Manifesto / Maniffesto |

Sovereignty is the moral, emotional, psychological and aspirational rights of any people living in a country to control their own destiny. Welsh statehood is the fundamental right of the people. This is a natural law of mankind as well as being recognised and a declared law under International law and UN Charter XI Article 73 and 74 ‘Declaration regarding Non Self Governing Territories’.

Wales and all its citizens have every right to determine its own relations with other nations, to determine its political, economical and cultural life in accordance with its own needs and aspirations, and to rightfully claim the lands, airspace and territorial waters, including all it’s renewable energies as defined by natural and international law and by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of the sea.Wales has every right to govern itself for the benefit of all those living in Wales today, tomorrow and in future times. These are undeniable and unalienable rights.

All persons are created equal. No one person is or should be the subject of another nor should one set of people be deemed superior to another. The right to self determination is an inherent right and not a favour to be granted to us by anyone else or any other thing.

A Welsh state and government will commit to uphold the law and constitution of Wales whilst striving to improve issues that are in the national and social interest. Unnecessary bureaucracy, interference and meddling in the day to day lives of citizens should be stamped out whenever and wherever it may arise. We believe that common sense, intuition, fairness and the human capacity to understand the inherent nature between all individual, communal, local,national and international relationships exists in the human mind and the human heart.

On the morning of official sovereignty for Wales nothing will have changed – boyfriends from Newport will still visit girlfriends in Gloucester, grandparents from Telford will still visit their grandchildren in Powys, a contractor from Pwllheli will still get work in Norwich, friends living in Leeds and Llandudno will still visit each other, and a handshake will still settle a deal between an Essex company leasing an office in Swansea. Nothing will have changed except that Wales will be in control of what is Wales’. That is all. No drama. Just normal,basic rights.

2. The Welsh nation, state, citizenship and language

Physically the existing territory of Wales will be the territorial borders of Wales, its seas and inland waters, as defined by international law and the United Nations convention of the sea 1982. Welsh law is the law of the land and its two main common languages are Cymraeg /Welsh and English. Y Cymry / The Welsh people are all those citizens who live in Wales or have Welsh citizenship and wish to serve the Welsh nation and be served by the Welsh state.

The official languages of Wales are Cymraeg /Welsh and English and the two should have equal official status. The heritage and richness of the Welsh and English language in Welsh life and culture should be encouraged and celebrated in all walks of life in Wales. Both choices of languages should be available on the basic education curriculum and in the public sector, with encouragement but free choice for both in the private sector. A fuss free and open approach should be taken to accommodate everyone’s personal choice and preference at no detriment to the other. We believe that Cymraeg /the Welsh language, including its unique phonetic form is a huge gift to the world of languages and can prove beneficial to the modern world, as well as being culturally crucial to modern Welsh / Celtic culture as the indigenous language of Wales and Britain.

Welsh citizenship should be determined by Welsh birth/ parental Welsh birth or long-term residency, and by the further details explained in the Constitution of a Sovereign Wales. We also believe that the future Welsh population should be capped at 15 million people in order to guarantee a high quality of life and sustainable resources for Wales and all its citizens.

3. A National Bank of Wales

We want to see a complete overhaul of the financial system in Wales, with the setting up of a National Bank of Wales to safeguard and regulate our money. We would like to see the establishing of a Welsh pound pegged at parity to sterling or a similar secure currency. The National Bank of Wales should be separate but accountable to the Welsh Government, and only they will be allowed to print money. We advocate the establishing of a politically independent and transparent Welsh Monetary Committee, separate from any political influence or control, which would advise and recommend how much money should be printed each year by the National Bank of Wales for the Welsh Government central account, and by the Bank of Wales for its own use.

The Bank of Wales should not print any money without seeking the advice and guidance of the Welsh Government and Welsh Monetary Committee, which will allow the Welsh economy to run smoothly and safely and in line with inflation targets set out by the Welsh Government and/or Welsh Monetary Committee. The Welsh Monetary Committee members’ wages would be set by law and they would not be able to receive any bonuses or personal benefit whatsoever from their decisions. The WMC would base its guidance on sustainable inflation targets and will have a holistic overall view of the Welsh economy, and an incentive to support the national economy rather than to maximise bonuses for themselves.

The National Bank of Wales would have a yearly cap set each year for all its banking sections, again set with the advice and guidance of the Monetary Committee. Its banking practice could be split six ways; a basic guaranteed current deposit account, a guaranteed pensions deposit account, a sustainable longer term savings and lending account section, a mortgage account section, and an insurance section. A speculative banking section would allow the bank to speculate (take riskier financial gambles but not with account holders money) ,also within a yearly capped limit. All the money kept by the Bank of Wales on behalf of the people should be backed up by gold, silver, metal and other sellable commodities.

Only the saving/lending and mortgage sections should be allowed to offer/charge any form of above inflation interest rate, which would be reasonable and well regulated and would go towards the general running costs of the bank. The savings and lending accounts section will work by simply using the money from savers and lending it to borrowers (which means that all money will be accountable and the bank won’t be able to just print money whenever they want and charge interest on money that doesn’t exist) This is basic responsible banking

The WMC would also advise how much money the Bank of Wales would be able to sell/exchange to independent commercial bankers in Wales, with yearly capped limits, and would also establish a banking code of practice for itself and for all the commercial banks in Wales. A Welsh banking system should be accountable to the Welsh Government rather than the government being accountable to the banking system.

Crucially and perhaps most importantly, any money given to the Welsh Government by the Bank of Wales would be non repayable. In other words, it would be debt free and no interest or loan would have to be paid back whatsoever; it would be given, not lent.

Upon establishment of the National Bank of Wales, all citizens of Wales would each receive a lump sum of Welsh currency (£3000 Welsh pounds being a guide amount at time of writing) in order to stimulate and kick start the Welsh currency and economy. The sums of money printed by the bank could be gradual or comprehensive, depending on a gradual transfer agreement of budget agreed with the London Treasury or not.

4. Economy and business

Currently, Wales represents around 5% of the GDP of the United Kingdom – it is hardly a surprise that Wales in that context hasn’t been and is not really on the radar in the Westminster Government except when it comes to our energy resources and water. The one size fits all approach by the United Kingdom government has proved especially damaging to Wales over the last 50 years. Wales cannot continue or survive more of this perverse form of capitalism that has produced the recent global economic disorder and instability.

A Welsh Sovereign State should aim to be an economically sustainable nation not reliant on borrowing, lending or ghost money. A long sustainable, self sufficient mixed economy should be developed in Wales that is not wholly reliant on one sector/s, is flexible and adaptable and makes the most of our renewable and core products; renewable green energy like tidal ,wave, hydro and wind power, our coal, gas and oil, our water, wood, food and milk production. The de-industrialisation of Wales should be stopped to make sure we also protect and make the most out of our indigenous heavy industries such as steel and iron production. All of these areas combined should to be the backbone of our economy whilst other fields are also developed and promoted here and abroad: technology, invention and digital development, intellectual property and science, hospitality and tourism, the entertainment industry and the arts.

A single well-branded one-stop business agency should be set up for all of Wales’ business needs, not a myriad of different agencies and departments that keep changing their names and purpose. Bureaucracy for getting help and grants for new all businesses needs to be stripped right down to the bare minimum and the whole process simplified and made easy to understand for all. There needs to be a clarity and simplicity of help for Welsh businesses that, by law, stays the same for at least 5 years and which,as mentioned, does not constantly change name, purpose and criteria. Good ideas and new businesses of whatever size should be encouraged and applauded – not swamped by a platitude of forms, forecasts, schemes and process, which can suffocate new ideas before they’ve had a chance to get off the ground.

We believe help for businesses in Wales should focus on three main clear and well defined areas;

a) A basic simplified, bureaucracy and fuss free loan and grant scheme of up to £10,000 for the self employed, new start ups and small to medium businesses.

b) A two year free enterprise zone scheme for new start ups, the self employed and small to medium businesses

c) All other grants and loans for large companies and corporations.

a) Applications for small grants of up to £10,000 from the Welsh Government for new start up businesses should be no more than one A4 page showing basic projected income, present profit and loss and breakdown of costs, with the idea and inspiration behind a new idea given as much attention and significance – this is especially relevant to new start up businesses and the self employed who can’t afford accountants and professional advice.

Grants of up to £10,000, subject to basic legal and financial tests, should be straightforward and quickly paid in lump sums at the start of each new business venture. As part of this scheme a team of experienced inventors, investors, entrepreneurs and ideas people chosen by an independent panel on behalf of the Welsh Government could also travel around all areas of Wales in the mould of ‘The Dragons den’ programme, to find and share out money to Welsh entrepreneurs and citizens with innovative and new business ideas, thereby promoting dynamic and successful new businesses in Wales and attracting people who otherwise might not have the confidence to come forward and try their luck.

The only clause would be that the company in question has to stay in Wales for at least 10 years from the day of receiving the payment and pay double the amount given if they manage to make a million pound profit with in any one financial year within the ten years. The start of the paying back process would not start for at least 1 year after receiving, and with a very low minimal interest rate. This scheme would not require match funding, business to business or any other mind numbing bureaucracy or falling block. The scheme would be there to take a measured punt on new businesses and new ideas and give people a chance to succeed.

b) New small to medium sized businesses and start ups should be offered the
opportunity to take part in a 2 year business scheme by the Welsh Government (as an alternative of the up to £10,000 payment) where their office rent, printing costs, broadband and web hosting, telephone, graphic design, accountancy and legal costs, business rates and other basic services do not have to be paid for the first year, and only half fees have to be paid in the second year.

Enterprise cluster zones of various sizes should be set up and fairly distributed around Wales in 30 or so areas to house these businesses in specially adapted office quarters or office hubs; suggestions for where these various enterprise zones should be set up evenly across Wales are; Wrexham, Rhyl, Queensferry, Llandudno, Holyhead, Bangor, Caernarfon, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Pwllheli, Newtown, Bala, Machynlleth, Carmarthen, Haverfordwest, Fishguard, Cardigan, Swansea, Cardiff, Builth Wells, Newport, MerthyrTydfil, Abergavenny, Cwmbran, Pontypridd, Llanelli, Bridgend, Barry, Brecon and Llandovery (with a clause that these companies have to stay and trade in Wales with these particular companies for at least 10 years after the initial 2 year period and employ Welsh citizens first where possible) Companies that leave the business zones after the 2 year period is up could still pay to use the services offered at the sites. The office sizes and number of allocated offices could vary depending on the area, demand and availability. If Government offices aren’t available local rented offices could be used.

c) All other help for large companies and co operations where more complex and intricate forms of funding such as business to business and match funding criteria are to be expected.

An option for all Welsh businesses to pay only half their business rate bills in winter but a bit more than normal in summer (or vice versa) should be offered to all Welsh businesses so that they can survive through the quieter months. New street shops should also be offered the same but would still have to pay basic occupancy rent.

We want to get rid of all mind numbing bureaucracy, complexity, time wasting, waffle,terminology,regulating,measuring,stamping,licensing,authorising,assessing ,ruling,restricting,changing,checking,counting,monitoring,directing,inspecting,rating,
numbering,preventing,guiding and forecasting. We want to get on with the business of letting businesses breathe, grow and making some money.

We believe Welsh Government advisers should not come with time and session limits for each new business but rather be available at all times for advice and crucial guidance. We would also like to see and encourage private investment in Wales from private investors and smaller firms from around the world as well as larger companies. We also advocate that if companies outside of Wales do harvest or are licensed to harvest some of Wales’s natural resources that are not run as a national authority, they are tightly governed and charged a substantially high rate of a special Welsh energy corporation tax of up to 50%, so that Wales as a nation profits fully from its own resources.

