In January 1959, The Times published the following:

"Malta cannot live on its own... the economy would collapse without British Treasury subventions. Talk of full independence for Malta is therefore hopelessly impractical."

🧵👇 It went on to state that:

"The island could only pay for one-fifth of her food and essential imports; well over a quarter of the present labour force would be out of work"

Too small! Too poor!
Where have we heard that nonsense before?

732 years ago, in a meadow on the banks of the river Irfon, the last Prince of Wales, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd fell.
His life ended in battle with King Edward of England's soldiers.

Heddiw, fe gofiwn #Cilmeri.

THREAD ⤵️ #Cilmeri is a sacred place.

The village, on the outskirts of Llanfair ym Muallt (Builth Wells) was the scene of The Battle of Irfon Bridge, in which Llywelyn - finding himself separated from his main army - died at the hands of an English soldier named Stephen de Frankton.

732 o flynyddoedd yn ôl, mewn dôl ar lan yr afon Irfon, lladdwyd Tywysog Cymru olaf, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.
Daeth ei fywyd i ben mewn brwydr gyda un o filwyr Brenin Lloegr, Edward I.

Cofiwn #Cilmeri. Mae #Cilmeri yn lle cysegredig.

Roedd y pentref, ar gyrion Llanfair ym Muallt, yn faes y gâd Brwydr Pont Irfon, lle bu farw Llywelyn – wedi iddo gael ei wahanu oddi ar ei brif fyddin - yn nwylo un filwr Edward, Stephen de Frankton.

"I really 100% believe in my lifetime Wales will be an independent country. I actually think the momentum around this is becoming an unstoppable force… the more I look into it, the more I understand, and the more it just feels logical."
business-live.co.uk/economic-devel… "If you participate in a union… and participate in the parliament where you have the representation of 40 in a parliament of 650, you don’t need to be a mathematician to work out that your voice is pretty insignificant, and statistically irrelevant."

Independence might sound like an appealing idea, but will it work in practice?
Can Wales afford to stand on its own two feet?

One regularly-mentioned argument is that although Wales has a trade surplus of around £5bn a year, it is currently running a fiscal deficit.

THREAD ⤵️ However, the important point to make is that this fiscal deficit is not inevitable.

Wales is currently running a fiscal deficit *as part of the UK.*

Independence would give the government a set of economic tools it doesn’t have at the moment.

Currently, @WelshGovernment has minimal powers over taxation and borrowing.
The powers it does have are hamstrung in ways that ensure England is not disadvantaged.

THREAD ⤵️ For example, the UK Treasury has repeatedly refused Welsh Government calls to devolve Air Passenger Duty, unashamedly saying that doing so would give @Cardiff_Airport an advantage over @BristolAirport.

Apêl Storm Dennis YesCymru - Diweddariad

Diolch enfawr i holl aelodau a chefnogwyr YesCymru a gyfrannodd tuag at ein hapêl. Mae ein hapêl bellach wedi cau, ond mewn wythnos yn unig llwyddwyd i godi £5,610. Bydd yr holl arian a godir yn cael ei drosglwyddo i'r apêl genedlaethol 'Helpu Cymru yn dilyn llifogydd Storm Dennis' a drefnir gan @michaelsheen ar ran WCVA, a’r arian i gael ei ddosbarthu i gymunedau ledled y wlad. Mae'r apêl honno'n dal ar agor yma > gofundme.com/f/helpwalesaft…

YesCymru – Storm Dennis Appeal update

A massive thanks to all YesCymru members and supporters who donated towards our appeal. Our appeal is now closed, but in one week we managed to raise £5,610. All funds raised from our appeal are being transferred to the national 'Help Wales after Storm Dennis floods' appeal organised by @michaelsheen on behalf of WCVA and will be distributed to communities across the country. That appeal is still open at > gofundme.com/f/helpwalesaft…

WESTMINSTER ISN'T WORKING! #indyWales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Economy – In the 1950s the Welsh GDP was twice as big as Ireland’s. Now, as an independent nation in the 21st century, the economy of the Irish Republic is 4 times the size of Wales. Westminster rule doesn’t work – independence does. #indyWales