logo
Yes Cymru deliver Crown Estate campaign letter to Downing Street

Yes Cymru deliver Crown Estate campaign letter to Downing Street

The National4 hours ago

All 22 local authorities in Wales, the Senedd, and an overwhelming 75% of the Welsh public have supported the campaign on, with the final council voting unanimously to support the proposal last week.
In the letter, YesCymru set out the case for the transfer, stating that "Westminster's failure to act is strengthening the case for independence" and driving public support.
Thee group highlighted the significant rise in backing for an independent Wales, from around 5% before the 2014 Scottish referendum to 41% in the most recent poll, conducted in April.
READ MORE: Robin McAlpine: Why support for independence is surging in Wales
Campaigners are calling for the management of Crown Estate assets in Wales to be devolved to the Welsh Government, and for the profits from these sites to stay in Wales also, instead of going to the UK Treasury.
Crown Estate Scotland manages seabed, coastline, rural estates and other assets, delivering the profits to the Scottish Government for public spending.
The Crown Estate in Wales, valued at over £850 million, generates significant revenue from Welsh land and seabeds.
Several peers argued in October that it is only fair to devolve the Crown Estate in Wales to the Welsh Government, given Scottish assets were devolved to Scotland in 2016.
Director of YesCymru, Rob Hughes, said: "Wales has been overlooked and undervalued for far too long. All we're asking for is fairness, and when that's denied, more and more people see independence as the only way forward."
The letter outlines that YesCymru is willing to engage constructively with the UK Government, not only on transferring the Crown Estate but also on preparing the way for a referendum on Welsh independence.
Hughes concluded: "This united support across Wales shows that YesCymru can bring people together behind a clear demand, and that real change is possible when voices across the country speak as one."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Councillors reject holiday cabins for second time
Councillors reject holiday cabins for second time

Edinburgh Reporter

time5 minutes ago

  • Edinburgh Reporter

Councillors reject holiday cabins for second time

Plans to create a holiday site on the fringe of the Pentland Hills have been thrown out for a second time this year Lucy Crombie lodged an application to build 20 wooden holiday lodges on a site known as the Paddocks. The area of open countryside borders Leyden Road, a narrow, winding rural road bounded by open farmland and woodlands which climbs from Kirknewton up to the main A70 road which skirts the Pentland Hills regional park. The same application was rejected by the Development Management Committee in January last year and an appeal later dismissed by the Local Review Body. One objector called for the council to refuse to decide on the latest filing of the proposals saying they had not changed since the council rejected the same plans last year. And a lawyer suggested the proposal may have come back 'to wear down' resistance. Planning officers said the applicant had now supplied supplementary reports which validated councillors hearing the plans again. The latest application attracted 22 objections including one from the local community council and a neighbour Juliet Bentley who lives in the B- listed Ormiston Castle immediately adjacent to the site. Ewan MacLeod of legal firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, acting as agents for Ms Bentley told councillors: 'Both we and our client are surprised that the application has been made to the council. It is identical in all material respects to [the previous] application. 'The application has clearly been submitted within the 5-year window and there has been no change in the development plan or in any other material consideration. The council must therefore consider whether to exercise its discretion to refuse to determine the application.' In its written objection the firm said, ' [the] applicant's failure to address the well-founded planning issues raised by local residents and the council's reasons for refusal, we submit that it would be irrational for the council to determine the application.' Mr MacLeod said that if the application was refused ' the applicant can appeal to Scottish ministers and an unelected Scottish Government official can then take a decision which may overturn the democratic will of this committee… If you decline to determine the application the applicant has no appeal.' He said such a decision would also save the council the expenses of defending its decision at an appeal. An agent for the applicant denied planner's criticism of the proposals being 'too urban' in appearance, saying that the cabins on the site occupied less than a third of the area. Suggestions that the site would be too visible on the landscape were also questioned. He added that his client was prepared to explore road widening and passing spaces outlined in concerns highlighted by the planners. Planners outlined their objections stating: 'The proposals for the holiday chalets at this location would create a sense of urbanisation within a countryside setting. The Roads Officer would require works to be undertaken in order to improve road safety, including access works, road widening works at five points on the public road and application of a speed limit, to support the proposals. 'Mitigation measures can potentially address road safety concerns (although it is unclear if this will require agreement with third party landowners in respect of road widening works)' Councillor Damian Doran-Timson asked planning officers what had changed in the plans since they were rejected by the LRB in August last year. Planning officer Gillian Cyphus said there had been a lack of information when the proposals had gone to the review body; the slight change now was that drainage reports had been made available. That was why planners had recommended the proposals come before councillors for determination, with the recommendation for refusal. Councillor Pauline Clark said: 'I think we should be encouraging tourists to come here. However, I do think access is a big problem. I think the lack of being able to walk to the train station is a problem. I don't know if paths are something that could be sorted. It's major stumbling block She defended the planning appeal procedures of the Scottish Government as democratic. Councillor Doran-Timson agreed with her objections: He said ' We need to do more for tourism and economic development has been a failure, but I think the amount of non-conformities we have with the application, not just the paths there's a number of different issues that have me going toward officers' recommendations.' He added: 'Unlike Councillor Clark I share Mr MacLeods concerns about the Scottish Reporter overturns in recent years in West Lothian.' Councillor Pauline Stafford said she had concerns about families with children walking the main road to Kirknewton. 'The nature of the site would encourage people to drive to and from it,' she added. Councillor Willie Boyle said: 'My concern is that this looks like a caravan holiday park rather than holiday cabins you see in rural areas.I think the design is wrong. Councillor Doran Timson's motion to refuse planning permission was backed by Willie Boyle. By Stuart Sommerville, Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related

