A RAILWAY STATION FOR CAERLEON

I like many people in Newport, welcomed the commitment, a few years ago now, to build new railway stations at Tredegar Park, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor as part of the South Wales Metro. We needed ground broken sooner rather than later to bring the new railway stations into being, to provide alternative means of getting around our city and elsewhere. 

The new stations were and are an absolute necessity, but I have serious concerns that no railway station to serve Caerleon / Ponthir was included in the Burns Commission recommendations, as this would a real asset to both communities.  We need far greater investment in public transport, with a much better integration and better coordination of rail and bus networks and integrated tickets across all services – with the emphasis on sooner rather than later.

The news that ground will be broken in 2026 with completion by 2030 is to be welcomed but it has taken far too long and with Labour in Wales government managed projects after the initial blast-off publicity there is usually a distinct lag before there is any actual action let alone the actual completion of the project.  

 

The absence of a station for Caerleon may well show an alarming lack of understanding of local transport issues, or a too literal linear focus on the problems of the M4 or it could be simply a glaring oversight. In this case it would ensure that the residents of Caerleon / Ponthir have little choice but to drive to Newport, Cwmbran and beyond even to reach another railway station. 

The lack of a proposed railway station to serve the communities of Caerleon / Ponthir needs to be revisited as a matter of serious urgency if the Labour in Wales government are to show that they are serious about providing decent integrated public transport for all parts of Newport and cutting congestion on the M4 and around our city.

 

Plaid Cymru and the SE Wales Metro

 

Plaid Cymru in Newport and Monmouthshire have long called for the existing railway stations to be significantly upgraded as part of the process of creating a functioning South Wales metro.  Plaid broadly welcomed the report of the South East Wales Transport Commission which has recommend ways to reduce congestion on the M4 motorway without building a new relief road around Newport.  Plaid has called greater investment in public transport, with a much better integration and coordination of rail and bus networks and integrated tickets across all services – with the emphasis that it is needed sooner rather than later. 

A VISION FOR WALES

Plaid leader promises a government with both immediate impact and a vision for long-term change toward a healthier, wealthier Wales

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will today address his party’s Annual Conference in Cardiff, criticising 25 years of Labour leadership and spelling out his vision for a healthier and wealthier Wales.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will set out Plaid Cymru’s commitment to “break the cycle of short-term thinking which shortchanges Wales”. On key issues of the economy, education and health, he’ll promise action to implement immediate improvement but set out the need for longer term change that Wales desperately needs.

 

In health that means a pledge that under a Plaid Cymru Government, spending on preventative health measures will increase every year.

He will also announce that a Plaid Cymru Cabinet would include a Minister for Public Health, “ensuring a truly national mission of creating healthier lives which in turn deliver substantial savings.”

Describing the NHS as “born on Labour’s watch” with a promise of a “rebirth under a Plaid Cymru government” Rhun ap Iorwerth MS is expected to say:

“My government will break the cycle of short term thinking which shortchanges Wales.

 

Unlike Eluned Morgan, I will acknowledge that some things are  broken but more importantly I’ll be determined that nothing is beyond repair.

 

My government will not consider issues in isolation. Silo working helps no one when one decision so often affects another.

 

Unlocking our economic potential will need major improvements in education attainment, but another bedrock of a healthy economy is a well Wales – its people active in body and mind.

 

This year, as waiting lists grew – Labour for some inexplicable reason cut the amount it spends on preventative health policies.

 

Friends, this is short-term thinking with long term pain guaranteed. It feeds the problem as opposed to solving it, putting further pressure on front line staff, filling our hospitals with ever sicker patients.

 

Plaid Cymru will reverse the thinking, it’s something I’m determined to do , ensuring the NHS is fit for its centenary celebrations and beyond.”

The Plaid leader will launch a new approach to preventatoive health as part of wider NHS changes by saying:

 

“For too long, Labour’s priority has been managing people’s pain but I want to keep people healthy and I can announce that in the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru government we will bring forward a new budget – based on the principles of a healthier, wealthier Wales – with a promise that spending on preventative health measures will increase every year.

