Welsh independence: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 03:47, 1 February 2022

Welsh independence (Welsh: Annibyniaeth i Gymru) is a political movement supporting Wales leaving the United Kingdom to become an independent sovereign state. Territory forming part of present-day Wales was conquered by Edward I of England during the 13th century, and it was integrated into the Kingdom of England by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542.

The modern Welsh independence movement emerged during the mid-19th century. In the 21st century the political parties Plaid Cymru,^[1] Propel, Gwlad, and the Wales Green Party support Welsh independence, as does the non-partisan YesCymru campaign.^[2]

History

Middle Ages

Wales became distinct culturally and politically from other Brythonic groups during the Early Middle Ages.^[3]^[4] Ruled by a patchwork of independent kingdoms, the territory of modern Wales was not a unified state. Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the Normans invaded Wales and fleetingly established control over much of the country.^[4] However, by 1100 Welsh resistance had reversed most of these gains; the Anglo-Normans maintained control of lowland Gwent, Glamorgan, Gower, and Pembroke, regions which experienced considerable Anglo-Norman colonisation, while the contested border region between the Welsh princes and Anglo-Norman barons became known as the Welsh Marches.^[5] Despite intermittent conflict, this situation broadly persisted until the conquest of Wales by Edward I between 1277 and 1283. The death of Prince Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282 and the defeat of the leading native Welsh state, Gwynedd, effectively ended Welsh self-rule. The Welsh rebelled against English rule several times in the following centuries. The last, and most significant, revolt was the Glyndŵr Rising of 1400–1415, which briefly restored independence. The banner of Owain Glyndŵr is still used as a symbol of independence.

In the 16th century, the English king Henry VIII (who belonged to the Tudor dynasty, a royal house of Welsh origin), passed the Laws in Wales Acts, which incorporated Wales fully into the Kingdom of England. These parliamentary measures, often referred to as the 'Acts of Union’, were passed by the parliament of England, a body which wholly lacked representatives from within Wales.^[6] The union offered new opportunities to the Welsh gentry, who could now become justices of the peace and members of Parliament at Westminster.

19th century

The belief that Wales should form an independent nation state returned in the mid 19th century (the first recorded use of the Welsh word for nationalism, cenedlaetholdeb, is from 1858).^[7] ^[8] By 1886 Cymru Fydd ('The Wales to Come') had been founded, its main leaders being David Lloyd George (later Prime Minister), J. E. Lloyd, O. M. Edwards, T. E. Ellis (leader, MP for Merioneth, 1886–1899), the historian J. E. Lloyd and Beriah Gwynfe Evans. Its main objective was to gain self-government for Wales.^[9]

The Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 was the first legislation to acknowledge that Wales had a separate politico-legal character from the rest of the English state. In 1886 Joseph Chamberlain proposed "Home Rule All Round" the United Kingdom, and in the same year the Cymru Fydd (Young Wales) movement was founded to further the cause.^[8] Their goal was a devolved assembly rather than a fully independent state, and the movement collapsed in 1896 amid personal rivalries and rifts between Liberal representatives such as David Alfred Thomas.^[8]^[10]

20th century

There was little mainstream political interest in Home Rule following the First World War. The focus of independence moved to the newly founded political party, Plaid Cymru, from 1925,^[8] although it took until the late 1960s for Plaid to make its first electoral breakthroughs. Many bodies were decentralized, however, including:

1907 - the Welsh Education Board
1911 - the Welsh Insurance Commission
1919 - a Welsh Department of the Ministry of Agriculture
1919 - the Welsh Board of Health
1920 - the Church in Wales was disestablished and separated from the Church of England through the Welsh Church Act 1914

The early part of the century also saw the expansion of the federal University of Wales and the establishment of the National Library and National Museums. By 1945 there were 15 Government departments established in Wales.

The declaration of Cardiff as the capital of Wales in 1955,^[11]^[12] the Labour Party's 1959 commitment to appoint a Secretary of State for Wales, the creation of the Welsh Office in 1965,^[13] and the repeal of the Wales and Berwick Act 1746 two years later seemed to demonstrate a growing nationalist impetus.^[8] However, the heavy defeat for a proposed Welsh Assembly offered by Labour in the 1979 devolution referendum "suggested that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Wales had no desire to see their country having a national future".^[8]

On 1 July 1955 a conference of all parties called at Llandrindod by the New Wales Union (Undeb Cymru Fydd) to consider a national petition for the campaign for a Parliament for Wales. The main leader was Megan Lloyd George, the daughter of David Lloyd George, T. I. Ellis, and Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. According to the historian Dr William Richard Philip George, "Megan was responsible for removing much prejudice against the idea of a parliament for Wales". She later presented the petition with 250,000 signatures to the British government in April 1956.^[14]

In the 1980s, economic restructuring and Thatcherite market reforms brought social dislocation to parts of Wales, which had formerly been described as having "the largest public sector west of the Iron Curtain".^[15] A succession of non-Welsh Conservative Secretaries of State after 1987 was portrayed by opponents as 'colonial' and indicative of a 'democratic deficit'.^[15] In the early 1990s, Labour became committed to devolution to both Scotland and Wales, and in 1997 it was elected with a mandate to hold referendums on a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly.^[15]

The proposed assembly won a narrow majority in the 1997 referendum. The political climate was very different from that of 1979, with a new generation of Welsh MPs in Westminster and a broad consensus on the previously divisive issue of the Welsh language.^[15] However, political commentator Denis Balsom notes public sentiment that devolution may have been "unnecessary" following the election of a 'progressive' Labour government.^[15] These conflicting sentiments were reflected in the relatively low turnout at the referendum and the narrowness of the victory for devolution campaigners.

21st century

Since 1997, there has been evidence of increased support for, and trust in, the Senedd and greater support for it to receive enhanced powers,^[16] as evidenced by the 63.49% "Yes" vote in the 2011 referendum.

It was suggested before the UK's referendum on European Union membership that Wales might vote by a majority for Remain while the UK as a whole voted for Leave, which would increase support for independence.^[17] However, while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted for Remain, Wales as a whole voted by a majority for Leave,^[18]^[19] with majorities for Leave in all but five of its council areas,^[20] the Remain majorities being in Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Vale of Glamorgan and the Welsh-speaking heartlands, Gwynedd and Ceredigion.^[21]

Following the announcement in 2017 of plans to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said there needed to be a national debate on Welsh independence.^[22]

In July 2020, Plaid brought forward a motion to discuss a referendum on Welsh independence, but it was rejected by 43 votes to 9.^[23] On 11 December, Plaid leader Adam Price stated that if his party won a majority at the 2021 Senedd election, an independence referendum would be held in its first term in office.^[24] At Plaid's special conference on independence, held on 13 February 2021, party members formally approving Price's pledge to hold a referendum in or before 2026.^[25] In addition to Plaid, three other parties stood on a pro-independence platform at the Senedd election: the Wales Green Party, Gwlad and Propel.^[26]

In January 2021, Guto Harri, who was Boris Johnson's communications chief when the latter was Mayor of London, wrote in The Sunday Times that "the idea of independence is taking off, with new recruits from very different backgrounds." He went on to say, "Brexiteers will hate me for saying this, but it is clear that some have contributed more to the cause of Welsh independence than my late father. The prospect of being attached to a leftover English rump of the UK, if Scotland and Northern Ireland head off, seems bleak to many people. And having argued against pooling sovereignty with our neighbours to facilitate trade and maximise our influence, Brexiteers should not be surprised if the same logic is applied in a different setting."^[27] Richard Wyn Jones, director of the Welsh governance centre at Cardiff University, claimed that the cause of independence in Wales would be boosted significantly if Scotland chose independence first.^[28]

An open letter, signed by a number of groups who advocate for Welsh independence (including Welsh Football Fans for Independence, AUOBCymru and members of the former central committee of YesCymru), was sent to Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford in September 2021. Written in response to Drakeford's proposed constitutional commission, it stated that "Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union."^[29] The following month, the Independent Constitutional Commission was launched by the Welsh Labour government.^[30] Led by Professor Laura McAllister and former Archbishop of Wales, Rowan Williams, it will examine Wales' future relationship with the rest of the UK and will consider Welsh independence as well.^[31] Plaid Cymru called the commission the "most wide-ranging national conversation about Wales' future".^[30]

Support

Prior to 2014, numerous previous surveys yielded quite widely differing results, often with small sample sizes, poor methodology, differing question types and often without publishing their data sets. These polls often found that between 10 and 20% of Welsh people desire independence from the United Kingdom.^[32] A 2001 survey for the Institute of Welsh Affairs found that 11% of people polled favoured independence.^[33] A 2007 survey by the Institute of Welsh Politics at the University of Wales found that 12% of those questioned supported independence, down slightly from 14% in 1997.^[34] A poll taken by BBC Wales/Newsnight in 2007 found that 20% of Welsh questioned favoured independence.^[32] A 2006 poll taken by Wales on Sunday found the number to be as high as 52%, although the poll mostly interviewed people in North Wales and West Wales where support for independence was historically strongest.^[35]

A YouGov/ITV Wales poll in February 2012, showed that only 10% of Welsh voters would support independence even if Scotland became independent of the British state,^[36] with three constituent countries, the same level of support as polls have shown with the British state composing four constituent countries. However, a YouGov/ITV Wales Poll in September 2014, showed a marked increase in support for Welsh independence having risen to 17%, potentially due to the proximity to the Scottish Independence referendum, which was due to be held the week after the poll.^[37]

In February 2014, an ICM poll for BBC Wales on the range of devolution options found that 5% chose Independence from the options.^[38] Following the referendum on Scottish independence, a September 2014 poll conducted by the same company again on all 5 options of devolution, found that this figure was 3%, with the largest percentage of people choosing the 'More Powers' for the assembly option. The same poll found that there had been a significant increase in support for more powers for the Welsh Government.^[39]

Since 2014, polls have used similar methodology, often using the pollster YouGov, and have a relatively consistent question style with sample sizes >1000.

