THOUSANDS MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE
EIGHT thousand Welsh Independence campaigners marched in Wrexham yesterday to again call for separation from the United Kingdom. It was the first time a demonstration of its kind took place in Wales since events in Cardiff, Merthyr and Caernarfon in 2019.
The event was organised by All Under One Banner (AUOB) Cymru, Indy Fest Wrexham and YesCymru. Revellers donned red clothing and sang and chanted as they marched from Llwyn Isaf and continued through the city centre to Wrexham Civic Centre.
After the march a rally took place at the civic centre with speakers such as Dafydd Iwan, Pol Wong from IndyFest Wrexham, poet and activist Evrah Rose, comedian and broadcaster Tudur Owen, Wrexham county councillor Carrie Harper and Archdruid Myrddin ap Dafydd.
Mr Iwan roused the crowd with a passionate rendition of Yma o Hyd, before saying: “A new spirit is spreading throughout Wales, and the feeling is growing that we can do better for the people of Wales if we do it ourselves. That is the true meaning of independence, not a separation, but joining all the other nations who govern themselves. Wales is beginning to believe in itself, and nothing can hold back a nation which has selfbelief.”
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price was also seen in attendance at the event and issued his own independence plea ahead of the march saying “Wales has a choice” to “take our future into our own hands”. He also referred to the union as a “sinking ship”.
As marchers continued to soak in the atmosphere on a sunny afternoon, Mr Owen told the crowd: “The case for independence has been made. We now need the consent of the people of Wales and that is our next challenge.”
There was also a special video message of support from Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald who said: “I wish you every success with your march today, you will always have friends here in Ireland. Above all, I wish you a future that matches the hopes and aspirations of the Welsh people.”
One of the organisers of the March for Independence, Kieran Thomas, said: “We were so disappointed when Covid put paid to our plans two years ago, but we are over the moon that people believe so strongly in the cause that they have travelled from all over Wales to get here today.
“People want a better Wales and can see that the dysfunctional British state is not going to provide it. This march has been a big economic boost for Wrexham and months of hard work has paid off.”
Just this week, the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon laid out her plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, which she hopes will be on Thursday, October 19, 2023, asking the question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
Meanwhile, plans to increase the number of Senedd members from 60 to 96 have moved a step closer after a key motion was passed this weekend.
A special event known as a recall conference took place in Cardiff Bay yesterday where constituency Labour groups and unions affiliated with the party were given the chance to vote on whether to expand the Welsh Parliament.
While GMB, Community and Usdaw were opposed to the proposals, claiming any changes to the Senedd electoral system would make it more difficult to secure a Welsh Labour government, Wales’ largest unions Unite and Unison, as well as most constituency Labour groups, were in favour which led to the motion being passed 75.64% for to 24.36% against.
The plans will now go to the Welsh Parliament in the form of a new law and require two-thirds of the Senedd’s agreement to come into force.