WALES IS THE WORST NATION FOR TRAIN CANCELLATIONS AS A RESULT OF HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING

The Latest statistics have revealed that Wales has the highest train cancellation rates of all UK nations.

Data highlighted by the BBC, from the Office for Rail and Road, has shown that Wales has the highest percentage of railway stops cancelled between 18 August 2024 to 16 August 2025, at 3.9%, compared to 3.5% and 2% in England and Scotland respectively.

The statistics show that 6 of Wales’ 10 busiest railway stations had a cancellation rate higher than the UK average. In Scotland, none of the 10 busiest stations in the nation were above the UK average.

A Plaid Cymru MS has attributed this high rate of cancellation to the historic underinvestment of Welsh railways, over ‘decades of consecutive UK Governments, both red and blue’.

Several different sources, including the Welsh and UK Government, have admitted an underinvestment of several billion pounds into Welsh railway enhancements.

Plaid Cymru’s transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths said that Wales had been underinvested in ‘for decades, without even mentioning the £4billion from HS2’.

Mr Owen Griffiths went on to say that Welsh railways would never operate as effectively as the people of Wales deserve, until powers over rail infrastructure were devolved to Wales.

Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, said:

“These statistics will come as a disappointment, but not as a surprise to the thousands of people in Wales that rely on our trains here in Wales. Too many of them have stories of cancelled trains and days ruined.

“The UK Government should hang their heads in shame about the dire state of Welsh railways. The connection between the billions of pounds of historic underinvestment, of the lack of electrified railways, and the sky-high cancellation rate is as clear as day.

“Despite the obvious impact the UK Government’s snubbing of Welsh infrastructure has on our railway services, they continue to deny us of the £4billion we’re owed from HS2, and won’t even start to undo the damage of underinvestment in decades gone by.

“The powers over rail infrastructure must be devolved to Wales - the UK Government has shown itself  incapable of investing adequately in Wales, and it’s time we were allowed to do it ourselves.

“Both Tory and Labour Governments have kept this scandal going, proving that all the Westminster parties don’t care about Wales. Only Plaid Cymru are serious about investing in Welsh communities to improve the services available to the people of Wales.”

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LABOUR’S LACK OF AMBITION

The Autumn Budget is the ‘last opportunity’ for Labour to prove ‘once and for all’ that it is serious about fair funding for Wales says Plaid leader.

At the start of a new Senedd term, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has hit out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister Eluned Morgan on their ‘refusal to act’ on securing fair funding for Wales, showing a lack of ambition for Wales’ future.

Last year, Eluned Morgan boasted Keir Starmer was “in listening mode” on the need to increase Welsh government funding and review how Wales is resourced and said she had discussed reforming the Barnett formula with the Chancellor.

Twelve months on and Wales is not a single step closer to being in receipt of fair funding – something which the Plaid Cymru Leader branded as “damning indictment of its lack of ambition”.

Accusing Labour of “taking Welsh voters for granted for too long”, Rhun ap Iorwerth said that a Plaid Cymru government “would not rest” until Westminster agreed to right the historic wrong of unfair funding.

Mr ap Iorwerth went on to say that the upcoming Autumn Budget was Labour’s opportunity to prove ‘once and for all’ that they are serious about fair funding for Wales.

In June 2025, Senedd Members unanimously supported a Plaid Cymru motion to scrap the Barnett Formula, but ‘Wales’s voice means nothing to Labour in London’ said Mr ap Iorwerth.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“It’s been a year since the First Minister proudly announced that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “in listening mode” when it comes to fair funding for Wales – yet a year on, we’re still no better off, and it’s our already stretched public services that are paying the price.

“Under the current system, Wales is footing the multi-billion pound bill for HS2 and missing out on £72m as a result of Labour’s national insurance hike, both examples just to name a few.

“It’s clear that Wales’s voice means nothing to Labour in London, and that the First Minister isn’t up to demanding what we’re owed from her London bosses.

“Only a Plaid Cymru government will take seriously the need to keep making this case with Westminster, and as First Minister I would not rest until they agree to right these historic wrongs.

“With an upcoming UK Budget in November, this is Labour’s opportunity to prove once and for all that it is serious about addressing the way in which the Welsh Government is resourced.”

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PLAID CYMRU AND REFORM UK - A TWO HORSE RACE

Plaid Cymru is leading the polls in Wales for the upcoming Senedd election with Labour falling even further behind, a new ITV Cymru Wales opinion poll has revealed.

