THIS week, YesCymru set a clear and ambitious objective for the country's growing movement. A referendum on Welsh independence in 2032.
At the National Eisteddfod – Wales’s largest annual cultural festival, celebrating the Welsh language, music, literature and the arts – YesCymru chair Rob Hughes made the announcement at a public meeting in Pabell y Cymdeithasau on the Eisteddfod field on Sunday, August 2.
The years is still far enough down the road that groundwork can be done with pressure being felt, but also close enough to query whether it is actually possible.
Before any talk of a vote takes place, the Welsh government wants powers over policing and justice, rail infrastructure and the Crown Estate to be devolved from Westminster to Cardiff.
Then you have the problem of Prime Minister Andy Burnham flat out refusing both Scotland Wales referendums. But (based on averages of serving prime ministers since 2016) by the time 2032 comes around, we could be three PMs away from Burnham.
We might even have a UK constitution, after Burnham suggested that the case for the constitution to be written into a single overarching document – as is the case in countries such as Spain and the US – was growing stronger.
As it stands, the UK’s constitution – the set of rules and standards outlining how the country is governed – is uncodified, existing across a series of sources including statute law, common law, and unwritten conventions.
Basically, a lot could and will change.
Speaking at the public meeting, Hughes said: “I think we’ve had enough of wandering through life without giving us and our supporters and the people of Wales something to have as a focus.”
He added: "What we need to do is persuade the people of Wales that an independent Wales will provide a better future for them and for the generations to come.”
The 2032 campaign is to focus on growing support for independence, and over the the next six years, YesCymru said there work will turn that support into a clear demand for a referendum, while setting out the political and practical steps required to achieve that objective.
Hughes closed the public meeting by saying: “Let’s build a country that is fair, tolerant and welcoming, and use the skills, belief and ambition of the people of Wales to create a country that works for all of us, for our children and for the generations to come.”
It's a big step and it comes after Hughes met with Welsh Government constitution minister Dafydd Trystan Davies and officials this week to discuss the campaign group's aims, the constitutional future of Wales and the organisation's role in building public support for independence.
Support for Welsh independence has been as high as 41% previously in some polls, with support for Plaid rising. With a goal now in mind, the Welsh population could be voting Yes before Scotland can even get an answer on how to be asked the question again.
