YesCymru needs reform - but members should vote against the new proposals at the EGM

FFS here we go........Utter nonsense and I would urge everyone to ignore him!

As one of many who were disenfranchised by the chosen mechanism of the last election which saw the Central Committee elected by a tiny proportion of the membership, the portrayal of said election as a "perfectly fair election" is perplexing and concerning.

The barefaced hypocrisy of the writer is breathtaking. I served on the YesCymru Gweithgor and endured his irrelevant nitpicking feeling relief when he threw his toys out of the pram. His idea of the golden age of the old Central Committee who combined to drive out members who disagreed with them on anything is pure nostalgic fantasy. The proposed reform will enable YesCymru to develop. It will be a new start and will change and improve as circumstances change. I would ask YesCymru members to reject this bitterness and go forward with a new constitution into 2022 and beyond.

As the father of 6 daughters & anxious that the rights of non binary people are respected, I ask all YC members to consider, why should the ‘inclusivity rule’ be brought in at the expense of women? Why is it 50% of CC members must be FEMALE or NON BINARY? Why doesn’t it say ‘MALE or NON BINARY. Why are females losing out on their hard won equality? I think this is very revealing of the controlling chauvinist mindset of the old CC. This & many other examples of the arrogant & misguided ethos of the former CC is a good example of why we are where we are? We desperately need to move forward with this new constitution & I beg all YC members to support the motion. Let’s get on with working for Indy!

I entirely concur with the other comments - ignore this rant for the good old days. Read this article very carefully and his ideas are aimed at making YC a dumbed down left wing pseudo political party. He is concerned that the past ."progressive and left leaning" former organisation will cease to exist. It was this one sided view that caused the problems in the first place. He also bemoans the removal of gender equality and BAME commitments. Such inclusiveness is of course to be welcomed but written in stone commitments to 50% of the C C presents all kinds of problems . His concern for the removal of ethnicity et al and "vague" pursuit of independence shows his true colours. YC is abroad church with all and many different views of our nation's future and we must NOT -as this writer suggests - tie ourselves down to any left/right political dogma. By all means keep the exiting Central Committee, its dogma and in fighting - and destroy Yes Cymru. Is that the plan?

ALL MEMBERS can watch these meetings online by request from Yes Cymru HQ They will show you people from opposite sides of the political tracks putting their differences and egos aside and cooperating for the good of the organisation. All bar some. You can then judge for yourselves. Thanks Nation Cymru for stirring up a hornets nest, just as people representing groups from all over Wales have finished working together despite their differences on a solution to safeguard the organisation and refocus on Independence ONLY. What did you do? Let us all thank the Gweithgor who represented the members for their hard work, un paid, unrecognised in their spare time. Unfortunately the Gweithgor cannot make statements, respond or write opinion pieces in Nation Cymru, as it is not in it's remit to do so. So it cannot respond. Timing is everything. If you want the truth watch the recordings.

It's been a disastrous year for yes cymru - with internal rows, resignations and suspensions bringing the organisation to the brink of collapse. As i understand it the new constitution will enable YC to get back on its feet and resume doing what it was created for and which it used to do so well - campaigning for independence for Wales! Incidentally like dyfrig im firmly on the left of the political spectrum - but i dont expect everyone else in YC to share my socialist beliefs. Ive always believed that YC needs to be a broad church if its to maximise support for welsh independence - indeed it was that 'big tent' approach to independence that enabled Yes Cymru to enjoy its phenomenal growth in recent times. The only beneficiaries of the recent paralysis which has gripped Yes Cymru are the unionists and the british state so vote yes on December 11th to the new constitution so that YC can move on and get back to doing what it was created for - campaigning for an independent Wales!

What gives these people the right to demand 50% representation on the committee?I have no issue or problem with anything they represent but Yes Cymru only goal is independence and nothing else matters so only the best people who are fully committed should sit on committee irrespective of of they're sexual preferences etc.Could be a Martian as far as I'm concerned. One of the first things the old CC did straight after they were elected was form a transformation sub committee?To transform who?I'll leave it you to guess the make up of that committee. I didn't have the opportunity to vote last time and I dont know anyone who did but I will be voting this and it will be a vote for.

So you weren't against a small secretive group when you were involved, but now you aren't you think its not fair. One rule for you another for me, Dyfrig!

The clowns are assembling, the circus has returned!

