Would Wales survive as an independent country?

[AdoptedBumpkin]

Recently I have seen a couple of articles about a rise in support for Welsh independence. A few years ago I would have thought it fanciful, but there are many less populated independent countries, including within Europe.

For them to at least keep their current economic status, they would need to make some very quick trade deals with Westminster and the EU, and perhaps eventually join the EU if the Welsh public wanted it by whichever time.

With my admittedly limited knowledge, I would estimate that the industrial areas in the south would potentially be fine, but some areas further north and west would be very reliant on farming and/or tourism. Am I talking rubbish or would it be viable?

No. It is nationalistic neuroses, nothing more.

If Wales was a business, the rest of the UK runs it at a loss.

There is no way they could be self supporting.

I think I unemployment is high in Wales. Unlike Scotland they don't have North Sea Oil. A lot of Wales is beautiful but poor.

Wales actually has low unemployment rates (at least pre-covid, not sure if it's changed) compared to the UK average. However, we have a higher than average level of economically inactive people - people out of work who are not seeking work. This includes students, carers and retired people.

If Wales had the same fiscal tools as the UK, we wouldn't be as poor. To say the national debt is our debt is debatable. Where has the money been spent? Not necessarily in Wales, which gets a poor deal from the barnett formula.

And the question to people who think we are a drain on England, do you support Wales being independent and freeing up all the tax money that gets spent on us?

Finally, Cardiff is a great city. If you think it's bad, don't go to Swansea!

Part of the problem for both Wales and Scotland would be having to take a share of the national debt if they become independent. It is a national debt and not an English debt and so would have to be shared. With that both would probably struggle to meet the requirements to be admitted to the EU.

I don't know how it would work for Wales, but an indy Scotland would most definitely not be responsible for the national debt. This was recognised by the UK Treasury last time round, and further reinforced by Richard Murphy's recent blog post. (This latter would also suggest Wales has no real responsibility to pay off the debt either.)

Lots of opportunity for Wales to grow rich on the back of renewable energy. Just need the welsh government to properly get behind it and show some aspiration and leadership.