The 27-year-old, who is about to become the youngest life peer, says she does not "believe in the system of the House of Lords".
Wales reporter @TomosGruffydd
Monday 12 February 2024 15:00, UK
At 27 years old, Carmen Smith is about to become the youngest member of the House of Lords.
But the former chief of staff to the Plaid Cymru group in the Senedd does not "believe" in the institution.
Despite her belief, Ms Smith told Sky News the house needs "people in there speaking up for Wales".
"Ultimately, as a Welsh nationalist, I believe in an independent Wales and I believe we will have an independent Wales in my lifetime and then we wouldn't have the House of Lords and that wouldn't be for us to decide," she said.
"But ultimately I don't believe in the system of the House of Lords as it stands."
Ms Smith will be made a life peer after former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley announced plans to retire from the Lordskeeping the total number of the party's life peers at one.
The current youngest member of the House of Lords is a former adviser to Boris Johnson, 30-year-old Baroness Owen of Alderley Edge.
While there is a "challenge ahead", it is a "really exciting" one for Ms Smith.
"There's a job of work to do, which I'm really committed to doing," she added.
"So just looking forward to being able to join the Westminster team and be a voice for Wales in Westminster."
Read more:'Not useful' to put date on Welsh independenceWho is Plaid Cymru's leader?
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While Ms Smith has no direct parliamentary experience, she hopes her background will give her a fresh outlook.
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