Many people like the idea of independence but worry about what might change. While building a new democracy sounds exciting, most people want to know that their daily lives won’t be turned upside down.

How Much of the UK’s National Debt Would Wales Inherit?

A common question about independence is whether Wales would be burdened with a share of the UK’s national debt. As of 2023, the UK's national debt stands at over £2.7 trillion,^[48] much of which has been built up over many years due to decisions made by successive UK governments.

There is no rule saying Wales must take on any of this debt - it would be part of negotiations.^[49]

Some nations, like Ireland after 1922, took on little or no UK debt when they became independent to smooth the creation of Northern Ireland.^[50] Some nations have agreed to take on a share, but this was often balanced by receiving assets such as foreign reserves, infrastructure, or state-owned institutions.

Independence would give Wales control over our own borrowing based on our needs. This means we could decide where to invest, whether in infrastructure, public services, or growing our economy.

What Would Happen to Big UK Public Sector Employers in Wales, Like the DVLA, ONS and HMRC?

Some jobs might be lost as UK departments downsize, but Wales would need equivalents of organisations like the DVLA, ONS, and HMRC. Many public sector workers could move into new Welsh government departments, such as a Ministry of Defence or a Foreign Office equivalent.

Creating these new public departments may generate enough jobs to replace those lost.

What Will Happen to Benefits and Disability Support?

Right now, benefits and disability support are controlled by Westminster. This includes payments like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Carer’s Allowance, and Jobseeker’s Allowance. The Welsh Government has no power to change these systems.

Many people believe the UK benefits system is slow, unfair, and difficult to access, especially for disabled people. Some policies, such as benefit sanctions and strict assessments, push vulnerable people into hardship.

An independent Wales could design a system based on fairness, dignity, and efficiency. For example, we could:

• Improve support for carers.
• Give GPs more power to assess disability benefits.
• If resources allow, introduce a universal basic income or a guaranteed minimum income.

Will I Still Receive My Pension After Independence?

Many people worry about whether pensions would still be paid after independence. State pensions would be a key part of independence negotiations.

State pensions are based on National Insurance contributions. Anyone who has paid into the system should be entitled to their state pension, regardless of where they live. Over one million UK state pensions are paid to people living abroad already.^[51]

Private and workplace pensions are also legally protected, meaning they must pay out what members have earned.

In the future, Wales could make retirement security a national priority. This could include creating a Welsh state pension, possibly supported by new funding sources like a sovereign wealth fund.

Will My Bank Account, Mortgage, Loans, and Credit Cards Still Be Valid?

Yes. Financial contracts are legally binding, so your bank account, mortgage, loans, and credit cards would stay valid, regardless of political changes.

Banking is global. Many people already use digital banks like Monzo, Revolut, and Starling, which operate across borders. Traditional banks like HSBC, Barclays, and Lloyds also have branches worldwide.

Banks in Wales would remain under the current system unless the Senedd introduced new rules. Even if Wales created its own central bank, people would still have access to international banking services.

If Wales introduced its own currency, financial institutions would manage the transition carefully, ensuring that payments, savings, and debts remain secure. Other newly independent nations, like Ireland, have done this while maintaining financial stability.

Will My Passport and Driving Licence Still Be Valid?

An independent Wales would issue its own passports and driving licences, but you wouldn’t need to replace your current ones straight away.

Passports would need to be updated within a set time after independence, depending on which citizenship you choose to keep.

Driving licences would likely stay valid for longer, possibly until they expire, as they are not proof of citizenship.

Could I Still Use English Hospitals?

Yes. Healthcare in Wales has been fully devolved since 1999, meaning NHS Wales is already partially separate from NHS England, NHS Scotland, and Northern Ireland’s Department of Health.

Under the Common Travel Area (CTA), UK and Irish citizens can move freely and access certain public services, including healthcare, on the same terms as local residents. There are also existing agreements allowing people to receive both emergency and planned care across Wales, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland. These agreements even cover emergency care in the Crown Dependencies.^[52]

As long as the CTA (or a similar arrangement) continues, people travelling between Wales and England – including those living along the border – would continue to access emergency healthcare with ease. Well-established systems for routine care, such as GP registrations, hospital treatment, and specialist referrals, would likely continue, with discussions ensuring a smooth transition.

Independence could allow Wales to develop deep expertise in certain medical fields, attracting international patients. Many countries already do this - for example, Germans travelling to Hungary for dentistry or Britons to Turkey. This would complement, not replace, NHS services for Welsh residents.

What If I Live in Wales but Work in England?

As mentioned, the Common Travel Area (CTA) guarantees free movement between Great Britain, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. This guarantees a right to work or study without a visa.

Many people in Europe already commute across international borders for work. Standard agreements ensure workers’ rights, tax arrangements, and access to services like healthcare (as mentioned). These kinds of agreements would help keep the seamless border that already exists between Wales and England.

What About My Local Council?

An independent Wales could strengthen local democracy. Councils could be given constitutional protection to prevent over-interference from central government. They could also raise and keep more of their own funding, allowing them to spend local taxes on local priorities. Fixed boundaries could prevent the frequent and unnecessary reorganisations seen in the past.

Some powers – such as bus services and second home taxation – are already delegated to county and community councils under the Senedd.

