At a Yes Cymru march in Aberystwyth, Wales First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said there was “no turning back” on independence and that equality with Scotland was the minimum next step. Organisers estimated 8,000–9,000 attendees.
It was the first time a Welsh first minister had attended a Yes Cymru march, and the first such march since Plaid Cymru entered government after May’s Senedd election. At the Castle Gardens rally, ap Iorwerth said Wales was seeking investment and greater powers from Westminster. He also referred to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s comments ruling out giving the Welsh government powers to hold an independence referendum. Earlier in the week, the Senedd rejected a Reform motion declaring Wales should remain in the UK after a 45–45 tie; Presiding Officer Huw Irranca-Davies cast the deciding vote against it.
Reform MS Joe Martin called the attendance disappointing, saying Plaid had campaigned with independence off the Senedd’s agenda for the term and arguing that most people in Wales opposed independence. Welsh Conservative Andrew RT Davies said ap Iorwerth should focus on public services, citing rising waiting times and PISA results that he said showed Wales falling further behind other parts of the UK. Plaid Cymru said it was working on NHS waiting times, literacy and numeracy, jobs, businesses and the cost of living while advocating for Wales; Welsh Labour declined to comment.
