Rejected petition Hold a referendum on Welsh independence

The movement for an independent Wales is rapidly gaining momentum and members. The treatment of Wales and its people by the UK Parliament is rankling many here. We, the supporters of this petition, call on our Senedd to recognise the deep and growing resentment that we have with this treatment, not just historical but present, and declare a referendum on the independence of Wales.

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Each of us will have different reasons for wishing Wales to leave the union. We will have different reasons because we have been given a great many to choose from; whether they are historical reasons or much more recent - such as Boris Johnson's treatment and dismissal of us and our Senedd during the current pandemic. No matter our reasons, we know that it is simply our right, as a distinct people with a distinct and rich culture and a distinct and rich history, to govern ourselves and our future. No matter our reasons, we speak with one voice and call on our Senedd to ensure that our right to decide our own future is facilitated, defended and respected. Give us a referendum on Welsh independence from a union that we never chose to enter.

Why was this petition rejected?

It asks the Senedd to do something that it is not able to do.

The Government of Wales Act 2006 establishes the extent of the Senedd’s power to make new laws and amend existing law (also known as legislative competence). Schedules 7A and 7B of the 2006 Act set out the issues which are ‘restricted’ or ‘reserved’ - i.e. areas where the UK Parliament, not the Senedd, can legislate.

The UK Government would have to grant the Senedd specific powers in order for such a referendum to take place.

As a result, it is not possible for the Senedd to take the action called for by your petition.

Further information about the legislative powers of the Senedd can be found here:
https://senedd.wales/en/abthome/role-of-assembly-how-it-works/Pages/Powers.aspx

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards

Rejected petitions are published in the language in which they were submitted

Date submitted 16 October 2020
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The data shows the number of people who have signed the petition by country as well as in the constituency of each Member of the Senedd. This data is available for all petitions on the site. It is not a list of people who have signed the petition. The only name that is shared on the site is that of the petition creator.