I can't go along with this. There are some fair points but much of what Dyfrig says is a matter of opinion. Yes, this year has been a sorry episode in YesCymru's short history. I've been disgusted by the behaviour of many members. I've been blocked by some members, heavens knows why. I deplore the public villification of individuals, this trial by social media that has occurred. I've seen evidence of those claiming to be bullied being bullies themselves. I've seen evidence of the most immature behaviour amongst those we entrusted the leadership of the movement. It's time for that to stop. Dyfrig is not helping in that regard. If YesCymru cannot be freed of public infighting then it cannot be a force for good in the cause of independence. In those circumstances it should cease to be. I'm glad that the emphasis in the new constitution is on independence. This is what YesCymru should be. A campaign group for Welsh Statehood. Having read the new constitution, it is at pains to declare itself inclusive of all moderate political hues, of those with protected characteristics, and of the need to act respectfully online and in public as a member. The emphasis on conflict avoidance is strong. Good. There were many that sought it this year - let it be on their own consciences. I don't agree that it is YesCymru's role to be the progressive voice for independence. I never did. I just wanted it to be a straightforward campaign group that could be a shop window for moderates to present the case for a Welsh Nation State. I'm a member of Plaid Cymru because I am both liberal and progressive in my political views and support independence. I suggest that those who are like minded do the same. It's time people stopped trying to make different things vehicles for the intricacies of their personal politics. There are other avenues where one can campaign. Keep YesCymru simple. Keep it free from infighting. Or else wind it up lest it become a hinderance to our movement.

I am reminded of a wonderful book written by the distinguished Irish historian, Diarmaid Ferriter, charting the progress of Ireland's national movement during the years from 1913. The title of the book is "A Nation Not a Rabble". I fear this is a stage from which our national movement has yet to emerge.

I am left-of-centre and Internationalist myself but I think YesCymru should focus on independence and leave the questions of how an independent Wales should position itself to the people of that independent Wales. The new Cymru should be a democracy for all its inhabitants. It should not be predetermined by anyone who does not represent us all

"Independence for independence's sake" ??? Surely, the purpose of independence is to enable the big issues (be they social, ethical, or whatever) to be debated in a tolerant and democratic context, so that that policy positions can be determined by our OWN electorate and elected representatives. Not by Boris Johnson and his successors. We will, however, never achieve independence until we can accept that we are a nation of diverse opinions. Conditioning independence on preordained policy positions is therefore utterly self-defeating.

This article makes YesCymru look like a forum for student politics.

And here was me thinking it was the sound of rain on the window instead of all the toys being thrown out of his pram. A last attempt at relevance, which from what I'm seeing so far is having the opposite affect of what the author intended.

United we stand, divided we fall. We need to stop this bickering now and focus on three fronts. Defending Wales from our Welsh Tory quislings who want to undermine our Senedd Cymru democracy in Cardiff bay. Fight Boris Johnson's idiocracy in London attacks on devolution. Plus continue the goal of Welsh independence our priority. At the moment we are playing into their grubby hands. #YesCymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿. #Ymlaen 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Why do I, a lifelong nationalist, still feel YC would cancel me if I joined? YC has the "..aim of gaining independence for Wales in order to improve the way the country is governed." Yep, that's it. But "YesCymru believes...in an inclusive citizenship, which embraces the fact that all who choose to make Wales their home – regardless of age,..belief, sex.. are full citizens of the new Wales." Prove it, YC. I am white, male, past 50 and my beliefs include being non-woke, and being critical of us Welsh for not putting our economy/revenue deficit higher than most priorities, and for not working out the legal/statecraft route to Indy, which has to be via Dominion Status, like the rest of the UK/Commonwealth. Will someone from YC tell me I personally can indeed be a citizen of the new Wales ie a member of YC? On past form (member of Plaid Cymru 1981-2020) I will get cancelled as soon as I open my mouth.

This appears to be the same old stuff. Why is this meeting being held on the same day as Cilmeri? Real patriots will be at the Great Stone in Cilmeri to remember those who have given their lives for Wales.Not debating the agenda of Corbynista Crackpots.who took control of Yes Cymru and did nothing. No marches nor demos nothing.

