Regular speed please, thanks a lot!
In June 2016, 52.5% of people in Wales voted to leave the European Union. But concerns over Brexit negotiations, and “chaos in UK politics” have increased since then, and recent polls suggest that support for remain has risen considerably in Wales.
This change of heart goes alongside another surpising twist as public attention is turning to the question of whether the Welsh should become independent from a post-Brexit United Kingdom.
A poll published in June 2019 suggested that 41% now support Welsh independence from Westminster. It’s the highest figure ever recorded in a poll – eight percent more than in 2017.
This comes after more than 3000 people from across Wales and further afield participated in the first-ever march for an independent Wales in Cardiff in May 2019. So why is support for Welsh independence suddenly on such a steep rise?
First of all, independence is popular these days : Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wants a second independence referendum before 2021, while opinion polls in Ireland suggest that people in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are increasingly interested in reunification if Brexit goes ahead.
In Wales, the main argument in favour of independence is that people want to be governed by the politicians they have elected and want to make their own decisions as a nation. For example, as members of the UK, Wales doesn’t have control over defence, national security, foreign policy, or immigration.
Some also feel that the country has been neglected by the UK Parliament and that years of poverty and indifference show that Parliament isn’t fit to represent Wales and its best interest.
People who wants to see Wales remain in the UK argue that Wales is too small and too poor to stand alone on the world stage but pro-independence campaign groups have pointed out that there are 18 countries in Europe smaller than Wales.