A poll commissioned by YesCymru in May 2017^[40] discovered the following: of the major political parties in Wales, Labour voters and Plaid Cymru voters, as well as those aged 18–49, were most likely to vote for independence, while UKIP and Conservative voters were least likely. It also found that 5⁄6 of Plaid Cymru voters favoured independence, and that Welsh speakers were three times more likely to favour independence.^[41]

On 11 May 2019, a march for Welsh independence was organised by AUOB Cymru in Cardiff, with an estimated 3,000 in attendance.^[42]^[43] On 27 July 2019, AUOB organised an independence march in Caernarfon. Estimates put the attendance at about 8,000.^[44] On 7 September 2019, a third AUOB Cymru was held in Merthyr Tydfil and attracted a crowd of 5,200.^[45]

On 24 October 2020, Wales Green Party members voted at their party conference that the party would support Welsh independence in the event of a referendum being held on whether or not Wales should become independent from the United Kingdom.^[46]

In a YouGov poll in November 2020, 33% said they would support Welsh independence, the highest ever level of support.^[47] Support rose to a new level in a Savanta ComRes poll conducted from 18-22 February 2021 and published by ITV News on 4 March 2021. This one found that 39% of Welsh voters would vote Yes for independence, once 'Don't Knows' are excluded.^[48]^[49]

Parties in favour of independence

Support for independence is found in political parties on both the right and left of Welsh politics:

Cymru Sovereign^[50]
Gwlad^[51]
Plaid Cymru^[52]
Wales Green Party (in the event a referendum is held on Welsh independence. The party does not actively campaign for independence but has stated it would do so if a referendum was called on the matter)^[46]
Green Party of England and Wales (in the event a referendum is held on Welsh independence)^[53]
Propel^[54]^[55]

Opposition

Parties in favour of the Union

The Conservative and Unionist Party, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats all oppose Welsh independence.

Support for the Union is found in political parties on both the right and left of Welsh politics:

Opinion polling

Graphical summary

Yes/No Independence polls

Date(s) Conducted	Polling organisation & client	Sample size	Should Wales be an independent country?			Lead	Notes
Date(s) Conducted	Polling organisation & client	Sample size	Yes	No	Undecided	Lead	Notes
5 May 2021	Savanta ComRes	1,002	30%	55%	15%	25%	Taken with 29 April–4 May 2021 poll, online
29 April–4 May 2021	Savanta ComRes	1,002	27%	58%	14%	31%	Online
23–28 April 2021	Savanta ComRes	1,002	42%	49%	8%	7%
18–21 April 2021	YouGov	1,142	22%	54%	24%	32%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
9–19 April 2021	Opinium / Sky News	2,005	28%	52%	19%	24%
16–19 March 2021	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,174	22%	55%	23%	33%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
18–22 February 2021	Savanta ComRes / ITV News	1,003	35%	55%	10%	20%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
19–22 February 2021	WalesOnline / YouGov	1,059	25%	50%	14%	25%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
18–21 January 2021	The Sunday Times / YouGov	1,059	23%	52%	25%	29%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
11–14 January 2021	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,018	22%	53%	25%	31%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
26–29 October 2020	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,013	23%	53%	25%	30%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
24–27 August 2020	YesCymru / YouGov	1,044	25%	52%	23%	27%
29 July – 7 August 2020	YesCymru / YouGov	1,044	26%	55%	19%	29%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
29 May – 1 June 2020	ITV Wales / YouGov / Cardiff Uni	1,021	25%	54%	21%	29%
20–26 January 2020	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,037	21%	57%	22%	36%	Includes 16 and 17 year-olds
6–9 December 2019	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,020	17%	60%	23%	43%
22–25 November 2019	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,116	20%	57%	22%	37%
31 October – 4 November 2019	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,032	22%	57%	21%	35%
10–14 October 2019	Welsh Barometer Survey / YouGov	1,032	21%	57%	23%	36%
6–10 September 2019	Plaid Cymru / YouGov	1,039	24%	52%	23%	28%
6–10 September 2019	Plaid Cymru / YouGov	1,039	33%	48%	20%	15%	Non-standard question: If an independent Wales was within the European Union
7–14 December 2018	Sky News Data: Wales	1,014	17%	67%	16%	50%
30 May – 6 June 2018	YouGov	2,016	19%	65%	16%	46%
July 2016	ITV Wales / YouGov	1,010	15%	65%	20%	50%
July 2016	ITV Wales / YouGov	1,010	28%	53%	20%	25%	Non-standard question: If an independent Wales was within the European Union
July 2016	ITV Wales / YouGov	1,010	19%	61%	21%	42%	Non-standard question: If Scotland left the UK
8–11 September 2014	ITV Wales / Cardiff University	>1,000	17%	70%	13%	53%	The week before the Scottish independence referendum
April 2014	YouGov	1,000	12%	74%	14%	62%
March 2013	ITV Wales / YouGov	Unknown	10%	62%	28%	52%	Non-standard question: If Scotland left the UK

"0-10" Independence polls – (Respondents asked to rate 0–10. 0–4 Against, 5 indifferent, 6–10 In Favour. "Don't Know" removed)

Date(s) Conducted	Polling organisation & client	Sample size	Total favourable	In favour					Indifferent	Against					Total unfavourable
Date(s) Conducted	Polling organisation & client	Sample size	Total favourable	10	9	8	7	6	5	4	3	2	1	0	Total unfavourable
10–15 May 2019	YesCymru / YouGov	1,133	36%	14%	4%	5%	6%	7%	17%	5%	6%	6%	2%	28%	47%
9–12 May 2017	YesCymru / YouGov	1,000	29%	10%	2%	6%	6%	5%	18%	4%	6%	7%	5%	31%	53%

Devolution extent polls

Date(s) Conducted	Polling organisation	Support independence (%)	Support more powers for the Senedd (%)	Support status quo (%)	Support fewer powers for the Senedd (%)	Support abolition of the Senedd (%)	Indifferent/Did not reply/Other (%)
28 January – 21 February 2021^[66]	BBC / ICM Unlimited	14	35	27	3	15	6
29 May – 1 June 2020^[67]	ITV Wales & Cardiff University / YouGov	16	20	24	5	22	14
4–22 February 2020^[68]	BBC / ICM	11	43	25	2	14	3
7–23 February 2019^[69]	BBC / ICM	7	46	27	3	13	4
December 2018^[70]	SkyData	8	40	23	4	18	7
February 2017^[71]	BBC / ICM	6	44	29	3	13	4
February 2016^[72]	BBC / ICM	6	43	30	3	13	4
February 2015^[73]	BBC / ICM	6	40	33	4	13	4
September 2014^[74]	BBC / ICM	3	49	26	2	12	6
February 2014^[75]	BBC / ICM	5	37	28	3	23	5

Side by side polls – Independence vs. No devolved government in Wales

Date(s) Conducted	Polling Organisation & Client	Sample Size	Independence (inc. sub-samples)					No devolved government (inc. sub-samples)					Indifferent / no reply (%)
Date(s) Conducted	Polling Organisation & Client	Sample Size	Total (%)	Conservative (%)	Labour (%)	Lib Dem (%)	Plaid Cymru (%)	Total (%)	Conservative (%)	Labour (%)	Lib Dem (%)	Plaid Cymru (%)	Indifferent / no reply (%)
29 May – 1 June 2020	ITV Wales / YouGov / Cardiff Uni	1,021	33%	12%	45%	39%	87%	45%	79%	35%	53%	4%	21%

References

^ "Aims//Our History". Plaid Cymru. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
^ Pitt, Ellie (6 November 2020). "Thousands join YesCymru and say "Westminster isn't working for Wales"". ITV News. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
^ Koch, pp. 291–292.
^ ^a ^b Koch, p. 551.
^ Davies, R. R. (2000). The age of conquest : Wales, 1063-1415. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 5–7, 21. ISBN 978-0-19-820878-5.
^ "Wales under the Tudors". History. UK: BBC. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
^ See also: Encyclopaedia of Wales,
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008
^ Jones, J.G. (1 January 1990). "Alfred Thomas's National Institution (Wales) Bills of 1891-92". Welsh History Review. 15 (1): 218. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
^ "Wales | Vol, V no. 8/9 | 1945 | Cylchgronau Cymru - Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru" (in Welsh). National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
^ "Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government". The Times. No. 53, 409. 21 December 1955. p. 5.
^ "Cardiff gains recognition as capital of Wales". Manchester Guardian. 21 December 1955.
^ "NDAD | Welsh Office". UK: The National Archives. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
^ George, W. R. P. (2001). "Lloyd George (Family)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Balsom, Denis (2000). "Political Developments in Wales 1979–1997". In Balsom; Jones, Barry (eds.). The Road to the National Assembly for Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
^ "Governance". Welsh Assembly Government.
^ "No more 'Welsh effect'? Why the EU may be becoming a scapegoat in Wales". London School of Economics. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ Jones, Moya (16 March 2017). "Wales and the Brexit Vote". Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique. French Journal of British Studies. 22 (2). doi:10.4000/rfcb.1387. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via journals.openedition.org.
^ Mosalski, Ruth (17 November 2019). "How every Welsh constituency voted in the EU referendum". WalesOnline.
^ Dunin-Wasowicz, Roch (2 August 2016). "Wales, already impoverished, is set to get even poorer". London School of Economics. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "EU referendum results by region: Wales". Electoral Commission. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ Craig, Ian (13 March 2017). "'Wales needs to debate independence' – says Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood after Scotland referendum call". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
^ "Plaid independence referendum call rejected by Senedd members". BBC News. 15 July 2020.
^ Hayward, Will (11 December 2020). "Plaid pledges independence referendum if they win Senedd election". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
^ "Plaid Cymru formally adopt independence referendum pledge at special conference". Nation.Cymru. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
^ Wells, Ione (2 February 2021). "Welsh independence: How worried should UK ministers be?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
^ Clarke, Hilary (29 January 2021). "After Scotland, talk of Wexit, Welsh independence". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ Bounds, Andy (5 April 2021). "Wales finds greater belief in self-government amid pandemic response". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
^ Griffiths, Siriol (27 September 2021). ""Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union"". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b Chandler, Andy (19 October 2021). "Commission considers Welsh independence". Herald.Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "Welsh independence to be considered by commission". 19 October 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ ^a ^b "Welsh firmly back Britain's Union". BBC News. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
^ Cole, Alistair; Jones, J. Barry; Storer, Alan (September 2001). "Consensus Growing for Stronger Assembly" (PDF). Institute of Welsh Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
^ Livingstone, Tomos (17 September 2007). "Parliament for Wales says poll". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
^ "Please, sir, can we have some more?". WalesOnline. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ "Voters would say "No" to an independent Wales: Poll". Wales Online. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
^ Henry, Graham (15 September 2014). "Scottish independence referendum: Support for Welsh independence boosted - but Wales overwhelmingly want Scots to say, poll reveals". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
^ "BBC Cymru Wales poll: Few in Wales back Scottish independence". BBC News. 28 February 2014.
^ "'Record low' back Welsh independence - BBC/ICM poll". BBC News. 24 September 2014.
^ "Quarter of Welsh population favour independence - YouGov". YesCymru. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
^ Shipton, Martin (28 May 2017). "New poll shows surge in support for Welsh independence". Wales Online.
^ Russell, Greg (8 May 2019). "'Tide is turning' in Welsh indy movement as AUOB holds first march". The National.
^ "Huge crowds join Welsh independence rally". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
^ "More than 8,000 people march through Caernarfon for Welsh independence". Daily Post. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.
^ "Thousands pack Penderyn square in Merthyr Tydfil to call for Welsh independence". Nation.Cymru. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Wales Green Party vote to back Welsh independence at conference". Nation.Cymru. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
^ Patterson, Kirsteen (19 November 2020). "Poll reveals Welsh independence support at highest ever level". The National. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
^ Axenderrie, Gareth (4 March 2021). "Polls chart rise of support for Welsh independence". The National Wales. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
^ da Silva, Chantal (4 March 2021). "Highest ever support for Welsh independence, new poll shows". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
^ "Cymru Sovereign – For a better Wales for all. We are sovereign. Dros Gymru gwell i bawb. Cymru am byth".
^ "Gwlad - The Welsh Independence Party". Gwlad.
^ El-Bar, Karim (25 September 2020). "Welsh nationalist party issues roadmap to independence". AA. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
^ "England and Wales Green Party backs Welsh independence referendum". Nation.Cymru. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
^ Masters, Adrian (10 February 2020). "Independent AM Neil McEvoy to launch new Welsh National Party". ITV News. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
^ "New McEvoy party rejected by Electoral Commission once more over 'confusingly similar' name". Nation.Cymru. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
^ Shipton, Martin (5 March 2021). "Tories say no Senedd deal with 'divisive' Plaid Cymru". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
^ "Senedd election: Labour pledges energy revolution for Wales". 26 February 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ "Welsh independence '10 times more painful than Brexit' says Lib Dem leader". Nation.Cymru. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
^ "The Liberal Party". liberal.org.uk.
^ ^a ^b Axenderrie, Gareth (13 April 2021). "Senedd election: UKIP and Reform UK launch campaigns". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ Peterkin, Tom (28 April 2013). "Co-Op Party chair quits over indy support". The Scotsman.
^ Webster, Laura (30 April 2021). "Adam Price tears apart Abolish the Welsh Assembly party claims during BBC debate". The National Scotland. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
^ "CONSTITUTION". Social Democratic Party.
^ Thraves, Alec (20 July 2017). "What We Stand For – Socialist Party Wales".
^ "Government and Democracy". The Christian Party.
^ "Voting attitudes and Senedd powers quizzed in poll for BBC Wales". BBC News. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
^ Awan-Scully, Roger (5 June 2020). "Attitudes to Devolution and Welsh Independence". Cardiff University. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
^ "St Davids Day Poll 2020". 1 March 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ "Attitudes to Brexit and economy polled". 1 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
^ Awan-Scully, Roger (20 December 2018). "Does Wales Want to Abolish the Assembly?". Cardiff University.
^ "EU migrants should have skills, public tells BBC Wales poll". BBC News. 1 March 2017.
^ "St David's Day Poll" (PDF). blogs.cardiff.ac.uk. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
^ "ICM Poll for the BBC" (PDF). www.icmunlimited.com. 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
^ "'Record low' back Welsh independence - BBC/ICM poll". Wales Online. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.
^ "BBC Cymru Wales poll: Few in Wales back Scottish independence". BBC News. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.

