Plaid Cymru, The Welsh Youth Vote And More Hard Brexit Hypotheicals

Hello there. Hope you're feeling well today.

I have chatted before about how a hard Brexit might help the cause of Plaid Cymru and Welsh Independence. Though, as I stress again here no nationalist wants a hard Brexit because of the pain it will cause families across Wales.

It does not mean however that Plaid Cymru should not plan for the consequences of a hard Brexit politically which is why the Welsh Youth Vote becomes important.

If we judge the consequences of a hard Brexit by age then it will be the young who will be the most affected. Not just because of the economic consequences but also on the issue of freedom of movement.

During the referendum freedom of movement was portrayed as a one way street. To paraphrase it was "look at those people with their East European accents coming here and doing the jobs we don't want to do".

The Leave campaign exploited this. But the young knew what the referendum result will mean for them. They cannot explore other cultures in the same way as they used to. Trust me two weeks in Ibiza does not mean you've discovered Spain.

They know that they can't as a rule apply for jobs in an EU state. They know that falling in love and settling down with somebody from an EU state will become next to impossible.

In short the curtailment of their freedom of movement will mean that their lives will be less enriched because of the decisions of people who for the most part have settled lives.

(And in a separate post I'll be chatting about the effect of a hard credit on the Welsh language)

They will see the advantages the youth of other EU countries will have and as a consequence the young people in Wales will become angry

So who would they vote for?

The Conservatives?  Hardly likely given they helped set this mess up in the first place? Ditto (thankfully) UKIP.

Labour? The party whose policy on Brexit seems to change with the wind though for the moment they want to create a " Brexit for jobs" (whatever that means today)

Which leaves Plaid Cymru the party in Wales that consistently wanted to remain in the EU and would come independence negotiate it's return in a heartbeat.

So if I was Plaid 's top brass I'd be going after the Welsh Youth Vote very strongly.I

It's the future after all.

Until the next time.