New poll shows growing support for Welsh independence

An independence campaigner who led Gwynedd Council to back the principle of Welsh statehood has welcomed a new poll showing record levels of support for political separation from the United Kingdom.

The YouGov poll for ITV-Cymru Wales and Cardiff University questioned 1,021 Welsh adults in late May, finding a four percent increase in those favouring a fully independent Wales on the previous poll in January –  but also similar numbers backing the restoration of direct rule from Westminster.

With 25% backing the independence route, this still represents a significant minority however, with 54% backing staying within the United Kingdom with the remaining 21% stating they did not know how they’d vote or would choose not to.

But a separate question found that 25% would also back the removal of the Welsh Parliament and devolution altogether, marking a one percent increase on the last poll.

The findings have been welcomed by independence supporters, however, with the campaign having become more visible over recent years with the emergence of cross-party groups such as Yes Cymru.

Its chair, Sion Jobbins, said that 1,300 people had joined the movement in May alone, claiming:  “People have seen what having a Welsh parliament can deliver and how having devolution has protected the people of Wales during these difficult times.

“They have been able to compare it to the disastrous policies coming out of Westminster and it’s clear people want to stop that Westminster madness.”

A number of town and community councils have also publicly declared their support for the idea, with Gwynedd Council becoming the first county council to back such a motion in 2019.

Cllr Nia Jeffreys, the Plaid Cymru councillor for Porthmadog East who  successfully lobbied a full council meeting to back the principle of a sovereign Wales in July, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “A year ago, following the marches across Wales,  there was an excitement, change was in the air and support for independence was growing.

“The tragedy of the current pandemic has accelerated this change.

“The diabolical leadership by Dominic Cummings and Boris Johnson from London has highlighted once again that Westminster doesn’t work for Wales.

“Decisions made in Wales, whilst following the science, have been far more thoughtful and sensitive.

“After these dark days there is a message of hope – Wales is big enough, rich enough and smart enough to make decisions for ourselves. ”

But on the other end of the political spectrum, there are efforts to restore direst Westminster rule with the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party planning to once again stand in the 2021 Senedd Election.

According to the party, which recently saw a Powys county councillor leave the Conservatives to join its ranks, devolution has “failed to deliver for the people of Wales”, describing the Assembly and now the Senedd as “an expensive and unnecessary tier of government.”

Roger-Awan Scully, Head of Politics and International Relations and Professor of Political Science at Cardiff University, in analysing the figures for nation.cymru, described independence as “a minority taste in Wales – but it appears to be one of a growing minority.”

“This barometer poll not only has support for independence at an all-time high, but is the first one ever to show support for this proposition equal with support levels for abolishing the Senedd,” he wrote.

“Both ideas remain in the minority. But, on this way of asking the question at least, those minorities appear now to be equally prominent within the Welsh electorate.

He added, “The Covid-19 crisis has helped thrust devolution, and the distinctiveness of the Welsh level of government, into public prominence.

“The findings from the latest Barometer poll suggest that this may be having some impact on public attitudes.

“The centre of gravity in Wales remains one of support for autonomy within the UK. And independence certainly remains a minority position.

“But support for independence is no longer the preserve of a tiny group on the fringes of Welsh politics; it has clearly moved some way beyond that.”

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter