PLAID READY TO LEAD GOVERNMENT AND REPLACE LABOUR

Plaid Cymru is ready to “replace” Labour, promising “a new government, with new energy and new ideas”, party leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS will tell conference delegates in Swansea today. 

Addressing members and supporters at the Plaid Cymru Annual Conference with the party leading the polls ahead of the Senedd Election next May, Rhun ap Iorwerth will encourage people in Wales to “come with us”, claiming that “Together, we can choose a different path – one where we roll up our sleeves to fulfil our potential, not one where we simply settle for what we have.”

In a speech which contains further detail about Plaid’s ambitious Programme for Government and speaking from the main stage on Friday afternoon, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS is expected to say:

“Today, with a historic nation-building opportunity before us, I’m going to set out the choice facing Wales – two very different futures but only one credible option.

“A seismic shift in our politics lies ahead. Change now seems inevitable and of course it’s long overdue.

“So, to the people of Wales I say ‘come with us’

“Together, we can choose a different path – one where we roll up our sleeves to fulfil our potential, not one where we simply settle for what we have.

Rhun ap Iorwerth will set out how Plaid Cymru is ready to lead Wales and replace Labour as the party of government:

“Let’s be clear. We’re not here to act as Labour’s conscience. We are not here to repair Labour. We are here to replace them.

“We promise a new government, with new energy and new ideas to prove what every person who believes in Wales already knows – that things don’t have to be this way.

“Plaid Cymru believes deeply in our potential as a nation.  We say ‘Yes, Wales Can’ - and we want to show you how.

The Plaid Leader will also appeal to those who have never voted for his party before to do so next May in order to “forge new alliances for a brighter future” and to “give our nation the leadership it needs and the respect it deserves:

“So, if you’ve never voted for Plaid Cymru before, the time is now.

“The time is now to stop Reform and elect a government more radical, more ambitious, more impatient to bring about positive change than any which has gone before it. A government of progress and of progressive values.

“A government on the side of families, teachers, nurses, farmers, business-owners.

“Young and old. Urban and rural. North and south. Welsh speaker. Non-Welsh speaker.

“Life-long supporter and first-time voter. The time is now to forge new allegiances for a brighter future.

“With your support, we can give our nation the leadership it needs and the respect it deserves.” 

- ENDS -

 

PLAID CYMRU OFFERS “NEW LEADERSHIP FOR WALES”

Party unveils new election campaign slogan for 2026

Plaid Cymru offers “new leadership for Wales” if leading government following next year’s Senedd election, the party’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has said.

Launching the party’s 2026 election campaign slogan ahead of Plaid Cymru’s Annual Conference in Brangwyn Hall, Swansea on Friday (10^th October 2025), Mr ap Iorwerth said new leadership means ensuring fairness for Wales, better public services, and hope for the future.

Next year’s Senedd election is now widely considering to be a two horse race between Plaid Cymru’s new leadership for Wales, and Reform’s division. Plaid Cymru are consistently leading the polls with Reform close behind, and Labour support crashing.

Plaid Cymru leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“Wales needs new leadership with fresh ideas to take us forward.

“That means a government that will stand up for our communities to ensure fairness for Wales – not standing by while Westminster once again treats us with contempt.

“It means tackling NHS waiting times, improving standards in education, better job opportunities and addressing the root causes of poverty.

“And it means offering real hope for the future – the antidote to populist right-wing politics.

“That is what Plaid Cymru offers and promises our communities.

“There are two competing offers ahead of next year’s Senedd election but only one credible government: new leadership with Plaid Cymru focused on delivering for our communities, or more division with Reform, an empty vessel making a lot of noise.

“Together, we can ensure new leadership for Wales, with radical, ambitious plans – that only Plaid Cymru offers.”

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NEITHER STARMER NOR FARAGE OFFER THE SOLUTIONS WALES NEEDS

‘Neither Starmer nor Farage offer the solutions Wales needs’ – Plaid Cymru

 

Liz Saville Roberts says that the PM is ‘living in fantasy land’ and that ‘Labour isn’t even in the game in Wales’

 

In response to Keir Starmer’s speech at Labour’s Annual Conference, Plaid Cymru's Westminster Leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP said: 

  

“The Prime Minister is living in fantasy land. Seven months from the Senedd election, Labour isn’t even in the game in Wales.  

