CAERLEON RAILWAY STATION

 

Interesting to note that the Labour in Wales controlled Newport City Council has finally backed the call for a railway station to be built serve Caerleon. this good news, Plaid Cymru in Newport has long called for a new railway station to serve Caerleon and Ponthir to be added to the original Burns Commission recommendations, which we are still waiting for,  as a matter of urgency.  

 

Many people in Newport, welcomed the commitment, a few years ago, to build new railway stations at Tredegar Park, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor. But we need 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 are an absolute necessity, but people have serious concerns that no railway station was proposed to serve Caerleon / Ponthir has been included in the plans, as this would a real asset to both communities.

 

While the original absence may have showed an alarming lack of understanding of local transport issues, or to 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 still needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency if the Labour in Wales government are actually serious about providing decent integrated public transport for all parts of Newport and cutting congestion on the M4 and around our city.

 

DIWEDD / ENDS

 

Plaid Cymru and the SE Wales Metro

 

Plaid Cymru in Newport and Monmouthshire has 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 ticketing across all services – with the emphasis that it is needed sooner rather than later. 

Lindsay Whittle elected as Member of the Senedd for Caerphilly

Plaid Cymru have gained Caerphilly from Labour in a major by-election victory – six months before key Senedd elections.

 

Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle defeated Reform UK candidate Llyr Powell and Labour’s Richard Tunnicliffe respectively.

 

The victory marks a historic win for Plaid Cymru and a seismic political shift in Wales, signalling the collapse of Labour’s vote and a new two-horse race between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said the people of Caerphilly had voted for ‘positive change’ and that the result confirmed that only Plaid Cymru could stop Reform in Wales and that Labour’s time was over.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

 

“Tonight, the people of Caerphilly have spoken loud and clear. They’ve chosen hope over division, and progress over the tired status quo, and backed Plaid Cymru’s positive, pro-Wales vision.

 

“Lindsay Whittle is a tireless local champion who knows every community in this constituency inside out and will deliver real change for the people of Caerphilly.

 

“This result shows that Plaid is no longer just an alternative. We are now the real choice for Wales, the only party able to stop billionaire-backed Reform and offering a better future that works for everyone.

 

“The message from Caerphilly is clear: Wales is ready for new leadership, and Plaid Cymru is leading the way.”

 

Plaid Cymru candidate and Senedd member-elect for Caerphilly Lindsay Whittle said,

 

“I want to thank everyone who put their trust in me and Plaid Cymru to represent Caerphilly. It will be my honour to serve you as your new member of the Senedd.

 

“I’m ready to get to work straight away by making sure our local schools are properly supported, our libraries stay open, our GPs see people when they need to, and that everyone in Caerphilly gets the same chance to do well.

 

“I’ve spent my whole life fighting for this community, and I won’t stop now.

 

“Tonight’s result shows what’s possible when people come together to back practical solutions and protect what matters most. We’ve beaten billionaire-backed Reform, and with the same determination, we can do it again in May 2026. Caerphilly has shown the way - now Wales must follow.”

 

- ENDS - 

ONLY A VOTE FOR PLAID CYMRU CAN STOP REFORM

Plaid Cymru has made a final appeal to voters on the eve of the Caerphilly by-election urging everyone who wants to stop Reform UK to back Plaid Cymru’s Lindsay Whittle.

 

A poll released last week has shown that only Plaid Cymru has any chance of beating Reform UK in the upcoming Caerphilly by-election, with Reform UK in the lead with 42%, closely followed by Plaid with 38% of the vote share.

 

Labour have dropped drastically from their 2021 Senedd election standing, now with only 12% of the Caerphilly electorate intending on voting for them in next week’s by-election - proving that they are out of contention.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

 

“People are telling us they’re coming to Plaid in their thousands because they want us, they want that positive change, and not Reform’s division.

 

“Only Plaid Cymru can beat Reform and a constituency poll last week clearly demonstrated it’s a two-horse race between both parties, with Labour trailing a distant third.

 

“We are asking all voters who want to stop Reform to lend their vote to Plaid Cymru this time. 

 

Plaid Cymru candidate Lindsay Whittle, a lifelong local campaigner added,

 

“This is our community, and we’re not going to let Reform divide it. I’ve lived and worked here all my life - I know what matters to people in Caerphilly.

 

“Labour are out of the race. Only Plaid can stop Reform and make sure Caerphilly has a strong voice in the Senedd - someone who’ll fight for fair funding for Wales, stand up for our communities, and get things done for local people.

 

“People know me. They know I’ll fight for our community and they can trust Plaid Cymru to put Wales first, every time.”

