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 - 

PLAID CYMRU CALLS ON FIRST MINISTER TO PUBLISH LIZ KENDALL RESPONSE ‘WITHOUT DELAY’

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS has written to the Labour First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan MS, urging her to publish the response she has received from the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Work & Pensions, Liz Kendall MP, ‘in full’ and ‘without delay.’

 

Speaking on BBC Wales’ Politics Wales programme this morning, the Labour MP for the Vale of Glamorgan, Kanishka Narayan MP, said:

 

“She’s written to the Work & Pensions Secretary. I understand that she’s received a response.”

 

The First Minister originally wrote to the UK Government on March 11, requesting an assessment of the impact of welfare reforms on Wales before any plans were published. However, on Wednesday, Eluned Morgan expressed her disappointment that she had not received a response ahead of the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

 

Tensions escalated further later in the week when the First Minister refused to back changes to social security spending, despite the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens MP, claiming the First Minister was supportive of them.

 

In his letter to the First Minister of Wales, the leader of Plaid Cymru, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, said:

 

“Annwyl Brif Weinidog

 

“On BBC Wales’ Politics Wales programme this morning, Labour’s Kanishka Narayan MP suggested that you have received a response from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall MP, to your original letter regarding the impact of Welfare reforms on Wales.

 

“Given the significant consequences these reforms will have on the people of Wales I urge you to publish the response in full, without delay.

 

“Yn gywir,

 

“Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Leader of Plaid Cymru”

 - END -

 

Editor’s notes:

• Kanishka Narayan’s comments can be found here (Minute 22): Politics Wales 
• The First Minister refusing to back cuts to the welfare budget can be found here: https://x.com/Plaid_Cymru/status/1905601649579532574
• The First Minister’s letter to the Secretary of State for Work & Pensions can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74krjzrzp1o

A FIRST MINISTER FAILING WALES

The State of NHS shows Eluned Morgan “failing” as First Minister of Wales – Plaid Cymru  2025 will be “crucial year” as Plaid highlights its vision for leading Wales – Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth

 

The state of the NHS shows that Eluned Morgan is “failing” as First Minister of Wales, Plaid Cymru has said.

 

Speaking at the start of the new Senedd term, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said 2025 would be a “crucial” year for Wales ahead of the Senedd elections next year.

 

The Plaid Cymru Leader said that Plaid Cymru would, over the next term, publish further details on its vision for leading Wales – beginning with a plan to bring NHS waiting times down.

 

The party will outline further details on its vision for government over next few months.

 

Mr ap Iorwerth strongly criticised the record of the Labour First Minister, formerly the Health Minister, on missed NHS targets and said that the government had failed to deliver the changes needed to fix the NHS in Wales.

 

Waiting times hit another record high late last year with over 800,000 hospital patient pathways.

 

The party’s health spokesperson Mabon ap Gwynfor previously announced plans to reform the way the NHS is run in November last year – proposals that were well received by stakeholders.

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

 

“The new year brings opportunities, but Wales is facing the same old challenges: wages not keeping up with bills, public services struggling, HS2 billions still missing, and an NHS, despite the best efforts of staff, overstretched and at capacity.

 

“A quarter of patients are currently waiting over eight hours in A&E, hospital waiting lists have topped 800,000, ambulance services are in crisis, and GP surgeries are closing. This is unacceptable.

 

“As Health minister, Eluned Morgan promised no patient would wait over 12 months for treatment by spring—a promise already broken by virtue of the fact she’s set a new target of bringing two year waits down to 8,000 by April – and based on December’s numbers even those figures are going in the wrong direction.

 

“No matter how many times this Labour government tries to reincarnate itself as being a government of delivery, it continues to fail the NHS workforce and its patients.

 

“This is a failure of delivery by a failing First Minister.

 

“2025 will be a crucial year for Wales. This year can be the beginning of the fresh start that Wales needs – with Plaid Cymru at the helm.

 

“We don’t believe this is as good as it gets. Over the next months, we will give further detail on our ambitious offer of change to the people of Wales: better public services, an improved NHS, an economy that creates good jobs, and a government that will be unrelenting in fighting for fairness for our communities.

 

“To those who want to see Wales put first, who feel let down by Labour, and are looking for an alternative to division, look to Plaid Cymru at next year’s Senedd elections.

 

“Together, we can build a fairer, more hopeful Wales and deliver the future we deserve.”

- ENDS - 

NO IDEAS, NO PLAN, NO CHANGE

Despite spending her first six weeks as First Minister prioritising a ‘listening exercise’, no objectives have been identified, no evaluation process will be undertaken and no data will be collected as a result of Eluned Morgan’s plans – Plaid Cymru can reveal.

