NOTHING TO SEE HERE

Interesting to note that Labour in Wales have launched their campaign and unveiled their pledges today in Newport. In all honestly there is not much to see with no serious recognition of the Labour in Wales past record and failures and once again no concrete plans just re-announcements of things that should have been done years ago.

The pledge to eradicate homelessness by 2034 - was a previous pledge was 2026, the mental health pledge seems to be appointment to get an appointment, and the NHS maintenance backlog is in billions already. 

Over the current Senedd term, the NHS estate maintenance backlog has increased by at least £500 million to £1.2 billon. The high risk backlog alone has increased by over £120m in this time, having reached a third of a billion by 2024-25. And its worst noting that over the last 27 years Labour in Wales has retained control of Health but clearly not the responsibility for the mistakes.

And as was to be perhaps expected there was nothing from Labour in Wales to shift the dial with Westminster or challenge the current PM Keir Starmer on Welsh issues. This is actually some tired stuff from a party that has been in power in Wales for almost 30 years and has long run out of ideas. And the people of Wales just won’t be buying it.

After almost 27 years of Labour in Wales, people are facing long NHS waiting times, rising costs, and overstretched services. There has been no serious reckoning with that record, and no real plan to fix it - just re-announcements of things that should have been done years ago. 

There was also nothing that would shift the dial with Keir Starmer or challenge Westminster’s neglect of Wales.

Plaid Cymru in contrast, has a clear plan for government, starting with our first 100 days to improve the NHS and deliver the most generous childcare offer in the UK. In Plaid Cymru, you get a party relentless in demanding the fairness Wales deserves from whoever is in power in Westminster.

In this election, it’s beginning to look like Labour in Wales is finished, bereft of ideas, vision and any plan to fix the mess that they have made. This is now clearly a two-horse race, and only Plaid Cymru can stop Reform UK from dragging our politics backwards.

HOW TO REDEFINE SUCCESS

Plaid Cymru ON Wednesday 6th August 2025 criticised the First Minister’s ‘record of failure’ as she marks one year since becoming First Minister of Wales.

Despite making bringing down NHS waiting lists her government’s priority and previously introduced a target to eliminate two year treatment waits by March 2023, both referral to treatment patient pathways and two year waits have increased consecutively in the last two months.

Child poverty is also expected to increase to 34.4% by 2029 – the highest level in the UK.

Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan said the First Minister has not only failed to improve public services, but has been stubborn to new ideas to tackle the challenges facing Wales and has failed to stand up to the UK Labour government over policies which disproportionately impact Wales.

Ms Fychan said that today’s anniversary makes it clear that “only Plaid Cymru can deliver the new leadership Wales needs.”

Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd, Heledd Fychan MS said:

“Eluned Morgan’s first year as First Minister is encapsulated by a record of failure: from missing her own target to eliminate two year NHS treatment waits, to faltering educational outcomes and rising levels of poverty in our communities. This is not how things should be.

“And yet, the First Minister has been stubborn to new ideas – such as Plaid Cymru’s calls to introduce a child payment proven instrumental in tackling child poverty levels in Scotland. It’s clear that this Labour government is out of ideas, out of time and Wales will only see change when Labour’s First Minister is out of office.

“Not only has she failed to deliver better public services, but she has failed to stand up to Starmer every time: on HS2, disability benefit cuts, winter fuel payments, the Crown Estate – I could go on.

“Today’s anniversary makes it clear that Wales needs a new government with fresh ideas and ambition to put Wales first, always. That’s what a Plaid Cymru government offers under Rhun ap Iorwerth's leadership – to fix the NHS, revive the economy, give our children the best start in life, and demand fairness from Westminster. Only Plaid Cymru can deliver the new leadership Wales needs.”

- ENDS -