Why does Wales need more powers?

This is a question we receive a lot, and it's a fair one.

It's not about having powers for the sake of it. It's about making sure our nation has the tools it needs to tackle the challenges we face.

So what powers are Plaid Cymru calling for, and what difference could they make?

🚔 Policing and justice: Powers over policing and justice would make it easier to join up the work of the police, courts and services such as health, housing and education to prevent crime and reduce reoffending.

🚆 Railways: More control over our rail infrastructure and investment would give us greater power to improve services, make trains more reliable and build better connections between communities across Wales!

🌊 Our natural resources: Control over the Crown Estate in Wales would enable us to reinvest profits in our communities just like Scotland does, and bring down energy bills.

💷 Fair funding: A fair funding settlement and more financial flexibility would mean more scope to invest in the NHS and the other vital public services we rely on, and enable us to plan for the future and respond to changing needs.

Not powers for power's sake, but tools to improve public services, strengthen our economy and deliver better outcomes for communities across Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

A NEW CLEAN ENERGY COMPANY FOR WALES

Wales has some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe, but profits flow outwards whilst we struggle with rising costs 📈

Plaid Cymru is proposing a new clean energy company - owned by Wales, to benefit Wales. 

Creating jobs, growth and lowering bills 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿💪

100 DAYS

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 On 7 May, Wales voted for a new direction - for a government that believes in Wales, puts its people first, and stands up for our country.

After years of Labour letting Wales settle for less, Plaid Cymru is putting that right.

Here’s what we’ve delivered in our first 100 days in government:

DELIVERING UNIVERSAL CHILDCARE

Plaid Cymru have delivered in a matter of months what Labour failed to do in five years.

Every local authority in Wales is on track to provide 12.5 hours of free childcare for all 2 year olds by March 2027.

A step closer to a universal childcare system.

LABOUR AND THE M4

Much hot air has been produced by the Labour Party in Newport in recent days over what may or may not be done with the M4 by the Plaid Cymru Government in order to ease congestion in Newport. 

At the moment, nothing has been decided by the Transport Minister Mark Hooper but you would not think this listened to the alarmist rhetoric coming from a party that has rightly been put on notice by the electorate. 

It may be worth remembering that Labour spent at least £135.7 million developing the Black Route before abandoning it and that Audit Wales confirmed that £43.1 million had no future value and was written off. They literally spent £135.7 million of taxpayers money to do nothing.

People should not let Labour pull the wool over their eyes over this issue or any other and should be asking their Labour Party representatives just exactly what they did to sort out our traffic woes during 27 years of unbroken power in Wales? And we all know the answer to that question.

All the talk about closing junctions merely mirrors exactly what Labour looked at doing when they were running the Senedd back in 2012 - so they should know what they are talking about. With all this scare-mongering from Labour, particularly the council leader, you can just tell there is a council election coming up next year with an added whiff of panic on Labours part. 

DEVOLVE THE CROWN ESTATE

Plaid Cymru has long called for Wales-specific Crown Estate figures.

Now we have them - and the case for devolving it is stronger than ever...

When Wales creates wealth, Wales' communities should benefit. 

It's time to devolve the Crown Estate.

IN'S AND OUT'S FOR WALES

 What's in and what's out for Wales with a Plaid Cymru Government ?

And this is just the beginning.

Don't miss the chance to help shape what comes next: partyof.wales/join 

TWO PLAID CYMRU MS'S ELECTED FOR CASNEWYDD ISLWYN

Congratulations to our very own Peredur Owen Griffiths on his re-election to the Senedd!

It has been a pleasure to campaign alongside you, and it will continue to be a pleasure to work alongside you for the next four years.

Congratulations to Lyn Ackerman on her election to the Senedd!

Lyn has been a proud campaigner for her area for decades, and brings with her a wealth of knowledge gleaned from Plaid Cymru Islwyn's greatest minds. 

Sadly, many did not live to see this day but they would all be so proud of you.

We can't wait to see you in the Senedd very soon!

IT'S POLLING DAY!

Polling stations are now open until 10pm!

Whatever is in your diary today, make sure you find time to vote - this is an important and historic election with very real consequences for the people of Casnewydd Islwyn.

Vote Plaid Cymru for new leadership to stand up for Wales and stop Reform.

THE GREENEST PARTY IN WALES

Plaid Cymru are the greenest party in Wales! 

A manifesto statement by Greenpeace UK confirms that Plaid Cymru has the most ambitious and creative plan to tackle the natural resources in Wales.

Care about the environment? Vote Plaid Cymru - 7th May.

DON’T LET REFORM IN THROUGH THE BACK DOOR

Don't let Reform in through the back door.

All the polls show only a vote for Plaid Cymru can stop them in Wales 

 Vote Plaid Cymru - 7th May to stop Reform and stand up for Wales.

A CHOICE OF TWO FUTURES FOR WALES

Choice of two futures facing Wales is ‘stark’ Plaid Cymru warn

‘One week left to change Wales for good’ – Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth

The choice between the two futures facing Wales a week today “could not be starker”, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said. 

He was speaking ahead of a Plaid Cymru campaign event in Pontypridd to mark a week to go until the Senedd election on 7th May.

Plaid Cymru is currently neck and neck in the polls with Reform UK with Labour a distant third.

Mr ap Iorwerth said only Plaid Cymru offered “hope”, a “clear vision” and a “credible plan” to put Wales “nation on a new path towards fairness and prosperity”.

