Welsh Independence. How would we in Wales be better off?

Question

We currently have some of the lowest living standards in the UK. The South Wales Valleys even receive special EU funding as its such a poor area (I know this first hand as I live there)!

What would an independent Welsh Government do to make life better for the people of Wales? So many problems have spilled over from England into Wales, such as mass immigration. Would we benefit from breaking with London?

Answer 1

I'm from Northern Ireland so have no axe to grind with the Welsh, but you'll have to forgive me for saying that Wales could not survive economically without English money. Same as Scotland, same as Northern Ireland. Sorry, but the economics speak for themselves.

Mind you, it could all be a moot point if the EU Consitution is ratified and we all just become satellite states of Federal Europe.

Answer 2

Wales can survive as an independent nation and flourish. It is idiotic to think that the likes of Scotland and Wales cannot function without England. It has a population of nearly 3 million which is more than enough to have a fully independent nation.

It is also condescending to believe that these countries are not capable of working on their own without England or their handouts.

If Wales had its own government it would be able to give more attention to its not so better off regions as it wont be competing for attention with English regions, be it with financial aid or economic policies for growth.

Wales would also, as a new country not have to be in the EU or have an open border with England, if the Welsh populous wishes it, though i would not say it is a good idea, but the Welsh can decide for it themselves.

Answer 3

Haha there are people here who are talking from their backsides just to sound intelligent but i can tell you no real research has been done!

For one You say wales will never be economically viable without the united Kingdom didn't they say that in 1922 when Ireland departed IT'S ALL PHYSIOLOGICAL . Of course the labour and tory politicians and going to opt for this for the one reason that they want the power and the wealth from both nations (A politician is ment to put his people first but the ones from them 2 party's don't and never will. Just the same as while wales and scotland and The northen bit of Ireland which i refuse to call northen ireland because it deserves to be back in it's former glory with it's former nation. WESTMISTER will never ever put these nations before london the south east and England . Now that's not democracy that's post code lottery yet people are still standing for it. The reason wales' Economy is in ruin is due to the tory and labour governments who have killed the industry in wales! The reason being : They want to ensure we remain apart of the United Lyedom (Democracy my ***) So they have the wealth and power. Wale has 88% of it's coal reserve intact after 400 years of hard mining now what does that tell you!!!

If wales were to open her miens once again and slash the busness tax as ireland we would be in a different situation today but no we can't do that because there are frightened people who don't know what their talkin about dictating our live.

Answer 4

Some of the answers here are right on target ....to an extent.
Yes...Wales is pretty much a poor 3rd world country heavily depended on the English taxpayer for survival and addicted to Government handouts (like Scotland).....fact: 40% of the labour force in Wales works for Government!
fact: of the top 10 places in the UK for "unvalidity benefits" receipts....You guess it ...Wales takes 7 of them....(including number 1 spot!).
However.....There are several countries in Europe that are just as small with little or no manufacturing base but still manage to do great.
The REAL problem is our Welsh polititians....They lack the vision and talent to make an independed Wales a viable concern.
Look at Ireland.....15 years ago Ireland was an economic basketcase.....not any more it isn't!
here's the formula (some of it).
1.Lower corporation tax to a flat 10% (regardless of how much profit you make).
2.Lower Income tax to a flat 15% (regardless of how much you earn).
3.Abolish most of the employment laws that discourage business from flourishing.
4.Cut Government spending (ie; review the need for an NHS etc...).
5.Cut indirect Taxes (duties on booze, cigs and petrol to zero) etc..
And so on.....
Can you see any Welsh polititian (or the Welsh voter) going for this???
I think not....
So just get used to going with the begging bowl to the English every year....nothing will ever change.

Answer 5

u English brats wales would slash their economic difficulties with independence wales have 50billion pounds worth of coal,30billion pounds worth of slate,billions of pounds worth of water our tourism and agriculture will also bring in huge incomes.the main reasons wales is poor is because of the amount of resources and money England take from us.wales could easily become the richest country in the uk with independence with out a dought but the welsh government are to scared to have a referendum

Answer 6

I think there are some excellent valid points made here, well done everyone.
Regarding immergration I don't think you can do anytihng about it. I'm not happy to see such large scale immigration either there doesn't appear to be any control and the Government has proved time and time again it doesn't know what it's doing. Too late I'm afraid!

Answer 7

I do not think Wales could survive totally independent of the UK government. We are too small and predominantly rural and I do not believe we would have the financial strength to survive. I would also be concerned about the level of expertise available in the Welsh Assembly to run the country independently.

Answer 8

Scotland is a rustic as is Wales, Dorset nor Swansea are worldwide places. Now that finished factor of stupidity long gone, i'm going to respond to. Scotland replaced into as quickly as autonomous and assorted people experience we are no longer being represented with the aid of the present regime, this each and all of the extra highlighted with the aid of the shown fact that SNP (Scottish national party) cleansing shop thoroughly, kicking out Labour and assorted of the Lib Dems in Scotland. And Tories meanwhile basically getting one seat in Dumfries. it rather is much extra showy as Tories used to have various Scotland till Thatcherism destroyed various countries satisfaction. i understand no longer something approximately Wales, yet it rather is what i understand approximately Scotland. we are no longer being represented anymore, we are in devolution and shall we glance after ourselves.

Answer 9

Wales cannot be economically viable.It has no industry of its own.There is no world wide branded goods manfactured in Wales.It has to depend on other parts of UK for its existence.An Independant Wales will be a poor country.If your concern is development of Wales,you should have a development plans for Wales.A Wales Development Authority has to be created with govt funds,resource mapping etc to be done.(It should be on the pattern of TWA)

Answer 10

I answered a similar question to this on Scotland, stating that it cannot survive on its own because they don't have the population, the infrastructure, or the wealth of England. Wales has even less chance.