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Leanne Wood talks Welsh independence and a future coalition during Q&A

April 30, 2015 by Rosie Crass Leave a Comment

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood also faced questioning on a special BBC Ask show last night.

The questioning covered a range of subjects, most significantly how Plaid will negotiate their way through a possible future coalition.

Wood was first asked how she will secure the extra £1.2 billion for Wales that Plaid have want to gain parity with Scotland for Wales. She said that the funds would come from the general treasury fund and by cutting trident.

The conversation then turned to the closing down of local services with Wood saying that we need to get more people into work to ensure that we can avoid cutting public services.

The topic turned to the EU in a question over how EU is affecting Welsh businesses. Wood explained that she is pro-EU and said that Wales has been a huge beneficiary of the EU.

Questioning then turned to the possibility of a hung parliament with Wood saying getting parity for Wales is “one of our priorities” for any negotiating terms.

Wood was then asked how much her party would compromise in a coalition with a Labour government, but she answered that a coalition is “unlikely”.

However, the Plaid Cymru leader says she would negotiate the best possible deal for Wales if the possibility of coalition were to arise.

Wood then avoided answering whether or not she would lower the requested £1.2 billion, saying she would have to wait until the offer was on the table.

The party leader then ruled out the possibility of a coalition with Tories saying that many people would view it as “unforgivable” given the grudge many of her local constituents help hold over Thatcher’s pit closures in the 1980’s.

The topic turned to Miliband’s comments on his aims for a majority rather than a coalition, with Wood criticising Miliband saying he is “leaving the door open for another Conservative government”.

An audience member then asked Wood what Plaid Cymru have planned with SNP to which Wood responds that “there’s a sketch of a plan”.

Wrapping up the questionning, the talk turned to young people and politics with Wood saying she agrees that 16 year olds should be allowed to vote, saying that there is so much potential in Wales when discussing the hopes of young people.

An audience member then asked about suicide among young people with Wood saying that more needed to be done to reduce the stigma with mental health.

The Plaid party leader is then asked on her thought on a referendum for Welsh independence, saying that although she supports it, Wales is in a different position to Scotland.

However, Wood says that she feels it would be something that she would see in her lifetime. When questioned over the exact year she floundered and wouldn’t say a definite time frame.

Wood’s final question is on the topic of compulsory voting, to which she replies that, a voting system of STV would be preferred.

Filed Under: National, News Tagged With: general election, Leanne Wood, Plaid Cymru

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Published on Thursday, April 30th, 2015 at 10:33 pm

Last modified: Friday, May 1st, 2015 at 10:00 am

Category: National, News.

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