Gwynedd Council have become the first local authority to declare its support for Welsh independence.

Councillors backed a motion at the full council meeting today, Thursday 18 June, with an overwhelming majority in favour of Wales becoming a sovereign nation.

The motion was proposed by Porthmadog East Councillor Nia Jeffreys, who said: “We call upon the Council to call for independence for Wales, and send a clear message that Wales is not too small or poor to stand on its own feet, and that we yearn to make decisions that affect our future here in Wales, and not in London.”

The yes vote from Gwynedd Council comes a week before a march in support of Welsh Independence in Caernarfon, on Saturday 27th July, where thousands are expected to attend.

The march, organised by All Under One Banner (AUOB) Cymru, hopes to build on the success of the inaugural AUOB Cymru march in Cardiff last May which was attended by over 2,000 people.

Councillor Jeffreys said: “Change is in the air in Wales and the people of Gwynedd are leading the change.

“There is a new confidence, in particular from our young people – there is absolutely no reason why all decisions about Wales should not be made in Wales rather than in London.

“I and many others from North Wales attended the All Under One Banner Cymru march in Cardiff.

“There is already a lot of excitement about the march on the 27th of July in Caernarfon and the vote of support from Gwynedd will add to the momentum of this grass roots movement towards independence.”

Fellow Plaid Cymru council member, Mair Rowlands, who represents Menai Ward in Bangor, said: “We have our problems but surely we would be better off if we had a government that worked for Wales alone.

“We need powers over our natural resources.”

Support for independence vote was not unanimous with Liberal Democrat councillor, Stephen Churchman, claiming it had the potential to be “disastrous.”

“We have no industry to speak of and our economy is in tatters,” he said.

“We won’t get the same deal as we already have in the EU and we need to fight Brexit together.

“I wholeheartedly agree with more devolution and autonomy but independence would be a disaster. If Britain falls apart it will sink.”

The motion was carried by 44 votes to four with five abstentions.