Wales has also led the way in Credit Unions; they should continue to be fully supported and encouraged so that all the citizens of Wales can control and determine how their own money is handled.

5. A gradual transfer of the Welsh budget from London to the Welsh Treasury

Wales should not be a burden on the taxpayers of England or any other country. We should ultimately be responsible for all our own financial affairs. Wales should settle a transferable economy agreement with the London treasury, where the financial budget is gradually transferred from the United Kingdom/English treasury to the Welsh treasury, starting with a proposed £35 billion annual fund and coming down by a billion pound or so a year, until it stops at the main tax revenue currently raised in Wales (currently roughly at £17 billion a year, with around £27 billion spent on us by the London treasury including all welfare and pension payments, according to 2008 figures)

Once its all transferred, the Westminster government would save at least £10 billion pounds a year. A slow transfer of economic reigns would allow Wales time to invest in infrastructure/renewable energy/clean coal energy projects, and build up pension funds, so that Wales will be completely ready for economic freedom, as is required and signed by the United Kingdom in the UN Charter chapter XI article 73/74. If a transferal agreement is not agreed, the National Bank of Wales will be obliged to kick start printing a Welsh currency immediately rather than gradually.

6. A Welsh National Power Grid

The current and historical energy map of Wales shows all the classic indicators of an extractive economy; the extractive drainage lines either extend east out of Wales or to the ports. It is true that Wales has been poor because it is so rich; its abundant natural resources like coal, slate, water and steel, together with a lack of political sovereignty has given rise to an extractive system, designed to leave very little wealth behind. Wales is technically already more than self sufficient in non renewable electricity generation, with more than 20% spare electricity to sell on, but this is all lost to the UK national grid; this very same energy given away by Wales for free is then sold back to us. The electricity grid in North Wales does not connect at any point with the grid in Mid or South Wales; it extracts energy out of Wales only. Whilst north Wales exports its energy to the rest of Britain, mid and south Wales has to import it from the rest of Britain.

Enough is enough. Wales needs politicians to fight for us to ensure Wales controls this energy and fully benefits from its use and its selling. If Welsh politicians aren’t doing everything they can to fight Wales’s corner in the world their motives for being Welsh politicians should be questioned and challenged. We urgently need a Sovereign Welsh State and Government to stop this harmful purely extractive economy and seek full control of our resources for our present and future generations.

A Sovereign Welsh State would establish and regulate an exclusive Welsh National Power Grid to link and unify the currently unconnected electricity lines in North Wales with the ones in Mid and South Wales, so that all of Wales’ electricity and energy generation are connected and the excess energy that Wales already produces can be sold to countries outside of Wales, allowing Wales to properly profits from its vast renewable energy resources.

7. A Green renewable Welsh economy

Overview

Wales is already more than self sufficient in its energy generation. With the opening of the second Pembroke B gas power station in 2012, Wales could be producing twice the amount of energy it currently needs. However, all of the energy created and available in Wales is nonsensically given away to the United Kingdom electricity grid and part of it then sold back to us.

Wales also has over 250 million tonnes of known extractable coal left, as well as 13 trillion cubic feet of known coal bed methane gas in South Wales alone; all worth tens upon tens of billions of pounds and enough to provide Wales with more than enough energy for decades to come. Gas, hydrogen and petroleum can also be produced from coal. Wales can pioneer and again become a world leader – this time in clean coal and desulphurisation technology, which removes particulate and Sulphur dioxide emissions and does not pollute and poison the air, water and soil.

Wales once led the world in a carbon based economy. We call for Wales to now also lead the world in a modern Green economy. A Sovereign Welsh State, through its Government, should immediately start developing an exclusive Welsh National Power Grid that links and unifies the currently unconnected electricity lines in North Wales with the ones in Mid and South Wales, potentially by underwater sea cables in Bae Ceredigion/Cardigan bay as has been proposed, so that all of Wales’ electricity and energy generation is connected, and the excess energy that Wales already produces can be sold to countries and grids outside of Wales, such as the proposed European grid, and Wales therefore properly profits from its vast renewable and non renewable energy resources.

Potential new sources of natural gas, coal and oil are also highly likely to be found across Wales in the near future, again contributing to the future of Wales as an economically viable and prosperous country. And if companies outside of Wales do harvest or are licensed to harvest some of Wales’s natural resources at any point they should be tightly governed and charged a substantially high rate of a special Welsh energy tax of up to 50%, so that again, Wales as a nation profits fully from its own resources.

As demonstrated, it is important that Wales takes a combined and pragmatic approach to all its energy needs. Existing and new Welsh clean coal and gas powered stations can work side by side with new highly efficient tidal lagoons, Maglev wind turbines and hydro power sites – all of which will not only provide funds for investing in greener, safer future energies, but will also guarantee the self sufficiency and prosperity that Wales and its citizens deserve in general. Wales has no need to progress with nuclear power, which is ridiculously expensive to develop and decommission, has obvious known health risks, very short operational time spans as power stations, and a poisonous shelf life of thousands of years as nuclear waste.

The benefits of all these various developments to Wales, would obviously be insurmountable. According to a recent report by Swansea University, 56,000 new people in Wales could be employed in the renewable sector alone by 2025 if all the current Welsh Government renewable targets are met – all paying Welsh taxes and contributing to a strong and stable Welsh economy. With an even bigger and more ambitious green energy industry and further development of clean Welsh coal and gas technology, as well as the Welsh water industry, many more could be employed, making energy and water Wales’s biggest employment sectors; work which would be sustainable, skilled and long term.

If, as the current devolved Welsh government proposes, taking advantage of 10% of the potential tidal stream for example, means Wales gets more than it needs in renewable energy then let us aim to achieve 20% to attain full economic self-sufficiency and prosperity. If that is not enough, let us aim achieve 30%,on top of everything else, to become a truly prosperous country. Whatever Wales needs to pay its way in the world we have what is needed – if any country has the resources and the know how, that country is Wales.

The abundant renewable energy of Wales is a gem on our doorstep, that, together with sustainable immigration control and the control of our water and general means of production, means Wales can pay its own way in the world as a sovereign country answerable to no government but our own. It is our country, our energy, our future. The main current renewable energy sources are outlined below:

Tidal energy

The current devolved Welsh Government proposes to capture around 10% of the potential tidal stream and wave energy off the Welsh coastline by 2025; we say that whilst this is great news, it is meaningless unless we do not own and control our own territorial and trade waters, and capture as much of its potential as we need in order to make us a financially self sufficient and prosperous nation. While the Crown estate and the UK government still insist on hogging our territorial waters and large scale renewable energy sites Wales will not benefit as it could or should. Only full sovereignty will provide this.

Wales also has one of the highest and most favourable tidal ranges in the world, which means we have an immense tidal power resource on our doorstep. There are currently only twenty main recognised huge mass scale trappable tidal ranges in the world. At least five of these are within Welsh territorial waters. Wales, at the very least, could produce more than twice the electricity generation it needs from renewable energy alone; this on top of the up to three time excess of non-renewable energy already produced in Wales.

There are at least 4000 MW installed capacity capability for tidal lagoons in Wales at present, taking Tidal Electrics plans for Swansea bay, the Severn estuary and Rhyl flats as a guide. Tidal lagoons are relatively cheap and easy to build, do not spoil views and actually provide new habitats and shelter for marine and bird life; they can also act as valuable breakwaters and coastal defences. Any holes left by the quarrying of stone and mound material for the tidal lagoon walls can be used as extra water reservoirs for Wales, creating more wealth and sustainability from our great natural resources. The lagoon structures can also provide effective ready built bases on which to place wind turbines. These lagoons would provide electricity for decades if not centuries to come, and the power source is free; once the lagoons are built there are no extra costs except general maintenance.

A tidal lagoon designed as a constant flow system with 2000MW capacity will cost roughly £2.6 billion to build at current estimates (using Tidal Electrics proposed schemes in Swansea bay and the Severn estuary at £1.3 million per megawatt installed capacity as an example) As a constant flow system this could produce roughly £1 billion pounds worth of electricity a year for decades if not centuries to come. As mentioned, the power source is completely free; once the lagoons are built there are no extra costs except general maintenance. Tidal stream projects are also currently being carried out by the Welsh company Tidal Energy Ltd , who have developed movable tripod like structures called Delta Stream, that can be placed on the sea bed to generate electricity of 1-2MW per unit from the under currents and tides.

Wave energy

A study carried out by the PMSS on behalf of the WDA in 2006 showed an indicative installed capacity of up to 5600 MW for shallow and deep wave technologies in up to 700km2 of Welsh waters. The 7MW Wave dragon technology is currently being tested in Welsh waters and looks like a viable renewable energy option for our plentiful Welsh waves. Allthough the current capacity factors of these wave machines have been relatively low, the Oyster wave machine that is being tested in Scotland for example, has shown that capacity factors of up to 50% per unit are possible, which can only improve in the future.

Wind power

According to early estimates by the current devolved Welsh Government, there is the potential for at least 6000 MW installed capacity of offshore wind farms in Welsh waters, with the possibility of drastically increasing this capacity if the highly efficient Maglev windmill technology is implemented.

The Maglev (magnetic levitation/no rubbing parts as such) wind turbine technology should be adapted right across Wales, in rural and urban areas, on and offshore. One Maglev wind turbine can produce the power of 500 standard wind turbines in 1/500th of the equivalent needed space, only needing around 100 acres for one 2000MW unit.

Each large Maglev wind unit can have a 2 Gigawatt capacity (2000 MW) and are reported to be able to run at over 50% capacity factor due to their more efficient magnetic bearings and ability to operate at lower and higher wind speeds; this means a 2000MW unit could have a potential annual value of £0.5 billion pounds. Their construction costs are also very attractive, costing 50% less than an equivalent large-scale wind farm and costing significantly less to build than tidal lagoons, barrages and wave farms, as well as coal and gas power stations.

Inefficient 16th century style large-scale wind farms do not need to be imposed on the Welsh landscape in such large numbers; they can be a more localised and specialised energy generation source rather than a mass scale infliction over the Welsh landscape. Maglev is a technology that China and the rest of the world are quickly embracing because of its efficiency and economical advantages; Wales should also embrace them quickly for their obvious relevance and suitability to our country.

Wales could also lead the way in adopting The Sky sails technology which can save up to 30% on fossil fuel costs for commercial shipping (up to ten tones of oil a day for the larger ships) and which promote greener energy. Their other high altitude Sky sails power technology, which are large fully automated high altitude kite systems secured to buoy like support platforms , are a cheaper and more effective alternative to traditional distant offshore wind farms, and should also be considered for electricity generation around the Welsh coastline where appropriate, as they are a more flexible form of energy generation that do not require heavy construction and infrastructure.

Biomass, solar, anaerobic digesters, incinerators and geothermal energy

As well as the major renewable options, smaller localised urban and communal energy farms could generate electricity, heat and methane gas from biomass, anaerobic digestion and efficient incineration of agricultural and human waste and sewage, from domestic waste, landfill sites and industrial waste. Any excess energy could be sold on to the National Power Grid of Wales, which in turn could be sold on to the rest of Britain, Europe and the world if needed. Solar farms and solar paneling on urban buildings and high towers could also help towards our energy needs and economy. Over 20% of Wales energy needs could be met by anaerobic digestion and efficient incineration alone. Power from geo thermal pressure should be looked at in Wales where safe to do so.

