C-19 crisis the ‘game changer’ for self-rule

THE coronavirus crisis has been a “game-changer” in the argument for Welsh independence, Plaid Cymru’s leader has said.

Adam Price said a new “national consciousness” had been boosted by the Welsh Government’s contrasting pandemic response to the UK Government.

A motion has been tabled by Plaid in the Welsh Parliament to debate whether Welsh ministers should be given the right to call a referendum on independence in future, with permission currently needed from Westminster.

Mr Price said the motion, to be heard today, was prompted by growing self-confidence in the nation due to its Covid-19 divergence from England.

He said: “I think that it’s caused many more people again to question the future for Wales as a nation, whether we’re actually better placed to make decisions for ourselves.

“Not just in the limited context that we have at the moment, but also across a broad array of powers that would come to us as an independent nation.”

He added: “I think that absolutely has changed the context, entirely. And I think that people are seeing Welsh politics, Welsh Government, the Senedd, the elections next year, the future of Wales as a nation in these constitutional terms, through a very different lens, even compared to a few months ago.

“I think that in the midst of this dark cloud that has been the coronavirus crisis, in terms of Welsh democracy, there is a silver lining there because we are having a national conversation.

“There is a national consciousness about Wales, a Welsh Government, the role of the First Minister, and Welsh health minister, the Welsh education minister.

“And I think that is a bit of a game-changer in the way that we not just regard Welsh politics in the months ahead and leading up to the next election, but on the deeper question about where do we want to be as a nation over the next decade, and the fundamental question for us of course is independence.”

In June the Welsh Barometer opinion poll revealed 62% of participants felt the Welsh Government was handling the crisis well, compared to only 34% for the UK Government.

The poll also revealed 25% of voters supported independence if there was a referendum the next day, the highest-ever level of support recorded.

But the same poll also found 25% of people asked would choose to abolish the Welsh Parliament if they were given a referendum on doing so.