By Ben Jones. Cover image via Twitter
Supporters for Welsh Independence will descend on Wrecsam this weekend for a major demonstration in favour of Wales breaking away from Westminster and against a backdrop of growing attacks on devolution by the UK Government.
Following an extended break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth march for Welsh Independence is set to take off in Wrecsam on Saturday, featuring a line-up of pro-indy figures and politicians, broadcasters, comedians, musicians, writers and locals.
Earlier in the week, campaigners claimed victory when Wrecsam Council made a U-turn on their decision to not allow the march to go ahead. On Wednesday, the council released a statement saying that they formally approved of the protest. “As political leaders at Wrexham Council, we want to make it clear that we fully support the right for Welsh independence campaigners to hold a peaceful march this weekend,” they said.
This will be the first demonstration in nearly three years, as Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru councillor in Wrexham and one of the march organisers, explained over the phone:
“We would’ve held a march earlier, but the pandemic really affected our plans. However, now is the best time for another. We’re just a little more than a year away from the Scottish Referendum, independence is becoming relevant again. We’ve got supporters all over the spectrum: Plaid, who are very supportive, YesCymru, AUOB [All Under One Banner].”
The event comes amid escalating attacks by the UK Government over devolution and the powers of the Welsh Government. Earlier this week, they confirmed plans to override Welsh rules on banning strike-breaking labour in their bid to enforce authoritarian anti trade union laws.
In the past seven days the Tories also successfully demanded £30million from the Welsh public finances to fund NATO and announced their intention to undermine Welsh Government’s authority over the delivery of education.
Carrie Harper says that the event will also look to confront the spiralling cost of living crisis and the march would be a way of “bringing more people into the conversation.”
“I’ve been in politics since 2008, and there are undoubtedly pressing issues affecting Wales under devolution: child poverty, food poverty, social policies, we simply can’t make change within the situation that currently exists. But this has always been the case.
According to Carrie: “The only solution is independence, the only way in which we can progress the nation is by separating from Westminster.”
Llywelyn ap Gwilym, who volunteers for AUOB Cymru, told voice.wales that the signs were promising for a decent turnout.
While he wouldn’t make an exact prediction, he referred to the momentum built pre-pandemic, in which he described over 10,000 supporters in Caernarfon and over 5000 in Merthyr, both in 2019, when speaking about his hopes for Saturday.
“The response on social media has been great, the response to leafleting has been great, and I just hope it’s a big turnout as the organisers on the ground in Wrecsam have made such a huge effort to put on a great weekend – they deserve it to be a huge success.”
This week also saw the announcement by Nicoal Sturgeon of her intention to hold a referendum on Scottish Independence next Autumn, giving campaigners in Wales a boost.
“In terms of other organisations we’ve had good support,” says Llwellyn. “The whole purpose of AUOBCymru is to support others – individuals and groups – and so it’s great to see organisations like Welsh Underground Network and Melin Drafod (to name two) organising events in Wrecsam around the march.”
“And we’re also grateful to YesCymru who have put up a good amount of money – the marches can be expensive to organise and we, as AUOB, have limited funds, all raised from supporters, so we’re thankful for their support.”
In 2020, the official campaign for Welsh Independence, Yes Cymru, ballooned in membership, piling on thousands of new recruits in a matter of months to reach almost 20,000. Membership declined in the period since, however, and concerns were raised about transphobia and harassment within the movement.
Llewellyn said that it was important to start organising again on the streets to re-invigorate the campaign and advocate for a progressive mass movement.
“I hope it will demonstrate that the overwhelming majority of supporters are there for the same thing – advocating progressive Welsh independence where all are welcome.”
Echoing Carrie Harper, Llywelyn believes that real change is impossible if Wales remains part of the UK: “I see independence as the vehicle for improving people’s daily lives – for reducing poverty, for reducing inequality, for giving people hope – if it doesn’t do that then what’s the point? We can’t go on as we are.”
The march will begin at 12pm on Saturday 2nd of July, at Llwyn Isaf in Wrexham, before ending with a rally in Queen’s Square, a walk of just over a mile.
Full details, including locations, camping, parking and toilet access can be found here.
