TELLING IT THE WAY IT IS

 

“How dare you! I know all about you and your politics.”

📺 @Adam Price to Welsh Tory leader, on the Tory social care record #ITVelectiondebate

🗳️ #VoteForWales pic.twitter.com/OlquV41gVG

— Plaid Cymru 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@Plaid_Cymru) April 18, 2021

ACCESS TO OUR GREEN SPACES

Plaid Cymru Senedd Election candidate for Newport West, Jonathan T Clark, has warmly welcomed Plaid Cymru’s vision to create ’20-minute neighbourhoods’ in all towns and cities.

This would mean providing convenient, safe, pedestrian access to the places people need to visit and the services they use nearly every day, including public transport, shops, schools, parks, and social activities. 

A Plaid Cymru government would work to ensure the provision of a good quality green space within a five-minute walk of all households in Wales:

Jonathan T Clark, Plaid Cymru Senedd Election candidate for Newport West, said: 

“One consequence of the lockdowns over the last year, is that many of us have had little option but to do a great deal more walking and generally taking advantage of local parks and nearby green spaces. One of the things exposed by lockdown, is that too many people do not easy access to gardens, parks and green spaces on their doorstep.”

“While Newport is better placed that many Welsh urban areas, with relatively easily accessible  parks and green spaces, this is not the case everywhere.  Around 133,000 Welsh households do not have access to a private outdoor space, and that the average distance people live from a public park or garden is 432 metres.”

“A Plaid government would want to cut this to around 370 metres – no more than a five-minute walk – to ensure the provision of a good quality green space within reach of all households. This is an idea already supported by the Future Generations Commissioner who says that access to green space shouldn’t be down to a postcode lottery but “a right for everyone.”

“This would form part of a Plaid Cymru government’s wider vision to create 20-minute neighbourhoods in all towns and cities providing convenient, safe, walking access to the places people need to go and the services they use nearly every day. This should include public transport, shops, schools, parks and social activities, and would explore the potential for longer-distance cycleways along road networks from regional centres with significant commuter traffic.”

ENDS

FREE AT THE POINT OF NEED

Plaid sets out vision for ‘transformational’ social care – “free at the point of need”

Plaid Cymru Leader Adam Price MS has set out his party’s vision for delivering transformational change to social care in Wales by working towards offering care that is “free at the point of need”.

Adam Price MS said that one of the first acts of a Plaid Cymru government would be to establish a Commission to explore ways in which it could source extra money to fund the creation of a seamless Health and Social Care Service, free at the point of need.

The Plaid Cymru Leader added that the pandemic had “shone a light” on the invaluable contribution of care workers and reiterated his party’s pledge to guaranteeing a £10 an hour minimum wage for all care workers.

Adam Price MS said,

“For those of whose loved ones are currently in contact with our excellent care services, the dedication of the staff is no surprise.

“But Covid-19 has shone a light on the hard work, innovation, and challenges of providing home care support, nursing care in the community and quality of life for residents in care homes.

“I’ve seen with my own eyes the struggle that many families face. For my mother, caring for my father with dementia and so many others in the same position, free social care would be truly transformational.

“That is why one of my first acts as First Minister leading a Plaid Cymru government would be to establish a Commission to explore ways in which we could source extra money to fund the creation of a seamless Health and Social Care Service, free at the point of need.

“The Commission would report within a year and consider Plaid Cymru’s preferred option of using general taxation and also a levy-based Social Care Fund along the lines suggested by economist Gerald Holtham.

“A new National Health and Care Service would ensure the seamless integration of delivery on a local level, bringing together local government and health boards in new Regional Care Partnerships.

“Care assessment processes should and would focus on identifying personal care need, rather than the arbitrary definitions of ‘health’ or ‘social’ care.

“For the new Service to be a success it must work for the carers as well as the cared for.

