With the Welsh May elections looming, constituents will be considering their options and where to put their X on the ballot paper. Like many Welsh nationalists, I have voted for Plaid Cymru in the past, admittedly through gritted teeth. However, lately, naive loyalty is starting to wear very thin, and talking with other Welsh nationalists, it’s not just me who has this sense of foreboding come May.
There are many reasons for this gloomy anticipation. Let's address a few concerns that many past, wavering and current supporters have about Plaid Cymru lately. Let’s suppose the recent polls are correct and Plaid win the election, will it be with a thumping majority? If so, what is their plan to start turning the wheels and begin the process of Welsh independence? They’ve had over one hundred years to think of one, or are they keeping their cunning plan a secret? All we’ve been told so far is that there will be no push towards the promised land in the first term of government. That’s not very encouraging for its supporters when you consider Plaid Cymru is supposed to be the party for Welsh independence.
I have thought for a long time that Plaid are not that serious about independence, and is even frightened by the prospect. I suspect the word ‘Independence’ is just a rallying slogan used by Plaid to separate them from their socialist brothers, the London-controlled Labour Party in the Senedd. Then there’s the possibility that Plaid wins in May but needs to form a coalition. Would their victory be enough to form one with the London-controlled England and Wales Green Party, or would they have to seek out a London-controlled unionist party partnership? If it were with a unionist party, they would demand that Plaid kick any move towards independence into the long grass for the duration of the deal. Sadly, I would wager that Plaid would be willing to abort any move towards Welsh sovereignty in exchange for more power in the Senedd.
There is also the question of Plaid being too cosy with London and its undemocratic institutions; for example, they claim to oppose the elitist House of Lords but continue to submit its members to the colonial lair. Their latest, unconvincing reason for their membership in the Lords is that they want to bring the House down from within, which has been laughed at, even by their bemused members.
At the moment, we're witnessing the ongoing disturbing revelations regarding the monarchy; we’ve had little or no comment from Plaid, which I know will annoy the majority of their members who are ardent Republicans. Their silence is a complete contrast to their very vocal stance on other controversial subjects, such as open borders, green issues, and Trans issues, to name but a few.
When you compare Plaid Cymru with other Celtic nationalist parties, such as Alba and Sinn Féin, plus a few others, would it be out of order to accuse Plaid Cymru of being too weak or even fraudulent on the subject of independence?
One thing is for certain: we can’t afford to wait another hundred years through gritted teeth for Plaid Cymru to make its move. The deception can't go on forever.