Hydro-electric

Wales currently has over 2200MW of hydro-electric installed capacity, most of this being pumped storage. Dinorwig for example is the biggest hydro-electric scheme of its kind in Europe. Wales could develop this particular technology further, which would also serve to compliment any further developments in the creation of new water reservoirs. Smaller community hydro electric schemes could also be further developed as constant flow systems in larger rivers and estuaries and any excess energy again sold on to the Welsh National Grid.

8. Welsh black gold – clean coal and gas technology for Wales

‘This island is made mainly of coal and surrounded by fish. Only an organizing genius could produce a shortage of coal and fish at the same time’
Aneurin Bevan

The recent Gleision colliery tragedy in South Wales and the loss of four lives, as tragic as they were, reminded the whole world that coal mining is still in existence. Coal is still a viable, commercial and clean form of energy if proper clean coal technology is used. Wales has over 250 million tonnes of known extractable coal left, as well as 13 trillion cubic feet of known coal bed methane gas in South Wales alone; all worth tens upon tens of billions of pounds and enough to provide Wales with more than enough energy for well over a hundred years. Gas, hydrogen and petroleum can also be produced from coal.

Wales can yet again pioneer in the world, this time with the implementation of clean coal technology, which removes sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulates from emissions using a system of flue gas desulfurization. Existing Welsh coal stations can be adapted to implement clean coal technology at minimum extra cost. New highly efficient coal stations could also be built in the short term to raise money for greener renewable energy projects in the long term -the same idea being true in terms of gas powered stations. A new 2000 MW power station burning clean coal or gas, such as the new Pembroke B power station in west Wales for example, will cost roughly £1 billion pounds to build and can potentially make a total of up to £1 billion a year in return, depending on fluctuating energy prices – enough theoretically for up to 6 million people and 3 million homes.

Potential new sources of natural gas, coal and oil are also highly likely to be found across Wales and its seas in the near future – all of which will ensure that Wales will not only be energy efficient but also stands to become an even more economically viable and prosperous country through the regulation and selling of its excess natural energy to other countries if it so chooses – the proposed European super grid being one obvious potential future market.

A Sovereign Wales State should establish a modern Welsh Coal Board, a Welsh Gas board, a Welsh Oil board as well as a Welsh Green Energy Board, so that Wales officially regulates the extraction and control of all our coal, natural gas, oil and renewable energy supplies. A Welsh National Steel board should also be established to safeguard our crucial steel industry and the world renowned expertise that comes with it.

It is important that Wales takes a combined and pragmatic approach to all its energy needs – Welsh clean coal and gas powered stations can work side by side with new highly efficient tidal lagoons, maglev wind turbines and hydro power sites – all of which will not only provide funds for investing in greener, safer future energies, but also for the self sufficiency and prosperity of Wales and its citizens in general.

The proposed plan for a second nuclear powered Wylfa power station are completely unnecessary. It would make far more sense to build a modern efficient clean coal powered station instead, using our own plentiful Welsh coal supplies. Wales has no need to progress with nuclear power, which is ridiculously expensive to develop and decommission, has obvious known health risks, has very short operational time spans as powers stations, and a poisonous shelf life of thousands of years as nuclear waste.

9. Welsh water control and regulation.

We call on a Welsh Government to also regulate and profit from its drinking water resources and reservoirs as well as all its other natural resources. We estimate that Wales is losing out on at least £1.2 billion a year from giving away up to 1.6 million cubic meters of daily extracted water to companies outside of Wales without receiving proper payment; he main reservoirs in question being Llyn Celyn, Llyn Brenig, Llyn Llanwddyn/Vyrnwy and Llyn Clywedog. It is entirely reasonable for Wales to charge for these extractions. A proper Welsh Government and state should aim to buy and regulate these existing water holding infrastructure and develop further ones if needed.

10. A Welsh shipping industry and Welsh port renewal

Wales is a maritime country with a long and impressive history of seafaring and sea trading. Cardiff was one the first multicultural ports in Britain – many millions of tonnes of produce has been shipped from Wales to every corner of the world, from steel to build the railways of Russia and the USA, to slate to roof homes on all continents, to coal, copper , slate and tin.

We want to see the reopening and re generation of the historical ship building yards, docks and ports of Wales, with a vibrant green energy shipping industry re-developed and an emphasis on building and developing combined biomass and modern sail trading ships, such as the Northern Ireland based B9 cargo ships which gets 60% of its power from wind sails and the other 40% from methane gas.

The derived bio gas used in these ships could comes from the anaerobic digestion of food and plants as well as livestock and human waste, which means sustainable green trading and cargo carrying for up to a thousand miles. Wales could develop its own unique wind and renewable green energy shipping technology, even developing bigger and more far reaching ships in the same vain. These could lead the way in fossil free combined sail and gas ships for Welsh export and import.

The Sky sails technology http://www.skysails.info/index.php?L=1 which can save up to 30% on fossil fuel costs (up to 10 tones of oil a day) for traditional oil powered commercial shipping should also be encouraged to promote greener energy. Skysails’ other high altitude wind power technology of giant offshore wind kites is also a cheaper and more effective alternative to distant offshore wind farms and should also be considered for electricity generation around the Welsh coastline where appropriate.

Typical examples of ship building ports and yards that could be re generated and adapted are Mostyn/ Deeside, Amlwch /Anglesey, Bangor, Porthmadog, Newquay, Swansea, Chepstow and Cardiff. This would of course boost the Welsh manufacturing and marine economies, and provide stable and skilled full time jobs. As previously mentioned, a Welsh National Steel board should also be established to safeguard our crucial steel industry and provide the raw material for the regeneration of our shipping industry.

11. Health

Being the country that gave Britain the NHS we would like to see Wales providing the best possible free health service to all the citizens of Wales and to keep improving the Welsh NHS until it is the world’s leading public health service.

Nutritionists should work hand in hand and in conjunction with doctors and pharmacies, and an all round emphasis on healthy eating and food should be encouraged as a culture, with hospital food also being overhauled so that healthy food plays a crucial part in the fast recovery and well-being of all patients. GP’s and doctor’s surgeries in Wales should be the first to pioneer in having a nutritionist in every Welsh surgery, which patients could also visit for advice and guidance every time they visit a doctor, as an alternative and balance to the pill popping and synthetic medicine culture that currently exists.

Nutritionist could also work hand in hand with pharmacists to provide a balance of advice and opinion on the benefits of what food and natural medicine can be taken so as not to rely solely on synthetic drugs. Food as medicine should be a general mantra.

Doctor surgeries’ opening times and appointments system should also all be standardised with the same opening hours and appointment booking process right across Wales where possible. Therapists and counselors should be available to be seen ‘on the day’ in all doctors surgeries in Wales as a fuss free effective service to those in need of talking to someone. Waiting times of weeks, months or even days to see a counselor is unacceptable.

Cycling and cycling routes should be encouraged in all levels of society across Wales, as an alternative to car use for work and recreational purposes where possible. Cycling has been shown to be a substantial contribution to the economy at many levels, from the service industry to employment, manufacturing and repair, and is of obvious well known benefit to all round health and well being.

We would also like to see Wales establish a center for medical excellence and research, including comprehensive research into cancer, alternative medicines, nutrition and medical practice.

We will oppose genetically modified foods and seeds, growth hormones and anti biotics in meats and foods, food irradiation and all forms of harmful environmental chemicals and radiation. Wales should also aim to become a mercury free dentistry country within five years. Mercury is one of the most toxic metals known to man and there are now far safer and more effective means of doing fillings and practicing dentistry in general. We would also oppose the use of mercury in light bulbs. We would also encourage a thorough scientific and independent investigation in to the use and need of all vaccinations and inoculations, especially vaccinations given to babies and children.

As with education we believe that children, young adults and adults in general should be encouraged away from their increasing dependence on technology, television and the internet. We believe children under seven years old should be discouraged by their parents and schools from any television and internet use. Studies have shown that all of these can hamper the brain and cognitive developments of children, especially up to the age of seven. We think lessons based on the internet should be banned for under seven year olds and drastically limited from between the ages of seven and fourteen, with children being able to go on and study information technology etc further as a chosen GCSE subject after the age of fourteen if they so wish. Wales should be careful as a country not to allow its young (and not so young) to become hypnotised and over reliant on technologies and virtual amorality. Exercise, communal sports and nutrition can be great instigators for a better quality of life for all.

12. Education

Practical as well as academic skills should be given equal status on the Welsh curriculum. Some studies have shown that children do not learn as well in the early morning. Consideration should be given to a school day that starts a bit later and finishes later. A comprehensive history of Wales and its peoples rich history in the context of Wales, as Celtic Britons, Europeans, and general world origins should also be properly taught on the Welsh curriculum and in all schools in Wales as part of the balanced teaching of history. It is an act of neglect to not teach the full and inclusive history of a country to its inhabitants, and it is a Government and state’s responsibility to teach the heritage of a nation to its children and young adults in a comprehensive, balanced and contextualised way. An open-minded and inclusive take on the general history of the world should also be taught, with previously unmentioned areas such as the effect financial and corporate systems can have on the world being given proper credence.

Basic business theory, lessons on how to manage basic finances and a basic understanding of taxes, interest, vat and the economy should be made compulsory as part of the Welsh curriculum, and an explanation of how local and national Government works should also be taught. It is important that children understand the world immediately around them before they can understand a world further away.

Healthy eating and good food, general well being and other basic life skills should also be taught. All unhealthy sugary drinks and foods should be removed from school premises as well as all harmful processed and additive filled foods where possible. Local food sourced from the surrounding local authority area should be used wherever available.

Schools should be made the most of as community hubs and community centers for all the community where possible rather than just places for teaching children. Far more nighttime activities for the whole community should be hosted at schools, with sports equipment and grounds being made available to the whole community after school hours.

The Welsh language should be one of the core school subjects up to the age of fourteen and should be studied and taught within a general context of Welsh/Celtic history and the modern Welsh nation. A language isn’t just a collection of words and should be taught within this greater context to promote better awareness, understanding and enjoyment for all – from which school students can go on to study and enjoy it further if they so wish. The phonetic uniqueness of Welsh is very relevant and useful in modern forms of communication – where the sounds of the words and how they are actually written are very similar. This encourages better understanding and appreciation when applied to any given language, and is something that is especially unique to the Welsh language.

As with health in general, we believe that children, young adults and adults in general should be encouraged away from their increasing dependence on technology, television and the internet. We believe children under seven years old should be discouraged by their parents and schools from any television and internet use. Studies have shown that all of these can hamper the brain and cognitive developments of children, especially up to the age of seven. We think lessons based on the internet should be banned for under seven year olds and drastically limited from between the ages of seven and fourteen, with children being able to go on and study information technology etc further as a chosen subject after the age of fourteen if they so wish. Wales should be careful as a country not to allow its young to become hypnotised and over reliant on technologies and virtual amorality.

13. Taxation and the Peoples Profits

We believe no individual or company should ever have to pay more than 35% in income tax – it is not right that anyone including high earners and private companies that create wealth for the Welsh economy should be unfairly punished for this beneficial wealth creation. At the other end of the scale, people earning less than £10,000 should not be taxed. VAT and corporation tax should be generally lowered in Wales as well to encourage more inward investment and a stronger, busier economy.

However, we strongly believe that the corporation tax on any company from outside Wales that uses and sells the natural resources and renewable energies of Wales should be charged a higher than normal Welsh energy corporation tax of at least 50% – to ensure Wales is in a position to exploit its own interests if it is not directly involved.

