Gwlad - Wales Can be Better

Gwlad contested the 2021 Senedd election alongside Plaid Cymru, the Wales Green Party, and Propel as one of four pro-independence parties. It adopted a 'nation above party' strategy, deliberately avoiding constituencies held by Plaid to prevent splitting the independence vote.

Gwlad's 2021 campaign explicitly positioned the party as complementary to Plaid rather than competitive, focusing on areas where Plaid had traditionally been weak — particularly eastern Wales and English-speaking communities. The party described itself as 'centre-right' and used the slogan 'Not Left, Not Right, Just Welsh,' attempting to attract independence supporters who were put off by Plaid's left-wing positioning. While Gwlad won no seats, its existence is strategically significant for the independence movement: it demonstrates that support for Welsh self-governance is not confined to the left of the political spectrum and provides a home for centre-right voters who want independence but don't identify with Plaid's social democracy. This ideological diversity within the independence movement mirrors Scotland, where the SNP's dominance has been supplemented by smaller parties (Alba, Scottish Greens) occupying different ideological positions on a shared constitutional goal.

Gwlad published a detailed manifesto ahead of the 2026 election, presenting itself as a practical, policy-focused alternative to what it characterised as Plaid Cymru's caution and Labour's failure. The manifesto reflected the party's centre-right positioning with an emphasis on economic reform, fiscal responsibility, and pragmatic governance.

The Gwlad manifesto argued that 'Wales is a Nation. It follows that it ought to be a State' — but crucially added that 'first we need to show that we can make Wales better using the Senedd's existing powers, earning the right to ask for more.' This gradualist approach distinguished Gwlad from both Plaid's more ambitious constitutional agenda and YesCymru's grassroots enthusiasm. The manifesto was notably critical of the Senedd itself, describing it as having become 'the haunt of career politicians who pursue their own interests' — a rare position for a pro-independence party, which typically defends devolved institutions. Gwlad's willingness to criticise the Senedd's performance while supporting its expansion into full independence reflects its centre-right ideology: it wants an independent Wales but one governed more efficiently and less ideologically than the current Labour-dominated settlement. This positioning could attract voters who support independence in principle but are frustrated with the Senedd's track record.