No more sticking plaster, no more blaming the individual, no more passing the buck.

This is grown-up government – taking responsibility, empowering people and protecting the NHS.

And we have an enormous task ahead of us. On improving the NHS estate, we’ll go further than the last 8 Labour Health Ministers, clearing the emergency maintenance backlogs over the duration of the next Senedd term. Only this week, a critical incident was declared at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend because of serious long-term damage to its roof. We have to have an NHS estate fit for purpose!

We’ll introduce a target focused cancer contract for every patient and reform the governance of the NHS, bringing standards back where they should be and waiting lists down.

And with a new Minister for Public Health, we’ll put the ‘N’ back in the NHS – ensuring a truly national mission of creating healthier lives which in turn deliver substantial savings.

Our treasured National Health Service – born on Labour’s watch, given a rebirth by the Plaid Cymru government I will lead.”

 - ENDS- 

AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE OF WALES

Reacting to the news that the PM’s Chief of Staff Sue Gray has stepped down and been appointed as ‘envoy for nations and regions’, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“Three months into Keir Starmer’s premiership, it’s clear he cares little about Wales. Labour promised change, but removing Tory chaos and replacing it with a different kind of Labour chaos still means chaos!

“Appointing an envoy for nations and regions smacks of a Prime Minister determined to concentrate his efforts on London and the south east, leaving the rest to the odd visit and photo-op by a senior official whenever it’s electorally convenient.

“And how must Labour in Wales, the Labour Welsh Secretary and the Labour First Minister feel? No wonder Eluned Morgan doesn’t want me to mention Keir Starmer in the Senedd - he’s quite a problem for her, as Wales clearly is to him.

“This is cynicism of the highest order and frankly insulting to the people of Wales.”

 - ENDS - 

STOP LABOUR’S WINTER FUEL PAYMENT CUT

The Westminster Government has announced that the Winter Fuel Payment – worth up to £300 - will now be means-tested. 

Only pensioners on Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will receive it. 

This cut could leave half a million pensioners in Wales worse off due to the Labour Government axing the Winter Fuel Payments to those not on Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits.

Means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment will place people’s health at risk, placing even further pressure on our NHS.

Plaid Cymru believes that pensioners should have this vital support to stay warm this winter and call on the Labour Government to reverse these cruel cuts.

Support Plaid Cymru's campaign to stop the cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment

LABOUR AND TORY TO BLAME

Port Talbot closure: Tories and Labour share blame for lack of industrial strategy – Plaid Cymru

‘We must plan for the revival of our steel industry’, says Luke Fletcher MS ahead of second blast furnace shutdown

 Ahead of the shutdown of the second blast furnace at Port Talbot steelworks today (Monday 30 September), Plaid Cymru economy spokesperson, Luke Fletcher MS, has blamed successive governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay for “failing to develop an industrial strategy”.

2,500 jobs will go at the steelworks despite a £500m taxpayer-backed deal at the Port Talbot plant. Many more jobs in the supply chain will be lost. 

During the General Election, Labour said it was “working on a better deal” for the plant, but approved the Conservative-negotiated plan for an electric arc furnace after coming into office in Westminster.  

Mr Fletcher said that steelmaking was crucial for a Welsh industrial strategy, and warned that the “tragedy” of the closure of the blast furnaces must not “define the future of our economy”. He stressed that following the closure, "we must now plan for the revival of our steel industry”. 

Plaid Cymru Economy spokesperson and South Wales West Member of the Senedd, Luke Fletcher said:

"During the General Election, Labour promised a better deal for the Port Talbot steelworks. Today, the second of its two blast furnaces shuts down. This is more than just a factory closing – it’s the end of Welsh steelmaking and the livelihoods of countless workers and families.