Labour whip resigns over proposed welfare cuts
Labour whip resigns over proposed welfare cuts

Glasgow Times

time7 minutes ago

  • Glasgow Times

Labour whip resigns over proposed welfare cuts

In a letter informing the Prime Minister of her resignation, the MP for Lewisham North said she understood 'the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill' but did not believe the proposed cuts 'should be part of the solution'. She said: 'I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. (1/2) With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip. Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits. — Vicky Foxcroft 💙 (@vickyfoxcroft) June 19, 2025 'Sadly it is now (sic) seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. 'I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances.' Ms Foxcroft, who previously served as shadow minister for disabled people, is the first frontbencher to resign over the proposed benefit cuts, and the second to go over policy issues following Anneliese Dodds' decision to quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget. Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, personal independence payment (Pip). Ministers also want to cut the sickness related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it, so only those aged 22 and over can claim it. The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were 'impossible to support'. Pip is a benefit aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. The latest data, published on Tuesday, showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants. Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government's proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's legislation. The impact assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that some 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/2030, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Changes to universal credit are expected to see an estimated 2.25 million current recipients of the health element impacted, with an average loss of £500 per year. But the Government said around 3.9 million households not on the UC health element are expected to have an average annual gain of £265 from the increase in the standard UC allowance. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the legislation 'marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity'. But Neil Duncan-Jordan, the Labour MP for Poole and one of the backbenchers opposed to the change, said the Government was 'rushing through' the changes and urged ministers to think again.

Blow for Keir Starmer as Labour frontbencher quits over disability benefit cuts
Blow for Keir Starmer as Labour frontbencher quits over disability benefit cuts

Daily Mirror

time17 minutes ago

  • Daily Mirror

Blow for Keir Starmer as Labour frontbencher quits over disability benefit cuts

Vicky Foxcroft said "with a heavy heart" she would be giving up her role as a government whip, saying changes she'd wanted to see made to the welfare reform had not happened. Keir Starmer has suffered a blow as a frontbencher quit in protest over planned cuts to disability benefits. Vicky Foxcroft said "with a heavy heart" she would be giving up her role as a government whip, saying changes she'd wanted to see made to the welfare reform had not happened. ‌ "I absolutely understand the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill in these difficult economic times," Ms Foxcroft wrote in her letter of resignation. ‌ "But I have always believed this could and should be done by supporting more disabled people into work." She went on: "I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution." Government whips are in charge of morale and discipline. It would have been Ms Foxcroft's role to convince wavering Labour MPs to back rhe bill and corral them through the voting lobbies. She added: "I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. "I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip - or indeed vote - for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances." ‌ Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall argued she was taking "the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity" as she sought to soften the impact by introducing a 13-week transition period so existing claimants avoid a cliff edge. But campaigners said the last-minute changes to the plans would do little to mitigate the devastating impact. Around 3.2 million families could be hit by the overall reforms by 2030, with an average loss of £1,720 per year, according to the Government's analysis in March. The document said estimates did not include the impact of the £1 billion employment support package "which we expect to mitigate the poverty impact". Around 800,000 people are expected to be impacted by PIP changes, including 370,000 current claimants and 430,000 future recipients, with an average loss of £4,500 per year. The tightening of eligibility will mean those who can't wash half of their body or cook a meal unaided no longer qualify for the daily living element - unless they have another condition. The UC health element, which is claimed by more than two million people, will be frozen at £97 a week for existing claimants until 2029/30, and reduced to £50 a week for new claimants from 2026/27.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store