Speaking to Matt Chorley on Times Radio, Prof Laura McAllister said a “route map” for Welsh independence could be laid out as part of a deal between Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru. The Cardiff University academic said the situation could arise if there is a hung parliament at the upcoming Senedd (Welsh Parliament) elections and Welsh Labour required Plaid’s support. But the professor warned that Welsh independence is “a way off” and that such a referendum would be “dangerous” for Plaid to attempt in the first term in power.
Prof McAllister was asked by host Matt Chorley if in the event of a hung parliament Welsh Labour would accept a demand for a referendum as “the price of the support of Plaid”.
The professor said: “Well I think that’s a way off to be perfectly honest.”
She added: “I think that if Plaid Cymru does better than many of us anticipate at this stage… then it’s quite possible that it can agitate for a movement towards a referendum.”
But she said this would likely be a “route map” and not a referendum itself.
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The academic explained further how it would be “dangerous’ for Plaid to push for a referendum within the first term of a coalition with Welsh Labour as it would be unlikely they would win.
She added: “For a party like Plaid Cymru that is a heck of a risk to take.”
Prof McAllister also mentioned for the Welsh nationalists to attempt a referendum within the time scale of a hypothetical first coalition would be a “strange strategic choice”.
She said: “I don’t think Labour would buy that for a moment.”
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The First Minister of Wales’ comments come as one poll suggests 51% of Welsh Labour members are pro-independence.
Andrew Marr went on to raise this issue with Drakeford citing that three Welsh Labour candidates in the upcoming Welsh elections are pro-independence.
Marr asked whether as a result of polling figures and the presence of pro-independence candidates in Welsh Labour if the party was heading towards a pro-independence stance.
Drakeford replied: “The same poll you quoted at me earlier showed independence in Wales at 14% and I think that is a more genuine reflection of where actual independence is in the minds of the Welsh people.”