Inheritance tax should be abolished – governments should not be able to tax income that has already been taxed. Carbon taxes should not be so detrimental as to affect peoples ability to for a proper quality of life, the survival of private companies or the overall Welsh economy. Any carbon or other environmental taxes should be sensible, proportionate and with proven validity.

The peoples profits – Five years after all fees have been received from the Westminster treasury, or five years after the Welsh economy is sustainable and stable, on each St Davids day/March the 1st we propose that a share of 33.34 % of the Welsh state’s profit over the tax year should be shared between all the citizens of Wales if the profit of the state is 1/3 or over what is allocated/spent in its annual budget. In other words if the Welsh Government/state normally spends £30 billion in a tax year but earns £40 billion from taxes and other revenues in a year, then 33.34 % of the £10 billion profit – meaning £3.34 billion, should be shared equally between all the citizens of Wales to spend as they wished, as individuals or as groups. In the maybe unlikely event that the total yearly profit amount is three times or over the amount spent then 50 % could be shared equally between all the citizens of Wales. All parents/guardians should be required by law to keep this money in a secure account for all their children,up to the age of 16 – at which time they would receive the full amount. In times of extreme emergencies or war this scheme can be temporarily stopped via a emergency parliamentary measure only.

Example of two extremes;

Year one (£40-£120 billion range)
Overall income received=£40 billion
Expenditure= £30 billion.
Profit = £10 billion
33.34% of £10 billion (£3.33 billion ) to be shared equally (roughly £1,110 pounds each for 3 million people)

Year two (£120 billion + range)
Overall income received=£120 billion
Expenditure £30 billion
Profit = £90 billion
50% of £90 billion ( £45 billion) to be shared equally (roughly £15,000 pounds each for 3 million people.)

14. Jobs.

The Green and Welsh energy sector could easily become the main employer in Wales but we also need to keep our heavy industries and a healthy mixed economy going. The de-industrialisation of Wales needs to be contained so that Wales keeps the skills and expertise it has in the steel and mining industries, as well as develop and encourage newer skills and sectors.

The Welsh Government should have a close relationship with all businesses and local authorities, so that it knows what sort of skills, training and help should be offered nationally, and so that the workforce of Wales have the right skills needed for the variety of jobs. Job centers should provide free printing and posting, use of telephones, word processing and other computer facilities for all citizens looking for work, whether unemployed or otherwise. There should also be a compulsion that all employers advertising jobs should reply to all job applications sent in.

15. Transport and railway unification

It is the duty and responsibility of any Welsh Government to make sure its own country is properly inter connected, to allow for the convenient and easy free movement of goods and people and to encourage tourism and our own appreciation and enjoyment of our own country’s breathtaking variety of landscape. Wales needs a comprehensive modern, efficient and high speed dual rail track that goes right through the middle of Wales and joins up south and north and all major towns
in between.

This track should carry passengers as well as taking heavy and polluting cargo and haulage off our main roads. The main lines connecting north and south should be nationalised to a Welsh Government and run on a not for profit basis (where all profits goes back in to maintaining and improving the tracks and service). If needed, the other parts of the proposed connecting routes could be offered to private rail companies to run.

Up to 95 % of these railway track beds still exist since their demise in the 1960’s due to the Lord Beeching report. It would be criminally wasted opportunities for Wales not re use or re open these routes when so much hard work and toil went in to their making. Wales is currently one of the only countries in Europe that you cannot traverse by train without spending most of the journey passing through another; the current north to south route crosses the border to England near Llangollen and doesn’t re-enter Wales until it approaches Abergavenny, a 100 miles away. This seriously harms Wales’ effectiveness in being a coherent country, economically and otherwise, and means that one of the greenest countries in Europe is unable to fulfill its rightful potential.

There now needs to be a sustained plan to firstly build a priority high speed double tracked connection between north and south Wales, before moving on to the other stages of re joining all the other areas of Wales by rail. The main north/south service should be a super high-speed service that rapidly connects Wales’ capital Cardiff with the north Wales coast in under 2 hours. Research should be made in to the possibility of using Maglev (magnetic levitation) train and track technology for this high-speed connection and and/or developing green and sustainable energy sources such as hydrogen or electricity produced from the renewable energy of Wales to power these trains.

The proposed different stages of a connective National railway for Wales are outlined below and appear in order of proposed priority;

1st stage

The main north/south,south/north route should be;
Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Brecon, Builth Wells, Newtown, Dolgellau, Bala, Dinbych, Rhyl, Llandudno/junction, Bangor, Holyhead.The train track joining Dolgellau to Barmouth should also be re established to allow travelers to join the existing north Wales coast line to Pwllheli.There should be lesser in between stops on non rapid service at Talgarth, Rhayader, Llanidloes,Cemmaes road, Corwen, Ruthin and Colwyn bay.

This is the main priority for the Welsh Government – a high-speed north/south, south/north train link that properly links and connects Wales using maglev technology. As mentioned, around 95% of the groundwork and track bed for this line already exists since the 19th and 20th century and such a scheme could therefore be completed with relatively modest investment.

The only main new track bed needed would be to join the Newtown to Bala section by digging through the foot of the Bwlch Oerddrws pass between Dinas Mawddwy and Cross Foxes (which would then head towards Dolgellau, Bala and onwards to the north coast) This ground level tunnel should also be used for north/south, south/north car traffic and would dramatically get rid of one of the biggest and steepest obstacles of Wales’ main connecting A470 road.

New track links also need to be added in some cases, so that the line goes directly to the center of towns as much as is possible – meaning that all businesses, industry and passengers can make the most of the national train service of Wales. Examples of the need for new direct station links to the center of towns include Brecon, Merthyr Tydful, Rhyl and Builth Wells.

2nd stage

The second stage of the Welsh railway plan should be from Wrexham to
Llangollen, then Corwen, joining the existing proposed main route from Corwen to Bala and Dolgellau.

The line from Bangor to Caernarfon and from Caernarfon to Pwllheli should be re opened, which would join the existing Pwllheli to Porthmadog line.

The line should also be re opened from Aberystwyth to Llanrhystud, Strata Florida, Tregaron, Llanbedr Pont Steffan and Pencader, then finishing in Carmarthen. The old line from Carmarthen to Llandeilo should also be re opened.

The connecting line from Talgarth / Three cocks to Hay on Wye should also be re-opened.

The line from Dinbych to Mold and Buckley, where it joins the main Wrexham to Shotton line should also be re opened.

The line from Amlwch and Llangefni to Porthaethwy should also be re opened.

90 % of the groundwork/track bed for all these various tracks already exists and would only need re establishing.

3d stage

The old line running from Bethesda to Bangor should be re opened.

The heads of the valleys line which runs from Abergavenny to Merthyr Tydfil, Hirwaun, Resolven, Neath and Swansea should be re opened.

The lines from Pencader to Castell Newydd Emlyn,extending to Aberteifi, and from Aberaeron to Llanbedr Pont Steffan should be re opened.

The old line from Llangynog to Welshpool and from Llanfair Caereinion to Welshpool should be re opened.

The line from Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog which then joins the existing Blaenau Ffestiniog to Betws y coed line could be re opened – as a tourist route at the very least.

4th stage

Brand new lines

The fourth stage is ambitious and even more inclusive. It would mean all major towns and areas, whatever their size, would be comprehensively covered in a way that they haven’t before, even in the age of steam. This plan would realistically only be possible in the long term when Wales has more wealth and fiscal freedom, unless a great deal of private investment could be found and an agreement made with the National Railway of Wales before that.

A brand new line could be built continuing the Wrexham to Chirk line, staying within the Welsh border and carrying down to Llanfyllin, Llansantffraid and Y Trallwng/Welshpool (which then joins the existing main line to Newtown)

A brand new line could be built from Aberystwyth along the actual Welsh coast to Ceinewydd /Newquay, Aberteifi and the main ferry terminal of Abergwaun/Fishguard; this line could then carry on to the spiritual capital of Wales, Ty Ddewi /St Davids which could also in turn be connected to Hwlffordd / Haverfordwest.

A new line could be opened from Chepstow to Monmouth and then from Monmouth to Abergavenny

A line could be re opened between Aberhonddu/Brecon and Sennybridge and an extended new line built to Llanymddyfri, then carrying on through the Cambrian mountains to Llanbedr Pont Steffan – then connecting to the lines to Aberaeron, Aberystwyth and the Welsh coast.

A new line could be opened from Queensferry to Saltney on the Wales England border, which then turns and goes back to Broughton, which in turn goes back to the main line at Buckley. This would not require a great deal of new track but it could potentially serve up to 30,000 people.

The advantage and efficiency for industry haulage and Welsh businesses and economy in general is obvious, as is the amazing and dramatic scenery these routes would offer to tourists and visitors from all over the world. Wales should aim to make the main north/south, south/north high speed railway line through the heart of Wales one of the best and most exciting pan country journeys in Europe. What is the point of having a beautiful and striking country if you can’t show it off a bit?

A direct rail link from inside the actual airport of Cardiff straight into central Cardiff train station should also be a priority, potentially joining up with the west Wales railway as well. This would make Cardiff airport a truly European and international airport with world class links to the capital city of Wales, as well as to west, mid and north Wales, Ireland, Europe and beyond.

A road system catered towards electric cars could also be developed in Wales, including having recharging points using renewable energy from the Welsh grid and /or solar highway technology to power cars from solar road panel technology installed in Welsh roads. Roads are large open spaces perfect for installing solar cells and for adapting and developing kinetic movement technology from the contact and movement of car wheels on the road.

16. Housing

Housing supply and pricing is already severely distorted by unregulated immigration into Wales. Average house prices in Wales are currently £50,000 cheaper than in large areas of England and often the house price to income ratio is severely out of kilter – in essence meaning a fairly substantial house can be sold in south east England for £500,000 and a small village bought in rural Wales. This is unacceptable.

There is no need either to state how a population growth of home grown welfare dependents, welfare dependents from outside of Wales as well as general uncontrolled immigration into Wales will increasingly put unsustainable pressure on our economy through a need for increased public spending on housing, schools, hospitals, pollution and waste management. A drastic increase in uncontrolled immigration is also a major drain on natural resources such as food, water and energy, which will affect all the people living in Wales. All of this is also a huge drain on the finances of the Welsh Government and outlines the urgent need for Wales to have full control over its own immigration policy.

Permission for new house builds under 50 units per year could stay within the local authorities’ control, with at least 50% being affordable housing. Any number of houses over that amount should be decided upon after consulting and having the full agreement of the Welsh Government. Unused and empty houses should also be renovated and fixed as a priority before brand new builds are considered, with a strong emphasis put on building on brown field sites, with developing new green field sites being a last resort. In rural areas, single house builds on owners’ and family lands, even within National Parks, should be given more leeway and less bureaucratically restricted, as these new builds often mean more young people especially can stay, work and live within their local areas and communities. National Parks are living places after all and not conservation museums.

The Welsh Government could also offer a very low interest deposit scheme for all first time Welsh buyers and/or renters, with first payments not having to be paid back for at least one year. The National Bank of Wales and all Welsh mortgage schemes should also be compelled by law to offer a deposit for first time buyers of no more than 10% of the value of the house.Welsh estate agents and house sellers should be obliged to advertise and sell only within Wales for the first six months of a property being put on the market, with house sellers and estate agents being paid a nominal monthly fee for taking part in the scheme, paid by the interest on the deposit loans and a central housing fund. This advertising/selling restriction would not apply in the case of rental properties. If the property hadn’t been sold after the six months then it would be open to anyone. The point of this scheme would be to give people a chance to stay, live and work within their own areas and not be priced out of the market by unreasonable average wage to price ratios.