The Barn Cymru poll conducted by YouGov for ITV Cymru Wales and Cardiff University, has revealed that Labour’s predicted vote share for the Senedd is now at its lowest at 14%, whilst Plaid Cymru are continuing to lead the polls with 30%. Reform UK is on 29% of the current vote share. 

The Senedd (Welsh Parliament) general election will be held on 7 May 2026.

The poll also highlights that support for Keir Starmer has plummeted, with 62% of those surveyed believing he is doing badly as Prime Minister. 

 

Senedd voting intention:

(YouGov MRP Model)

 

• Plaid 30% (n/c)
• Reform 29% (+4)
• Labour 14% (-4)
• Conservatives 11% (-2)
• Lib Dem 6% (-1)
• Green 6% (+1)
• Other 4% (+2)

Dr Jac Larner’s Seat Projection

 

• Plaid Cymru - 38
• Reform UK - 37
• Labour - 11
• Conservatives - 6
• Lib Dem - 3
• Green - 1

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

“Be under no illusion: the choice at the next election is clear – it is between a divisive Reform party that don't care about Wales and would privatise our NHS, or a pro-Wales Plaid Cymru government that will stand up for Wales and deliver real change for the better for our communities.”

“Labour’s support is falling because voters want change.”

“People are overwhelmingly looking to Plaid Cymru for a better future for our country – one that is driven by Welsh values, that will deliver real results and stand up for fairness for Wales from Westminster.”

“We’re urging everyone who want to see the right kind of change – to back the only plausible choice for a positive, pro-Wales government by backing Plaid Cymru.”

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WHY VOTE PLAID CYMRU ?

💪 We’ll always stand up for Wales: While Labour refuse to challenge Keir Starmer over policies which actively harm Wales (two-child cap, HS2, cuts to disability benefits), Plaid Cymru will always stand up for Wales and fight for the  powers and funding we deserve.

💚 Dechrau teg i bob plentyn: Bydd Plaid Cymru yn rhoi’r dechrau gorau mewn bywyd i bob plentyn – drwy godi safonau yn ein hysgolion, cefnogi athrawon, a chyflwyno taliadau Cynnal i helpu teuluoedd gyda chostau byw.

🚑 Public services that work for everyone: Plaid Cymru will tackle the health and care crisis from day one - cutting waiting lists, investing in staff, and making care more local and accesible.

✨ Fairness and hope for our communities: While Labour offer more of the same and Reform offer cynical slogans, Plaid Cymru is focused on offering hope and fairness to our communities. It’s time for a government with answers to the problems facing our communities.

💷 A wealthier Wales: Plaid Cymru will build a Welsh economy that works for everyone - where money stays in our communities, wages are better, and small Welsh businesses can thrive.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 The only pro-Wales choice: Labour and Reform won’t deliver for Wales. Plaid Cymru is the only credible, progressive choice - a party that puts Wales and our communities first, always.

Vote Plaid Cymru on 7 May 2026. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💚

POLLING BOOST FOR PLAID IN CAERPHILLY

The latest independent polling suggests Plaid Cymru has taken the lead in the upcoming by-election for the Senedd constituency of Caerphilly.

A major summer poll by Find Out Now found that Labour and the Conservatives had slumped, with support switching to Plaid Cymru and Reform.

Applying the standard Uniform National Swing (UNS) calculation to the poll projects that the result in the Caerphilly constituency would see Plaid on top with 35%, ahead of Reform on 29% and Labour trailing in third on 24%.

Three major companies – members of the industry-standard British Polling Council - have conducted Senedd polls in Wales over the summer. All the polls; by YouGov for ITV, More in Common for Sky News, as well as Find Out Now, show Plaid leading in Caerphilly by the UNS calculation.

Plaid Cymru’s Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

“These polls echo what we’re hearing from Caerphilly. People are fed up of being taken for granted by Labour and the Tories.

“They know that Plaid’s Lindsay Whittle was a close second in the General Election last July, and are switching to support Plaid Cymru for this by-election.

“A large majority of people in Caerphilly don’t want Reform and their Trump-style brand of divisive politics. Labour are clearly trailing, so voters are turning to Plaid Cymru to send a message that Caerphilly and Wales won’t be taken for granted.”

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LINDSAY WHITTLE FOR CAERPHILLY

Plaid Cymru has chosen renowned local campaigner Lindsay Whittle to contest the forthcoming Senedd by-election in Caerphilly on 23 October.

