The Welsh Government has no mandate to return powers to Westminster, according to campaigners speaking ahead of a vote in the Senedd today.

A vote will be held by Assembly Members today on approving the EU Withdrawal Bill. The Welsh Government recommends voting in favour of the Bill, despite Scottish Labour, the Scottish Government and the Leader of UK Labour Jeremy Corbyn, all opposing, arguing that it takes devolved powers back to Westminster.

Speaking at a demonstration outside the Senedd in Cardiff, Iestyn ap Rhobert, Chair of YesCymru, said:

“The people of Wales have a parliament as a result of two hard-won referenda: no group of politicians today has a mandate to undo the votes of the people. The people of Wales have not voted to return any powers from Wales to Westminster. This Government has no mandate from anybody to do so. A Government in Wales, elected by slightly more than a third of the population, cannot negotiate away our freedom. A freedom won through referenda in 1997 and 2011.”

“What we’re seeing is Westminster taking advantage of Brexit to centralise powers in London. It’s becoming very clear that Wales’ self-government is on unstable ground, and is truly at stake. Only independence for Wales can ensure that decisions about Wales are made in Wales.”

YesCymru has responded to a UK Government court challenge to devolved powers following Brexit. YesCymru Chair, Iestyn ap Rhobert commented:

“The Tory UK Government’s action is undermining devolution in grabbing back powers which should come to Wales when the British state leaves the European Union. The people of Wales voted strongly in favour of the current settlement in a referendum back in 2011, therefore this action by the Conservatives is totally undemocratic.”

“With the future of Wales being constantly undermined by the Tory Government, we believe independence is now the only viable option for our future as a nation.”

“A YouGov opinion poll commissioned by Yes Cymru in May last year showed that more and more people are open to the idea of independence for Wales: 26% were in favour. This support is likely to increase in response to the way in which the Conservatives are undermining our national legislature.”

• Opinion Poll Results: https://yes.cymru/2017/05/27/quarter-welsh-population-favour-independence-yougov/

Hundreds attended a Rally in Cardiff today to support the people of Catalonia, to support democracy and to oppose violence.

Iestyn ap Rhobert, YesCymru Chair, said at the rally:

“The violence the Catalan electorate suffered by the armed police of the Spanish state is totally unacceptable in the modern Europe. The purpose of the violence was to block the democratic right of the people of Catalonia to determine their own future. Today’s rally is an opportunity for the people of Wales to declare that we support the people of Catalonia, that we support democracy and that we oppose violence.”

Since the referendum, two of Catalonia’s civil society leaders have been imprisoned by the Spanish state, and the Spanish Government has dissolved the Catalan Parliament and forced new elections.

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People across the world witnessed the awful scenes from Catalonia over the last month, from the violence by Spanish police during the referendum itself to the recent arrests and imprisonment of peaceful activists. Since then YesCymru groups across Wales have held several events to support the people of Catalonia, to support democracy and to oppose violence.

We will now hold a national rally to give the people of Wales the opportunity to come together to emphasise that we support the right of the people of Catalonia to determine their own future, that we support democracy and that we oppose violence.

National Rally to Support Catalonia
For Democracy – Against Violence
2pm, Saturday, 28 October, 2017
The Hayes, Cardiff

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The people of Wales were split on the issue of Brexit, with a number of nationalists and supporters of devolution voting on either side of the referendum. But nobody voted to see Brexit used as a Trojan Horse by the Tories to salami slice powers from Wales.

It’s time that we follow the example of the people of Catalonia who are marching for their rights.

Y Senedd – 12pm, Sunday

Join us to form a human chain in front of the Senedd building in Cardiff on Sunday, the 17th of September at 12pm – a human chain made of Welsh citizens who are ready to defend our rights as a nation.

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Iestyn ap Rhobert, Yes Cymru chair said:

“The London Government’s action will have the effect of undermining devolution in grabbing back powers which should come to Wales when the British state leaves the European Union.

Yes Cymru supports the fact that Carwyn Jones – along with Nicola Sturgeon – has condemned Westminster’s insulting actions; but we need far more than words alone to defend Wales from this UK Government which is looking for every opportunity to undermine our democracy.”

Iestyn ap Rhobert added:

“An opinion poll commissioned by Yes Cymru in May 2017 clearly demonstrated that more and more people are open to the idea of independence for Wales. 26% of those asked were in favour of independence and another 16% were neither for nor against. This support will certainly increase in response to the way in which the Conservatives are undermining our national Legislature.

As Wales is undermined and made more vulnerable, Yes Cymru strongly maintains that independence is the only viable option for our national future. Wales must now seriously consider independence.”

Results of the Opinion Poll: https://yes.cymru/2017/05/27/quarter-welsh-population-favour-independence-yougov/

YesCymru launched the most comprehensive document arguing for Welsh independence ever published in Aberystwyth today.

The first edition of “Independence in your pocket”, which runs to 64 pages arguing the case for independence, was given to every member of the movement at YesCymru’s annual general meeting held at the Old College in the centre of Aberystwyth today.

• Download a free copy of ‘Independence in your Pocket’ (PDF)

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