A CLEAR WINNER FOR WALES

Rhun ap Iorwerth “clear winner” in TV debate – “real change with Plaid Cymru”

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth showed to the people of Wales that this election “doesn’t have to be a choice between two parties”, Sioned Williams Plaid Cymru MS has said.

 

Ms Williams said Rhun ap Iorwerth was the “clear winner” in the seven-way general election television debate broadcast this evening on the BBC.

 

Speaking after the BBC 7-way debate, Plaid Cymru MS Sioned Williams said:

 

“Rhun was the clear winner in this debate. He showed to the people of Wales that this election doesn’t have to be a choice between two parties that have converged on public spending, immigration, the two-child benefit cap, Brexit, and more. In Wales, you can get real change with Plaid Cymru.

 

“While Labour and the Tories equivocated – from immigration to the future of our NHS – Plaid Cymru’s leader spoke with absolute clarity. He showed that we have an opportunity to elect honest politicians who stand up for what they believe.

 

“After fourteen years of economic wreckers in Westminster, people are crying out for hope. I’m proud that Rhun ap Iorwerth offered hope, ambition and a compassionate vision for the future of Wales tonight.”

 

ENDS

A VOICE FOR WALES

Rhun ap Iorwerth will be "the voice of Wales" during the pre-election televised debates, former Leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood has said today.

 

Leanne Wood represented her party at the General Election televised debates in 2015 giving Plaid Cymru an unprecedented platform in the UK media. 

 

She used the debates to make the case for fair funding and a more progressive social agenda for Wales, gaining renown for challenging now-leader of Reform UK and then-leader of UKIP, Nigel Farage, for scaremongering about HIV patients from abroad. 

 

Rhun ap Iorwerth added that he was looking forward to promoting Plaid Cymru's ambitious vision for the future of Wales and to holding Labour and the Tories to account for their historic failure to secure fair funding for Wales and taking Welsh voters for granted for too long. He criticised Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer for "hiding from the television studios" by sending other representatives to take part in the debate on their behalf. 

 

Speaking ahead of the first seven-leader televised debate in London on Friday 7th June, Leanne Wood said:

 

"The pre-election televised debates in 2015 gave Plaid Cymru an unprecedented platform to reach new audiences and give our nation the focus it deserves in the UK media.

 

"It was good for Plaid Cymru that we could take part in those debates to make the case for fair funding and a more progressive society, and I know Rhun will be the voice of Wales on that stage tomorrow too.  

 

"I know Rhun will be using every opportunity to set out Plaid Cymru's positive vision, calling out 14 years of disastrous Tory rule and holding Labour to account for taking Welsh voters for granted."

 

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth added:

 

"I'm excited to be following in the footsteps of Plaid Cymru Leaders representing Wales's best interests during the televised debates.

 

"I'm looking forward to promoting Plaid Cymru's vision of a fairer, more ambitious future for our nation where our public services have the funding they need to give our communities the care they deserve. 

 

"It is regrettable that Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak fel that they can pick and choose when to appear alongside other leaders. They can hide from the television studios, but they cannot hide from their parties' records of neglecting Wales's needs, and I will be holding them to account for that during Friday's debate." 

 

ENDS

ITS TIME TO GO

Vaughan Gething’s delusional defiance in refusing to accept the democratic vote of no confidence in the Senedd demonstrates the ‘same old’ attitude which has blighted his time in government – Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor has said.

 

The First Minister is “not only running away from the will of the Senedd but also failing to answer questions which have dogged him through the donations scandal” – Mr ap Gwynfor added.

 

After a motion of no confidence passed in the Senedd on Wednesday – Mr ap Gwynfor said:

 

“The First Minister’s aversion to scrutiny is well known but it takes hubris to another level to ignore the wishes of the Senedd. This is the same old attitude which has so far blighted Vaughan Gething’s time in government – a failure to not only to own up to failings as a Minister but also a demonstrable legacy of avoiding questions.

 

“The First Minister is failing to accept the clear will of the Senedd, he is continuing to fail to answer the questions which have dogged him through the donations scandal, and his response to yesterday's vote of no confidence has raised even more questions that now demand answers.

 

“Rather than burying his head in the sand the First Minister must clarify:

 

“Does he have the full confidence of Labour’s Senedd group?

 

“Can he confirm that there are no further revelations to come regarding his donations from Dauson?

 

“He has accused members of the opposition parties of telling lies in the Vote Of No Confidence debate. What evidence does he have for this?

 

“Does he believe that dismissing a vote in the Senedd as a ‘desperate gimmick’ is respectful towards Welsh devolution?

 

“Did he sign off on hypocritical Labour social media adverts criticising all opposition parties for voting together while the Tories and Labour voted together on a vote of no confidence in Scotland’s First Minister?

 

“Who conducted the investigation which led to Hannah Blythyn’s sacking and when will the report be published?

 

“But above all, why won’t the First Minister resign when a majority of the democratically elected representatives of the people of Wales voted for him to do so?”

 

ENDS

 

SHORTCHANGED AGAIN

Westminster is shortchanging Wales by £4bn from the HS2 project Plaid Cymru have said. The party pledged to fight for the funding Wales is owed.

High speed rail project HS2 has been designated an ‘England and Wales project’ despite not an inch of track being in Wales.

