Tuesday, 14th July 2026 Cardiff 26° · Clear sky
NationCymru A news service by the people of Wales, for the people of Wales.

News

YesCymru movement ‘growing faster than expected’

By NationCymru
Iestyn ap Rhobert

A movement founded to campaign for independence has grown faster than expected, according to its chairman.

YesCymru will hold its annual general meeting in Aberystwyth on Saturday.

Chairman Iestyn ap Rhobert said that they have close to 400 members, and 13 local groups around Wales.

“We’ve grown and grown over the last few months, and the number of local groups have multiplied,” he said.

“The challenge now is to cultivate that enthusiasm. With all the activity and energy, I’m sure Wales will be independent much sooner than anticipated.

“Our goal is clear. To improve the way Wales is governed by securing independence.”

The movement was founded in 2014 after the independence referendum in Scotland.

A recent opinion poll by YouGov suggested that a quarter of the population supported independence.

Iestyn ap Rhobert said that their movement welcomed anyone who wanted to be a citizen of Wales.

“This inclusive message is important for all our members, and is a statement of the kind of independent country we’d like to be,” he said.

The Yes Cymru Annual General Meeting will be held at the Old College, Aberystwyth at 11am on Saturday, June 17.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

10 comments

Dafydd

Actually, A recent opinion poll by YouGov suggested that a quarter of the population supported independence under Labour rule.....36% under Theresa May/Tory rule And you have missed a great opportunity to provide a link on WHERE to join. Duw mawr!

Reply
Richard Lewis

One thought..........I want to use Cymru instead of Wales....but we must think of the rest of the population. Is it better to have "Yes Wales / Ie Cymru" name...or ...DOES the name really not matter to much? :)

Reply
Richard Lewis

Ok a good start. Theres a lot of potential to still grow when you realise Plaid Cymru has nearly 9,000 members

Reply
Martin

Support for independence moves towards winning territory "when there is a Conservative majority government", according to Yes Cymru's research. But my question is, when that happens don't those people just vote Labour at Westminster elections to get the Tories out? And isn't the situation then portrayed as a 'bad election' for Plaid Cymru?

Reply
trailorboy

don't forget to look the other side of Clawdd Offa. If Liverpool, Shrewsbury, Hereford, Gloucester and Bristol cottened on to how much more affluent and important they would be as border cities and towns then that could make a key difference. If this sounds a biy strange then perhaps we haven't been looking at things as we should. Independence for Wales is much more likely when it is beneficial to a far greater number of people than currently support the idea. Wales is small and our potential support base is vast if we think beyond our borders. We have something special that many will buy into. One or two million in Wales perhaps, tens of millions more outside of Wales will make the difference, if wr can tap into them. We are the nation with the most thriving Celtic language and culture - we should be able to tap into that and the many who are bewitched by that beyond our borders.

Reply
trailorboy

Another point and a key one. I personally would love nothing more than a successful, independent Wales and when I look at it the major obstacle to that, whether we want to believe it or not us the power behind the throne. For those out there who are staunchly pacificist, turn off now. An independent Wales must embrace the British armed forces. I can hear the screams now, but the majority in Wales, myself included love and respect our British armed forces. We can be independent and the biggest supporter of the realm and our armed forces. No conundrums there for me personally at all. Bring the English establishment and the armed forces along with us to create the independent Wales we all want. If I sound as mad as a box of frogs then maybe I am, but to me independence for Wales matters, we could be a hugely successful nation and our language and culture must endure.

Reply
leigh richards

Not 'mad' trailorboy but perhaps a tad naive. If wales does become the independent country we want to see it become then the british state would cease to exist - and no british state no 'british armed forces'. Many small countries are able to manage their own national defence perfectly well - like our near neighbour Ireland for example.- and there's absolutely no reason why wales couldn't do the same.

Reply
leigh richards

Further to my last comment Trailorboy this was put together by supporters of scottish independence in the run up to the 2014 indy referendum http://www.businessforscotland.com/12-defence-facts-that-the-no-campaign-dont-want-you-to-know/

Reply
Gareth

Grown faster than expected within its first twelve months. Genuine question - what was the target or expectation. Sorry to be grumpy but this is the sort of poorly written article worthy of WalesOnline

Reply
Dafydd ap Gwilym

YES! So far from British politics it makes me proud! Therefore I joined!

Reply

Leave a reply

Replying to leigh richards Cancel

Further to my last comment Trailorboy this was put together by supporters of scottish independence in the run up to the 2014 indy referendum http://www.businessforscotland.com/12-defence-facts-that-the-no-campaign-dont-want-you-to-know/

Comments are reviewed before they appear.