 

In their absence, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth called the ‘listening exercise’ “little more than a PR stunt” after months of Labour infighting.

 

Rhun ap Iorwerth asked the First Minister to outline the objectives, process of evaluating and method of data gathering in a Written Question.

 

In response, the First Minister referred Mr ap Iorwerth to previous generic answers she gave to questions associated with the matter.

 

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

 

“Much like many Labour Welsh government ambitions, the First Minister’s ‘listening exercise’ has no measurable outcomes or evaluation process.

 

“It has proved to be little more than a PR stunt to try and curry favour with the public after months of Labour infighting. What was really required this summer was a government getting to work to address the significant challenges facing our economy and public services.

 

“Eluned Morgan’s summer of silence has amounted to just appointing a stop-gap government with seemingly caretaker Ministers – holding the fort rather than putting a plan of action in place.

 

“Politicians should always be in listening mode, but after 25 years of running the Welsh government Labour Ministers should be in no doubt about the priorities of  the people of Wales.

 

“Record high NHS waiting lists, a stagnant economy and an underperforming education system is the legacy of successive Labour First Minister.

 

“Following the General Election, Plaid Cymru has spent this summer as we mean to go – holding the Labour governments in Wales and Westminster to account, and putting forward a positive case for change at the Senedd Election in 2026.”

 

- ENDS -

A DAMNING RECORD ON HEALTH

Latest statistics on the performance of NHS Wales a ‘damning record for the new First Minister’ – Mabon ap Gwynfor MS

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Health and Social Care says that ‘a radical rethink in approach’ is needed to get to grips with problems facing the Welsh NHS.

 

Statistics released today by the Welsh Government on the activity and the performance of the Welsh NHS between June and July 2024 have shown a further increase in waiting times across Wales for treatment, taking figures to a new high.

 

The latest statistics reveal that at least 615,300 patients currently find themselves on a waiting list in Wales, approximately just under 20% of the total population.

 

Also included in the results are clear increases in the number of patients waiting over eight weeks for diagnostic services, patients waiting for therapy services and those starting cancer treatment.

 

These latest performance statistics account for the new First Minister, Eluned Morgan’s final few months in post as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care before taking on the highest office. Mark Drakeford, former First Minister and Health Minister between 2013-2016 has recently been re-appointed on an interim basis. During his time as Health Minister, there was an 11% increase in the number of patients on NHS waiting lists in Wales.

 

In response to the latest set of results, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Health and Social Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, said:

 

“There is a disappointing inevitability of failing to get to grips with NHS waiting times month after month, and this set of results published today is no different, with waiting times at their highest ever.

 

"While Labour in Wales has been too focused on internal fighting, the new First Minister has left a legacy of at least 615,300 individual patients on treatment waiting lists. She promised to eliminate waiting lists but failed.  A damning record for the new First Minister of Wales.

 

“A radical rethink in approach is needed. Plaid Cymru has been consistent in our calls - we need a clear strategy from Welsh Government that starts with admitting there is a problem in the first place. Welsh Government must commission an independent investigation into the performance of the NHS in Wales, and commit to making targets mean something. That includes a more targeted approach to tackle waiting times by prioritising those most in need, to better fund preventative health measures, and to invest in the workforce by providing them with the working conditions and contracts they deserve.”

 

- ENDS -

 

DEFINITELY TIME FOR A CHANGE

Plaid Cymru Leader responds to Eluned Morgan’s bid to become next leader of Welsh Labour

Responding to confirmation that Eluned Morgan will stand to become the next leader of Welsh Labour, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“After weeks of infighting – Labour’s focus is squarely on party management rather than on a change of direction for Wales, making a mockery of Starmer’s country before party pledge.

“Labour leaders in Wales of recent past and near future have one thing in common on their CV – an abysmal record of running the NHS which has led to record high waiting lists.

“Being in government is now seen as more important to Labour than knowing what to do with the levers at their disposal.

“If Eluned Morgan becomes the leader of Labour in Wales and should she become First Minister, she will prioritise healing Labour’s wounds rather than renewing the government’s sense of purpose.

“The absence of a policy platform can only mean one thing – more of the same tired ideas and outdated thinking which has led to Wales languishing at the bottom of economic, health and educational league tables after 25 years of Labour in power.

“Regardless of whoever becomes the next leader of Labour in Wales, Plaid Cymru will keep making the case for a fairer, more ambitious future for Wales.”

- ENDS -