Plaid Cymru’s candidate for Ynys Mon in the general election Llinos Medi argued that Wales should receive its fair share of Barnett consequentials – estimated at around £4bn – if the project were designated as ‘England only’.

Plaid Cymru candidate for Ynys Môn, Llinos Medi, said:

“For Wales, HS2 is a scandal. A scandal that shows just how much Westminster disregards the needs and voice of Wales.

“Not an inch of HS2 track will be in Wales and yet Welsh taxpayers are having to pay for it. This is unjust and unfair.

“If the project were to be reclassified as an England-only project, as Plaid Cymru has been campaigning for, Wales would get £4bn in consequential funding. But neither Labour nor the Tories have pledged to put this right.

“These are billions of pounds that could be used to connect our communities, north to south, and restore Labour imposed cuts to bus services.

“Only Plaid Cymru has the ambition to deliver a Welsh transport system that our communities deserve. We are the only party that is demanding the billions we deserve in rail funds and the full transfer of power over our railways to put this right once and for all.

“And only by voting for Plaid Cymru on 4 July will Wales get a strong group of MPs who will shout for Wales in Westminster and demand the fairness our communities deserve. 

ENDS 

 

EDITOR’S NOTES / NODIADAU I’R GOLYGYDD

On Wednesday 4 June, the Senedd led a debate calling simply for the fair share of funding to Wales from HS2 funding. The motion passed unopposed, but Plaid Cymru has called out the hypocrisy of Labour and the Conservatives, who despite supporting calls in the Senedd have failed to persuade the leaders of their parties in Westminster to treat Wales fairly.

If Wales were treated the same as Scotland and NI, we would be owed at least £3.9m from HS2 consequentials, even after the second phase being cancelled HS2 classed as an England and Wales project, and, while transport is devolved, rail infrastructure isn’t. If it was reclassified as England only, Wales would receive its fair share, as not a single metre of track laid in Wales.

·   Up to a quarter of Wales’s bus routes are at risk of being cut or facing significant amendments in the coming year

·  Cost of reopening Carmarthen-Aberystwyth line, and Afon Wen to Bangor would be £2bn, only half of the money we are owed from HS2

·   In October 2023, Sunak promised to electrify the North Wales mainline, at a cost of £1bn

·   WG has refused to pursue a legal challenge against the UK government to withhold the HS2 money - labelled “A worrying sign of things to come should Keir Starmer become the next PM” (Rhun 17 April)

PLAID STANDS WITH THE STEELWORKERS

Plaid Cymru responds to news of steel workers strikes in Port Talbot

 

Responding to the news that Port Talbot steel workers are set to go on strike, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for the Economy, Luke Fletcher MS said:

 

“Plaid Cymru stands with our steel workers, the sector is vital for the future of the Welsh economy.

 

“Today’s announcement shows that workers are unified in fighting against the proposals from TATA.

 

“The Tories and Labour need to back the workers and set out a vision of what the future of steel may look like in Wales.

 

“We need to retain ability to produce primary steel in Wales. Whoever runs the UK Government in the next month should look to nationalise the Port Talbot steelworks.

 

“Failing this Welsh Government should explore options for compulsory purchase of the plant, while future options for greening steel production, including replacing coal with green hydrogen, are developed.”

 

ENDS

D-DAY 80th ANNIVERSARY

Thursday 6th June 2024, is the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. 

We should remember all those who fought for freedom in Normandy on 6 June 1944, those who came back, and those who gave their lives and never returned. Along with all those who worked at home and overseas to secure the victory over fascism and the peace that followed.

A NEW RAILWAY STATION FOR CAERLEON

Plaid Cymru, Newport East Westminster candidate Jonathan T Clark has called for a new railway station to serve Caerleon and Ponthir to be added to the original Burns Commission recommendations, which we are still waiting for,  as a matter of urgency.  

 

Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Newport East Westminster candidate said:

 

“I like many people in Newport, welcomed the commitment, a few years ago, to build new railway stations at Tredegar Park, Somerton, Llanwern, and Magor. We need ground broken sooner rather than later to bring the new railway stations into being, to provide alternative means of getting around our city and elsewhere. The new stations are an absolute necessity, but I have serious concerns that no railway station to serve Caerleon / Ponthir has been included, this would a real asset to both communities.”

 

Jonathan concluded:

 

“The absence may show an alarming lack of understanding of local transport issues, or to literal linear focus on the problems of the M4 or it could be simply a glaring oversight. In this case it would ensure that the residents of Caerleon / Ponthir have little choice but to drive to Newport, Cwmbran and beyond even to reach another railway station. The lack of a proposed railway station to serve the communities of Caerleon / Ponthir needs to be revisited as a matter of urgency if the Labour in Wales government are serious about providing decent integrated public transport for all parts of Newport and cutting congestion on the M4 and around our city.” 

 

DIWEDD / ENDS

 

Plaid Cymru and the SE Wales Metro

 

Plaid Cymru in Newport and Monmouthshire has long called for the existing railway stations to be significantly upgraded as part of the process of creating a functioning South Wales metro.  Plaid broadly welcomed the report of the South East Wales Transport Commission which has recommend ways to reduce congestion on the M4 motorway without building a new relief road around Newport.  Plaid has called greater investment in public transport, with a much better integration and coordination of rail and bus networks and integrated tickets across all services – with the emphasis that it is needed sooner rather than later.