External links

Koch, John T. (2006). Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO.

Template:Celtic nationalisms

[1] "Aims//Our History". Plaid Cymru. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.

[2] Pitt, Ellie (6 November 2020). "Thousands join YesCymru and say "Westminster isn't working for Wales"". ITV News. Retrieved 7 November 2020.

[3] Koch, pp. 291–292.

[Koch551-4] Koch, p. 551.

[5] Davies, R. R. (2000). The age of conquest : Wales, 1063-1415. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 5–7, 21. ISBN 978-0-19-820878-5.

[6] "Wales under the Tudors". History. UK: BBC. 15 October 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.

[7] See also: Encyclopaedia of Wales,

[encyclopaedia-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales, Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 2008

[9] Jones, J.G. (1 January 1990). "Alfred Thomas's National Institution (Wales) Bills of 1891-92". Welsh History Review. 15 (1): 218. Retrieved 23 June 2020.

[10] "Wales | Vol, V no. 8/9 | 1945 | Cylchgronau Cymru - Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru" (in Welsh). National Library of Wales. Retrieved 4 December 2020.

[11] "Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government". The Times. No. 53, 409. 21 December 1955. p. 5.

[12] "Cardiff gains recognition as capital of Wales". Manchester Guardian. 21 December 1955.

[13] "NDAD | Welsh Office". UK: The National Archives. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 29 December 2010.

[14] George, W. R. P. (2001). "Lloyd George (Family)". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Retrieved 5 December 2020.

[Balsom-15] Balsom, Denis (2000). "Political Developments in Wales 1979–1997". In Balsom; Jones, Barry (eds.). The Road to the National Assembly for Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.

[16] "Governance". Welsh Assembly Government.

[17] "No more 'Welsh effect'? Why the EU may be becoming a scapegoat in Wales". London School of Economics. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2021.

[18] Jones, Moya (16 March 2017). "Wales and the Brexit Vote". Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique. French Journal of British Studies. 22 (2). doi:10.4000/rfcb.1387. Retrieved 19 October 2021 – via journals.openedition.org.

[19] Mosalski, Ruth (17 November 2019). "How every Welsh constituency voted in the EU referendum". WalesOnline.

[20] Dunin-Wasowicz, Roch (2 August 2016). "Wales, already impoverished, is set to get even poorer". London School of Economics. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

[21] "EU referendum results by region: Wales". Electoral Commission. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2021.

[22] Craig, Ian (13 March 2017). "'Wales needs to debate independence' – says Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood after Scotland referendum call". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 24 March 2018.

[23] "Plaid independence referendum call rejected by Senedd members". BBC News. 15 July 2020.

[24] Hayward, Will (11 December 2020). "Plaid pledges independence referendum if they win Senedd election". WalesOnline. Retrieved 11 December 2020.

[25] "Plaid Cymru formally adopt independence referendum pledge at special conference". Nation.Cymru. 13 February 2021. Retrieved 14 February 2021.

[26] Wells, Ione (2 February 2021). "Welsh independence: How worried should UK ministers be?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2021.

[27] Clarke, Hilary (29 January 2021). "After Scotland, talk of Wexit, Welsh independence". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[28] Bounds, Andy (5 April 2021). "Wales finds greater belief in self-government amid pandemic response". Financial Times. Retrieved 20 April 2021.

[29] Griffiths, Siriol (27 September 2021). ""Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union"". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

[Chandler-30] Chandler, Andy (19 October 2021). "Commission considers Welsh independence". Herald.Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

[31] "Welsh independence to be considered by commission". 19 October 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

[BBCWales-32] "Welsh firmly back Britain's Union". BBC News. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2009.

[33] Cole, Alistair; Jones, J. Barry; Storer, Alan (September 2001). "Consensus Growing for Stronger Assembly" (PDF). Institute of Welsh Affairs. Retrieved 16 July 2009.

[34] Livingstone, Tomos (17 September 2007). "Parliament for Wales says poll". Wales Online. Archived from the original on 6 October 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2009.

[35] "Please, sir, can we have some more?". WalesOnline. 29 July 2006. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[36] "Voters would say "No" to an independent Wales: Poll". Wales Online. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2014.

[37] Henry, Graham (15 September 2014). "Scottish independence referendum: Support for Welsh independence boosted - but Wales overwhelmingly want Scots to say, poll reveals". Wales Online. Retrieved 19 September 2014.

[38] "BBC Cymru Wales poll: Few in Wales back Scottish independence". BBC News. 28 February 2014.

[39] "'Record low' back Welsh independence - BBC/ICM poll". BBC News. 24 September 2014.

[40] "Quarter of Welsh population favour independence - YouGov". YesCymru. 27 May 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

[41] Shipton, Martin (28 May 2017). "New poll shows surge in support for Welsh independence". Wales Online.

[42] Russell, Greg (8 May 2019). "'Tide is turning' in Welsh indy movement as AUOB holds first march". The National.

[43] "Huge crowds join Welsh independence rally". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.

[44] "More than 8,000 people march through Caernarfon for Welsh independence". Daily Post. 27 July 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2019.

[45] "Thousands pack Penderyn square in Merthyr Tydfil to call for Welsh independence". Nation.Cymru. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.

[auto-46] "Wales Green Party vote to back Welsh independence at conference". Nation.Cymru. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.

[47] Patterson, Kirsteen (19 November 2020). "Poll reveals Welsh independence support at highest ever level". The National. Retrieved 21 November 2020.

[48] Axenderrie, Gareth (4 March 2021). "Polls chart rise of support for Welsh independence". The National Wales. Retrieved 4 March 2021.

[49] Silva, Chantal (4 March 2021). "Highest ever support for Welsh independence, new poll shows". The Independent. Retrieved 19 March 2021.

[50] "Cymru Sovereign – For a better Wales for all. We are sovereign. Dros Gymru gwell i bawb. Cymru am byth".

[51] "Gwlad - The Welsh Independence Party". Gwlad.

[52] El-Bar, Karim (25 September 2020). "Welsh nationalist party issues roadmap to independence". AA. Retrieved 25 December 2020.

[53] "England and Wales Green Party backs Welsh independence referendum". Nation.Cymru. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.

[54] Masters, Adrian (10 February 2020). "Independent AM Neil McEvoy to launch new Welsh National Party". ITV News. Retrieved 25 December 2020.

[55] "New McEvoy party rejected by Electoral Commission once more over 'confusingly similar' name". Nation.Cymru. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

[56] Shipton, Martin (5 March 2021). "Tories say no Senedd deal with 'divisive' Plaid Cymru". WalesOnline. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

[57] "Senedd election: Labour pledges energy revolution for Wales". 26 February 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

[58] "Welsh independence '10 times more painful than Brexit' says Lib Dem leader". Nation.Cymru. 6 March 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021.

[59] "The Liberal Party". liberal.org.uk.

[Axenderrie-60] Axenderrie, Gareth (13 April 2021). "Senedd election: UKIP and Reform UK launch campaigns". The National Wales. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

[61] Peterkin, Tom (28 April 2013). "Co-Op Party chair quits over indy support". The Scotsman.

[62] Webster, Laura (30 April 2021). "Adam Price tears apart Abolish the Welsh Assembly party claims during BBC debate". The National Scotland. Retrieved 20 October 2021.

