PRO-INDEPENDENCE governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should work together to secure powers to hold independence referendums, a Plaid Cymru MS has said.
Kiera Marshall, who became one of 43 Plaid Cymru politicians elected to the Senedd earlier this month to make them the largest party in Wales for the first time, told The National’s podcast that convincing Westminster to transfer powers permanently to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast should be one of the leading priorities of the Celtic Alliance.
She said the recent devolved election results put the nations in a “stronger position” to show the “status quo is not sustainable”.
Scotland and Wales both need permission from Westminster to hold a referendum, with Scotland requiring a temporary transfer of powers via a Section 30 order under the Scotland Act 1998 and Wales needing the same via a section 109 order under the Government of Wales Act 2006.
Northern Ireland is the only devolved nation with a legally codified pathway to a referendum for Irish reunification.
In the Good Friday Agreement, it is set out that the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland must call a border poll if "it appears likely to them that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom and form part of a united Ireland".
However, as with Scotland and Wales, the ball is still in the UK Government’s court as to when that majority support exists.
Marshall said the UK Government will find it harder to ignore a “louder voice” if the pro-independence governments can join forces on securing referendum powers.
“While we said that we weren’t going to hold a referendum [in our first term], we do think that the power to do that should sit with the people of Wales,” Marshall told the podcast.
“We’re looking for areas where we’re demanding the same sort of powers with Scotland, and this is a really clear example of where we can be demanding the same thing on principle.
“Even if we’re at different stages of when that referendum should be held, it’s 100% a power that should be with the people who are going to make that decision. That was in our manifesto, and I think we should deliver on that and we’re happy to work with the SNP to make sure that happens in Scotland as well.”
Asked if strength in numbers would help Plaid, the SNP and Sinn Féin to force the hand of the UK Government, Marshall went on: “We know what Keir Starmer’s view on this is, but when it’s a louder voice, it’s going to be harder for him to ignore, and looking at the state of what’s happening with the UK Government and with his leadership, he’s not in a strong position to be preventing these things from happening, so hopefully there’s demands that can be made there or with whoever takes his place going forward.”
She added: “We’re in a stronger position now in this Celtic Alliance to make sure that’s clearly understood, that the status quo is not sustainable.”
Following the election results in Scotland and Wales, Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said it shows people are looking for “a future beyond the constraints of the Union”.
Sinn Féin MP John Finucane told The National podcast a week after that while former health secretary Wes Streeting has described the election results as “an existential threat to the future integrity of the United Kingdom", he instead sees it as an “exciting opportunity” for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to work together to push back against UK “dysfunction".
Marshall said Plaid would also be looking for the SNP’s support to secure more powers for Wales, given Scotland has got more out of devolution than its Celtic partner.
Wales has no powers over the Crown Estate, justice or policing – all of which Plaid want to see transferred as they have been in Scotland.
Meanwhile, Scotland has much stronger powers over the railway, welfare and tax policy.
Marshall said: “A lot of the time we point to Scotland, that we should at least have equal powers with Scotland, and hopefully we’re going to be championing Scotland getting more powers and getting what they feel they deserve as well.”
She went on: “What helps us is when we see it working for Scotland, [it helps us] being able to come to people in Wales and saying ‘this is why we need it’, making that case to the UK Government to say ‘it’s working for Scotland, it’s not working here’.
“I think being able to rely on the SNP for those examples of where it’s working, how we can make that case to the UK Government with their help, it’s that mutual sticking up for each other I think is going to change after these elections.”
Marshall cited how Welsh Labour had consistently claimed Plaid Cymru would be in a weaker position than them in demanding more from devolution from the UK Labour Government.
But Marshall argues the opposite has happened, in Plaid gaining solidarity and support from fellow pro-independence governments.
“Actually, I think we’re in a much stronger position now when we’ve got three nationalist parties that are going to be demanding better things with one voice,” she said.
“The idea that we were told by the ex-first minister [Eluned Morgan] we’d be in a weaker position, I think we’ve found ourselves in a much stronger position and we’ve seen Rhun [ap Iorwerth] already meet with Keir Starmer and he’s gone in there with the demands of these things. It’s in the public domain, it’s not behind closed doors putting party first anymore, and I just think we are going to see breakthroughs on these things hopefully and we’re not going to be able to be treated as such an afterthought.”
