WALES AND THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

Welsh Commonwealth sprinter Mica Moore backs Plaid plan to host games

Plaid Cymru’s Senedd Election candidate for Ynys Môn, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has announced that a Plaid government would bid for Wales to host the Commonwealth Games in either 2030 or 2034, boosting the Welsh economy and the nation’s profile on the world’s sporting stage.

Rhun ap Iorwerth pointed to Glasgow’s “overwhelmingly positive” experience of hosting the Games in 2014 as a possible blueprint for Wales, adding that the event contributed up to £740m to Scotland’s GVA in gross terms.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, who was part of the team behind Anglesey’s successful bid to host the International Island Games in 2025, added that hosting the Commonwealth Games could bring not just economic benefits but wider public health benefits to Wales too through improving facilities and inspiring people to take up new sports.

The Plaid Cymru Senedd candidate for Ynys Môn said:

“Following Wales to France for Euro 2016 was a special experience that will stay with me forever.

“I want us to be able host similar international events here at home so that Wales too can become a stage for world-renowned sporting contests.

“That’s why a Plaid Cymru government would bid for Wales to host the Commonwealth Games in either 2030 or 2034, boosting our global profile and bringing a range of economic benefits.

“Glasgow’s experience of hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014 was overwhelmingly positive and one Wales could learn from in preparing our bid.

“Figures show that the Games contributed up to £740m to Scotland’s GVA with an estimated 690,000 people visiting the city of Glasgow spending a reported £280m whilst there.

“Hosting the Games would require investment in sports venues and transport infrastructure, creating employment opportunities and leaving a legacy of world-class facilities for Welsh communities to use and enjoy for many years to come.

“I hope that hosting the Games would inspire a new generation of Welsh athletes to follow those already making our nation proud on the world sporting stage.”

Cardiff born sprinter Mica Moore, who competed for Wales in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow said,

“As a proud Welsh athlete this is incredible news to me that Plaid Cymru are pledging to develop a bid to host the Commonwealth Games in Wales.

“I competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow 2014, and that was my experience of a home games. The stands were jam packed, the crowds were so loud, everybody felt like they were cheering for us and it showed in our performance because we got a national record that still stands today.

“To have the opportunity to compete for Wales in front of a home crowd is something that I would love for the up and coming athletes in Wales to experience, and even if I'm not competing then, I'll be stood right at the front of the stand cheering on the rest of Wales.”

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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.”

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RE-OPENING INDOOR HOSPITALITY

A Plaid Cymru Government would also backdate financial support to April 26^th

 

Responding to the latest update on Coronavirus restrictions from the Welsh Government, Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said,

 

“The collective effort of the people of Wales exemplified by the heroic vaccination rollout by our incredible NHS staff have allowed for the relaxation of restrictions.

 

“A Plaid Cymru government would plan for the reopening of indoor hospitality, tourist accommodation, cinemas and other entertainment venues on May 17th. To put businesses on the best possible footing our first steps in office include providing start up grants for hospitality businesses.

 

“Additional financial support would also be backdated to April 26th for those businesses that cannot viably trade on the basis of outdoor opening alone.

 

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SUPPORTING OUR SMALL BUSINESSES

For too long far too many small and medium sized businesses in our country have been denied access to credit by banks and this has prevented the growth of our private sector. Our over centralised dividend driven pretty much rootless London based banking model that has been followed in the UK is incapable, indifferent or simply unwilling to deliver or support economic development in our country. In Germany, the Sparkasse and Landesbanken operate on a geographical basis, and have developed special expertise in the local industries so that they are better equipped to make investment decisions and should offer a real alternative. We need to develop Industrial Innovation Clusters in key areas of our economy and to expand the role of the Development Bank of Wales and support the creation of a Community Bank to help  domestically owned businesses grow their market share and to put down deep roots in our communities. The Welsh economy needs to be locally owned and to pay higher wages. Jobs and investment need to be shared across the whole country. Our economy needs be more balanced and much more diverse and our public finances need to be stronger. If we can accomplish this then the talent we have in Wales will be developed and retained.

CUTTING COUNCIL TAX

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price has today outlined how thousands of Welsh households will see a cut in their council tax under his party’s plans to reform the current “unfair and outdated” system.

Adam Price pointed out that the values of properties in different parts of the country have changed differently over the 18 years since the last revaluation in 2003, citing the example of Blaenau Gwent where it has increased more than twice as much as in Wrexham.

The Plaid Cymru Leader said that around 20% of households in the bottom fifth of income distribution would see their council tax bill fall by around £200.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said:

“The Institute of Fiscal Studies describes Wales’s current council tax model as ‘out of date, regressive and distortionary’. It is unsurprising but entirely unacceptable that Welsh families have been hit by a total of £13m of council tax arrears during the pandemic. 

“That is why a Plaid Cymru government would take immediate action to reform this deeply unfair system and help the average household make their weekly budget go further.

“The value of properties in different parts of Wales has varied considerably over the 18 years since the last revaluation in 2003. For example, it has increased twice as much in Blaenau Gwent as in Wrexham.

