Calls for Wales to be given powers to hold independence referendum amid claims country has ‘proven itself’ during coronavirus pandemic

Wales should have the power to hold an independence referendum, Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price MS has said.

The party is leading the first ever debate on Welsh independence in the Senedd today.

The latest opinion poll for Welsh independence showed support levels at 25% – an increase of +4 since January.

Meanwhile support for Scottish independence is currently at 54% whilst 45.4% in northern Ireland and 73.1% in the Republic of Ireland back a united Ireland.

Mr Price said that Wales had proven itself through its independent approach to the coronavirus crisis but warned against returning to the “status-quo” which had “failed Wales”.

He also said the UK had let Wales down through under-investment and unfair-funding and that Welsh independence could be a force to remove the “backward-looking politics of Westminster”.

The MS said: “Wales has proven itself during the coronavirus crisis by acting independently to protect our citizens from the dysfunctionality and ineptitude of the Westminster Government.

“As we come out of this crisis, we cannot go back to the status-quo. The status quo has failed Wales.

“Under-investment and unfair funding forms the crux of this unequal union of broken promises – delivered by the Tories at Westminster and defended by Labour through their support for the stagnant status-quo.

“Meanwhile, support for Welsh independence is on the rise and the people of Wales are waking up to the idea that there is another way, another future, another choice. And that choice firmly resides with the people of Wales.

“That’s why we are calling on the Welsh Government to seek the constitutional right to allow the Senedd to legislate during the next term to hold a binding referendum on independence.

“Welsh independence can be a force for good. A force to reject the regressive, insular and backward-looking politics of Westminster for the politics of hope, of caring and of community that we can all have in our new independent Wales standing tall amongst the other nations of the world.

“It’s time for change and it is only through a Plaid Cymru Government that that change, and our independence, can be won.”