Ministers held an historic debate in the Senedd today (Wednesday) on whether Wales should hold an independence referendum.

 

Plaid Cymru this afternoon led the first ever debate on Welsh independence in the Senedd.

 

Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price said that Wales had “proven itself” through its independent approach to the coronavirus crisis but warned against retuning to the “status-quo” which had “failed Wales”.

 

Mr Price added: “As we come out of this crisis, we cannot go back to the status-quo. The status quo has failed Wales. Underinvestment and unfair funding forms the crux of this unequal union of broken promises. 

“Meanwhile, support for Welsh independence is on the rise and the people of Wales are waking up to the idea that there is another way, another future, another choice. And that choice firmly resides with the people of Wales.

 

“That’s why we are calling on the Welsh Government to seek the constitutional right to allow the Senedd to legislate during the next term to hold a binding referendum on independence.

 

“Welsh independence can be a force for good. A force to reject the regressive, insular and backward-looking politics of Westminster for the politics of hope, of caring and of community that we can all have in our new independent Wales standing tall amongst the other nations of the world.

 

“It’s time for change and it is only through a Plaid Cymru Government that that change, and our independence, can be won.

Responding to the historic debate in the Senedd calling for Wales to have the power to hold an independence referendum, the Chair of YesCymru - the campaign for an independent Wales - Siôn Jobbins from Aberystwyth said: “Life and politics in Wales is changing very quickly.

“Today sees the first ever debate on independence in the Senedd and the right of the Welsh Parliament to be able to decide on the future of Wales. 

“The issue of an independent Wales is becoming more mainstream as people from different backgrounds see that the Welsh Parliament can do a better job of running Wales’ affairs than Westminster. 

“YesCymru’s membership has more than doubled since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis to nearly 6,000, and we have seen a huge increase in support on social media.

“The independence debate is not confined to Plaid Cymru. The Welsh Barometer Poll (June 2020) showed that 37 per cent of Labour voters in Wales support an independent Wales, and a delegation from YesCymru recently met Labour MS, Jane Hutt, for a general discussion on the need for the Senedd to have the powers to defend and promote Wales and also to chose its own future. 

“With a Scottish independence referendum to be held in the next few years, and a likelihood of Ireland reuniting, Wales must grab its future and not be at the mercy of it."