PLAID Cymru leader Adam Price has announced his party will hold a Welsh independence referendum in its first term if it wins next year’s election.
The Senedd elections take place on May 6, 2021 – the same date scheduled for the Scottish Parliament vote.
Price spoke at last month’s SNP conference, pledging that his first phone call should he win the vote would be to Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Wales is currently run by a Labour government and recent polls show the party is likely to be the largest party at the 2021 election.
The latest surveys show Plaid Cymru on track to gain between 20%-24%.
READ MORE: Plaid Cymru leader plans a ‘Celtic Summit’ between Scotland and Wales
Support for Welsh independence is at its highest ever in the polls, increasing from 27% at the start of the year to 33% now.
Delivering a speech this morning, Price warned devolution is under attack from Westminster and vowed if he wins in May he will hold a referendum by 2026.
Speaking live from the St David’s Hotel in Cardiff, Price said: “Devolution itself – that most basic democratic principle that decisions affecting Wales should be made in Wales – is under attack from Boris Johnson’s Conservatives.
“Meanwhile, the demand for another independence referendum in Scotland is becoming unstoppable and by 2025 Scotland could well be an independent country. And Brexit has also given further impetus to the calls for a united Ireland.
READ MORE: SNP conference 2020: Plaid Cymru leader Adam price addresses members
“That Wales is in real danger of being be left behind as part of a rump United Kingdom, in a new England-and-Wales formation – which would be the ultimate worst of all worlds.
“It is for these reasons that I, therefore, pledge today that subject to party approval a Plaid Cymru Government, able to command a majority in the Senedd, will offer a referendum on independence for Wales in its first term.”
Price received widespread praise for his speech to the virtual SNP conference, in which he stressed Scotland and Wales are on similar journeys.
He revealed he plans to hold a “Celtic Summit” between the nations to cement their ties.
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