A general policy of building on high ground (above 50ft or so) should be adapted in all of Wales’ building projects where possible, including all new Welsh Government buildings. This would counter predicted sea level rises/surges, potential earthquakes, and their resulting tsunami dangers.

17. A Welsh legal system

We call on a Welsh judicial law and courts system to be re established in Wales which will mean an end to the antiquated legal entity of ‘England and Wales’. A Welsh judiciary is already needed at the time of writing to deal and implement the legislation being passed weekly in the Welsh Senedd.

A Welsh judiciary will have powers of judicial review of the law/s determined by Welsh Parliament but the ultimate power on any suggested amendments will ultimately lie with the Welsh (legislative) Senedd / Parliament as they are the democratically elected representatives of the people. We reinstate that Wales never entered into a political union with England – the laws in Wales acts of 1536 – 1543 were a legal annexation only and not a political union, and were not chosen via any democratic or parliamentary means.

18. Policing, jails and rehabilitation

The recent corruption, as well as drastic cuts seen in the police force of the United Kingdom as a whole has demonstrated the need for Wales to have its own police force. A Welsh police force’ primary job under a Sovereign State of Wales should be to serve and protect the public, and to keep law and order. Reasonable and proportional force could be used when protecting the public and community in response to any undue violence, or when any violence is used against them. A full study should be made in to the widespread use of close circuit television in all areas of our lives and the ethical, moral and civil rights threat that they pose.

Welsh jails should be built for all Welsh prisoners, which would contribute to the Welsh economy and mean that prisoners were closer to the justice system that tried and convicted them. It would also mean that they could be better rehabilitated and is fairer and less costly on visiting families. All Welsh youth rehabilitation and remand centers that serve the people of Wales should also be situated in Wales.

19. A jury style Citizen Chamber for scrutiny

A second scrutiny chamber should also be established containing a 50/50 split of citizens chosen at random from all parts of Wales in the same style as a compulsory jury service, as well as non party affiliated experts in their fields from all walks of life and from all areas of Wales. These would have to be at least 21 years old and chosen by a independent non political panel. They would have the right to study new legislation and scrutinise the Welsh Senedd members in a second chamber or session. If the justified scrutiny or questions raised by the Citizen Chamber hasn’t been satisfactorily answered, the Citizen Chamber could ask the legislation to be re drafted, and if still not satisfied that these justified and lawful concerns haven’t been met they could ask for another amendment or re draught or ask for a judicial review. The Citizen Chamber sessions would be presided over by a non partisan presiding officer recommended by the independent political panel.

The role of the Citizen Chamber would be to scrutinise legislation that may have been drafted over-hastily in the Senedd, to hold the Senedd members to account and to suggest amendments if necessary. They would changed every five year Parliament term and a new jury brought in to replace them.

The non party affiliated experts and jury of citizens would be chosen from a geographical balanced selection from north, mid and south Wales, with ten experts and 10 citizen jury chosen from each of these regions. All fields of expertise would be given equal consideration; business, science, the arts, transport, engineering, education, health, crime, technology etc. They would be paid a basic fee plus traveling costs and would meet at least twice for each new legislative proposal.

No more than three ex AM’s or MP’s could be considered as members of the ten experts in their chosen fields and for each area (north, mid and south)

Anyone could recommend candidates to be experts in the Citizen Chamber, by way of a petitioning website, where candidates with numerous recommendations (and over a certain amount of recommendations) having to be given first choice by the panel, if all legal and other necessary criterias checks are ok’d. This would allow local communities and areas to have the people they want scrutinising our Government and speaking on their behalf. Citizen Chamber members would also be allowed to stand as MOS’s (Members of Senedd) but would have to resign from the Citizen Chamber if elected.

20. Welsh Armed Forces and National Security

Wales has a long and rich military heritage and history and we want this to continue. A Welsh army would recognise this whilst also developing a new modern, relevant military that is ready and capable of dealing with the changes and challenges of the modern age.

The vision statement of The Welsh Armed Forces is to be a modern, relevant, efficient, flexible highly trained multipurpose force, who’s first duty will be the protection and defence of all Welsh citizens, Wales’ sovereignty, its territory and its natural resources, and a maintaining of infrastructure and security in the case of any environmental or man made crisis or disaster

We advocate one full time standing Welsh brigade made up of three independently deployable battalions, another non full time brigade of three battalions which would also act as a reserve to the first, and a third brigade made of territorial reservists. They should all offer the all round flexibility and adaptability necessary in today’s world. The Welsh Armed Forces should be a volunteer rather than conscripted force, unless otherwise required for defence readiness. The minimum age to join should be 18 years of age.

Its other obligations should be to always offer a fast deployable multi role battalion group for European and international peacekeeping and conflict resolution, as well as for reconstruction and engineering assistance in any international environmental or man made crisis or disaster.

The Welsh Armed Forces should be fully mobile, motorised and mechanized, and similar in size and function to the forces of New Zealand, Sweden, Slovenia and Ireland. The Welsh Armed Forces should always seek to work constructively with other nations, to help where help is needed and protect where protection is needed.

The Welsh Armed Forces should always seek to be efficient in its spending whilst also ensuring the best possible training and equipment to its service men and women, who should be well paid, and together with their families should be given the best possible welfare and after care as veterans, or in the event of injury or death. All army veteran or rehabilitation centers servicing the citizens of Wales should also be based in Wales.

The Welsh Armed forces, Welsh Navy, Welsh Air force and National Security should be under the full control of a Welsh Government under full Welsh Sovereignty. All Welsh army bases should be based in Wales, together with all military equipment, vehicles and hardware manufacturing where possible. Existing Welsh army bases, airfields and training areas should be used and new ones built if needed. The people of Wales have already been contributing proportionally to these army bases and hardware over the years through the paying of taxes. A constructive dialogue and discussion should be sought to work out the best way of implementing these sites.

We would like to see our own Welsh Government develop our own St Athan center in South Wales as a top class Welsh military training and security academy, and a similar center based in mid and North Wales.

A Welsh Navy should be the patrollers and protectors of Welsh waters and the over 750 miles of Welsh coastline, including managing the coastguard, lifeboat service and fishing policing duties of all Welsh waters. Ship building yards should be re-opened in Wales, to build and service our own Navy and commercial fleets. Welsh ports should be enlarged and adapted to handle bigger navy, cargo and holiday cruise ships and to generally revitalise the shipping ports and harbours of Wales with a sustainable sea trading industry.

Main Welsh naval ports and Naval Academies could be established at Cardiff, Swansea, Barry, Fishguard, Milford Haven, Pwllheli, Bangor, Holyhead and Conwy, with lesser ones at Aberystwyth, Porthmadog, Newport and Deeside.

A Welsh Air force should be based at current Welsh air bases and would patrol and protect Welsh air space, as well as provide a sea rescue service, environmental monitoring and patrolling for all our seas and lands. Aircraft manufacturing should also be built and manufactured within Wales, with the most being made out of the skills and training that already exists in Wales in this area. All armed forces should be answerable to the people of Wales via their elected representatives in the Welsh Senedd, where the Prime minister of Wales, through a team of advisers would have the final say on any military matter.

All crucial Welsh Government information should not all be kept online, nor should all trust be put in digital information and digital technology. A policy of keeping information on hard copy and physical form should always be adopted in all cases, to protect against sabotage, viruses, digital /mechanical failures and intrusions. We want to see a healthy balance kept between humans and the use of technology in the armed forces and elsewhere. Human intelligence and human soldiers should not be over taken by artificial intelligence and autonomous drones.

A Welsh Prime Minister as well as the Presidential Ambassador (Presam) should be guaranteed a secure protected house, and all Welsh Government Cabinet staff given security protection.

21. Welfare and pensions

A transitional payment policy should be implemented so that pension and National Insurance payments are gradually transferred from London to Wales, decreasing every year until the Welsh Government has built up the appropriate pension funds to offer its own pension fund to its hard working citizens. Whatever the scenario, a National Bank of Wales would safely guarantee that all pension money is kept safe on behalf of the pensioner and not gambled away or borrowed.

A Welsh Government should offer its own unemployment benefit but also encourage an useful and practical National training programme to get people the right skills to get back in to relevant and available work. All unemployment benefit recipients should be allowed to work up to 4 days a month whether as individual days or 4 day block (48 days a year) whilst still claiming full benefits, with the aim of encouraging healthy claimants out of dependence and back in to self reliance. We do not want to see an increase in the dependence on the welfare state. It is not in the interest of Wales and its future.

22. Agriculture, forestry and fisheries

A Welsh Government and Sovereign State should campaign for a big programme
prioritising regional and national Welsh produce, including all food, drink, timber and other materials that are supplied to local shops, traders and supermarkets.

Alternatively all local authorities could set up their own food and drink cooperatives to sell all the products produced by farms within their own borders, by the setting up of modern, well branded convenience stores. These could be set up in all the local authorities of Wales under the same brand but with each shop being run as an independent cooperative business by each local authorities.

This would all mean that the agricultural, forestry, food and drink industries in Wales would be stable, renewable and self sufficient, which would also mean stabler local economies and employment opportunities, and less pollution due to reduced transport needs. Supermarkets would also have real local involvement in the communities in which they were based. Proper fish auction markets should also be established in north, mid, south west and south east Wales, which would boost and support the Welsh fishing industry and encourage local produce to be used and sold locally.

23. Immigration and asylum applicants

Current United Nations predictions estimate that the world population will reach between 9.0 and 11 billion by around 2050 – an increase of almost double our current population in just 38 years if these predictions are to be believed. It is not just population increase but population movements that are also causing major challenges.

The irresponsible and open border policy of successive Westminster Governments should be a concern to all the people of Britain including Wales. Britain’s population is currently increasing by a city the size of Bristol every year and is predicted to reach 71.6 million by 2033 and, at current rates, could reach an astounding 110 million by 2081. Over 2.3 million new immigrants have been allowed in to Britain since 2001 alone – an astounding testament to the lack of accountability at Westminster.

The office of National Statistics projects that the population of Wales will inevitably receive its share of this mass immigration into Britain, with the population of Wales set to increase by 350,000 to 3.35m million by 2033, an increase of 12% ; equivalent to the population of a new small city.

By 2033 there are also expected to be 185,000 more pensioners in Wales than there are currently – a rise of 29% and potentially a massive problem for a Welsh Government already struggling to provide public services and care for an aging population within a defined block payment, and without any proper powers to raise or control its taxes or its own immigration.

Housing supply and pricing are being severely distorted by levels of immigration into Wales. All of these things combined show us that sovereignty is the right thing for Wales on so many levels. Currently and economically, lack of immigration control, lack of control over energy, water, wealth and taxes demonstrate these economic and social points. It is plain to see that Wales cannot afford to keep absorbing non-controlled immigration, with all the associated extra public spending, without having our own sovereign control to regulate according to our hosting capabilities.

Wales needs new people and new skills but this needs to be controlled and managed by Wales in a way in which a Welsh Government and society can benefit from and absorb within its means. Full sovereignty would allow for a good standard of services and quality of life to all who are, or who become citizens of Wales in the future, and allow us a harmonious and well assimilated society within our economic capabilities and resources. New immigrants should be allowed to apply for Welsh citizenship based on qualification and skill levels, with a capped limit set every year. New Welsh citizenship applications would allow for naturalisation after these and all other statutory criteria have been met and complied with.