[63] "CONSTITUTION". Social Democratic Party.

[64] Thraves, Alec (20 July 2017). "What We Stand For – Socialist Party Wales".

[65] "Government and Democracy". The Christian Party.

[66] "Voting attitudes and Senedd powers quizzed in poll for BBC Wales". BBC News. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.

[67] Awan-Scully, Roger (5 June 2020). "Attitudes to Devolution and Welsh Independence". Cardiff University. Retrieved 5 June 2020.

[68] "St Davids Day Poll 2020". 1 March 2020 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

[69] "Attitudes to Brexit and economy polled". 1 March 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.

[70] Awan-Scully, Roger (20 December 2018). "Does Wales Want to Abolish the Assembly?". Cardiff University.

[EU_migrants_should_have_skills,_public_tells_BBC_Wales_poll-71] "EU migrants should have skills, public tells BBC Wales poll". BBC News. 1 March 2017.

[72] "St David's Day Poll" (PDF). blogs.cardiff.ac.uk. 1 March 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

[73] "ICM Poll for the BBC" (PDF). www.icmunlimited.com. 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2019.

['Record_low'_back_Welsh_independence_-_BBC/ICM_poll-74] "'Record low' back Welsh independence - BBC/ICM poll". Wales Online. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2014.

[BBC_Cymru_ICM_Poll_of_1,000_adults-75] "BBC Cymru Wales poll: Few in Wales back Scottish independence". BBC News. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[49]

[50]

[51]

[52]

[53]

[54]

[55]

[56]

[57]

[58]

[59]

[60]

[61]

[62]

[63]

[64]

[65]

[66]

[67]

[68]

[69]

[70]

[71]

[72]

[73]

[74]