"The decline of our steel industry is a direct consequence of successive governments failing to develop an industrial strategy. They neglected to acknowledge that without a strong steel sector, the car industry, shipbuilding, and heavy manufacturing are all doomed to fail. While other nations recognised the vital importance of domestic steel production and actively subsidised it, the UK chose to privatise and sell our steel assets to foreign entities, making us reliant on imports.

“Plaid Cymru has long argued for the strategic importance of steelmaking to Wales’ economic interests, national security, and the pathway to net zero. It is deeply disappointing that both Westminster parties allowed this to happen. We cannot let this tragedy define the future of our economy; we must now plan for the revival of our steel industry and high skilled jobs it provides.”

- ENDS -

 

EDITOR’S NOTES:

Labour working on better Tata steel deal, says MP - BBC (6 July) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7257g40ze0o

 

Ministers set to agree £500m Tata Steel subsidy – BBC (9 September) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jp0v77231o

 

It’s clear now that Labour has no plan for Welsh Steel - Plaid Cymru (10 July) https://www.partyof.wales/labour_has_no_plan_for_welsh_steel

TIME TO CHANGE WALES

Wales is stuck in a rut under a very tired and very divided Labour in Wales government that’s clearly out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. With a struggling NHS, a stagnant economy, and falling school standards, the legacy of 25 years of Labour in power in Wales is clear – and it’s very clear that Labour in Wales is not working.

While I accept the fact that change can take time, and that it can be cumulative, its clear that successive Labour in Wales governments (even when nudged into activity by coalition partners) and pre devolutionary Secretary of States for Wales have simply tolerated the state of our economy and our public services. 

Yet this Labour in Wales government is refusing to take full responsibility for its record – or advocate that the UK Labour Government on behalf of Wales on things like fair funding, HS2 cash and power over the natural resources. Devolution in England is on the cards but enabling Wales is clearly not on Labour in Wales or Labour in Westminster’s agenda. 

Plaid Cymru is the only party truly championing Wales and advocating for its best interests, Under Rhun ap Iorwerth’s leadership, only Plaid Cymru offers any real ambition, any vision and the energy to turn things around, rebuild our services, and create a fairer Wales for everyone. It is time for fresh leadership, a new government with Plaid Cymru and some real and necessary change.

OUR COUNTRY NEEDS REAL CHANGE

Plaid Cymru is the real alternative to a tired and divided Labour party in Wales, party leader Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.

 

The First Minister of Wales Eluned Morgan announced the reshuffled Welsh Government cabinet on Wednesday evening (11 September 2024), less than a week before the start of the new Senedd term.

 

This is the third Welsh Government cabinet this year after months of internal Labour party issues.

Over the summer, Eluned Morgan became the leader of Labour in Wales and subsequently the First Minister of Wales, after Vaughan Gething was forced to resign after just 118 days in the job after three ministers and the counsel general all quit at the same time.

Mr Gething and the Labour Government had faced months of controversy over dodgy campaign donations, a lost vote of no confidence, and questions around the sacking of a government minister following leaked government messages.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said Wales deserved better than a “tired and divided” Labour government that was incapable of delivering solutions to the challenges facing Wales – including NHS waiting lists, a stagnating economy and falling educational standards.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said Plaid Cymru offered real change and “a fresh alternative” – including a focus on solving some of the major challenges facing communities.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

 

“After a summer of silence and empty PR exercises, the First Minister has decided – with a week to go until the Senedd returns from recess, to put her cabinet together.

 

“In the meantime, the legacy of successive Labour governments in Wales continues: our NHS is in a state, the economy is stagnating, and education standards are falling.

 

“This is the third Welsh Government cabinet this year after months of internal Labour party chaos.

 

“Wales deserves better than this tired and divided Labour government that delivers nothing but delay and distractions.

 

“As we look ahead to the 2026 election, Plaid Cymru offers a fresh alternative and real change.

 

“Our strong and united team will be focused on addressing the major challenges facing our communities.

 

“Whether it’s our children’s education, the pressure on our NHS, or the success of businesses, Plaid Cymru has an ambitious vision that can offer the change Wales urgently needs.

- ENDS -