  

“Neither Starmer nor Farage offer the solutions Wales needs. One takes Wales for granted; the other would tear our communities apart.  

  

“Only Plaid Cymru is putting forward a positive vision for Wales – getting our NHS back on track, building a stronger economy, and a fair start for every child. That’s what strong leadership with Rhun ap Iorwerth would deliver for Wales.” 

 

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SAYING NO TO THE BRITCARD

Plaid Cymru warns against Digital ID pans over civil liberties and digital exclusion

 

‘Describing this as a ‘BritCard’ is the surest way to get a policy off to a bad start in Wales’

 

Plaid Cymru Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

 

“Plaid Cymru will not support any digital ID system that risks shutting people out of services or eroding civil liberties. Wales still has thousands of people who are digitally excluded, and no one should ever be locked out of vital services simply because they don’t have a smartphone or internet access.

 

“IDs could reduce some of the paperwork people face to access everyday services, but we are not convinced the UK Government’s plans are really about making things easier. We are concerned about data security, and we will oppose any system that risks making monetising sensitive personal data for private companies or making it more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

 

“That’s why we need a proper public debate about whether digital IDs are truly in the public interest. Sadly, the fact this was announced as a dead cat strategy while Parliament is in recess suggests the UK Government has no real interest in an open or democratic debate."

 

“And let’s get one thing clear: a majority of people in Wales identify as Welsh only. Describing this as a ‘BritCard’ is the surest way to get a policy off to a bad start here.”

 - Ends -

TIME TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY

‘Scrap the two-child limit to tackle child poverty – we’ve said it all along’ - Plaid Cymru

 

‘Perhaps Labour are starting to realise that pandering to the right, and adopting Tory policies isn’t what people voted for over a year ago’ - Ann Davies MP

 

The UK Government’s child poverty taskforce has reported that lifting the two-child cap is the most effective way of alleviating child poverty.

 

Plaid Cymru’s DWP spokesperson, Ann Davies MP has emphasised that this is something her party has been calling for since it was brought in by the Tories in 2017.

 

Child poverty is projected to rise in Wales from 32.3% in January 2025 to 34.4% by 2029.

 

The Trussell Trust recently reported that the risk of hunger for families with three or more children is extremely high with the two-child limit being a “significant driver”. They also reported that scrapping the policy would lift 28,900 people in Wales out of severe hardship by 2026/27.

 

Plaid Cymru have long called for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished and have tabled motions and supported amendments in Westminster and in the Senedd.

 

In July 2024, the SNP tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for the two-child cap to be abolished, which was backed by Plaid Cymru at the time. However, every Welsh Labour MP voted against this amendment, ensuring the policy was maintained.

 

 

Plaid Cymru’s DWP spokesperson, Ann Davies MP said:

 

“Families across Wales are being pushed deeper into hardship by a policy that punishes children for circumstances entirely beyond their control. Plaid Cymru have consistently called for the two-child limit to be scrapped, not only because morally, it is the right thing to do, but also because it has been shown time and again to be the most cost-effective and immediate way to lift thousands of children out of poverty. This is something we’ve known for a very long time.

 

“Plaid Cymru have tabled motions in Westminster and in the Senedd calling for the policy to be abolished, which Labour have consistently voted against. It is telling that Starmer’s own taskforce has now admitted what we have been saying all along. Perhaps Labour are starting to realise that pandering to the right, and adopting Tory policies isn’t what people voted for over a year ago.

 

“I said it back in July 2024, and I will say it again: the most powerful ‘change’ this UK Government could implement would be to scrap the two-child limit. I urge the Prime Minister to act decisively to lower the alarming rates of child poverty and ensure that everyone gets the best possible start in life.”

 

- ENDS -

 

 

NODIADAU I’R GOLYGYDD / EDITOR’S NOTES:

 

Report of UK Government’s taskforce: Lift two-child benefit cap, ministers to urge PM

 

Child poverty is projected to rise in Wales from 32.3% in January 2025 to 34.4% by 2029: Economic and employment growth alone will not be enough to reduce poverty levels | Joseph Rowntree Foundation

 

Plaid Cymru’s calls:

Motion - NDM8923 - Welsh Parliament

‘The most powerful ‘change’ would be to scrap the two-child limit’ - The Party of Wales

 

SNP amendment to King’s Speech: King's Speech (Motion for an Address): Amendment (d) - Commons' votes in Parliament - UK Parliament

WALES IS THE WORST NATION FOR TRAIN CANCELLATIONS AS A RESULT OF HISTORIC UNDERFUNDING

The Latest statistics have revealed that Wales has the highest train cancellation rates of all UK nations.

