A recent YouGov poll has revealed the current state of support for Welsh independence, showing that less than a quarter of people in Wales are in favour of full independence. According to the poll, only 24% of respondents support full independence, while 61% oppose it. The survey also asked participants about their views on the existence of the Senedd, with 31% indicating a desire for the devolved Welsh Parliament to be abolished entirely, while 46% prefer for the Senedd to remain.
Wales and Scotland have both had devolved governments for 25 years, with ongoing discussions about potentially devolving more powers to the Senedd from Westminster. Some individuals in Cardiff Bay have suggested devolving justice and policing to Wales, but during the recent general election campaign, the UK Government’s Welsh secretary, Jo Stevens, stated that she did not support these proposals as other priorities took precedence.
Regarding the distribution of powers to the Senedd, the poll results indicated that most support was for giving more powers to Cardiff Bay, with 40% in favour and 37% against. The second most popular option was for the Senedd to maintain its current level of powers, with 39% supporting this and 35% opposing it. The idea of the expanded Senedd having authority over everything except defence and foreign affairs garnered 32% support and 42% opposition. Conversely, reducing the Senedd’s powers received the least support, with 23% in favour and 52% against.
The survey, conducted among 1,207 individuals aged 16 and above between September 2 and 8, highlighted various perspectives on Welsh independence and devolution. Explaining the results, YouGov’s Dylan Difford compared the attitudes in Scotland and Wales, noting differing levels of support for full independence. The article delves into the breakdown of support for devolution among different political parties, revealing varying levels of backing for increased self-governance.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Senedd election, where the number of members will increase to 96 from the current 60, and the voting system is set to change, recent plans for parties to present equal numbers of male and female candidates have been scrapped. The upcoming election follows the 2021 results, where Labour secured the most votes, with the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru in subsequent positions.
The YouGov poll sheds light on the nuanced perspectives on Welsh independence and devolution, with discussions on potential scenarios drawing from the survey findings. The evolving landscape of Welsh politics signals an intriguing path ahead, as public opinion shapes the future trajectory of governance in Wales.