Wales election: Details on independent Wales 'not possible' yet

Adam Price says "we've got to move on" from the debate over Brexit

Details for how an independent Wales could look can only be worked out if Plaid Cymru is elected to government, the party's leader has said.

Plaid has pledged to hold an independence referendum within the next five years if it forms the next Welsh government.

Adam Price said queries about currency and borders could only be answered once the party was in power.

The Senedd election is taking place on 6 May.

Meanwhile, Mr Price told BBC Wales the party had to move on from the debate over Brexit, adding it had "happened" and that the party was not looking to take Wales back into the EU soon.

Plaid had campaigned for a second referendum during 2019.

A majority of Welsh voters voted to Leave the EU. A trade deal with the union negotiated by the Tory UK government was implemented in January.

WALES ALERTS: Get extra updates on BBC election coverage

During BBC Wales' first Ask The Leader election campaign programme, Mr Price was challenged on how an independent Wales would look, if people voted Yes in a referendum.

When challenged on what currency would be used, and how the border would work, he said details could not be worked out while the party was in opposition.

"What did the SNP government do when they got elected, they published a White Paper, you can only do that in government," he said.

Mr Price said a National Commission would be set up to answer the "technical details" and questions would be answered in the run up to an independence vote.

"All those questions about the economic future of Wales etc, currency and all these matters will be addressed by the detailed work of the Commission and that work would start immediately," he said.

'We've got to talk about the future'

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales earlier on Monday, Mr Price said the party would seek to join the European Free Trade Association - EFTA - if Wales became independent.

Plaid Cymru's manifesto says the party, if it were in government "will pursue every avenue to deepen our relationship with the EU".

The manifesto also says that "Plaid Cymru's longer-term aspiration is for an independent Wales to join the European Union, subject to a future referendum after the achievement of independence."

Mr Price told the phone-in with Jason Mohammad: "During the period before we left the European Union, I had to be honest that I felt the version of Brexit that was being offered, particularly for Wales, was going to be very difficult for us.

"We lost the argument - it's happened it's gone. I think we've got to move on and talk to the future," he said.

• Who is Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price?

• Plaid Cymru's manifesto - the key points

• Plaid promises independence vote in five years

Mr Price denied that Plaid Cymru wanted to take Wales back into the EU if it won May's election: "We actually said no.

"We believe an independent Wales should join EFTA which is that halfway house that Norway and Iceland are in, so you've got all of the benefits of access to the European single market, but you're not within the political area.

"So I would hope that Brexit supporters would see that that is actually outside the European Union but it does at least give us a better platform in terms of our export industries."

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said in their manifesto it would want to see work towards re-joining the single market and customs union.

Welsh Labour said it would "reaffirm our strong relationship with the EU and Europe to fight for the interests of Welsh businesses".

The Welsh Conservatives said: "The people of Wales voted to leave the European Union and the Welsh Conservatives were the only party to respect the result and deliver on their wishes."

Ask The Leader with Adam Price can be seen on the BBC iPlayer.

• BASICS: Simple guide to the Senedd election

• POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for?

• FIRST TIME: Will 16-year-olds vote?