Data highlighted by the BBC, from the Office for Rail and Road, has shown that Wales has the highest percentage of railway stops cancelled between 18 August 2024 to 16 August 2025, at 3.9%, compared to 3.5% and 2% in England and Scotland respectively.

The statistics show that 6 of Wales’ 10 busiest railway stations had a cancellation rate higher than the UK average. In Scotland, none of the 10 busiest stations in the nation were above the UK average.

A Plaid Cymru MS has attributed this high rate of cancellation to the historic underinvestment of Welsh railways, over ‘decades of consecutive UK Governments, both red and blue’.

Several different sources, including the Welsh and UK Government, have admitted an underinvestment of several billion pounds into Welsh railway enhancements.

Plaid Cymru’s transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths said that Wales had been underinvested in ‘for decades, without even mentioning the £4billion from HS2’.

Mr Owen Griffiths went on to say that Welsh railways would never operate as effectively as the people of Wales deserve, until powers over rail infrastructure were devolved to Wales.

Plaid Cymru transport spokesperson, Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, said:

“These statistics will come as a disappointment, but not as a surprise to the thousands of people in Wales that rely on our trains here in Wales. Too many of them have stories of cancelled trains and days ruined.

“The UK Government should hang their heads in shame about the dire state of Welsh railways. The connection between the billions of pounds of historic underinvestment, of the lack of electrified railways, and the sky-high cancellation rate is as clear as day.

“Despite the obvious impact the UK Government’s snubbing of Welsh infrastructure has on our railway services, they continue to deny us of the £4billion we’re owed from HS2, and won’t even start to undo the damage of underinvestment in decades gone by.

“The powers over rail infrastructure must be devolved to Wales - the UK Government has shown itself  incapable of investing adequately in Wales, and it’s time we were allowed to do it ourselves.

“Both Tory and Labour Governments have kept this scandal going, proving that all the Westminster parties don’t care about Wales. Only Plaid Cymru are serious about investing in Welsh communities to improve the services available to the people of Wales.”

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LABOUR’S LACK OF AMBITION

The Autumn Budget is the ‘last opportunity’ for Labour to prove ‘once and for all’ that it is serious about fair funding for Wales says Plaid leader.

At the start of a new Senedd term, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has hit out at Prime Minister Keir Starmer and First Minister Eluned Morgan on their ‘refusal to act’ on securing fair funding for Wales, showing a lack of ambition for Wales’ future.

Last year, Eluned Morgan boasted Keir Starmer was “in listening mode” on the need to increase Welsh government funding and review how Wales is resourced and said she had discussed reforming the Barnett formula with the Chancellor.

Twelve months on and Wales is not a single step closer to being in receipt of fair funding – something which the Plaid Cymru Leader branded as “damning indictment of its lack of ambition”.

Accusing Labour of “taking Welsh voters for granted for too long”, Rhun ap Iorwerth said that a Plaid Cymru government “would not rest” until Westminster agreed to right the historic wrong of unfair funding.

Mr ap Iorwerth went on to say that the upcoming Autumn Budget was Labour’s opportunity to prove ‘once and for all’ that they are serious about fair funding for Wales.

In June 2025, Senedd Members unanimously supported a Plaid Cymru motion to scrap the Barnett Formula, but ‘Wales’s voice means nothing to Labour in London’ said Mr ap Iorwerth.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

“It’s been a year since the First Minister proudly announced that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was “in listening mode” when it comes to fair funding for Wales – yet a year on, we’re still no better off, and it’s our already stretched public services that are paying the price.

“Under the current system, Wales is footing the multi-billion pound bill for HS2 and missing out on £72m as a result of Labour’s national insurance hike, both examples just to name a few.

“It’s clear that Wales’s voice means nothing to Labour in London, and that the First Minister isn’t up to demanding what we’re owed from her London bosses.

“Only a Plaid Cymru government will take seriously the need to keep making this case with Westminster, and as First Minister I would not rest until they agree to right these historic wrongs.

“With an upcoming UK Budget in November, this is Labour’s opportunity to prove once and for all that it is serious about addressing the way in which the Welsh Government is resourced.”

- ENDS -