A massive boost for doing politics differently in Wales as county council becomes first to vote for independence

The majority of Gwynedd county council in north Wales voted for Welsh independence this week. 42 councillors voted in favour with only four against.

Gwynedd is the first county council to vote for independence. But a long list of Welsh town and community councils have voted for independence recently. These include Porthmadog, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Nefyn, Bethesda, Caernarfon, Llanuwchllyn, Trawsfynydd, Llanystumdwy, Pwllheli, Bontnewydd, Llanberis, Waunfawr and Caeathro, and Llanllyfni.

Nia Edwards-Behi is a Plaid Cymru councillor in Aberystwyth. Speaking on behalf of Undod (the Welsh word for ‘Unity’), a movement for radical independence in Wales, she told The Canary:

It’s positive to see these declarations being made across Wales, bringing attention to and adding to the chorus of pro-indy voices. It’s also an important reminder that politics operates at a local level, where good people can have real influence. Flourishing local democracy is certainly part of our vision for an independent Wales. And so there’s a positive element to local councils raising their voices in this way that speaks to the Wales we want to create.

That being said, with these councils being Plaid-led, it is important that people also see that support for indyWales is growing in a cross-party sense. Not just through movements such as our own but even at a more formal, party level.

A call for ‘radical independence’

We asked Welsh activist Heledd Williams what the idea of ‘radical independence’ meant for her. She said:

Radical Independence does not mean creating another nation state within the neo-liberal context. It means a departure into a future full of hope. Welsh communities have been decimated economically, culturally and environmentally by successive British governments and private companies.

A Wales that is radically independent is an experiment that fills us with excitement. Undod has anarchists, socialists and democratic confederalists working together to push the Welsh independence movement to consider broader horizons.

From the thousands that marched in Cardiff earlier this year to the numerous town councils making declarations in support for independence, to the possibility of further radical action in opposition to the colonialism, poverty and the loss of dignity that is the status quo right now – this is an exciting time to be part of the Welsh revolution – y chwyldro Gymraeg! [meaning ‘Welsh revolution’]

A future full of hope

The Welsh Independence movement is flourishing. New radical ideas are finding fertile soil to take root. It is indeed an exciting time to explore radical independence as a way to escape the domination of British capitalism and colonialism.