There are different ways Wales could organise local government after independence. We could continue with unitary authorities, introduce regional government (like the London Assembly), or even create a federal system that gives more power to local communities. Many countries use these systems successfully, so Wales would have a range of options.

Will Welsh Farmers and Food Security Be Affected?

Farming is crucial to Wales' rural economy, but despite being devolved, key decisions are still shaped by Westminster. Post-Brexit trade deals with Australia and New Zealand allow cheaper, lower-standard meat imports, making it harder for Welsh farmers to compete. Despite farming being devolved, Westminster has also failed to fully replace the £250 million in EU farming subsidies that Wales lost after Brexit.^[53]

Independence would give Wales full control over agricultural and food security policies. This would allow Wales to protect local farmers from unfair competition, invest in sustainable farming, and build a food system that benefits both producers and consumers.

Could Independence Make Housing More Affordable?

Housing policy is devolved, but key financial powers remain with Westminster. This makes it harder for Wales to tackle rising rents, house prices, and homelessness.

The UK Government sets housing benefits, meaning Wales cannot adjust support for renters. Taxation rules on landlords and second homes, apart from council tax, are also controlled by Westminster, limiting efforts to curb holiday-home speculation that prices locals out of their communities.

With independence, Wales could introduce stronger rent controls, invest more in social housing, and set fairer tax rules for second homes. This would give Wales the power to treat housing as a basic right rather than just a market commodity.

What Would Happen to Transport?

As mentioned earlier, Wales does not have full control over its rail infrastructure. The failure to devolve these powers in 2005 has resulted in billions of pounds in lost funding, such as the UK Government's decision to classify HS2 as an “England and Wales” project despite all the benefits being in England.

While some transport powers are devolved, Westminster still controls rail infrastructure, vehicle and driver licensing, and most laws around sea and air travel.^[54] Many things, like road signs, would likely remain the same.

With full control over transport policy, Wales could introduce extra measures to improve road safety, such as probationary driving licences for newly qualified drivers. It could also develop long-term alternatives to car tax and fuel duty, such as pay-as-you-go road pricing or congestion charges.

Independence would give Wales full control over transport investment.

This would allow Wales to expand rail electrification, speed up the transition to greener transport, and prioritise infrastructure spending based on Welsh needs rather than what the UK Treasury considers “value for money.” A Welsh Government with full control could develop regional metro networks, improve north-south and rural-urban transport links, and secure new sea and air connections, particularly for freight.

Would I Still Have Access to the Same TV and Radio Programmes?

The BBC is a British corporation, funded by the licence fee, which is collected by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The BBC’s unitary board in London decides how this money is spent, with only one of its 14 directors representing Wales.

There are two likely scenarios after independence. The first is that the BBC could continue to operate across the UK, with BBC Cymru Wales becoming a separate legal entity. It would still broadcast shared BBC programmes alongside BBC England, BBC Scotland, and BBC Northern Ireland. In this case, Wales would set its own licence fee to help fund both the BBC and S4C.

The second scenario is the creation of an independent Welsh public broadcaster with no formal ties to the BBC. This broadcaster would make its own decisions about what to produce in both English and Welsh, with regulation by the Senedd. It could be funded through a licence fee, a mix of licence fees and advertising, or direct public funding.

Commercial TV and radio services would likely continue as normal. Sky and Virgin Media are both available in Ireland. Additionally, there would be an opportunity to develop more community-based and not-for-profit media to improve media coverage in Wales, which is currently acknowledged as being poor.

Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube would be unaffected. Modern media is no longer limited by national borders, unlike in the past when people could only watch channels from their own country.

What Would Happen to Welsh Sports Teams?

Wales is already independent in many sports, including football and rugby, and has a strong sporting heritage. Independence would guarantee Welsh Olympic and Paralympic teams, allowing athletes who currently compete for Team GB to represent Wales instead. This would give more Welsh athletes the chance to compete at the highest level and bring international recognition to Wales.

At the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in France, 33 Welsh athletes competed under the Team GB flag.^[55] However, independent Ireland had over 150 athletes representing their country, gaining international recognition and benefiting both Irish tourism and national pride.

Cricket is one of the few major sports where Wales does not compete separately. Surprisingly, Welsh cricket organisations, including Cricket Wales and Glamorgan Cricket Club, oppose forming a national team.^[56] This has prevented Welsh cricketers from playing international cricket for decades, even though countries like New Zealand, with a similar population, thrive in the sport. Wales had its own cricket team in the 1920s and 1930s,^[57] playing against sides like the West Indies and South Africa. If Wales competed in one-day and T20 tournaments, it could gain huge exposure in countries like India and Pakistan, rather than having just one Welsh player per generation representing England.

Since Wales is already independent in football, there is no reason why clubs like Swansea City, Cardiff City, Wrexham, Newport County, and Merthyr Town could not continue playing in the English leagues after independence if they wished. This is common in football – for example, TNS, the Cymru Premier champions, are based in Oswestry, England. Similarly, Berwick Rangers play in the Scottish leagues, Derry City from Northern Ireland play in the League of Ireland, and FC Andorra competes in the Spanish league system. Welsh teams currently playing in England would have the option to join the Welsh league system voluntarily, rather than being forced.

[48] Office of National Statistics (30th April 2024). “UK government debt & deficit - December 2023”.