He appealed to anyone who ‘believed in Wales’, ‘values the NHS’, and wants to keep the country “free from Trumpian politics” to back Plaid Cymru.

The Plaid Cymru leader added that if elected First Minister he would always work to find “common ground” with others who value decency, credibility, and compassion and would fight any injustice facing Wales.  

Speaking ahead of the campaign event in Pontypridd, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said,

“We have one week left to change Wales for good.

“Labour have had their day. The sun is setting on twenty-seven years of missed opportunities and managed decline. 

“And the spectre of Reform is causing anxiety and unease among communities already wrangling with those rising totals at the supermarket till and the petrol pump. 

A party ruled from London and backed by billionaires and those seeking to profit, marred by the same-old malaise of chaos, self-interest, and scandal.

“Only Plaid Cymru offers new hope to Wales. Only Plaid Cymru has a clear vision and a credible plan to put our nation on a new path towards fairness and prosperity.

“A detailed plan to cut waiting times. The most generous childcare offer in the UK. A strategy to grow the economy and create jobs through National Development Agency. 

A Numeracy and Literacy Plan to give every child the best start in life.

“And, for the first time, a commitment from the Welsh Government to challenge Westminster every step of the way on HS2, justice, energy and the Crown Estate.

“The choice between the two futures facing Wales a week today could not be starker.  It is a straight fight between Plaid Cymru and Reform.

 “So, if you believe in Wales, if you care about our communities, if you value our NHS and want to keep our country free from Trumpian politics, there is only one option.

“Whether you’re a life-long member or a first-time Plaid Cymru voter, my promise to you is simple. As your First Minister, if there is common ground to be found with others who value decency, credibility, and compassion, I will seek it out.

“If there is an injustice facing Wales, I will fight it with every fibre of my being.

“And if there is an opportunity to make our nation a fairer, more prosperous, more tolerant place for everyone who lives here, I will seize it.

- ENDS - 

HAVE YOU HEARD ?

Wales STILL doesn’t control our own natural resources.

Labour blocked it despite all councils in Wales being in favour.

Reform won’t even bother fighting.

Plaid Cymru is the only party that will never give up on fighting for Wales.

Vote Plaid Cymru on Thursday 7th May 2026. 

DEVOLVE THE CROWN ESTATE

For too long, Wales' communities haven't benefited from Wales' energy potential.

From the Crown Estate to a Welsh Wealth Fund - only Plaid Cymru will deliver a more energy independent Wales.

Vote Plaid Cymru on Thursday 7th May for new leadership for Wales with communities at its heart.

TIME TO DEVOLVE POLICING

Scotland, Northern Ireland and even London and Manchester have control over policing – but not Wales. 

 

Decisions about the safety of our communities shouldn’t be made in Westminster.

Labour in Wales’s ( and Labour in Westminster’s ) default position towards devolution and towards Wales and Welsh interests is NO.

Self interest and the interests of the Labour Party will always come first…

Plaid Cymru is the only party fighting for these powers to be brought into Welsh hands.

Reform £1bn manifesto black hole would destroy Welsh public services

Plaid Cymru has hit out on Reform UK’s uncosted manifesto pledges which would lead to more than a £1billion black hole in Welsh public finances.

Ahead of the Senedd election on May 7, Reform’s Welsh manifesto has come under significant scrutiny for setting out a series of tax cutting measures and public infrastructure spending without an explanation on where the money to fund the spending would come from.

On the day of the party’s manifesto launch on 5 March 2026, Reform UK Ltd’s Leader, Nigel Farage, said there would be an independent verification of the costings, but a month later, that still hasn’t been made available.

Since then, research by Plaid Cymru suggests that the cost of all the manifesto commitments published by Reform would exceed £1billion between tax cuts and spending commitments.

Cutting 1p to the pound for every income tax band in Wales alone would cost £371m in 2026-27, and £390m in 2027/28. Based on evidence supplied by the WLGA following the publication of the draft Budget for 2026-27, limiting council tax rises across Wales to 5% would have required an additional £437m to the Revenue Support Grant (RSG) for local authorities.

Reform also pledge to build an M4 relief road. In 2019, the project cost was estimated to be £1.4bn plus VAT. Adjusted for inflation, this equates to a cost of approximately £2.46bn – around 70% of the entire Welsh Government capital budget for 2026/27. Over a typical 5 year construction period, the project would cost around £492m per annum.

Opinion polls have consistently shown that the Senedd election in May is a two-horse-race to become the largest party, setting out clearly that only Plaid Cymru can stop Reform in Wales.

Luke Fletcher, Plaid Cymru’s Economy spokesperson said:

“Reform’s divisive rhetoric would rip our communities apart. Their hidden-austerity agenda, designed to give their billionaire buddies a tax-cut, would destroy our vital public services.

“The manifesto sums simply don’t add up – it would create a £1bn black hole in Wales’ public finances. It’s fantasy economics with no costings. That’s not a plan, it’s a gamble.

“It’s clear that the ex-Tories of Reform aren’t serious about governing Wales – they’re only interested in creating chaos and division that serves their own purpose. Our communities deserve so much better. Wales needs a government that’s serious about offering solutions following 27 years of Labour mismanagement.

“Plaid Cymru is the only party with an ambitious and deliverable plan to bring down waiting times, raise standards in our schools, introduce our universal childcare offer and give Welsh businesses the support they desperately need.

“As the Senedd election approaches, the polls are clear: only Plaid Cymru can stop Reform from getting their hands on Wales’ public purse and the local services we all depend on.”\

- ENDS -