
Gwynfor
Gwynfor
22 days ago

You can’t have the penny and the bun, Llinos. YesCymru imploded due to being far too woke and divisive and tried to carry the absurd transgender movement and cosying up to Black Lives Matter.

You can’t “protect communities” if YesCymru are simultaneously saying that Wales should be welcome to all and sundry and denying that native Welsh people actually exist. What’s the point?

Everything Saunders Lewis said about returning to tradition was completely true.

Lyn E
Lyn E
21 days ago
Reply to  Gwynfor

‘Native Welsh people’ is a dangerous concept. Are you going to follow Trump and advocate mass deportations?

Nearly a third of the people of Wales were born elsewhere. The vast majority have ancestors who arrived here in recent generations, from England, Ireland, the Empire, and beyond. We are a diverse and multicultural people.

CDE
CDE
20 days ago
Reply to  Gwynfor

Are you speaking on behalf of Yes Cymru here?

J Jones
J Jones
22 days ago

We only have to look out across the sea to another British country now independent from the English mess. They may have taken a century to get it right and still have troubles up north, but Ireland is an example of how it can work. Unfortunately, independence will be stalled by those who believe their own far left agenda is more important than our country.

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
22 days ago

Llinos. It’ so much easier to be negative and see the downside of things isn’t it? Less than ten years ago Yes Cymru did not exist and whatever the problems – real or imagined – the case for independence is now an issue, which by the way, Plaid Cymru failed to do. I may well agree that the slogan to which you mention was indeed unfortunate, but using a one off (now deleted) error as an excuse to attack the movement questions your commitment. The slogan is of course associated with the ultimate right winger, the disgusting Trump and I… Read more »

Llinos Dafydd
Llinos Dafydd
21 days ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

Diolch, John. I get where you’re coming from—YesCymru has made huge strides, and I absolutely want to see the movement succeed. But it’s precisely because I believe in it that I think we need to address when things go off-track, even if it’s ‘just one mistake.’ Strong messaging matters, especially when our opponents are watching, and the Trump-style slogan, however brief, was a misstep we should learn from. Mistakes are inevitable, but each one is also an opportunity to refine how we represent Welsh independence—boldly and authentically. YesCymru’s strength comes from being a grassroots, volunteer-driven movement, and I know we’re… Read more »

Garycymru
Garycymru
21 days ago

I think the piece casts a little more negativety than required.
Yes, the slogan is a little on the distasteful side, but nothing I’ve ever seen, or heard from YC suggests any level of hatred or intolerance that the original slogan stems from.
The general air of “focusing on love and hope for our country” seems to still be present.

Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
21 days ago

Llinos D, if you don’t like the slogan, invent a better one! I am member No.416 of YesCymru so I have followed the ups and downs. Here is why it is more important than ever to join and support YesCymru. Years ago, Prof.Gwyn Alf Williams said that the thing missing in Wales was a broadly-based national movement – not just political parties. YesCymru is that movement. YesCymru has just experienced internal difficulties and has reacted in a competent and organised way. It has drawn the lessons and drawn a line and is now ready to grow again. Can we sort… Read more »

hdavies15
hdavies15
21 days ago

You are dead right that the old Left Right thing is outdated. In a complex world a linear 2D model is quite useless to represent anything as convoluted as political thought. Use a 3D Model and Left-Right becomes insignificant. I’m small c conservative on a lot of things but there is a core of values that are found in traditional socialist thinking. Those values were preeminent on the “left” before the deviants and hijackers moved in and diverted energies to meeting the needs of globalist corporates who have corrupted free enterprise, market capitalism as they gained dominance.

Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards
20 days ago
Reply to  hdavies15

I think millions would agree with you. I do. For example, I thought free speech, US First Amendment-style, was what an ‘Independent’-reading liberal like me wanted to protect in the UK. And I thought we mild lefties believed in scientific rationalism. And Indy. Oh, and we supported feminism. Until the evidence piled up, via my middle-of-the-road American wife amongst many, that the 2020s form of feminism is deeply damaging to our wives, daughters and female colleagues and friends, not just us toxic males. Confession: my wife bought me a MAGA hat at a gun-show. Nice American ladies will do this… Read more »

Daf
Daf
21 days ago

This article is an overreaction. It was a daft to copy the slogan of a very divisive figure, but it was quickly retracted. YesCymru has dropped a few other clangers in the past (remember that awful cartoon ‘Betty Boop’ Wales, in stockings and stilettos, wiggling her behind at a cartoon England? *shudder*). YC has a small team, and they make mistakes like everyone else. All that is of real interest for anyone watching is whether YesCymru can try and be the broad-church organisation it (sometimes) claims to aspire to. Will trans activists try and get everyone expelled who doesn’t believe… Read more »

Llinos Dafydd
Llinos Dafydd
21 days ago
Reply to  Daf

Appreciate the response and your perspective. I get that YesCymru is a small team, and mistakes happen. I also agree that YC should aim to be a broad-church movement, truly representing a range of voices across Wales. But that’s exactly why messaging matters. If YesCymru wants to unite people across divides, every bit of communication—even a single post—counts. Strong, clear messaging builds unity and credibility; it keeps us focused on the vision of independence, not sidetracked by missteps. Inclusivity doesn’t mean accepting everything—it means setting a tone that genuinely reflects our values and goals. That’s what I was getting at… Read more »

Daf
Daf
20 days ago
Reply to  Llinos Dafydd

I’m not about to advocate for thoughtless communication, so on that we agree. I think with the best will in the world, the messaging can only be clear when it is expressing clear goals and values. I’m not convinced YesCymru has the latter, and has not put enough clear water between its current incarnation, and the destructive mess of 2021. I have a lot of sympathy for whoever engages with this hard task, but it’s got to be done. Put it this way – I personally would not waste time supporting an organisation when core committee members would want to… Read more »

Alun
Alun
21 days ago

Left wingers simply have no sense of humour. Whoever created the Trump post was sloppy and it was ill-advised, nothing more than that. I understand it was removed quickly?

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
20 days ago
Reply to  Alun

Who is giving such bad advice ? Humour, nothing to laugh at here…this goes beyond politics and shows a basic lack of ‘substance’….

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
20 days ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

And you of course have never made a mistake, or said something you regret…
It must be wonderful to be perfect.

Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas
20 days ago

Why would he assume that everyone that wants independence is in favour of the insane race communism the left is enamoured with.

Some of us just want a commonsense government that is focused on improving the material quality of life of it’s citizens.

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