Mair Williams's blog

Revealing Labour's true colours Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to remove Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners from this year. Announcing the decision she said: “This is not the statement I wanted to give today, and these are not the decisions I wanted to make. But they are the right decisions in difficult circumstances,”.

In 2017 artefacts dating back to 1200 and 700BC were discovered by Colin Rivett, a metal-detector, in Abergale, Conway (Welsh: Bwrdeistref Sirol Conwy) in Cymru. The hoard of 13 items, which were declared a treasure last year, include bronze socketed axes, palstaves (an early bronze axe), and sword chapes, which were fitted on the end of a sword or dagger scabbard. Conwy Museums Service has now purchased the artefacts so the collection will return to Wales, to be displayed at Conwy Culture Centre.

Former deputy leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth has been announced as the new leader of the pro-independence Welsh party Plaid Cymru. Rhun ap Iorwerth, represents Ynys Môn in the Senedd. He was born in south Wales, brought up on Ynys Môn and educated at Ysgol David Hughes on the Island and at Cardiff University, where he graduated with a degree in politics and Welsh. He is married and has three children. Former Plaid Cymru leader, Adam Price stepped down as head of the party last month.

Image: Rhun ap Iorwerth courtesy of Plaid Cymru

Thousands of people took part in a rally calling for independence for Wales in Swansea yesterday 20th May. Organisers Yes Cymru and AUOB (All Under One Banner) Cymru, estimated about 6,000 people took part in the march. The event in Swansea comes after an estimated 10,000 marched in Cardiff and 8,000 in Wrexham last year. This week also saw one of the highest ever levels of support for independence in a poll, 

Image: Courtesy of YesCymru Facebook page

British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer has shed any green credentials he might once have held by vowing to give English councils more powers to allow developers to build on green belt land. In British town planning, the green belt is a policy for controlling urban growth, the aim being to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land. Under current planning rules in England, new buildings can only be constructed on green belt land in exceptional circumstances. Keir Starmer would give councils more power to concrete over protected sites.

A 2000 year old gold coin thought to be in circulation during the reign of legendary Celtic Queen Boudicca has been sold at auction. Boudicca or Boudica was a queen of the ancient Celtic Iceni tribe in the area of England now known as East Anglia. At the end of her reign in 60 or 61 AD the warrior Queen led a rebellion against the Roman annexation of her kingdom, killing 70,000 Romans and setting Colchester, St. Albans and London ablaze. Such was the initial success of the rebellion that Roman Emperor Nero considered withdrawing all his imperial forces from Britain.

The Brecon Beacons National Park is changing its name so that it is officially known by its Welsh name Bannau Brycheiniog. Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog is the Welsh name for the park. Bannau means 'peaks' and Brycheiniog refers to the old kingdom of Wales' fifth century ruler, Brychan. This reflects the park's commitment to Welsh culture, language and heritage.

Saint David (Welsh: Dewi Sant c. 500 – c. 589) is the patron saint of Wales. Celebrations are taking place today on March 1st, St David's Day, recognised as a National Day throughout Wales. The date is tradionally seen as that on which Saint David died in 589.  He was a Welsh bishop of Mynyw, now St Davids (Welsh: Tyddewi) during the 6th century. He is traditionally believed to be the son of Saint Non and the grandson of Ceredig ap Cunedda, King of Ceredigion. 

All Under One Banner Cymru and YesCymru have announced their first March for Independence of 2023 will be held in Swansea on May 20. Marchers are encouraged to meet from 11.30am on Saturday 20th May at Wind Street Swansea with the march leaving promptly at 1pm.

Elfed Williams, Chair of YesCymru said: “There is something special about coming together to march for an independent Wales and it’s great to see that the marches have grown every time with the Swansea march being the most ambitious yet!

Saint Tudwal (died c. 564), was a Breton monk, considered to be one of the seven founder saints of Brittany. Tudwal is said to be a son of King Hoel (Breton: Hoel I Mawr), a late 5th- and early 6th-century member of the ruling dynasty of Cornouaille (Breton: Kernev). Tudwel is thought to have been brought up in Lydstep in Wales (Cymru). He then went to Ireland (Éire) for religious education later returning to Wales becoming a hermit on Saint Tudwal's Islands (Welsh: Ynysoedd Tudwal).