Melin Drafod

Melin Drafod is a Welsh think tank and campaign body established in 2021 by Colin Nosworthy. Its name is a Welsh-language coinage intended as an equivalent to the English term 'think tank'. The organisation describes itself as a 'critical friend' to the grassroots independence movement in Wales, and it operates on a cross-party and cross-movement basis, without formal affiliation to any political party. It focuses on detailed examination of the questions raised by growing support for Welsh independence. The body was founded to 'support, facilitate and be a critical friend to the independence movement on the ground'. Several of its founders and executive committee members have been prominent members of YesCymru, Plaid Cymru, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (the Welsh Language Society), and AUOB Cymru. Melin Drafod states that its aim is to facilitate 'progressive independence, not independence for its own sake', and it addresses solutions to major crises including climate change, the minoritisation of languages, poverty and racism in Wales and internationally. The think tank argues that thorough preparation for an independent Wales is necessary because, in its view, the question will face Wales sooner or later. Melin Drafod's activities include public events such as conferences and online talks, as well as the publication of papers. It is also active on social media. Among its public events was the 'Great Independence Summit' held in Swansea in January 2023, which featured speakers such as Adam Price (then leader of Plaid Cymru), Anthony Slaughter (leader of the Wales Green Party), Rachel Garrick of the Labour Party, and Robin McAlpine of the Scottish independence think tank Common Weal. Its publications include 'Gwireddu'r Gymru Annibynnol – Cyllid: Papur trafod am sefyllfa gyllidol Cymru' (Realising the Independent Wales – Finance: A discussion paper on Wales's financial situation). The organisation maintains a website at melindrafod.cymru and is present on Facebook and Twitter. It is distinct from the Welsh policy institute Sefydliad Materion Cymreig (the Institute of Welsh Affairs), a think tank established in 1987 by Geraint Talfan Davies.

Melin Drafod was established in 2021 by Colin Nosworthy. Its name is a Welsh-language coinage intended as an equivalent to the English term 'think tank'. The organisation was founded to 'support, facilitate and be a critical friend to the independence movement on the ground'. Several of its founders and executive committee members had been prominent members of YesCymru, Plaid Cymru, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, and AUOB Cymru. The body operates on a cross-party and cross-movement basis, without affiliation to any political party, and focuses on detailed examination of the questions raised by growing support for Welsh independence. It aims to facilitate 'progressive independence, not independence for its own sake', and addresses solutions to major crises including climate change, the minoritisation of languages, poverty and racism in Wales and internationally. The think tank argues that thorough preparation for an independent Wales is necessary because, in its view, the question will face Wales sooner or later. Its activities include public events such as conferences and online talks, as well as the publication of papers, and it is active on social media. Among its public events was the 'Great Independence Summit' held in Swansea in January 2023, which featured speakers such as Adam Price (then leader of Plaid Cymru), Anthony Slaughter (leader of the Wales Green Party), Rachel Garrick of the Labour Party, and Robin McAlpine of the Scottish independence think tank Common Weal. Its publications include 'Gwireddu'r Gymru Annibynnol – Cyllid: Papur trafod am sefyllfa gyllidol Cymru' (Realising the Independent Wales – Finance: A discussion paper on Wales's financial situation). The organisation maintains a website at melindrafod.cymru and is present on Facebook and Twitter. It is distinct from Sefydliad Materion Cymreig (the Institute of Welsh Affairs), a think tank established in 1987 by Geraint Talfan Davies.

• 2023

  Great Independence Summit held in Swansea in January, featuring speakers such as Adam Price, Anthony Slaughter, Rachel Garrick, and Robin McAlpine.

• 2021

  Melin Drafod founded by Colin Nosworthy.

Cross-party, cross-movement think tank for progressive Welsh independence

• Gwireddu'r Gymru Annibynnol – Cyllid: Papur trafod am sefyllfa gyllidol Cymru

1. 1Melin Drafod - agenda flaengar ar gyfer Cymru annibynnolmelindrafod.cymru
2. 2Melin Drafodwikidata.org
3. 3Melin Drafod (corff)cy.wikipedia.org