“As the IFS also notes, making council tax proportional to up-to-date values would lead to average bills falling by more than £160 in Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot and Blaenau Gwent.  

“This progressive policy will form part of Plaid Cymru’s wider programme for government which has fairness for families at its heart.”

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PROTECT, PRESERVE, PROMOTE RURAL WALES

Plaid Cymru launched its Rural Manifesto today (Tuesday April 20th) vowing to be the only party that will truly “protect, preserve and promote rural Wales”.

Speaking ahead of a visit to Fferm Hafodwen in Johnstown near Carmarthen, party leader Adam Price said Plaid Cymru “recognises the immense contribution that the agricultural sector makes to Wales economically, environmentally, socially and culturally” and vowed that a Plaid government would work “for the benefit, not to the detriment, of our wider rural communities”.

Policies included in the wide-ranging manifesto address issues such as NVZ Regulations, Welsh Food Production, Rural Crime and promoting Welsh produce around the world.

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price said:

“Our manifesto for rural Wales outlines the key policies that a Plaid Cymru Government would introduce after May 6th in pursuit of the better future our rural communities deserve.

“We will strive to ensure that our food system works in the interests of our family farms and our local producers and processors by making Wales more self-sufficient.

“We need shorter food supply chains and greater capacity to grow, process, distribute and sell our own produce. That’s why a Plaid Cymru government would reform public procurement so that the purchase of Welsh-produced food is prioritised by schools, hospitals, and council offices.

“We would also create and promote a ‘Made in Wales’ official brand that will be carried by any product or service where 50 per cent of the value is created in Wales. Our country has some of the best produce in the world and a Plaid Cymru government would do fare more to promote it across the globe.

“We know that rural communities are being hit hard by the second homes crisis which is why Plaid’s policy to deliver 50,000 affordable and social homes will improve the provision of homes for local people.”

Llyr Gruffydd,  and Clwyd South candidate said:

“Farming and the wider agricultural sector have been badly let down by Labour and the Tories.

“A Plaid government would annul the unfair and disproportionate NVZ regulations introduced by Labour and work to protect Welsh food producers from the trade barriers erected by the Tories’ hard Brexit.

“We would also introduce a CAP replacement scheme that would guarantee a baseline support payment for farmers to offer the industry greater economic stability at this challenging time.

“Another area where a Plaid Cymru government would help our rural communities is in tackling crime. By working with our Police and Crime Commissioners we would increase the capacity of our rural crime teams. We would also demand greater powers to tackle rural crime, particularly farm theft and the protection of livestock from dog attacks.

“This is a wide-ranging set of pledges that shows that Plaid Cymru is firmly on the side of rural communities. We understand the challenges and we’re committed to protecting, preserving and promoting rural Wales for future generations.”

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YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH HUBS

Plaid Cymru Senedd Elections candidate for Ynys Mon Rhun ap Iorwerth, has today pledged to create a network of 14 ‘youth wellbeing centres’ throughout Wales to support young people’s mental health.

Rhun ap Iorwerth said that the walk-in centres would offer early intervention for young people who are not ill enough to require advanced psychiatric treatment but still need support for their mental health and are therefore vulnerable to “slipping through the net.”

 

Official figures show that in September 2020, more people were waiting for mental health treatment than any other condition.

The policy would be based on a successful model used in New Zealand and would revolutionise the way in which young people access mental health support. 

Plaid’s policies on youth mental health provision have been supported by Bricks Magazine creator and editor Tori West, who frequently discusses mental health with her large following on social media platforms.

Ms West noted that Plaid’s youth wellbeing centres would be a “great step forwards for Wales”, and whilst reflecting on her own experiences said that she feels her symptoms wouldn’t have progressed as she got older had she had access to support when she was younger.

Plaid Cymru candidate and health spokesperson Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

 

“As a father of three young people, I know how hard the pandemic and all the challenges that come with it have been for their generation. 

 

“That’s why a Plaid Cymru government would create a national network of 14 wellbeing one-stop shops in currently unused town centre premises where young people could get advice from counsellors and therapists. 

 

“Research by Mind Cymru found that 74% of young people aged 13-24 said their mental health had deteriorated during the first lockdown. 

 

“There is a real danger that these young people who are not ill enough to require advanced psychiatric treatment but still need mental health support could slip through the net.

 

“Fantastic work is already carried out across Wales by support centres and organisations, but such ventures need and deserve far more support. 

 

“Plaid’s plans would aim to fill the large gap in provision which has grown under the last Labour government and send a clear message to Wales’s young people that we are firmly on their side.”

Tori West, mental health advocate and editor and creator of Bricks Magazine and said,

“Plaid Cymru’s policies on youth mental health is a great step forwards for Wales, and it’s important to me in particular because of my own experiences within the system.

“Early intervention and early access before someone reaches breaking point is crucial, something that the Youth Wellbeing Centres would play a huge role in.

“Young people being able to walk into these centres and access support when they feel they need it is imperative, as well as there being more provision of CBT and rehabilitation for those with eating disorders.

“I feel as though if I had been offered more support earlier in life it would have prevented me from having worse symptoms as I got older.”

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