Plaid-Labour co-operation agreement a ‘down-payment on independence’ says Adam Price
The Leader of Plaid Cymru has described the co-operation agreement between Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government as “a down-payment on independence”.
Adam Price MS will tell his party’s Annual Virtual Conference on Friday that the wide-ranging deal with the Labour-run Welsh Government represents a new kind of politics.
He will say that rather than being an “opposition party” Plaid Cymru was now a “co-opposition party”.
On the constitution and Wales’s future as an independent nation, Adam Price MS is expected to say: “I also believe that May’s election confirmed Wales’s status as an indy-curious nation.
“A curiosity that will give birth – sooner than many think – to an independent Wales. For Wales to be free, we must first be united.
“And, that is what this Co-operation Agreement sets out to achieve. It launches us on a pathway to a united Wales, one that, sooner than we perhaps think, will find it both comfortable and natural, indeed essential, to join the world community of normal, independent nations.
“As I said this week on the Senedd steps, if passed tomorrow, the Co-operation Agreement is set to start on the first day of winter.
“Through it we will plant together ‘the seed beneath the snow’ of a new society, a new Wales, a new beginning.”
‘No precedent’
On what the Agreement signifies for Wales’s future, the Plaid Cymru Leader is expected to say that it is a “nation-building Programme for Government” which will change thousands of lives for the better.
“All this entails Plaid Cymru transforming itself from a traditional opposition party in the Westminster sense to something new and refreshingly different, a co-opposition party, co-operating where possible, while continuing to oppose, and to scrutinise and criticise where necessary,” he will say.
“There is no precedent for what we are about to embark upon in the politics of these islands. It is a unique Welsh Departure from the British Constitution – a down-payment if you like on independence – though similar arrangements have happened elsewhere – notably in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Norway; and in Commonwealth countries such as New Zealand. Small nations all breaking the mould of politics-as-usual.”
He paid tribute to party members saying that it was them who had made free school meals for children, a central promise of the Plaid Cymru manifesto, a reality.
“It is you who have made this a reality – you, the Plaid Cymru members, the grassroots, who have corresponded and campaigned for change,” he will say.
“For those who ask what is the point of politics? Why bother to vote? You can give a far firmer answer from this week onwards. Plaid Cymru makes a difference.”
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All taken on board……. If…….. and it’s a big if…… Labour do not renege in exchange for ermine and a pat on the head.
Circumstances are changing though. There is no viable route back to Westminster for UK Labour. Labour in Wales should know this. The Conservatives will not accept the status quo either. They are on a mission to undermine and likely, eventually destroy devolution.
I see your point though and I do have my concerns, but where do Labour go? The Senedd is at risk with a Conservative majority in Westminster. Sooner or later, they may find that they must support independence if they want to protect Wales’ cultural institutions, its’ democracy and its’ very identity.
The United Kingdom is still a centralised kingdom.
The European Union IS a union of independent states.
We must realise that there is NO future for Wales in a centralised UK state
and must leave the UK and to join our real friend in Europe.
I repeat an earlier message. Anything that moves us closer to independence is to be warmly welcomed.
And yet….Adam Price and his party became obsessed with independence after the amazing growth – and spectacular activity – of Yes Cymru.
His party’s official policy is radical federalism it is NOT independence; such a policy keeps us tied to the union, whichever way it’s dressed.
An honest response please.
Ah yes, John Ball, the ‘economist’ who didn’t understand how corporation tax works. Good to see you.
Er…I do know how corporation tax works
By all means let us have your insight on this matter as your comment implies a superior depth of understanding. Corporation Tax is seen as a joke by the large corporates who shuffle money and reported profits about freely between various tax jurisdictions to mitigate, evade, duck, dodge, call it what you will. Likes of CBI moan about the headline rate but only sitting ducks pay it. Time for a transparency on tax which you are not likely to get from the puppet regimes at Westminster.
Compare that to the gutless, spineless North British Royal and Unionist Party.
This agreement is very interesting as it represents a pivot of political positions. On the same day bumbling Boris wants to strengthen transport links between Wales & England in order to “save the Union” we can say that the Welsh Government is now on a completely opposite trajectory. This agreement has at its heart a “United Wales” and policies which are in stark contrast to those of the UK Government. Indeed their minions have been quite vocal in their ideological opposition in the past few days. My question to Welsh Labour is this: Given that a Federal UK has a… Read more »