Lindsay, who was brought up in Caerphilly and is a popular and long-standing councillor in Penyrheol and leader of the Plaid group on Caerphilly Council, was a close second to Labour in last year’s Westminster General Election. 

Plaid Cymru have since seen their support surge in national opinion polls.

“The circumstances of this by-election, which arose after the death of Hefin David, are of course tremendously sad and my thoughts remain with Hefin’s loved ones.” said Lindsay Whittle.

“The people of Caerphilly deserve a passionate local representative in the Senedd. I’m determined to offer a positive agenda, to give this area a fair deal.”

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

“Lindsay Whittle has a long record of standing up for his community and would be a real asset in the Senedd.

“People locally feel let down and taken for granted by the Labour Government.

"NHS waiting lists remain high. Schools are underfunded. Councils are struggling to deliver essential services.

"On top of the ongoing high cost of living, we’ve seen cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance and increases in National Insurance for small businesses. And Wales isn’t getting a fair deal on funding for public services.

“After 26 years of Labour, people are increasingly unhappy with how Wales has been run. They see overstretched services, wasted opportunities and little ambition and they’re looking for change.

“Voters in Caerphilly know that they can trust Plaid Cymru to put Wales’s interests first every time.”

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TIME FOR ACTION ON COST OF LIVING

‘We were promised that things would be different under Labour, but the claim of change has failed to materialise’ - Liz Saville Roberts MP.

 

On Monday 1 September Plaid Cymru have called on the Labour UK Government to implement a number of measures as part of the Autumn 2025 budget to get to grips with the cost-of-living crisis.

As MPs return to Westminster today after the summer recess, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP says that although the cost-of-living crisis began under the Tories, “people aren’t any better off under Labour today either.”  

  

Plaid Cymru have outlined that in order to tackle this, the UK Government should:  

• Support households with the cost of energy and housing  
• Boost incomes and guarantee the basics  
• Fairly tax extreme wealth and bumper profit margins 

  

Energy and housing:

25% of households in Wales (340,000) are in fuel poverty. Current support like the Warm Homes discount has risen by only £10, while energy bills have increased by £500. Plaid Cymru is calling for energy support grants similar to the Energy Bills Support Scheme (2022/23) and targeted support for winter.

Around 70,000 households in Wales face a gap between rent and social security due to the bedroom tax and outdated Local Housing Allowance rates. Plaid Cymru urges the UK Government to scrap the bedroom tax and uprate the allowance to at least the 30th percentile of rents in Wales.

 

Income support:

Raising the personal allowance and unfreezing the basic income tax threshold would benefit the bottom 50% of taxpayers earning under £28,400. Plaid Cymru also calls for an Essentials Guarantee to ensure those on the lowest incomes can afford food, heating, and other essentials.

 

Fairer taxation:

Plaid Cymru opposes Labour’s increase in Employers National Insurance Contributions, which affects public sector recruitment, small businesses, and care homes, and is partly passed on to workers and consumers. The party urges a reversal and alternative revenue measures.

Plaid Cymru instead proposes a 2% annual wealth tax on assets over £10 million (£24 billion potential revenue) and equalising Capital Gains Tax with Income Tax (£12 billion potential revenue) to fund public services and reduce wealth inequality.

  

Plaid Cymru’s Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:  

“The significant fall in living standards due to the rapid increase in the price of essential goods and services may have begun under the Tories, but people aren’t any better off under Labour today either. The increase in living costs continues to hit young people, families, and pensioners across every part of the UK.   

“But while ordinary people are struggling to make ends meet and to pay for the bare minimum such as food and housing, large corporations and the ultra-wealthy are racking up eye-watering profits. Energy network owners alone pocketed £3.9 billion in excess profits from high energy bills, money that came directly off the backs of ordinary people. And with further energy price increases expected this winter, the pressure on families and pensioners will only deepen, while those at the top continue to benefit.  

“We were promised that things would be different under Labour, but so far, the claim of 'change' has failed to materialise. Plaid Cymru has presented the UK Government with practical policies ahead of this year’s Autumn Budget that would truly get to grips with the rising living costs. These measures would provide direct support to households in our communities as well as tackle the growing wealth imbalance in the UK. It is time for those with the broadest shoulders to pay their fair share, and for communities across the UK to be given the security and support they need not only to get by, but to thrive.” 

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