The internet allows people anywhere in the world to lobby in response to campaigns, and while Russian interference in US elections has attracted significant attention in recent years, Wales is no stranger to such international lobbying, writes FUW's Bryn Francis.

The FUW submitted a Freedom of Information request asking for a breakdown of the geographic origin of responses to the 2017 Taking Forward Wales’ Sustainable Management of Natural Resources consultation, which proposed sweeping changes to Welsh public access and attracted 17,391 responses.

The Welsh Government claimed in June 2018 that “...of those who included their geographical location the overwhelming proportion (via organisation or submitted individually) was from Wales”, and Deputy Minister Hannah Blythyn said in April 2019 that “Over 16,000 responses were received to the proposals on access alone, reflecting the passion many of us in Wales have for the countryside and outdoor recreation.”

But information revealed by Welsh Government during the Tribunal appeal shows that these conclusions were based on an assessment of just 1.4 per cent of consultation responses.

In other words, despite the geographic origin of 98 per cent of responses being unknown, and knowing that 70 percent of the consultation responses were generated by internet campaigns run by UK rather than Welsh organisations, Welsh Government chose to claim that the majority of responses came from Wales.

In an age when it is as easy for people to respond to an online consultation, the dismissal of the views of Welsh people by our own Government should strike fear into the hearts of anyone who understands and respects the basic principles of devolution and democracy, and the next Senedd should legislate to ensure the views of the Welsh electorate are given the weight they deserve.