“This is why a Plaid government would also invest in the range and quality of care in the community by increasing the number of district nurses and nurses with a community masters’ degree and increasing nursing students’ placements in care homes alongside the development of career pathways in care for Older People and dementia care.

“We have also set out plans to bring care workers’ pay progressively into line with those of NHS staff, starting with making a £10 minimum wage mandatory for care workers.”

ENDS

4,500 EXTRA TEACHERS

Plaid Cymru Education Spokesperson Siân Gwenllian MS has today set out her party’s pledge to recruit 4,500 extra teachers and specialist support staff in Welsh schools, should it form the next government after May’s election.

Setting out the party’s vision to offer “every child in Wales, whatever their postcode or background, the best start in life”, Siân Gwenllian praised teachers and all school staff for “working wonders” throughout the pandemic to ensure that young people continued to receive an education despite the challenging circumstances.

Siân Gwenllian also said that a Plaid government would raise the starting salary for teachers in Wales by 10% to £30,000 and work towards making teaching a Masters’ level profession, giving teachers more professional development opportunities and support throughout their careers.

Siân Gwenllian MS said:

“I want every child in Wales, whatever their postcode or background, to have the best start in life.

“An important part of that is ensuring that our schools are as well-resourced as possible, not only in terms of the number of teachers but also their specialism in supporting pupils with additional Learning Needs.

“That is why a Plaid Cymru government would employ 4,500 extra teachers and specialist support staff in schools across Wales by the end of our first term.

“Teachers have had a particularly difficult time during the pandemic and have worked wonders to ensure that our young people continue to receive an education, regardless of the challenging circumstances.

“Currently one in three teachers is quitting the classroom within their first five years. A Plaid Cymru government will address this by not only making funding available to recruit more teachers but improving the offer for those already in the profession.

“We will do this by raising the starting salary of teachers in Wales by 10 per cent to £30,000 from 2022 and provide in-career sabbatical breaks for teachers.

“Plaid Cymru also commits to making teaching a Masters’ level profession, beginning with a requirement for all newly qualified teachers to be working towards a government-funded Masters’ degree in education or a subject relevant to their classroom work within five years.  

“All education workers, full-time and supply teachers alike, should have access to continual professional development throughout their careers.

“It’s time for a Welsh government that will give teachers the full recognition and reward that they deserve. That is what a vote for Plaid Cymru offers on 6th May.”

- ENDS -

WALES 2035

The current target for Wales of Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050 is not fast enough. Plaid Cymru will amend Wales’ emissions reduction pathway this year. We will set a target to meet all of Wales’ energy demands – electricity, heating and transport – entirely from renewables by 2035. We will also set a target for Wales to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2035.

Achieving independence in the coming decade will give us essential policy levers in reaching this goal. However, if by the end of the decade Wales is still reliant on key policy decisions being made at Westminster, we may be forced to adjust the target date.

Wales 2035 will become a national, cross-sector and cross-community mission with the following plans:

• Decarbonising all of our railways by 2035.
• Legislating to ban sales of new petrol and diesel cars and vans before the UK date of 2030.
• All electricity demand in Wales to be renewable by 2030.
• All electricity generated in Wales to be renewable by 2035.
  

Inspired by the City Council’s target for Cardiff to become carbon neutral by 2025, we will launch a Challenge Fund for cities, towns and communities that seek to become Welsh carbon pioneers by reaching carbon neutrality before 2035.

SIX PLEDGES FOR POLICING

Plaid Cymru’s manifesto for the Police and Crime Commissioner election on May 6th contains Six Pledges for Policing – commitments party Leader, Adam Price says can create a fairer, safer Wales.

The Plaid Cymru Leader has stated that seeking control over policing and justice would be a “top priority” for a Plaid Cymru government, adding that Welsh Police Forces would benefit from an additional £25million a year – the equivalent to 900 additional police officers - were policing devolved to Wales.

Adam Price said that having had two elected Police Commissioners over the past five years, Plaid Cymru’s candidates were experienced, had a proud record of achievement, and know what needs to be done to make our communities safe.

