Wales first minister backs independence movement at Aberystwyth rally

Wales’s first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has said there is “no turning back” from the country’s journey towards independence. He made the remarks at a pro-independence rally in Aberystwyth on Saturday. Ap Iorwerth told the crowd that Wales’s next step should be “equality with Scotland, as a minimum”.

Campaign group Yes Cymru said between 8,000 and 9,000 people attended the march, although that estimate was provided by the organisers. The event was the first Yes Cymru march attended by a serving first minister. It was also the first pro-independence march since Plaid Cymru entered the Welsh government following the Senedd elections in May.

Speaking at a rally in Castle Gardens, ap Iorwerth said Wales should pursue the investment and greater powers it needed from Westminster. He linked the constitutional debate to the government’s ambition to improve people’s lives. He also referred to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to rule out transferring powers to the Welsh government to hold an independence referendum.

Ap Iorwerth said the UK government was unwilling to acknowledge the right to self-determination. The attendance drew criticism from opposition politicians. Reform MS Joe Martin said the first minister’s decision was disappointing and argued that independence had not been part of Plaid Cymru’s platform for the current Senedd term.

Welsh Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies said ap Iorwerth should focus on NHS waiting times, education and other domestic problems. A Plaid Cymru spokesperson said the government was addressing NHS waiting times, literacy and numeracy, jobs, businesses and the cost of living while also standing up for Wales. The Senedd recently rejected a motion declaring that Wales should remain part of the United Kingdom after its presiding officer cast the deciding vote.