Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price has said he’s “convinced Wales will become an independent country this decade” during a visit to a rainy Caerphilly County Borough.

Adam Price visited Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly town centre on Thursday (August 27), with his party preparing for next year’s Senedd Elections.

He was joined by South Wales East Senedd Member Delyth Jewell.

During the visit, which he said would be the first of many, Mr Price met Ystrad Mynach residents impacted by Storm Dennis, before meeting business owners in Caerphilly town centre.

He said the coronavirus pandemic had highlighted “many of the reasons why independence is a better option for us”.

“If we were a small independent country, we’d be up there with the likes of Iceland and New Zealand and all those other small countries that have been the stellar performers in terms of eliminating Covid-19.”

He said support for independence has grown across Wales and not just in parts of west Wales, where Plaid support is typically at its strongest.

“We’re seeing a surge of support right throughout Wales – it’s a pan-Wales phenomenon,” he said.

“I’m personally convinced Wales will become an independent country during this decade. I think it is going to happen, the only question is when.”

A poll by YouGov for Cardiff University and ITV Wales, published in June this year, showed that 25% of people would vote Yes in an independence referendum, while 54% would vote No. The rest said they did not now or would not vote.

Mr Price also described Caerphilly as a “key target seat” for Plaid and said he was “very optimistic” of winning the seat next year.

The Caerphilly constituency includes communities such as Caerphilly town, Aber Valley, Bedwas, Trethomas, Machen, Llandbradach, Ystrad Mynach, Nelson, Hengoed, Bargoed, Gelligaer and Tir y Berth.

Ms Jewell, who will be standing for Plaid in Caerphilly next spring, said: “We are putting Caerphilly at the top of our agenda and we really hope to win this seat next year.”

She added: “We’ve had 20 years of the same party being in government in Cardiff – this is the chance where we can actually change things for the better.”

However, Caerphilly’s incumbent Senedd Member, Hefin David, said: “Now is not the time for election campaigns.

“My job is to provide everyone in the constituency accurate and timely information, to answer questions and to lobby Welsh Government on their behalf. Party politics doesn’t come into it.

“I am just here to help residents as I always have, all year round, whatever their political views.”