 

“If you want to send a message to Starmer, elect a strong local champion, and stop Reform, thenvote Plaid Cymru tomorrow. It’s a close race and every single vote will count.”

 

- ENDS -

PRIME MINISTER CONSPICUOUS BY HIS ABSENCE

PMQs: ‘Why won’t the PM show his face in Caerphilly?’ – Liz Saville Roberts

 

Starmer challenged over Labour’s cuts and collapsing support ahead of Caerphilly by-election

 

During PMQs today (Wednesday 15 October) Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP challenged Keir Starmer over his reluctance to campaign in Caerphilly ahead of the by-election on 23 October.

 

A few weeks ago, the Prime Minister told the BBC that he didn’t know whether he was going to go to Caerphilly.

 

Ms Saville Roberts asked the PM what his problem was before citing the cuts to disability support and the closure of ten local libraries as reasons why he hasn’t shown his face in Caerphilly yet.

 

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP then asked “or the fact even the council leader resigned from the Labour party and called on people to support Plaid Cymru?”

 

In mid-September, the leader of Caerphilly council resigned from the Labour Party, calling it a "busted flush". He also expressed his support for Plaid Cymru’s candidate, Lindsay Whittle in the upcoming by-election.

 

Labour has held the seat in the Senedd since devolution began in Wales in 1999 and have won in Caerphilly in every General Election since 1918.

 

However, Labour’s support in Wales is collapsing with You Gov's latest poll showing that the 2026 Senedd election will be a two-horse race between Plaid Cymru, currently leading on 30% and Reform, closely behind on 29%.

 

 

Speaking during PMQs, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

 

“Ahead of his party conference, the Prime Minister told the BBC he wasn’t sure whether he’d campaign in Caerphilly for the by-election on 23 October. This is an important by-election in Wales.

 

“Well, there’s just over a week to go - and he hasn’t shown his face there yet.

 

“So what’s the problem, Mr Speaker – is it his party’s decision to close ten libraries in the community, cuts to disability support or perhaps it’s the fact that even the council leader resigned from the Labour party and is calling on people to support Plaid Cymru?”

 

 

In his response, the Prime Minister said:

 

“Well, Mr Speaker she leaves out of her account that we provided £21 billion, the largest ever settlement for Wales, and what did she do? She voted against it.

 

“And while we’re on the question of money, she’s accepted figures this week that independence would cost every Welsh person £7000. They should be honest about the cost with the people of Wales of their policies.”

 

 

Following the session, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

 

“The figures spouted by Labour about the cost of independence have already been debunked by independent analysis from the House of Commons Library. The fact that Starmer raised these dodgy figures once again during PMQs shows how desperate the Labour Party is in the run up to next year’s Senedd election.”

 

- ENDS -

RAISE STANDARDS AND SUPPORT OUR TEACHERS

Plaid pledge ‘A new national mission on Literacy and Numeracy’

A Plaid Cymru government will deliver a bold, practical, and inclusive strategy to renew educational standards in Wales its education spokesperson will announce.

 

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson, Cefin Campbell, announced the party’s new national mission on literacy and numeracy at the annual conference in Swansea on Saturday 11th October.

 

The plan will include:

 

• A Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan to set national benchmarks, provide targeted support, and ensure high-quality teaching with clear progress tracking. 

• A library in every primary school to give every child a dedicated space that promotes bilingualism and a lifelong love of reading. 

• Reading across the curriculum in secondary schools, embedding literacy into every subject and supporting pupils during the crucial transition from primary to secondary education.

 

A Plaid Cymru government will also invest in the future of Welsh education by offering fair, competitive incentives to attract and retain teachers – and progressively close the gap with England to ensure that trainee teachers in Wales are not financially disadvantaged for choosing to study and work here.

 

Plaid Cymru spokesperson on education Cefin Campbell MS will say,

 

“Labour’s failure to get even the basics right, in literacy and numeracy, our pupils are not fulfilling their potential.  

 

“But Plaid Cymru has a plan. We will ensure our pupils catch up and reach their potential, and we will raise educational standards all over Wales.  

 

“In response to deep, persistent and wide-ranging challenges in literacy and numeracy standards across Wales a Plaid Cymru Government will propose a series of overlapping and innovative solutions to get the basics right and raise standards in our schools. 

 

“A Plaid Cymru Government will develop a new Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan, a national strategy that is coherent, measurable, and equitable.  

 

“This is about ensuring every pupil, regardless of background, can reach their full potential. We will introduce national benchmarks for foundational skills in reading, writing, and numeracy. 

 

Plaid Cymru’s education spokesperson will also say,

 

“But as I’ve said many times in recent years: how can our pupils succeed without a strong, well-supported workforce of brilliant teachers? 

