Plaid Cymru

   Plaid, in full Plaid Cymru (The Party of Wales), is the principal nationalist political party in the Principality. It advocates the withdrawal of Wales from the United Kingdom and the establishment of an independent Welsh state, although for many years it placed priority upon support for preservation of the Welsh language and its associated culture. In the past, this has tended to limit its appeal to Welsh-speaking areas of North and West Wales, although there have been signs in the Welsh National Assembly elections that the party is now extending its support into the southern valleys. In the general election of 2005, the party won 12.6 per cent of the Welsh vote and three seats. Following the devolved elections in 2007 it has become a partner in a Labour-led coalition administration.