Plaid Cymru leader calls for ‘muscular collaboration across the Celtic nations’

The leader of Plaid Cymru has called for “muscular collaboration across the Celtic nations” to oppose Westminster.

Adam Price, who, made the comments during a debate in the Senedd about Welsh Government’s annual report on inter-governmental relations, argued that it was a way of taking on the “muscular unionism” of Boris Johnson’s government.

He said the Celtic nations are united in their opposition to “conservatism from Westminster” which “denies our right” to “plough our own furrow”.

The Plaid leader also accused Westminster of being “full of arrogance” and that it isn’t interested in an “equal partnership” with Wales because they “see us as servile”.

He said: “And finally, isn’t the only way in which we’re going to demonstrate our opposition to this kind of attitude that we collaborate, here in Wales across parties, even, of course, where we disagree on the answer in terms of the constitutional future for Wales.

“And it’s very important, following on from what the independence bodies said yesterday that they should be part of the national conversation, and that should be reflected in the national conversation’s remit – but also that there should be collaboration across the Celtic nations?

“And if they have their muscular unionism, then let’s have muscular collaboration across the Celtic nations, across parties – yes, including with the Scottish Government, who, of course, have a different perspective on the constitutional future of these islands.

“But, in this sense, we are united; we oppose this conservatism from Westminster that denies our right here in Wales and in the other nations to plough our own furrow.”

‘Familiar with Westminster’ 

He also said: “I am familiar with Westminster, unfortunately. I was there recently and it hasn’t changed at all: this cathedral on the banks of the Thames full of arrogance.

“Don’t think for a moment that they believe in the potential of some equal partnership with us here in Wales and Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“They see us as servile, and that’s their attitude. They believe in the sovereignty of Westminster and Westminster alone.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “When you work with Scotland and Northern Ireland, you work with people from very different political backgrounds, and that’s a great thing, isn’t it, because you learn things and you find ways of collaborating with people from those different backgrounds, and to do that alongside the people who live in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, that’s something I’m eager to strengthen over the coming year.”