[75]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
 [[File:Welsh independence march Cardiff May 11 2019 10.jpg|thumb|265px|A march for Welsh independence on 11 May 2019 in [[Cardiff]]]]
+[[File:Flag of Wales 2.svg|thumb|right|265x265px|[[Flag of Wales]]]]
 {{Politics of Wales}}
 '''Welsh independence''' ({{lang-cy|Annibyniaeth i Gymru}}) is a political movement supporting [[Wales]] leaving the [[United Kingdom]] to become an independent [[sovereign state]].  Territory forming part of present-day Wales was conquered by [[Edward I of England]] during the 13th century, and it was integrated into the [[Kingdom of England]] by the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542]].
@@ Line 7: / Line 8: @@
 The modern Welsh independence movement emerged during the mid-19th century. In the 21st century the political parties [[Plaid Cymru]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Aims//Our History|url=https://www.partyof.wales/our-history/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403005925/https://www.partyof.wales/our-history/|archive-date=2016-04-03|access-date=2016-03-22|publisher=Plaid Cymru}}</ref> [[Propel (political party)|Propel]], [[Gwlad]], and the [[Wales Green Party]] support Welsh independence, as does the non-partisan [[YesCymru]] campaign.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pitt|first=Ellie|date=6 November 2020|title=Thousands join YesCymru and say "Westminster isn't working for Wales"|language=en|website=ITV News|url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2020-11-06/thousands-join-welsh-independence-group-yescymru-and-say-westminster-isnt-working-for-wales|access-date=7 November 2020}}</ref>
-== Roman Period ==
+==History==
+===Middle Ages===
-[[File:CymruLlwythi.PNG|left|thumb|173x173px|Tribes of Wales before and during Roman period]]
+[[File:Second National March for Welsh Independence July 2019 14.jpg|265px|thumb|left|Glyndwr's banner - red and yellow - still used today as a symbol of Welsh independence]]
-During the roman times, Wales existed as a collection of tribes, each with their own leader. The leader of the Ordovices, Caractacus [[Latin|(Latin)]] or Carardog [[Welsh language|(Welsh)]] was successful in resisting Roman invasions of north Wales for a period. <ref>[[Tacitus]], ''[[Annals (Tacitus)|Annals]]'' [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Tac.+Ann.+12.33 12:33–38]</ref> He was eventually defeated and taken to Rome where, following a famous speech to the Roman senate, his life was spared and he was allowed to live peacefully in Rome.<ref>Tacitus, ''The Annals'', translated by A. J. Woodman, 2004; see also [https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?lookup=Tac.+Ann.+12.37 Church & Brodribb's translation]</ref>
+[[Image:Map of Wales within the United Kingdom.svg|thumb|200px|Location of Wales in the United Kingdom]]
+Wales became distinct culturally and politically from other [[Britons (historical)|Brythonic]] groups during the [[Early Middle Ages]].<ref>Koch, pp. 291–292.</ref><ref name= Koch551>Koch, p. 551.</ref> Ruled by a patchwork of independent kingdoms, the territory of modern Wales was not a unified state. Following the [[Norman conquest of England]] in 1066, the [[Norman invasion of Wales|Normans invaded Wales]] and fleetingly established control over much of the country.<ref name =Koch551/> However, by 1100 Welsh resistance had reversed most of these gains; the [[Anglo-Normans]] maintained control of lowland [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]], [[Glamorgan]], [[Gower]], and [[Little England beyond Wales|Pembroke]], regions which experienced considerable Anglo-Norman colonisation, while the contested border region between the Welsh princes and Anglo-Norman barons became known as the [[Welsh Marches]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Davies |first1=R. R. |title=The age of conquest : Wales, 1063-1415 |date=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=978-0-19-820878-5 |pages=5–7, 21}}</ref> Despite intermittent conflict, this situation broadly persisted until the [[conquest of Wales by Edward I]] between 1277 and 1283. The death of Prince [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] in 1282 and the defeat of the leading native Welsh state, [[Kingdom of Gwynedd|Gwynedd]], effectively ended Welsh self-rule. The Welsh rebelled against English rule several times in the following centuries. The last, and most significant, revolt was the [[Glyndŵr Rising]] of 1400–1415, which briefly restored independence. The banner of [[Owain Glyndŵr]] is still used as a symbol of independence.
+In the 16th century, the English king [[Henry VIII]] (who belonged to the [[House of Tudor|Tudor dynasty]], a royal house of Welsh origin), passed the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542|Laws in Wales Acts]], which incorporated Wales fully into the [[Kingdom of England]]. These parliamentary measures, often referred to as the 'Acts of Union’, were passed by the [[Parliament of England|parliament of England]], a body which wholly lacked representatives from within Wales.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/tudors/wales_tudors_04.shtml | publisher = BBC | work = History | title = Wales under the Tudors | location = UK |date=2010-10-15 |access-date=2010-12-29}}</ref> The union offered new opportunities to the Welsh [[gentry]], who could now become [[justices of the peace]] and [[members of Parliament]] at Westminster.
-Early historians, including the 6th-century cleric [[Gildas]], have noted 383 as a significant point in Welsh history.<ref name="Davies531">Davies (2008) p.531</ref> In that year, the Roman general [[Magnus Maximus]], or Macsen Wledig, stripped Britain of troops to launch a successful bid for imperial power, continuing to rule Britain from [[Gaul]] as emperor, and transferring power to local leaders.<ref name="Frere1">{{Cite book|last=Frere|first=Sheppard Sunderland|title=Britannia: A History of Roman Britain|publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul|year=1987|isbn=978-0-7102-1215-3|edition=3rd, revised|location=London|publication-date=1987|page=354|contribution=The End of Roman Britain|author-link=Sheppard Frere}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Works of Gildas and Nennius|publisher=James Bohn|year=1841|editor-last=Giles|editor-first=John Allen|editor-link=John Allen Giles|location=London|publication-date=1841|page=13|contribution=The Works of Gildas, The History, Ch. 14|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3R1mCE7p44MC&pg=PA1}}</ref> The earliest Welsh genealogies cite Maximus as the founder of several royal dynasties,<ref>{{Cite book|title=Y Cymmrodor|publisher=[[Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion]]|year=1887|editor-last=Phillimore|editor-first=Egerton|volume=VIII|publication-date=1887|pages=83–92|contribution=Pedigrees from Jesus College MS. 20|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HlUrAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA83}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Phillimore|first=Egerton|title=Y Cymmrodor|publisher=[[Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion]]|year=1888|editor-last=Phillimore|editor-first=Egerton|volume=IX|publication-date=1888|pages=141–183|contribution=The Annales Cambriae and Old Welsh Genealogies, from Harleian MS. 3859|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aFMrAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA141}}</ref> and as the father of the Welsh Nation.<ref name="Davies531" />He is given as the ancestor of a Welsh king on the [[Pillar of Eliseg]], erected nearly 500 years after he left Britain, and he figures in lists of the [[Fifteen Tribes of Wales]].<ref name="Rachel Bromwich 2006">Rachel Bromwich, editor and translator. Trioedd Ynys Prydein: The Welsh Triads. Cardiff: [[University of Wales Press]], Third Edition, 2006. 441–444</ref>
+===19th century===
+The belief that Wales should form an independent [[nation state]] returned in the mid 19th century (the first recorded use of the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] word for [[nationalism]], ''cenedlaetholdeb'', is from 1858).<ref>See also: ''[[Encyclopaedia of Wales]]'',</ref> <ref name = "encyclopaedia">{{citation | title = The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales | place = Cardiff | publisher = University of Wales Press | year = 2008}}</ref> By 1886 [[Cymru Fydd]] ('The Wales to Come') had been founded, its main leaders being [[David Lloyd George]] (later Prime Minister), [[J. E. Lloyd]], [[O. M. Edwards]], [[T. E. Ellis]] (leader, [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Merioneth (UK Parliament constituency)|Merioneth]], 1886–1899), the historian J. E. Lloyd and [[Beriah Gwynfe Evans]]. Its main objective was to gain [[self-government]] for Wales.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=J.G. |title=Alfred Thomas's National Institution (Wales) Bills of 1891-92 |journal=Welsh History Review |date=1 January 1990 |volume=15 |issue=1 |page=218 |url=https://search.proquest.com/openview/f89689abf1ce5c56184975743e87cddc/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1820145 |access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref>
+The [[Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881]] was the first legislation to acknowledge that Wales had a separate politico-legal character from the rest of the English state. In 1886 [[Joseph Chamberlain]] proposed "[[Home Rule]] All Round" the United Kingdom, and in the same year the [[Cymru Fydd]] (Young Wales) movement was founded to further the cause.<ref name="encyclopaedia"/> Their goal was a [[devolution|devolved assembly]] rather than a fully independent state, and the movement collapsed in 1896 amid personal rivalries and rifts between Liberal representatives such as [[David Alfred Thomas]].<ref name="encyclopaedia"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Wales {{!}} Vol, V no. 8/9 {{!}} 1945 {{!}} Cylchgronau Cymru - Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru|url=https://cylchgronau.llyfrgell.cymru/view/1214989/1216131/107|publisher=[[National Library of Wales]]|language=cy-GB|access-date=4 December 2020}}</ref>
+===20th century===
-== Medieval Period ==
-Wales became distinct culturally and politically from other [[Britons (historical)|Brythonic]] groups during the [[Early Middle Ages]].<ref>Koch, pp. 291–292.</ref><ref name="Koch5512">Koch, p. 551.</ref> Ruled by a patchwork of independent kingdoms, the territory of modern Wales was not a unified state. Following the [[Norman conquest of England]] in 1066, the [[Norman invasion of Wales|Normans invaded Wales]] and fleetingly established control over much of the country.<ref name="Koch551">Koch, p. 551.</ref> However, by 1100 Welsh resistance had reversed most of these gains; the [[Anglo-Normans]] maintained control of lowland [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]], [[Glamorgan]], [[Gower]], and [[Little England beyond Wales|Pembroke]], regions which experienced considerable Anglo-Norman colonisation, while the contested border region between the Welsh princes and Anglo-Norman barons became known as the [[Welsh Marches]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=R. R.|title=The age of conquest : Wales, 1063-1415|date=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-820878-5|location=Oxford|pages=5–7, 21}}</ref>
-[[File:Laws_of_Hywel_Dda_(f.1.v)_King_Hywel_cropped.jpg|left|thumb|160x160px|Depiction of Hywel Dda]]
-=== Hywel Dda 950-1450 ===
-[[Hywel Dda]] (Hywel the Good), formed the kingdom of [[Deheubarth]] by joining smaller kingdoms in the southwest and had extended his rule to most of Wales by 942.<ref>Lloyd, J.E. ''A History of Wales'' p. 337.</ref> He is traditionally associated with the codification of [[Cyfraith Hywel|Welsh law]] at a council which he called at [[Whitland]], the laws from then on usually being called the "Laws of Hywel". Hywel followed a policy of peace with the English. On his death in 949 his sons were able to keep control of [[Deheubarth]] but lost [[Gwynedd]]<nowiki/>to the traditional dynasty of this kingdom.<ref>Lloyd, J.E. ''A History of Wales'' pp. 343–4.</ref>
-=== First Appearance as a Unified Country 1055 ===
-[[File:MS_016II-_Matthew_Paris_OSB,_Chronica_maiora_II,_the_coat_of_arms_of_Gruffydd_ap_Llywelyn_ap_Iorwerth,_f._170r_(cropped).png|left|thumb|152x152px|Coat of Arms of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ]]
-[[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]] was the only ruler to be able to unite Wales under his rule. In 1055 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn killed his rival Gruffydd ap Rhydderch in battle and recaptured Deheubarth. <ref>{{Cite web|title=GRUFFUDD ap LLYWELYN (died 1063), king of Gwynedd and Powys, and after 1055 king of all Wales {{!}} Dictionary of Welsh Biography|url=https://biography.wales/article/arc_s-GRUF-APL-1063|access-date=2022-01-31|website=biography.wales}}</ref>
-Originally king of Gwynedd, by 1057 he was ruler of Wales and had annexed parts of England around the border. He ruled Wales with no internal battles<ref>{{cite book|author=K. L. Maund|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nja0RSLWq-AC&pg=PA216|title=Ireland, Wales, and England in the Eleventh Century|publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd|year=1991|isbn=978-0-85115-533-3|pages=216–}}</ref> His territories were again divided into the traditional kingdoms.<ref>Maund, Kari ''The Welsh kings'' p.87-97</ref>
-Historian [[John Davies (historian)|John Davies]] stated that Gruffydd was, "the only Welsh king ever to rule over the entire territory of Wales... Thus, from about 1057 until his death in 1063, the whole of Wales recognised the kingship of Gruffudd ap Llywelyn. For about seven brief years, Wales was one, under one ruler, a feat with neither precedent nor successor." <ref>{{Cite book|last=Davies|first=John|title=A History of Wales|pages=100}}</ref> During this time, between 1053 and 1063, Wales lacked any internal strife and was at peace. <ref>{{Cite book|last=Maund|first=KL|title=Ireland, Wales, and England in the eleventh century}}</ref>
-=== Normans 1066-1100 ===
-Ruled by a patchwork of independent kingdoms, the territory of modern Wales was not a unified state. Following the [[Norman conquest of England]] in 1066, the [[Norman invasion of Wales|Normans invaded Wales]] and fleetingly established control over much of the country. <ref name="Koch5512" /> However, by 1100 Welsh resistance had reversed most of these gains; the [[Anglo-Normans]] maintained control of lowland [[Kingdom of Gwent|Gwent]], [[Glamorgan]], [[Gower]], and [[Little England beyond Wales|Pembroke]], regions which experienced considerable Anglo-Norman colonisation, while the contested border region between the Welsh princes and Anglo-Norman barons became known as the [[Welsh Marches]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Davies|first1=R. R.|title=The age of conquest : Wales, 1063-1415|date=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-820878-5|location=Oxford|pages=5–7, 21}}</ref>[[File:Llywelyn's_sarcophagus_-_geograph.org.uk_-_614318.jpg|left|thumb|Sarcophagus of Llywelyn the Great.]]
-=== Llywelyn Princes Unite Wales 1216-1282 ===
-[[File:Llywelyn_the_Last_at_Cardiff_City_Hall.jpg|left|thumb|339x339px|Llywelyn the Last sculpture, Cardiff City Hall.]]
-Out of the power struggle in Gwynedd eventually arose one of the greatest of Welsh leaders, [[Llywelyn ab Iorwerth]], also known as '''Llywelyn ''Fawr''''' (the Great), who was sole ruler of Gwynedd by 1200<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh wars of independence'' p.108-9</ref> and by his death in 1240 was effectively ruler of much of Wales.<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh wars of independence'' p.124</ref> Llywelyn made his 'capital' and headquarters at [[Abergwyngregyn]] on the north coast, overlooking the [[Menai Strait]]. His son [[Dafydd ap Llywelyn]] followed him as ruler of Gwynedd, but king [[Henry III of England]] would not allow him to inherit his father's position elsewhere in Wales.<ref>Lloyd, J.E. ''A History of Wales'' p.693</ref> War broke out in 1241 and then again in 1245, and the issue was still in the balance when Dafydd died suddenly at Abergwyngregyn, without leaving an heir in early 1246. Llywelyn the Great's other son, [[Gruffudd ap Llywelyn Fawr|Gruffudd]] had been killed trying to escape from the [[Tower of London]] in 1244.
-Gruffudd had left four sons, and a period of internal conflict between three of these ended in the rise to power of [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] (also known as ''Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf''; ''Llywelyn, Our Last Leader''). The [[Treaty of Montgomery]] in 1267 confirmed Llywelyn in control, directly or indirectly, over a large part of Wales. However, Llywelyn's claims in Wales conflicted with [[Edward I of England]], and war followed in 1277. Llywelyn was obliged to seek terms, and the [[Treaty of Aberconwy]] greatly restricted his authority. War broke out again when Llywelyn's brother [[Dafydd ap Gruffudd]] attacked [[Hawarden Castle (medieval)|Hawarden Castle]] on [[Palm Sunday]] 1282. On 11 December 1282, Llywelyn was lured into a meeting in [[Builth Wells]] [[castle]]<nowiki/>with unknown Marchers, where he was killed and his army subsequently destroyed. His brother Dafydd ap Gruffudd continued an increasingly forlorn resistance. He was captured in June 1283 and was [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] at [[Shrewsbury]]. In effect Wales became England's first colony until it was finally annexed through the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542]].
-[[File:Mortagne_siege.jpg|left|thumb|218x218px|Edward III employed John Lamb to assassinate Owain Lawgoch. Lamb infiltrated Owain’s camp and managed to kill him during the siege of Mortagne-sur-Mer in July 1378, going against the chivalric code of the time.]]
-=== Statute of Rhuddlan 1284 ===
