Having been active in Cardiff nearly 40 years, I really don't think we should be prejudging the case for Welsh independence. We need a level-headed discussion of what is in the interests of the working class, recognising that national self-determination is a democratic right but not something socialists should automatically fight for. I've discussed this on www.cardiffrad.org and elsewhere.
As Duncan suggests there is a different political dynamic and terrain to the class struggle in Cymru. Cymru'n Codi has gradually developed from comrades active involvement in the People's Assembly Against Austerity campaigns and Left Unity and the fight to try to mobilise against austerity and get our elected representatives in Cymru to take a leading role. Something they failed to do. However the PAW campaigns did have, and continue to have, some significant successes through direct action. Following the right's defeat of Corbyn many more comrades became interested in linking collective mobilisation with the potential of what we could achieve in Cymru as part of the international struggle, and that meant engaging seriously with the ideas of republicanism, independence and ecosocialist. Many of us were involved with Transform, but when that rejected an independent Cymru group funded and controlled by members in this country the Cymru Radical Left Dialogue, a WhatsApp cross party forum, started in 2023 and currently has around 230 participants. Through the discussions it became clear that that we should have an in person meeting to see if we could agree an aim and at a conference in Merthyr in October 2024 the aim 'production for the needs of the planet, people, peace and not profit' was agreed. A possible programme taking this forward in Cymru was agreed through over 15 workshops in 2025 and in May of that year another completely open in person meeting supported that work and agreed we should move to a member based cross party network to take it forward. In total around 350 comrades have been involved in this process. Cymru'n Codi is the current manifestation and is firmly committed to collective direct mobilisation through transitional demands and actions as well as making the case that this programme could be taken forward in a republican and independent Cymru on behalf and in support of workers internationally. It's a little bit more than prejudging:)
Yes, there is a different dynamic in Wales, but then there was a different dynamic in the 1920s which threw up the likes of A J Cook and Nye Bevan, who saw the Welsh workers as the vanguard of the struggle for British socialism. Is there really a better prospect for socialism in an independent Wales, given that the struggle for this is dominated by Plaid and Yes Wales, the former left liberals and the latter completely rejecting class politics? Remember what happened to the Scottish Socialist Party. If Wales became independent tomorrow it would be a capitalist Wales, and the same patriotism that created it would be used against workers who threaten investment by the multinationals. These are some of the reasons why I talked about not prejudging the matter: we know the left in Wales today is overwhelmingly pro-independence (including most of the left Labourites) so it's no surprise Cymru'n Codi has grown, but that in itself does no seal the argument.
Indeed it does not, but the point of the reply was to show that many comrades in Cymru are relating to the question of independence with a republican and internationalist class perspective that also relates meaningfully to specific issues. The politics are well spelled out in our posts and programme. As you are a follower of Red Mole, Duncan's recent trilogy on building a network and what we are doing in Cymru is a very good summary in the third one of these articles. BTW Cymru'n Codi and the Cymru Radical Left Dialogue are completely open if you support the aims. You are most welcome to participate.
Ok, I'll, look at all this, but there is much more I also have to say on the subject which I'll aim to cover in more articles on www.cardiffrad.org - unfortunately I'm now on dialysis so my ability to actively participate is very limited. But I am fully behind the Socialist Federation initiative and, as I said originally,believe it needs to discuss the independence issue with an open mind.
The Scottish Socialist Party had 6 MSPs until the whole project was trashed by the SWP and Socialist Party's choices to split the party to defend the deplorable Tommy Sheridan. But politically, it has been and largely remains exemplary.
Yes, if Sheridan was a real revolutionary he wouldn't have felt the need to lie about his unconventional sex life. On the other hand the SSP would surely not have grown as it did without his role in the Poll Tax campaign. And while I agree that when the demand for independence is overwhelming socialists should intervene tom turn that fight in a socialist direction, that situation is certainly not the case in Wales.
The issue with Sheridan is that he voluntarily sued a newspaper for libel, going out of his way to organise perjury for huge financial gain, and then demanded the party join the conspiracy.
