The National Question in Wales

A Welsh Communist Party Positional Paper.

The issue of independence has become a feature of political debate in both Scotland and Wales over the last half century with the two parties identified with national independence forming the governments in both Wales and Scotland. As the BRS (2020) notes, ‘should the peoples of Scotland or Wales express a preference to secede from the United Kingdom, their wishes must be respected and negotiations take place to settle the terms of separation on an equitable basis.’

However, separation from the UK in and of itself is not necessarily progressive, and may not even achieve any real independence, particularly if it involves becoming dependent upon the EU’s autocratic, war mongering, big business agenda.

‘For communists, the question of separation for Scotland and Wales is one of revolutionary strategy for united working-class struggle against the British ruling class, not of supporting or opposing the union of the three nations of Britain in principle.’ (BRS 2020)

The defining chasm that exists across British society is not national in character but is in fact class differences. The most striking economic and political changes in the last half century has been the increase in inequality and the rise of a billionaire class and an impoverished section of the working class. In Britain fifty families are reportedly wealthier than the poorest 50% of the population. (Equality Trust 2025) Billionaires own 22% of the reported wealth in the UK (Equality Trust 2026). Yet wages for the majority have barely increased at 2% up since 2008. (TUC 2025) Housing costs have increased substantially creating wealth for the banking sector and private landlords whilst leaving millions at risk of homelessness and sub-standard housing. (Equality Trust 2025)

To reverse the gains made by this parasitic class it will be necessary to continue to build an anti-monopoly alliance involving all those involved in struggles against imperialism in its various guises. In building an anti-monopoly alliance it is imperative that democratic popular initiatives are pursued, including extending the powers of Welsh and Local Government, not least by giving both far greater tax raising powers and economic freedoms.

‘Furthermore, the Communist Party demands democratic controls in the economic sphere and an extension of democracy into the workplace.’ (Welsh Communists 2022)

Welsh Governments decision making can be enhanced by further democratic involvement of trade unions, workers and community groups.

The increases in real democratic power are necessary to pursue a series of progressive and redistributive policies such as house building, bringing infrastructure, land and energy into public ownership and removing the private sector from education, the NHS and Local Government services. The Senedd needs to develop areas of the economy to develop our economic capacity to resist the dependency on multi-national companies and eradicate the scourge of under-employment. Green technology and pharmaceutical production are examples of areas for expansion. Further Senedd powers need to include employment legislation, where anti trade union laws need to be abolished and aspects of foreign and defence policy to assist in the decoupling from NATO and EU warmongering. A non-nuclear policy should be a first requirement.

The question of national independence is therefore closely linked to the struggle for popular democratic progress, having the potential to be a major part of the anti-monopoly alliance in Wales. For that to occur, it is vital that such a movement develops a clear anti-imperialist understanding, recognising that both NATO and the EU are part of the hegemonic imperialist apparatus. Secondly the independence movement needs to be encouraged to develop redistributive economic plans to meet the needs of the Welsh people.

Communists can work with nationalist forces in furthering democratic progress, encouraging a redistributive programme, opposing the far right and seeking to promote peace and nullify the threat of war.

At some point in the future the issue of independence may become an immediate issue. Communists will need to determine whether the class struggle will benefit from the character of independence available, both in Wales and in Britain more generally, or whether Welsh independence will dissipate the capacity for an anti-monopoly alliance.

In considering such a scenario thought must be given:

• to how the surplus value extracted from Welsh workers can be recuperated from the City of London and the tax havens spread across the crown dependences.
• regarding the likelihood of Wales developing a genuinely independent foreign economic policy that decouples itself from US, British and US exploitative and hegemonic institutions and influence with a view to establish trade, scientific, cultural and technological exchanges across the globe.
• towards considering the establishment of economic and fiscal independence.
• towards considering the characteristics of a Defence strategy based upon genuine civil security.

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