Welsh republicanism
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Welsh republicanism (Welsh: Gweriniaethiaeth Gymraeg, Gweriniaetholdeb yng Nghymru) is an ideology based on the belief that Wales should be a republic, as opposed to being under the monarchy of the United Kingdom. Usually, this proposal takes the form of an independent Welsh republic, but it is also occasionally found in discussions of changing the system of government of the United Kingdom as a whole in such a manner as to include an elected official as head of state.
Many people who advocate Wales becoming a republic do so through their support for Welsh independence. This would entail Wales becoming independent from the United Kingdom and a republic would be formed, with an elected president assuming the role of the deposited monarch.
Most of the major political parties and organisations that advocate Welsh independence also advocate Scotland becoming an independent republic. These include:
Wales' largest pro-independence party, Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales and Gwlad, both have a neutral position and propose a referendum after independence on the future status of the monarchy in Wales. Plaid Cymru has a number of republican members and supporters, including former party leader Leanne Wood.[2][3]
The Welsh Nation Party and Sovereign Wales do not hold a position on the monarchy or a future Head of State in an independent Wales,[4][5] whilst Socialist Party Wales advocate a 'socialist Wales as part of a socialist federation of Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland'.[6]
British republicanism
Another concept for Wales becoming a republic is through reform of the United Kingdom's constitutional status from a constitutional monarchy to a republican constitution. There is not an explicit link with British unionism, as this tends to advocate the Union of Crowns. This is a form of British republicanism which is supported by English politicians such as Dennis Skinner and Jeremy Corbyn, and advocacy groups such as Republic. There is not mainstream support for this concept in any Welsh political parties, and remains a personal position, unlike support for an independent Welsh republic which does have party support.
See also
References
- "Public Administration". policy.greenparty.org.uk.
- Jones, Richard Wyn (14 May 2018). "Severn bridge shows Plaid should embrace republicanism | Richard Wyn Jones". WalesOnline.
- "[:cy]Maniffesto[:en]Manifesto[:]".
- Thraves, Alec. "What We Stand For – Socialist Party Wales".