Is an independent Wales on the horizon?

An independent Wales is something the world has not seen for hundreds of years.

The death of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1282, marked the beginning of the union we know today between England and Wales.

But is there a union with the Brexit problem and a centralised government that the Welsh have consistently voted against?

Even though the Welsh did vote for Brexit there has been no point since 1885 that Wales has voted for a conservative government to lead the nation.

LauraMcAllister CU head and shoulders.jp

Laura McAllister is a professor at Cardiff university, has written two books on politics in Wales.

Professor Laura McAllister of Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre at the ’ School of Law and Politics said:

“You don’t even have to be that cynical to say the Welsh vote makes a marginal difference in Westminster.

“How could it be otherwise given we have 40 MPs out of 650. We’ve seen the take on the chancellors announcement today, things like HS2 and transport policy.

“Many might think Wales is getting nothing from these decisions, and if we are, it’s marginal and it’s getting less.”

This is one of the reasons behind the YesCymru movement, the growing campaign for Welsh independence.

“People in Wales have been told for centuries that Wales is too small and too poor and too weak to do anything and I think they have accepted that.” Siôn Jobbins, Chair of YesCymru, said.

According to Mr Jobbins, the greatest barrier against an independent Wales is the lack of awareness of the Welsh potential.

Research has shown that Wales has consistently used around half the energy it generates.

“People still believe it won’t work here even though we export twice as much energy as we use, we are 15% of Europe’s tidal power, our GDP per head is higher than Spain, our tax intake per head is higher than New Zealand, people still think Wales uniquely couldn’t cope.” Mr Jobbins said.

So there is an argument for Wales having a good supply of energy, not only this but the potential that Wales has may have more potency than other independent countries, certainly more than people think.

Who is going to back Welsh independence?

“The only barrier to Welsh independence is the people not believing in it.”

A quote from the chair of the YesCymru movement, Siôn Jobbins, a movement that has grown drastically over the last year.

YesCymru has no party allegiance and is a movement driven, much like other independence movements across Europe, by the people of the country.

However, the leader Plaid Cymru, Adam Price, has already hinted there are ambitions for independence in his party.

While this might be expected from the Welsh nations very own party, YesCymru’s polling suggests that many of Welsh Labour voters would support independence.

This could prove a sticky situation for Welsh Labour.

However, First Minister Mark Drakeford made it well and truly clear where he and his party stand during First Ministers Questions a year ago:

"The Labour Party in Wales unambiguously believes that the future of Wales is best secured through continued membership of the United Kingdom."

If Scotland should go for independence again, what would it mean for Wales?

One country that voted narrowly in favour of staying in the UK is Scotland, and with the 2021 Scottish election on the horizon, a referendum is a possibility.

Recent polling shows rising support for Scottish independence.

“The first thing Scottish independence will do is it’ll prompt more serious conversations in Northern Ireland and especially Wales.” McAllister said.

“The downside of a rapid move towards a referendum on Scottish independence is what if the campaign for independence is problematic?”

While the country’s divide over Brexit is not as bad as the political divide in America, it has certainly split the nation.

“If there’s a narrow result in favour for example like Brexit, it opens up a whole series of schisms amongst the population and who knows, that might end up hardening the majority who don’t want independence in Wales.”

It seems that there is potential for divide in the future, but a divide shows passion, and that is ultimately what will drive debates in the future, a passion and love for Wales.

50 years at the Post Office: What’s changed?

Mr Griffiths and his wife Pat, who have been married 56 years, are a well-known and respected couple in the community.

Postmaster, Lynden Griffiths, has been given a long service award for his 50 years of working at Blackmill Post office in Bridgend.

The Post Office head of network, Andy Kingham, presented the award to the loyal, long-serving postmaster at Blackmill.

Mr Kingham travelled five hours to present the award as he said “it was such a rarity” he had to present it himself.

Mr Griffiths said: “I don’t want to retire. This place keeps me going.”

With Mr Griffiths set on staying loyal to the post office as long as he can, some things won’t change.

But what has changed in the 50 years Mr Griffiths has served as a postmaster?

“Most of the change came when I was in my 70s, I started to feel like a prehistoric in the modern business world. I only survived because we were in a village,” Said Mr Griffiths, 82.

From the first mobile phone in 1973, to the world-wide web’s creation in the 90s and the gadgets of the present day.

It seems the world is developing to a point where the post offices’ uses are limited.

One popular use among the people of the modern day, however, is posting and receiving parcels.

Being in the midst of the rise of online shopping has benefitted post offices hugely.

Millions of parcels come from all over the UK and the world through the post offices of towns and cities alike.

Over the 50 years of service one can only imagine the number of people who have received packages thanks to his efforts.

Post offices in rural areas where banks have closed down are also virtually relying on customers withdrawing and depositing money in the post offices.

Mr Griffiths believes that post offices wouldn’t survive without bank customers bringing their business to them.

Despite these changes and limitations, Mr Griffiths claims he realised his dream in providing a service for his village which came in the form of his post office and shop.

“All I ever wanted to be was a village grocer, but my father never let me because he said there was no future for the independent trade.

“So, I became a teacher and a social worker for nine years before turning to the post office and the shop in my village.”

Britain pledges £330m a year for worlds poorest countries

The United Kingdom is supporting healthcare systems in the poorest countries of the world so they can cope with their rising coronavirus cases.

International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced to Members of Parliament the British government is pledging the equivalent of £330 million a year over the next five years to Gavi.

GAVI, officially Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance is a public–private global health partnership which has the goal of increasing access to immunisation in poor countries.

“When the world beats the COVID-19 pandemic and life returns to normal, Gavi – and the UK’s support of it – will be a major reason why. Gavi has spent the last 20 years delivering vaccines to the world’s poorest countries.” Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said.

“Today, the UK is being generous and thinking global, which also happens to be the best way to fight disease.”

The UK is leading international efforts to find a coronavirus vaccine, as the largest donor to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI)’s coronavirus appeal.

Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi said: “I’d like to thank the UK public for this pledge: an investment in Gavi is an investment in a safer, healthier world.

“This funding will not only protect hundreds of millions of children against disease, it will also help health systems to repair and rebuild after the enormous impact of COVID-19 has subsided.”

“Finally, it means we can continue our work leading international efforts to ensure universal access to a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as to maintain the infrastructure needed to deploy it at scale around the world, which offers our best means of ending this crisis.”