24. The environment, science and technology

Wales should do all it can to ensure a healthy, sustainable environment and a better world for all. Wales should continue with its excellent recycling work, and aim to eventually recycle 100% of all its materials. We should approach all concerns about global warming, climate change and bio diversity, as well as all other environmental, scientific and technological issues, with an open and scientific mind and by conducting our own independent research. Wales should persevere with its great work as an organic GM free country. We would also like to see Wales establish its own center for scientific and technological excellence, implementing ethics, morality, responsibility and accountability for present and future generations in its research and development programmes.

A better balance has to be found between keeping the beauty and uniqueness of Wales’ National Parks and making sure people can live and work in them – they are not museums or just places to have nice picnics. The National parks of Wales should not have such stringent powers over housing for example; all farms should be allowed to build at least one new house on their own land for family use. A strong, effective sea wall should be built from Cardiff to Chepstow, and along large parts of the north and mid Wales coast, to protect Wales from any potential sea rises or surges, and a programme of building on higher ground should be adapted generally by the Welsh Government and all local authorities where possible.

We believe that ‘sustainable development’ is an overused term devoid of any real meaning; in many cases an oxymoron representing a programme of mass bureaucracy decided upon and enforced by unaccountable committees. At the same time as developing strong friendships and trading relationships with other nations we would like to see Wales pushing for real self-sufficiency in key areas, resulting in a renewable and sustainable way of life that provides a strong steady economy, a healthy environment and a high quality healthy way of life for all Welsh citizens. We believe this is what all countries should aim for and is what would ultimately make the world a better, healthier and more sustainable place.

25. Broadcasting, the internet, media and telecommunications in Wales

An exclusive Welsh Online and Broadcasting service should be funded by a Welsh Government to include a long term plan for two English language and two Welsh language channels, as well as the equivalent radio broadcasting service. A fifth independent commercial broadcasting channel should also be commissioned. All of these channels would be regulated by an Independent Welsh regulatory body, and all would have a basic remit of covering all diversities of societies in Wales and to be innovative, creative, informative and educational.

The four channels would each get the same sum of Government money. As an example, each channel would get £80 million pounds each with another 10 million for each corresponding radio station. The English and Welsh language channels would be expected to produce 75% of their own programmers ‘in house’ (in their own studios) with a remit to commission 25% of productions to outside independent companies within Wales where possible.

The second Welsh language channel would be expected to carry 25% of programmes in English and the second English language channel would be expected to carry 25% of programmes in Welsh. This would provide a plurality, variety and balance to all broadcasting in Wales without disrupting choice for viewers. A great deal of broadcasting is already catered towards playback services, as viewers now tend to pick and choose programmes rather than channels.

The channels should also be encouraged to raise extra advertising money and to sell and license programmes/productions worldwide – to make the most of online platforms and emerging digital technology, which can mean a great deal of money can be saved in the production process. The four channels would however have to pay any profit of over 100 million pounds a year back to the Welsh Government as a form of quid pro quo for the original investment.

Two of the channels and two of the radio stations (one Welsh language and one English language each from the television channel and radio station) and their recording studios/facilities would have to be based outside of the capital Cardiff, in north Wales, and mid or west Wales. Recording studios/facilities could be shared.

The suggested total of £360 million or so spent by a Welsh Government (in the long term and under a prosperous Sovereign Wales) would be more than worth it in terms of the long term economic and cultural benefits generated for Wales, its international profile and its promotion and nurturing of talent. These block payment amounts should be seen as long-term investment in the creativity and skills of Wales, from which Wales would ultimately benefit economically and culturally, not to mention the work it would bring to Wales as a whole.

These channels would work in and broadcast across all media; internet, television and whatever new media or technology may be implemented or devised in the future. One English channel and radio station and the Welsh language equivalent would be implemented until enough budget is available.

We also strongly advocate the idea of a 24 hour news/current affair/discussion channel for Wales, that will be available to the whole world, and encourage Wales and its citizens to give its take on the matters and current affairs of Wales, Britain, Europe and the world. Information and communication with its citizens should be its main aim, with underhand propaganda, manipulation and special interests being keenly avoided in favour of straight talking and a desire for the world countries and peoples to understand each other.

College Internet/TV channels should also be funded by basic government budgets of up to 1 million pounds each, to allow colleges to develop fresh new talents and technical skills, and to develop and make the most of the ideas and talents of the youth studying and/or living in Wales.

Broadcasting and the creative arts are a big part of Wales’ contributions to the world, and provide employment, a platform for creativity, and the communication of views and ideas. They also provide an important platform to question and scrutinise the Government or politics of the day, and for basic communications and discussions on national issues which are relevant to the whole of Wales.

Wales should also have its own international phone code, regulated by a Welsh office of communications, and also its own .Cym /.Cymru/.Wales/ top level internet domain, exclusive to Wales, and with all infrastructure set in Wales. This would boost and improve online searches focused on Wales, and drastically improve the potential selling power and market focus of all of Wales’ based businesses and services. Wales should also develop general and internet privacy laws that would guarantee that online details of all citizens were protected by law, so that access to their online, or any other information would only be granted to the police or security services for criminal investigations or national security reasons, and only after having been successful in applying for a legal warrant.

26. The out phasing of the Crown estate in Wales

It is the Crown estate that currently claims ownership of the Welsh seabed out to a distance of 12 nautical miles and 65% of the Welsh foreshore (the distance between low and high tide), and also claims the mineral rights on and under the seabed, out to the edge of the Welsh continental shelf – a distance of up to 200 nautical miles, also deciding on the licenses of who can or can’t exploit them.

The Crown estate also currently claims ownership of over 70,000 acres of Welsh farmland, 245,000 acres of land with mining and mineral interest, and full ownership and rights on all Welsh Silver and Welsh Gold. The Crown estate therefore currently claims the right to control all the natural energy and minerals to be found on and off the Welsh coast; decides how they should be parceled out and who should benefit, with most of the profits going to the United Kingdom Treasury and to various Whitehall departments.

Welsh Government and authorities should work constructively with the Crown estate in order to facilitate a smooth transition of these rights back to Wales. This will mean that Wales will own the rights on fishing, mining, gas and oil exploration, tidal and offshore wave and wind farms, gold and silver, and all other renewable and non renewable energies and resources found within the designated territorial waters and borders of Wales. These are normal, basic internationally recognised laws and civic rights of any nation, as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the law of the sea and within International Law and UN charter.

A Sovereign State of Wales will make sure that the nation and people of Wales
will stand to benefit directly from its territorial waters, lands, energy, resources, and all the mines and minerals contained within them.

27. Elections and transparent party political governance

Computer voting technology for Wales’ national and local authority elections should not be not used – only voting that leaves a traceable paper trail should be used. All election papers should offer a list of ten main areas of government on which voters could indicate what their priorities for government should be, e.g. housing first, economy second, the environment third etc. The government voted in would be obliged to take notice and enact on the three most prioritised areas indicated by the voters.

For the fairness and level playing field of all in a democratic system, there needs to be a cap put on how much any party can spend on elections and indeed raise in one year. We recommend £5 million maximum can be raised by any one party in one year, with the same being allowed to be spent on any elections. Parties would be allowed to save and carry on profits to forthcoming years.

There needs to be a ban on private companies and corporations being allowed to unduly and excessively lobby the government or any party in the Welsh Government. Any business discussions should be via the Welsh business arm of the government and the cabinet minister for business. No company or corporation should be able to buy their way in to political influence.

No non transparent, non accountable group, body, programme or scheme should be allowed to train or be involved with any course or training programme for any Welsh Government politicians, MOS’s (Members of Senedd) or civil servants: in local authorities, unitary authorities, councils, town or village committees or within any non governmental, inter governmental, charity or volunteer organisations. This will help to prevent any corruption or undue influence by negative influences.

28. Local Authorities

We advocate an effective and stable local authority system that does not constantly change boundaries and responsibilities and is not overly micro managed. A solid and efficient system of local authorities in Wales would create proper local and national cohesion. The current local authorities are too numerous and complex and could be slimmed down to the following areas; Gwynedd,Ynys Mon, Clwyd, Wrexham, Powys, Ceredigion, Sir Gaerfyrddin, Sir Benfro, Morgannwg (to include Bro Morgannwg/the Vale of Glamorgan), Gwent, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. Alternatively, a new authority simply called ‘The Valleys / Y Cymoedd’ could be introduced to cover the whole area below Powys and above the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Newport authorities, and from the present day Monmouthsire to the Swansea authority border. More Members of Senedd could be voted on in cities to make up the number of needed seats. A first past the post system for constituent members and proportional regional representation using the single transferrable vote for regional members is a fair system.

Local authority meetings should have an open door policy and invite local interest and engagement at every opportunity whilst also having all public meetings streamed online. All local councilors and MOS’s should also be clearly advertised in all local authority areas and on social networks, so that people actually know who is representing them, what these representatives actually do and how these representatives can be contacted and met to discuss any issues. Like in the main parliament, local authorities should be scrutinised by a second citizen panel as well, which would be made up of 50% experts and 50% selected in the jury style.

At the moment not many people have a clue who is representing them at local or national level, or what they do. There is a duty on The Welsh Government and local authorities to get out there to tell people on the street who is representing them in their area of Wales, and what they actually do in their local authorities and as MOS’s. Local advertising and placards should also be visibly on show, telling people who their representatives are and how they can be contacted and met.

Polling stations should be far better advertised by social and online networks, and physical stations set in more convenient and accessible locations such as pubs, cafes, hotels and post offices.

Smaller town/villages councils should practice direct democracies using digital voting technology (secret ballot) to decide and prioritise what they want or don’t want in their local communities, such as local amenities, traffic infrastructures and other similar local services.

Permission for annual new house builds under 50 units could stay within the local authorities’ control, with at least 50% being affordable housing. Any number of houses over that amount should be decided upon after consulting and having the full agreement of the Welsh Government. This is crucial if Wales is to keep basic control of immigration and public spending within its economic means.

A Welsh Government and Sovereign State should fight for a huge programme prioritising Welsh produce for local shops and supermarkets, which would mean more local jobs and economic regeneration and less pollution due to less mass transport. It would also importantly mean that the Welsh farming community, the agricultural industry of Wales and all related industries would remain sustainable and stable.

It should be made compulsory for all supermarkets setting up in Wales to sign up by law to a Welsh Government scheme, whereby every local authority or region of Wales had its own food and drink center or co operative, which would collect all the agricultural products /food and drink available from all local farms in that area and then deal and work directly with the supermarkets in selling these core/basic products such as eggs, milk, in season vegetables, fish, fruits and meats, bread and cheese etc at a fair price. Alternatively all local authorities could set up their own food and drink cooperatives to sell all the products produced within their own borders, with the setting up of modern, well branded convenience stores, which could be set up in all the local authorities of Wales under the same brand. but with each shop being run as an independent cooperative business by each local authorities.

This would mean that the agricultural and food and drink industries in Wales would be sustainable and renewable, which would be a huge boost to local economies and mean that supermarkets had more of a local involvement in the communities in which they are based.

Proper fish auction markets should also be established in north, mid, south west and south east Wales, which would boost and support the Welsh fishing industry and encourage local produce to be used locally.

All city authorities should also provide allotments that make up for at least 5% of their overall land space, with families and individuals on low incomes given 50% of these allotments. All towns and villages should also be helped by the local authorities to develop allotment sites in the same vain. Growing your own food should be encouraged by any Welsh Government in the interest of self sufficiency, general health and well being, as well as an appreciation and understanding of the importance of food resources and what nature provides.