The Central Committee was for me basically the problem. Elected in a way that would make advocates of the Westminster system green with envy, the CC was unrepresentative and out of control. There is no way in the world that twelve people can represent a movement the size of YC. The National Committee may well have been formed in a manner not involving a national vote, but surely members were delegates from the branches, and thus subject to instant recall should they dare to engage in the kind of antics we witnessed from the CC over the past year. It seems to me that the NC is a far more democratic approach to governance as it ensures that the grass roots remain in complete control of the organisation. Hopefully said delegates are time restricted in how long they can hold such positions, all in the interests of ensuring a ruling clique does not emerge. This is the system used by the IWW, which is an international industrial union that is obsessed with transparency, grass-roots control and democracy - no decision is made by its steering committees until such time as all members have had the chance to peruse, discuss and vote on literally everything. That sounds a bit clunky, but in practice it works, and has worked for over a century and internationally. I'm personally opposed to the movement becoming a limited company, on any grounds, as for me this would represent too much of a risk of losing democratic control to a chief executive and company board. This is in every way just as risky as investing power and control in a central committee. It would also introduce paid professionalism, which is not only costly, but involves ceding control. It's certain that YC does need to have paid employees as there is no way that volunteers can be expected to deal with, for example, the daily administration generated by an organisation the size of YC. But all supervision of that paid workforce should be by elected officials of the movement. The organisational chart linked to in the article is indeed labyrinthine, and it's difficult to see how it would work. It's immediately a fail as it isn't obvious how and where the power flows. Obviously those designing the structure are not in favour of the KISS principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). Either that or their keen to present a structure deliberately designed to confuse. If not, it might just have well been. Though I feel that the CC went way too far in it's handling of identity politics - making exactly the same mistakes as gay activists in Haringey did way back in the dark days of the 80s. Pushing this kind of stuff to the exclusion of all else when a softer, more gradual approach is needed is going to put noses out of joint, and the infantile behaviour of some over the whole issue quite simply beggared belief. However, any organisation that in the present day that doesn't commit to intersectionality needs to be scrutinised. I know that for some intersectionality is some kind of trigger, and unfortunately it's exactly the kind of antics we saw from some members of the CC that's responsible for intersectionality being widely derided. However, when one considers that the Welsh Local Government Association is an organisation that has embraced intersectionality, which, for those unfamiliar with the concept, means that no one issue can be allowed to be seen as more important as any other - issues may be more pressing, in terms of the urgency in which they are dealt with, but not more important. Thus, issues of gender identity, race, ethnicity, language etc are all equally important and deserve to be taken into consideration all at the same time. It should be clear where the former CC failed in this approach. We all need a broadly based approach to intersectionality as it almost definitely includes all of us under multiple headings. I'm minded to vote against the proposal, for one because I don't know what it is, and I'm not going to opt for a pig in a poke, and for another, I am unhappy with the notion of a limited company taking over control in any sense. The crucial issue for me is that the National Committee is the coordinating body of the movement, taking it's cues from the grass-roots local branches inside a movement that is as horizontal in organisation as is possible.

Dyfrig Jones, trying to be the voice of reason, so self righteous. You cannot and should not try and police the identities of YC members. It is their hearts and minds that are important.

Just where do these self important blow hard gangs come from? Why on earth were they not put back in their box as soon as their "group this" and "group that" self indulgence raised its head? YesCymru's success is in no small way dependent on our philosophy of ALL UNDER ONE BANNER. So drop the schism and get UNDER THE BANNER!!!!!!

I'm surprised nation.cymru published this rubbish. A constitution no matter what organisation will not please everyone, it should not be at the forefront of everything that the organisation does as it needs to be pragmatic to survive. People like Dyfrig have an hidden agenda and should be ignored, all this it's my way or the highway nonsense should be left behind for the larger cause of gaining independence. And remember when we gain independence YesCymru will disband and the political parties will take over the day to day running of Wales. So let's stop the arguing move forward and unite for the one cause. Cooperation is key.

OMG, political fundamentalists are just as bad as their religious brethren.

I have a mental health disability. But I don't expect Yes Cymru to go out of their way to fight for my rights or give me special privileges simply because of what I am. That's what mental health groups are for. Don't get me wrong if someone within the organisation made derogatory remarks against my disability or people like me, or if I felt I was being discriminated against then I would be making a complaint against that individual/YC. The primary function of Yes Cymru is too campaign for an independent Wales, or at the very least Wales having the same powers as the other nations of the UK. This should not be a left wing or right wing issue at all. If Scotland becomes independent and Ireland reunites then there is no longer a UK to be part of, we in Wales could end up by default becoming nothing more than a region of England, and you might be shocked as to how many voters in Wales feel resigned to this possibility. By all means distance ourselves and condemn of forms of racism, homophobia, misogynism and bigotry. But at the same time, distance ourselves from political correctness and wokism, because all they do is fan the flames of hatred & bigotry. Our main goal is independence, and if this means working with people who shares my political views on other matters then so be it.

Well done YesCymru an excellent choice of dates for an EGM.December 11th along with St Davids Day is the most important date in The Cymru Calender as The annual Cilmeri Rally is on this date.This was the Date when Cymru lost its status as a Sovereign Nation yet YesCymru don't seem to be concerned by this historical event. As one person who has already commented on this has said at least The People who have interests of Cymru at Heart will be at Cilmeri.

A perfect example of the rabid, paranoid, left-wing political autism here. Welsh people by and large are socially conservative, whether Welsh speaking or from the valleys. No one is listening to you Dyfrig bach. I'm a gay man and I'm telling you that there is no such thing as non-binary, and until you can tell me where gender is stored in the body, transgenderism is a total nonsense. And why are you complaining about the lack of black or brown people on the committee when you sacked the only person of another race on there previously? Did she have wrong thoughts?

Wales divided will never be free. It's as simple as that. We all have our preferences, but in the cause of independence, we must work together, and revel in our magnificent Welsh diversity.