Cymru Fydd - Young Wales
Last updated: 23 September 2008
Historian John Davies looks at the emergence of the Cymru Fydd - Young Wales - movement.
Founded in 1886, Cymru Fydd was intended to fulfil several roles, some of which were perhaps contradictory: it sought to be the Welsh expression of the Liberal Party, to further an awareness of Welsh nationality and to advance the cause of Welsh devolution.
In the 1890s it also became the vehicle for the ambition of Lloyd George who made tireless efforts to ensure that the Liberal politics of Wales had a stronger Welsh identity.
However, at a meeting in Newport in 1896, it became evident that this was unacceptable to a large proportion of Wales' Liberal activists and by the end of the century the movement had fizzled out.
In 1910 the home rule issue was revived by ET John, specifically in the context of the likelihood that Ireland would become self-governing. It was again much discussed in the immediate post-war years, but although Wales gains some administrative devolution, nothing of great substance is achieved.
In 1925 Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru (the National Party of Wales, later Plaid Cymru, the Party of Wales) was founded. However, until the 1950s at least, the party had only a marginal role in Welsh politics.
