OUR PLAID CYMRU GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITIES

The Plaid Cymru Welsh Government sets out a new ambition for a modern, thriving, ambitious and confident nation.

This is how early action will be turned into lasting results.

WHAT NEXT FOR WALES?

The first 100 days was just the beginning...

Now, Plaid Cymru will really get #Wales moving.

From cutting waiting lists to creating good jobs, here's what comes next for the Plaid Cymru Government.

TACKLING CHILD POVERTY

A Plaid Cymru government would introduce a child payment to tackle increasing levels of child poverty in Wales, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has announced.

During his leader’s speech, Mr ap Iorwerth said that a Plaid Cymru government would begin the process of implementing the payment to “sustain families and support communities”.

Addressing delegates at Plaid Cymru’s Spring conference in Llandudno, ap Iorwerth said “we cannot continue to fail the very people on whose futures we depend for a brighter tomorrow”, and criticised both Labour and the Conservatives for rising levels of poverty in Wales.

The announcement follows analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation which revealed Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty rates are projected to fall by 2029 – a direct result of the Scottish Child Payment.

In Wales, child poverty is projected to increase from 32.3% as of January 2025 to 34.4% by January 2029.

Plaid Cymru’s ‘Cynnal’ payment would be a weekly direct benefit to support those who need it the most.

In announcing the payment to delegates, the Plaid Cymru leader asserted that “doing nothing is not an option.”

Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“Friends, there’s a lot that Wales can be proud of - but there remains a national stain, an indelible mark on communities the length and breadth of our country. And that’s poverty, and child poverty in particular.

“It’s unforgivable that so many of our children go without the basics – not even afforded the decency of good health and the bare essentials, let alone an equal chance to succeed.

“We cannot continue to fail the very people on whose futures we depend for a brighter tomorrow, and on this issue, the record of successive Labour Welsh Governments, coupled with the deep austerity of Conservative UK Governments is nothing short of shameful.”

Mr ap Iorwerth continued,

“Drawing on the experience in Scotland and learning from its transformational benefits, I can announce today that a Plaid Cymru Government will begin the process of implementing a child payment in Wales – a weekly direct benefit to support those who need it the most.

“After 14 years of austerity under the Tories and 26 years of ambivalence under Labour – this would be a new government rooted in the values of fairness and social justice.

“The ‘Cynnal’ payment as it’ll be known will do exactly that - it will sustain families and support communities.

“Those in receipt will feel less anxious about making ends meet – becoming more productive in the long run.

“Children go on to be healthier and more economically active, and the money will be re-invested in local economies, where people buy the bulk of their essential goods and services.

“Conference, doing nothing is not an option.”

- ENDS -

LEARNING FROM SMALL NATIONS

Plaid Cymru Shadow Education Minister and Senedd Election candidate for Arfon, Siân Gwenllian, has set out how a Plaid Cymru government would work towards providing free school meals for children in Wales, helping to close the attainment gap and tackle child poverty.

Figures from the Child Poverty Action Group show that around 70,000 children in Wales living below the UK poverty line are currently not eligible for free school meals.

 

Siân Gwenllian said that the policy would focus on supporting Welsh farmers and businesses through boosting local procurement, and that the rollout should begin by extending free school meals eligibility to primary children from households in receipt of Universal Credit. Every child in primary school would receive free school meals before the end of a Plaid Cymru first term in government.

 

Siân Gwenllian said:

 

“The attainment gap poses a real challenge in Wales. A Plaid Cymru government would start the important work of closing this gap expanding free school meals provision, starting with extending eligibility to all primary children from households in receipt of Universal Credit.

 

“By the end of the first term of a Plaid government, we would extend the eligibility even more by offering free school meals to all primary pupils, going further than any Labour government ever has.

 

“With almost one in three children in Wales living in poverty and the last Labour Government having scrapped their target of eradicating child poverty by 2020, a Plaid Cymru government would focus on addressing this failure. 

 

“Wales can learn from other small nations such as Finland and Sweden who place an emphasis on Free School Meals as an investment in effective learning and children’s early development. 

 

“Plaid Cymru’s free school meals plan would also benefit wider society, placing a focus on supporting Welsh farmers and businesses through boosting local procurement, and promoting the benefits of nutritious, home-grown produce in terms of health, the economy and the environment.”

- ENDS -