So.. a bit of change - My Movement & Change

Wales First: Why Gwlad is the Principality's True Path to Reform

When you look at the political landscape, particularly the rising challenge to the established order, two names often pop up in discussions of "change": Gwlad and Reform UK. While both parties aim to shake up the status quo, their fundamental ideologies, geographic focus, and approach to governance couldn't be more different. For anyone seeking a genuine, sovereign future for Wales, Gwlad's vision offers a vastly superior, more democratically grounded, and more cohesive plan than the centralist, UK-focused, and often erratic agenda of Reform UK.

The Core Ideological Divide: Nationalism vs. Unionism

The most significant difference lies in their central mission:

• Gwlad is a centre-right Welsh nationalist and pro-independence political party. Its entire focus is on achieving full independence for Wales and creating a truly sovereign nation. Gwlad's ambition is fundamentally constitutional and local—it wants to take Wales out of the UK. The party's focus is on Welsh enterprise, free markets within Wales, and promoting Welsh culture and language.

• Reform UK is a UK-wide populist party. Its core ideology is focused on reducing the size of the state, cutting taxes, and implementing strict immigration controls across the entire United Kingdom. Reform UK is a unionist party; its primary goal is to reform the British state from Westminster, not dismantle it.

While Gwlad also holds broadly pro-free-market and socially conservative positions, these policies are explicitly framed within the context of a future, independent Welsh state. Reform UK's policies, by contrast, are designed for the UK-wide political scene, largely ignoring the constitutional priorities of Wales as a distinct nation.

A Question of Ownership: Democracy vs. Corporate Structure

Reform UK's structure, where the party leader is the majority shareholder, raises serious questions about whose interests the party truly serves: its members or its corporate owners. Gwlad, by contrast, operates on the standard, democratically accountable model shared by most major UK parties, ensuring a fairer representation of its membership.

Gwlad's Superior Vision for Wales and my views

Gwlad's platform is inherently more relevant and beneficial to Wales because it prioritises Welsh-centric solutions over UK-wide populist rhetoric. Such as changing the police to Heddlu Cymru, a vision I saw beneficial for Wales; but Reform did not bat an eye-lid to this. Another solution to spending more for policing services in Wales would be to implement a Policing & Safety Minister in the Senedd - whilst this is a costly move, it would be beneficial to dismantle the Policing & Crime Commissioner role to implement this new role, directly in the Senedd. This would be transferred over to other publicly funded emergency services also, such as fire & ambulance services.

Focus on Self-Determination and Economic Sovereignty

Gwlad's commitment to Welsh independence and the establishment of a separate currency called the Hywel provides a concrete plan for taking full economic control. This contrasts sharply with Reform UK's "take back control" mantra, which ultimately keeps Wales bound to the economic and legislative decisions made in Westminster, merely substituting one set of unionist policies for another. Gwlad's solution is root-and-branch change; Reform's is merely a change of government at the UK level. Welsh issues need to be prioritised in Wales.

Addressing Welsh Issues with Welsh Solutions

While Reform UK advocates sweeping, often divisive policies on immigration and "woke ideology" across the UK, Gwlad’s policies are naturally aligned with national development. For example, by proposing to move the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) to Llandudno Junction, Gwlad emphasises a commitment to decentralising political power and investing in areas outside the traditional 'South Wales hub', a vital regional-development focus often overlooked by UK-wide parties.

In short, Reform UK offers a generic prescription for perceived "broken Britain" that may resonate in parts of England, but it completely fails to offer a pathway to Welsh national empowerment and self-governance. Gwlad provides the authentic solution for Welsh patriots: a dedicated, democratically-structured party whose entire purpose is to build a prosperous, independent, and self-determining Welsh nation.

I personally believe the Senedd will always be the Senedd in Cardiff, however we do need more 'political hubs' so politicians who don't travel too far actually see parts of Wales they usually wouldn't. Pembrokeshire, for example, is a very forgotten place. Public Transport is mere non-existent in the North of the County - Crymych, a centralised village in the North of Pembrokeshire does not have any trains, barely has a bus service and this creates division across 1 county. It is bizarre that we are in the 21st century and still cannot rely on public transport - even the heads of the valleys have sufficient public transport.

The Choice for Welsh Voters

If a voter's priority is a protest vote against the political establishment, Reform UK may offer a megaphone. But if the goal is a meaningful, democratic, and nationally-focused reform leading to a better future for Wales, then Gwlad is the only party offering true sovereignty and accountability. It's time to choose the path of national self-determination over the continuation of the Westminster circus, where there are a bunch of clowns.

Why Gwlad?

I was approached by a member of Gwlad a few weeks ago, after they saw an article in the press about myself speaking out on the inner-runnings of Reform. I spoke out because I felt mistreated - not just for how I identify as bisexual, but also because I have autism & speak my mind. Reform could not handle me speaking out, prioritising Welsh peoples' priorities. Whilst, yes, I see the need to support countries going through war & help genuine asylum seekers, we do need to prioritise the Welsh Economy and Welsh people by putting us on the map.

I first spoke about how inclusive Reform was; but they do say its always the way in the first 6 months of the relationship. The chair of Reform in Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire attempted to make out that I barely attended any meetings; when in fact I attended all but 1 due to me supporting the Fire Service when the Preseli Mountains were on fire. I attended the conference, I attended the meetings, I put myself forward for the board. I truly believed that I found my home, but the Chair could not pipe down for 5 minutes to ask me my opinion, why I thought the way I did and why my views were that way.

I am well known locally, with me having a local company - a proud Welsh company, Gwlad supports Welsh Economy which would be beneficial to Welsh companies. Smaller companies across Wales deserve the recognition.

In simple, Gwlad puts Wales & its Economy first. We deserve to be separate to the rest of the UK - we aren't even on the flag (Union Flag). I am proud to be British, but I am proud to be Welsh and I truly believe Cymru deserves its chance to stand on its own 2 legs. There is always bad before the good & Gwlad recognises that - the openness, accountability and recognition that things do go wrong is a brave, forward thinking step - ones which I align with and resonate with extremely well.

Once Gwlad publish their forward thinking Senedd Manifesto to the public, I will delve more into why I chose Gwlad & why I am fully planning on standing as a candidate on local levels for the party. I will begin discussions with Gwlad & their leaders for standing in Senedd as Wales truly needs devolution and movement away from the rest of the UK Squabbles.