The six key pledges include:

1. A Fair Funding Formula for Policing in Wales until full devolution
2. Better integration and transparency between the police and the community
3. A plan to reduce crime and reoffending
4. Enhancing Victim Support
5. Tackling Hate Crime
6. Creating Economic Crime Units

Setting out the six pledges, current Plaid Cymru Police and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn said that the party would “continue to take a preventative approach to tackling crime” and wanted to “place the victim at the heart of the justice system”.

Alongside Dafydd Llywelyn contesting the election in Dyfed Powys, Plaid Cymru’s Police and Crime Commissioner candidates are Ann Griffith (North Wales), Nadine Marshall (South Wales) and Donna Cushing (Gwent).

Plaid Cymru Leader, Adam Price, said:

“Despite initially opposing the introduction of Police Commissioners, when we saw the devastating impact of Tory cuts to policing, we contested the 2016 elections which saw Plaid Cymru Arfon Jones and Dafydd Llywelyn elected to serve North Wales and Dyfed Powys respectively.

“Our candidates are experienced, have a proud record of achievement and know what needs to be done.  They hold the respect of the police front line and truly represent the communities they serve.

“Those communities could be better served with the full devolution of policing which would see Welsh police forces receive an additional £25million a year - that’s the equivalent of 900 extra police officers on the beat.  The devolution of policing is a top priority for a Plaid Cymru government.

“Our six pledges for policing and our vision for a fairer, safer Wales builds on the work of our excellent current Commissioners whose achievements in investing more in CCTV systems, committing resources to tackling modern slavery and introducing pilots to prevent rural crime show that Plaid is truly committed to protecting our communities.”

Plaid Cymru’s current Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed Powys who will be seeking re-election on May 6th, Dafydd Llywelyn added:

“Plaid Cymru continues to take a preventative approach to tackling crime, collaborating across health, criminal justice and education as the most effective way of tackling youth offending.

“Addressing the underlying causes of crime, such as protecting children from abuse or neglect, and tackling child poverty is proven to reduce criminal behaviour.

“We also want to put the victim at the heart of justice system. Plaid Cymru pledges to implement the Victims Code of Practice, including supporting greater victim confidence in giving evidence, thereby increasing conviction rates.

“Finally, Plaid is committed to tackling a range of offences which currently suffer from a lack of funding and focus such as rural crime, cybercrime and hate crimes.”

Former Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner and Candidate for North Wales, Ann Griffith said:

“Thanks to the Home Office funding formula, North Wales taxpayers fund over 50 per cent of the police budget to make up for the lack of support offered by Westminster, a hefty sum compared to the 30 per cent contributed from local taxpayers in the West Midlands and Northumbria.

“Despite budget cuts by Teresa May and Priti Patel, I worked with Plaid Cymru’s Police Commissioner in North Wales to launch the ‘Checkpoint Cymru’ project and early intervention fund to divert low level offenders away from the criminal justice system and address adverse childhood experiences as an underlying cause of crime; increased the police workforce by nearly 7 per cent, and distributed the proceeds of crime back to local causes.

“Plaid Cymru’s six pledges for policing are the route to achieving a fairer, safer Wales.”

WALES FACES A MOMENT OF TRUTH

Covid-19 has exposed decades of deep and growing inequality inflicted on Wales by Westminster’s corrupt elite and Labour’s missed targets and undelivered promises.

This election is our chance to create a brighter future, together, under the fresh leadership of a Plaid Cymru Government. We will deliver the best start in life for every child, a fair deal for families, the best NHS and a plan for the whole country to prosper.

On the 6^th of May a vote for Plaid Cymru is a vote for the best start in life for every child, for a plan to recover and prosper, for the best public services, for a greener, fairer Wales and for Wales – not Westminster – to decide its future.

Vote for Wales. Vote for Plaid Cymru.