29. Wales and Britain

We believe Sovereignty for Wales would offer an opportunity for greater cooperation and understanding between all the countries of Britain, as an equal association of partners who would, when needed, meet as equal governments in the name of friendship, trade and mutual cooperation.

In the case of the mutual protection and military defence of Britain as a whole, we
advocate a treaty of alliance between the armed forces of Wales, Scotland, England/Northern Ireland and surrounding islands of Britain. Sovereignty and decision making relating to Wales will always rest with the democratically elected representatives of a Sovereign Welsh State.

30. Wales and the European Union

Wales should always seek to have a healthy and constructive friendship with all countries and/or unions. However, a Sovereign Wales should not automatically be an European Union member. A great number of laws and regulations affecting Wales and Britain are already being passed by the European Union, with estimated figures varying between 20-50%. As it is, this is not a just or accountable system.

A Sovereign Wales should take a considered approach to any form of future European membership. Like Switzerland, bilateral agreements with the other nations of Britain and Europe, such as the Schengen agreement could be agreed upon, with the variety of alternative options and approaches such as non-binding and reversible economic /free trade and movement agreements, and morally and legally sound defence agreements also given careful consideration.If overwhelmingly asked for, a national vote could be taken on full European membership.

All laws affecting Wales should be debated and agreed /disagreed by a Welsh Parliament first and foremost; any potential membership should not diminish or lessen the sovereignty of Wales. All points stated here deal with Wales as a Sovereign country first and foremost, with open debate and dialogue on European cooperation and/or membership in all potential forms welcomed.

Wales should be in a position to determine its own sensible balance between environmental, economical and social matters, and should discuss, agree or disagree to proceed with any agreements or directives from committees or unions outside of Wales in a Welsh Parliament first.

31. Nuclear power discontinued in Wales

Nuclear power should be gradually discontinued in Wales and the country should become a nuclear free zone as soon as is viable. This makes perfect sense, especially considering Wales has an abundance of natural and renewable energy and enough clean coal and gas supplies to last us well over a hundred years. All current workers involved in the nuclear industry in Wales should be re -trained and given work within the plentiful renewable green energy sector of a Sovereign Wales.

Efforts to bring a second nuclear power station to Anglesey should be re directed towards the implementation of a mixture of energy projects such as clean coal ,using our own plentiful supplies, gas, and tidal stream and offshore wind programmes around the Anglesey coast: all meaning a safer, healthier and far more sustainable forms of energy production.

Nuclear powered electricity generation is a dangerous and uneconomical method of producing electricity, with a ridiculously short and unviable operational time span as powers stations. It is 400% more expensive than coal and receives huge government subsidies which costs the tax payers of Britain tens of billions in development and decommissioning costs. With no known method of disposing the nuclear waste, it will contaminate the planet for thousands of years. Nuclear power also has obvious and known health risks – cancer and leukemia figures are significantly higher particularly among children in and around nuclear power stations for example. Wales simply does not need to have nuclear energy within its borders.

32. The Welsh office disbanded and a Welsh Embassy established

The moribund Welsh office in London should be disbanded and a Welsh Embassy established in its place. The current Welsh office and secretary of state of Wales are not elected representatives of Wales in any way shape or form and have absolutely no democratic remit over Wales whatsoever. The Welsh Government should decide who represents us in London and England, with a Welsh Embassy to welcome, host and discuss all matters between the two countries.

33. Drugs and alcohol

A Welsh law needs to be passed to protect the pub industry of Wales from the excessive alcohol and rental charges unfairly set on Welsh pubs by the big brewery corporations, with reasonable and fair set minimum pricing of supermarket alcohol and also a lowering of drink prices in pubs; this will mean people will still want to visit, spend money and socialise in their local pub rather than permanently drink very cheap and potentially damaging alcohol at home.

We would also like to see more community owned pubs. Soft drugs such as cannabis could be licensed (and taxed) and sold in chemists for adults over the age of 21, and for people with appropriate medical conditions. In other words if people insist on taking soft drugs such as cannabis (alcohol and tobacco being other examples) the government might as well safely regulate the market, help addicts and raise taxes from sales whilst at the same time controlling and regulating the market. Heavier drugs such as heroin, crack and cocaine should not be allowed or treated as normal. A Welsh Government programme of providing pure or safe alternatives to these drugs and the treatment of addicts could be funded by the cannabis sales if necessary. A level headed non hysterical approach is needed to the realities of drug use which is both practical, pragmatic and realistic.

34. An honorary system for Wales.

Wales should have its own annual awards for honoring its own men and women that have achieved greatness and done great things – however that may be manifested. This would be the highest possible Welsh award given in the name of the nation and people of Wales, to honour its own compatriots and their achievements; Richard Parks and his amazing 7 peaks accomplishment as well as Tyrone O’Sullivan being the first worthy recipients of Wales’ highest honors.

35. Sport

We support full independence of the Welsh nation in all international sports competitions including the Olympics, and the fundamental right of all competitors to describe themselves as being of Welsh nationality and/or citizenship.

A fully inclusive sports programme for the whole of Wales should be encouraged by a Welsh Government and implemented by local authorities on an interactive local level. Sports and keeping fit seems to disappear from most people’s agenda after leaving school, leading to an increase in general ill health, social isolation and in many instances, substance abuse and addiction problems. We propose that sports, especially team sports should be encouraged right across Wales and for all ages and abilities after they have left school.

A Welsh Government should encourage local authorities to use schools, colleges and local amenities out of hours, to be arranged and coordinated by local authority sports coaches on a weekly basis, where anyone could book online on a first come first serve basis and events adapted according to demand and ability.

These amateur events would be of great value to public health and motivation of all the people taking part regardless of their level of fitness, age or experience. They would not rely on social cliques but on welcoming all individuals to take part in healthy activity provided and administered for a nominal small fee by the local authority.

Team sports could include football, touch rugby, netball, basketball, cricket, hockey, athletics, water sports or just normal light keep fit classes. The sports coaches/coordinators would be able to recommend people who stand out to regional and national sporting coaches in Wales. Centers of sporting excellence as well as regional rugby and football sides should also be established equally in north mid and South Wales.

36. A Welsh lottery

Wales should have its own weekly lottery, with an emphasis on paying numerous small prizes to more people rather than one big prize. For example, weekly prizes of 2 x £50,000 and 20 prizes of £10,000 a week, fairly distributed around all areas of Wales, which would mean the wealth would be spread out a bit more and more people would have more of a chance of winning. Any profits could be put back into Welsh based projects decided upon by local communities around Wales.

37. A Presidential Ambassador for Wales

A non party affiliated and non partisan Welsh Presidential Ambassador (Presam) should be voted in every Senedd term and would act as a figurehead head of state and modern international Ambassador and host for Wales. A Presidential Ambassador would be allowed to suggest amendments to legislation passed through the Welsh Parliament and/or reviewing chamber/committee, which the Senedd could reject if it wished. He or she would also be able to hold the Parliament to account if wanted as well as refer a bill to a Welsh Supreme court but would not have power to over rule. A Presidential Ambassador would have the same neutral non-partisan Council of state to aid and counsel him as the Prime Minister.

A Welsh Presidential Ambassador should be voted from a list given by an independent committee with 50 % of the votes coming from by the Senedd and the other 50% of votes coming from a television/online type debate held over three different nights. A Welsh Presidential Ambassador should represent a certain spirit of Wales in the modern world and would need to be an International Ambassador and face of Wales whilst also being a host to visiting dignitaries and visitors.

He or she would have to be over 30 years of age. He or she could be voted in for no more than three term times with each term time being five years. They would be allowed to stand as members of the Welsh Parliament or as Prime ministers of Wales if they have served at least two terms as Presidential Ambassadors.

38. An office of information and communication for the public

We would like to see the opening of a single well branded communication and information center for Wales, filled with knowledgeable, helpful and enthusiastic people to help anyone and everyone with all matters relating to Wales, including governmental and civic matters. An office of communication and public relations should filter all Senedd and Government literature and communication in whatever media, both in Welsh and English, to ensure that incomprehensible waffle and lawyer speak is moderated and effective clearly understood plain language is used which engages and involves all the people of Wales about what the Government and Senedd is doing.

The office of communication will have one single telephone information and help line (branded and marketed like the 118 118 campaign for example), a single email address and a simple informative website. Anyone will be able to call or contact the center for any information on the Government and Senedd, such as government policies, who their representative are and what they do, local authorities, the cost of a bus pass or the price of bread. Government is there to serve for the people.

39. A drive for real public engagement, straight talking and transparency

We want to see the placing of a giant Welsh flag on the front of the Senedd building in Cardiff bay and Llandudno, as well as a giant sign saying Senedd Cymru / The Parliament of Wales, to describe what the building is and what it does. 12 million people from all over the world pass the Senedd building every year – it would be ridiculous not to make it plainly known to them and to all the citizens of Wales what this important national institution is and what it’s for.

Your government should do its utmost to involve the citizens of Wales in the democracy and running of your own country, and take democracy to the people in whatever legal and effective ways they can, through populist and accessible ways such as online and other technological ways and/or by as much physical representation and communication as is practical. All local authority councilors and MOS’s (Member of Senedd) should also be clearly advertised and made known in all local authority areas, through the use of posters and physical advertising, as well as online and on social networks, so that people are actually told and informed who is representing them, what these representatives actually do and how these representatives can be contacted and met with to discuss any relevant issues.

We would advocate that red button technology, mobile texting and online digital technology, where possible, should be looked into as popular voting methods, running alongside paper trail voting to make voting and democratic participation more accessible and interactive to all. We also advocate that smaller town/village councils should practice direct democracies using digital voting technology (such as the confidential hand held voting devices the audiences use on the television programme ‘Who wants to be a millionaire’) to decide and priorities what they want or don’t want in their local communities; things such as local amenities, traffic infrastructures and other local services. We would also propose that a clear understandable explanation should be sent to all the people of Wales explaining how they themselves could stand as electable candidates if they so wish, either in the local authority/council or as Members of Senedd.

Your Government has a duty to make its policies transparent and to explain them in such a way that is understandable to all the people of Wales. No non-transparent, non-accountable group, body or programme should be allowed to train or involve any Welsh Government or Senedd members, civil servants, local authorities or councils, or any non or inter-governmental, charity or volunteer organisations.

A Welsh Government and its representatives have a duty and responsibility to use clear, understandable everyday language where possible, both in Welsh and in English, so that everyone in Wales can understand what their Government is doing and how it will affect them. Abbreviations, acronyms and technical terms only known to Senedd and Government members should not be used unnecessarily in public. The public have a right to actually understand what their politicians are talking about in a language and terminology that they understand and relate to.

Welsh translation services in Wales ,especially in the public sector, needs to be totally overhauled to ensure that Welsh isn’t simply slavishly and literally translated from English to Welsh in a robotic and unrealistic way. A new approach should be taken in the context of information and literature given out to the public, to make sure that real, spoken and phonetic Welsh is used to transfer and communicate the necessary public information within Wales. The same should be true in English – real, understood and spoken English / Wenglish should be used to make sure that communication is effectively communicated between the Welsh Government and the people of Wales, and vice versa.

We would also like to see an annual Members of Senedd bus tour travelling around Wales for a month or so every year, where Members of Senedd visit all parts of the country and take part in ‘Question Time’ type occasions in communities evenly spread around Wales. This would be a case of truly taking the Government to the people and would probably be the first time for many people to actually meet Members of Senedd in the flesh.

Nights could be held in popular town, village and city centers, with Local Authority members, various local representatives and Members of Senedd sitting down as a panel in front of local people to discuss and debate relevant local and national matters. A suitable host would be hired to board the meetings and digital button voting technology could be used on matters discussed, to give an indication to the politicians how the public might feel about certain issues.

