Welsh Republican Movement
Encyclopedia
The Welsh Republican Movement was a Welsh nationalist political party
.
It was founded in 1949 as a split from Plaid Cymru
. The group, some of whom had previously been members of the Labour Party
aimed to build a base in industrial south east Wales by focusing on socialism
and republicanism
rather than on rural
affairs, pacifism
and the Welsh language
.
In 1950, the group began publishing a newspaper, The Welsh Republican - Y Gweriniaethwr. It stood Ithel Davies in Ogmore
in the 1950 UK general election, and took 1.3% of the vote.
Some members of the party were arrested for burning the Union Jack, and it faced accusations of initiating violence. They also conceived a Welsh republican flag, a tricolor with green, red and white bands.
By the mid-1950s, most members of the Movement had either returned to Plaid Cymru or joined the Labour Party
, and its newspaper ceased publication in 1957. However, F. W. S. Craig
believed that it remained active as late as 1966.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
It was founded in 1949 as a split from Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
. The group, some of whom had previously been members of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
aimed to build a base in industrial south east Wales by focusing on socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
and republicanism
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...
rather than on rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
affairs, pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
and the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
.
In 1950, the group began publishing a newspaper, The Welsh Republican - Y Gweriniaethwr. It stood Ithel Davies in Ogmore
Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)
Ogmore is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Boundaries :Taking its name from the River Ogmore, the constituency is situated close to the source of the river in the Ogwr valley and excludes the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, which is the...
in the 1950 UK general election, and took 1.3% of the vote.
Some members of the party were arrested for burning the Union Jack, and it faced accusations of initiating violence. They also conceived a Welsh republican flag, a tricolor with green, red and white bands.
By the mid-1950s, most members of the Movement had either returned to Plaid Cymru or joined the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, and its newspaper ceased publication in 1957. However, F. W. S. Craig
F. W. S. Craig
Frederick Walter Scott Craig was a Scottish psephologist and compiler of the standard reference books covering United Kingdom Parliamentary election results. He originally worked in public relations, compiling election results in his spare time which were published by the Scottish Unionist Party...
believed that it remained active as late as 1966.
See also
- English republicanism
- Irish republicanismIrish RepublicanismIrish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
- Scottish republicanismScottish republicanismScottish republicanism refers to the advocacy position held by some Scottish pro-independence organisations for a Republic of Scotland with an elected head of state...
- Welsh nationalismWelsh nationalismWelsh nationalism emphasises the distinctiveness of Welsh language, culture, and history, and calls for more self-determination for Wales, which may include more Devolved powers for the Welsh Assembly or full independence from the United Kingdom.-Conquest:...
- Republicanism in the United KingdomRepublicanism in the United KingdomRepublicanism in the United Kingdom is the movement which seeks to remove the British monarchy and replace it with a republic that has a non-hereditary head of state...