Welsh Socialist Republican Movement

The Welsh Socialist Republican Movement (Mudiad Sosialaidd Gweriniaethol Cymru) was a short-lived nationalist political movement[1][2] which was born out of frustration with Plaid Cymru's failure to oppose the first referendum on Welsh Devolution in 1979 in order to map out a specific policy of arguing for Independence. It was also an attempt to develop a Welsh Socialist alternative to Plaid Cymru and it produced pamphlets and a newspaper called Y Faner Goch (The Red Flag).

Not to be confused with Welsh Republican Movement.

The WSRM was socialist and republican but there was a fundamental contradiction between those positions which was never resolved and was the basic reason it fell apart the moment that the police, following an infiltration/undercover operation predominantly in student circles in Aberystwyth and Bangor in 1980-81,[3] arrested and prosecuted WSRM members for conspiracy to cause explosions.

After its collapse around half a dozen members joined the Communist Party of Great Britain,[4] some returned to Plaid Cymru, and others became active in issue-orientated movements.[5]

The socialist remnants published a couple more copies of Y Faner Goch ("The Red Flag")[6] and then reformed in the late 1980s to create Cymru Goch (Red Wales), a small socialist political party that lasted another 20 years, publishing Y Faner Goch until 2003 and establishing The Red Poets' Society, an annual poetry magazine that is active today.

References
  1. Ellis, Peter Berresford (1985). The Celtic Revolution: A Study in Anti-Imperialism. Y Lolfa. pp. 94–95. ISBN 9780862430962.
  2. Minahan, James (2002). Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: Ethnic and National Groups Around the World, Vol 4. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 2050. ISBN 9780313323843.
  3. Weichlein, S., Nationalbewegungen und Nationalismus in Europa — Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft (2013). ISBN 978-3534256020.
  4. "A Communist Christmas: In Conversation with Rob Griffiths". Soundcloud (Podcast). Desolation Radio. Jan 2018. Event occurs at 19:40.
  5. Jenkins, Mike (7 August 2012). "The Legacy of Cymru Goch".
  6. Crick, Bernard (1981). Unemployment. Routledge. p. 130. ISBN 9780416324709.

Further reading
  • Osmond, John (1984). Police conspiracy?. Y Lolfa. ISBN 9780862430771.
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