40. The sex industry in Wales

Static massage parlors should be fully legalised but selectively/carefully licensed in Wales so that the sex industry can be far better monitored and properly controlled. This would also mean that the human rights of the sex workers can be properly regulated, and illegal human trafficking stopped. It would also mean more tax revenues can be collected from these legalised and licensed brothels, both by local authorities and the Welsh Government.

Some limited and tightly controlled legal sex zones could also be allowed in the major cities and urban areas of Wales, so that Wales’ street sex workers are better protected and the sex trade is not unnecessarily demonised. Sex workers should be offered all the best advice and help in terms of safe sex and general health.

41. The arts

There needs to be a revolution in how ‘the arts’ are approached and perceived in Wales. No one group or groups of people should be given special treatment or priority as expressive creative beings. All citizens of Wales shall be held equal and valid creative and expressive persons regardless of area or subject, whether an architect, a writer, a filmmaker, a builder or a carpenter.

The whole notion and exclusivity of only some people being regarded as ‘artistic’ should be re approached so that all creative and expressive people and things in Wales are approached with equal appreciation, including science and technology.

A broad consideration should be given to all areas of expressiveness and human effort, not to be constricted to the more traditional and often exclusive and forms of self imposed ‘artistry’. The point being that expression and creativity should cover all fields, and not be confined to exclusive forms of expression and traditional forms of artistry. Ceramic pottery and expressive dancing are as valid forms of expression as anything else but should not be considered as somehow more valid and virtuous than other forms of expression.

Arts funding should not be afraid of supporting all forms of culture, including
populist and popular culture or any other type of culture, expression or skills. A simplified grant application process should be balanced with a culture of investment and simplified low interest business loans offered to original entrepreneurial ideas, whatever form that might take.

Wales also needs to look into developing its own royalty collection society for film music and media, so that Welsh artists are properly supported, and work, expertise and revenues stay in Wales and within the Welsh economy.

42. Cardiff to compete as a city of a million people

We would like to see our capital city Cardiff attain a population of at least a million people for the city itself. This could be done by Cardiff incorporating places such as Penarth, Barry and Caerphilly under Cardiff city’s jurisdiction. Brownfield and derelict sites should be made the most of within Cardiff and buildings should reach for the sky where spreading out isn’t possible or desirable.

The point of this would be to make Cardiff an even more truly European and international city and brand that could compete and challenge on the highest level, both in terms of business, tourism and culture. There should also needs to be a fast direct rail route from the actual Cardiff airport itself straight into central Cardiff train station, as well as a highly efficient high speed train to and from west, mid and North Wales. This would mean that the capital city of Wales is rightly and properly linked to the rest of the country and world, economically and culturally, and that more people from all across Wales can fully enjoy and experience their capital city and country. Making Cardiff a million peopled city would also mean Wales would have a proper economic base from which to generate wealth for the rest of the country and from which it could encourage more private sector investment and opportunities.

43. The modernisation and merging of the National Eisteddfod and Urdd

The main annual Urdd festival should be merged/incorporated with the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol /National Eisteddfod of Wales, with the Urdd forming a youth competition fringe festival to the main Eisteddfod. This would mean that the National festival would be much bigger and effective but it would also mean an easier and less exhaustive effort by local host communities, who currently have to continually raise money for both festivals as separate entities. Location wise, there should be alternating permanent sites and new locations so that host areas would have more time to plan the hosting of the festival in their area.

The National Eisteddfod could also join forces and co host both the Llangollen festival and the Royal Welsh festival at Builth Wells on a 3 or 4 or yearly basis, which would be a huge general boost to all the Welsh festivals, and provide an even greater platform for Wales on an international stage. Closer co-operation would also mean that the Welsh language would have equal working status with the many other numerous international languages of the world, by being heard and promoted by these other noted main festivals of Wales.

There also needs to be a complete modernisation and overhaul of the competitions involved at the Urdd and main National Eisteddod. The youth of Wales should be comprehensively consulted on what competitions they would like to or not like to see continued. Tradition and heritage are an important part of Wales’ rich tapestry that should be made the most of and showcased in a modern, vibrant, relevant and populist way.

44. St David’s day an official national holiday

March the 1st St Davids day, the birthday of the Patron Saint of Wales Dewi Sant should be an official holiday for all in Wales, and a day to pay the Peoples Profits.

45. Wales International Airport and Air Service

We want to see a proper short and long haul Welsh Air Service being established for Wales such as Air Wales that was stopped in 2006. This service as well as other companies working from Cardiff airport should be connected to the international Welsh diasporas and other valid international destinations, with direct links (not connecting flights) to New York, Patagonia / Argentina / South America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Russia, India, Africa, France, Spain, Italy and Brussels ,as well as all the other closer popular destinations like Dublin, Edinburgh, London, Manchester and North Wales/South Wales.

More sustainable forms of powering these planes should be looked into and developed so that Wales can lead the way in modern sustainable energies and transport. A smaller airport should be established along the north Wales coast around Llandudno, handling flights from within Wales, Britain and some European countries and smaller domestic airports established at Aberystwyth, and Swansea, and expanded in the case of Newtown.

A fast direct rail route straight from the actual Cardiff airport itself directly into central Cardiff train station needs to be swiftly put in place so that national and international visitors are properly serviced.

46. Voluntary, paid 3 month military service for all 16 and 18 year olds

Wales should have a voluntary military service where every young adult reaching sixteen or eighteen years of age has the option of doing a three-month military or civilian service. They would be paid a minimal weekly wage to do the three-month course which would be paid at the end of the three month period.

This would mean that they could be considered for military service in the Welsh Armed Forces if they passed the three month course. The money earned could also go towards starting their own businesses venture. They would be advised how they could use the lump sum productively and to think in a business minded way regarding the payment.

47. A470 road to be improved and expanded as a fast national route

The A470 road connecting north and south Wales needs to be massively improved, with huge areas needing straightening and if possible being made into a dual carriageway from north to south, or at least comprehensively widened to have a passing lane as is seen on many main roads in the Republic of Ireland. A big road and rail tunnel should be dug through the foot of Bwlch Oerddrws between Dinas Mawddwy and Cross foxes on the A470 route, that would eliminate one of the steepest obstacles on the main north /south road of Wales. This tunnel should have a dual purpose of being a road tunnel as well as a rail tunnel, enabling the main high speed north/south rail link of Wales to pass through from mid Wales to Dolgellau, Bala and further on to Denbigh, Rhyl, Wrexham, Bangor and north Wales in general .

A road system catered towards electric cars could also be developed in Wales, including recharging points using renewable energy from the Welsh grid and solar highways technology to power cars from solar technology installed in roads and powered by the sun. Roads are large open spaces perfect for installing solar cells or for adapting and developing kinetic movement technology from the contact and movement of car wheels on the road.

48. Standardisation of public services

Doctor surgery hours as well as MOS’ (Members of Senedd) and MP’s surgery hours should all be standardised with the same hours right across Wales. Bin recycling times and other major public services should be standardised across Wales as well where possible. This will mean greater efficiency, cohesion and connection between everyone in Wales. The fire, police and health regions could also be standardised to use the same regions/borders, for ease of planning and the potential sharing of facilities, resources and information where of benefit.

49. Sovereignty and the world – a new way

“The permanent peace of the world can never be secured by perpetuating military dominion for the profit of empire but only by establishing the control of government in every land upon the basis of the free will of a free people” – Message to the free nations of the world by the Irish republic 1919.

Diversity as much as cooperation with others is a fundamental characteristic of the universe – it strengthens a collective understanding in a far more powerful way than uniformity on its own can – it binds us together and connects us in a way that allows us to celebrate our differences rather than our uniformity. Diversity is what makes the world and the universe what it is. Wales can play a constructive and effective role in the international community by working towards the betterment of the planet, the human race and natural world whilst also protecting its own citizens and resources.

A more inter connected world will not diminish the importance of protecting crucial resources or values – if anything it will highlight their importance. Wales should be in a position to determine its own sensible balance between environmental, economical and social matters and should discuss, agree or disagree to proceed with any agreements or directives from committees or unions outside of Wales in a Welsh Parliament first.

We will invite diplomatic recognition as a sovereign country in the world according to International Law, and look forward to playing our part in the International community of sovereign states. We would aim for the establishment of a Wales Global Peace Center in Wales, where all nationalities and viewpoints could meet, debate and resolve issues in the name of international understanding and conflict resolution.

We believe in a world of sovereign nations, as well as an international consensus on the following crucial issues

a) Regulation and elimination of all weapons of biological and mass destruction, and the implementation of ‘traditional’ ‘green’ weaponry only (non biological guns and boms) If humans insist on wars then we should at least make sure that all of us can’t be instantly wiped out by the decisions of a few.

b) Regulation on the development of unethical and unregulated advanced technologies and sciences, unethical genetic, DNA, food and seed manipulation, artificial intelligence, and dangerous chemicals.

c) Basic human and civil rights including individual and property rights, the prevention of genocide, ethnic cleansing, illegal financial control and exploitation, and the right to sovereignty, democracy and accountable government.

d) An agreement for all countries to provide exactly the same amount or percentage each year to one main international fund. This fund would go towards the running of a yearly international convention, for interpreting international law, to help those countries in desperate need of help because of famine or environmental emergencies, and in extreme cases to provide an interest free financial loan to countries that desperately need it. All countries should also agree to have a standby deployable army battalion or brigade available for international peace keeping, conflict resolution, and the prevention of genocide and ethnic cleansing purposes only. Any act of war on another country would only be acceptable after full legal representation had been made, scrutinised and legally accepted at home and at the international court, which would also have to be televised/streamed globally. The international court would be the only final but unlikely way an act of war could be deemed acceptable or legal.

e) An agreement for all countries to provide an equal percentage of their yearly income on the promotion of birth control and contraception in their respective countries, through educational and promotional ways. We as a human race have to recognise the effects over population numbers can have on the world and the future, and strive to control and regulate it via voluntary and educative ways. The common sense concept of a better quality of life for all under a sustainable world population should be obvious to all; the earths resources aren’t infinite and it cannot be sensical or sustainable to not aim for no more growth in world population.

A maximum one amendment per year in each subject could be allowed if necessary and if all countries agreed. International legal prosecution and challenge would only be allowed within these agreed areas, and international legality would be equal to sovereign legality. We would advocate that a world convention met in a different country and continent each year, in the same style as the travelling National Eisteddfod of Wales.

For a fairer world we advocate that world states implement the basic model of The Peoples Profits model demonstrated in this manifesto, where a ratio of the countries profits is shared equally between its citizens (25% or 33.34 % for example) This would at least deter some of the out of control greed and corruption of governments, and would ensure that citizens were guaranteed a dividend in their own countries wealth.

50. Welsh foundations and institutions

All foundations, bodies and institutions dealing with and relevant to Wales and its people should be rooted and based in Wales. The following being examples of some of them; a Welsh Broadcasting Cooperation, a Welsh internet and telecommunications zone and its regulatory body for Wales, an independent Office of Media and Communications for Wales, a Welsh National Trust, a Welsh Commission for Racial Equality, a Welsh Press and Media Complaints Commission, a Welsh music and royalty collecting agency for all the musicians, film makers and publishers of Wales and a Wales Electoral Commission

All other foundations, bodies and institutions whose prime concern is Wales should be rooted and based in Wales, to represent the interests of the citizens of Wales.

Manifesto / Maniffesto

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