Leaders give different answers on the big coalition question
QUESTIONS over a potential coalition Welsh Government were raised yesterday as party leaders made their pitch to voters with just days to go before the Senedd election.
Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price refused to be drawn on the possibility of entering a coalition with Labour, while First Minister Mark Drakeford appeared to hold the door open to the prospect of a “progressive” approach to government.
Welsh Tory leader Andrew RT Davies, meanwhile, attacked Plaid and Labour’s pro-Europe position.
Mr Drakeford yesterday said repeating the party’s 2016 election success would be “a fantastic result” in the elections on Thursday.
Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, he said the Conservative Party, which gained ground in the 2019 UK elections,
“does not believe in Wales”, adding “it believes in handing Wales back to
Westminster”.
He continued: “Plaid Cymru does not believe in the United Kingdom and it would sever us from our friends or relations or fellow workers elsewhere in the UK.”
Mr Drakeford said: “It is only the Labour Party that believes in a strong Wales, in a successful United Kingdom.
“I think to match our result in 2016 would be a fantastic result for Labour.
“It’s all about building on 2019, and that is why our strong economic road map out of the Covid-19 crisis is an important part of our platform.”
He said Welsh Labour has “always worked across party lines” and that he wants to see a “progressive” approach to Government if the party is forced to enter a coalition.
He added: “We’ve worked with other parties in the Senedd throughout the history of devolution.
“We’ve always worked across party lines, where other progressive parties can agree on a programme for government.
“If we need to work with other parties, let’s see if we can have a progressive programme for a progressive nation.”
His Plaid counterpart Mr Price would not be drawn on the possibility of entering a coalition.
Also speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, he said there was growing support for independence in Wales.
“Support is increasing, indeed according to some important principles now even the majority of Labour voters support independence.
“Support for independence in Wales now is higher than it was in Scotland 10 years ago and, of course, a few years later they came within 5% of winning an independence referendum.”
He added: “Politics is all about momentum and the momentum is with the independence movement.”
When asked about the possibility of entering a coalition, he said: “We are not prepared to concede any other possibility than surging support – not just for the independence movement but for Plaid Cymru.
“If young people, in particular, are supporting independence and Plaid Cymru in unprecedented numbers, if they turn out to vote, then I think that we are... looking at the possibility of a historic result for Plaid Cymru and for Wales in this election.
“That’s the prize I’m keeping my eye on.”
He also refused to name the party’s price for entering into coalition with Welsh Labour.
When later asked on the Andrew Marr Show if he was friendly with Mr Drakeford, he said: “We do politics slightly differently here in Wales, we can maintain friendly and cordial relations even between leaders of different political parties.
“We have been absolutely clear Wales needs to be put on a different path.”
He added: “We have had 22 years of a Labour-led administration and, sadly, particularly on the economy, we haven’t seen the progress that we need in our communities.
“We will only get that if we embrace political change that will then unlock the social and economic change we require.”
Meanwhile, he yesterday insisted the party’s plans for an independent Wales would allow it to be a member of the European Free Trade Association and maintain a single market in Britain.
He said: “(It is) the socalled ‘Norway solution’ that we became very familiar with didn’t we during the Brexit debate which does provide us with that more frictionless access that we currently enjoy to the European single market.
“It would also give us the flexibility and the autonomy to be able to maintain a single market on this island as well.”
He said the management of the Welsh economy by the UK Government meant it had failed to reach its full potential and Plaid Cymru’s plans would not lead to cuts or tax increases.
“The Welsh economy has not been able to realise its potential for generations,” Mr Price said.
Mr Price added: “Our positive message is that Wales has great economic potential. The problem is we be locked in this unequal United Kingdom which concentrates wealth in one corner of the UK.
“It is a problem for us in Wales, it is a problem for parts of the north of England - and we have see there is even a movement for independence there and who can blame them?”
He also insisted that Wales’ economy is neglected by the UK Government despite the country receiving greater government spending per person than England.
According to government figures quoted on the Andrew Marr Show, the UK Government spent £12,800 per person in England in 2018, compared to £14,000 in Wales.
Mr Price denied Welsh independence would mean spending cuts or tax increases, saying: “What Wales requires is to put us on a different economic trajectory rather than accepting a situation where almost one in three of our children are living in poverty in the 21st century.
“That is the bitter legacy from the Westminster government which has never invested sufficiently in our communities.
Mr Price continued: “We are not asking for charity, we are asking for a fair share of investment in infrastructure.
“Most of the infrastructure investment has been concentrated in the already affluent south-east corner – is it any wonder we are not able to realise our potential in this unequal United Kingdom?”
The leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies attacked Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour’s pro-Europe position in the run-up to the elections.
He also criticised Welsh Labour and Mark Drakeford’s handling of the pandemic, saying: “Let’s not forget that Wales has the highest death rate of any part of the United Kingdom.”
Mr Davies added: “Let’s also remember that through the strength of the union of the United Kingdom £6bn of money has come into Wales to support the fight against the Covid-19 crisis.
“Don’t forget Plaid and Labour would have had us part of the European Medicines Agency, which would have had us in the European vaccination programme, rather than the successful UK vaccination programme that is opening up the economy. On all the big questions they have taken the wrong choices.”
Our positive message is that Wales has great economic potential Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price
Plaid Cymru does not believe in the United Kingdom
First Minister Mark Drakeford