-After the passing the [[Statute of Rhuddlan]] (1284), which restricted Welsh laws, King Edward I's ring of impressive stone [[Castle|castles]] assisted in the domination of Wales, and he crowned his conquest by giving the title [[Prince of Wales]] to his [[Edward II of England|son]] and heir in 1301.<ref>Davies, R.R. ''Conquest, coexistence and change'' p. 386.</ref> Wales became, effectively, part of England, even though its people spoke a different language and had a different culture. English kings appointed a Council of Wales, sometimes presided over by the heir to the throne. This Council normally sat in [[Ludlow]], now in England but at that time still part of the disputed border area in the [[Welsh Marches]]. Welsh literature, particularly poetry, continued to flourish, however, with the lesser nobility now taking over from the princes as the patrons of the poets.<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh wars of independence'' p.164-6</ref>
-=== Unsuccessful Rebellions 1294-1295 & 1316-1318 ===
-There were a number of rebellions including ones led by [[Madog ap Llywelyn]] in 1294–1295<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh wars of independence'' p. 159.</ref> and by [[Llywelyn Bren]], Lord of Senghenydd, in 1316–1318. In the 1370s, the last representative in the male line of the ruling house of [[Gwynedd]], [[Owain Lawgoch]], twice planned an invasion of Wales with French support. The English government responded to the threat by sending an agent to assassinate Owain in [[Poitou]] in 1378.<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh wars of independence'' p.164-6</ref>
-=== Owain Glyndwr 1400-1415 ===
-[[File:All_or_nothing_-_Owain_Glyndwr_statue,_Corwen_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1862001.jpg|left|thumb|213x213px|Owain Glyndwr statue, Corwen.]]
-In 1400, a Welsh nobleman, [[Owain Glyndŵr]] (or ''Owen Glendower''), revolted against King [[Henry IV of England]]. Owain inflicted a number of defeats on the English forces and for a few years controlled most of Wales. Some of his achievements included holding the first Welsh Parliament at [[Machynlleth]] and plans for two universities. Eventually the king's forces were able to regain control of Wales and the rebellion died out, but Owain himself was never captured. His rebellion caused a great upsurge in Welsh identity and he was widely supported by Welsh people throughout the country.<ref>Moore, D. ''The Welsh Wars of Independence'' pp. 169–85.</ref>
-As a response to Glyndŵr's rebellion, the English parliament passed the [[Penal Laws against Wales]]. These prohibited the Welsh from [[carrying arms]], from [[Elective rights|holding office]] and from dwelling in fortified towns. These prohibitions also applied to Englishmen who married Welsh women. These laws remained in force after the rebellion, although in practice they were gradually relaxed.<ref>Davies, J. ''A History of Wales'' p. 199.</ref>
-=== Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542 ===
-Under his son, [[Henry VIII of England]], the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535-1542]] were passed, integrating Wales with England in legal terms, abolishing the Welsh legal system, and banning the [[Welsh language]] from any official role or status, but it did for the first time define the England-Wales border and allowed members representing constituencies in Wales to be elected to the English Parliament.<ref>Williams, G. ''Recovery, reorientation and reformation'' pp. 268–73</ref> They also abolished any legal distinction between the Welsh and the English, thereby effectively ending the Penal Code although this was not formally repealed.<ref>Davies, J. ''A History of Wales'' p.233</ref> The Marcher Lordships were abolished, and Wales began electing members of the Westminster parliament.<ref>Davies (1994) p. 232</ref>
-== 18th Century ==
-=== '''Wales and Berwick Act 1746''' ===
-[[Wales and Berwick Act 1746]] (20 Geo. II, c. 42) was an [[Act of Parliament|Act]] of the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] that created a statutory definition of England as including [[England]], [[Wales]] and [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]]. This definition applied to all acts passed before and after the Act's coming into force, unless a given Act provided an alternative definition. According to [[William Blackstone|Blackstone]], the Act "perhaps superfluously" made explicit what was previously implicit.<ref name="BlackstoneStewart18392">{{cite book|last1=Blackstone|first1=William|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_fdoDAAAAQAAJ|title=The rights of persons, according to the text of Blackstone: incorporating the alterations down to the present time|last2=Stewart|first2=James|publisher=Edmund Spettigue|year=1839|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_fdoDAAAAQAAJ/page/n107 92]|access-date=19 November 2010}}</ref>
-=== Presbyterian Church of Wales 18th century ===
-The 18th century also saw the [[Welsh Methodist revival]], led by [[Daniel Rowland (preacher)|Daniel Rowland]], [[Howell Harris]] and [[William Williams Pantycelyn]]. In the early 19th century the Welsh [[Methodist|Methodists]] broke away from the [[Anglican]] church and established their own denomination, now the [[Presbyterian Church of Wales]].
-== 19th Century ==
-=== Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881 ===
-The [[Sunday Closing (Wales) Act 1881]] was the first legislation to acknowledge that Wales had a separate politico-legal character from the rest of the English state. In 1886 [[Joseph Chamberlain]] proposed "[[Home Rule]] All Round" the United Kingdom, and in the same year the [[Cymru Fydd]] (Young Wales) movement was founded to further the cause.<ref name="encyclopaedia">{{citation|title=The Welsh Academy Encyclopaedia of Wales|year=2008|place=Cardiff|publisher=University of Wales Press}}</ref> Their goal was a [[devolution|devolved assembly]] rather than a fully independent state, and the movement collapsed in 1896 amid personal rivalries and rifts between Liberal representatives such as [[David Alfred Thomas]].<ref name="encyclopaedia" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Wales {{!}} Vol, V no. 8/9 {{!}} 1945 {{!}} Cylchgronau Cymru - Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru|url=https://cylchgronau.llyfrgell.cymru/view/1214989/1216131/107|access-date=4 December 2020|publisher=[[National Library of Wales]]|language=cy-GB}}</ref>
-=== Cymru Fydd 1886-1896 ===
-The belief that Wales should form an independent [[nation state]] returned in the mid 19th century (the first recorded use of the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] word for [[nationalism]], ''cenedlaetholdeb'', is from 1858).<ref>See also: ''[[Encyclopaedia of Wales]]'',</ref> <ref name="encyclopaedia" /> By 1886 [[Cymru Fydd]] ('The Wales to Come') had been founded, its main leaders being [[David Lloyd George]] (later Prime Minister), [[J. E. Lloyd]], [[O. M. Edwards]], [[T. E. Ellis]] (leader, [[Member of Parliament|MP]] for [[Merioneth (UK Parliament constituency)|Merioneth]], 1886–1899), the historian J. E. Lloyd and [[Beriah Gwynfe Evans]]. Its main objective was to gain [[self-government]] for Wales.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=J.G.|date=1 January 1990|title=Alfred Thomas's National Institution (Wales) Bills of 1891-92|url=https://search.proquest.com/openview/f89689abf1ce5c56184975743e87cddc/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1820145|journal=Welsh History Review|volume=15|issue=1|page=218|access-date=23 June 2020}}</ref> It was a purely London-based society, later expanding to cities in [[England]] with a large [[Welsh population]].[[File:David Lloyd George.jpg|thumb|David Lloyd George]]
-The founders of Cymru Fydd were influenced by [[William Ewart Gladstone]], who himself lived in [[Hawarden]], Wales, and the [[Irish Home Rule movement|nationalist movement in Ireland]], although the movement also drew upon other ideas, including a sense of imperial mission as preached by [[John Ruskin]] and a programme of social and political reform promoted by [[Robert Owen]], [[Arnold Toynbee (historian, born 1852)|Arnold Toynbee]] and the [[Fabian Society]].This was therefore in stark contrast to Irish Nationalism, under [[Charles Stewart Parnell]] and others, which sought separation from British political structures. The movement resembled the cultural nationalism found in parts of continental Europe, and heavily influenced by members of the intelligentsia such as O. M. Edwards and J. E. Lloyd.
-From 1892 branches were organised in Wales itself, the first being formed at [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] by [[W. Llewelyn Williams]].
-The movement lost some of its impetus following the withdrawal of T. E. Ellis to join the Government in 1892, after which the leadership of Cymru Fydd was taken over by [[David Lloyd George]] and [[Herbert Lewis]] (MP for [[Flint Boroughs (UK Parliament constituency)|Flint Boroughs]]). Cymru Fydd was re-launched on a narrower, more political basis.
-After an initial period of success in 1894–95, in which time it merged with the North Wales Liberal Federation (18 April 1895) to form the Welsh National Federation, it met with fierce opposition from the South Wales Liberal Federation, led by the Federation President, [[David Alfred Thomas, 1st Viscount Rhondda|David Alfred Thomas]] (MP for [[Merthyr Tydfil (UK Parliament constituency)|Merthyr Tydfil]] 1889–1910).
-On 16 January 1896, the proposal to merge the South Wales Liberal Federation with the Welsh National Federation was put to the [[Annual General Meeting]] (AGM) of the South Wales Liberal Federation, held at [[Newport, Monmouthshire]]. [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]] was howled down and refused permission to speak. After [[Robert Bird (Welsh politician)|Robert Bird]], a senior [[Cardiff]] [[alderman]], declared his determination to resist "the domination of Welsh ideas", the merger proposal was defeated. Cymru Fydd collapsed soon afterwards. The effect of this collapse was particularly severe on the Women's Liberal Associations, all but 15 of which collapsed. Lloyd George switched his attention to British matters, next coming to prominence as an opponent of the [[Second Boer War|Boer War]].
-== 20th century ==
 There was little mainstream political interest in Home Rule following the [[First World War]]. The focus of independence moved to the newly founded political party, [[Plaid Cymru]], from 1925,<ref name="encyclopaedia"/> although it took until the late 1960s for Plaid to make its first electoral breakthroughs. Many bodies were decentralized, however, including:
+* 1907 - the Welsh Education Board
-* [[File:Second National March for Welsh Independence July 2019 14.jpg|265px|thumb|Glyndwr's banner - red and yellow - still used today as a symbol of Welsh independence]]1907 - the Welsh Education Board
 * 1911 - the Welsh Insurance Commission
 * 1919 - a Welsh Department of the Ministry of Agriculture
@@ Line 89: / Line 30: @@
 The early part of the century also saw the expansion of the federal [[University of Wales]] and the establishment of the National Library and National Museums. By 1945 there were 15 Government departments established in Wales.
+The declaration of [[Cardiff]] as the capital of Wales in 1955,<ref>{{cite news |title=Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government |newspaper=The Times |date=1955-12-21 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/archive/article/1955-12-21/5/19.html |page=5 |issue=53,409}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2010/dec/21/archive-cardiff-gains-recognition-as-capital-of-wales-1955 |title=Cardiff gains recognition as capital of Wales |work=Manchester Guardian |date=21 December 1955}}</ref> the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s 1959 commitment to appoint a [[Secretary of State for Wales]], the creation of the [[Welsh Office]] in 1965,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ndad.nationalarchives.gov.uk/AH/6/detail.html |publisher=The National Archives |title=NDAD &#124; Welsh Office |location=UK |access-date=2010-12-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071119193059/http://www.ndad.nationalarchives.gov.uk/AH/6/detail.html |archive-date=2007-11-19}}</ref> and the repeal of the [[Wales and Berwick Act 1746]] two years later seemed to demonstrate a growing nationalist impetus.<ref name="encyclopaedia" /> However, the heavy defeat for a proposed [[National Assembly for Wales|Welsh Assembly]] offered by Labour in the [[1979 Welsh devolution referendum|1979 devolution referendum]] "suggested that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Wales had no desire to see their country having a national future".<ref name="encyclopaedia"/>
-=== Parliament for Wales Campaign 1949 ===
-[[File:Wales_beats_England_by_2_goals_to_1_in_the_international_soccer_game_in_Cardiff_(11870190016).jpg|thumb|209x209px|Cardiff 1955. Wales beat England 2-1 in an international football game.]]
-Those in favour of a parliament for Wales paraded in Machynlleth (the place of Owain Glyndwr's last Senedd) on 01/10/1949. Speakers and entertainment was also at the event. The official launch of the Campaign for a Welsh Parliament (Ymgyrch Senedd i Gymru) occurred on the 1/7/1950 during another rally in Llandrindod. This event lead to the creation of a petition of 240,652 names which was presented to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in 1956.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Watch Rali Senedd i Gymru, Machynlleth 1949|url=https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-rali-senedd-i-gymru-machynlleth-1949-1949-online|access-date=2022-02-01|website=BFI Player|language=en}}</ref>
+On 1 July 1955 a conference of all parties called at Llandrindod by the New Wales Union (Undeb Cymru Fydd) to consider a national petition for the campaign for a Parliament for Wales. The main leader was [[Megan Lloyd George]], the daughter of David Lloyd George, T. I. Ellis, and Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. According to the historian Dr William Richard Philip George, "Megan was responsible for removing much prejudice against the idea of a parliament for Wales". She later presented the petition with 250,000 signatures to the British government in April 1956.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-LLOY-GEO-1888 |last=George |first=W. R. P. |year=2001 |title=Lloyd George (Family) |work=Dictionary of Welsh Biography |access-date=5 Dec 2020}}</ref>
-=== Minister of Welsh Affairs 1951-1954 ===
-In the first half of the 20th century, a number of politicians had supported the creation of the post of Secretary of State for Wales as a step towards [[home rule]] for Wales.  A post of Minister of Welsh Affairs was created in 1951 under the [[Home Secretary|home secretary]] and was upgraded to [[minister of state]] level in 1954.
+In the 1980s, [[Economy of Wales|economic restructuring]] and [[Thatcherite]] market reforms brought social dislocation to parts of Wales, which had formerly been described as having "the largest public sector west of the [[Iron Curtain]]".<ref name="Balsom"/> A succession of non-Welsh [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Secretary of State for Wales|Secretaries of State]] after 1987 was portrayed by opponents as 'colonial' and indicative of a '[[democratic deficit]]'.<ref name="Balsom"/> In the early 1990s, Labour became committed to devolution to both [[Scotland]] and Wales, and in 1997 it was elected with a mandate to hold referendums on a [[Scottish Parliament]] and a Welsh Assembly.<ref name="Balsom"/>
-=== Campaign for a Parliament 1955 ===
-On 1 July 1955 a conference of all parties called at Llandrindod by the New Wales Union (Undeb Cymru Fydd) to consider a national petition for the campaign for a Parliament for Wales. The main leader was [[Megan Lloyd George]], the daughter of David Lloyd George, T. I. Ellis, and Sir Ifan ab Owen Edwards. According to the historian Dr William Richard Philip George, "Megan was responsible for removing much prejudice against the idea of a parliament for Wales". She later presented the petition with 250,000 signatures to the British government in April 1956.<ref>{{cite web|last=George|first=W. R. P.|year=2001|title=Lloyd George (Family)|url=https://biography.wales/article/s2-LLOY-GEO-1888|access-date=5 Dec 2020|work=Dictionary of Welsh Biography}}</ref>
+The proposed assembly won a narrow majority in the [[1997 Welsh devolution referendum|1997 referendum]]. The political climate was very different from that of 1979, with a new generation of Welsh MPs in Westminster and a broad consensus on the previously divisive issue of the [[Welsh language]].<ref name = "Balsom" /> However, political commentator Denis Balsom notes public sentiment that devolution may have been "unnecessary" following the election of a 'progressive' Labour government.<ref name="Balsom">{{cite book |last=Balsom |first=Denis |chapter=Political Developments in Wales 1979–1997 |editor1-last=Balsom |editor2-first=Barry |editor2-last=Jones |year=2000 |title=The Road to the National Assembly for Wales |location=Cardiff |publisher=University of Wales Press}}</ref> These conflicting sentiments were reflected in the relatively low turnout at the referendum and the narrowness of the victory for devolution campaigners.
-=== Capital City ===
-The declaration of [[Cardiff]] as the capital of Wales in 1955,<ref>{{cite news|date=1955-12-21|title=Cardiff as Capital of Wales: Formal Recognition by Government|page=5|newspaper=The Times|issue=53,409|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/archive/article/1955-12-21/5/19.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=21 December 1955|title=Cardiff gains recognition as capital of Wales|work=Manchester Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2010/dec/21/archive-cardiff-gains-recognition-as-capital-of-wales-1955}}</ref>
+===21st century===
-=== Secretary of State for Wales 1964 ===
