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Plaid Cymru pledges to hold independence referendum

News, Senedd Election 2021 | Rhys Williams | Published: 13:23, Monday February 15th, 2021.
Last updated: 12:24, Friday April 23rd, 2021

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Delyth Jewell MS, left, with Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price at the bandstand in Caerphilly town centre
Delyth Jewell MS, left, with Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price at the bandstand in Caerphilly town centre

Plaid Cymru has announced it will hold a referendum on Welsh Independence if the party wins a majority in this year’s Senedd Elections.

Party members approved the pledge, which was put forward by party leader Adam Price, at a virtual party conference on Saturday (February 13).

Mr Price said: “Something is happening in Wales. The last two polls on independence put it on its highest support in history.

“Thousands have now joined the grassroots movement for independence, YesCymru – and an argument once derided as a pipe dream or a fantasy has moved from the margins to the mainstream.”

During a visit to Caerphilly last year, Mr Price told Caerphilly Observer he was “convinced Wales will become an independent country this decade”.

Plaid leader says he’s “convinced” Wales will become independent by 2030

Who is standing for Plaid Cymru in the upcoming election?

South Wales East Senedd Member Delyth Jewell will be standing in the Caerphilly constituency for Plaid Cymru in the upcoming elections.

Ms Jewell became a Senedd Member in 2019 following the death of Steffan Lewis, aged just 34, from bowel cancer.

Plaid Cymru’s candidate in the Islwyn constituency is Blackwood town councillor Rhys Mills, while Ian Gwynne will contest the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney seat.

The party’s four candidates for the South Wales East regional seat have also been confirmed.

What is a regional Senedd Member?

Wales is divided into 40 constituencies for Senedd elections. Each consituency elects one Senedd Member through a first past the post system.

Hefin David represents the Caerphilly constituency, Rhianon Passmore represents Islwyn and Dawn Bowden represents Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney.

Then, Wales is split into five regions, each region being represented by four Senedd Members. This means there are 20 regional Senedd Members, and 60 Senedd Members in total.

The three constituencies within Caerphilly County Borough form part of the South Wales East region.

Regional members are elected using a proportional representation system, where members are selected from a list of candidates submitted by each party.

These are the current regional Senedd Members for South Wales East:

  • Delyth Jewell (Plaid Cymru)
  • Laura Anne Jones (Welsh Conservatives)
  • Mark Reckless (Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party)
  • David Rowlands (Independent Alliance for Reform)
What area does South Wales East cover?

The South Wales East region includes the following constituencies:

  • Blaenau Gwent
  • Caerphilly
  • Islwyn
  • Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
  • Monmouth
  • Newport East
  • Newport West
  • Torfaen

Ms Jewell is first on the party’s regional list, while Cllr Peredur Owen Griffiths, who serves on Penyrheol, Trecenydd and Energlyn Community Council and is standing for election in Blaenau Gwent, is second on the list.

Long-serving councillor Lindsay Whittle, who has previously served as a Senedd Member, is third on the party’s list, with Cllr Mills in fourth.

Daughter of late Senedd Member Mohammad Asghar to stand in election

As part of our coverage of the upcoming Senedd Election, Caerphilly Observer will be publishing articles about the candidates for all the main parties.

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