Labour Party success in Wales linked to establishing distinctive Welsh identity

Labour retained control of the Welsh parliament with the Party matching a previous election record by capturing 30 of the 60 seats in Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament). This is in stark contrast to the disastrous performance of Labour in England and continued decline in Scotland. Many have pointed out that the nations within Britain have developed very different voting patterns. This reflects genuine differences between them and the need for different economic and political  development.

There is a growing recognition of this with opinion polls consistently  showing a rise in support for an independent Wales. In contrast to Labour in Scotland, which continues, to their cost, to support almost unquestioning loyalty to the union with the United Kingdom. Welsh Labour have emphasised  explicitly Welsh solutions to issues within Wales. In no large part this is in recognition that opinion polls within Wales have shown that a significant percentage of their own supporters are in favour of independence. 

However, there is no getting away from the present position that Welsh Labour (Welsh: Llafur Cymru) is a branch of the United Kingdom Labour Party that operates in Wales. Albeit that the present Welsh Labour leadership have promoted a sort of "nationalism-lite" approach. Welsh Labour leader Mark Drakeford has been critical of UK Government. In particular their attempts at  undermining devolution. However, the dangers for Wales of remaining in the United Kingdom is that the UK government can undermine even the powers so far gained by devolution.

Hence a movement within the membership of Welsh Labour, for the party to make a more determined stance on independence for Wales. In doing so making them more distinctive from the United Kingdom Labour Party and no longer being seen as just a branch of UK Labour. It is after all, this distinction that has resulted in Welsh Labour bucking the trend of decline as seen with Labour in Scotland and England. Along with Plaid Cymru and a likely emerging Welsh Green Party, there is an opportunity to build a very strong pro-independence movement.

Image above: Mark Drakeford, Welsh Labour leader courtesy of the Guardian.