 

“Under Labour’s watch, Wales is facing a crisis in teacher recruitment and retention. 

 

“That’s why I’m proud to announce that a Plaid Cymru government will invest in the future of Welsh education by offering fair, competitive incentives to attract and retain the teachers our schools need.  

 

By the end of the next Senedd term, our incentive offer will match what’s currently on offer in England, ensuring that trainee teachers in Wales are not financially penalised for choosing to study and work here. 

 

“We’ll launch a national campaign, Dewch i Ddysgu, to restore pride in the profession and inspire new entrants. 

 

“We cannot allow the next 25 years to mirror the failures of the last. We must raise standards and unlock every pupil’s potential. We must give every child the best possible start in life. We must provide new leadership for Wales.  That is our national mission. And Plaid Cymru will deliver it.

 

Senior Education Lecturer Dr Huw Griffiths from the Institute of Education at University of Wales Trinity Saint David said,

 

“I’m glad to see political party that’s ready to make a clear statement in tackling one of the biggest challenges of education in Wales.

 

“With the Republic of Ireland now among the best countries in the world in terms of literacy, there is no reason why Wales cannot emulate that.

 

“In my opinion, there is nothing that can compare to improving reading standards as a means of raising standards - this is the alpha and the omega.

 

A spokesperson for the Literacy Trust said,

 

"When children are encouraged to read for pleasure and have access to a wide variety of books, it can transform their lives, building confidence, enhancing wellbeing, improving their reading skills and academic performance. A love of reading is one of the most powerful predictors of future success, and school libraries are key to nurturing that love from an early age.

 

“Libraries for Primaries is working to ensure every primary school in the UK has a dedicated library space by 2029 breaking down barriers to access, promoting equality of opportunity, and helping to create vibrant, whole school reading cultures.

 

A well-resourced school library is more than just a room of books; it’s a gateway to imagination, knowledge, and lifelong learning that will benefit generations to come."

- ENDS -

TIME FOR TRANSFORMATIVE NEW CHILDCARE IN WALES

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth unveils universal new childcare offer worth more than £30,000 in childcare costs

 

A Plaid Cymru government will deliver a transformative and universal new childcare offer for children from the age of 9 months to 4 years – worth more than £30,000 in childcare costs in the first four years of a child’s life, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced.

 

Addressing Plaid Cymru’s Annual Conference in Swansea, Rhun ap Iorwerth said the offer would be the “most generous Welsh childcare offer ever”.

 

The new offer will build to 20 hours a week for all children aged 9-months to 4-years-old for 48 weeks a year; while also honouring the existing 30-hour offer for those children aged 3 and 4 whose parents are in work, education or training.

 

At full rollout, this universal offer will be the most generous government-funded childcare programme anywhere in the UK.

 

Speaking during his conference speech Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

 

“We know what we strive towards. No community left behind and no person, family, or child unworthy of a decent life.

 

“That is why today, I am announcing that a Plaid Cymru government would introduce a transformative new universal free childcare programme, available for all children from the age of 9 months to 4 years, building towards providing at least 20 hours a week for 48 weeks a year.

 

“This is the most generous Welsh childcare offer ever, worth more than £30,000 to families in the first four years of their son or daughter’s life - a game-changing intervention with a multi-generational impact.

 

“For children, the opportunity to socialise, to learn new skills and to set them on the right path to thrive in primary education.

 

“For parents, the freedom to return to work without being forced to make the agonising calculation of whether they can afford it.

 

“And for grandparents, so often caring for their children, their children’s children and their own ageing parents, the peace of mind that their government is on their side and on the side of their family.

 

“Unlike the Labour Government’s offer in England, Plaid Cymru’s will be universal, eliminating the perverse prospect of the gap between entitlements for disadvantaged children and those with working parents being wider than ever, as charities have recently warned.

 

“A helping hand with the things that matter the most.

 

“That’s what a Plaid Cymru Government will mean for you and your family.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice and Early Years Sioned Williams MS said,

 

“Investing in childcare and early years education delivers one of the strongest returns of any public investment. In the medium to long term, it more than pays for itself, with global evidence showing returns on investment of around 13% – through better outcomes for children, higher rates of employment for parents, and a stronger, healthier economy.”

 

“Current childcare costs in Wales are the highest anywhere in the UK, with many families spending more on childcare than on housing. This locks many families out of accessing childcare at all.

 

“A Plaid Cymru government will go further and faster on extending access to childcare – to put money back in families’ pockets, combat child poverty and provide the best start in life for every child in Wales.

 

- ENDS -