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Independence on the table after Brexit - Plaid's Price Independence on the table after Brexit - Plaid's Price
(35 minutes later)
Welsh independence must be "on the table" after Brexit, Plaid Cymru's new leader has said.Welsh independence must be "on the table" after Brexit, Plaid Cymru's new leader has said.
Adam Price said if there was a "hard" Irish border and the UK left the EU single market and customs union "the appetite for Scottish independence and Irish unity" would be "insatiable".Adam Price said if there was a "hard" Irish border and the UK left the EU single market and customs union "the appetite for Scottish independence and Irish unity" would be "insatiable".
He warned of a Wales "at the mercy of Westminster".He warned of a Wales "at the mercy of Westminster".
Mr Price told Plaid Cymru's autumn conference voters should be given the chance to "avert disaster". "We're on the Titanic's deck. The iceberg's looming," Mr Price told Plaid's autumn conference in Cardigan.
The new leader, who supports a fresh referendum on Brexit, told delegates Wales was on "Titanic's deck", and that the UK government's strategy was to tell "the iceberg to move". "It's the people that are left locked in the third class cabins," he said.
"It's the people that are left locked in the third-class cabins," he said. The assembly member, who defeated Leanne Wood in the party's recent leadership contest, said the UK government's strategy was to tell "the iceberg to move".
He said voters should be given a chance to "avert disaster" through a fresh referendum on the final Brexit deal.
Downing Street said the prime minister's Chequers plan for Brexit would create a free trade area for industrial and agricultural goods with the EU based on a "common rule book", and resolve concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.Downing Street said the prime minister's Chequers plan for Brexit would create a free trade area for industrial and agricultural goods with the EU based on a "common rule book", and resolve concerns about the border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.
But Theresa May's proposals have been attacked by both Brexiteer and pro-EU Tory MPs, while the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is "strongly" opposed to key parts of her plan.But Theresa May's proposals have been attacked by both Brexiteer and pro-EU Tory MPs, while the European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said he is "strongly" opposed to key parts of her plan.
Pitching for independence, Mr Price told conference: "We can be fair and flourishing. We can be self-governing and successful. We can be Welsh and European."Pitching for independence, Mr Price told conference: "We can be fair and flourishing. We can be self-governing and successful. We can be Welsh and European."
He accused unionist parties of being devoid of ideas.He accused unionist parties of being devoid of ideas.
"The cupboard is bare," he said, claiming Labour represented "the politics of the past"."The cupboard is bare," he said, claiming Labour represented "the politics of the past".
In his wide-ranging address Mr Price said Brexit would pose "the greatest existential threat of our generation to the agricultural sector as a whole".In his wide-ranging address Mr Price said Brexit would pose "the greatest existential threat of our generation to the agricultural sector as a whole".
And he promised a "new vision for health and care" that NHS founder Aneruin Bevan "could only dream of", with reviews to examine the creation of a National Care Service and whether GPs should continue to act as private operators.And he promised a "new vision for health and care" that NHS founder Aneruin Bevan "could only dream of", with reviews to examine the creation of a National Care Service and whether GPs should continue to act as private operators.
Mr Price said Plaid in power would build a "National Western Rail Line" from Swansea to Bangor, and promised a "comprehensive child package" so parents could return to work when they choose.Mr Price said Plaid in power would build a "National Western Rail Line" from Swansea to Bangor, and promised a "comprehensive child package" so parents could return to work when they choose.
"We must fire up the national imagination with a sense of the Wales that might yet be," he said."We must fire up the national imagination with a sense of the Wales that might yet be," he said.
"We cannot afford to keep doing what we have done for another five years.""We cannot afford to keep doing what we have done for another five years."
In his speech, Plaid's new leader admitted the party had to "transform" and needed an "honest assessment of where" it is at. Plaid's new leader admitted the party had to "transform" and needed an "honest assessment of where" it is at.
He has commissioned former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson to conduct a "root and branch review" of the party's campaign machinery.He has commissioned former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson to conduct a "root and branch review" of the party's campaign machinery.
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC Wales political editor Felicity EvansBy BBC Wales political editor Felicity Evans
Adam Price wants to capitalise on the momentum last week's convincing victory in the leadership contest has given him.Adam Price wants to capitalise on the momentum last week's convincing victory in the leadership contest has given him.
Where the Conservatives are divided on Brexit and Labour is ambivalent about another referendum he wants to break through with a clear and decisive call for a second vote.Where the Conservatives are divided on Brexit and Labour is ambivalent about another referendum he wants to break through with a clear and decisive call for a second vote.
While this could alienate as many voters as it pleases, what it will do is energise the party's base. That's why he's placing Independence front and centre too - promising a referendum within a decade of taking power.While this could alienate as many voters as it pleases, what it will do is energise the party's base. That's why he's placing Independence front and centre too - promising a referendum within a decade of taking power.
This is a gamble - opinion polls suggest independence is a minority pursuit in Wales, but for Plaid it's key. Adam Price wants to turn members into activists who will spread the message further afield.This is a gamble - opinion polls suggest independence is a minority pursuit in Wales, but for Plaid it's key. Adam Price wants to turn members into activists who will spread the message further afield.
But bold policy and big ambitions have to be delivered.But bold policy and big ambitions have to be delivered.
Mr Price says he wants to be Wales' FM in 2021, but Plaid is currently the third largest party in the assembly.Mr Price says he wants to be Wales' FM in 2021, but Plaid is currently the third largest party in the assembly.
It's going to be a big ask to achieve that sort of turnaround in three years.It's going to be a big ask to achieve that sort of turnaround in three years.
Before conference began on Friday, Mr Price said Brexit was threatening a "constitutional crisis - with or without a deal", claiming that: "The appetite for Scottish independence and Irish unity will become insatiable."Before conference began on Friday, Mr Price said Brexit was threatening a "constitutional crisis - with or without a deal", claiming that: "The appetite for Scottish independence and Irish unity will become insatiable."
Welsh independence, Mr Price said, "must be on the table" in order to "ensure that our country isn't swallowed into an 'England and Wales' entity where we are at the mercy of Westminster".Welsh independence, Mr Price said, "must be on the table" in order to "ensure that our country isn't swallowed into an 'England and Wales' entity where we are at the mercy of Westminster".
The Plaid Cymru leader said that if his party was in government after the 2021 election in Wales, it would "put a Welsh Independence Referendum Act on the statute book at the earliest possible opportunity".The Plaid Cymru leader said that if his party was in government after the 2021 election in Wales, it would "put a Welsh Independence Referendum Act on the statute book at the earliest possible opportunity".