PLAID Cymru’s leader promised his party would leave no hiding place in Wales for PM Sir Keir Starmer today.

Rhun ap Iorwerth told a press conference that he would set out his demands for a better funding deal for Wales to Sir Starmer every day if Plaid wins the May elections, and use its time in government to make the case for Welsh independence.

He added he believes there is a “fundamental flaw” in the relationship between Westminster and the Welsh government which he hopes to fix if his party wins power following the Senedd election in May.

“I think it’s about raising seriously the level of expectation for Wales and holding that UK government to account.

Mr ap Iorwerth again criticised Welsh Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan for what he described as “pulling punches which means that scrutiny can’t take place.

He repeated his calls for the devolution of the Crown Estate and justice in Wales and criticised the unfair funding formula serving the country.

Mr ap Iorwerth said Welsh Labour has failed to standup for Wales in the way the Scottish National Party has, which has meant Scotland gets better funding.

But the Welsh nationalists came under immediate fire for saying they would use their time in office to make the case for Welsh independence.

“Everybody in Wales knows that I support Wales being an independent nation,” Mr ap Iorwerth said.

A Welsh Labour spokesperson said: “Rhun ap lorwerth said their plans are the route to independence when calling for further devolved powers, even though he knows it does not add up.

“While they are shouting from the sidelines and making promises without power, Welsh Labour is building a fair future for Wales.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “Plaid Cymru’s plans for independence would do catastrophic damage to the Welsh economy and be thousands of times more damaging than Brexit.

“We have seen in Scotland with the SNP that once nationalists get into power, they waste money, time and political resources obsessing over independence.”

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar said: “Plaid pretends to put Wales first, but in reality, they would bankrupt us to pay for their independence pipe dream.”