-The [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] proposed the creation of a [[Welsh Office]] run by a Secretary of State for Wales in their manifesto for the [[1959 United Kingdom general election|1959 general election]]. When they came to power in 1964 this was soon put into effect.The post of Secretary of State for Wales came into existence on 17 October 1964; the first incumbent was [[Jim Griffiths]], MP for [[Llanelli (UK Parliament constituency)|Llanelli]]. The position entailed responsibility for Wales, and expenditure on certain public services was delegated from [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Westminster]].
-[[File:Welsh_Language_Act_1967_(repealed_21.12.1993)_(UKPGA_1967-66_qp).pdf|thumb|230x230px|Welsh Language Act 1967 (repealed 21.12.1993).]]
-=== Welsh Office 1965 ===
-In April 1965 administration of Welsh affairs, which had previously been divided between a number of [[Departments of the British Government|government departments]], was united in a newly created [[Welsh Office]] with the secretary of state for Wales at its head, and the Welsh secretary became responsible for education and training, health, trade and industry, environment, transport and agriculture within Wales.
-=== Welsh Language Act 1967 ===
-The [[Welsh Language Act 1967]] repealed a section of the [[Wales and Berwick Act 1746|Wales and Berwick Act]] and thus "Wales" was no longer part of the legal definition of England. This essentially defined Wales as a separate entity legally (but within the UK), for the first time since before the [[Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542]] which defined Wales as a part of the Kingdom of England. The Welsh Language Act 1967 also expanded areas where use of Welsh was permitted, including in some legal situations.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 2011|title=The Constitution Series: 1 – Wales in the United Kingdom|url=http://www.assembly.wales/Research%20Documents/The%20Constitution%20Wales%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20-%20Quick%20guide-22072011-217207/qg07-0001-English.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420062743/http://www.assembly.wales/Research%20Documents/The%20Constitution%20Wales%20in%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20-%20Quick%20guide-22072011-217207/qg07-0001-English.pdf|archive-date=20 April 2016|access-date=6 April 2016|publisher=National Assembly for Wales}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=History of devolution|url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/|access-date=2022-01-31|website=senedd.wales|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-07-26|title=The Welsh language Act of 1967|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/entries/fe99df6b-bf61-3cb0-a695-fa76c013fc98|access-date=2022-01-31|website=BBC|language=en}}</ref>
-=== 1980s ===
-In the 1980s, [[Economy of Wales|economic restructuring]] and [[Thatcherite]] market reforms brought social dislocation to parts of Wales, which had formerly been described as having "the largest public sector west of the [[Iron Curtain]]".<ref name="Balsom">{{cite book|last=Balsom|first=Denis|title=The Road to the National Assembly for Wales|publisher=University of Wales Press|year=2000|editor1-last=Balsom|location=Cardiff|chapter=Political Developments in Wales 1979–1997|editor2-last=Jones|editor2-first=Barry}}</ref> A succession of non-Welsh [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Secretary of State for Wales|Secretaries of State]] after 1987 was portrayed by opponents as 'colonial' and indicative of a '[[democratic deficit]]'.<ref name="Balsom" />
-=== Welsh National Assembly ===
-[[File:Senedd.JPG|thumb|294x294px|Senedd, Cardiff Bay (formerly National Assembly for Wales).]]
-The heavy defeat for a proposed [[National Assembly for Wales|Welsh Assembly]] offered by Labour in the [[1979 Welsh devolution referendum|1979 devolution referendum]] "suggested that the vast majority of the inhabitants of Wales had no desire to see their country having a national future".<ref name="encyclopaedia" /> In the early 1990s, Labour became committed to devolution to both [[Scotland]] and Wales, and in 1997 it was elected with a mandate to hold referendums on a [[Scottish Parliament]] and a Welsh Assembly.<ref name="Balsom" />The proposed assembly won a narrow majority in the [[1997 Welsh devolution referendum|1997 referendum]]. The political climate was very different from that of 1979, with a new generation of Welsh MPs in Westminster and a broad consensus on the previously divisive issue of the [[Welsh language]].<ref name="Balsom" /> However, political commentator Denis Balsom notes public sentiment that devolution may have been "unnecessary" following the election of a 'progressive' Labour government.<ref name="Balsom" /> These conflicting sentiments were reflected in the relatively low turnout at the referendum and the narrowness of the victory for devolution campaigners.
-The [[National Assembly for Wales]] (''Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru'') was set up in 1999 (under the [[Government of Wales Act 1998]]) with the power to determine how Wales' central government budget is spent and administered, although the UK Parliament reserved the right to set limits on its powers.<ref name="Long Walk">{{cite news|last=Powys|first=Betsan|date=12 January 2010|title=The long Welsh walk to devolution|work=[[BBC News]] website|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/wales_politics/7813837.stm|access-date=26 September 2010}}</ref>
-This Act included core values such as commitment to partnership working, quality, sustainable development, parity of treatment for Welsh and English languages. This Act also gave the newly formed National Assembly the powers to create secondary legislation in such ares as agriculture, fisheries, highways and housing (similarly to the previous powers of the Secretary of State for Wales).<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of devolution|url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=senedd.wales|language=en-GB}}</ref>
-Since 1997, there has been evidence of increased support for, and trust in, the [[Senedd]] and greater support for it to receive enhanced powers,<ref>{{cite web|title=Governance|url=http://wales.gov.uk/about/firstminister/futures/governance/?lang=en|website=Welsh Assembly Government}}</ref> as evidenced by the 63.49% "Yes" vote in the [[2011 Welsh devolution referendum|2011 referendum]].
-== 21st century ==
 Since 1997, there has been evidence of increased support for, and trust in, the [[Senedd]] and greater support for it to receive enhanced powers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/about/firstminister/futures/governance/?lang=en |website=Welsh Assembly Government |title=Governance}}</ref> as evidenced by the 63.49% "Yes" vote in the [[2011 Welsh devolution referendum|2011 referendum]].
@@ Line 137: / Line 50: @@
 An open letter, signed by a number of groups who advocate for Welsh independence (including Welsh Football Fans for Independence, AUOBCymru and members of the former central committee of YesCymru), was sent to Welsh First Minister [[Mark Drakeford]] in September 2021. Written in response to Drakeford's proposed constitutional commission, it stated that "Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union."<ref>{{cite news|title=“Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union”|last=Griffiths|first=Siriol|url=https://www.thenational.wales/news/19606367.wales-needs-independence-commission-drakeford-told/|date=27 September 2021|access-date=20 October 2021|website=The National Wales|language=en}}</ref> The following month, the Independent Constitutional Commission was launched by the Welsh Labour government.<ref name="Chandler">{{cite news|last=Chandler|first=Andy|date=19 October 2021|title=Commission considers Welsh independence|url=https://www.herald.wales/politics/commission-considers-welsh-independence/|access-date=20 October 2021|work=[[Herald.Wales]]|language=en-GB}}</ref> Led by Professor [[Laura McAllister]] and former [[Archbishop of Wales]], [[Rowan Williams]], it will examine Wales' future relationship with the rest of the UK and will consider Welsh independence as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-58954054|title=Welsh independence to be considered by commission|date=19 October 2021|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> Plaid Cymru called the commission the "most wide-ranging national conversation about Wales' future".<ref name="Chandler"/>
-=== Timeline of Events ===
-==== Richard Commission 2002 & Government of Wales Act 2006 ====
-In 2002, the Commission on the Powers and Electoral Arrangements of the National Assembly for Wales was formed (The Richard Commission). In 2004, the commission recommended; an increase in the number of members, the legal separation of the executive and legislature and devolution of primary law-making powers. Most pf these were accepted by the UK government and came into effect with the Government of Wales Act. This Act defined the role of the National Assembly for making laws and The Welsh Government for making and implementing decisions, policies and subordinate legislation. The Welsh government makes decisions and the National Assembly holds the government to account.  <ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History of devolution|url=https://senedd.wales/how-we-work/history-of-devolution/|access-date=2022-02-01|website=senedd.wales|language=en-GB}}</ref>
-[[File:Leanne_Wood_at_third_AUOB_Cymru_National_March_for_Welsh_Independence_7_September_2019_22.jpg|thumb|Leanne Wood, 2019 in Merthyr.]]
-==== From Principality to Country 2011 ====
-In 2011, the [[International Organization for Standardization|International Standards Organisation]], officially changed the status of Wales from a principality to a country following lobbying from Plaid Cymru AM at the time, [[Leanne Wood]]. <ref>{{Cite web|last=WalesOnline|date=2011-07-31|title=International body grants Wales country status after principality error|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/international-body-grants-wales-country-1813629|access-date=2022-01-31|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}</ref>
-The governments of the United Kingdom and of Wales almost invariably define Wales as a country.<ref name="Number 10">{{cite web|date=10 January 2003|title=Countries within a country|url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/Page823|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080909013512/http:/www.number10.gov.uk/Page823|archive-date=9 September 2008|access-date=5 November 2010|website=10 Downing Street website|publisher=[[10 Downing Street]]|quote=The United Kingdom is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.}}</ref><ref name="WalesOnline 03072010">{{cite web|date=3 July 2010|title=UN report causes stir with Wales dubbed 'Principality'|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/welsh-politics/welsh-politics-news/2010/07/03/un-report-causes-stir-with-wales-dubbed-principality-91466-26777027/|access-date=25 July 2010|website=WalesOnline website|publisher=[[Media Wales|Media Wales Ltd]]|quote=... the Assembly's Counsel General, John Griffiths, <nowiki>[said]</nowiki>: "I agree that, in relation to Wales, Principality is a misnomer and that Wales should properly be referred to as a country.}}</ref> The Welsh Government says: "Wales is not a Principality. Although we are joined with England by land, and we are part of Great Britain, Wales is a country in its own right."<ref name="WAG FAQ">{{cite web|year=2008|title=Wales.com FAQs|url=http://www.wales.com/about-wales/frequently-asked-questions#Question_11|access-date=24 August 2015|website=Wales.com website|publisher=[[Welsh Government]]}}</ref>{{refn|The title ''Prince of Wales'' is still conferred on the [[heir apparent]] to the British throne, currently [[Prince Charles]], but he has no constitutional role in modern Wales.<ref name="Matthew">{{cite book |last=Bogdanor |first=Vernon|author-link=Vernon Bogdanor |title=The Monarchy and the Constitution |page=52 |quote=In his autobiography, the Duke of Windsor complained that, as Prince of Wales, there was 'no specific routine job in the sense, for example, that a vice-president has a job ... Though I was next in line to the Throne, with all that position implied, I actually possessed no formal state duties or responsibilities.' 'This constitutional vacuum', [[Jonathan Dimbleby]], biographer of the Prince of Wales, has noted, 'was not an oversight, but documentary evidence of the peculiar position that the heir apparent occupies; there is no formal "role", except to wait.' |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year= 1995 |location= London |isbn= 978-0-19-827769-9|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=lTnHwWWKAR8C&pg=PA52 |access-date= 5 November 2010}}</ref> According to the Welsh Government: "Our Prince of Wales at the moment is Prince Charles, who is the present heir to the throne. But he does not have a role in the governance of Wales, even though his title might suggest that he does."<ref name="WAG FAQ"/>|group=n}}
-==== Full Primary Law-Making Powers 2011 ====
-In 2011 a referendum was held on whether full primary law-making powers should be given to the National Assembly in the areas in which it had responsibility which was supported with 63.5% of the vote.
-==== Silk Commission & Wales Act 2014 ====
-The UK Government also formed the [[Commission on Devolution in Wales]] (the [[Commission on Devolution in Wales|Silk Commission]]). The Silk report published part 1 of its report in 2012, recommending new financial powers to Wales including taxation and borrowing powers which came into force in the [[Wales Act 2014]]. <ref name=":0" />
-==== Tax Collection and management Act 2016 ====
-The Assembly passed the Tax Collection and Management (Wales) Act 2016 to facilitate the financial powers of the [[Wales Act 2014]].<ref name=":0" />
-[[File:Crys-T_YesCymru.jpg|thumb|A man wearing a YesCymru t shirt.]]
-==== Launch of YesCymru 2016 ====
-In 2016, '''[[YesCymru]]''' was launched. A non party-political campaign for an [[Welsh independence|independent Wales]] which held its first rally in Cardiff in 2019.  <ref>{{Cite web|last=Harries|first=Robert|date=2020-11-08|title=The rise of Yes Cymru and why people are joining in their thousands|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/rise-yes-cymru-people-joining-19231641|access-date=2022-01-31|website=WalesOnline|language=en}}</ref> Support for [[Welsh independence]] has reached as high as 40% in 2021. <ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-04|title=Westminster warned as poll shows record backing for Welsh independence|url=http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/04/westminster-warned-as-poll-shows-record-backing-for-welsh-independence|access-date=2022-01-31|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>
-==== Wales Act 2017 ====
-The [[Wales Act 2017]] esblished the National Assembly as a permanent part of the UK constitution and the Assembly was also shifted from a "conferred powers model" to a "reserved powers model". The Assembly would also now have power to decide its own name and voting system of members.<ref name=":0" />
-==== Tax Powers 2018 & 2019 ====
-The [[Land Transaction Tax|Land Transaction tax]] (replacing Stamp Duty) and the [[Landfill Disposals Tax|Landfill Disposal Tax]] were the very first two devolved taxes. In 2019, over £2 billion of [[Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005|income tax]] was devolved to the Senedd and are subject to Senedd agreement.
-[[File:Gorymdaith_Genedlaethol_Cyntaf_AUOB_Cymru_a_Yes_Cymru,_Caerdydd_2019_Wales_07.jpg|thumb|285x285px|Rally for Welsh Independence, Cardiff 2019.]]
-==== Renaming the Senedd 2020 ====
-In May 2020, the [[National Assembly for Wales]] was renamed "[[Senedd Cymru]]" or "the Welsh Parliament", commonly known as the "[[Senedd]]" in both English and Welsh to reflect increased legislative powers. <ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-05-06|title=Welsh assembly renamed Senedd Cymru/Welsh Parliament|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-52544137|access-date=2022-01-31}}</ref>
-==== Independence Commission 2021 ====
-An open letter, signed by a number of groups who advocate for Welsh independence (including [[Welsh Football Fans for Independence]], AUOBCymru and members of the former central committee of [[YesCymru]]), was sent to [[First Minister of Wales|Welsh First Minister]], [[Mark Drakeford]] in September 2021. Written in response to Drakeford's proposed constitutional commission, it stated that "Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union."<ref>{{cite news|last=Griffiths|first=Siriol|date=27 September 2021|title="Wales needs an independence commission, not one to salvage the union"|language=en|website=The National Wales|url=https://www.thenational.wales/news/19606367.wales-needs-independence-commission-drakeford-told/|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref> The following month, the Independent Constitutional Commission was launched by the Welsh Labour government.<ref name="Chandler2">{{cite news|last=Chandler|first=Andy|date=19 October 2021|title=Commission considers Welsh independence|language=en-GB|work=[[Herald.Wales]]|url=https://www.herald.wales/politics/commission-considers-welsh-independence/|access-date=20 October 2021}}</ref> Led by Professor [[Laura McAllister]] and former [[Archbishop of Wales]], [[Rowan Williams]], it will examine Wales' future relationship with the rest of the UK and will consider Welsh independence as well.<ref>{{cite news|date=19 October 2021|title=Welsh independence to be considered by commission|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-58954054|via=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> [[Plaid Cymru]] called the commission the "most wide-ranging national conversation about Wales' future".<ref name="Chandler2" />
 ==Support==

