Independent Nation: Should Wales Leave the UK?

by Will Hayward

Should Wales leave the UK? It's a conversation that has - unfairly - been all but disregarded by many, including some of the Welsh themselves, with all the focus on their Celtic cousins in Scotland. But independence movements are gaining momentum across Europe, and Wales will be a key voice in these debates. Support for Welsh autonomy is at an all-time high, with the latest polls suggesting as many as one in three are in favour. This is not just unprecedented; it is all but revolutionary.

Scotland's 2014 referendum taught us that once the independence genie is out of the bottle, it does not go back in. Meanwhile, the Brexit campaign demonstrated that these arguments come with inflated claims, misinformation and scaremongering that can easily poison a complex debate.

In Independent Nation, Will Hayward brings nuance back to the arena for this crucial national conversation. Brimming with interviews from experts and painting a detailed, colourful picture of the realities of life in Wales - from extreme poverty and disconnected infrastructure to expensive urban regeneration and cafes of Gavin and Stacey fame - this is an open-eyed look at the truths and falsehoods around the country's future. Impartial, informed and thoroughly entertaining, Independent Nation raises the standard of debate around an issue that will affect us all.

Genres: Politics

320 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2022

Reviews

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

täitsa asjalik raamat - kui enne lugemist oli mu seisukoht Walesi isesesvuse küsimuses umbes selline, et ise teate, aga miks mitte, siis nüüd... olen ma üsna kindel, et midagi nad ei tea keegi :) tähendab, selle asemel, et olla poolt või vastu, kujutan ma nüüd umbes ette, mis teemad tuleks (ühiskonnana) enne sellise otsuse tegemist läbi arutada. ja tõsi ta on, et pigem ei ole arutatud, vaid vehitakse rohkem emotsiooni pealt. kuhu selline asi viib, me Brexitiga juba nägime ja vist kellelegi pole soovi niipea uuesti vaadata.

meeldib, et kohe alguses öeldakse ära, et küsimus ei ole selles, kas Wales SAAKS olla iseseisev riik. saab küll, igasuguseid riike on maailmas olemas, näiteks kasvõi Eesti (mida muide Walesis tihti näitena tuuakse, siin raamatus tuleb ka mitu korda jutuks). küsimus ikkagi on, mida Walesi inimesed oma elult tahavad (pole päriselt teada/otsustatud/kokku lepitud) ja et kas selle saavutamiseks oleks Ühendkuningriigist eraldumine kõige parem viis või tuleks kaaluda muid variante (eelkõige siis UK enda reformimine kas föderaalsemaks või lihtsalt paremaks kohaks).

selles mõttes siin midagi päris uut mu jaoks polnud, et ma umbes olin Haywardi argumentidega kursis juba niigi - näiteks selle teema, miks ei tasu loota, et iseseisev Wales pääseks kiirelt ja mugavalt tagasi Euroopa Liitu, on ta kuskil podcastides ja artiklites üsna põhjalikult lahti seletanud. nagu ka selle, mis teemad juba on Walesi valitsuse pädevuses ja on ikka lahendamata, miska iseseisvusest pole siin imerohtu loota, tuleb lihtsalt, ee, paremat valitsemist nõuda oma poliitikutelt.

aa, aga sain üllatavalt palju teada Quebeci kohta, mis on, tuleb välja, ka paar iseseisvusreferendumit juba teinud, aga siiamaani on ikka Kanada osa.

[Ethan Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every person who is born in Wales, lives in Wales, works in Wales, fascinated by Wales etc must read this book.
It is a proper grown up, assertive book and in my view, balanced. Whenever I have discussed independence, it has been met with "extreme" opinions - "you're an idiot for thinking we can do it alone" or "we must be independent no matter the cost".
Will Hayward tells it from a neutral position and it is easy to read and understand.
I won't say my current thoughts on independence, only what I will say is that this book has made me think much more clearly.

[Christopher Bristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book that unlike others on the topic that try to tell you what to think, this book puts the information and issues to consider before you, leaving you to dig deeper and explore further. The book has really opened my eyes as to what the future can hold for Wales and the questions that need to be asked and answered in a grown up way.

[Ben Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should we? Yes

Can we? Yes

How do we do it whilst being a part of one of the most economically and politically centralised nations in Europe? Give me the BeNeLux model as a start and see how we go from there.

[Cameron Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good unbiased take on how Wales could become independent in theory and in the future. definitely recommend any Welsh person reading before adopting an opinion about independence.

[Joshua Slade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thought-provoking and balanced book that is honest in its appraisal of whether the union currently works for Wales and whether independence could possibly offer a credible or desirable alternative.

[Jonathan Tench · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super readable 101 on all the things Wales need to figure out from independence to confederalism.

[Ed Greening · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book acts as an easy to read introduction to the notion of annibyniaeth - independence in Wales. It covers many of the relevant themes in basic detail, but lacks real meat. As someone who has been involved in the movement for some time there isn't a lot here for the likes of myself, although the book can be read in a few days due to the journalistic style. I did find the chatty style and incessant use of verbs like "deep dive" grating after a while, and the book as a whole requires a drastic edit. It is repetitive in many places, while other entire paragraphs can be vacuously empty. Perhaps two stars is a little harsh, as I am not the target audience, and others might find the style works for them more than it did for me.