Editing Plaid Cymru (section)

==Aims==
In September 2008, a senior Plaid [[Member of the National Assembly for Wales|assembly member]] spelled out her party's continuing support for an independent Wales. The then Welsh [[Minister for Rural Affairs (Wales)|Minister for Rural Affairs]], [[Elin Jones]], told delegates at Plaid's annual conference in [[Aberystwyth]] that the party would continue its commitment to independence under the coalition with [[Welsh Labour]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Plaid-Cymru-want-independent-Wales/article-320673-detail/article.html |title=Plaid Cymru want independent Wales |publisher=This Is South Wales |access-date=20 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920234455/http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/Plaid-Cymru-want-independent-Wales/article-320673-detail/article.html |archive-date=20 September 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2014, the party's constitution included the following aims:

* Securing Welsh independence in Europe
* Economic prosperity, social justice and a healthy natural environment with decentralist socialism
* A national community with equal citizenship and respect for diversity
* Develop a bilingual society
* Promote Wales to the world and achieve United Nations membership<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution Plaid Cymru - the Party of Wales |url=https://www.politicalpartydb.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/UK_PlaidCymru_Constitution_2014.pdf}}</ref>

While Wales remains part of the United Kingdom, Plaid Cymru want to see further powers devolved from the UK Government to Wales, including: broadcasting and communication powers, devolution of the Crown Estate, welfare and rail.<ref>{{cite news |date= 16 January 2022 |title= Plaid Cymru calls for devolution of broadcasting to safeguard the future of Welsh media |url= https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-calls-for-devolution-of-broadcasting-to-safeguard-the-future-of-welsh-media/ |work= Nation.Cymru |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{cite news |date= 21 November 2021 |title= Labour and Plaid Cymru approve Wales government deal |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-59360575 |work= BBC News |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Owen |first= Twm |date= 5 July 2022 |title= Plaid Cymru repeat Crown Estate devolution call following off shore wind plan |url= https://www.thenational.wales/environment/20256539.plaid-cymru-repeat-crown-estate-devolution-call-following-off-shore-wind-plan/ |work= The National Wales |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Deans |first= David |date= 7 April 2021 |title= Welsh election: Key points from Plaid Cymru manifesto |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-56661044 |work= BBC News |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref>

The party opposes [[nuclear power]] and [[nuclear weapon]]s (including the [[Trident (UK nuclear programme)|UK's Trident nuclear weapons programme]]).<ref>{{cite news |date= 27 March 2022 |title= Nuclear 'the wrong answer' says Plaid Cymru leader as new reactors mooted for Anglesey |url= https://nation.cymru/news/nuclear-the-wrong-answer-says-plaid-cymru-leader-as-new-reactors-mooted-for-anglesey/ |work= Nation.Cymru |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Tegeltija |first= Sam |date= 18 January 2015 |title= Plaid Cymru to join forces with SNP and Greens in debate over Trident weapons programme |url= https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/plaid-cymru-join-forces-snp-8469553 |work= WalesOnline |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 17 April 2015 |title= Six things the SNP, Greens and Plaid have in common |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2015-32340444 |work= BBC News |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 1 May 2022 |title= Adam Price reiterates Plaid Cymru's opposition to nuclear weapons |url= https://nation.cymru/news/adam-price-reiterates-plaid-cymrus-opposition-to-nuclear-weapons/ |work= Nation.Cymru |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref>

The party also favours lowering the voting age to 16 years old.<ref>{{cite news |last= Walker |first= Peter |date= 3 November 2017 |title= MPs to debate bill to reduce voting age to 16 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/03/mps-to-debate-bill-to-reduce-voting-age-to-16 |work= The Guardian |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref> The voting age has already been lowered to include 16- and 17-year-olds for both [[Senedd elections]]<ref>{{cite news |last= Mortimer |first= Josiah |date= 1 June 2020 |title= 16 and 17 year olds have secured the right to vote in Wales |url= https://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/16-and-17-year-olds-secure-the-right-to-vote-in-wales-today/ |work= Electoral Reform Society |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref> and local elections in Wales since 2020,<ref name="HOC Library">{{cite web |url= https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01747/ |title= Voting age |last1= Uberoi |first1= Elise |last2= Johnston |first2= Neil |date= 19 November 2020 |website= House of Commons Library |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref> but not for UK general elections or [[police and crime commissioner]] elections: 18 is the minimum voting age for both of these.<ref name="HOC Library"/>

Plaid Cymru supports making social care "free at the point of need".<ref>{{cite news |date= 15 April 2021 |title= Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price pledges free social care from parent's home |url= https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-04-15/plaid-cymru-leader-adam-price-pledges-free-social-care-from-parents-home |work= ITV News |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 15 April 2021 |title= Plaid Cymru sets out vision for 'transformational' social care |url= https://www.thecarehomeenvironment.com/story/35342/plaid-cymru-sets-out-vision-for-transformational-social-care |work= The Care Home Environment |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date= 15 April 2021 |title= Plaid Cymru set out vision to make social care 'free at the point of need' |url= https://nation.cymru/news/plaid-cymru-set-out-vision-to-make-social-care-free-at-the-point-of-need/ |work= Nation.Cymru |access-date= 15 August 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, Plaid Cymru's policies included in [[2021 Welsh Labour–Plaid Cymru agreement|its co-operation agreement with Welsh Labour]] included:

* [[Free school meals]] for all primary school children
* Free childcare for all two-year-olds
* Commitment to deal with{{clarify|date=August 2023}} [[holiday cottage|second homes]]
* Creation of a [[National Care Service|national care service]]
* Long-term Senedd reform
* Reforming council tax
* Increased investment in flood defence and prevention<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the Labour and Plaid Cymru co-operation agreement? And what does it mean for Wales? |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-16/what-exactly-is-the-labour-and-plaid-cymru-co-operation-agreement |website=itv.com}}</ref>

In 2025, despite the parties historically strong vocal support for Welsh independence, the party's leader [[Rhun ap Iorwerth]] stated there was no plan for an independence referendum in the first term of a Plaid Cymru government, if they where elected at the next Senedd election, and that talk of a referendum would not take place before 2030, the party does, however continue to have an official policy of welsh independence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-05-08 |title=Plaid Cymru rules out Welsh independence vote in first term |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0454xvyy4xo |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosalski |first=Ruth |date=2025-05-07 |title=Plaid Cymru leader rules out independence referendum before 2030 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/plaid-cymru-leader-rules-out-31590332 |access-date=2025-05-15 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}</ref>