v t e Movements of regionalism, separatism and stateless nationalism in Europe
Albania	Northern Epirus
Azerbaijan	Artsakh Kurdish Lezgin Talysh
Belgium	Flemish Walloon
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Republika Srpska
Croatia	Istrian
Cyprus	Turkish Cypriot
Denmark	Greenlandic Faroese
Finland	Ålandic Sámi
France	Alsatian Basque Breton Corsican Occitan North Catalan
Georgia	Abkhazian Adjarian Javakheti Ossetian
Germany	Bavarian Sorbs Swabians
Greece	Cham Albanian
Italy	Lombard Padanian Sardinian Sicilian South Tyrolean Venetian
Kazakhstan	North Kazakhstan
North Macedonia	Ilirida
Moldova	Gagauzia Transnistria
Netherlands	Frisian
Norway	Sámi
Poland	Kashubian Silesian Free City of Danzig
Romania	Székely Transylvania–Banat
Russia	Balkar and Karachay Bashkir Chechen Chuvash Circassian Crimean Tatar Ingush Karelian Lezgin Manchu Ossetian Sámi Siberian Tatar
Serbia	Vojvodina Kosovo
Spain	Andalusian Aragonese Asturian Basque Canarian Castilian Catalan Galician Navarrese Valencian
Sweden	Sámi Scania
Turkey	Assyrian Eastern Greek Kurdish Western Armenian
Ukraine	Crimean Donetsk Luhansk
United Kingdom	Cornish English Irish (in Northern Ireland) Northern English Northern Irish Scottish Welsh
See also	First-level NUTS of the European Union

Welsh independence: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:47, 1 February 2022

Contents

History

Middle Ages

19th century

20th century

21st century

Support

Parties in favour of independence

Opposition

Parties in favour of the Union

Opinion polling

Graphical summary

Yes/No Independence polls

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

Welsh independence: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:47, 1 February 2022

History

Middle Ages

19th century

20th century

21st century

Support

Parties in favour of independence

Opposition

Parties in favour of the Union

Opinion polling

Graphical summary

Yes/No Independence polls

See also

References

External links

Navigation menu

Search