Excellent article! John Richardson member of Cymru’n Codi
Having been active in Cardiff nearly 40 years, I really don't think we should be prejudging the case for Welsh independence. We need a level-headed discussion of what is in the interests of the working class, recognising that national self-determination is a democratic right but not something socialists should automatically fight for. I've discussed this on www.cardiffrad.org and elsewhere.
As Duncan suggests there is a different political dynamic and terrain to the class struggle in Cymru. Cymru'n Codi has gradually developed from comrades active involvement in the People's Assembly Against Austerity campaigns and Left Unity and the fight to try to mobilise against austerity and get our elected representatives in Cymru to take a leading role. Something they failed to do. However the PAW campaigns did have, and continue to have, some significant successes through direct action. Following the right's defeat of Corbyn many more comrades became interested in linking collective mobilisation with the potential of what we could achieve in Cymru as part of the international struggle, and that meant engaging seriously with the ideas of republicanism, independence and ecosocialist. Many of us were involved with Transform, but when that rejected an independent Cymru group funded and controlled by members in this country the Cymru Radical Left Dialogue, a WhatsApp cross party forum, started in 2023 and currently has around 230 participants. Through the discussions it became clear that that we should have an in person meeting to see if we could agree an aim and at a conference in Merthyr in October 2024 the aim 'production for the needs of the planet, people, peace and not profit' was agreed. A possible programme taking this forward in Cymru was agreed through over 15 workshops in 2025 and in May of that year another completely open in person meeting supported that work and agreed we should move to a member based cross party network to take it forward. In total around 350 comrades have been involved in this process. Cymru'n Codi is the current manifestation and is firmly committed to collective direct mobilisation through transitional demands and actions as well as making the case that this programme could be taken forward in a republican and independent Cymru on behalf and in support of workers internationally. It's a little bit more than prejudging:)
Yes, there is a different dynamic in Wales, but then there was a different dynamic in the 1920s which threw up the likes of A J Cook and Nye Bevan, who saw the Welsh workers as the vanguard of the struggle for British socialism. Is there really a better prospect for socialism in an independent Wales, given that the struggle for this is dominated by Plaid and Yes Wales, the former left liberals and the latter completely rejecting class politics? Remember what happened to the Scottish Socialist Party. If Wales became independent tomorrow it would be a capitalist Wales, and the same patriotism that created it would be used against workers who threaten investment by the multinationals. These are some of the reasons why I talked about not prejudging the matter: we know the left in Wales today is overwhelmingly pro-independence (including most of the left Labourites) so it's no surprise Cymru'n Codi has grown, but that in itself does no seal the argument.
Indeed it does not, but the point of the reply was to show that many comrades in Cymru are relating to the question of independence with a republican and internationalist class perspective that also relates meaningfully to specific issues. The politics are well spelled out in our posts and programme. As you are a follower of Red Mole, Duncan's recent trilogy on building a network and what we are doing in Cymru is a very good summary in the third one of these articles. BTW Cymru'n Codi and the Cymru Radical Left Dialogue are completely open if you support the aims. You are most welcome to participate.
Ok, I'll, look at all this, but there is much more I also have to say on the subject which I'll aim to cover in more articles on www.cardiffrad.org - unfortunately I'm now on dialysis so my ability to actively participate is very limited. But I am fully behind the Socialist Federation initiative and, as I said originally,believe it needs to discuss the independence issue with an open mind.
The Scottish Socialist Party had 6 MSPs until the whole project was trashed by the SWP and Socialist Party's choices to split the party to defend the deplorable Tommy Sheridan. But politically, it has been and largely remains exemplary.
Yes, if Sheridan was a real revolutionary he wouldn't have felt the need to lie about his unconventional sex life. On the other hand the SSP would surely not have grown as it did without his role in the Poll Tax campaign. And while I agree that when the demand for independence is overwhelming socialists should intervene tom turn that fight in a socialist direction, that situation is certainly not the case in Wales.
The issue with Sheridan is that he voluntarily sued a newspaper for libel, going out of his way to organise perjury for huge financial gain, and then demanded the party join the conspiracy.